"You...how did you get back?"
Gu Kaiyang turned around, stunned for three seconds, his expression gradually stiffening.
Ji Mingshu had a sour face. "When did I say I was leaving? What's with that look? Are you disgusted with me?!"
Driven by his will to survive, Gu Kaiyang shook his head frantically.
Meanwhile, Cen Sen had finished purchasing groceries from the supermarket and was resting with his eyes closed in the back seat of the car.
The spare ribs today are very tender and fresh; his little canary will definitely love them.
Author's Note: Little Canary Baby: Like it my ass.
Chapter 52
Half an hour later.
Cen Sen sent Ji Mingshu a WeChat message.
Cen Sen: [Ming Shu, what's wrong?]
He originally edited "What's wrong now?", but today Shu Yang and Zhao Yang happened to be explaining in the group chat: Never use the phrase "What's wrong now?" with women, as it will make them feel that men are very impatient.
He remembered this science popularization sentence before sending it, so he deliberately deleted the word "again".
Ji Mingshu had waited specifically for him to ask, so naturally he saw the message immediately.
She didn't reply, and instead, in a dramatic display, she deliberately put her phone on silent mode and placed it face down on the table.
Gu Kaiyang leaned against the other side of the sofa, glancing at her sideways, his face full of speechless disdain.
As soon as Ji Mingshu returned, she launched into a long tirade of complaints against Cen Sen.
After hearing this, she felt it wasn't a big deal and even subconsciously said a few words in support of Cen Sen.
Later, she became too lazy to say anything more, because no matter what she said, Ji Mingshu could always find new charges to nail Cen Sen to the judgment table from a clever angle.
Since Ji Mingshu was determined to cause trouble, even if her husband stepped across the threshold with his left foot first or took an extra breath of fresh air, he would still have committed an unforgivable mistake.
Thinking of this, Gu Kaiyang grabbed a pillow and covered his face, his whole body radiating a deep despair that seemed to say, "I wonder when this dramatic couple will ever stop."
Ji Mingshu was extremely dissatisfied with her plastic attitude and even poked the pillow on her face with a back scratcher.
"Gu Kaiyang, get up! What kind of attitude is this? Do you think I'm being unreasonable, just like that scoundrel?!"
"We've been together for so many years. Tell me the truth, did you take money from that scumbag to side with him?"
"Fine, even if you don't say anything, I can see through you. You don't love me anymore, and I'm not your little princess anymore. Sure enough, women whose edges have been smoothed out by work are all so pragmatic!"
As she spoke, she accompanied the content of her accusations, making them very rhythmic and impactful.
Gu Kaiyang felt like he was being tortured to the point of nervous breakdown. Suddenly, he took off the cushion and asked a question from the depths of his soul: "I said, do you like Cen Sen? He didn't cheat on you and he withdrew his investment, right? You also put on a perfect and successful show to prove that you're not a loser. Since he's already taken you back, why don't you continue to squander his money legitimately?"
"I've noticed that in all these years I've known you, you've suddenly become incredibly demanding lately, with such high expectations of your husband... And it's one thing to have high expectations of your husband, but why are you having such high expectations of me too?!"
Ji Mingshu stared at her for three seconds, then suddenly looked away and said casually, "Yes."
"Huh?" Gu Kaiyang had asked too many questions and didn't know which one she was referring to.
"I do like Cen Sen. I just suddenly realized it a while ago, but I forgot to tell you."
Ji Mingshu spoke with remarkable nonchalance, her tone exactly the same as if she had forgotten to buy a Coke before going out and told her to make do with the Sprite at home.
Gu Kaiyang was stunned for a moment, "No, are you serious?"
Ji Mingshu: "Why would I lie to you?"
After secretly admitting it to herself and to Cen Yang, she seemed increasingly less ashamed to mention her feelings for Cen Sen.
She even had a feeling that if she admitted it a few more times, she might even dare to confess her feelings directly to Cen Sen.
"..."
Gu Kaiyang remained silent for a long time.
