Can't Hide My Love for You - Chapter 4

Rumors circulating online about her “diva behavior” and breach of contract didn’t affect Cheng Yixin in the slightest. She continued with her scheduled work as usual.

“OK! Looking good! Take a break, Ms. Cheng. We’ll do one last set later and call it a day.”

Cheng Yixin let out a small sigh, relaxing the flawless expression she had maintained for the camera. As she stepped out of the studio, her stylist immediately hurried over to adjust her look, followed closely by the makeup artist for touch-ups.

Since it would take a while to reset the studio background, Cheng Yixin returned to her private dressing room for a quick rest. As soon as she entered, her assistant, Xiao Yu, briskly poured her a cup of warm water.

With only the two of them in the room, Cheng Yixin thought back to the hushed whispers she’d overheard from the staff earlier. She asked Xiao Yu, “What were they gossiping about just now? Is there more news?”

“Yeah. And it’s someone you know quite well.” Xiao Yu pulled out her phone, opened the Weibo trending searches, and handed it over. Yu Jiao’s name was sitting in the top three of the real-time rankings.

“Hah.” Generally speaking, unless a star is in a promotion period, trending on the hot search list is rarely a good thing.

With a touch of curiosity, Cheng Yixin took the phone and clicked into the hashtag. Her brow furrowed immediately, her face twisting into that famous “subway old man” expression of disgust.

Yu Jiao’s news was a full-blown “peach blossom” scandal—intimate photos of her with an ex-boyfriend from before her debut, and apparently, there was a video too. The leak had caused a massive stir online, drawing endless mockery from netizens. Some even called Yu Jiao “indecent” and “promiscuous.” In an instant, she had become the target of a public firing squad.

“People are so bored,” Cheng Yixin said, handing the phone back. She found the news utterly senseless. Just because a couple took some photos while they were in love, the “internet morality police” felt entitled to stand on their high ground and condemn them.

Besides, this happened when Yu Jiao was still a private citizen before her debut.

As for the scumbag who actually leaked the photos? Not a single person mentioned him.

Xiao Yu didn’t know the history between Yu Jiao and Lu Qing, so she simply offered her take on the news: “I think she’s actually kind of pitiful…”

“Don’t worry,” Cheng Yixin said nonchalantly. “Someone will step in to settle this for her.”

As for who that “someone” was—it was obviously the CEO Lu that Yu Jiao had just latched onto.

In any case, it had nothing to do with her. Regarding the stolen role, Cheng Yixin had realized later that she hadn’t lost much. It saved her the trouble of carrying an internet celebrity through a flop and being scolded for it. Now, she could enjoy her vacation in peace.

By the time Cheng Yixin finished the magazine cover shoot, it was already night. The production van dropped her off at her apartment building.

“Well, Sister Xin, you can sleep in tomorrow. I’ll come pick you up at noon,” Xiao Yu said, handing her a bag of takeout dinner. “Call me anytime if you need anything.”

“Got it,” Cheng Yixin waved her off. “Get off work and get some rest.”

As Cheng Yixin turned to go inside, her phone rang. The call delayed her by a few minutes.

In those few minutes of delay, she happened to spot Lu Qing’s flashy, bright red sports car—standing out in the night like a glowing beacon.

“Yixin!” Lu Qing hopped out of the car and walked toward her at a brisk pace, as if afraid she would bolt if he were a second late.

Since he had shown up at her door, Cheng Yixin didn’t feel like running this time. It was time to clear things up once and for all so Lu Qing would stop his pestering.

“President Lu. Is there something you want?” She looked at Lu Qing, her face expressionless.

“There is. It’s about us.” Lu Qing glanced around and asked, “Can we go upstairs to talk?”

“There’s no need for that. We can talk here.” Cheng Yixin’s attitude was firm. She wasn’t afraid of paparazzi; at least eight or ten celebrities lived in this complex. The security and privacy were top-tier; not a single paparazzi could get in.

“Fine.” Lu Qing put on a look of deep affection. “I came here to officially apologize to you. Regarding that role… I was impulsive and acting out of anger. I gave it to Yu Jiao without thinking it through. Honestly, I just wanted to hear you say something soft to me.”

“Something soft? Don’t you think that’s ridiculous? What exactly is our relationship? You’re the one who cheated on me, and now you’re acting like it’s my fault.”

“That’s not what I meant, Yixin!” Lu Qing took a deep breath. “Anyway… I’m sorry.”

“Nothing really happened between me and Yu Jiao. It’s okay if you have misunderstandings about me; I’ll use my actions to show you my sincerity again.”

Cheng Yixin stared at her, remaining silent. She was so speechless she didn’t even want to open her mouth.

Even at this point, she was calling it a “misunderstanding.” Should Cheng Yixin have arrived later that day? Should she have caught them literally in bed just so President Lu wouldn’t have a chance to make excuses?

Lu Qing, however, mistook her silence for a softening heart.

Pressing her advantage, she continued: “I was wrong to swap the role. I have several scripts in hand that I’m preparing to invest in. I’ll give you better resources, and the awards you want—I’ll use my connections to help you get them. Also, don’t mind the rude things Chen Fei and the others said; I’ve already taught them a lesson. I’m apologizing on their behalf. Yixin, forgive me, okay? I promise it won’t happen again.”

“…Lu Qing.” Cheng Yixin crossed her arms, looking at her coldly. “Do you think I was with you for your damn ‘resources’? What do you take me for? I, Cheng Yixin, didn’t get to where I am today by relying on so-called resources.”

“I deeply regret my temporary lapse in judgment back then. Speaking of which, I should actually thank Yu Jiao—” Cheng Yixin paused, her voice dripping with mockery. “I thank her for letting me cut my losses in time. You two are a perfect match. You have my respect and my blessings. May you be together for a hundred years.”

