The Infatuated Cannon Fodder Has Completely Moved On - Chapter 10.1

Is her hint not obvious enough?

Ning Sui had been taken away in such a tragic manner that the other three had no hope of her returning. Jin Yuzhen settled the bill and asked, “Shall we go?”

Lu Wenqi had filming scheduled for the next morning and still needed to go over the script with the actors tonight. It was indeed time to head back. “Let’s go.”

As she put on her clothes, she looked back and saw Nie Feiyin hesitating. “What’s wrong?” she asked.

Nie Feiyin said awkwardly, “Miss Jin paid the money.”

Meaning they should split the bill. Lu Wenqi understood quickly. “Your share is on me.”

Nie Feiyin gave a forced smile. “Thank you, Director.”

Lu Wenqi was very generous. “There is no need to thank me for that.” She leaned in closer and whispered, “I feel like you and Zhenzhen would make good friends. You should talk more.”

Nie Feiyin replied blankly, “Okay.”

Outside, Jin Yuzhen saw a Mini Cooper parked at the entrance. Assuming it was Lu Wenqi’s, she asked casually, “Did you get a new car?”

Lu Wenqi waved her hand. “It is Ayin’s.”

Jin Yuzhen did not know much about cars, only noting it was an older model from a few years ago. She thought to herself that Miss Nie was quite low-key.

“Are you both staying over by the film set?”

Lu Wenqi replied, “It is more convenient to stay together.” She ushered Nie Feiyin into the car and pulled Jin Yuzhen aside, saying earnestly, “Look at how good Ayin is. She even realized you paid for dinner. Then look at your Cen Shu; you offer her your heart, and she slices it up to eat with dipping sauce.”

Jin Yuzhen was very calm. “I know.” There was no need to keep emphasizing it.

Lu Wenqi instructed, “We are going on location next week. Remember to come along; consider it a chance to relax.”

Jin Yuzhen said, “We will see.” Plans often changed.

Lu Wenqi was determined to get her to spend more time with Nie Feiyin, even if she had to manufacture the opportunity. “Do not say ‘we will see.’ You must come. You invested so much money; you should at least come for an inspection. If anything is wrong, we can fix it on the spot, right?”

Jin Yuzhen wanted to say she was a layperson and would not know anything, but Lu Wenqi was persistent and acted with such professional integrity that Jin Yuzhen felt it would be rude to refuse. Her grandmother had mentioned setting up the antiques line earlier, and she would likely ask about it again soon. However, Zhu Huai had already returned from Yangon.

It was all too much trouble. It would be better to go out and enjoy some peace. After she finally agreed, Lu Wenqi felt relieved enough to get into Nie Feiyin’s car.

Why did it feel so strange?

Jin Yuzhen went downstairs. An hour had passed since she sent a message to Cen Shu. There was no reply. She sent another: “Are you not having fun?”

After finishing her ear examination, she left the hospital with the report. Cen Shu still had not replied. She suddenly thought of the sentence she had hallucinated in the dental clinic.

Lick?

It was like a ghost muttering in the dark. Were she and Cen Shu not a mutual pursuit?

She leaned heavily against the back of her seat, eyes glued to her WeChat messages. Ten minutes later, there was still no reply, but a nine-photo grid with a location tag appeared on her Moments feed.

Jin Yuzhen sat up instantly and clicked on the pictures Cen Shu had posted. One was a group photo where Cen Shu had her arm around a girl’s neck, her hand resting on the girl’s chin. They looked incredibly intimate. Two smiling faces stung Jin Yuzhen’s eyes.

She irritably turned off her phone, but then thought that maybe, just maybe, they were just colleagues. If she went out to have fun and did not post about it, the other person might overthink.

But when she clicked on the post again, the Moment was gone. No matter how many times she refreshed, it would not show up. Deleted?

Just as she was completely bewildered, her assistant called. “Boss, Miss Feng is here. Are you almost back?”

Jin Yuzhen was not directly involved in the Jin family business; she only held some shares. She was running her own collection exhibitions, which were starting to show results. Lately, Feng Hui had been wanting to invest and had approached her several times.

She had known Feng Hui since high school; they were both in the international class and were considered friends. “I am coming. Take Huihui to see my collection room and the exhibition hall design drafts first.”

The assistant complied and informed Feng Hui of the boss’s arrangements. Feng Hui said softly, “Thank you for the trouble.”

Jin Yuzhen arrived quickly and went upstairs to meet Feng Hui. She invited her into the reception room, where tea steam rose from a yellow wood tea table.

Jin Yuzhen loved yellow wood the most because it grew so slowly. Anything that slowed down held a special meaning, as if it were a sign from nature.