She carefully reviewed Ji Mingshu's series of unusual behaviors during her stay at her house over the past few months. To be honest, if you add the prerequisite that "Ji Mingshu likes Cen Sen," many unreasonable things seem to make sense.
She had always wondered why Ji Mingshu, who had been content to be a parasite for so many years, suddenly woke up and adopted an independent and strong woman persona after being provoked by Li Wenying. It turned out that, in the end, it was her pride that was at play, and she couldn't stand being looked down upon by the person she liked. Running away from home was her way of waiting for someone to kiss her, hug her, and lift her up high.
Mingshui Mansion.
After sending the message to Ji Mingshu, Cen Sen sat in his living room at home and handled company affairs.
However, he was having trouble concentrating, rubbing his brow bone every now and then, and glancing at his phone on the coffee table every now and then.
About half an hour later, the phone finally made a sound. It was Zhou Jiaheng calling to report on Cen Yang's little tricks.
After listening, Cen Sen simply responded with a flat "hmm," showing no emotional fluctuation.
In fact, he had received the news the day Cen Yang returned to China. Cen Yuanchao had told him the news himself.
Out of consideration for past relationships, the Cen family facilitated many opportunities for Cen Yang during his years abroad. Cen Yang lived up to their expectations, steadily progressing towards becoming an industry elite.
It can be said that as long as he is willing to let go of the past, the future paved under his feet is also a broad road shining with golden light.
But unfortunately, he couldn't let go of the past.
In fact, Cen Sen had no interest in all of this he had planned. He had been away from the Cen family for too long and seemed unaware of how much this seemingly warm but actually cold-blooded surname had grown.
The once evenly matched Ji family of Huadian could only bow down to Jingjian. Everything Cen Yang did was not even worthy of being called throwing an egg against a rock.
Rather than appreciating his futile struggle, Cen Sen was clearly more interested in making ribs at this moment.
After hanging up the phone, he walked to the central island counter, slowly rolled up his sleeves, and began to prepare the spare ribs.
After idly rambling on for an entire afternoon, Ji Mingshu finally stopped talking in the evening.
Both she and Gu Kaiyang were starving, and they were discussing on their phones whether to order "braised chicken rice" or "boneless pickled fish" for dinner. Just then, the doorbell rang abruptly.
Ji Mingshu stretched out her little foot and kicked Gu Kaiyang. Gu Kaiyang, who was used to being enslaved, got up very willingly.
"Who is it?" Gu Kaiyang asked as he looked through the peephole.
A polite male voice sounded from outside the door, "Hello, is this Ms. Gu's home? I'm a staff member from the catering department of Junyi Huazhang Hotel, here to deliver food for you and Ms. Ji."
Upon hearing "Junyi Huazhang," Gu Kaiyang opened the door without hesitation.
The delivery person outside bowed slightly and then smiled as they handed the insulated food container forward. "Hello, there are two bento boxes prepared by our hotel inside, and a small box of braised pork ribs for Ms. Ji."
Gu Kaiyang smiled and said, "Okay, thank you."
After seeing the person off, Gu Kaiyang quickly rushed back to the living room with the food box.
Just as she was about to ask why the braised pork ribs had specifically requested Miss Ji, Ji Mingshu opened the food box, took out the small pork ribs, stared at them for a few seconds, and suddenly muttered under her breath, "Shameless!"
—When she was cursing, Ji Mingshu's face unconsciously flushed red.
Gu Kaiyang was completely bewildered, his mind filled with questions: Was this an insult? No, if you're going to insult me, why are you blushing?
"Um, you don't want to eat it, right? Otherwise, give it to me..."
"How could you be so delusional?!"
Gu Kaiyang was interrupted by Ji Mingshu before he could finish speaking.
Ji Mingshu also cautiously hugged Xiao Paigu and laid the magazine horizontally on the coffee table to forcibly draw a line between them, demonstrating with her actions that plastic sisters can only share hardships, not eat Xiao Paigu together.
Before we knew it, the capital city had entered the depths of winter.
After a brief period of being put back in its cage and then released again, the little canary has been flying outside for more than half a month.
