My Wealthy Ex-Girlfriend Knelt and Begged Me to Come Back [Entertainment Industry] - Chapter 44

The moment Lin Qiaoxuan reached out her hand, she spoke to the system in her mind:

“Buy me some healing special effects from the shop.”

【Billionaire From Zero System】: I think the host should be buying poison instead. Hurry up and poison this awakened side character. She shouldn’t exist here… This will cause the original storyline to deviate, the plot will spiral out of control, and it won’t be under the system’s command anymore…

“Quickly,” Lin Qiaoxuan was clearly impatient. “Otherwise, I’ll off myself and bury you into silence for a hundred million years. You’ll never be able to find another host.”

“This is an order.”

【System】: QAQ… fine, fine…

Lin Qiaoxuan reached over, gently kneading her pale shoulder and neck.

Ji Jiayu didn’t move away.

Lin Qiaoxuan’s fingers were long and slender, her nails naturally light pink and neatly trimmed. No nail art, yet clean and tidy—her ten fingers pure and delicate.

No hint of callus or rough skin at all—clearly a pair of pampered hands that had never touched household chores.

At this moment, they pressed lightly against Ji Jiayu’s neck and shoulder, kneading with careful precision, just the right strength.

She could feel the soft pads of her fingertips, warm to the touch.

It seemed like a faint heat flowed from her fingers, strangely comforting.

Ji Jiayu tilted her head toward the window, exposing the pale skin of her shoulder and neck beneath the crimson camisole strap, surrendering herself completely.

—Like a cat, stretching its neck when being petted, basking in comfort.

Lin Qiaoxuan’s fingertips kneaded gently. Ji Jiayu looked rather comfortable… her amber eyes half-lidded, lips exhaling softly, her small chin even swaying slightly.

Clearly, she was quietly enjoying it.

Lin Qiaoxuan’s lashes trembled. The touch beneath her fingers—smooth, warm, like polished jade. Her fingertips accidentally brushed over Ji Jiayu’s faintly protruding collarbone, the lines of her neck and shoulders beautifully elegant.

This woman’s body was flawless, dangerously pleasing to touch. When she stayed silent, half-closing her eyes, she looked especially enticing… Why would the original author write a side character this alluring? Was it meant to make her more wicked, more seductive?

Like a fox spirit made flesh.

In her past life, Lin Qiaoxuan had been an Ivy League graduate, a financial technology prodigy. Yet, because of overconfidence—her startup collapsed midway, investment failed, the funding chain snapped, and after squandering her family fortune, she jumped to her death.

But in this life, Lin Qiaoxuan… was the adopted daughter of the richest man alive!

This time, she wanted nothing but wealth, freedom, power, capital. She had no interest in women or men—only in firmly grasping her “Billionaire From Zero” script.

And yet… she began to crave the sensation beneath her fingertips.

“Mm, that’s enough.” Ji Jiayu coughed lightly, raising her hand to poke Lin Qiaoxuan’s hand on her shoulder. “Let’s get out of the car first? I’m tired…”

“Alright. Once we get to the hotel, I’ll come to your room and massage your shoulders again.” Lin Qiaoxuan nodded, placing her hand on the car door handle, opening the door for her.

Her heart still lingered on the touch of skin like warm jade. The sensation clung to her fingertips.

“No need to massage anymore.” Ji Jiayu shook her head slightly.

“Alright, if you think that’s enough… then no more.”

Standing by the car door, Lin Qiaoxuan watched Ji Jiayu step down.

Though she had grown up in an orphanage, she bore none of the vulgar, coarse aura one might expect. Ji Jiayu always carried herself with calm detachment, as if nothing ever touched her.

Her conduct was never offensive, never inappropriate. She hadn’t even once mentioned the inheritance she was supposed to receive.

As if wealth was nothing but the stink of copper to her.

Lin Qiaoxuan even felt ashamed. How could she ever have thought… Ji Jiayu returned home to fight for the family fortune?

Ji Jiayu’s figure was slender and delicate, carrying a small brown leather handbag. Her light beige shoes stepped out from the dark car interior. Her slim waist dipped slightly,

and as she lowered her head, a lock of soft hair slid slowly off her shoulder, veiling her pale skin, falling against her crimson camisole strap.

It made one’s palm itch—an urge to brush that stray lock away.

Ji Jiayu turned, shutting the car door with a soft “thunk.”

