My Wealthy Ex-Girlfriend Knelt and Begged Me to Come Back [Entertainment Industry] - Chapter 59

Time rewinds to ten minutes earlier.

In the hotel banquet hall,

Producer Cheng and Director Zhang were speaking in low voices.

“Feng Yalan can’t be used now. I told you… someone this unruly was bound to cause trouble sooner or later.”

“Huh, what you’re saying now… you were the one who proposed replacing Ji Jiayu with Feng Yalan at the last minute. This is just hindsight, hmph!”

“Well, that was because President Song said that as long as Yalan plays the female lead Wei Jiajia, she’d invest twenty million for us.”

“Alright, alright, you’re right. After all, these days, getting investment is easier than financing. The market isn’t balanced… every time we shoot a new film and look for investors, it feels like begging for capital, kneeling like a grandson…”

Whoever has money is king—even a brilliant director can’t escape this truth.

After all, there’s no shortage of talent in this world…

“Let him withdraw President Song’s investment, I’ll invest twenty million.” A cold, sharp female voice spoke beside his ear.

Producer Cheng turned his head, looking up to see the woman who had just appeared beside him…

She was tall, long-legged, even slightly taller than him. Her tailored shirt paired with a black A-line skirt was impeccably pressed, not a single wrinkle in sight.

She seemed to have come from somewhere in a rush; her long hair fell over her shoulders in slight disarray, yet her expression remained indifferent, like a rare snow lotus, radiating an aura that warned people to keep their distance.

Though Director Zhang and Producer Cheng weren’t from the investment world,

they had seen Qiu Miaoran’s face several times at other high-end gatherings.

“President Qiu.”

“Y-You’re… investing too?!”

This young CEO of Qiushui Capital, in the prime of her career, was extremely meticulous in her work. Before every investment, she would always conduct thorough market research and have her investment managers follow up with due diligence.

This time, however, Qiu Miaoran didn’t analyze anything. She simply said, “I want to invest,” and invested twenty million outright.

Director Zhang and Producer Cheng exchanged glances, and in that instant, they understood each other.

Song Zheng had withdrawn an investment of twenty million, Lin Qiaoxuan’s investment covered Song Zheng’s gap, and there were still a few scattered small investments totaling another ten or twenty million. Now, President Qiu arrived at the banquet to inject capital.

Producer Cheng and Director Zhang were almost moved to tears: “… wow… this is the first time raising investment for a movie without having to beg the investors like servants—these greedy capitalists are now competing to put money into the film!”

Ji Jiayu really was like a little lucky charm.

“So,” Qiu Miaoran’s long, dark lashes swept downward, her voice cold and clear, “where is Miss Ji now?”

“Upstairs, on the terrace,” Director Zhang instinctively answered.

Qiu Miaoran turned and walked up the stairs.

Producer Cheng belatedly reminded, “Uh… Miss Lin is also there…”

Qiu Miaoran responded with a slight “hm,” her steps lighter now, almost silent, as if she wanted to quietly observe what Lin Qiaoxuan intended to do.

She had never understood—what exactly was Lin Qiaoxuan up to when openly showing affection for Ji Jiayu on that variety show?

When Qiu Miaoran reached a spot near the open-air terrace,

Lin Qiaoxuan was holding Ji Jiayu by the shoulders,

and Ji Jiayu slightly lowered her head, allowing a kiss on her hair.

In that instant, Qiu Miaoran’s rational, precise mind nearly crashed.

Her tall, slim body froze,

her jaw clenched, her dark eyes deep as ink, now tinged with a stormy darkness, red veins forming in the whites of her eyes. Her normally cold, deep brows now radiated a gloomy aura.

—It was me who came first, I fell for Ji Jiayu first, why…

Why could Lin Qiaoxuan hold Ji Jiayu like that?

Why could Lin Qiaoxuan lower her head and kiss the girl’s soft, fragrant hair?

Qiu Miaoran swayed slightly, her steps faltering as she hastened forward,

and in the next moment, she suddenly pushed Lin Qiaoxuan away and pulled the drunken girl into her arms,

her voice low: “Get lost…”

Lin Qiaoxuan was pushed back half a step but didn’t falter,

smiling faintly at Qiu Miaoran, with a hint of mockery: “Qiu Miaoran, what right do you have to tell me to get lost?”