Feng Hui praised her taste profusely, using words like “unique insight” and “discerning eye.” When the assistant brought in snacks and heard this, she did not think Feng Hui was exaggerating at all. Her boss truly had a unique eye. Two years ago, she bought a gold-traced yellow wood protective window; this year, the price had increased several times over, and it was eventually bought by a mysterious buyer from the capital.

Once the investment matter was settled, Feng Hui asked, “Zhenzhen, how are things going with you and Cen Shu? I am waiting for your wedding banquet.”

Even the steaming tea could not warm the chill in her heart. Jin Yuzhen paused before saying, “She is busy with work. There is no rush for our matters.” Feng Hui was her friend; she did not want her friends to have a prejudice against Cen Shu.

Career should always come first.

Feng Hui smiled, her eyelids half-lowered, her voice sincere. “It is not easy for her to struggle on her own, and with such a specific profession, she has to be even more cautious with romance. I understand. Then I wish you a speedy success in winning the beauty’s heart. I will wait for your good news.”

“Called you arrogant and told you that you would do anything bad; now you have been hooked until you are a fool? You totally deserve it!”

That voice, like a ghost muttering to itself in the dark, appeared again. Jin Yuzhen looked up in surprise, her eyes filled with deep confusion.

What was going on? There were only her and Feng Hui here. Could there really be a ghost?

Feng Hui noticed her odd behavior, and the smile on her face faltered. “Zhenzhen?”

“Cen Shu should start a class. To be able to hook such a vicious person into a state of mental trance, who would not be impressed!”

Jin Yuzhen frowned deeply, her gaze fixed on Feng Hui. This time, she was certain that the voice came from Feng Hui! It seemed to be Feng Hui’s inner thoughts.

Vicious? Who is vicious? She could not be talking about me, could she? And how did Cen Shu ‘hook’ me? Hooked what?

Feng Hui felt a chill run down her spine under that gaze. She said awkwardly, “Are you feeling unwell?”

“I am feeling uncomfortable in my heart.”

Jin Yuzhen could not believe she could actually hear other people’s thoughts. So, that sentence in the dental clinic was actually said by Cui Man? So, in her friends’ eyes, she was just a “lick dog” or a “simp”?

That did not seem right. Usually, everyone praised her for being devoted.

“Huihui, actually I am worried about Cen Shu. I sent her a message this morning and she has not replied. If something happened, could you help me ask her? I am afraid if I message her too much, it will bother her.”

Seeing her troubled expression, Feng Hui was beyond satisfied. She was secretly gloating but maintained a very understanding facade. “Did their crew not go to Sansi Mountain to play? With so many people there, nothing will happen.”

Jin Yuzhen asked, “How did you know she went to Sansi Mountain?”

Feng Hui never paid attention to the entertainment industry, but Cen Shu was the exception. Cen Shu was the person who could turn the “demon” Jin Yuzhen into a laughingstock; Feng Hui wanted to decode every word of Cen Shu’s posts.

“She posted it on her Moments. Zhenzhen, you do not seem to look at Moments much. I have never seen you like anyone’s post, and you never post anything yourself.”

Jin Yuzhen said, “She posted a Moment?”

Realizing something, Feng Hui eagerly took out her phone and navigated to Cen Shu’s Moments, specifically zooming in on that intimate photo for her to see. “She just posted it a little while ago.”

This time, no matter how confused Jin Yuzhen was, she could no longer deceive herself. Feng Hui could see it, but she could not. Clearly, the post was restricted to certain groups. Presumably, Cen Shu had made a mistake when she first posted the update, which was why Jin Yuzhen was lucky enough to see it for a few seconds.

“Retribution, it is all retribution! Teacher Cen is mighty!”

Jin Yuzhen handed the phone back, a trace of coldness in her eyes. “I have something to do later. You should head back first.”

Feng Hui was slightly startled. “What about drafting the contract?”

They had agreed to do it today.

Jin Yuzhen tapped her forehead as if troubled. “Lawyer Sun went to discuss some business for me and will not be back until next Monday. No one else knows the situation here. Are you in a hurry?”

Feng Hui was stunned for three seconds before declaring her loyalty. “No rush, no rush. With our relationship, a contract is just a formality.”

Jin Yuzhen smiled as she saw her out. However, Feng Hui felt a chill all over her body and a wave of inexplicable unease.

Once Feng Hui left, Jin Yuzhen called Sun Baizhao.

Sun Baizhao thought she was anxious about the contract and said as soon as he picked up, “The contract with Miss Feng is drafted. I am on my way and will deliver it in half an hour.”

Jin Yuzhen said, “No need. Miss Feng is not suitable to cooperate with us. Take three days off and come back to work next Monday.”

Sun Baizhao was stunned. Usually, the boss and Feng Hui were on very good terms. Even though this cooperation was purely the boss sacrificing her own interests, she had not said anything before.