When she returned to school last time, she cleverly took her passport with her. As the year drew to a close, Gu Kaiyang was busy and didn't have time to spend with her. She was so bored that she invited Jiang Chun to go to an island for a week-long vacation.
She updates her WeChat Moments with nine-grid photos and short videos every day, featuring hot bikinis that are pleasing to the eye. Each update receives hundreds or even thousands of likes and comments, turning her WeChat Moments into something resembling a popular Weibo account.
In comparison, Jiang Chun's posts were relatively restrained because she often saw people complaining online: "Some people go on trips and then post selfies and videos all day long, which is annoying to watch."
After seeing Ji Mingshu's wildly popular WeChat Moments, Jiang Chun finally realized: what annoys people isn't the constant posting, but rather that the people posting aren't naturally stunning. :)
On the other side, Cen Sen had been pondering why Ji Mingshu had suddenly become angry and left the nest again after returning home, but he still couldn't find the root of the problem. He wanted to find an opportunity to have a proper talk with Ji Mingshu to resolve the issue completely, but Ji Mingshu was uncooperative, refusing to answer his calls or reply to his messages. He was also busy with work and somewhat overwhelmed.
Junyi has hundreds of subsidiaries, plus the companies he invested in himself, and Jingjian, which was gradually transferred from Cen Yuanchao. His 24-hour utilization rate is accurate to the second. Project data, activities and social engagements are flying around in his mind. Even Zhou Jiaheng, who is an omniscient person, can't remember. He also seriously offended Ji Mingshu in the matter of program sponsorship.
Although Ji Mingshu didn't reply, Cen Sen would still send her messages every now and then, mostly short and innocuous greetings and reports.
Cen Sen: [Are you asleep?]
Cen Sen: [Have you eaten?]
Cen Sen: [I'm on a business trip today.]
Cen Sen: [Back in the capital.]
Upon seeing Ji Mingshu's bikini video and nine-grid photo collage posted on her WeChat Moments, he only had four words to say.
Cen Sen: [Exposed, less frequent.]
Ji Mingshu laughed in exasperation and finally replied with an emoji that read, "The Qing Dynasty has been gone for over a hundred years."
However, for other messages, the strategy remains the same: ignore them, don't reply, and don't say you didn't see them.
Ji Mingshu returned to the capital in mid-January after her vacation.
The trailer for the show "Designers" has been aired on Xingcheng TV and is likely intended to generate buzz and get off to a good start. The producer said that their team's filming will be scheduled for the first two episodes.
After all, Pei Xiyan's popularity has exploded, and Yan Yuexing and her group's antics have also generated considerable buzz.
But the closer it got to the show's broadcast, the colder Ji Mingshu became towards Cen Sen.
Because she really, really didn't show her face in the trailer! You jerk!!!
Gu Kaiyang's magazine is going to hold a media appreciation salon at the end of the year. The theme is "Stress Relief Day", which means that after a busy year of work, it is better to relax at the end of the year.
The interior design for this salon event was handled by Ji Mingshu as a consultant. Ji Mingshu did not follow up on the actual setup, but only provided some suggestions on color scheme and spatial layout for their reference.
Ji Mingshu would naturally receive an invitation to the Zero Degrees salon, but she had no interest in attending. To be precise, she hadn't considered attending any of her social activities since running away from home.
Firstly, her defeat in the party battle with Li Wenyin left her with an indelible shadow, and secondly, she didn't want to be asked about her marriage.
Her marriage to Cen Sen has attracted much attention within the industry, but no one can say for sure what their situation is.
It's true that Cen Sen beat someone up for her a while ago, and that she subtly showed off her late-night movie ticket stub. And it's also true that before that, Cen Sen wanted to invest in a movie about first love, and Ji Mingshu left home and hasn't returned since.
Moreover, Li Wenying's movie is currently casting. She's quite capable; after Junyi announced its withdrawal of investment, she actually received a large sum of investment from the film company under the Yuan family, and even hired Huang Baili, who won the Best Director award at the Berlin Film Festival, to be the producer of her small, shabby movie.