The Ex-Wife of the Scumbag A Who Abandoned the Female Lead - Chapter 48

Zhao Zhao didn’t say anything more, just quietly stared at Shi Nuocen for a while, her gaze carrying a hint of scrutiny.

Shi Nuocen openly allowed her to look, thinking it was just a glance anyway. It wouldn’t cost her anything.

“Nuocen, be honest with me. Do you and Actress Ru have some kind of special relationship?” After a moment’s thought, Zhao Zhao leaned in closer and whispered the question.

Shi Nuocen’s heart skipped a beat, her mind racing with possibilities. Was Zhao Zhao’s tone implying she had noticed something during her last visit to the Ru family villa? Had she seen her? Or recognized something of hers?

Or was it just a baseless suspicion, an attempt to probe her?

She didn’t admit to anything, but Zhao Zhao didn’t leave either. Just as the atmosphere between them inexplicably grew tense, Ru Xi Cheng walked over. “The show’s over. What are you two still doing here? Aren’t you going home?”

Zhao Zhao curved her lips into a smile. “Just chatting with Nuocen. Actress Ru, you’re still here too?”

Ru Xi Cheng gestured toward the mentors behind her. “I was just discussing some things with the production team. The mentors haven’t left yet.”

“That’s tough,” Zhao Zhao remarked with a sigh.

After exchanging a few more words with Zhao Zhao, Ru Xi Cheng took the opportunity while no one was paying attention to shoot her ex-wife a meaningful look, signaling her to leave first and not wait for her.

Unexpectedly, her ex-wife responded with a gesture of her own, indicating that Shi Nuocen should leave first. Shi Nuocen was taken aback for a moment, but then it dawned on her: Of course! While they were chatting, she could easily slip away!

Besides, she had a feeling that Zhao Zhao was acting a bit off today, as if she were digging for answers. If she stayed any longer, she might risk revealing something.

But as she stepped out the main entrance, she was immediately surrounded by paparazzi!

In fact, the moment she heard the chaotic shouts of “Shi Nuocen’s out! I see her!” she had anticipated this scene.

“This afternoon, it was revealed that you and Actress Ru are set to star in a campus film and will be collaborating on a series of projects. Do you think continuing to participate in the girl group competition is unfair to the other contestants, especially since Actress Ru is one of the mentors?”

Shi Nuocen glanced at the reporter who asked the question and smiled faintly. “I think you should trust Actress Ru’s professionalism. Besides, the entire show is broadcast live. If you suspect any unfairness, you can file a complaint with the production team.”

The reporter was momentarily speechless, thinking to herself: I asked for your opinion, why are you deflecting? Everyone knows Actress Ru has been highly professional on the show, with consistently objective scoring; that’s why no one has complained about this.

“Can you confirm whether your visit to that high school this afternoon with Actress Ru was solely to scout filming locations for the movie?” another reporter shoved a microphone toward her.

Shi Nuocen maintained her smile and skillfully sidestepped the question. “I should remind you. The director was there too, not just Actress Ru and me. So, what do you think?”

What do I think? Why is she throwing the question back at me? The reporter shot her a slightly displeased look before retreating awkwardly.

“Is it true that you and Actress Ru were high school classmates?” a paparazzo shouted from the back.

But since he wasn’t close enough, Shi Nuocen simply pretended not to hear.

“Someone captured footage of you taking a child to sign up for a parenting reality show. What is your relationship with that child?”

“It’s my friend’s child.”

“Friend? A friend from the industry?” the entertainment reporter pressed further, nearly shoving the microphone into Shi Nuocen’s face.

Shi Nuocen took a step back. “Sorry, that involves personal matters, so I can’t disclose it.”

When the reporters continued asking about the parenting show, she simply replied, “The outcome isn’t clear yet, so I don’t know if I’ll be participating in the recording.” The implication was clear. It was too early for such questions.

Just as she was growing increasingly impatient with the reporters and contemplating how to slip away, someone suddenly shouted:

“Look! Actress Ru is here!”

The reporters surrounding Shi Nuocen immediately swarmed toward Ru Xi Cheng, equipment in hand.

Relieved of the pressure, Shi Nuocen watched from afar as her ex-wife was instantly engulfed by the crowd. She couldn’t help but worry for her, though she knew her ex-wife was a seasoned veteran who likely didn’t need her concern.

But then, out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Zhao Zhao approaching. Alarm bells rang in her head, and she hurried away, not wanting to deal with the story’s protagonist after fending off the reporters.

Halfway to her destination, she considered hailing a taxi but suddenly felt thirsty. Changing course, she headed toward a vending machine. Just then, she overheard two staff members passing by: “Earlier, I noticed a lot of reporters at the main entrance and warned Actress Ru. She initially planned to leave through the side door, but for some reason, she changed her mind. I really don’t get it.”

“Exactly. I also advised her not to go that way and mentioned that a contestant named Shi Nuocen was being relentlessly questioned by the reporters. But instead, Actress Ru quickened her pace.”

