After A Secret Marriage Agreement With A Rival Omega - Chapter 89

Chapter 89

◎ [You know, in this situation, we always advise breaking up] ◎

Jian Jixing was busy until noon. Her phone had been on silent, and she hadn’t checked it once. The heavy workload and back-to-back meetings suppressed all her emotions. After a few hurried bites of food, she prepared to collapse onto the small bed in her office for some rest.

She hadn’t rested for a long time; her eyes were dry and stinging. Looking in the mirror, she noticed red streaks in the whites of her eyes. With a sigh, she didn’t touch her phone, but just as she pulled the thin quilt over herself, there was a knock at the door.

“Jixing, I know you’re in there! Jian Jixing!” Gu Shengci sounded like she would keep pounding until the door opened. Unable to bear the harassment, the resentment from a morning’s work transformed into a glare directed at Gu Shengci the moment the door opened.

“Holy crap, what happened to you? Did you not sleep last night?” Gu Shengci knew Jian Jixing had been in a bad state all morning and came to check, not realizing she was walking into the line of fire. “Are you like this because you were too ‘happy’ last night to sleep?”

Jian Jixing: “If you’re only here to say useless things, leave.”

“Ah, so you had a fight. What happened?” Gu Shengci decided to sit a little further away from her. “Look, your mood affects the entire working group. You’re our ‘ancestor’ right now; did you think no one noticed you’re in a bad mood?”

The low pressure emanating from her was enough to freeze the office. Because she was closest to Jian Jixing, she had been tasked with asking about these private matters.

“Why the change in plans? It was already set for Sheng Ruxi. Didn’t Xiao Qian say you went back specifically to invite her? Where is she?” Gu Shengci asked.

“Just preparing a backup plan.”

“Backup plan, my ass. Wasn’t the script written with Sheng Ruxi as the lead?” Gu Shengci laughed, knowing Jian Jixing was just being stubborn. “If you really intended to have a backup plan, you wouldn’t have been so blunt with Xie Jinheng at that dinner, refusing Yi Yueyang as the lead.”

Gu Shengci added: “Affecting your own work because of a spat with Sheng Ruxi? That’s not like you at all.”

Love really had turned her into a different person. Gu Shengci actually felt this version of Jian Jixing was better—what was the point of being perfectly just and serious all the time like before? No whims, no temper.

“Besides, Zhou Mei replied half an hour ago. She said Sheng Ruxi’s company can clear her schedule to join your project.”

They were at the finish line, yet for some reason, Jian Jixing—the one who wanted this most—was the one backing away.

Jian Jixing thought for a moment: “I can offer compensation. Let Xiao Qian arrange it; give her all the fashion resources I negotiated earlier.”

“Are you crazy? Your wife is coming to work with you, and you want to drive her away with resources?”

“She might not actually want to come here.”

Gu Shengci looked at Jian Jixing for a long while, utterly perplexed. She didn’t understand how one night could make Jian Jixing doubt herself to this extent. “Haven’t you thought about how much hype this movie would get if you two collaborated? If we sign Ruxi, we can start filming immediately. Your current popularity is a massive selling point.”

Gu Shengci tried to persuade her: “And think about it—once the collaboration is over and your relationship is stable, you can naturally go public. You’ve been married so long; you don’t have to stay ‘nameless’ forever, right?”

Go public?

Jian Jixing’s lips twitched slightly. She replied flatly, “Going public won’t affect me much, but it’s not the best choice for her.”

For an actress who wants to try new things and maintain her popularity, remaining publicly single is often an unwritten rule. She knew it wouldn’t suit Sheng Ruxi. If they went public, Sheng Ruxi would be deeply tied to her name, which wasn’t necessarily a good thing. Sheng Ruxi was still young, a promising Movie Queen; Jian Jixing didn’t want to overshadow her or limit her because of her own selfishness.

“Your family will only let you two mess around for this year; after that, they’ll likely push for a public reveal in their circles anyway,” Gu Shengci said. “You haven’t even asked Sheng Ruxi. How do you know she doesn’t want to go public with you?”

