After A Secret Marriage Agreement With A Rival Omega - Chapter 90

Chapter 90

◎ “If I kiss you now, will it let you be unreasonable with me?” ◎

Jian Jixing hadn’t noticed the incoming call. She was already preoccupied, wondering how she would explain to Sheng Ruxi later that her two days of silence didn’t mean that.

The more she thought, the more stifled she felt. She drained the remaining alcohol in her glass in one gulp. When she looked up again, her pupils shrank slightly in surprise.

The viewers in the livestream, upon seeing the name on the connection request, had already flooded the screen with screams in the comments.

【SHENG RUXI!!!!】 【What kind of day is it? The two rivals are meeting here!】 【Xi-bao smelled the scent of Director Jian potentially being humiliated and came running/laugh-cry. Now I believe there’s zero chance of a spark between you two.】 【A once-in-a-lifetime sight! Director Jian has a girlfriend, and now a third person has joined the mix!】 【Why isn’t Movie Queen Sheng speaking?】 【@ShengRuxi, say your lines, babe!】 【The task of advising a breakup feels eerily appropriate in Sheng Ruxi’s hands.】

Sheng Ruxi: “…”

She was lucky that the call-in segment was audio-only. Otherwise, fans across the entire internet would have seen her startled and panicked face. How could a stupid phone cause such a massive disaster!

From the moment the connection was established, Jian Jixing’s gaze froze on the nickname beneath the avatar. She didn’t say a word. The others on set were stunned; they hadn’t expected the call to connect to a heavyweight guest like Sheng Ruxi.

The scene was silent, but the comments section was riotous. Finally, everyone heard that familiar voice.

“…You want me to advise you on a breakup?”

On the other end, there was a faint rustling sound, as if someone was standing up. Sheng Ruxi’s voice over the line was steady and calm; only she knew how much strength she was using to pinch her thigh, forcing herself to stay composed.

“I can only advise a breakup if Director Jian actually has someone to break up with,” Sheng Ruxi said, staring at Jian Jixing’s face on her screen. “Is that right, Director Jian?”

Jian Jixing had already set down her wine glass. Her posture shifted unconsciously, no longer the lazy, relaxed stance from moments ago. She looked into the camera, forcing herself to maintain a dignified expression while her heart was practically screaming: “Is that what you think too?”

Do you think if that person is high-maintenance, it means they don’t like you enough?

Neither she nor Sheng Ruxi were relationship experts. This call was like two “noobs” pecking at each other for advice, and somehow, she had ended up getting hurt by the pecking.

Sheng Ruxi let out a clear laugh, seemingly indifferent. She said softly, “In matters of the heart, one must make their own decisions.”

Jian Jixing frowned, a wave of confusion rising within her. She had no way to control the situation. What did Sheng Ruxi mean? Did she not plan on forgiving her?

Sheng Ruxi didn’t wait for an answer; she seemed to want to end the topic. “Time is up. I wish Director Jian success in solving her puzzles and learning new skills soon.”

What did “learning new skills” mean?

Did it refer to the “new skill” of coaxing a girlfriend? Jian Jixing feared she couldn’t master that subject overnight. At times, she even felt her relationship with Sheng Ruxi was regressing.

As soon as the call disconnected, Jian Jixing’s face looked even worse than before. Han Han thought to herself: How did the relationship between these two “ancestors” sour again? Weren’t they fine earlier? An accidental connection and a simple question had turned into this mess. Han Han couldn’t read Jian Jixing’s temper but knew she couldn’t afford to offend her, so she quickly signaled the cameras to move away.

The cameras stayed off Jian Jixing despite the fans’ pleas. Han Han hurriedly wrapped up the session and ended the livestream.

…

Sheng Ruxi sat curled on the sofa, dazed. Her phone screen dimmed due to inactivity, then lit up again with notifications tagging her, then dimmed again—an endless cycle.

But she knew there was no message from Jian Jixing.

She was lucky to have connected with Jian Jixing, but that luck hadn’t improved their relationship. Sheng Ruxi felt the pettiness and grievance fighting inside her, making it impossible to decide what to do. She tried to lie down and ignore everything, but her whole body felt prickly with irritation. No matter how she lay, it felt wrong.

Five minutes later, she hurriedly brushed her hair, grabbed her things, and rushed out the door regardless of the consequences. This was a late-night excursion; she hadn’t even notified Manwen. A single impulse drove her toward the film set.

The road that usually seemed short felt incredibly long when measured by her footsteps. Moreover… She couldn’t figure out which direction Jian Jixing’s crew was in. Because she was walking fast, her breathing became ragged. Thinking about the words from that evening, her emotions became even more unstable. Every heartbeat felt like a fall into an abyss.

The anxiety made her stop. Finally unable to endure it, she pulled out her phone and dialed. The passing traffic flickered in her eyes hidden behind sunglasses. The call was answered.

“Still at the set?” Sheng Ruxi stopped pretending to be calm; her voice carried a faint trace of grievance. “Why did you ask that question?”

“Where are you? I’m coming to you.” Jian Jixing’s end was quiet, so she could hear the noise on Sheng Ruxi’s end. Her voice grew urgent. “You went out?”

She hadn’t answered the question. Sheng Ruxi’s grievance grew deeper.

