Chapter 135
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The
trivial episode passed and the banquet continued. On such occasions, people
always drink a lot, and Gu Yuanchen inevitably drank one cup at a time.
Chi
Ying and Jiang Ningzhuo were very aware of this. After all, the entertainment
industry is dangerous. If actresses drink without scruples on such occasions,
it is tantamount to playing with fire.
The
people present saw each other daily during filming, yet they still flattered one another. They restrained themselves during filming because of Gu Yuanchen’s
control, but now they were more relaxed.
On the other hand, Qi Yuan never came.
After
the banquet, everyone said goodbyes and parted ways. Chi Ying also packed up and prepared to
leave. However, Gu Yuanchen locked eyes with her started to approach her. He walked straight to her side and said in a serious tone, "Chi Ying, I have something to tell you."
Gu
Yuanchen glanced at Chi Ying and Jiang Ningning.
Jiang
Ningning's EQ wasn’t low, so she instantly understood the meaning of his
gaze. She opened her mouth into an O shape and gave Director Gu o a "Come On" gesture.
……
Chi
Ying slightly opened her mouth but the words were still hanging in her throat.
Suddenly, she heard Gu Yuanchen say, "It won't take long."
He
frowned as if he was worried, that she would refuse him again.
It
made Chi Ying feel uneasy. She subconsciously avoided Gu Yuanchen because he
discovered Chi Cheng's existence.
It
wasn’t because Director Gu is not a good person, but she still doesn't know
where the threats and malice to her in this is coming from, therefore she must
be vigilant towards everyone.
Most
importantly, the fewer people know about Chi Cheng's existence, the safer Chi
Cheng would be.
In
addition, she just got together with Lu Jingyan, she didn’t want any
misunderstanding and thought it was inappropriate to stay alone with the
opposite sex.
She
didn't want to do something that would cause a rift between her and Jingyan,
not before she disclosed the truth.
Therefore,
she had to reject Director Gu's several invitations to her.
Although,
Chi Ying thought a large part of the reason she could have the opportunity to
appear in "Green Sun" was that Director Gu forgave her mistakes and
gave her a chance that originally didn't belong to her.
Moreover,
Director Gu doesn't seem to be suspicious and it can be said that there seems
to be no malicious intent from him for the time being.
Now
that the banquet is over it's okay to have short and simple conversations.
After all, people still need to know how to be grateful.
She
nodded.
She
looked around and saw four or five waiters in the box. Chi Ying glanced around
for a while, but Shu Bai was not there.
Gu
Yuanchen led her to the balcony where a few rattan chairs were placed in the
open air. The moonlight was bright and the breeze felt cool.
……
However,
they just stood there frozen on one spot.
Gu
Yuanchen moved first and stuffed the paper bag he was holding in her arms.
"Chi Ying, these ... give them to Cheng Cheng," he said solemnly.
Chi
Cheng is a sensitive topic for Chi Ying. The moment he mentioned him, Chi Ying
frowned slightly and her tone was tinged with alienation: "This is?"
The
corners of Gu Yuanchen's lips curled up: " Just little thought."
Chi
Ying glanced down and knew that these were the children's clothes Director Gu
took Chi Cheng to try on in the mall that day. He bought them and several
expensive ones.
"I
can't accept it.” She instantly understood Director Gu's intentions. She shook
her head decisively, and said, “This is what you prepared for your relative's
children."
Gu
Yuanchen coughed lightly and answered, "My relatives and family immigrated
abroad, so they don't need it for the time being. It would be a waste not to
use them. Since the clothes fit Chengcheng, it's better to give them to him
."
Chi
Ying couldn't argue, "Is that so? "
Gu
Yuanchen's eyes narrowed slightly, but his words were soft: "Yes ."
Chi
Ying was a little flustered by this look as if he could read her mind.
To
quickly end the topic, she took the paper bag with feigned equanimity. “Thank you, but I won't need it in the future
."
……
Director
Gu was silent.
Chi
Ying glanced at her watch with a vague look, she asked, "Is there anything
else?"
She
bowed slightly and spoke politely. She was ready to say her final goodbyes.
"I
still have something to do. Thank you for allowing me to act in ..."
Gu
Yuanchen caught her gaze and interrupted her: "Chi Ying."
"Huh?"
His
eyes flickered and hesitantly said: "Are you... okay?"
Chi
Ying nodded and uttered, " I'm fine ."
In
Gu Yuanchen's opinion, Chi Ying's calm, even forced smile, was enough to make
him feel distressed.
From
the beginning of the audition to the film shooting of the past ten months, he
knew that people who had not experienced the storms of life would not have such
calmness.
