A Time-Limited Romance with Movie Queen Ex - Chapter 32.2

Lan Mingyu couldn’t bring herself to say it was just a “rival’s intuition.” There’s a saying: the one who knows you best isn’t your friend, but your enemy.

“I’ll bring you dinner later. I have to go now.”

Before Luo Mijin could say anything else, Lan Mingyu hung up. Sighing, Luo Mijin put down her phone and saw the string of numbers in her contacts.

Rong Qingyao’s.

She hadn’t made an effort to memorize it, but there were only 42 days left until Rong Qingyao’s official engagement to someone else.

It felt like a ticking time bomb in her heart, relentlessly counting down the dwindling seconds.

Before she knew it, she had dialed the unfamiliar number.

“Hello, is there something you need?” The woman’s voice on the other end was low and gentle, her breath light, carrying the soothing calm of white noise on a snowy day.

Luo Mijin stayed silent, just listening to the sounds on Rong Qingyao’s end.

The other woman, too, seemed to understand without words, letting silence become the only backdrop between them.

The world rushed by like flowing water, yet through this phone, they stood still, like unyielding rocks in the current.

Luo Mijin had so many questions for Rong Qingyao. Why did you come to see me the other night? What were you thinking while staying with me? Why did you cook for me?

You’re about to get engaged, why do these things for me?

Was it overflowing kindness, a fleeting moment of pity, or did Rong Qingyao still harbor a sliver of longing for her?

Or was it all for her fiancé, Scott?

She couldn’t bring herself to ask.

Finally, Luo Mijin spoke, her voice as tentative and fragile as a stray cat wandering too long in the dark.

“Rong Qingyao.”

There was no immediate response. The silence stretched so long that Luo Mijin thought the call had disconnected and was about to lower her phone.

Then, Rong Qingyao’s voice came through, melodious and unhurried. “Mm, I’m here.”

The woman had paused a work meeting to step onto the rooftop for this call.

Luo Mijin stared blankly at the ceiling. “Can I have your autograph?”

“Is it for you?” Rong Qingyao asked, even though she already knew the answer would be no.

“My doctor wants it. Her daughter is your fan.”

“Of course. I’ll bring it to you tomorrow.”

“Thanks. Your autograph must be worth a lot, right? I…”

“It all depends on who you ask. Some might find it invaluable, while others would simply reject it, seeing it as nothing more than a waste of ink on paper.”

Luo Mijin gave an odd smile. “I suppose no one would refuse it.”

“Oh, but they would, of course they would,” Rong Qingyao replied, her voice deliberately teasing and husky. “Didn’t you reject me?”

Luo Mijin froze. “I already told you, you and Mr. Scott have nothing to worry about. I don’t blame him.”

“Luo Mijin… are you happy now?”

The sudden question caught Luo Mijin off guard. She could only respond mechanically, “Yes, I am.”

“That’s good.”

Rong Qingyao spoke of trivial matters, telling lies everyone could see through, and they tacitly ended the meaningless exchange with a simple “goodbye.”

In the office, Yan Si watched through the glass door as Rong Qingyao approached, her expression cool and detached, standing out starkly among the dull and tedious crowd.

Yet Yan Si found herself unable to appreciate this breathtaking beauty because it felt hollow.

When the woman looked at most people, her eyes were as empty as mirrors, devoid of any depth or vitality, just a soulless shell.

Only when something related to Luo Mijin came up did those blank, sharp eyes suddenly come alive, as if touched by a master’s brush.

It seemed that only in those fleeting moments of connection with that person did her entire life and soul truly feel alive.

Is this what they call unrequited love?

Does loving someone who exists within sight but remains forever out of reach always leave one torn between feeling like a walking corpse and a withered tree suddenly revived?

There was no time left for Yan Si to analyze her superior further. Rong Qingyao took her seat at the head of the table, her tall nose framed by silver-rimmed glasses, her movements deliberate and elegant as she flipped open the documents.

“Mr. White, our terms are extremely favorable. Deep down, you know very well that partnering with us is the best choice for your company.”

Her words and pacing carried the polished professionalism of systematic training neither submissive nor overbearing, even her threats perfectly measured.

The other party knew that with Rong Qingyao now married to Scott, backed by the full support of a shipping giant and immense financial resources, she lacked neither money nor connections.

After three months of acquisition negotiations, they were already at a disadvantage.

Noticing the flicker of hesitation in Mr. White’s eyes, Rong Qingyao didn’t press her advantage. Instead, she slid the revised contract across the table and rose gracefully to leave.

“Mr. White, take your time to reconsider. I’ll be waiting for your call,” she said lightly before exiting.

Seeing this, Yan Si smoothly handed her a perfectly warmed latte and followed Rong Qingyao out of the meeting room.