“Okay.” The self-cultivation of an excellent employee was not to interfere in the boss’s private affairs.

Jin Yuzhen sat at the tea table for a while, reflecting on everything that had happened today. She had only heard the thoughts of Cui Man and Feng Hui; she might not be able to hear everyone’s.

Cui Man and Feng Hui were so two-faced towards her; she had misjudged them. She had not realized it before. These two people had nothing but loyalty on their lips while their hearts were full of business.

A surge of anger welled up in her heart. To avoid harming her health, she went to the meditation room to sit and dissipate the fire.

In the evening, she was invited to an awards ceremony for Brand Observation. By coincidence, while a group of people was playing Guandan, she caught sight of her aunt. She immediately stood up to find her, calling out affectionately, “Aunt, you are here too?”

Luo Xiao was talking animatedly with someone. When she turned to see her, her expression froze for a moment before she quickly smiled. “Zhenzhen! What a coincidence. Did you come alone? Did you not bring Cen Shu?”

It was no wonder she asked; in the past, whenever there was a major event, Jin Yuzhen would bring Cen Shu along to gain exposure.

“She is busy.” Jin Yuzhen’s mind shifted. “Aunt, I have not seen you in a long time. Shall we go have a cup of tea?”

Luo Xiao had no reason to refuse. She said something to those around her and went to the tea room with Jin Yuzhen. The small group of people behind them were filled with envy. The “useless” second young lady of the Jin family was actually very good to her relatives; otherwise, with Luo Xiao’s ability, she would not have made it onto Brand Observation in a hundred lifetimes.

The so-called tea room here was just a lounge. Drinks and beverages were on the shelves, and tea sets and chess sets were on the table.

Jin Yuzhen invited Luo Xiao to sit down, thinking that her aunt had always been gentle and warm towards her, so her words might be more trustworthy. She poured Luo Xiao a glass of gardenia wine that had recently been featured at a food expo. It was mixed with Pu-erh tea; the tea fragrance, floral scent, and wine aroma blended together. It was not messy; instead, it was very fresh.

“Aunt, Cen Shu and I probably will not work out.”

Luo Xiao, who had just taken the wine glass, was astonished by this sentence. “Why would you suddenly say that? Did you have a fight?”

Jin Yuzhen sighed. “Forget fighting; I can not even get in touch with her.”

Luo Xiao said earnestly, “Zhenzhen, I think Cen Shu is a very ambitious child, and the two of you are a good match. Relationships require effort to maintain.”

Jin Yuzhen was half-convinced and was about to speak when she heard another voice.

“You personally turned her into a big star; do you still expect her to be downwardly compatible? Your shares are almost fully diluted, yet you still think of yourself as a benefactor?”

Jin Yuzhen: “…”

Wait, where was her gentle aunt?

She looked at Luo Xiao, but it was as if she were looking through her at someone else. Luo Xiao felt uneasy, her eyes darting away as she said, “Zhenzhen?”

Jin Yuzhen did not reply, just stared at her fixedly. Luo Xiao had rarely seen such a profound side to this junior. Because of matters from the previous generation, Jin Yuzhen had always looked after the Luo family and had never been harsh with them. Luo Xiao had cooperated, putting on a front of deep familial affection and accepting all the money and resources Jin Yuzhen sent her way.

She certainly did not hate Jin Yuzhen; she simply looked down on her. When spending time with Jin Yuzhen, she treated her like a puppy that needed its fur smoothed; they had lived in peace all these years.

At this moment, she keenly felt that there was a trace of grimness in Jin Yuzhen’s eyes. It was as if she were seeing right through her. She drank the wine to hide it, completely lowering her eyes to mask her emotions.

In the tea room, Jin Yuzhen wore a green and white sequined long dress, her slightly curly long hair falling over her shoulders and back. She wore a pearl and rhinestone ring on her index finger but no other jewelry. She looked like a patch of emerald green in a thick mist.

She suddenly felt a sense of clarity, as if the things she had not been able to figure out for a long time were now clear. Every time she wanted to give up on Cen Shu, the people around her would advise her to endure. As the saying goes, “the bystander sees clearly.” These people must have all seen through the fact that Cen Shu was stringing her along, yet they deliberately pushed her down the wrong path.

“I still have things to do. Aunt, see you next time.” She emphasized the last four words.

Luo Xiao’s heart fluttered. She wanted to call her back, but Jin Yuzhen walked away without looking back. When she returned to the inner hall, a group of people gathered around the table, saying flatteringly, “Where is the second Miss Jin? Xiaoxiao, are you not going to introduce us?”

Luo Xiao frowned. “What is there to introduce?” Jin Yuzhen was likely about to lose her shares in the Jin family business soon anyway.

“Do you really not know or are you pretending not to know? She has been invited by the Finance Channel to be a collection consultant.”