Cheng Yixin went upstairs, and Lu Qing didn’t follow. Once she was home, her mood was abysmal.

She never expected that her sudden whim to try dating would end like this. Only now did she see Lu Qing’s true colors.

Before, Lu Qing was never like this. She could only say the woman had masked herself exceptionally well.

When pursuing her, Lu Qing had been attentive and incredibly considerate. She had never said a harsh word and always played the part of an understanding partner. She would never have said something as repulsive as “giving her resources.”

Now that she thought about it, Lu Qing was just like Chen Fei and those other rich socialites. Birds of a feather flock together; no wonder they hung out.

After a simple dinner, Cheng Yixin went out.

Her destination was a members-only bar. She wanted to vent her frustration—to leave her bad mood behind tonight so she could work happily tomorrow.

Because the bar had a high membership threshold and used a facial recognition system, ordinary people and paparazzi couldn’t get in. It was the perfect choice for public figures to drink and relax.

The decor was stylish. There was no DJ or deafening music like in a typical bar; it felt more like a quiet lounge.

Under the dim lights, it was hard to see the faces of those nearby. Cheng Yixin didn’t have to worry about being recognized, making it ideal for someone who just wanted to drink and adjust their mood.

“Ms. Cheng, what would you like to drink?” The bartender, who had seen plenty of stars, wasn’t surprised by her appearance and greeted her casually.

“A Screwdriver,” she replied. The name of the drink matched her mood: she wanted to take a screwdriver and drive it through every scumbag on earth.

The bartender skillfully mixed the drink and pushed the orange cocktail toward her. It was garnished with an orange slice; at a glance, it looked just like orange juice.

She took a sip. It started with the refreshing taste of orange juice, followed by the kick of alcohol sliding down her throat. It was sharp and burning.

After finishing the glass, she ordered a stronger Long Island Iced Tea. At the same time, she wrote down a string of numbers and handed it to the bartender, instructing him to call her assistant to pick her up if she became incapacitated.

By the time she was halfway through the Long Island Iced Tea, the high alcohol content of the mixed spirits began to hit her.

Cheng Yixin felt her head spinning. She stopped drinking, propped her chin on her hand, and glanced around the room.

She noticed a woman sitting at the bar several seats away.

The woman was wearing a white shirt. From her angle, she could only see the side of her face—a high bridge of the nose and a sharp, defined jawline.

Her skin was very fair, clearly visible even in the dim light.

She looks familiar…

Cheng Yixin spent a few seconds thinking before that profile clicked with a name. It was the person she had met not long ago at Feng Siqi’s birthday party.

Chi Yi.

What was she doing here?

Her gaze lingered for two seconds before she looked away. She had only met Chi Yi once, and they had spoken fewer words than she could count on one hand. They weren’t on “greeting” terms.

But that thought only lasted for a second.

Lu Qing absolutely loathed Chi Yi.

In her apology tonight, Lu Qing had mentioned Chen Fei, which meant she likely knew that Chi Yi had helped her out at the banquet.

So, if Lu Qing came to apologize, was it more likely because of Chi Yi? Was she afraid Cheng Yixin would throw herself into the arms of her arch-rival?

At that thought, a bold idea began to sprout—

If she and Chi Yi were seen together in front of Lu Qing, wouldn’t that drive her crazy? The “green hat” cheating incident couldn’t just be let go.

Cheng Yixin paused, then looked toward Chi Yi again.

Under the influence of alcohol, this bold idea grew to infinite proportions.

She admitted she wasn’t thinking clearly as she stood up and walked toward Chi Yi, step by step.

The other woman noticed her and turned her head, allowing Cheng Yixin to see her face more clearly.

At the banquet, there had been distance between them, and the face had been a bit blurry. Now, there was only an arm’s length between them.

In the dim light, Chi Yi’s features seemed much softer. Her long, curled lashes and brown eyes were fixed on her without blinking, showing a hint of surprise.

There was a tiny mole on the side of her neck, flickering in and out of sight behind her hair.

Setting everything else aside, this was a beautiful face. Otherwise, Cheng Yixin wouldn’t have spotted her instantly in that crowded banquet hall.

Even if Chi Yi was “despicable” according to Lu Qing, she was still a tiny bit better than a cheating hypocrite, wasn’t she?

“…Hello, Ms. Cheng.” Recovering from her surprise, Chi Yi greeted her with a slightly stiff expression, instinctively reaching out her hand for a formal handshake.

She actually remembered me.

Cheng Yixin suddenly laughed. she raised her hand and lightly hooked her slender fingers into Chi Yi’s palm.

She made no move to pull away. Instead, her soft fingertips lightly brushed against the other woman’s palm. It was a tickling sensation that caused Chi Yi’s hand to tremble involuntarily, her breath hitching.

Before Chi Yi could regain her composure, the next sentence was even more impactful.

Leaning almost against Chi Yi’s ear, she lowered her voice and asked: “President Chi, are you down?”

Cheng Yixin didn’t believe in the concept of “uncontrollable lust after drinking.” Seeing Chi Yi’s shocked expression, she laughed and teased her for being so innocent.

Cheng Yixin blacked out on what they said after that. She remembered her instructions to the bartender and figured Xiao Yu would clean up the mess.

However, when she woke up the next day—

Cheng Yixin stared at the white ceiling. Her muddled consciousness slowly cleared, though her head felt heavy.

Just as she tried to sit up, her hand brushed against something soft. The sight she saw when she turned her head made her instantly alert, nearly letting out a marmot-like scream of terror.

Why was there someone else in her bed?!!