A Time-Limited Romance with Movie Queen Ex - Chapter 30.2

Yan Si, who had been dozing off in her comfortably cushioned chair, startled at Bai Jinhuai’s voice. Collecting herself, she answered slowly,

“Director Rong hasn’t been working late this week, nor has she been away for meetings. But she does hold work conferences with department heads over the computer.”

“Not working late, not resting at home, does she suddenly have the leisure to go shopping?” Bai Jinhuai was baffled. He opened the office liquor cabinet for a quick drink, only to be horrified by the sight. “What the hell is this? Qingyao stuffed dozens of chip bags in the liquor cabinet is she hosting an elementary school graduation party?”

“Um… yes. Director Rong bought a lot of this brand of chips this week. She sometimes eats a pack, and I’ve had a few too. If you’re hungry, you can snack on them. Just don’t finish them all, or Director Rong will get upset.”

Yan Si recalled the time she accidentally ate too many and was subjected to Rong Qingya’s icy glare.

“Barbecue flavor?” Bai Jinhuai picked up a bag, scrutinized it, tore it open, and took a bite. “Definitely a kid’s favorite with all that seasoning. Has your boss been possessed or something, suddenly snacking on this junk?”

Yan Si shrugged. “No idea. A few days ago, she came back wanting to find an old fried chicken place, only to learn it had closed three years ago. After that, she quietly ordered these chips.”

“Hey, I won’t lie, even if it’s a kid’s flavor, it’s actually pretty good,” she conceded, acknowledging her boss’s taste, at least in the realm of chips.

“Bought them out of the blue?” Bai Jinhuai frowned, crunching loudly on the chips. “Did she ever eat these before?”

“No,” Yan Si searched her memory before shaking her head firmly. “You know how disciplined Director Rong is her diet is meticulously balanced with vitamins, protein, fiber, you name it. She barely drinks, hates snacks, and can’t stand desserts or coffee.”

In short: healthy, clean, scientific and bland as hell.

“Rong Qingyao eating chips, feels so out of place,” Bai Jinhuai mused.

Yan Si pictured Rong Qingyao in her impeccably tailored black suit, cold and restrained, only to tear open a cartoon-packaged bag of barbecue chips… The dissonance was jarring.

“Yeah, it’s weird.”

“Tsk tsk,” Bai Jinhui looked at the empty office chair and snorted with laughter. “There’s something fishy about this unusual situation. Where has she gone today? I called her but her phone’s still off.”

“She’s probably been going to Seventh Avenue to watch fireworks this week. I accidentally saw the navigation info on her car earlier,” Yan Si whispered, afraid a third person might discover she’d peeked at her boss’s private information.

Bai Jinhui walked over to Yan Si and glanced at this week’s meeting schedule. “Going to Seventh Avenue for fireworks in this freezing weather? Your boss is getting more eccentric by the day. That deserted area would be perfect for murder and burying bodies. And doesn’t this say she has a meeting tonight?”

“Maybe she works more efficiently there, fresh air, pleasant atmosphere, and convenient for night jogging,” Yan Si yawned, sipping her freshly brewed tea. “Look, President Rong has logged in right on time for the meeting.”

Bai Jinhui leaned over to check the conference screen. Rong Qingya’s side was pitch black, the cold air almost palpable through the computer. Yet the woman, dressed in a restrained black turtleneck, with her red lips and fair skin, looked perfectly composed. Anyone unaware might think she was in some quaint, elegant villa.

“Hey, Qingya, you really know how to enjoy life.”

Rong Qingyao sat alone in the pavilion, attending the work meeting via laptop. She nodded slightly at Bai Jinhui’s teasing greeting.

“Qingya, why are you out here alone in the cold? The park is deserted and unsafe.”

“I have bodyguards,” Rong Qingyao gestured to indicate they were waiting nearby.

“Aren’t you worried about being recognized by passersby? What if you run into obsessive fans?”

“The meeting is about to start,” Rong Qingyao coolly cut off Bai Jinhui’s small talk.

Bai Jinhui sighed and reluctantly fell silent, catching sight of a brilliant firework rising into the night sky behind Rong Qingyao before walking away.

“What’s going on? A fireworks show?” she muttered under her breath.

While attentively listening to the reports, Rong Qingyao frequently glanced around the park, hoping to spot a familiar figure.