Jian Jixing: “I’m just…”

“Doing it for her own good? Maybe Sheng Ruxi thinks the same way about you.” Gu Shengci returned to her joking self. “I’ve noticed that when you’re in love, you’re sometimes arrogant and sometimes insecure. It’s really not the you I know.”

Jian Jixing kept a cold face, struggled internally for a moment, and then muttered, “She told me last night that ‘predecessors plant trees, and successors enjoy the shade’.”

Gu Shengci: “Huh?” She thought she misheard. “What?”

Jian Jixing repeated it with a blank expression. Gu Shengci stared, almost cursing, but restrained herself. “You don’t think she was mocking you, do you?”

Jian Jixing: “I don’t ‘think’ it, I heard it.”

“Sometimes, being too sensitive is a sign of insecurity.” Gu Shengci tried to be tactful. “Don’t you feel you’re a bit… different when facing Sheng Ruxi?”

Jian Jixing admitted it frankly: “I’m insecure because I like her.”

“You’re sick.” Gu Shengci couldn’t help but curse, then patted her own mouth. “I mean, it’s sick that you’re showing off your love even now. Insecure? It’s normal to feel that way, but don’t overdo it… What Sheng Ruxi said is normal. She was just a girl being temporarily jealous. Why don’t you just coax her?”

It was such a small thing, yet it had escalated to this. Gu Shengci felt a mix of complication and relief. “Actually, your emotions are quite free in front of Sheng Ruxi. You don’t have to hold back, right?”

Jian Jixing didn’t speak, just looked down at her fingers, her emotions habitually hidden under a calm surface. Was Sheng Ruxi as free in front of her as she was?

“I’ve never seen Sheng Ruxi become like this for anyone else. Those clips of her with Zou Xinji were nothing compared to how vivid and natural she is around you. I don’t know what you’re still agonizing over. Aren’t you afraid of driving her away and regretting it later?” Gu Shengci smiled. “The script has a lot of emotional scenes. If she plays it now, it’ll be perfect. It could even be the second peak of her career and shut up those who say her emotional acting is lacking.”

With that, Gu Shengci patted Jian Jixing’s shoulder and left her to rest.

Jian Jixing lay numbly on the bed, curled up facing the wall. She instinctively wanted to hold something, the way Sheng Ruxi always held a pillow. Even though her body was exhausted, Gu Shengci’s words swirled in her head, forcing her to face her own cowardice.

She had grown up having everything. Oddly, material abundance had made her inner self hollow. Her self-worth was built solely on her mother’s approval. Later, she developed a pattern: she needed to give something first to get what she wanted.

The affection was the same. She didn’t lack money or status. Outside, just mentioning her surname brought countless people offering emotional value. She accepted it and paid with money she could throw away. She didn’t know someone could truly, without reason or condition, try to make her happy.

Sheng Ruxi had always been a princess held high by everyone. They seemed to have the same background, but their inner temperaments were completely different. Jian Jixing noticed this gap again and again. Her sensitivity was actually a fear of Sheng Ruxi leaving her. After falling so deeply in love, if Sheng Ruxi discarded her, she would have to face the abyss alone.

…

Sheng Ruxi woke up to a sound and snapped her eyes open. No one was beside her; even the sheets were cold. She rushed out, only to find Yan Huaixi returning from a night out.

She felt a wave of loss so strong it almost knocked her over. Yan Huaixi, unaware of what was wrong, opened the fridge out of habit. “Ah… Sister-in-law, the sandwiches are all gone.”

Sheng Ruxi froze. In the past, whenever Jian Jixing visited, she would restock the fridge no matter how late or early it was. It seemed Jian Jixing was truly angry this time. Sheng Ruxi lowered her eyes, abandoning the thought of messaging her. Maybe they really did need space.

Two days passed. Sheng Ruxi was incredibly busy, but she had Tuanzi pack her luggage. After her events, fans commented that her interaction was great—she looked into the camera more than before. Only she knew why. Jian Jixing had said she was always watching. During the livestreams, Sheng Ruxi would look at the IDs entering the room. She saw Chu Wu, but never Jian Jixing.

She was busy with work, slept early, woke early, missed Jian Jixing, and agonized over whether to contact her. She was insomniac last night. She had grown so used to Jian Jixing’s presence that without it, her sleep was restless.