Gu
Yuanchen never thought that she would be a single mother. He thought that had
such a beautiful existence and deserved the most perfect love.
His
eyes suddenly darkened.
"You
can always come to me if you need help."
Chi
Ying lowered her eyebrows and smiled. In a serious tone, "I live well, you
don't have to worry."
Gu
Yuanchen's adam's apple bobbed slightly. Maybe it was the drunkenness, or maybe
it was emotion that defeated logic, but Gu Yuanchen struggled with the desire
in his heart. Even at the risk of her self-esteem being stabbed, even this
might break their friendship, he still felt a strong urge to say his suspicions
straightforwardly——
Besides,
there is no hope if he doesn’t even say anything.
……
"Chi
Ying— "
"Chengcheng
is your child and Lu Jingyan is the father. "
Gu
Yuanchen gave a wry smile, "Is what I said correct?"
Chi
Ying's pupils gradually shrank, her back was stiff and her legs were as heavy
as a thousand pieces of gold.
Is
she drunk? Or is this her hallucination?
She
painstakingly concealed that face, yet it was all seen through so easily?
Gu
Yuanchen stared at her quietly.
Her
eyelashes seemed to quiver in confusion and there seemed to be a hidden turmoil
and pain in her eyes. This made his voice a little tight: " Sorry, I made
assumptions.”
However,
he still couldn't help but want to say his suspicion. Gu Yuanchen knew that he
said a lot more today.
But
if he didn't finish his words, the worry and heartache that had been haunting
his heart for a long time would come out from time to time and drag him into
anxiety and pain and there would be no way to dissipate it.
He
will also be disturbed.
Gu
Yuanchen clenched his fists and before she could speak, he said seriously,
"If
you live a hard life alone, maybe I can help you share the burden."
"If
Lu Jingyan won’t accept Chengcheng, I ... can take responsibility ."
Hearing
this, Chi Ying raised her eyes in surprise.
Her
ideals were traditional. She always thought that if she could accept the
existence of a child ... it should come from having a deep feeling.
Director
Gu's black windbreaker moved with the wind and the night air had a smell of
alcohol. Chi Ying made herself look as calm as possible. She stared at him
quietly, then softly said, "You are drunk, Director Gu ."
"No,
I'm sober."
Gu
Yuanchen's eyes turned affectionate and were glued toward her. A wry smile appeared
on the corner of his mouth, "Chi Ying, I like you."
From
the very first time, he locked eyes with her.
"I
believe our three views would have many similarities. Would you like to give me
a chance?"
Chi
Ying held her breath.
She
sighed when she said: "... But, you guessed it wrong. I'm fine now. I am
happy in every way. Please ... don't think like that again. I'm so sorry."
Chi Ying bowed hastily, grabbed the paper bag, and turned to leave. Only a
slender and elegant back was left in sight.
Gu
Yuanchen's eyes dimmed and he felt the pain of his heart being torn open. Even
the evening breeze could not dispel his inebriation. He lit a cigarette, and
the spark went out in the night. It seemed like the wind was haunting him.
……
Shu
Bai returned to the room. She buried her head to clean up the leftovers but
when she her raised eyes, she saw Director Gu and Chi Ying standing opposite
each other.
Curiosity
drove her to hurriedly put down the dishes and washed her hands in the
bathroom.
When
she arrived, she just heard Gu Yuanchen's words, "I like you."
Not
long after, Chi Ying turned around and walked in her direction. Shu Bai
hurriedly hid in the small cubicle. Shu Bai could see a glimpse of her snowy
porcelain skin and she noticed the air seemed to be filled with a faint
pleasant scent when Chi Ying walked passed her.
Shu
Bai stayed silent. She pondered about the unpleasant smell of oil smoke on her
body. Her heart was trembling and her fists clenched tightly. She thought, is
it because Lu Jingyan who got Chi Ying the best resources? Gu Yuanchen also
gave her the only chance she had.
Deep
inferiority loomed over her again. At the same time, an unprecedented
unwillingness to accept reality was still dancing in her chest.
After
the evening shift, Shu Bai returned to her residence. It was small, cramped,
and dark. She hadn't even changed a single light bulb. Shu Bai had to live
frugally and rent this small house alone in the city.
The
house where her parents lived was no longer suitable for her. It was constantly
trampled by creditors and the ground was littered with scattered trash.
It
was in vain no matter how many jobs she worked. No matter how many dramas she
receives, it will still be useless. Her parent’s drug addiction and gambling
cannot be stopped and will only lead her to endless suffering. Shu Bai decided
to break her relationship with her parents. There has never been a legal basis
for a father's debt to be paid by his child. Most importantly, she just wanted
to be safe and hide.
