The Infatuated Cannon Fodder Has Completely Moved On - Chapter 5

“Did you forget, Sister? In high school, you threw away my love letter.”

Seeing that Jin Yuzhen did not seem to mind the replacement, the guilt in Lu Wenqi’s heart faded slightly. She spent a good while praising Nie Feiyin.

She expressed herself subtly, but as a friend of many years, Jin Yuzhen naturally understood. If one loses in the arena of love, one simply makes up for it in the arena of business.

Nie Feiyin’s acting was truly excellent, and this script was a refined piece of work that had been polished for several years. Projections made before filming suggested that regardless of whether it became a massive hit, it would certainly be profitable. Lu Wenqi thought to herself that she would put in her greatest effort to ensure her benefactor did not lose money.

Cen Shu had many fans, but her acting was poor and she could not settle her heart into a role. Ultimately, she could not bring much benefit to this production.

On the day she signed the contract with Nie Feiyin, Lu Wenqi felt quite bad, always feeling as though she had let Jin Yuzhen down. It was only now that she finally felt better.

With Xue Cheng at the table, the conversation never ceased. Jin Yuzhen found it interesting and leaned back relaxedly against the armrest. Her crocheted shawl covered her soft shoulders. Her hands could not stay still, so she gathered her long hair to the side of her neck and began to braid it, but since she had no hair tie, she let it unravel again.

At that moment, everyone was taking group photos on stage. Ribbons danced through the air and colorful lights fell like rain. For a time, the atmosphere reached a boiling point. Someone came to invite Jin Yuzhen, saying she was needed on stage for the group photo.

Jin Yuzhen stood up and followed them. The ends of her hair, having just been braided, curled slightly and swayed as she walked.

Nie Feiyin stared at her back, her palm tightly clutching the hair tie she had just removed from her wrist. She had been just one moment away from handing the hair tie to her.

Xue Cheng leaned in silently and teased her, “Why is it that now you have seen her, you have nothing to say?” She was as quiet as a potted flower.

Nie Feiyin slowly relaxed her palm. The blue diamond cat face decoration on the hair tie emitted a soft light. She said softly, “You were talking so eloquently; how could I get a word in?”

Xue Cheng replied with a blank look.

Lu Wenqi took a photo of Jin Yuzhen from a distance. When she turned around and saw the two of them whispering, she joined in. “What are you chatting about?”

Xue Cheng gave a dry laugh. “I am just surprised. The second Miss Jin is actually quite easy to talk to.”

Lu Wenqi said, “Of course. She is only irritable toward those with ill intentions.”

Xue Cheng was speechless, while Nie Feiyin seemed to be struck by the comment. Her eyes widened slightly and she wound the hair tie back onto her wrist. She then picked up the wine glass on the table and took a shallow sip, looking restless for a moment.

However, Lu Wenqi did not notice. Realizing it was getting late, she said, “It looks like Zhenzhen is very satisfied with Feiyin as the female lead. Xue Cheng, you can put your heart at ease and stop worrying. I am going to say goodbye to Zhenzhen and then go home. You two should head out early as well. See you the day after tomorrow.”

Xue Cheng nodded. Nie Feiyin said goodbye obediently.

After the group photo, Jin Yuzhen saw Lu Wenqi waiting below the stage. As they walked out of the hotel together, Jin Yuzhen said, “I called my driver. You go straight home; there is no need to drop me off.”

Lu Wenqi was surprised. “You are not staying at the hotel tonight?”

It was her family’s own hotel; there was certainly a suite specially prepared for her. There was no need to travel late at night.

Jin Yuzhen looked at the magnificent lobby and said, “I am going back to the estate tonight to chat with Grandmother tomorrow morning.”

That made sense. The hotel project was finished and there were no other major events for the Jin family. It was indeed time for a happy family gathering. However, looking at her expression, there was not a trace of joy for a family reunion.

Lu Wenqi smiled knowingly. “If you maintain the momentum you showed tonight, you will surely return home victorious.”