Except when she was working, her mood was volatile. She even ordered a sandwich once but could only take two bites; her palate had been spoiled by Jian Jixing’s cooking. Sheng Ruxi never used to reflect on herself, but lately, she kept thinking about what she said. She regretted telling Jian Jixing not to tire herself out coming back and forth.

Why did she say that? Wasn’t she doing the same thing—arranging all her work in advance just to see Jian Jixing sooner? Why couldn’t she have just told Jian Jixing immediately that she hadn’t forgotten? She had promised to be good to Jian Jixing, but this wasn’t being good at all. If Jian Jixing was so angry she didn’t want her anymore, she would be the one crying.

She called Jian Jixing sensitive, but she was the same—proud yet cowardly. She didn’t speak because she was afraid of fighting again.

This can’t continue. Courage is the companion of cowardice; one must seize the fleeting impulse.

Right before boarding the plane, Sheng Ruxi looked at her small suitcase. She brought it just for looks; she didn’t actually need to bring anything. Out of a strange tacit understanding and dependence, she knew that as long as she arrived, Jian Jixing would have everything prepared for her.

As if by telepathy, a message from Zhou Mei arrived: [I heard from Teacher Lin Qie that Director Jian is preparing to revise the script. Are you still going?]

Sheng Ruxi was shocked. “Revised” usually meant the original person was out of the running. She didn’t understand how Jian Jixing could invite her that night and change her mind now—just because of what she said? In professional matters, she thought Jian Jixing was always fair and would choose the most suitable lead. How could she let her mood dictate her work?

…

Jian Jixing slept for a long time, her dreams a blank void. When she woke up, she lay in the break room for a while before calling Manwen. “Is she here?” There was a trace of anticipation in her voice she didn’t even notice.

“Miss Sheng’s flight is about to land. Director Jian, I’m waiting.” Manwen’s cheerful voice came through. “Actually, I think Miss Sheng would prefer to see you picking her up.”

Jian Jixing actually felt a sense of relief. Her heavy body felt suddenly energized. She went back to her computer and scribbled something with a pen. “Follow her arrangements and take good care of her.”

Manwen asked: “Should I tell Miss Sheng that all her arrangements were personally handled by you?”

From the hotel to the replacement heads for her electric toothbrush—Manwen had been deeply moved when she received the document from Jian Jixing. She never knew a person could be so meticulous for another.

After hanging up, the pen in Jian Jixing’s hand stopped, as if some connection had been severed. Lin Qie came to find her, showing her several marked pages of the script. “Do you think these changes suit someone better?”

The segments she marked were when the lead, Yao Tai, lies on the grass reading a letter from a distant pen pal, imagining herself back in her student days, quietly watching a female classmate she used to tease. In the original version, Yao Tai mockingly dismissed the classmate’s idea of confessing to a friend. In the revised version, Yao Tai refuses to deliver the love letter and asks the classmate: “Why do you think you like her?”

The classmate is bright and proud, like a dazzling sun. She leans on Yao Tai’s desk and smiles: “No reason. I like who I want to like, so what?”

Yao Tai asks: “Then why don’t you like me?”

Jian Jixing had specifically added this question. Her eyes lingered on it. “Who does it suit?”

“An actress who can say those words without the audience finding her narcissistic… I think only Sheng Ruxi can do it,” Lin Qie thought, chin in hand. “But this is tricky. Sheng Ruxi can’t play both Yao Tai and the classmate.”

Jian Jixing’s brow twitched imperceptibly. “I said, this isn’t decided yet.”

“Stop pretending. We all know who your favorite actress is. Why hasn’t Miss Sheng arrived yet? I really want to do a table read with her.”

“…”

“Some details can only be created better after consulting Miss Sheng,” Lin Qie urged. “The perspective would be completely different.”

“Why go to her for details?”

“This student-day segment, although the timeline changed from high school to college… looking at the character relationships, it seems to be a story of unrequited love from you, Director,” Lin Qie said. “I guess you want Miss Sheng to play ‘you’ so she can better understand your state of mind back then.”

Lin Qie comforted her: “It’s a great love story. I’m sure after filming this, you’ll definitely win Miss Sheng over.”

