After A Secret Marriage Agreement With A Rival Omega - Chapter 77

Chapter 77

◎ “It depends on your own ability.” ◎

Jian Jixing didn’t stop. She smoothed out the hem of Sheng Ruxi’s clothes and calmly replied, “A pursuer? A director? Or your… wife?”

Sheng Ruxi’s heart skipped another beat at the teasing tone. She composed herself for a second and then glared at Jian Jixing, “Don’t use this as an excuse.”

Although she admitted that she had her own selfish reasons.

That was acting. There was no acting now. What were Jian Jixing’s true feelings?

The dressing room was quiet. They could hear each other’s breathing. Sheng Ruxi was the first to lose the staring contest. She pursed her lips.

Jian Jixing suddenly let go of her hand, “What my identity is depends on you.”

Sheng Ruxi stood up from the soft sofa as if she had just woken up from a dream, “Don’t throw the question back at me. What identity—”

She said faintly, “It depends on your own ability.”

When they returned to the set, Lu Li had already filmed two more takes with Bai Junyou and Jiang Jinjin.

Both takes were good.

If Jian Jixing and Sheng Ruxi hadn’t acted it out, it would have been quite good and could have been used directly.

Unfortunately, with the previous version in mind, Lu Li frowned tightly, feeling that it was really not good enough.

It was barely usable.

After Jian Jixing and Sheng Ruxi returned one after another, they didn’t plan on staying long. However, when Jiang Jinjin saw her idol come out, she was excited and came up to ask for advice.

“Director Jian, how can your acting be so good!!” Jiang Jinjin said, her eyes curiously darting between Jian Jixing and Sheng Ruxi. She whispered, “I’ve always loved the emotional scenes in your art films. I’ve watched them so many times. It’s such a shame that the short film you shot before it was released wasn’t able to participate in the exhibition.”

Jian Jixing frowned slightly. If Jiang Jinjin hadn’t brought it up, she would have almost forgotten about that film.

Because of the images that flashed through her mind, Jian Jixing said faintly, “That was just a failed project. It’s not a shame.”

But Sheng Ruxi, who was standing next to Jian Jixing, could clearly feel that Jian Jixing was different.

The person who was fine a moment ago suddenly became cold, like the humidity after a rain.

Bai Junyou asked, puzzled, “Did Director Jian also shoot a short film before?”

Sheng Ruxi immediately looked at Jian Jixing. Jian Jixing’s expression was indifferent. Jiang Jinjin said, “Yes! It’s the one she shot with Teacher Xie! It’s—”

At this moment, Lu Li came over and pulled Jiang Jinjin away, “Why is your mind filled with so many things that have nothing to do with acting? Stop talking! Go and practice your lines with Xiao Bai. Learn from Sheng Ruxi.”

Sheng Ruxi didn’t say anything, but she took note of the name “Teacher Xie” in her mind. She had only been in the industry for a few years. In her memory, she knew all the famous artists with the surname Xie who were still active.

She didn’t know that Jian Jixing had ever collaborated with a female artist with the surname Xie.

But she could see that Jian Jixing seemed to not want to talk about this old friend.

She had a premonition. She could feel that this person was probably the one Manwen was talking about who used to enthusiastically seek out Jian Jixing.

In the car, Jian Jixing and Sheng Ruxi sat in the back seat together. Sheng Ruxi held back the questions in her heart and didn’t say anything.

Today, Manwen came to be the driver. She saw that the two of them were silent from the rearview mirror. She was perceptive and raised the partition in the car, creating a private space for them.

Jian Jixing suddenly asked, “Are you basically done with your work here?”

“Do you want me to leave?” Sheng Ruxi retorted. In fact, she could stay here for most of the month. She still had a few gigs on hand. Zhou Mei told her to decide whether to take them or not.

Although it wasn’t explicitly stated, Sheng Ruxi knew that she didn’t want to leave.

Zhou Mei didn’t put any pressure on her, but the company also hoped that she could compete for the female lead role in Jian Jixing’s new film.

But they were so close every night, and they didn’t say a single word about it, as if they were holding back.

Jian Jixing replied helplessly, “You know I don’t mean that.”

