After the Vicious Supporting Female Character Became the Heroine's Cat - Chapter 37.2

Zuo Ying was startled, unsure what her boss meant by that, but then she met a pair of indifferent, emotionless gray eyes. Cheng Jianian said calmly, “No matter how many deranged things Mother did in the past, I could overlook them. But now that she’s set her sights on Miaomiao, I have no choice.”

“Miaomiao is more important to me than my own life.”

Cheng Jianian practiced peeling an apple as she spoke:

“So, I can’t let her do anything to Miaomiao, otherwise my life would be meaningless.”

Zuo Ying didn’t fully understand her meaning. Having previously received mentorship from Old Cheng, she knew that if nothing happened, it would be fine, but now that this situation had occurred, Young Cheng would absolutely not allow her to intervene.

What could it be?

Stripping away power? That would indeed be agonizing for an ambitious person like Old Cheng.

Zuo Ying said “Alright” and quietly withdrew.

The room fell silent, with only the soft rustling of the blade against the apple skin a low, eerie sound unique to the use of a sharp edge.

Cheng Jianian’s thoughts drifted to Shen Yunmiao resting in the bedroom, her mind in turmoil.

What should I do?

How can I keep you?

My love.

When Shen Yunmiao woke up and pushed open the door, this was the scene that greeted her: Cheng Jianian sitting upright on the sofa, hunched slightly, deftly maneuvering the fruit knife.

Swiftly slicing the apple, leaving behind segments of peel.

The lights were off, and the room was quiet, draped in gray shadows. Her silhouette looked desolate.

“Anian.”

As she called out, she switched on the light. The bright white glare momentarily stunned Cheng Jianian, who looked over in a daze.

Shen Yunmiao wore only a white loungewear at home, the one Cheng Jianian had chosen, designed like a lop-eared rabbit with two long ears hanging from the hood.

The white light illuminated the drooping ears, softening much of the coldness.

A feeling of tranquility washed over Cheng Jianian as she gazed at her, feeling as though the distance between them wasn’t just the few pieces of furniture or the short meters.

But thousands of mountains and rivers.

Yet Shen Yunmiao smiled gently and walked toward her step by step.

Crossing those thousands of mountains and rivers.

Embracing her lightly, she chuckled:

“Why the sudden love for apples?”

Cheng Jianian: “I want you to eat apples without the skin.”

Shen Yunmiao ruffled her hair and pinched her cheek: “Before I met you, I ate apples too with or without the skin.”

Cheng Jianian murmured softly: “Then from now on, I’ll never let you eat apples with the skin again.”

Shen Yunmiao sighed gently: “You’re making me feel so tender, I just want to hold you.”

“You’re already holding me.”

Cheng Jianian said: “But you can hold me tighter. I’d be very happy.”

She couldn’t hide her smile.

Shen Yunmiao followed her request, pulling her deeper into her embrace.

“Is this tight enough now?”

“Maybe.”

Shen Yunmiao hugged her again.

“How about now?”

“Hmm… still not enough.”

“Now?”

“Barely…”

The movie could no longer continue filming, and Cheng Jianian had no intention of letting anyone else take over the project.

With a wave of her hand, she shelved all projects related to “Seventeen.”

Even the press conference was aborted.

At the same time, Ji Hanfeng returned to the country.

He was a genius favored by the world, quickly completing everything he needed. Cheng Jianian truly didn’t understand how he managed to finish degrees in one year that took others several.

But regardless, he was back.

And he officially entered the entertainment industry earlier than in the original plot, which seemed to steer all events back toward their destined course.

Jian Shen’s coma appeared to have restored the world to its intended order.

The story had reverted to one where Shen Yunmiao was forever suffering, and Ji Hanfeng was forever deeply in love with “saving” her.

Only Cheng Jianian was trapped in an irreparable state of panic.

She had no idea what would become of this world. All she could do was seize every opportunity to prevent it from unfolding.

After the film was put on hold, Shen Yunmiao spent her days at home, reading and studying.

The workload for the next semester was clearly heavier. Initially, she had been a bit worried about balancing her studies with filming, but now that was no longer a concern.

Yang Xu had called a few times in between.

Whether subtly or directly, she asked Shen Yunmiao what she planned to do.

Zuo Ying had already relayed Cheng Jianian’s words, but Yang Xu still found it hard to believe. She knew Shen Yunmiao’s acting skills well, and even setting aside her talent, her appearance alone not entering the entertainment industry would be a sheer waste.

And if she wasn’t going into the entertainment industry, what was she going to do? Devote herself entirely to being CEO Cheng’s girlfriend?

Wasn’t that just throwing her future away?

What was even more terrifying was Young Master Cheng’s attitude. The two of them had been so obvious before, yet there wasn’t a single discussion about it online.

Now, whether it was because CEO Cheng had relaxed his control or could no longer suppress it, speculation about their relationship was everywhere.

From following each other on Flow, to the promotional stage of Words Unspoken, to the photos taken at A University, and later the film they shot together.

Every single detail couldn’t withstand scrutiny.

Both of them were deeply embroiled in rumors about being gay.

Yang Xu was so anxious she felt like she was about to break out in hives. If this were fake, selling the narrative would be one thing, but the problem was, it was real.

Others might not know, but having been in the entertainment industry for so long, how could she not understand the impact this could have on a rising star?

But Shen Yunmiao’s response was only four words:

“I want to quit.”

