My Wealthy Ex-Girlfriend Knelt and Begged Me to Come Back [Entertainment Industry] - Chapter 52

The car window was rolled all the way down.

Qiu Miaoran stared hard at her, her jet-black pupils shrinking sharply, lips painted in a deep reddish-brown pressed even tighter.

She didn’t say a word, but every inch of her skin was tense.

Obviously, Ji Jiayu’s words had struck her deeply.

Ji Jiayu had said, “Being with you… doesn’t make it any less dangerous, does it?”

It was hurtful, but it was the truth.

She had hurt Ji Jiayu, and that was a fact that could never be undone.

Right now, her heart ached with a sharp, pulling pain.

Ji Jiayu seemed to realize that what she had just said might have been a little too harsh.

Her face cold, she stepped off the sidewalk and pulled open the door of the silver Rolls-Royce Vision.

Bang — the car door slammed shut.

Ji Jiayu sat down in the passenger seat.

Qiu Miaoran was fuming, her breathing heavy. “Buckle up.”

Her voice was slightly hoarse.

Behind her gold-rimmed glasses, those dark eyes fixed on her.

Ji Jiayu didn’t fasten her seatbelt. Instead, she called her name directly:

“Qiu Miaoran, I have something to say to you… You should have guessed it already, right?”

“For those two years we were together, I treated you as a substitute…”

“Don’t—” Qiu Miaoran’s scalp prickled, her eyes almost instantly stinging and swelling, her throat dry, voice raspier than before. “Don’t say it. I don’t want to hear…”

“Don’t say those two words. I don’t want to hear them…”

Her voice sounded like someone on the verge of drying up completely.

Ji Jiayu drew a deep breath, her fingers resting on her knees tightening unconsciously.

“As Ji Chen’s substitute.”

“I also used you. I’m sorry…”

Still, Ji Jiayu said it gently, but the words were like a sharp blade, point first, stabbing straight into the chest.

Her heart felt carved open—

Throbbing with pain.

Inside the car, silence fell for a long time.

Qiu Miaoran turned the key, shutting off the engine completely. Her brows furrowed slightly, nose tingling, thick lashes trembling.

She squeezed her eyes shut tightly.

Her eyes quietly grew wet.

In the stillness, the sound of their breathing filled the space—rough, heavy exhales, rising and falling.

After a long while, Qiu Miaoran removed her glasses, rubbed her brow, and spread out her hand as much as possible.

Her palm was broad enough to cover half her face.

That way, she could block Ji Jiayu’s gaze.

Suddenly, the sound of tissues being pulled echoed beside her. A moment later, a fair, delicate hand held out two white tissues. Against their snow-white softness, her manicured, crimson fingertips looked even more vivid and alluring.

“Here, wipe…”

The hand that had been pressing at her brow slowly lowered.

Qiu Miaoran tilted her head slightly toward the girl in the passenger seat.

With her hand down, her side profile was visible—her eyes were beautiful, narrow double-lids, but deeply set.

At this moment, red veins streaked through her irises, the upturned corners faintly wet.

Her pupils looked as if soaked in water—inky black, but bright, her long lashes catching shimmering droplets, her whole eye rim red.

Qiu Miaoran gave a soft cough, took the tissues from Ji Jiayu, her sharp lipstick-painted lips trembling. “Thank you…”

Ji Jiayu slowly pulled her hand back, her gaze lingering a moment.

Her lashes fluttered, as if making sure she wasn’t imagining things. “You cried?”

Qiu Miaoran spread the tissue and covered half her face, dabbing away at the corner of her eyes, lips trembling.

“I didn’t sleep well last night. Don’t misunderstand. Just… pretend you didn’t see it.”

Her voice was low, raspier than before. The excuse sounded flimsy, almost like a cover-up.

Just for a moment, Ji Jiayu’s heart softened unexpectedly.

Only a little, though—most of it was surprise. She had never seen Qiu Miaoran break down before.

Cold as she was, even she had fragile moments.

President Qiu, people thought you’d never cry. That your heart was stone, that you’d never care about anyone else.

Turns out, you cry too?

Calling her a “substitute,” right in front of her—

It really was… cruel.

Ji Jiayu suddenly felt reluctant to twist the knife further.

“Let’s call it even. Don’t cling to me anymore…”

Knock knock knock— The sudden rapping on the window cut her off.

“Anyone inside?”