Jian Jixing: “Lin Qie, are you looking for trouble?”

“Just a joke.” Lin Qie knew when to stop. Seeing that Jian Jixing didn’t say no, she knew there was room for maneuver. She tested: “How about I contact Miss Sheng?”

Jian Jixing said: “No need.”

Lin Qie couldn’t quite read her expression. “Aren’t you and Miss Sheng dating? Why don’t you go yourself?”

Jian Jixing: “You all think I’m dating her?”

“Aren’t you? Don’t worry, none of us will tell. That mushiness of yours… isn’t that dating? You even rushed back to the capital to see her despite the tight schedule.”

Jian Jixing couldn’t refute it. She saw the clock on the computer ticking away and instinctively glanced at the door. Lin Qie saw her mind wasn’t at work. “Go back and rest. Someone really needs to take care of you; you’re destroying your own body.”

Her phone vibrated. It was a message from Manwen, saying she had picked up Miss Sheng and was heading to the hotel. They were almost there. Jian Jixing’s heart sank. In that moment of disappointment, she realized how much she had been anticipating her arrival. She smiled at her own dishonesty and prepared to head downstairs. Inside the elevator, she made a childish decision. The signal was bad, but if she could make a call, she would apologize to Sheng Ruxi for leaving so early that day.

Sometimes, all you need is a chance. When she took out her phone, the signal was full. The number was dialed and went through.

“Jian Jixing.” Sheng Ruxi’s end was a bit noisy—sounds of wind and leaves—but her voice was beautiful and sweet, with a noticeable sense of joy.

Jian Jixing was stunned for a moment before clearing her throat. Sheng Ruxi… sounded like she wasn’t bothered by those emotions at all. She was still so positive and sunny. This made Jian Jixing acutely aware of her own hesitation again. They were at opposite ends of a scale; she was being hoisted to the highest point. If Sheng Ruxi were angry and ignored her, she would at least feel that she cared. But like this, it felt like she had no impact on her life.

“Where are you?” Jian Jixing asked, her question having nothing to do with what she originally intended.

“In the car, going to the hotel. I’m in Shanmi.” Sheng Ruxi didn’t hide anything, but she didn’t mention meeting up. Her tone was casual. “Are you at the office revising the script?”

“…Yeah,” Jian Jixing answered, glancing at the floor numbers.

“Don’t ignore your health for the script. Rest more.”

Her words were too ordinary—like a peaceful brush-off. Even Jian Jixing could tell Sheng Ruxi didn’t know what to say to her. Sheng Ruxi, holding her phone, looked at the familiar building outside, ready to get out of the car. There was silence on the other end as Jian Jixing thought about how to ask. She wanted to ask, Do you want to see me? If you do, I’ll come to you right now.

But as soon as the question formed, she imagined Sheng Ruxi’s answer. An answer that would scare her.

The elevator doors opened, and she stepped out. But her heart stepped back, and her words changed. “Let Manwen take you to the hotel. I won’t be coming over.”

Sheng Ruxi’s hand was on the door handle. She was supposed to open it, but she froze. She squeezed her phone and used her practiced, calm voice: “Understood.”

Sheng Ruxi hung up and said, “Back to the hotel.”

Only Manwen, sitting beside her, looked at the familiar scenery outside and broke into a cold sweat, not daring to move. After picking up Sheng Ruxi, the destination wasn’t the hotel, but Jian Jixing’s office. It was meant to be a surprise, but after one phone call, Miss Sheng wouldn’t go. The car sped away and vanished. Jian Jixing came out of the building soon after, stood quietly for a while, and then left for the film set.

…

Sheng Ruxi checked into Jian Jixing’s suite alone. She found several of her favorite brands added, and her daily necessities were prepared more meticulously than before.

Manwen specifically said: “Miss Sheng, Director Jian asked me to change and add these. She said you’d like them better.”

“I know,” Sheng Ruxi replied softly. Jian Jixing was someone who took care of everyone around her. The place felt more and more like home, not a hotel. Jian Jixing must have planned for her long-term stay.

