A Time-Limited Romance with Movie Queen Ex - Chapter 45.1

Rong Qingyao sat at a long table not far away, her black evening gown accentuating her refined elegance. Her posture was impeccable as she silently cut the steak on her plate, even the way she held her wine glass was breathtakingly graceful.

People came and went around her, yet she remained lazily composed, unshaken like a queen aloofly seated at the far end of a grand hall.

Here, people usually prepared two types of business cards, one for formal corporate settings, utterly professional, and another for exchanging in tipsy, post-drink conversations, private and full of charm.

With her chain-linked glasses on, Rong Qingyao could clearly see that the card Wei Xiashuang had given Luo Mijin belonged to the latter. Embroidered with three large red roses, it was as bold and vibrant as Wei Xiashuang herself, who moved swiftly and decisively.

Speaking of which, Wei Xiashuang was known in their circle as someone who loved to play passionate about music, dabbling in bands, composing, choreography, and even running her own studio. Beautiful, generous with money, and unrestrained in her pursuits.

Rumors had it that she had no preferences when it came to gender as long as she took a liking to someone, she would pursue them relentlessly, regardless of their background, and rarely failed.

During her time on set, Rong Qingyao had personally witnessed Wei Xiashuang flirt with multiple people in a single month, one would enter her room, leave, and soon another would take their place.

And not a single one ever came back to pester, annoy, or cling to her.

In short, Wei Xiashuang was a master of romance, drifting through countless flowers without a single petal sticking to her fiery in passion when she chose to be, yet utterly ruthless when she turned cold.

Such a person was not suited for Luo Mijin.

“Qingyao, what’s wrong? Why aren’t you going over?” Bai Jinhuai sat down beside Rong Qingyao, propping her chin on one hand with a puzzled expression. “Or has your stubborn nature changed? Have you decided to let your first love find happiness, so you brought Riddle here to secure a good match? How noble of you, President Rong. Truly admirable.”

“Wei Xiashuang isn’t right for her,” Rong Qingyao lowered her lashes, the blood-red wine staining her lips an even deeper crimson.

“Then who is right for Luo Mijin? You? Besides, how would you know they’re not a match without trying?” Bai Jinhuai was well aware of how Rong Qingyao had once “dragged” Luo Mijin back into her life.

The commotion had been so intense that Bai Jinhuai had half-expected it to be some modern-day tale of forced possession.

And then there was the act she had Scott put on honestly, Bai Jinhuai didn’t think the two were all that compatible. Maybe it would be easier if they just let each other go.

Was she suited for Luo Mijin?

This was the first time Rong Qingyao had ever considered the question. The moment Luo Mijin had uttered the word “breakup,” Rong Qingyao had sentenced their relationship to death. So at the final moment, without even asking why, she had turned and walked away.

After completely losing contact with Luo Mijin, she had spent countless nights drowning in regret, why hadn’t she chased after her? Why hadn’t she asked why? Why the breakup? How could Luo Mijin break so many promises?

Would everything have been different if she had just asked one more question?

But she had come to her senses too late. Perhaps this was the price of understanding possession only after experiencing loss.

So what if they weren’t suited?

She had everything else in life this one thing, she would seize by force if love demanded it.

She didn’t know what Luo Mijin had said, but it sent Wei Xiashuang into a fit of giggles. Watching silently, Rong Qingyao’s already cold expression turned frostier, a hint of obsession creeping into the corners of her eyes and brows.

“Qingyao, you’re not really planning to force the issue, are you? Though you’ve already done it once before.”

“I won’t,” Rong Qingyao gazed at the small dimple that appeared at the corner of Luo Mijin’s lips when she smiled, her expression inscrutable. “At least not now.”

Bai Jinhuai didn’t catch Rong Qingyao’s latter words and patted her chest in relief. “Thank goodness you still have some sense. Actually, I think it’s good for Luo Mijin to interact with more people. She really needs money right now, and with her musical talent, she just needs the right opportunity to soar.”

“She doesn’t like interacting with others,” Rong Qingyao murmured, the same old restlessness churning within her, lost and directionless.

“She seems fine to me. Luo Mijin just seems a bit introverted, speaks a little slowly, but otherwise she’s great very unique.”

“I could give her the right opportunity…” Rong Qingyao trailed off with a heavy sigh, her eyes dimming.

Luo Mijin would most likely refuse any convenience she offered.

“Which bar do you play drums at? I’ll bring some friends to cheer you on,” Wei Xiashuang asked enthusiastically, chattering away with endless questions.

Luo Mijin wasn’t used to such overwhelming enthusiasm, but she thought that since this was Scott’s friend, getting along with them might help Rong Qingyao in some way?

The idea was probably naive and foolish. Luo Mijin knew she was terrible at socializing and navigating interpersonal relationships, but she still wanted to do something.