Over the past few years, Cen Shu had effectively recited a “tranquility mantra” to her. It appeared she had lost all desire for the Jin family’s assets; she had moved out of the estate and even given up the chance to join the group. Had she not been looked down upon by others for this?

But Lu Wenqi always believed that as long as Jin Yuzhen put her mind to it, she would not lose. “I look forward to your good news.”

Jin Yuzhen nodded. She originally did not have much ambition. In recent years, collecting artifacts had cultivated a peaceful state of mind, and she had never thought about fighting for power. But now, she had changed her mind.

There was no other reason; she simply could not stand to see those people living good lives. Feng Hui and Cui Man did not have the guts to play her for a fool. She suspected that these two must have someone backing them. Perhaps Cen Shu did as well.

The person capable of calculating against her to such an extent most likely came from within the Jin family. Relationships require a give and take, and she would give them a generous gift in return.

Watching Lu Wenqi leave, she looked up at the sky. The moon was obscured by layers of dark clouds, hiding its true face. A few stray rays of light pierced through the gaps in the clouds, sharp as blades. The weather forecast said tomorrow would be a sunny day. Looking at these dense clouds, it did not seem like it.

She was deep in thought as she walked unhurriedly back into the hotel. She did not notice a person running out. By the time she snapped out of it, the person had already bumped into her. Fortunately, she was wearing flat shoes today, so she steadied herself quickly and reached out to support the other person’s shoulders.

“Are you okay?” Jin Yuzhen asked calmly.

Nie Feiyin looked back nervously. When she turned her eyes toward her, they were red, and she spoke hesitantly, “I am fine.”

Jin Yuzhen let go. Seeing that her expression was not quite right, she asked, “Where is Xue Cheng?”

When autumn arrives in Taozhou, the weather turns cold. The night wind cuts like a knife. Nie Feiyin was not wearing a coat; she was still in that red leather camisole dress. Her face was pale, and her long hair was tied casually to one side, making her look even more fragile.

“Chengcheng was called away.” Nie Feiyin seemed embarrassed.

Seeing this, Jin Yuzhen assumed the worst. In the Jin family victory banquet, someone must have had wicked ideas. She did not expect such a thing to happen on Jin family property. It seemed she would have to speak with Grandmother tomorrow morning.

Seeing her silence, Nie Feiyin lowered her head. Her fringe fluttered in the wind, and her voice was as quiet as a mosquito. “Sister, someone was following me just now.”

Jin Yuzhen frowned immediately. “Go inside and sit for a while. I will have my driver take you home.”

The current management of the Jin family was truly rotten if such a thing could happen at a proper victory banquet. For a moment, she wanted to take Nie Feiyin inside to identify the person and settle the score. But on second thought, many guests had not yet left. If she made too much of a scene, would she not be attracting unnecessary hostility toward Nie Feiyin?

The two sat in the lobby for a short time. Just as a staff member brought two cups of hot water, Jin Yuzhen’s driver arrived. They walked out one after the other. Neither spoke, but when Nie Feiyin saw the pure white Urus parked at the entrance with its sharp front and low profile, her expression momentarily froze.

Five years, and she had not changed the car. Actually, she was a nostalgic person, was she not?

Sitting together in the back seat, Jin Yuzhen turned her face and asked, “Would it be convenient for you to tell me your address?”

Nie Feiyin was about to speak when she suddenly noticed the car was getting warmer; it seemed the heater had been turned on. Much of the chill on her body dissipated. She replied, “Over by Boyuan. Thank you.”

And so, the car drove toward Boyuan. The lights inside the car were soft and gentle. When they fell on her face, even her fine eyelashes were clearly visible. Jin Yuzhen glanced at her and suddenly felt a sense of familiarity. It was as if she had seen her somewhere before.

“I have asked someone to check the surveillance footage. This incident happened in the hotel, so I will take responsibility. It certainly will not affect your work.”

Nie Feiyin listened quietly. Her cheeks were warmed by the heater, blooming with a slight pink glow. The redness in her eyes had faded significantly, and they sparkled under the light. “Okay.”

Jin Yuzhen leaned to the side and looked at her. “Miss Nie, have we met before?”

