My Wealthy Ex-Girlfriend Knelt and Begged Me to Come Back [Entertainment Industry] - Chapter 7

The corners of Ji Jiayu’s lips curved slightly, and in her ears came the voice she had already expected—

【Life Extension Value +2】

The kite string tightened again. Time to loosen it a little.

Compared to a purely physical relationship, President Qiu seemed to prefer this kind that could be called a “love game”…

On the table, Qiu Miaoran’s phone suddenly vibrated.

“Excuse me, I need to take this call.”

“Mhm.” Ji Jiayu nodded lightly, smiling gently as she watched her get up with the phone and walk toward the restroom.

Inside the restroom.

Qiu Miaoran answered, “Experiment 001 shouldn’t show any abnormalities. I’ll personally follow up on her file. As for the project with Rentai Medical, let’s hold off further investment, but research and development can continue…”

“……”

She hung up from the work call, only for another call to come in immediately.

Her brows furrowed slightly as she answered, “Grandfather, I’m busy.”

“…I know.”

…

Another call ended.

Her fiancée—she had just landed in Paris, seemed sick, and was making a fuss.

Ji Jiayu was still waiting by the table, planning to finish dinner together before heading back to Qiushui Residence.

But Qiu Miaoran wasn’t going back.

She asked the waiter to bring her coat. Draping a black trench coat over her silk blouse, her whole demeanor returned to that cold and aloof look. She turned toward Ji Jiayu.

“Later, Assistant Li will drive you back.”

“You’re leaving? But the dishes haven’t all arrived yet…” Ji Jiayu loosened her teeth from the straw, her thick lashes blinking.

“I thought tonight would be our first real date.”

“I have other matters.” Qiu Miaoran’s explanation seemed a bit guilty, and she added, “I won’t be back these next few days—work is keeping me busy.”

…

Two days later.

Inside an office at Qiushui Entertainment, Ji Jiayu sat in a chair, waiting for her agent to return.

Her phone screen lit up.

Lowering her gaze, she swiped down—it was a Weibo news notification.

【Qiushui Venture Capital’s CEO Qiu Miaoran, secret late-night rendezvous with French lover at club? Intimate behavior, whereabouts unknown.】

—posted 3 hours ago.

【Power Couple! Mystery woman revealed to be heir of Jiahong Group. Lavish engagement five years ago, two conglomerates linked in depth!】

—posted 1.5 hours ago.

【Jiahong heiress Lin Qiaoxuan: “Please don’t interfere in our private lives!”】

In the photos, colorful lights scattered across the floor. The frail-looking girl seemed unwell, or perhaps drunk, supported by the woman beside her.

That woman’s back was eye-catching—her spine straight, wrapped in a dark gray tailored skirt suit, her waist slender, her long legs perfectly outlined.

She wore gold-rimmed glasses with a fine chain draping down her neck, her black hair brushed to one side as she held the girl close—like lovers, intimate and natural.

Qiu Miaoran hadn’t gone to work. She had flown abroad to another woman.

Not only did she have “younger sisters” and “female companions,” but she also had a real fiancée.

She held her in her arms, a wealthy romance, perfectly matched…

Knowing was one thing. Seeing it with her own eyes was another.

Just one glance felt like a thorn stabbing into Ji Jiayu’s chest—a dull, aching pain.

The photo only showed them leaning on each other’s backs, not even their side profiles clearly visible.

Ji Jiayu pressed her lips together, her finger brushing the familiar face on the screen.

She looked so much like her sister—holding someone else so closely, so tenderly.

Thankfully, the photo hadn’t clearly shown Qiu Miaoran’s face.

Her chest burned as if scorched, each breath painful.

…

“Jiayu.”

Her agent’s voice pulled her back.

While Ji Jiayu was lost in thought, Sister Rong returned, placing documents on the desk. Catching a glimpse of Weibo on her phone, she gave a little snort and smiled.

“So, you’ve seen it too.”

“The thing is, Qiushui Venture Capital is our controlling shareholder. Headquarters normally wouldn’t pass this to us agents, but since they think we’re better at handling public opinion, they dumped it on us.”