Wasn’t it better than doing nothing at all?

She stole a glance at Rong Qingyao while taking a sip of water.

The woman sat poised at the head of the long table, her face reflected in the silver wineglass, exuding an intellectual and coldly restrained aura.

This time, Luo Mijin saw clearly though Rong Qingyao’s expression was neutral, she could tell the woman was in a terrible mood, absolutely awful.

She considered this her “superpower”: struggling to understand most people’s thoughts and emotions, yet uniquely attuned to Rong Qingyao’s.

She remembered Rong Qingyao had been in good spirits when driving them to the banquet earlier. Why had her mood soured so suddenly…

The next moment, Luo Mijin saw Scott and the handsome blond man, Mike, approach the table to chat with Rong Qingyao.

Instantly, Luo Mijin understood the reason for Rong Qingyao’s displeasure, it must be because Scott had invited Mike. Flaunting it so brazenly in public meant he no longer cared about appearances.

Forcing herself to look away, Luo Mijin focused on the water in her glass, pushing down all the turbulent emotions.

Wei Xiashuang took a sip of wine from her goblet and happened to notice Luo Mijin’s averted gaze, following it to Rong Qingyao.

“Scott and Qingyao make quite the pair no, more like beauty and brains. Actually, let’s just say he hit the jackpot to even be engaged to her.”

Luo Mijin looked up at Wei Xiashuang and asked softly, “Why do you say that?”

“Originally, it was supposed to be Scott’s brother engaged to Qingyao. But she chose Scott in front of both families, saying they already knew each other and had feelings, so they switched. Scott, already the favorite, shot up even higher in status at home.”

[Already knew each other and had feelings]

Luo Mijin forced a smile, masking the growing bitterness in her heart.

Ever since moving into Rong Qingyao’s home, she had even begun to fantasize that the woman still had feelings for her, otherwise, why would she care so much?

But hearing these offhand yet sincere remarks from others, she realized how delusional she had been.

Just like back then, after that one night with Rong Qingyao, she had been convinced the other woman liked her too, leading to her relentless pursuit or, to put it more accurately, her shameless persistence.

She always overestimated herself, believing that sincerity alone would be reciprocated.

Last time had just been luck.

And luck doesn’t last forever.

“I see. That is quite fortunate,” Luo Mijin murmured, her mind exhausted, barely able to keep herself upright in the chair. She longed to find an empty rooftop to lie down on and stay there forever.

“Yeah, everyone says Scott’s punching above his weight,” Wei Xiashuang stared at Rong Qingyao for a moment, her eyes full of regret. “Such a beauty, why would she throw herself away on a man?”

The last part was muttered under her breath, and she masked her own melancholy well. She was disappointed, but there were plenty of beauties in the world, she wouldn’t let it get her down.

“So, are you close with Scott too?”

“Sort of. We were high school classmates. I know pretty much everything about him just a happy-go-lucky guy, really good at eating, drinking, and having fun.”

“Tell me… under what circumstances would they possibly call off the engagement?” Luo Mijin lowered her head, accidentally voicing her thoughts aloud.

“Call it off? Not likely. There’s too much business involved between their families. Besides, Qingyao must be serious, otherwise, why would she, after all these years without a single rumor, suddenly agree to marry Scott?”

Luo Mijin wanted to stand up and leave right then.

“I heard their engagement party’s going to be huge live bands, artists designing the venue, even pirate ships and desert treasure hunt themes.”

As they chatted, Scott happened to stroll over gracefully, a glass of wine in hand, beaming. “Riddle, Qing and I listened to your demo. We both think it’s great, your drumming at the wedding is going to be amazing.”

“Oh? That’s good,” Luo Mijin replied flatly, still staring at her water glass.

Scott didn’t seem to mind at all, grabbing a new bottle of wine before quickly making his escape.

Wei Xiashuang snapped out of her daze and continued the conversation.

“So you’re the drummer for Qingyao’s wedding band? Let me tell you, she’s incredibly picky, everything has to be perfect. Working with her on films is both agonizing and exhilarating.”

Luo Mijin was surprised. She rarely heard others’ opinions about Rong Qingyao, and this fresh perspective felt like filling a void she hadn’t realized existed.

So, pushing aside her exhaustion, she perked up and asked, “I never found her picky. Have you worked on a film with her? What’s she like on set?”

“We can’t really say we’ve collaborated before. I just composed the theme song for one of her movies,” Wei Xiashuang recalled as she spoke. “Don’t be fooled by her gentle demeanor in daily life, when it comes to work, she’s practically a tyrant. On set, she demands nothing but the best from herself, a complete perfectionist.”

“But there was one particularly dangerous incident. That’s when I found out that the top student Rong Qingyao was actually terrible with directions.”