She hadn’t been the type to leisurely admire flowers, the moon, or beautiful scenery before. Every moment of her time had to be devoted to studying and working, ensuring that one day, her uncertain future might finally see the light.

The thought of returning home across the ocean to find Luo Mijin had been her only solace during those relentless climbs upward.

“President Rong, do you think this approach is acceptable?” A subordinate sought her opinion after finishing their report.

Adjusting her Bluetooth earpiece, Rong Qingyao focused her gaze, maintaining her composed demeanor as she spoke at a measured pace.

“This acquisition is aimed at achieving technological synergy. The construction of the edge computing service center is the top priority…”

After confirming the project direction with the engineers and architects, the meeting gradually concluded with mutual goodnights.

The woman stood and wandered alone in the mountain breeze. In this valley-like lowland, watching the snow and fireworks was truly beautiful. The towering tree shadows swayed gently in the night wind, carrying a faint hint of nostalgia.

She waited another five minutes before finally leaving at 9:55, five minutes longer than yesterday.

**

Due to Luo Zhiwen’s heart condition, Luo Mijin had taken leave from the band and hadn’t performed at the bar for over a week.

It had been over ten days by the time she received the letter.

The letter didn’t specify an exact date for viewing the fireworks or anything else. She wasn’t sure whether she should go see those aurora-like fireworks.

[Fox: At the far end of Seventh Avenue, there’s a small park that hosts fireworks displays resembling the northern lights at night. I thought you might enjoy it. Consider this my thanks for the bag of chips.]

Luo Mijin felt a strange sensation upon hearing Fox’s words, because Seventh Avenue wasn’t far from where she lived, yet she’d never seen any fireworks displays since moving in.

The most likely reason, of course, was that she was too exhausted every night and fell straight asleep.

The small, nameless park was filled with ornamental kale and camellias, where elderly people strolled arm in arm in small groups, the atmosphere quiet and peaceful.

When Luo Mijin arrived, panting and out of breath, she didn’t notice the slender, graceful figure disappearing at the other end of the street like the fireworks she had missed tonight.

“Excuse me, have the fireworks already ended?” A vague feeling in her heart compelled her to ask.

An elderly woman with neatly combed silver hair nodded.

Luo Mijin murmured a quiet thanks, her silver hair falling like wild grass as she turned to leave the way she came only to be stopped by the old woman.

“But there will be more fireworks soon, young one. No need to rush.”

“Even if I missed them, there will still be more?” Luo Mijin froze.

“Yes, even if you missed them, there will still be more,” the old woman pointed to the sky, where a new round of fireworks slowly rose into the night, blooming wildly in the darkness. “Lately, they set them off three times every night here. You won’t miss them so easily.”

“I see.”

Childishly, Luo Mijin tilted her head back to watch. The fireworks were beautiful, like a miniature aurora.

The old woman chuckled and walked away arm in arm with her companion.

Brilliant fireworks burst across the distant sky, some like soaring green spider plants, others like golden waterfalls, while clusters of bright white sparks exploded like pieces on a fiercely contested chessboard.

“So beautiful,” Luo Mijin whispered softly, her face illuminated by the fireworks, though it was unclear who she was speaking to.

Suddenly, she thought of the only time in her life she had seen the aurora with Rong Qingya. Back then, they hadn’t realized that the gifts fate bestowed always came with a price.

But now she understood life shouldn’t be weighed so carefully. Whether those memories were like bubbles or cherry blossoms, as long as they had once been beautiful, once bloomed, that was enough.

In the end, having seen them, having shared them that was enough.

Meeting Rong Qingyao had already made Luo Mijin’s life a good one, without regrets.

The fireworks ended, but Luo Mijin stubbornly kept her head raised, unwilling to let the tears welling in her eyes fall.

“But it was still too short, wasn’t it?”

The time they had loved each other wholeheartedly was far too brief.

The next evening, Scott suddenly called Rong Qingya.

“What is it?” Rong Qingyao answered, her tone indifferent, her fingers unconsciously fiddling with the game console in her pocket.

“Qing, have you been in touch with Riddle?” Scott’s voice carried a hint of urgency.

Rong Qingyao stood up, her tone growing more anxious. “No, what happened?”