“I don’t. If you don’t tell me, how can I guess what’s on your mind?” Sheng Ruxi felt a little frustrated, but she looked up and smiled brightly. “What’s with ‘Xie’? Did you learn all your skills from this person?”

Although Sheng Ruxi wasn’t good at emotional scenes, outside of acting, it wasn’t like she hadn’t experienced emotions. Jian Jixing was a famous director, and it wasn’t surprising that she was surrounded by one actress after another.

Before, she didn’t have those feelings for Jian Jixing, so she didn’t pay attention at all. Now that she was by Jian Jixing’s side, she realized how tormenting this feeling was.

Jian Jixing’s excellence and radiance were constantly attracting people. Even if she remained still, people were still chasing after her.

Sheng Ruxi knew that her bitterness was unreasonable. Everyone in the entertainment industry knew that this was unavoidable.

Jian Jixing frowned. Thinking about this matter was unpleasant for her, “She was just a partner at the time. There was never anything else.”

She remembered what Gu Shengci had told her tonight about the final list. The investors were about to finalize it. The last two people had been confirmed.

Yi Yueyang and Sheng Ruxi.

Yi Yueyang’s company was very active about this, but Sheng Ruxi had never expressed her desire to collaborate. The investors were originally more inclined toward Sheng Ruxi, but Gu Shengci was suddenly called to a meeting tonight. It was said that a new executive had just arrived at the company and had a different opinion.

It wasn’t easy for Jian Jixing to shoot a movie without any interference. In addition to the continuous script revisions, these things made her feel a little overwhelmed.

She stabilized her voice, “It was a film I shot a long time ago. I barely remember it anymore.”

Sheng Ruxi said sourly, “Then why did you say you didn’t know how to shoot emotional films?”

Jiang Jinjin said that the emotional scenes in that unreleased short film were very good.

Jian Jixing looked at Sheng Ruxi for a long time, rubbed her temples, closed her eyes, and leaned her head back slightly.

Sheng Ruxi thought that Jian Jixing wasn’t going to say anything, but two seconds later, she heard Jian Jixing say, “Little jealous cat.”

Her possessiveness was quite strong.

“!” Sheng Ruxi didn’t expect Jian Jixing’s words to be a joke. Just as she was about to speak, Jian Jixing’s tired voice came, “I have a headache.”

Pain, pain, pain, it’s just pain. I don’t care about you.

Don’t think that a little sob story will work.

Sheng Ruxi waited for a while and then heard Jian Jixing “hiss” and take a sharp breath. The sound was not loud, but she heard it.

When she came to her senses, her hand had already pressed on her head and started to massage Jian Jixing’s temples a little awkwardly.

“This useless hand…” Sheng Ruxi mumbled, but her hand didn’t stop. “I’m only being charitable this one time. Don’t think you can use this trick again.”

“Thank you, Princess. It’s an honor,” Jian Jixing was still closing her eyes, but her previously tense expression had relaxed. “Stop being angry, okay? Sometimes I think, is this what partners are like? One second they’re angry, and the next second they honestly go and take care of you.”

Sheng Ruxi rubbed Jian Jixing’s temple, her fingers touching Jian Jixing’s hair. “That’s not it. It’s because you don’t take good care of yourself.”

Jian Jixing chuckled softly. Her hand suddenly came up and wrapped around Sheng Ruxi’s wrist, “Are you staying here because you also want to be in my movie?”

Sheng Ruxi was startled and blurted out, “No!”

“Is it that hard for you to tell the truth?” Jian Jixing’s thumb gently rubbed the inside of Sheng Ruxi’s wrist. “You’re always so stubborn.”

Sheng Ruxi said, “Do you want me to be in your movie?”

“I won’t promise you until I’m absolutely sure,” Jian Jixing said in a low voice. “This film is a little different from the art films I’ve shot before. I’m afraid you won’t like it.”

The script was only a rough draft. All the details could be changed once filming started. Shooting a work like this was a risk. However, her name was well-known, and it still attracted actors and investors.

In the worst-case scenario, Jian Jixing was already prepared to make a film that the public would see as a bad art film.

Sheng Ruxi’s team didn’t have her positioned like this.

Sheng Ruxi never had so many twists and turns in her mind. She only heard the first half of Jian Jixing’s sentence, saying she didn’t have that plan.