“Oh, speaking of Shi Nuocen, I just remembered online rumors say she and Actress Ru are on good terms and even collaborating on a movie recently.”

“Could it be that Actress Ru went through the main entrance specifically because of Shi Nuocen?”

“Who knows?”

The two staff members chatted as they walked away, completely unaware of the person standing nearby, holding a drink bottle.

After twisting open the cap, Shi Nuocen didn’t leave immediately. Instead, she stood there, staring blankly at the sky, a thought flashing through her mind: So, she did it for me.

With the program team’s assistance, Ru Xi Cheng skillfully handled the reporters. By the time she was done, half an hour had passed. She sighed, thinking gloomily: Nuocen must already be on her way home. She probably wouldn’t wait for me.

Just as she pulled out her phone to check in with her, a shadow fell across the screen. Thinking it might be Nuocen, she looked up with delight, but the joy on her lips froze the moment she recognized Zhao Zhao.

“Why are you still here?” Ru Xi Cheng asked, somewhat puzzled.

“Actress Ru, you didn’t leave through the side door to help Nuocen out of that situation, did you?” Zhao Zhao’s gaze remained fixed on her, as if trying to see right through her.

Ru Xi Cheng was taken aback, quickly masking her surprise with a look of confusion. “Why would you think that?”

So, was I overthinking it? Zhao Zhao’s eyes swept over Ru Xi Cheng’s flawless expression.

“It’s getting late. You should head home soon,” Ru Xi Cheng said, not waiting for a reply before turning and walking away.

Only after she was out of Zhao Zhao’s sight did she feel the tension in her nerves ease slightly.

She hurried to the parking spot and from afar spotted a tall, slender figure standing beside the car. The silhouette was so familiar that she could instantly confirm the person’s identity.

However, seeing her there was somewhat unexpected, so Ru Xi Cheng froze in surprise.

Nuocen, hadn’t gone home first after all?

Was she waiting for me? She must be, right…

“Hey, why are you standing there like a fool?” Shi Nuocen waved at her ex-wife. She had noticed her approaching a few minutes earlier and had been waiting for her to come closer. Unexpectedly, her ex-wife suddenly stopped and stood motionless, which struck her as odd.

So Nuocen really was waiting for me. The thought crossed Ru Xi Cheng’s mind, and her heart felt as sweet as if she had just eaten candy.

Shi Nuocen noticed her lips curving into a faint smile, silent and seemingly a bit silly. Wondering what was going on, she quickly jogged over, scrutinizing her with concern. “You…”

But before she could finish the sentence, her ex-wife rose on her tiptoes, and the next moment, Shi Nuocen felt a warmth on her cheek; a soft kiss planted there.

“Nuocen, I’m really happy,” Ru Xi Cheng beamed, her voice laced with sweetness.

“Oh…” Shi Nuocen’s mind went completely blank from the sudden gesture. All thoughts drifted away, leaving only the lingering sensation of that gentle kiss replaying in her mind.

And this kiss, it was almost too innocent. Dazedly, she raised a hand to cover the kissed cheek, staring blankly at her ex-wife.

But Ru Xi Cheng offered no explanation. Instead, she linked arms with her, and the two of them got into the car intimately.

Even after they had driven a considerable distance, Shi Nuocen still hadn’t fully regained her composure. Her heart continued to race uncontrollably. Come to think of it, she had originally intended to thank her ex-wife for helping her out of a tight spot earlier, but she hadn’t managed to say it yet.

On the way home, she received a text message from the parenting variety show’s production team, informing her that she had passed the initial selection. The message also included details about signing the contract and the schedule for promotional photos.

After sending a brief reply, she shared the news with her ex-wife and voiced her concerns: “An’An looks a bit like you. Aren’t you worried that people might notice something once the show airs?”

Ru Xi Cheng glanced over but didn’t answer directly. Instead, she asked, “An’An also resembles you. Aren’t you worried?”

“Me?” Shi Nuocen was taken aback, then shrugged. “What do I have to worry about? At most, the paparazzi will ask if An’An and I are related by blood, or more bluntly, if she’s my daughter. Honestly, I wish she were, but she’s not. I’ll just have to explain it a few times. If they don’t believe me, there’s nothing I can do.”

After saying this, she realized her train of thought had been diverted by her ex-wife. She pursed her lips slightly and frowned. “Wait, didn’t I ask you first?”

Ru Xi Cheng smiled meaningfully and said, “Of course, I have some concerns. But since we’ve made this decision, we’ll just have to take it one step at a time.”

Even so, Shi Nuocen couldn’t shake the feeling that someone might eventually make an issue of their appearances. Rumors were already circulating online about the film queen Ru having a crush on her. Once the parenting show aired, people might let their imaginations run wild, speculating that An’An was the child of Ru Xi Cheng and herself.