From this angle, her back was visible—her short crimson tank top exposing a strip of pale waist, the faint dimples of her lower back visible. The black high-waisted pants clung tightly, tracing her petite figure: slim waist, lifted hips, a perfect shape.

Lin Qiaoxuan’s hand twitched, fingers curling as if shocked, a strange tingling spreading in her chest.

No wonder President Qiu could sacrifice massive profit potential in order to give her up.

—Qiu Miaoran’s girlfriend really was… something.

Damn. If she’d known, she never should’ve handed Ji Jiayu over to that Qiu woman… Just stroking the girl’s shoulder lightly wasn’t nearly enough.

On the road to wealth, perhaps another pursuit could be added—women.

Women were… intoxicating.

Ji Jiayu, handbag in hand, walked past. A faint breeze seemed to follow her, carrying her scent.

Sweet and fragrant, like fruit candy, tempting and alluring.

“Let’s go… back to the hotel to rest.” Ji Jiayu’s voice was soft. She paused briefly at the car’s front, looking back at Lin Qiaoxuan with slightly raised eyes.

She had just woken up, still faintly drowsy.

That glance—empty, detached, as if she both saw Lin Qiaoxuan and didn’t.

Lin Qiaoxuan’s chest stirred.

—Ah… this was it. That feeling. Eyes that looked through her, as if nothing in the world mattered.

“Mm.” Lin Qiaoxuan hurriedly trotted over. “Sister, wait for me. Let’s take the elevator together?”

Sensing their approach, the hotel’s automatic doors slid open.

The office door creaked open.

“President Qiu… I knocked earlier but got no reply, I thought you weren’t here…” Assistant Li stepped in, nervously handing over a folder.

“This is the project file Manager Wu handed over.”

“Oh.” Qiu Miaoran looked up from her desk, moving her hand off the keyboard to take it.

Assistant Li bowed out quickly.

Qiu Miaoran set the folder on her desk and turned back to her computer screen.

Her eyes landed on what she had just written. Adjusting her glasses with a fingertip, the thin golden chain dangling slightly,

her sharp phoenix eyes widened, shock flashing coldly in her dark gaze.

What on earth had she just typed—

2022, the Securities Regulatory Commission will push for the development of the Beijing Stock Exchange, further accelerating integration of commercial banks and financial lending institutions, deepening financial liberalization reform, lowering financing thresholds for SMEs, market rules tell us—why hasn’t Ji Jiayu responded publicly yet? Is she unwilling to? Did I go too far and anger her? Does she still want to bait me or not @#%￥

The first half was barely passable… but the second half? What nonsense was that?!

—She looked like a drowsy high schooler, mixing chemistry formulas into her Chinese essay.

Clearly distracted, perhaps just sleepy.

She picked up her Americano, sipping twice, then hammered the delete key with trembling fingers, erasing everything after the midpoint.

If Ji Jiayu didn’t respond today, she wouldn’t be able to finish this report at all.

Setting her coffee down, Qiu Miaoran picked up her phone and dialed.

“Has my Weibo verification gone through yet?”

PR and social media staff replied: “Yes, President Qiu. It just went through—you’ve got the yellow V badge now.”

“Good.” Qiu Miaoran hung up.

【What I want, I will have—whether it’s old grudges to settle, or the things I desire. Even if it’s a woman, it makes no difference…】

She refused to swallow her pride. Even if it meant taking a risky step, she needed to test Ji Jiayu’s reaction.

Sighing, she scrolled through her phone, found the verified account, and reposted a news tweet about Qiushui Ventures partnering with Tongda Real Estate on a Beijing suburban tech park project.

After that obligatory duty, she immediately reposted her own message from last night—

【Qiu Miaoran】: Repost // 【Qiu Miaoran】: False. The person involved told you all themselves—I did not “keep” Jiayu, we’re simply girlfriends, equal partners.

…

A minute passed.

Two minutes passed…

Likes and comments skyrocketed.

At the top, one comment shot to the #1 spot:

【If you’re really Qiu Miaoran herself, I’ll livestream eating shit upside down!】

Replies flooded beneath it:

【I only care when upstairs will start the upside-down shit-eating livestream.】

【HAHAHAHA no way this is actually Qiu Miaoran… but it really is! Verified! Boss, since when do you play on Weibo?! [/cry-laugh]】

【OMG… Qiu Miaoran really has a girlfriend? My dream is shattered today.】

【I knew it. How else would that actress rise so fast, with such good resources? Of course someone’s backing her. Wow, and Qiu’s actually pretty hot, kinda like those alpha women people always rave about!】

【Wait, could it be true? Is little Jiayu really Qiu’s girlfriend? How can she announce this one-sidedly?!】

【No! Absolutely not! My sweet Jiayu can only shine alone, no girlfriends allowed!!】

On the other end, a phone rang on the nightstand.