Nie Feiyin looked up suddenly, her face full of joy. Her eyebrows lifted, and she suddenly took on a vivid and beautiful appearance. “Did you forget, Sister? In high school, you threw away my love letter.”

Her voice was sweet and clear as she stared at Jin Yuzhen with great expectation. Jin Yuzhen paused, speechless for a long time. At the red light, the car stopped. The receding street scenery also came to a halt. Only then did she speak. “I? Threw away your love letter?”

Although she had no recollection, if that were the case, they should be enemies. Why was it that when Miss Nie mentioned this past event, her expression was so joyful to the point of pride?

Nie Feiyin said, “That is true; so much time has passed. How could you possibly still remember? It was inappropriate of me. You were about to take the college entrance exam at that time; I should not have done that.”

She had covered everything, leaving Jin Yuzhen with nothing to say. If she had known, she would not have asked. Jin Yuzhen could not figure it out. This girl was so honest; had she forgotten she was an actress?

However, she had mostly forgotten everything about high school. She could not even remember her exam scores, so how could she remember whose love letter she had thrown away?

“Did you go to school in Taozhou?” She had heard from Cen Shu that this Miss Nie was of the “if I don’t become famous, I have to go back and inherit the family business” variety and was from the capital.

Nie Feiyin said, “I transferred here in high school.”

“And you went back for university?”

“Yes.”

No wonder she looked unfamiliar. If she had stayed in Taozhou for university, they would have been in the same social circles and would have become familiar after a few encounters.

Jin Yuzhen stopped mentioning the love letter. She had always had some flaws in her character. Throwing away someone’s love letter sounded like something she would do. Besides, what reason would the girl have to make up such a thing?

“We are here.”

The car stopped outside. Nie Feiyin felt a bit discouraged but had to get out. She thought Jin Yuzhen would ask her something else. She had many things she wanted to say.

At some point, her tied hair had come loose. As she stepped out of the car, the wind blew against her face and her hair moved slightly. She smiled as she said goodbye, then added one more thing: “Thank you, Sister.”

Jin Yuzhen was never soft-hearted. But this night, she did not know what was happening. Perhaps she did not even realize it herself, but she had already taken off the crocheted shawl and handed it through the car door. “You are welcome. It is what I should do. Put it on; the weather is cold.”

Nie Feiyin said blankly, “Then you?”

Jin Yuzhen pointed to the trunk. “I have clothes.”

When Nie Feiyin reached out, she still could not quite believe this was real. Boyuan was one of the top high-end residential areas in Taozhou, so there would be no danger. Jin Yuzhen felt at ease.

Nie Feiyin watched the car drive away. The shawl covered her shoulders, carrying a familiar and gentle fragrance. She could not help but smile, and her steps toward home were exceptionally light.

“Congratulations to the host. The intimacy level has increased by ten points. The female lead can now hear the inner thoughts of someone else once more.”

After Nie Feiyin entered her home, she sent a message to Xue Cheng to let her know she was safe. She then asked the system, “Whose inner thoughts will she hear this time?”

The system checked. “Her sister.”

Nie Feiyin said, “Can she only hear it once? When I signed the drama with Lu Wenqi, she could hear the thoughts of three people. We rode back in the car together tonight; why is it only once?”

The system explained, “The weight of the characters is different.”

Although signing with Lu Wenqi only granted three intimacy points, Feng Hui and the others were minor supporting characters; one point allowed for one instance of hearing thoughts. However, Jin Yuzhen’s elder sister, Jin Zhuhuai, was a major antagonist. The conditions for unlocking her thoughts were much stricter.

Nie Feiyin went silent. When she first obtained this system, she did not know what to do. Had Jin Yuzhen been happy these past few years? If she were happy, then Nie Feiyin would do nothing.

But that day when Lu Wenqi talked to her about the new drama, her voice carried a sob as she spoke. It turned out that everything Cen Shu brought her was pain.

Only then did Nie Feiyin accept everything the system said. This world was a tragic story centered on Jin Yuzhen. All hardships and difficulties would find her, and her life would be far from fulfilling.