Her tone was resolute, leaving no room for negotiation. “I’m sorry, Sister Yang Xu, but I want to leave the industry. There are things in my life more important than acting.”

“Right now, acting is interfering with my life, so I truly apologize. I’m grateful for all the guidance you’ve given me these days, but I really can’t continue filming.”

Yang Xu was completely dumbfounded. “Yunmiao, I don’t quite understand what you’re saying.”

“If you’re not going to act, what will you do in the future?” Her voice was tinged with disbelief. “Yunmiao, I’m speaking to you as your agent now, you’re throwing away your future, wasting your talent. Do you realize that?”

Suppressing her confusion and frustration, she spoke softly, as an older sister offering advice: “From the perspective of someone a little older than you, I’m telling you seriously, you might regret this someday.”

“Maybe right now you think that passionate love is the greatest joy in life, that you can give up everything for a relationship and revolve your world entirely around that one person. But what about the future? As a top student, you surely understand the saying ‘affection fades as beauty wanes’ better than I do. What if you break up someday? What will you do then?”

Shen Yunmiao sighed and was about to say something when suddenly, the phone in her hand was taken away.

Cheng Jianian’s voice was cold and weary, yet unyielding: “Thank you, Sister Yang Xu. I appreciate your genuine concern for Miaomiao. But rest assured the one who should worry about ‘affection fading as beauty wanes’ is me. As long as Miaomiao doesn’t say otherwise, I will never break up with her.”

Hearing her boss’s tone drop to near freezing, Yang Xu instantly sobered up. She really had lost her mind letting her emotions get the better of her like that, daring to advise her boss’s girlfriend.

Young people’s feelings were always so intense. By saying those things, wasn’t she just handing Cheng Zong a target?

Yang Xu shut her mouth resentfully and immediately said, “Cheng Zong, I was talking nonsense. Don’t listen to my rambling. I’ll hang up now.”

The phone emitted a series of beeps.

Shen Yunmiao sighed helplessly, “You scared Sister Yang Xu.”

Cheng Jianian snorted heavily, “I should say she scared me. Isn’t this just trying to steal someone?”

Shen Yunmiao took her hand and said with a smile, “Sister Yang Xu doesn’t have feelings for me. How could it be called stealing?”

Cheng Jianian held her close, savoring the tangible feeling of their bodies pressed together. “I don’t care. If she tries to keep us apart, she’s trying to steal you.”

Shen Yunmiao had long grown accustomed to her childlike possessiveness. Perhaps no one had ever taught Cheng Jianian what a normal relationship should look like, so she was always like this clutching tightly to everything she had, only then feeling at ease.

After holding each other for a while, Shen Yunmiao’s phone suddenly rang. The caller was Ji Hanfeng.

Shen Yunmiao answered the call, and the voice on the other end was still the one Cheng Jianian despised the most: “Yunmiao, long time no see. How have you been lately? I just returned to the country. Should we find some time to meet up?”

Shen Yunmiao cautiously glanced at Cheng Jianian, who was watching her like a hawk, and felt inexplicably guilty.

She quickly replied, “Hanfeng, I’m really sorry, but I don’t have much time lately.”

“Is that so?” Ji Hanfeng’s voice carried a hint of disappointment, but he quickly composed himself and laughed, “No problem, no problem. Just contact me whenever you’re free.”

“I just got back and realized you’ve already become a big star. So many people know you now. Hahahaha, I guess I’m friends with a celebrity now.”

Ji Hanfeng was still as enthusiastic as ever. He had no idea that his friend was already in a relationship and that many things had happened in the meantime.

Shen Yunmiao didn’t want to explain too much to him. She said awkwardly, “I just acted in one drama and got lucky, that’s all.”

Ji Hanfeng replied, “Don’t be so modest. By the way, I’m planning to enter the entertainment industry too and start a company.”

Enter the entertainment industry?

Shen Yunmiao stole another glance at Cheng Jianian, whose expression had turned sour, and unconsciously lowered her voice. “Hanfeng, I don’t think that’s necessary. You could just take over your family’s business. There’s no need to enter the entertainment industry.”

“What kind of talk is that?” Ji Hanfeng began to explain patiently, “Look, Mercury has a complete monopoly on the entertainment industry right now. If I can break that monopoly, not only will it improve the quality of current entertainment, but I’ll also make a fortune. Isn’t that good?”

Shen Yunmiao found it hard to voice her concerns, thinking to herself, It would be good, provided you can actually pull it off.

As he spoke, Ji Hanfeng himself seemed to stumble upon a point of hesitation. He lowered his voice and asked, “Yunmiao, I saw online that you and Cheng Jianian. I know you’ve always liked her. What’s going on now?”

Hearing this, Cheng Jianian, who had been suppressing her emotions beside them, could no longer hold back. She snatched the phone from Shen Yunmiao, ignoring her protests:

“Ji Hanfeng,”

Her voice was cold, carrying a hint of authoritative warning from someone in a superior position:

“I’m Cheng Jianian. Long time no see, and as you can see:

Right now, Miaomiao and I are in a relationship.”

The call was mercilessly ended by her.

Shen Yunmiao froze, her heart pounding like thunder as she met Cheng Jianian’s gaze. Yet, she continued in a faint, trembling voice:

“I’m so scared.”

As if the one who had just triumphantly asserted her dominance moments ago wasn’t her at all.

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