“I’ve been waiting for you at the hotel…” Sheng Ruxi froze in place. The traffic lights at the intersection flickered as if she were at a crossroads in her own life. “You knew I was here. Why didn’t you come back?”

“I’m coming now.” Jian Jixing could tell Sheng Ruxi was emotionally unstable. “Are you outside now? It’s late. Don’t stay out. I’ll come find you right now, okay?”

They hadn’t contacted each other for two days. Now that they were on the phone, there wasn’t a single word of mutual concern.

“Jian Jixing.” “I’m here.” “Do you… not want to be with me anymore?” Like the fans in the comments said—no contact for two days meant a default breakup.

Jian Jixing slammed on the brakes, stopping abruptly at a red light. She realized she had been frowning ever since she got into the car, her expression unchanged. “Sheng Ruxi, don’t say things like that recklessly. I just thought you didn’t want to see me these past few days, so I didn’t come over.”

“Who said that? Clearly, you didn’t want to see me.” Sheng Ruxi’s voice rose, her emotions becoming more obvious. “If it wasn’t for the call-in today, I wouldn’t have even heard your voice.”

“If you missed me, you could have called at any time.”

“Call you to fight?” Sheng Ruxi looked down at the tips of her shoes. “Call just to have an argument with you?”

Jian Jixing said, “If we can fight correctly, it can become a way for us to learn about our relationship.”

“But I don’t want to fight with you!”

“Let me come to you, okay? Where are you now?” Jian Jixing’s temples were throbbing with anxiety, but she knew she had to keep Sheng Ruxi from noticing. “Certain things said over the phone can be misinterpreted. I think it will be much better if we meet.”

“Are you by the roadside? Give me your address; I’m coming.” Jian Jixing repeated, while simultaneously paying attention to the road. Someone behind her wanted to overtake and honked impatiently.

Sheng Ruxi heard it and immediately realized Jian Jixing was driving.

“I don’t want you to come find me. When we’re both irrational, we won’t get anywhere by talking.” Sheng Ruxi took deep breaths. “I’m hanging up.”

Jian Jixing scanned her surroundings. She said urgently, “I am rational!”

Sheng Ruxi bit her lip, her voice also rising: “Then how can you be so rational!”

Emotions were truly beyond her control; once they found an opening, they poured out. She didn’t know why she was so contradictory—she was clearly worried about Jian Jixing being distracted while driving, yet it came out as an accusation. Hearing Jian Jixing’s voice get louder, she instinctively raised hers as well.

Jian Jixing steadied herself. “Stay where you are.”

“I’m not staying at the hotel tonight,” Sheng Ruxi said, gripping her phone before moving it away. “Drive first. I’m hanging up.”

The moment she hung up, her eyes hurt. Even though there was no wind, it felt like she was struck by a wave of bitterness. Sheng Ruxi bit her lip, no longer obsessed with finding the film set. She turned around and ran back the way she came.

Only when she ran back did she realize how short a distance she had actually walked. It was barely a few steps, yet it was as if she had been bewitched—as soon as she stepped out, the numerous intersections had completely confused her.

Like her relationship with Jian Jixing. She thought they had gone so far, yet when she looked back, she had retreated. The person she wanted to hold tightest was being pushed further away by her own hand.

Sheng Ruxi didn’t even know why she had come here. She knew she couldn’t stay here anymore. She couldn’t keep living in Jian Jixing’s suite in this muddled state of waiting. Once she got to the elevator, she would clear her things and leave. They needed to cool down and think about the meaning of this relationship.

Just as Sheng Ruxi was about to walk into the hotel entrance…

A pair of intense headlights suddenly appeared behind her, sharply illuminating her dazed figure under the neon lights. Jian Jixing hadn’t even driven into the underground garage.

She parked and got out. Her expression was calm, her eyes dark. She walked incredibly fast, reaching Sheng Ruxi in an instant and lightly grasping her wrist. “Let’s go back.”

Sheng Ruxi was speechless. Touched by her body heat, her fingertips went stiff, but she didn’t pull away. Jian Jixing led her into the elevator. It was completely different from the phone call; now that she was actually with Jian Jixing, she was no longer sharp. But her words felt like silt at the bottom of a pond—heavy and settled.

Jian Jixing: “Should we talk?”

The elevator opened, and Jian Jixing released her hand. Sheng Ruxi walked quietly beside her. “I’ll do as you say.”

The moment they opened the door, Jian Jixing placed both hands on Sheng Ruxi’s shoulders, her brow furrowed. “Even if you slapped me right now, I would think it’s normal. But when you don’t lose your temper with me, I really don’t know what to do.”

Sheng Ruxi looked up to meet her gaze, a very faint smile forming on her lips. “I don’t want to be unreasonable like that.”

This wasn’t the Sheng Ruxi of the past. At this moment, Jian Jixing felt that although Sheng Ruxi was standing right in front of her, she was very far away—so far that she wanted to use every means possible to grab her and feel her presence.

Jian Jixing’s fingertips pressed lightly on Sheng Ruxi’s shoulders, sliding down to interlace with Sheng Ruxi’s hands. She asked in a slightly raspy voice:

“If I kiss you now, will it let you be unreasonable with me?”