She forcefully rubbed Jian Jixing’s forehead and then let go. Her voice turned cold: “You’re the one who’s stubborn. I’m leaving tomorrow.”

…

The next day, while Jian Jixing was supervising the work on the set, she received a message from Manwen: [Miss Sheng packed her bags and went to the airport. Do you need me to stop her?]

Jian Jixing glanced at her pinned chat. Sheng Ruxi hadn’t sent any messages today.

[What did she ask you?]

Manwen: [She asked about Miss Xie Jinheng… I said I didn’t know.]

Jian Jixing rubbed her temples. She opened Sheng Ruxi’s chat, and before she could think of what to send, a message from her came.

Little Green Bean: [I have a gig in Beijing. I’m leaving. Getting on the plane.]

It was short and to the point. She didn’t mention anything about asking about Xie Jinheng. This wasn’t Sheng Ruxi’s style.

Thinking about the name Xie Jinheng made her head hurt even more. If it weren’t for Xie Jinheng in the past, she would have been willing to shoot more emotional films.

In the afternoon, Gu Shengci finished her meeting. A life-or-death phone call came: “It’s not settled yet. The company said they want to meet with the distribution platform first. There’s a film summit next week. We’ll go together.”

Jian Jixing could tell that this dinner was not going to be easy. She said, “Who has such a big reputation?”

“You do,” Gu Shengci said. “I heard that the new executive at our company is your fan. If she had come two months earlier, she would have taken over your production instead of me.”

Gu Shengci then whispered, “Our plan is to bring the candidate actresses. We can finalize it on the spot. By the way, where’s Sheng Ruxi? I haven’t seen her these past few days.”

“She went back.”

“?” Gu Shengci was speechless. “Why did she leave at this critical moment? Did you make her angry again? She’s the wife you finally got. Didn’t she visit you a few days ago?”

“…” Jian Jixing stared at the busy crew on the set in front of her. “Tell Zhou Mei in the company’s name to invite her to go.”

“Why are you going to all this trouble?” Gu Shengci laughed. “Why don’t you just tell her yourself?”

Jian Jixing said, “If I invite her in my personal name, she might not go. But if it’s in the name of work, she’ll definitely go.”

…

For a whole week, Jian Jixing and Sheng Ruxi’s conversations, though they did happen, were significantly less frequent.

When Jian Jixing asked if she had arrived, if she was done, or if she needed to rest, Sheng Ruxi would reply.

But she wouldn’t say anything else.

Two of Jian Jixing’s works were going to be shown at the summit. She had even been told in advance what honor award she would be given.

This was a mid-year grand event in the film industry. Many industry bigwigs were invited to attend. Actors without certain achievements didn’t even have a chance to walk the red carpet.

Investors also flocked to the event, so the venue was of the highest standard, and it exuded luxury everywhere.

Coincidentally, Sheng Ruxi’s two award-winning films were also being shown with Jian Jixing’s films. Even the posters were placed next to each other during the promotion.

Even the seating arrangements were together. No one had ever dared to put these two together before, probably in imitation of Gu Shengci’s successful arrangement at the last awards ceremony.

Backstage, Gu Shengci gloated as she glanced at the scene on the camera: “Is Sheng Ruxi coming?”

Jian Jixing sat calmly on the sofa, holding an empty porcelain cup in her hand: “She hasn’t replied to me. I don’t know.”

The tables had turned. She remembered that at the awards ceremony, Jian Jixing was the one who was late. Now it was Sheng Ruxi who might or might not come.

The gala was being live-streamed. The director had been constantly switching between different seats. There wasn’t much time left until the start. The main director suddenly came over, her voice trembling: “Director Jian, in a moment, the seats…”

Gu Shengci saw her hesitation and asked directly, “What’s wrong? Is Sheng Ruxi coming?”

The main director looked at Jian Jixing, swallowed, and then said, “Sheng Ruxi said… she hopes… she hopes that the seats can be switched.”

No one knew that Sheng Ruxi was the one who didn’t want to sit there. After all, the seating chart was given to Jian Jixing for her approval, and she had no problem with it.

But this person had the power to mess things up. The main director didn’t even mention Sheng Ruxi’s original words, which were—to have Jian Jixing switch seats.