“You were the one who ruined my sister!”

“Sister? Miss Lin, I recall you just met Jiayu recently,” Qiu Miaoran’s long lashes lifted, her phoenix-like eyes narrowing, a sharp light flashing in them.

She scoffed coldly: “Calling her so intimately… do you really think Jiayu considers you her sister?”

Ji Jiayu was always kind, treating Lin Qiaoxuan merely as an ordinary friend.

What had just happened was simply Lin Qiaoxuan’s one-sided wishful thinking.

“President Qiu… what exactly are you to Little Fish now? Her wife, her girlfriend?”

“You are nothing,” she said.

Lin Qiaoxuan’s smile, like needles, stabbed at Qiu Miaoran’s heart.

The hand gripping Ji Jiayu’s shoulder trembled,

her fingers shaking, her heart quivering, eyes closing, a chill of iron spreading through her heart.

Yes, Lin Qiaoxuan was right…

She was nothing to Ji Jiayu.

The night wind blew, and though it was summer, a shiver of cold seemed to crawl from her fingertips into her veins, cutting through the blood.

Lin Qiaoxuan’s delicate, youthful face smiled brightly at Ji Jiayu, looking innocent and harmless.

But facing Qiu Miaoran, that same smile turned icy and cold.

“Now, Ji Jiayu and I are on the same household registration~”

“I am her legitimate little sister.”

Qiu Miaoran’s long lashes trembled violently. She could hardly believe what she just heard: “You… are her sister… what do you mean?”

“Exactly what I said,” Lin Qiaoxuan snorted coldly.

Qiu Miaoran suddenly recalled that Lin Qiaoxuan had been adopted by Lin Wan… the real Lin family daughter had disappeared years ago after a kidnapping.

The richest woman in Southern City, Lin Wan, had even posted a huge reward for finding her child, but it had been in vain.

In that case… Ji Jiayu was the true Lin family daughter who had gone missing.

Qiu Miaoran whispered: “Sister…”

Heavens…

What had she done?

—She had a sister in her heart but still agreed to a marriage with her sister.

She really was a scoundrel…

Qiu Miaoran gritted her teeth, remorse rising.

Ji Jiayu must have seen everything, right?

How disappointed would Ji Jiayu be?

Qiu Miaoran instantly felt guilty…

She shouldn’t have made an engagement with the Lin family for power while Ji Jiayu was still her “companion.”

She should have cherished her, been honest,

then none of this would have happened.

Human nature is like this.

When Ji Jiayu was by her side, Qiu Miaoran had been overly confident, presumptuous,

thinking that their first meeting didn’t mean much, that Ji Jiayu had forgotten everything.

She thought Ji Jiayu couldn’t leave her,

and she only considered Ji Jiayu a “grain of rice”—important, but not irreplaceable.

Once she truly left, she realized that the “grain of rice” had already become a white moonlight,

but she hadn’t realized Ji Jiayu’s importance, thinking she was merely accustomed to her presence, to watching this girl who belonged to her aunt,

thinking it was all just habit.

When she finally understood that it was love, it was too late.

Over the past year, aside from work, Qiu Miaoran had lived almost entirely in regret.

She constantly regretted not cherishing…

Even during meetings, she would zone out, only realizing it when Assistant Li reminded her:

“Ah… I actually spaced out.”

At times, she even lost herself.

Lin Qiaoxuan took two steps forward, seizing the drunken Ji Jiayu, holding her gently in her arms.

“Alright… I’m taking sister home now…”

Qiu Miaoran lowered her head, being roughly pushed aside. No one had dared disrespect the CEO of Qiushui Capital like this before,

but this time, Qiu Miaoran had no strength to compete with Lin Qiaoxuan.

She had hurt Ji Jiayu so many times—once deceiving her for data collection as part of a medical project risk assessment;

once by becoming engaged to her sister, never being honest, never caring for Ji Jiayu’s feelings;

she had hidden many other things from Ji Jiayu…

Qiu Miaoran lifted her head with difficulty, taking a few determined steps behind Lin Qiaoxuan, calling out: “Let me take her home.”

