A Time-Limited Romance with Movie Queen Ex - Chapter 50.2

“She’s not,” Luo Mijin said after a pause, gritting her teeth.

Wei Xiashuang was still marveling at Rong Qingyao’s ruthlessness and didn’t catch Luo Mijin’s words. “What did you say?”

“Nothing, Xiashuang. I might return to my home country in six months or a year. I’ll be letting down your kindness.”

“Return home? So suddenly?”

“Yes. By then, my sister’s health will have improved significantly. Both of us long to return to where we grew up. After all, this place isn’t home.”

“That’s alright. Music isn’t like love it won’t be defeated by distance. You can record your songs without worry.”

After watching and listening to Luo Mijin’s performance, the composers and music teachers at Wei Xiashuang’s studio unanimously agreed that with systematic training, releasing singles and albums would be no problem at all.

Late at night, after the recording session, Wei Xiashuang offered to accompany Luo Mijin back to the hotel, wanting to chat along the way.

But as soon as they stepped into the corridor, they were greeted by a dazzling rain of fireworks blooming across the sky outside.

The music studio was located in a high-rise building near the coast. Even on this quiet floor, they could hear the cheers and excitement from the crowds below, all gathered to witness the spectacle.

From the building’s height, the dense crowd below looked like ants, all looking up in unison at the swaying blossoms of light in the night sky.

Every seaside railing was packed with people, and the platforms in front of shops were bustling with onlookers.

On this weekend night, many raised their phones, pausing in awe at the sudden, serendipitous romance.

The fireworks flashed and faded in the night sky, then flashed again, as if searing themselves onto the retinas of those watching.

“The fireworks I arranged aren’t they beautiful?” Wei Xiashuang stood beside Luo Mijin, tilting her head slightly to gaze at her without missing a beat.

“Yes, very beautiful,” Luo Mijin replied, standing by the glass window without turning to look at Wei Xiashuang.

The explosions were loud, making the glass tremble slightly. From time to time, Luo Mijin reached out, her fingertips touching the glass. Her slender, bony fingers appeared almost translucent against the night.

The fireworks lasted for three minutes. The final cluster, a rose-colored burst, soared to the highest point, blooming into a velvety heart before slowly dissipating strand by strand.

“You don’t seem particularly impressed? I thought you’d seen more beautiful sights than this,” Wei Xiashuang said with a soft, almost coquettish laugh. “I actually designed these firework patterns myself. I thought you’d find them stunning.”

She found Luo Mijin truly unique. In the past, when she wanted to charm someone as seemingly inexperienced as Luo Mijin, candlelit dinners, fireworks, cruises, and piano music had always worked like a charm.

But this person remained polite and courteous no matter what, expressing just the right amount of delight, with an unmistakable weariness in her eyes.

It was as if she had already witnessed the most beautiful things the world had to offer, and nothing else could catch her eye.

“No, I think your designs are exceptionally beautiful,” Luo Mijin turned her head, her large eyes filled with sincerity. “It’s just that we’re standing in the wrong spot.”

“The wrong spot?”

“Such beautiful, fleeting things exist to inspire longing and yearning. They must remain distant and unattainable, viewed from far below, to be truly cherished.”

This was the first time Wei Xiashuang had heard such a perspective. Previously, those she dated preferred heights, tangible possessions, and absolute control.

“I always thought looking down from above would make you feel secure,” Wei Xiashuang admitted openly, having made genuine efforts to understand Luo Mijin. “Next time I invite you to see the aurora, I’ll choose a lower spot, somewhere you can witness the most breathtaking display.”

Luo Mijin smiled faintly. The aurora, she’d seen it many times, yet only during that near-fatal moment of freezing cold had it appeared most beautiful.

No aurora in her life would ever surpass the one from that year.

This truth required no proof; she knew it with certainty.

“The happiest moment is the instant just before happiness is attained.”

With these words, Luo Mijin turned calmly toward the elevator.

**

Having stayed awake all night, Rong Qingyao called Bai Jinhuai to ask about Scott’s whereabouts.

“Where is he? How should I know? Try calling him yourself.”

Clearly just awakened, Bai Jinhuai sounded groggy and slow to react.

“I did. Neither he nor his butler are within service range.”

“Wait, let me think… Yesterday his boyfriend Mike mentioned Scott went out on a yacht. The ship might have sailed too far for phone signals.”

“Did he say when they’d return to port?”

“Hmm, earliest would be around 3 PM today, probably. That playboy’s been pent up lately no doubt he’s making the most of it.”

Rong Qingyao’s brow furrowed slightly. “That’s too late. I’ll try the satellite phone. The yacht should have one.”

“Hold on, Qingyao, did you pull an all-nighter?” Noticing the slight hoarseness in her voice, Bai Jinhuai pressed further.

“Yes. I was thinking through some things,” Rong Qingyao answered distractedly while texting Yan Si to procure a satellite phone.

Now fully alert, Bai Jinhuai sat up and checked the bedside clock, 6:10 AM.

“…”

“Qingyao, you attended that awards ceremony two nights ago and woke up at midnight for hair and makeup. How many hours of sleep have you gotten these past days?”

A brief pause. “Four or five. I don’t recall exactly. It doesn’t matter.”

“Of course it matters! You nearly died from that brain injury! Aren’t you afraid of turning into an insomniac zombie? If you can’t sleep, take a sedative. Rest first, then find Scott.”

“No. I need to reach him immediately. There are more critical matters afterward not a moment can be wasted.”

“What could possibly outweigh your health?”

Rong Qingyao chuckled. “Something bigger than the sky. Unsolved, I can’t rest.”

Unable to dissuade her, Bai Jinhuai dressed hastily and sighed.

“Stay put. I’m coming over to drive you, no exhausted driving.”