“Wait!Qing,” Mr. White said after a deep breath. “We’ll sign the contract now.”

“Excellent,” Rong Qingyao smiled, pulling a dark gold fountain pen from her suit pocket and placing it gently on the table. “Please, I look forward to a fruitful partnership.”

Once the tall Caucasian man had signed, Yan Si collected the documents and said warmly,

“Mr. White, I heard you enjoy sushi. Would you do us the honor of joining us tonight? Director Rong has already reserved a private dining spot.”

“Of course, of course,” Mr. White replied with a smile, following Rong Qingyao’s lead. “Qing, if you’re free next time, let’s go horseracing together.”

“Of course, my assistant will arrange a suitable time for me.”

Rong Qingyao responded with a faint smile, recalling a summer several years ago when she had just been acknowledged by Old Master Cen. Without an official identity at the time, she was tasked with handling business affairs for the conglomerate.

As luck would have it, the clients she wanted to meet were at the racetrack, and naturally, no one was willing to pay attention to the still-unknown Rong Qingyao.

She stood under the scorching sun for a long time, while those people chatted and laughed in the cool air-conditioning, occasionally leading their horses for a leisurely stroll on the lawn.

These people, who held wealth in their hands, didn’t care in the slightest. They continued discussing various topics with great enthusiasm, and after learning she had refused transactional favors involving power and desire, they even threw her a few disdainful glances as they left.

In truth, whether one could play tennis, ride horses, or appreciate fine wine and art didn’t matter at all.

There was no inherent nobility in sports, and in her eyes, there was no difference in taste between a bottle of wine worth a few hundred and one worth thousands or tens of thousands.

The most important thing was to stand in a position of power, holding enough chips in hand, to qualify as a player in the game.

Several days later, when delivering an autograph to Luo Mijin at the hospital, Rong Qingyao didn’t show herself. She only had Yan Si take it inside while she stood outside the ward, watching from a distance as Lan Mingyu emerged.

“Miss Lan, a moment, please.”

“What is it?” Facing Rong Qingyao, Lan Mingyu displayed immense patience and elegance, refusing to concede even slightly.

“These are tickets to Eve’s concert next week two VIP seats, separate from the crowd, with early entry.”

“Miss Rong, what do you mean by this?” Lan Mingyu hesitated before accepting the tickets.

“She loves this band, and I happened to be able to get the tickets.”

“Why?” Lan Mingyu scrutinized Rong Qingyao, noticing the woman’s calm expression, one that revealed nothing of her true emotions unless she wanted it to.

Rong Qingyao didn’t seem inclined to pretend. She lifted her lashes slightly. “Don’t you already know?”

She had never imagined she would one day desire to steal someone else’s love.

By now, Lan Mingyu was one hundred percent certain that Rong Qingyao had ulterior motives toward Luo Mijing, she just couldn’t figure out what exactly the woman was planning.

With her ethereal, untouchable beauty, was she really aiming for some kind of “one husband, one wife” arrangement?

Plenty in high society dabbled in such things, and Rong Qingyao was both stunning and wealthy, more than capable of pulling it off.

Regardless of Luo Mijing’s feelings toward Rong Qingyao, and whether it was out of selfishness or goodwill, Lan Mingyu couldn’t possibly let Luo Mijin know about Rong Qingyao’s intentions.

“Aren’t you engaged?”

Rong Qingyao didn’t want to discuss matters that weren’t fully resolved. “That doesn’t conflict with anything.”

“Don’t you think this is morally corrupt?”

Rong Qingyao sighed. “Morally corrupt?”

If moral corruption could win Luo Mijin back, she would stop at nothing.

But she wasn’t confident.

“Remember to take her to the concert, she’s been looking forward to it for a long time,” was all she said before leaving without a trace of reluctance.

**

After being discharged, Luo Mijin recovered quickly. When she wasn’t working, she would sit quietly, neither speaking nor doing anything else detached and lifeless, like a thin sheet of paper.

Luo Zhiwen, still in her hospital bed, had undergone another heart surgery, but there was no improvement. The doctors recommended conservative treatment, advising them to prepare for the long haul.

“Your sister’s condition isn’t optimistic. Prolonged bed rest has left her body weak, and her heart has developed complications. The new medication carries a high risk of side effects. Unless a suitable heart donor can be found…”

The doctor’s words weighed heavily on Luo Mijin’s heart as she sat alone in the outdoor garden, thoughts tumbling one after another through her mind.

She was determined to save her younger sister, to cure her illness.

“Luoluo, why are you out here in the cold instead of staying inside?” Lan Mingyu pulled up in her car, stopping in front of Luo Mijin with a puzzled expression.