“The meeting earlier? It was to have PR smooth this over. Even our CEO makes it into tabloid gossip—funny, isn’t it?”

Ji Jiayu curved her lips into a soft smile. “It is pretty funny.”

“For us, sure,” Sister Rong shrugged, her smile tinged with helplessness. “But honestly, you’re new here, you don’t know—some of the junior artists are crazy about President Qiu. They’re crying their eyes out in the group chats, saying their dream of becoming the president’s spouse just shattered, hahaha…”

“Right.” Ji Jiayu listened carefully, smiling with dimples showing, nodding at the right moments.

“People always like to live in their own lies.”

To love the illusion of someone, not the real person.

Her eyes lowered, lips pressing together.

She wasn’t sure if that sigh was for herself—or for others.

Her agent continued, “Talent just dropped your cover shoot. The data on their official Weibo looks great—everyone’s praising it. They say the model is gorgeous, eyes full of emotion, the cover very artistic.”

Ji Jiayu’s eyes curved into a sweet smile. “That’s thanks to Sister Rong’s sharp eye for choosing gigs.”

“Haha,” Rong Jie laughed, shaking her head. “You really have honeyed words. Always so sweet.”

“Several directors saw your ad and are interested. Come with me later, look over some scripts, pick what catches your eye.”

“Okay.”

—

The plane touched down with a roar.

“Rumble—” Wheels screeched against the runway.

As soon as flight mode was switched off, her phone buzzed nonstop, notifications flooding in from a single group chat—

【Wall Street · Beijing Wolves】

【Wolf One】: Isn’t President Qiu back today? Busy bee, huh. Been forever since we last gathered. How about it, come hang with us?

【Wolf Two】: Dinner’s on me. We can talk project updates too.

【Wolf Three】: Old Qiu, hurry over, Second Brother Cui’s treating!

【Qiu】: Sure. Where?

【Wolf Two】: Same old place.

Two hours later, in a so-called high-end lakeside private dining club on the west side of the city—

A group of young people lounged around a low tea table.

Qiu Miaoran walked in, slipping off her coat for someone to hang, her brows tightening when she saw them.

“I thought we were here to discuss projects? Why so many people…”

They had some education, sure.

But their character was lacking. They looked more like spoiled second-gen socialites here for fun—

Each one either had a “little sister” in their arms or a “little brother,” sprawled carelessly across sofas.

In their midst, Qiu Miaoran sat straight-backed and upright.

Like a crane landing among chickens.

“Why no companion this time? What about that Yi Ying girl? Or one of the other ‘sisters’?” asked a buzz-cut woman holding a delicate boy in her arms. She was Zhang Yi, codename Wolf One.

“Mind your own business.” Passing behind her, Qiu Miaoran patted the spiky buzz cut with a click of her tongue. “Your hair’s sharp as needles.”

Zhang Yi rubbed her head, laughing sheepishly. “Oops, scratched your hand? My bad.”

Another, with glasses and a high ponytail, glanced away from her laptop screen, catching a grape tossed by her girl into her mouth.

“Don’t restrain yourself too much, President Qiu. Your fiancée’s always abroad. Thinking about women once in a while—that’s only human.”

This was Cui Er, the second of the Cui family, codename Wolf Two.

“Not bringing anyone anymore,” Qiu Miaoran coughed lightly. “No need.”

“Fiancée back in town?”

“No way!” A short-haired, golden-dyed woman—Qi Shan, Wolf Three—snorted. “I just saw her Weibo update, still tagged in France.”

Qiu Miaoran’s gaze swept over them coldly. “Don’t call Miss Lin that. There’s nothing between us.”

She hated hearing Lin Qiaoxuan called her “wife.”

“How’s the project progress?” Qiu asked.

“Patient 001’s 24-hour EEG showed no abnormalities in discharge area, pattern, or frequency. But over at Rentai Medical, something came up.