“That’s unnecessary. Yan Si can—”

“Shut it. I won’t feel at ease unless I see you myself.”

“Then… thank you,” Rong Qingyao murmured.

“Don’t thank me. Just live a few more years without another near-death stunt, and I’ll be thanking heaven and earth.”

After speaking, Bai Jinhuai dutifully got out of bed, washed up, dressed, and drove over to pick up Rong Qingyao before heading to the harbor in the early morning.

The cloudy harbor was shrouded in thick clouds that blocked the sunlight, the waves lapping gently. It was just too early not a soul in sight.

They waited for over an hour before Scott’s superyacht slowly docked. Its towering white hull stood out among the many keelboats and other yachts moored nearby, their masts and sails neatly arranged like fish scales.

Rong Qingyao had simply tied her hair into a high ponytail, with a few strands hanging loose in front of her forehead, looking as youthful and vibrant as a college student except for her ghostly pale complexion.

“Qing, what a rare guest! What brings you here? Care for a drink?” Scott, dressed as flamboyantly as a peacock, stood on the deck holding a wine glass to greet Bai Jinhuai and Rong Qingyao.

Bai Jinhuai rolled his eyes at the playboy who had no sense of boundaries and said bluntly:

“Whatever food you have, bring it up quickly. We didn’t even have breakfast just to find you.”

“No rush, no rush. We’ve got macaroni, ravioli, squid ink pasta, seafood paella.”

“Bring us a roast goose, pan-seared scallops, and pork knuckle, paired with something on the acidic side,” Bai Jinhuai cut in without hesitation, already ordering.

“You’re eating something that greasy this early in the morning?” Scott was about to turn to Rong Qingyao to complain about Bai Jinhuai’s appetite when he suddenly noticed the woman seemed distracted, her mind weighed down by something. “Qing, you seem off. What would you like to eat?”

“Anything is fine. I have something to discuss with you.”

“Oh, sure. Let’s talk in the cabin on the third deck better view there,” Scott said, instructing the waiter to have the kitchen prepare the food while shouting orders to set sail.

“Don’t sail out. I’ll disembark after we talk,” Rong Qingyao said calmly. “It’s urgent.”

Scott’s expression shifted to surprise, then gradually turned serious under her tone. “Qing, what’s so urgent?”

“Let’s cancel our engagement ceremony.”

Scott’s mind exploded with a deafening buzz. It took him several deep breaths before he could speak again:

“Qing, you remember, don’t you? Our engagement was never real just a formality to fool the old folks at home and secure some benefits. We’re almost at the finish line. There was never going to be anything between us. Hell, I even bought a three-dollar fake ring from a street vendor for the occasion.”

“Yes, I’m fully aware.”

“If you’re aware, then what’s this about? Canceling last minute isn’t the smart move. You could’ve just waited until after the ceremony everyone wins, fame and fortune included.”

“Even if it’s fake, I don’t want it anymore. It just doesn’t feel right,” Rong Qingyao said, her gaze steady, her words deliberate. “I’m sorry for hesitating so long and causing you trouble. I’ll compensate you for all losses.”

“There aren’t really any losses, I’m swimming in cash right now. But,” Scott recalled Bai Jinhuai once mentioning that Rong Qingyao preferred to plan meticulously before acting. So was everything already in place?

No wonder Bai Jinhuai and Rong Qingyao had been acting so “suspicious” all these years, always whispering about scattered shares, shareholders, acquisitions, and buyouts. They were definitely up to no good.

“I’ll calculate your losses and make sure the compensation satisfies you.”

Scott was momentarily stunned, then caught the sharp glint in the woman’s eyes that aggressive, almost provocative disdain and impatience toward power and status.

He used to see it often in the younger, ambitious Rong Qingyao. But over the years, she had tempered her edges, growing more refined, elegant, and inscrutable enough to make anyone curious.

It made Scott feel like something monumental was about to happen. He set down his wine bottle and pulled out a handkerchief to wipe his face, trying to steady himself.

“Qing, do you have a compelling reason to cancel the engagement? This is too sudden. Our business collaboration, your career in the entertainment industry, your fans, and the Cen family your father and younger brother are no pushovers.”

“There wasn’t one before, but there is now.”

“Alright, fine. You’ve grown stronger now, and I doubt the Cen family can do much to you anyway,” Scott glanced around, unsure whether Rong Qingyao had truly thought this decision through.

“Yes, I’ll have someone draft an announcement and leak it to the media. Soon, the whole world will know.” Rong Qingyao’s gaze was clear and gentle. “Be prepared it might cause you a lot of inconvenience.”

Reading the unspoken “I’m ready” in Rong Qingyao’s eyes, Scott still tried to make sense of the situation.

“You’re doing all this because of Riddle, aren’t you?”

“Because of her, and because of myself.”

“Wait, but Qing, are you even sure Riddle still loves you? Weren’t you afraid?”

Rong Qingyao paused on the yacht’s deck, the blue sea undulating behind her. She turned back with a smile and shook her head.

“I’m not sure.”

“Then why cancel the engagement so decisively? It doesn’t seem like a fair trade.”

“I don’t want to wait anymore. I don’t want to be a coward.”

Scott wanted to say more, but he saw the smile on Rong Qingyao’s face.

That coldly beautiful expression was now filled with the reckless devotion of a young girl delicate and fragile.

As if, despite years of hopeless waiting, time had left no trace of bitterness or resentment on her.

When a woman thinks of her first love from youth, her expression remains light and spirited, carrying only unwavering resolve and longing, no lingering grudges from the past.

“Qing, aren’t you being too impulsive? Once you cancel the engagement, you’ll go find Riddle and win her back?”

“Yes. Honestly, I don’t have much left to lose.”

Support