However,
blood is thicker than water. Her
patience and compromise from beginning to end are all because she doesn't want
her father to be pushed to the precipice of death.
Shu
Bai wanted to help pay off her father’s debt for the last time. From then on,
everything is irrelevant to her.
Shu
Bai always thought that all she wanted is a simple and ordinary life. However,
she was unaware of her dormant desires and ambitions until tonight. In the
dimly lit room, Shu Bai silently opened the wooden drawer on her desk.
The
desk was left by the landlord and has been there for so many years. There was a
creaking sound whenever it was pulled out, and rustling sawdust fell.
There
was a note lying quietly inside, it has traces of the years it was left
untouched and it has turned slightly yellow. Shu Bai stared at it, lost in
thought.
……
When
she was in college, she was working as a part-time student, while Chi
Ying-senpai was the eldest daughter. Even if no one in the school knows Chi
Ying's background, it can be seen from her elegant speech and temperament that
she is a well-educated young lady.
The
Chi Ying-senpai in her memory got along with people gracefully and generously.
Even if the clothes she was wearing were limited luxury editions, she didn’t
give a feeling of obnoxious arrogance.
It might be due to her natural temperament, Chi Ying was always,
gracefully smiling softly and calmly.
Shu
Bai was very envious, but she had never been jealous, and it can even be said
that she admires her very much.
One
of the reasons is because there were a lot of rich children in film school, and
most of them habitually spent their days and nights partying, putting power and
money on the surface to bully other students’ self-esteem.
Every
time Shu Bai saw them, her inferiority complex deepened, but only Chi
Ying-senpai didn’t do that.
Chi
Ying is one of the few people Shu Bai has met, who is not bossy or arrogant to
someone with her appearance and wealth who was not as good as others.
Even
when Shu Bai was at her worst, Chi Ying helped her. Although, Chi Ying may have
long forgotten who she is at least Chi Ying-senpai had convinced her that this
world was not 100% dirty, that there are still beautiful people and things she
has yet to see. That was her firm belief.
Until
four years ago—
……
She
worked part-time in a hotel as a cleaner. Compared with the cleaners in other
public places, they are privately hired by specific hours. On her shift, Shu Bai saw a lot of red blood
and dirty liquid on the sheets. She had an instinctive resistance to it but at
the same time, Shu Bai's job also made her unexpectedly privy to scandalous
secrets.
That
morning, Shu Bai was on the morning shift. She was resting by the window with
one hand leaning on the mop, waiting for the guests to check out. In the
distance, she saw Chi Ying-senpai walking out of a room behind the corner.
Chi
Ying's back was very recognizable. Her long fluttering hair, slender waist, and
long legs were eye-catching. She had a black shoulder bag and she was wearing high
heels as she hurried outside.
She
could vaguely hear Chi Ying tell the driver to send her to the international
airport.
Shu
Bai thought Chi Ying had checked out of the room and swiped the room card to
clean the room. What she never imagined in her life was the sight of a man
lying in that room.
He
was sleeping peacefully and his facial features looked handsome. His eyebrows
were drawn together and his body exuded the smell of alcohol, mixed with a
faint mint fragrance.
Shu
Bai covered her mouth to prevent her scream.
No
one at the Film Academy would not recognize the man in front of her——
It was Lu Jingyan...
People called him President Lu with much respect. He is the
young president of Oushi Entertainment who just took office and the organizer
of last night's banquet...
She
realized it was a King Room.
Of course, Shu Bai knew what that meant.
But
yesterday's dinner was a large-scale casting of a TV-series under Oushi at the
Film Academy.
After
one night, most of the roles have been finalized, leaving only the second
female vacancy... That's the role she coveted for a long time but she had low
self-esteem.
If
she could have an opportunity, maybe she wouldn't have to work at the bottom
with such a shabby salary. It was said that the actors selected this time would also have the opportunity to go overseas to film.
Shu
Bai remembered that at the banquet, a potbellied director said he was very
optimistic about her ability. Although she didn't know whether it was out of
politeness or sincerity, he did say she had potential.
She
was full of hope.
However,
Shu Bai didn't expect Senior Sister Chi Ying, who is unique and a goddess in
her heart would choose unspoken rules for the opportunity in the circle ...
She
slept with Lu Jingyan, the president of Oushi Entertainment. The National God.
In her heart, Chi Ying is clean, different from everyone else, and untainted.
What an optimistic belief. It was all just a joke.