“President Qiu,” Lin Qiaoxuan smiled faintly, her smile cold: “What right do you have to take her home?”

Qiu Miaoran’s fingers trembled as she repeated her words:

“I’ll go with you, take Jiayu home together.”

—Even if a sister had affection for her elder sister, even with justifiable reason, she couldn’t easily trust Lin Qiaoxuan…

A rational economist would never take a risk that didn’t match the benefit.

Lin Qiaoxuan brought too much risk…

—Like a disruptor, trying to stir up the calm path of reconciliation with Ji Jiayu.

“Suit yourself, President Qiu,” Lin Qiaoxuan said coldly. “But don’t block our way home.”

Ji Jiayu was held by the arm, placed in the front passenger seat, “click,” she buckled her seatbelt.

…

Half an hour later, the white Cayenne arrived at the residential underground parking.

Lin Qiaoxuan gently said: “We’re here.”

Ji Jiayu leaned against the seat, slightly tilted, obviously still asleep, long lashes casting soft shadows on her fair cheeks. Up close, one could see each eyelash, her chest rising and falling gently…

Lin Qiaoxuan bent down, smelling a hint of her hair fragrance.

She wished this moment could last a little longer, just a little.

Her fingertips pressed the seatbelt buckle: “click,” helping Ji Jiayu unbuckle it.

At the same time, knocking sounds came from outside the window.

Someone was clearly knocking on the car.

Lin Qiaoxuan slowly released the seatbelt, straightened, her dark eyes shooting daggers at Lin Qiaoxuan.

She stopped briefly, then knocked on the glass again.

It was as if she would break the window if Lin Qiaoxuan didn’t open it.

It turned out Qiu Miaoran hadn’t left. She had followed them, even parked ahead…

Cunning!

Lin Qiaoxuan “tsk”-ed, unlocking the car door.

“Click,” the car door opened.

Almost simultaneously, the sleepy girl in the passenger seat was scooped up horizontally, held at the waist and knees.

Lin Qiaoxuan angrily pulled out the car key, “beep,” locking the car and rushing toward the elevator, pressing the up button to prevent it from closing.

The elevator door slowly opened.

Qiu Miaoran stood inside, tall and long-legged, holding the tiny Ji Jiayu effortlessly.

Her face was cold, staring at Lin Qiaoxuan as if she owed her eighty million.

Lin Qiaoxuan gritted her teeth and pressed the close button.

“You pressed 18…?” she asked, noticing the illuminated floor. “How did you know her floor?”

“The last time we had dinner together, I took her home…”

Even then, Ji Jiayu hadn’t told her exactly which floor she lived on…

“And just like you… I also sent her home,” Qiu Miaoran frowned, adding, “But you weren’t there that time.”

Qiu Miaoran was lying. She had never sent Ji Jiayu home alone or gone on a private date with her… but she had bought a place across from Ji Jiayu. How could she not know the floor?

“Is it necessary… for you to guard against me this much?” Lin Qiaoxuan sneered, sarcastically, “President Qiu, I am her sister… and your fiancée…”

“Former fiancée. We have no relation now,” Qiu Miaoran answered coldly. “You and she have no possibility.”

Lin Qiaoxuan rolled her eyes…

The elevator reached the floor, and they arrived at a door.

“This is where she lives?” Lin Qiaoxuan asked.

Qiu Miaoran nodded. “Yes, I vaguely remembered when I sent her here last time…”

“I suppose you secretly followed her after being rejected and saw it,” Lin Qiaoxuan said, darkening, cursing,

“Really perverted…”

Qiu Miaoran’s gaze turned icy, she pressed her lips together, coldly assessing Lin Qiaoxuan, without explanation:

“Only perverts can understand perverted behavior.”

—She was alluding that Lin Qiaoxuan wasn’t a good person either.

Lin Qiaoxuan had once been her “former fiancée,” and they had marketed themselves to each other.

No one knew Lin Qiaoxuan better than Qiu Miaoran.

A wolf in sheep’s clothing.

Also, Lin Qiaoxuan’s hands were neatly trimmed, nails rounded,

and one glance showed she wasn’t a pampered princess. They had the same taste before their engagement—pure yet wild… women.

If not for Ji Jiayu, they could have been friends…

At this moment, Lin Qiaoxuan found the key in Ji Jiayu’s bag, tried it, and the door opened.