She was just that unreasonable.

The main director was already scared to death. Gu Shengci, on the other hand, smiled, “That’s Ruxi’s style. You’re still salvageable.”

Jian Jixing gently put down the small cup in her hand and didn’t make things difficult for the director: “Switch it. It’s fine.”

The little dear had spoken. If she didn’t switch seats, she wouldn’t come to the dinner.

Jian Jixing had just flown back this afternoon. She didn’t even go home. She rested for a bit and then came to the venue. Naturally, it was impossible for her to run into Sheng Ruxi.

When the main director left as if she had been granted a pardon, Gu Shengci leaned toward Jian Jixing: “I’m also curious. How did you make her angry? Have you reflected on it clearly this past week?”

Jian Jixing really did reflect on it.

She thought about it over and over again and came up with the most likely answer.

“That time, she probably wanted to hear me say ‘I love you,’ but I didn’t,” Jian Jixing’s face was as still as water. “And she also mistakenly thought that I had said those words to another actress.”

There were too many elements. For a moment, Gu Shengci didn’t know which one was more outrageous.

“Then just say it. She wants to hear it. Can’t you just coax her?”

Jian Jixing said, “Our relationship and identity haven’t reached the point where we can jokingly say ‘I love you.'”

“You’re so old-fashioned. You’re already married. If you can’t say it to her, who can you say it to? Oh, right, who did Ruxi think you said it to?”

Jian Jixing glanced at her. “Xie Jinheng.”

“Xie… Xie Jinheng?!” Gu Shengci’s face suddenly froze. Two seconds later, she wanted to pinch the pressure points on Jian Jixing’s face. “Oh my God, her name still gives me a headache after all these years.”

The camera turned, and the director switched the shot again. Jian Jixing also saw that the sticker on the seat next to her had been changed to Yi Yueyang.

She stood up, ready to take her seat.

In the live-stream, fans were already looking for the person they wanted to see.

The camera swept across the entire venue. Everyone was already seated. Even the staff members were preparing for the opening. The doors of the hall suddenly opened.

The sound was very soft and only startled a few artists who were sitting close to the door, but when they looked, they couldn’t look away.

Sheng Ruxi walked in wearing a black floor-length gown. Her vintage updo, black hair, red lips, and sparkling diamonds made her look like a classical princess.

Jian Jixing looked over and immediately recognized that the jewelry on Sheng Ruxi’s neck and ears was the set she had sent her last time.

People greeted Sheng Ruxi, and she smiled and responded.

The moment her face appeared, she was the darling of the camera. When she came to the front row, Jian Jixing didn’t move her gaze away.

With Sheng Ruxi’s status, she should have been sitting in the absolute center with Jian Jixing. But it was said that at her own request, she sat in a slightly off-center spot, with Yi Yueyang sitting between her and Jian Jixing.

Yi Yueyang hadn’t seen Jian Jixing for a long time. She was originally chatting, but when Sheng Ruxi came and sat down next to her, her gaze was completely on Sheng Ruxi.

Even though she could feel the strange atmosphere between Jian Jixing and Sheng Ruxi, it didn’t stop Yi Yueyang from admiring the beautiful woman sitting next to her.

Sheng Ruxi was wearing black, which made her fair skin look like snow. When she was about to sit down, Yi Yueyang was the one who pulled the chair out for her.

She smiled at Yi Yueyang because of this, but her eyes didn’t look at Jian Jixing.

At this moment, the camera intentionally gave Jian Jixing a shot, clearly capturing her gaze on Sheng Ruxi.

[OMG, Xixi looks so much like a princess! A total rich lady]

[I don’t know if I came to watch a movie or to see our precious Ruxi]

[Hahahahahaha everyone, don’t get so excited. Don’t you know that our Ruxi used to be an intern at the TV station? She looks even more amazing in real life than on camera]

[Every time I see Sheng Ruxi, I wonder who could ever be worthy of her]

[Director Jian is looking at her. She has so much authority]

[Can you two really not try to be an opposing couple?]

Gu Shengci chose a spot that was hard to film and secretly met up with Yan Fuzheng.

Yan Fuzheng even brought an assistant specifically to film Sheng Ruxi and Jian Jixing, but she was holding her phone and watching the live-stream comments.