Didn’t the Song family’s eldest trick his sister abroad into marriage, just to fight for inheritance since the matriarch is ill? Now the second son is back, and the siblings are at each other’s throats. Our project involves them. Might be affected?”

“It’s mostly outsourced. Even if Rentai’s shares are in dispute, it won’t affect our profits. The launch ceremony’s in two days—should be fine…”

“……”

Once the business talk wound down, the group called in more “companions” and started playing poker.

Qiu Miaoran wasn’t interested. Sitting apart, she borrowed Cui Er’s laptop to review project drafts. The blue glow reflected off her gold-rimmed glasses.

Her lips pressed together. Silent, cold, refined—

Like a work of art with no warmth, every strand of hair radiating elegance and composure.

After staring too long, her eyes grew tired. She removed the glasses, massaging the bridge of her nose.

She looked far too severe, out of place in this frivolous atmosphere.

Closing her eyes for a moment, the cold white light cast shadows across her profile, making her nose sharper, her eyes deeper.

“President Qiu, want some apple?” a girl asked nearby.

“Thank you.” Qiu shook her head, swirling her wine glass, gesturing for the girl to leave. “You can go.”

Polite, but distant.

Blushing, the girl set down a plate of carefully carved rabbit-shaped apples and retreated awkwardly.

Watching the frivolous scene, Qiu Miaoran suddenly thought of Ji Jiayu.

Compared to these “companions,” Ji Jiayu was far more captivating.

These people—smiling submissively, full of cheap charm—none of them would say plainly “I like you.”

None would ask her boldly, ‘I want to eat this, President Qiu—make it for me?’

None were as lively, as bright, as fervent in their confessions.

What once served as mere pastimes now felt tiresome.

Noticing her disinterest, Wolf One chuckled. “What, suddenly changed taste? President Qiu, hiding someone from us?”

“Not hiding.” Qiu closed the laptop, pausing before admitting, “I have a girlfriend.”

Not a companion. A girlfriend.

“Curious! When do we get to meet the new sister-in-law?”

“What do you mean new? There’s only one sister-in-law!” Cui Er slammed the table. “From start to finish, it’s always been her.”

“Well then, bring her around sometime. Let us see her?”

“Maybe.” Lowering her eyes, Qiu’s fingers rubbed against each other. After a moment of hesitation, she replied, “When there’s time.”

The feeling was complicated. Like owning a rare, fragile vase—too precious to let others touch, yet tempting to show off for envy.

After dinner, a girl claimed she felt unwell, and Qi Shan went upstairs with her girlfriend.

The rest lingered, drinking and rolling dice.

Qiu sat quietly on the sofa. Though she had never cared about such things before—what her companions did was irrelevant—

Now, she felt an urgent need to know what Ji Jiayu was doing.

She turned her phone over, sending a message—

【Qiu Miaoran】: You there?

【Qiu Miaoran】: What are you doing?

One minute later—

【Ji Jiayu】: I was just thinking… when will the person I like come chat with me~

【Ji Jiayu】: And then, she came!

【Ji Jiayu】: [/shy][/stella-lou covering face]

The pink fox plushie covering its face, looking bashful and charming, immediately reminded her of Ji Jiayu.

So… cute.

A little seductress.

Scrolling upward, wanting to relive their conversations, she realized it only took a minute to reach the top.

So few words exchanged between them.

Suddenly, Qiu Miaoran stood up, shrugging on her coat.

“Leaving already, President Qiu?”

“So early?”

Heading for the door, she answered simply, “Home.”

She bit back the next words—I’m not like you. Someone’s waiting for me at home.

Saying that would sound childish—like a grade-schooler showing off.

She had never felt this before, so she chalked it up to—

【Expectation created by something temporarily out of reach】.

Cui Er teased, “Look at her rushing off. Is this for real?”

The slam of the door drowned his words.

“No way,” Zhang Yi shook her head. “President Qiu, seriously dating? That’d be a first.

She’s had so many companions, changes them every banquet. Can’t even remember how many ‘little sisters’ she’s had.”

This person—more empty than promiscuous.

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