Qiu Miaoran balled up the tissue in her hand, turned the key, and pressed the button to roll down the window.

The glass slid down to reveal a policeman’s “kindly” face.

The traffic officer bent to peer inside at the driver, giving a verbal warning:

“Illegal parking. Move it now, or it’s a 200 fine.”

Still trapped in her emotions, Qiu Miaoran’s face remained shadowed and dark, her voice sharp as she tried to argue, “We weren’t illegally parked—”

Ji Jiayu pressed a hand against her wrist, giving a gentle squeeze.

“I’m so sorry. Truly, really sorry. My friend and I… had a bit of a misunderstanding and were arguing in the car. We’ll leave right away~”

She apologized sweetly, letting go of Qiu Miaoran’s wrist.

That tiny gesture, however, completely reined Qiu Miaoran back in.

Though brief, the warmth of Ji Jiayu’s fingertips lingered on her wrist, sending a faint electric current up her arm—

Ticklish.

Her chest felt itchy, too.

Qiu Miaoran pressed her lips together, silent, as the officer lectured them earnestly:

“Young people in relationships, quarreling is normal. But you need to learn to understand and respect each other. Couples shouldn’t hold grudges overnight~”

“Maybe…” Ji Jiayu didn’t deny it. She only looked at the uniformed officer.

“Indeed, understanding and respect matter.”

She smiled lightly, the corners of her eyes arching prettily.

The officer nodded. This girl in the skirt was so well-behaved, much sharper than the driver—prettier too. She even looked like some TV actress.

—The driver was handsome as well, though. But her eyes were red… Clearly, the couple had just fought. The driver was older than the girl, and she cried… Tsk tsk…

Seeing Ji Jiayu so sincere in admitting fault, the officer didn’t write a ticket, just urged:

“All right then, just don’t park randomly next time. Move along now…”

But Qiu Miaoran, still dazed, barely heard him. Her throat tightened as she swallowed hard, her fingers brushing the steering wheel lightly.

They weren’t a couple anymore—yet they’d been mistaken as such again.

Twice today.

Her cheeks felt warm.

Her heart beat faster.

So strange…

Ji Jiayu’s voice came beside her, lightly scolding: “Drive, will you? The officer told you to move.”

“President Qiu, what are you waiting for? A fine?”

Her voice was sweet, crisp.

Qiu Miaoran snapped back to her senses, turning slightly to the window. “Sorry.”

The engine roared back to life, the Rolls-Royce Vision rolling onto the road again.

“Where’s your place?” Qiu Miaoran asked.

“Not going home. To Mingse—the one in the north of the city.”

Mingse was that private club Ji Chen had once taken her to—ancient architecture, mostly wood décor, incense burners in the courtyard, offering tea and wine, with servers in dark green qipaos.

What Ji Jiayu didn’t know was that Mingse was Qiu Miaoran’s property. And she didn’t know that the day she and Ji Chen embraced on the balcony, Qiu Miaoran had been in that very courtyard, sipping tea—discovering a humiliating green glow above her head.

Mingse catered only to the elite of Beijing. Ordinary people couldn’t book a table without reserving far in advance.

So Ji Chen must have asked her out again!

Qiu Miaoran understood, but still turned the wheel toward Mingse, asking faintly:

“What for?”

Ji Jiayu replied, “Meeting a friend.”

“Then I’ll meet your friend too.” The words left Qiu Miaoran before she realized how they sounded—too much like she was forcing her way in.

Not good…

She paused, then corrected herself:

“You said earlier, ‘my friend and I had a misunderstanding,’ so I’m your friend too.”

—A true master of logic!

But unlike her usual domineering self, now Qiu Miaoran seemed terrified of rejection, lowering herself completely, asking cautiously:

“I’d like to come along, and treat you and your friend to a meal. Would that be all right?”

She wanted to at least sit down—declare her stance in front of Ji Chen. Fight fairly.

At least, have a chance.

But of course, Ji Jiayu had only called her “friend” earlier to help smooth things over with the cop. Who truly wanted to be friends with Qiu Miaoran?

Her attitude suddenly felt strange—first Song Tingyu, and now another wanting to “be friends.”

“The person I’m meeting isn’t like you,” Ji Jiayu chuckled softly. “She’s not just an ordinary friend…”

She paused, tilted her head, her brows lifting, her eyes curving as she smiled. Those light-brown eyes sparkled as she looked at Qiu Miaoran.

“She’s my new girlfriend.”