She pulled out the key, secretly excited…

What would Ji Jiayu’s home be like?

She followed Qiu Miaoran inside, to Ji Jiayu’s bedroom.

A corner of the thin blanket had been lifted.

Ji Jiayu was gently placed under the blanket, still eyes closed, lashes long and dense.

Qiu Miaoran covered her with the blanket, watching her small, delicate sleeping face, red lips slightly moving: “Sleeping so deeply… did you slip something in your drink?”

“I’m not as shameless as you,” Lin Qiaoxuan heard and retorted,

standing by the bed, carefully removing Ji Jiayu’s high heels, meticulous as if working on a major project…

It was summer; the air conditioning couldn’t be too cold.

The bed creaked slightly as the girl turned.

As Ji Jiayu moved, a white, slender leg emerged from under her black skirt, kicking the corner of the blanket…

The soft foot, the round toes painted crimson, curling slightly.

The dress pressed down, looking a bit unrestrained…

Even revealing a hint of desire.

The black hem and blanket exposed a section of her snow-white calf, lines straight and delicate, moving upward, one could see her knees, round and slightly pink…

Qiu Miaoran glanced at Lin Qiaoxuan, her gaze cold as water: “You go out. I’ll help her change.”

“You…” Lin Qiaoxuan blushed, cursing, “Qiu Miaoran, shameless.”

“I’m taking sister home. I’m guarding against you.”

“Heh.”

“I’m guarding against you too.”

Their voices lowered, exchanged with irony.

The two locked eyes; invisible sparks, thick with tension, filled the air.

Ji Jiayu’s half-side face pressed against the pillow, seemingly awakened, murmured:

“You… are so noisy…”

Her soft voice, slightly muffled, barely conscious.

Immediately, they fell silent, like two tamed dogs.

The tiny bedroom instantly quieted.

…

The next morning, a slant of bright sunlight filtered through the window,

soft hair scattered across the pillow, tinged with a faint golden glow.

The girl’s sleeping face was serene, her brows relaxed like a refreshing landscape painting.

“Beep beep,” the phone alarm shattered the peaceful morning.

Ji Jiayu slightly turned, eyes still half-closed, fingers curled as she stretched to grab the phone on the nightstand, silencing the alarm, softly murmuring: “Mm…”

Her long lashes trembled, red lips moving as she opened her eyes. The mist in her gaze gradually cleared.

She sat up slowly, head still dizzy, noticing she was still wearing last night’s dress, slept in without changing,

the dress creased.

It was a summer new piece from a certain blue-blood brand, now crumpled like a rag. Ji Jiayu felt a little sorry for it…

But now she had some of her own money and a Southern City billionaire mother. Thinking of that, the little regret was nothing.

She had drunk again last night, a bit more than she could handle…

Though in different circles, she and Lin Qiaoxuan had a lot in common.

Each had her own pursuits,

both had bright futures.

They were like light and shadow of the same world, coexisting because of one chance.

If Ji Jiayu hadn’t gone missing, there wouldn’t be Lin Qiaoxuan now;

Without Lin Qiaoxuan, there wouldn’t be the currently strong yet gentle Ji Jiayu.

They had nearly shared each other’s lives.

The two girls talked for a long time, feeling lighthearted. The wine was chilled in the summer breeze, tasting exquisite.

Ji Jiayu, a little careless, didn’t drink much, but felt dizzy, forgetting what happened after…

This is the so-called “small skill, big habit.”

Fortunately, Lin Qiaoxuan was trustworthy… even when Ji Jiayu was too drunk to remember, she could still get her home safely.

Luckily, she had slept deeply; by morning, the alcohol had mostly worn off, though her head still ached slightly, she was conscious.

Ji Jiayu opened the wardrobe, taking out a nightdress, bending slightly, hands clasping the hem, sliding off the black dress. A slant of sunlight sneaked in, illuminating her spine, fragile shoulder blades, delicate waist, two shallow dimples, graceful curves like a girl from an oil painting.

The dress still smelled of last night’s wine, a faint sourness like vomit.

It seemed the dress was ruined…

Even she smelled of alcohol; she would need a shower soon.

She put on a camisole night.