She kept saying, “I knew it. I finally had a reason not to come today, but I still had to rush here. It turns out it was to see our Director Jian.”

Gu Shengci looked at the comments that were frantically discussing who Sheng Ruxi would marry in the future. She deeply felt that Jian Jixing’s path was difficult. She whispered, “Didn’t she think about going public?”

“Are you trying to get information?” Yan Fuzheng immediately looked at her warily. “I’m a member of the bride’s family. Don’t come to me. Go away, go away.”

Gu Shengci: “…”

After Sheng Ruxi came in, Yi Yueyang looked left and right. Finally, she quietly whispered in Jian Jixing’s ear, “Director Jian, why don’t… I switch seats with you?”

With a person in between them, Jian Jixing knew that Sheng Ruxi probably couldn’t hear her voice. “Did she say that?”

Yi Yueyang: “No, but I saw that you kept stealing glances.”

Jian Jixing said, “I wasn’t.”

She immediately pulled her peripheral vision back and looked at the stage.

The awards ceremony began, and there was a round of applause. Jian Jixing restrained herself, not letting her gaze look at Sheng Ruxi.

The cameras in the venue would occasionally switch to the front row, probably wanting to capture something, but they only saw Jian Jixing and Sheng Ruxi sitting upright. Other than occasionally talking to Yi Yueyang, the two of them didn’t even give each other a single look.

The hall had an air purification system, so no one’s pheromones would affect Jian Jixing. But—

Even though there was a person between her and Sheng Ruxi, Jian Jixing could still feel the faint, unique scent of Sheng Ruxi in the air.

It seemed to be the scent of the body wash in the bathroom of their bedroom at home, and the sweet perfume that Sheng Ruxi liked.

Her mind wandered. She was distracted. By the time it was over, she hadn’t even had a chance to say a word to Sheng Ruxi. She saw that Sheng Ruxi had left even faster than she did.

Just as she was about to chase after her, Gu Shengci stopped her: “That’s enough. Come with me in my car. I just asked Lin Qie. She said Xiao Qian will take Sheng Ruxi. She doesn’t want to be in the same car as you.”

When she looked up again, Sheng Ruxi was gone. Jian Jixing felt a little hot. She casually tied up her hair. She was either angry or helpless, and she shook her head and smiled helplessly.

She thought she would see Sheng Ruxi in the private room, but when she went in, she didn’t see her. There were four or five empty seats in the middle. After Jian Jixing sat down, people from Gu Shengci’s company who were familiar with her started chatting.

There were three empty seats next to Jian Jixing. They were obviously for the people who were coming later.

Jian Jixing casually held the wine glass in her hand. The person next to her wanted to pour her some wine, but she shook her head and refused.

When the sound of footsteps came from outside the door, Jian Jixing still hadn’t looked up. She heard Yi Yueyang’s voice, but there were two people’s footsteps.

But Gu Shengci, who was sitting next to her, made a lot of noise. The wine glass in her hand wasn’t held steady and fell on the table with a clang.

“Jixing, it’s, it’s, it’s…”

Gu Shengci was frantically poking Jian Jixing.

Before Jian Jixing looked up, she finally heard the familiar sound of footsteps.

She could hear the frequency of Sheng Ruxi’s high heels.

As far as her eyes could see, the first person to appear was an unexpected face. Yi Yueyang was following that person in and was politely greeting the executives at the door.

But in just a moment, Sheng Ruxi’s stunning face followed, her eyes firmly locked on Jian Jixing.

Jian Jixing’s gaze remained calm, but the wine glass in her hand was silently put down in an instant. Gu Shengci was so nervous that her forehead was about to sweat.

In an instant, two gazes both looked at the empty seat next to Jian Jixing.

The person who happened to be standing in front of Sheng Ruxi now also sensed something. She slowly straightened up, turned to look at Sheng Ruxi, and with a polite and gentle smile on her face, she was the first to extend her hand: “Miss Sheng, I’ve heard so much about you.”

The important investors who attended the summit today all had custom-made hot-stamped badges, but the event was over, so they should have taken them off. The woman in front of her seemed to have been in a hurry, and her badge was still attached to her high-end outfit.

So Sheng Ruxi also saw her name, Xie Jinheng.