“We agreed to video call at seven tonight to discuss the demo for the wedding song, but it’s already nine. I even spoke to her at six-forty, telling her to pick up the package I sent. She’s always punctual, I’m worried something might have happened.”

“You can go check her place. I’ll give you the address,” Rong Qingyao said without hesitation, reciting the address of Lan Mingyu’s apartment, silently marveling at her own memory.

Scott thought for a moment, then said:

“But Riddle has already moved. Are you sure this is her latest address?”

Rong Qingyao felt an almost imperceptible flutter in her chest. “She moved?”

“Yes, she told me herself. There was too much to pack, otherwise we would’ve met in person to chat. So I just sent her a housewarming gift.”

“Send me her new address.”

“I knew you’d care. I’ll send it right away,” Scott said with a triumphant smile. “I’ll leave this matter to you then. Do all the hard work better yet, take care of everything else too so I can rest.”

After hanging up, Scott hummed a cheerful country tune, smugly congratulating himself for being such a beautiful and kind-hearted Cupid.

Afraid she might be overthinking or making a big deal out of nothing, Rong Qingyao opened the fridge, took out ice cubes, crushed them, and refroze them repeating the process over and over.

But it was no use. Unable to resist, she took out her phone and dialed Luo Mijin’s number. No answer. Again and again, no answer.

That familiar, dreadful feeling washed over her once more. Panic creeping in, Rong Qingyao threw on a warm cashmere coat and drove through the snowstorm toward the approximate address Scott had given.

After calming down slightly, she noticed a flaw in Scott’s words and called him back.

“What exactly did you send her?”

“Raspberry nut jam cookies, a specialty from Mike’s hometown. They’re delicious, perfect for dinner.”

“She has a mild nut allergy. She gets a fever every time she eats them,” Rong Qingyao said flatly before hanging up. She immediately called her private doctor, Claire, and told her to come as soon as possible.

Even with the detailed address, Rong Qingyao, who had a slight sense of direction struggled to find the place.

Luo Mijin lived in a small attic of a three-story apartment building, accessible by a separate staircase. A sturdy iron door stood at the top, next to a digital keypad lock.

There was no time to call a locksmith. Wearing a mask and sunglasses, Rong Qingyao’s dark eyes burned with urgency.

She tentatively entered the birthday of Luo Mijin’s younger sister, Luo Zhiwen, four digits. The lock beeped: wrong code.

Next, she tried their shared birthday.

Wrong again…

With only three attempts allowed, Rong Qingyao’s heartbeat quickened. For some reason, another date, one she could never forget, flashed through her mind.

Her fingertips brushed over the four digits, a combination that wasn’t just a date but an unforgettable memory and a wound.

The day they broke up.

The electronic lock beeped twice, and the iron door clicked open.

Unsure how to react, Rong Qingyao slowly ascended the stairs, a bitter, mocking smile playing at her lips.

The tiny ice crystals on her lashes melted in the warmth, turning her beautiful eyes into a misty, ink-washed landscape painting.

The attic wasn’t large, but it was clean and tidy. Pushing the door open gently, Rong Qingyao called Luo Mijin’s full name softly.

No response. The room was dark.

Luo Mijin lay on crisp linen sheets, delirious from her allergic reaction, while the wind and snow howled outside.

Rong Qingyao approached the bed and called her name again.

The woman’s silk-like hair cascaded with a faint fragrance, her delicate features carrying a cold yet alluring charm, her figure graceful and enchanting.

She slowly knelt before the bed, her slender waist curving into an intoxicating arc as her pristine, pale fingers lightly traced the sharp contours of Luo Mijin’s lips.

A chilling possessiveness took root in her chest, this person no longer belonged to her. Had those soft lips tenderly kissed someone else?

Rong Qingyao brushed her forehead against Luo Mijin’s, then pressed lightly against her lips, inching closer bit by bit.

A text from her private doctor, Claire, briefly snapped Rong Qingyao back to her senses. She tucked Luo Mijin in and reached for a glass to give her some water.

Perhaps the crisp fragrance roused Luo Mijin from her feverish haze. Her eyes fluttered open to see a stunning beauty with snow-white skin and crimson lips leaning down, as if about to kiss her, the delicate corners of her eyes tinged with a damp flush.

Meeting Luo Mijin’s gaze, Rong Qingyao instinctively recoiled until she heard a faint plea:

“Senpai… don’t go.”

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