But then, even Shi Nuocen’s own heart wavered. She suddenly thought, how wonderful it would be if this were true.

Her lips parted slightly as if she wanted to say something to her ex-wife, but the words caught in her throat.

Ru Xi Cheng naturally noticed her hesitation and the faintly conflicted expression on her face. She could more or less guess what was on the other’s mind and truth be told, wasn’t she feeling the same way?

And so, the two returned to the Ru residence, each lost in their own thoughts.

Upon seeing them, An’an came running over. Shi Nuocen took her little hand, gave her a big hug, and then they began discussing what clothes to wear for the photoshoot.

Ru Xi Cheng, on the other hand, went back to her room. After much deliberation, she decided to call Shi Xingchen.

“Hello? Xi Cheng, what’s up?”

“I’m feeling a bit unsettled and wanted to talk to you.”

Shi Xingchen immediately connected the dots with the latest news about the two online and got straight to the point: “Is it about the parenting show? Actually, even if you hadn’t called, I was planning to talk to you about it tomorrow.”

Ru Xi Cheng unconsciously tightened her grip on the phone. “From the sound of it, you don’t approve of the parenting show?”

Shi Xingchen paused for a moment, carefully choosing her words. “It’s not that I’m against it, but netizens these days are very sharp. Once An’an appears on the show, and given that she has symptoms of parental pheromone deficiency even though she’s much better now. There’s no guarantee that some astute netizens, especially experts in the field, won’t notice. If they mention it online, wouldn’t Nuocen catch on? And at this point, is it really the right time for Nuocen to find out?”

Especially now, when your relationship with Nuocen hasn’t been resolved yet. But Shi Xingchen left that last part unspoken, trusting that Xi Cheng would understand.

Hearing this, Ru Xi Cheng bit her lower lip, her eyes filled with conflict. After a long silence, she finally replied slowly, “Actually, among the guests participating in this parenting show, as far as I know, there’s someone who is very knowledgeable about parental pheromone deficiency.”

“Then why would you?” Shi Xingchen was taken aback and started to speak, but after a few words, a strange thought suddenly crossed her mind. She tentatively asked, “Xi Cheng, don’t tell me you’re planning to use this opportunity to let Nuocen find out?”

After a long silence on the other end of the line, a soft “Mm” came through, followed by a hesitant statement: “I’ve always wanted to tell Nuocen the truth, but I never knew how to bring it up.”

Shi Xingchen closed her eyes in frustration and finished the thought for her: “So, you thought that if Nuocen found out on her own, you could just come clean?”

“Mm…” Ru Xi Cheng’s voice grew low, and upon closer listening, it carried a hint of dejection.

Shi Xingchen couldn’t help but raise her voice: “Xi Cheng, what am I supposed to say to you? I think you’re being too hasty again. You haven’t even reunited with An’an yourself, and you’re already rushing to let Nuocen find out? And have you considered what negative impact this might have on the child? Have you thought all of this through?”

Ru Xi Cheng bit her lip, hesitated for a moment, and finally voiced the thoughts she had kept hidden in her heart for so long: “An’an really likes Nuocen, and Nuocen likes An’an too. Today, Nuocen even said she wished An’an were really her daughter. Also, my intuition tells me that An’an might have already sensed something.” But she was a coward, always afraid to ask An’an directly, worried that it was all just a misunderstanding.

Upon hearing this, Shi Xingchen felt a headache coming on. Why did Xi Cheng always become so impulsive whenever it involved Nuocen?

Naturally, Shi Nuocen was unaware of this conversation. She was busy opening the wardrobe, picking out clothes for the photoshoot with An’an.

“Mommy?” An’an suddenly called out to her in a soft, tender voice.

That gentle sound melted Shi Nuocen’s heart. She turned around in surprise, looking down at the little girl who only reached her knees. “An’an, why did you call me that all of a sudden?”

An’an smiled shyly, fiddling with the hem of her dress. “When we get there tomorrow, do I have to call you Mommy?”

Shi Nuocen vaguely understood. Was An’an just practicing with that earlier call?

With this thought in mind, she replied gently, “Not tomorrow. It’s just for the photoshoot. You’ll need to call me that when the show officially starts recording.”

After a moment, she couldn’t resist crouching down and asking softly, “How does it feel to call me Mommy? Do you think you can get used to it?”

An’an nodded. “Yes, but when I call you Mommy, it feels… special.”

As she said this, a hint of confusion flickered in the little girl’s eyes. She slowly placed her small hand over her chest and whispered, “It feels very warm, and maybe something else too.”

“Me too.” Shi Nuocen was surprised that An’an felt the same way she did. Perhaps this was fate.

Unable to hold back, Shi Nuocen wrapped her arms around An’an and held her tightly. A moment later, she felt a small hand gently touch her cheek, and the little girl’s curious voice sounded in her ear:

“Big sister, there’s a pink mark on your cheek here. Did Auntie Chengzi kiss you?”