Though it was called a garden, the long winter had long since withered the grass, leaving only bare patches of earth covered in remnants of snow. Even the few pine trees nearby looked gaunt and skeletal.

It was hardly a suitable place for a leisurely stroll.

“Yeah, it was too stuffy inside. I’m ready, aren’t we going to the concert? Let’s go.” Luo Mijin snapped out of her thoughts and offered a faint smile.

Lan Mingyu had come to pick her up to attend Eve’s concert. Though reluctant to use tickets gifted by a romantic rival, she had to admit that Rong Qingyao understood Luo Mijin better knew how to make her happy in ways Lan Mingyu didn’t.

But that was only because they had known each other longer, she firmly believed.

At least, judging by Luo Mijing’s dismissive attitude toward Rong Qingyao, Lan Mingyu still held onto a sliver of hope.

What right did an engaged woman have to compete like this? If she had the guts, she should call off the engagement first.

The concert was packed, the venue heavily decked out in rock aesthetics, the crowd wild with enthusiasm. By the end, the place had descended into chaotic revelry.

But their seats were excellent quiet, undisturbed, surrounded by equally calm spectators. A few even wore exaggerated sunglasses and masks, more determined than them to avoid attention.

After the concert, Lan Mingyu was startled when Luo Mijin suddenly thanked her.

“What for? You work for me, I pay you,” Lan Mingyu said with a warm smile, her striking features softening. “Haven’t you helped me plenty too? Last month, you were the one who changed the lightbulb in my house.”

Luo Mijin lowered her head with a quiet laugh, strands of hair obscuring the faint dimple at the corner of her lips. “I didn’t do much. You’re the one always running around taking care of things.”

“We’re kindred spirits, aren’t we?” Lan Mingyu chuckled. “As you grow older, the people you can talk to the ones you even have time to see only grow fewer. That’s why I cherish this.”

Luo Mijin pondered this for a long moment but found it hard to relate.

Perhaps because she had never been one for socializing, always finding conversation terrifying.

The one exception to that… had now found an exception of her own.

Maybe she was fated to be an island.

Thinking of her younger sister, Luo Zhiwen, Luo Mijin seemed to reach some resolution and thanked Lan Mingyu again.

As she stood to leave, she noticed a woman a row behind them deliberately keeping her head down.

Luo Mijin was about to take a closer look when Lan Mingyu’s next words stunned her.

“What I’m about to say, I’ve thought over carefully. The truth is, the first time I saw you at the airport three years ago, my heart skipped a beat. That’s why I approached you and invited you to my café. You have no idea how many shops on that street wanted to snatch you up.” She paused, then smiled sheepishly. “Since then, that fondness has only grown. I can’t just ignore it anymore.”

“I’m saying all this not to pressure you, nor does it mean we must have a future together. I understand how difficult your life is. You don’t have to give me any answer right now, I’m willing to wait. I just hope you understand my feelings and consider including me in your life.”

Listening to the passionate and sincere confession, Luo Mijing’s heart remained hollow and numb.

She was fully aware of everything Lan Mingyu had done for her. From the moment she arrived in this unfamiliar country and city to care for her younger sister, it was Lan Mingyu who had helped her without reservation.

Without Lan Mingyu, she and Luo Zhiwen might still be wandering somewhere, or worse, Luo Zhiwen might have been kicked out of the hospital when the Luo family could no longer afford the medical bills, left to die under a bridge.

“I understand, but I don’t feel that way about you…” Luo Mijin shook her head.

She couldn’t bring herself to lie to her own heart, nor could she accept someone she didn’t love.

As if afraid Luo Mijin would reject her outright, Lan Mingyu cut her off, emphasizing again:

“I don’t want to force you to make a decision. I can give you more space. I know feelings can’t be forced, but I just hope you’ll give me a chance consider me as an option.”

Luo Mijin couldn’t ignore the sincerity and consideration in Lan Mingyu’s words.

“Mingyu,” her voice grew hoarse, “you don’t have to lower yourself like this. I’m not worth it, and don’t think time will change anything.”

“No, Luo Luo, I’ve said my piece. Are you hungry? Let’s go grab something to eat, there’s a great steakhouse across the street.”

Luo Mijin clenched her fists and called out loudly to Lan Mingyu.

“Wait, Mingyu, don’t go. Listen to me first.”

Lan Mingyu already had a sense of what Luo Mijing’s answer would be. She wanted to delay hearing it, but she couldn’t resist Luo Mijing’s insistence.

“Don’t wait for me. Even waiting a day or two would just be a waste of your time.”

Rong Qingyao, seated a row away from Luo Mijing, lifted her head and fixed her gaze in their direction.

She heard Luo Mijing’s response clearly.

“I’m sorry, Mingyu. I can’t start a romantic relationship with you.”

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