Qiu Miaoran’s hands clenched on the steering wheel, veins bulging, knuckles whitening. She turned her head slightly.

Out of the corner of her eye, Ji Jiayu’s delicate face leaned closer. Long lashes fluttered, her soft red lips parting, curving into a smile as she added gently:

“She’s young, beautiful, and she spoils me. Everything she does, she puts me first…”

“Well? President Qiu, still want to be my friend?”

Such a pretty little liar.

Her words carried a teasing, provocative glint.

“Didn’t think Miss Ji was such a player,” Qiu Miaoran sneered, brows lowering, her voice ice-cold.

“Breaking up with me, and already jumping into another girlfriend?”

Ji Jiayu raised her hand, crimson-tipped fingers brushing her lips as she laughed softly. “I can’t compare to you, President Qiu. Your assistant Li has a whole record of all your lovers.”

“So many ‘girlfriends’ you can’t even count. A whole book~”

“And I’m just one among your endless list of exes.”

“Not the same.” Qiu Miaoran frowned, phoenix eyes narrowing. “You’re not like them.”

Ji Jiayu shifted her legs closer to the driver’s side.

—Qiu Miaoran really wanted to be friends?

She didn’t believe it. After sleeping together so many times, how could there be no desire left?

Unless she was some saint.

At that moment, they reached the intersection. The car turned left and pulled to a stop, just before the narrow alley to Mingse.

“We’re here,” Qiu Miaoran said.

Click—the sound of a seatbelt unfastening.

The girl in the passenger seat rose slightly, hand on the back of Qiu Miaoran’s seat.

Ji Jiayu turned sideways, face tilting up, leaning in. Her lips neared as her voice dropped into a slow, sultry drawl:

“I’m different from them…”

“Because I slept with you? President Qiu, do you want to be friends, to keep things going, to keep… sleeping with me?”

The last three words fell hot against her ear, burning it numb.

Her breath was warm, damp, sweet. Strands of hair brushed her neck, tickling.

It felt like they were back together again—as if, with just a tilt of her head, they might share a heated kiss, just like two years ago.

Qiu Miaoran sat rigid in the driver’s seat, knuckles white, eyes dark as ink. Her lips trembled. “No, I don’t want to…”

But the breath at her ear stirred something—desire rushing up at once.

Her knees, beneath the dark hem of her skirt, pressed together, shifting lightly.

No… but she did want to.

Qiu Miaoran turned her gaze aside, lashes sweeping down. She dared not look into those clear eyes, or at those soft, glistening lips. How could someone so pure, so clean-looking—

Say such dangerous things?

She had been the one in control, the strategist in the game.

Yet now, she was being played with so easily. The other girl reached out casually, straightening her collar.

Crimson fingertips pressed against her white shirt.

It felt like her whole life was being pinched in those fingers.

Ji Jiayu fiddled at her neckline, fabric rustling, fastening the button. “This suits you better buttoned up.”

“Stern. Restrained. That’s the real you.”

Not with your collar loose, hinting at your collarbone, tempting wandering eyes.

At Qiu Miaoran’s temple, a vein throbbed visibly. So close, her nose was filled with the girl’s honey-sweet scent.

It was unbearable.

She was on the edge of losing control.

As Ji Jiayu buttoned her collar, her fingertips brushed the slight rise of her throat.

Clearly, Qiu Miaoran was swallowing hard.

Ji Jiayu chuckled faintly, withdrawing her hand. “Looks like you don’t just want to be friends with me, President Qiu…”

Qiu Miaoran squeezed her eyes shut abruptly. She feared she’d lose control—that she’d seize the girl right here, pin her to the seat, kiss her breathless, taste her—terrified that her forcefulness would make Ji Jiayu despise her again.

When she opened her eyes, her dark gaze locked onto her, lips releasing a long breath, almost like a sigh.

“I just want you to be better, Jiayu.”

“I’ve always been good at waiting.”

—If we must start as friends… then I can wait for the day you love me again.

—I’ve already waited so long.

Ji Jiayu settled back into her seat, lips curling in a faint smile. “Make me better?”

“Then learn to respect me. Respect who I am.”

She pushed the door open. “Besides waiting, you need patience too…”

“For example, today—do what you’re supposed to do. Don’t follow me.”

She had personally delivered Ji Jiayu here, only to watch her dine with another woman.

Qiu Miaoran’s fist tightened, then slammed down hard on the steering wheel.

Bang!

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