From the bathroom, Ji Jiayu—wearing a silk nightdress—hurried out at the sound, picking up the phone. “Hello… Xiaoyao?”

“Xiaoyu, have you not checked Weibo all day…? Something big blew up and you don’t know?” her assistant Xiaoyao’s anxious voice came through.

Ji Jiayu hooked a fallen camisole strap back onto her shoulder, adjusting her nightdress slowly. “Mm… no, I haven’t. I was streaming all day.”

“What happened?”

“Go check for yourself… Sister Rong’s been calling you nonstop. She was afraid you couldn’t handle it, so she and the others tried suppressing comments all day. But they can’t hold it down anymore.”

“Take a look first, then call me back. We’ll figure out what to do.”

“Alright.”

Hanging up, Ji Jiayu swiped her phone open and scrolled through Weibo.

@JiJiayuFanclub: Jiayu, we’ll always believe in you!! Accompanying you is the longest confession of love. No matter what, you’ll always be our best little Jiayu.

@QiushuiEntertainment: /Official Statement: Recently, malicious rumors have spread online about our artist. We believe her reputation cannot be slandered. In particular, @Yangyangzi and @EntertainmentSpy have been especially vile—pure fabrication. Our company will continue sending lawyer’s letters…

Public opinion was split in two camps—

One group, shockingly, was shipping the cold CEO x sweet starlet CP:

【Wowww, even the company is standing with her?! That means Jiayu’s definitely the boss’s wife. I looked up Qiu’s photo—sharp features, suit, gold-chain glasses, sleek long black hair. Totally my type, swoon… They’re so perfect together!】

The other swore to defend Ji Jiayu’s innocence:

【This is nonsense. I don’t believe it. Jiayu hasn’t responded yet—she shines on her own! I refuse to accept any “son-in-law”!!】

…

What the hell?

Ji Jiayu was confused. Clicking into the account tagged by the company, she found the trending topic: #JiJiayuSugarBabyScandal.

In the fan forums, panicked fans were crying out—

【Jiayu please respond!! Are you together or not?】

【I’m terrified… Jiayu don’t get with someone so fast! Even if I lose my account, I’ll say it: capitalists are no good, you must protect yourself!!】

【Banging my bowl, waiting for your reply. If you don’t, I’ll camp here all night!!】

…

Finally, in a hot thread, she saw Qiu Miaoran’s post:

【Qiu Miaoran】: Repost // False. The person involved told you all themselves—I did not “keep” Jiayu, we’re simply girlfriends, equal partners.

【Oh my goddd, Qiu is so devoted. She only follows Ji Jiayu on Weibo, and liked every single one of her posts…】

【Shipping it!! This feels like a novel plot. CEO investor x trending starlet… Princess Yingying, Sister Qiaoxuan, sorry moms gotta climb this wall~】

【Am I the only one who thinks they don’t match? Honestly feels like Jiayu’s not worthy of Qiu Miaoran…】

…

Qiu Miaoran said, just girlfriends, equal partners…

But they’d already broken up!

Ji Jiayu frowned. Without overthinking, without consulting her manager, she immediately posted her own Weibo reply:

【Ji Jiayu】: Thanks for clearing rumors. We’ve broken up. Never loved. [/crying face]

After posting, she turned off her phone screen.

She collapsed heavily onto the hotel’s bed, her white silk nightdress crumpling beneath her body, hem riding up to reveal her pale legs.

Her ankles were thin and fragile, seemingly breakable. Her toes—painted crimson—curled helplessly.

Face turned upward, she covered her eyes with an arm. Her chest heaved violently, breathing ragged, like a fish on the verge of suffocation.

So suffocating…

Her eyes stung. She didn’t know what to do.

Her WeChat had already exploded with messages. But she didn’t dare open it.

She was afraid.

Afraid of seeing Ji Chen’s messages.

Her name, alongside Qiu Miaoran’s, had trended at the top all afternoon. No exaggeration—practically the whole world now knew they had once been together.

Sister, you’ve seen this, haven’t you?

What should I do…?

At that moment, her phone rang again.

Who could it be?

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