The Infatuated Cannon Fodder Has Completely Moved On - Chapter 9

“You dropped something in my car last night.”

Jin Yuzhen ignored her. After scanning the menu, she added a few more dishes.

Lu Wenqi persisted in pestering her. “Did you talk to Grandmother?” Otherwise, how could the matter have been resolved so quickly? Besides, in Lu Wenqi’s memory, it had been a long time since Jin Yuzhen had interfered in the Jin family’s affairs.

Was she truly starting to accumulate merit through good deeds?

Lu Wenqi pondered for a long while until a bizarre thought surfaced. Could it be that the second Miss Jin and A-Yin hit it off immediately, and that is why she is doing this?

Seeing the mysterious smile on her face, Ning Sui said with a look of disgust, “That is a treacherous smile. What are you thinking about?”

Lu Wenqi did not answer. Instead, she directed her beaming face toward Jin Yuzhen, looking as though she held a winning hand.

Jin Yuzhen took a hair tie out of her bag, ignoring Lu Wenqi’s strange, flattering smile. “I am going to the restroom.”

Shortly after, the dishes were served. Looking at the table full of delicacies, Ning Sui was astonished. “Does Zhenzhen not lead a healthy lifestyle? I saw she even installed a meditation room in her shop. Is there a healthy way of living that does not involve dietary restrictions?”

Lu Wenqi laughed again. “In private, she eats everything, meat and vegetables alike.”

Taozhou did not have much famous cuisine, but it did have plenty of well-known “ugly food.” This had even birthed a local joke: when someone asks what to watch out for when opening a restaurant, people say, “Watch out that the Taozhou chefs do not copy your recipes.”

The reality was not quite that exaggerated, but it was based on some truth. For instance, this famous establishment in Taozhou City was actually opened by an outsider.

Jin Yuzhen had only returned from Yangon during high school. At that time, her house was not finished yet, so her welcome banquet was held here at Yujin. The owner of Yujin was from Lanyi. Miraculously, Lanyi was also considered a culinary desert.

Jin Yuzhen walked to the second-floor corridor and unwrapped a silk cloth. The sapphire and diamonds embedded on the hair tie inside complemented each other, brilliant and eye-catching.

She tried to imagine what Nie Feiyin’s reaction would be when she saw the bracelet on her wrist later. Identical gemstones, what a coincidence.

She could have returned it at the dining table, but to avoid Lu Wenqi’s creative mental storytelling, she figured it was better to return it privately.

The corridor was dim, but the lights at the restroom entrance were all on, illuminating a doorway of light. When she entered, the inner room was empty.

Xue Cheng saw at a glance that Nie Feiyin had changed her makeup and was wearing new clothes after finishing her scenes. When she came out of the restroom, her vision felt a bit blurred, likely because she rarely saw Nie Feiyin and Cen Shu appearing together, making the scene feel surreal.

“You guys,”

Nie Feiyin and Cen Shu turned their heads simultaneously and saw her. Xue Cheng suddenly felt a wave of pressure. Both pairs of eyes contained clear, visible hostility. Talk about a small world for enemies.

Cen Shu was a social chameleon who knew how to hide her true nature. Seeing Xue Cheng, she immediately masked the hostility in her eyes, a smile blooming on her lips. “Teacher Xue? Are you all here together?”

Xue Cheng replied, “No, A-Yin has an appointment with someone else.”

Cen Shu secretly speculated: Could it be that movie deal rumored online? That would be troublesome. Her own next project was nowhere in sight, yet Nie Feiyin was already heading for the big screen. Only Cen Shu knew how bitter the smile on her lips felt. “I see.”

Perhaps the tables really were turning. In the entertainment industry, one could become a sensation overnight or fizzle out in a day. Ever since Jin Yuzhen abandoned her, Cen Shu’s data across all platforms had plummeted. Seeing many of her short-term commercial endorsements nearing expiration, she worried that if she did not sign a few more brands, her fans would not even have new photos to edit. The more she thought about it, the more anxious she became.

Xue Cheng looked at Nie Feiyin with an inquiring gaze. Nie Feiyin’s expression was calm and gentle; she did not look like she had just been in an argument. Only then did Xue Cheng feel relieved.

Aside from ghosts, paparazzi were the most ubiquitous things. One had to be on guard. In reality, Nie Feiyin had simply run into Cen Shu at the door. They had exchanged a few barbed pleasantries, but it had not escalated to a fight.