Why be so stubborn when you’ve prepared so much? Sheng Ruxi felt that during the call, they were both like they had a thorn between them. They both took two steps back, got pricked, took another step back, and couldn’t get close.

She waited until evening. There was no news from Jian Jixing, but she accidentally saw Director Han Han’s livestream from the set on social media. The title was “Chatting with Old Friends.” Sheng Ruxi clicked in on a whim, and the fans’ comments confirmed her suspicion.

[Director Han, we’re not watching you, we’re here for your old friend Director Jian! Turn the camera!] [Director Jian looks good. Doesn’t seem affected by the crew’s shutdown.] [Director Han always asks about love lives in her interviews. Why is she holding back this time?] [The drinks are flowing, and she’s asked everyone else. Why no juicy questions for Director Jian? Director Han, you’re biased!] [It should be Director Jian’s turn next!!!]

Under the pressure of the comments, Han Han couldn’t ignore it. She drank and glanced at Jian Jixing’s expression. She didn’t know why this “ancestor” had time to sit here today and even agreed to be on camera. But she knew the relationship between Jian Jixing and Sheng Ruxi was special, so how could she ask ambiguous questions? She kept stalling until an easy one came up.

Han Han received a slip of paper. She looked at it away from the camera and breathed a sigh of relief. The camera turned to Jian Jixing, who swirled her glass gracefully. “Ask. If you don’t, your fans might unfollow you.”

Han Han smiled: “Yes, yes, Director Jian is the most generous. This question won’t be hard for you—the fans want to know, if your girlfriend is angry, what would you do?”

Jian Jixing’s movement paused. Compared to the questions asked of others, this was mild. She smiled and glanced at the camera. She told a partial truth: “I’m not very good at coaxing people.”

The fans in the comments started screaming. Someone asked: [Does this mean Director Jian admits she has a girlfriend?] Others demanded she explain further.

Sheng Ruxi watched, her fingers gripping the edge of the screen. She didn’t know why she was nervous, but she even liked one of the comments demanding an explanation.

“Yeah, if Director Jian is in a relationship, how could you be the one coaxing? The other person should be coaxing you!” Although the atmosphere was lively, Han Han was breaking into a cold sweat and tried to cover for her. “Right, Director Jian?”

Jian Jixing’s tone was flat. She thought for two seconds and said, “I’m here to learn. When I say I’m not good at it, I mean it. I think it’s a skill I need to learn.”

Han Han’s late-night livestream always involved relationships and giving advice to fans. That was why Jian Jixing came. Han Han didn’t realize this was a genuine question from Jian Jixing. She said bluntly, “What’s the problem if you can’t coax her? Being too high-maintenance isn’t good. Finding a new one is faster than learning.”

Jian Jixing was stunned. She instinctively asked, “Is that so?”

Han Han: “Yeah, the younger you are, the more chances you have.”

Alarm bells rang in Jian Jixing’s head. She felt like she was constantly on the verge of being replaced by Sheng Ruxi. She frowned, falling into deep thought.

[That expression? Does she really have a girlfriend?] [Oh my god, so our CP is dead? That princess-carry photo was so hot for a while; don’t tell me it’s over already T.T] [Could it be Professor Chu?!!!] [Heartbroken… I thought she might be casting Sheng Ruxi because there was no announcement.] [No, I don’t think Professor Chu is the ‘girlfriend.’ Director Jian, break up! If she’s too high-maintenance, she doesn’t love you enough!]

Jian Jixing caught the comments from the corner of her eye, and her frown deepened. “Then what if there’s no contact for two days?”

“Two days? No contact for two days? Who is that… Director Jian, are you asking for a friend?” Han Han was shocked and tried to cover again. “Three days without contact means a default breakup. If you can go two days without talking, they really don’t like you enough.”

[Director Jian is so pure, she’s seriously learning how to coax her girlfriend, yet she isn’t cherished?] [You know, in this situation, we always advise breaking up.] [Thirty seconds left for the call-in segment! We need a sharp-tongued sister to give Director Jian advice!] [Director Jian, you’re confused! Why bother?] [I’m ready!]

Just then, the countdown ended, and the “Call-in” button appeared. Sheng Ruxi, in a daze, saw the red button appear under her hand and instinctively dialed.