“Particularly dangerous?”

“Back then, she had just finished filming one movie and immediately started another. The previous film hadn’t aired yet, so she was still an unknown actress. Once, after shooting a snow scene, the Aurora happened to appear. She ran off alone to watch it all night and nearly froze to death. When we asked her afterward why she didn’t come back, she said she got lost.”

“Why did she go see the… Aurora?” Luo Mijin suddenly looked up and questioned.

She had previously taught Rong Qingyao how to navigate using stars and a compass. Though Rong Qingyao wasn’t particularly skilled at it, she certainly shouldn’t have gotten lost.

“I don’t remember clearly, but it seemed like she wanted to say goodbye to something from her past. I guess she was trying to heal some wounds, forget the past, and start anew.”

The conversation with Wei Xiashuang opened a new door for Luo Mijin, one that led to a dazzling, colorful world, a trajectory of Rong Qingyao’s life that she had missed entirely and had no part in.

Her memory and imagination were sharp. Just from these fragmented descriptions, she could vividly picture what Rong Qingyao had been like during that phase.

“Anyway, let’s not talk about them anymore. Let’s talk about you and music. For example, if I hum a random tune, you…” Wei Xiashuang handed a chopstick to Luo Mijin. “Tap it on the table for me.”

Luo Mijin took the silver chopstick as if it were a drumstick, twirling it casually in her fingers like a fleeting silver light.

“Which master did you learn drumming from?”

Luo Mijin shook her head. “I signed up at the children’s palace and studied for two years.”

“And after that?”

“After that, I just played casually, practicing occasionally.” Luo Mijin’s thoughts involuntarily drifted back to weekends spent with Rong Qingyao in the abandoned bar one studying, the other drumming.

At the time, it had seemed like the most ordinary thing in the world.

Perhaps the dimensions of her life’s river were too narrow and short, with all its meaningful fragments tied to Rong Qingyao.

“Do you play any other instruments? Piano, violin, guitar?”

“I’ve dabbled a little, just a little.”

After her autism diagnosis, her parents initially believed she could still be “saved.” They enrolled her in roller skating, golf, horseback riding, piano, and cello lessons, anything to rescue her supposedly “wayward” soul through sports, music, and high art.

Until they failed completely, exhausting all their efforts.

“Would you ever want to perform on stage? I mean, independently composing and releasing a rock album or single.”

“Me? I couldn’t do that.”

The mere thought of more people watching her perform and recognizing her made Luo Mijin’s expression turn strange and pale, a faint sweat glistening on her smooth forehead.

“How do you know you can’t if you’ve never tried?”

“Excuse me, I need to use the restroom.”

Wei Xiashuang watched in surprise as Luo Mijin stood up and mechanically left the banquet hall, leaving everyone baffled.

Luo Mijin stood before the mirror, turning on the cold water tap. She cupped handfuls of icy water, repeatedly submerging her face until the hair at her temples was soaked.

Unwanted memories flooded in relentlessly the airport, the crowds, the clamorous cheers drowning out her voice. That slender, tall figure passed through the security checkpoint, melting into the bright daylight without looking back even once.

In the banquet hall, Scott glanced around nervously, afraid Luo Mijin had gone to grab something to beat him up with.

“I really don’t get it. Qing has money and looks, why is she so passive in relationships?”

“When you’re not afraid of losing someone, you can play around as you please,” Bai Jinhuai deliberately chattered beside Rong Qingyao. “If you ask me, what’s an expired relationship really worth? If Luo Mijin could be lured away by Wei Xiashuang, wouldn’t that just prove she wasn’t worth it in the first place?”

“Let me calculate after the news of our arranged marriage got out, the company’s stock price quintupled. Qing, your net worth skyrocketed. From a financial standpoint, you’ve won big. Whether it’s worth it emotionally, I wouldn’t know.”

Rong Qingyao clearly wasn’t listening to either of them, silently watching as Luo Mijin returned before standing up and walking straight toward her.

Wei Xiashuang, on the other hand, looked perfectly at ease. “Xiao Luo, have you thought about my proposal? Becoming an independent musician, dabbling in rock.”

Luo Mijin clenched her sleeves, maintaining a calm demeanor, though her lips were bloodless, making her appear especially pale.

“Qingyao, you’re here. You really have an eye for treasure this young friend you brought is both humorous and talented, with a real gift for music,” Wei Xiashuang said, giving Rong Qingyao a look that said, You’ve struck gold.

To Bai Jinhuai, this was no different from declaring, Your person is great now they’re mine. A blatant provocation.

This was bound to push the already half-mad Rong Qingyao even further over the edge.

“Mmm, my judgment has always been excellent,” Rong Qingyao emphasized the word my.

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