“I will head inside for a moment.”

Xue Cheng nodded. “I will wait for you.”

A few minutes later, Nie Feiyin came out. Waiting alongside Xue Cheng was Cen Shu. Nie Feiyin’s expression finally cooled. “Do you still have business?”

Cen Shu knew the question was directed at her, so she said, “There is no need to be so guarded against me. It is not like we have some deep-seated blood feud.”

Nie Feiyin’s face remained impassive. She simply said, “Guarded? What is there to be guarded against?”

Cen Shu found her quite impolite, and her tone turned sharper. “Exactly. After all, we might have the chance to collaborate in the future. I see A-Yin’s acting has improved a lot over the last two years.”

She was reminding Nie Feiyin that in an industry obsessed with seniority, debuting even one day earlier made her a senior. But perhaps she had forgotten who was responsible for her current status.

Nie Feiyin spoke words of gratitude in a flat tone. “My progress is inseparable from your decline. Thank you truly.”

Cen Shu was speechless.

Xue Cheng, looking terrified, dragged Nie Feiyin away. Only after they were a distance away did she speak. “Did you forget who backs her? A starved camel is still bigger than a horse. Do not be impulsive. If you truly burn that bridge, there is no telling what she might do.”

Nie Feiyin had no worries about the future. “Let her be. I am not going with you; see you tomorrow.”

Xue Cheng naturally knew Nie Feiyin’s plan. She intended to retire after this drama. “Who knows what the future holds? It is never a bad thing to leave a path open. The rumors about the movie are not entirely fake; the director really asked about you. I read the character profile; it is a very rich role. Meet the director first; whether you sign or not is another matter. At least it is a connection. If you stay in Taozhou in the future, you will cross paths again.”

Nie Feiyin said, “I came with Director Lu. It is not good to stay away for too long.”

As Xue Cheng was about to persuade her further, she suddenly thought of something, her expression turning subtle. “Is Jin Yuzhen here too?”

Nie Feiyin nodded. Her long hair slid over her shoulder as she moved, half-hiding her face and obscuring her expression.

Xue Cheng sighed. “I have never understood. Sigh, forget it, you will not listen anyway. How about this: if you get close to her, remember to recommend my WeChat to her.”

Nie Feiyin frowned. “Why?”

Xue Cheng explained, “She is rich and easily fooled. I also want to”

Nie Feiyin interrupted, “Do not even think about it.”

The two talked for a long while. When Nie Feiyin finally headed back, she ran into Jin Yuzhen at the exit.

It was early autumn, but the weather in Taozhou no longer allowed for light clothing. Their coats had been taken by the staff. Jin Yuzhen was currently wearing a black diamond-patterned camisole dress covered by a soft, thin knit cardigan. Standing tall and still, she appeared increasingly serene and brilliant.

Nie Feiyin looked up and froze on the spot. Before she could speak, Jin Yuzhen handed her something.

Nie Feiyin snapped out of it, guessing immediately that the item wrapped in the silk cloth was the hair tie. As she reached out, her brow was clouded with a hint of anxiety. She had thought she would get a phone call. She had waited all afternoon, but her phone had remained silent.

Jin Yuzhen noticed her reaction and felt confused. It was a gemstone, after all. Although she did not know the exact price, anything Zhu Huai went to the trouble of buying was likely expensive. Yet, Miss Nie showed no joy at recovering a lost treasure.

“You dropped something in my car last night.”

Nie Feiyin adjusted her mood and unwrapped the silk. She saw the gemstone on the hair tie was clear and glowing, without a single scratch. She felt a bit ashamed. “Thank you, Sister. I was so careless; I did not even realize I had lost it.”

Jin Yuzhen reached out, took the hair tie, pulled back the silk cloth, and placed the hair tie back into Nie Feiyin’s palm. “This one is mine.”

Nie Feiyin could not help but smile. Just as she was about to say something, she saw the bracelet on Jin Yuzhen’s wrist. There was a gemstone on the bracelet. It was identical to the one on the hair tie. The light and shadow blurred against Jin Yuzhen’s fair skin, making the faint blue veins clearly visible.

Nie Feiyin’s expression turned to one of astonishment. Seeing this, Jin Yuzhen finally felt that today’s trip had been worthwhile. “Quite a coincidence, is it not?”

Nie Feiyin stared almost directly into her eyes, repeating, “What a coincidence, what a coincidence.”

By the time they returned to the table, Nie Feiyin had used the hair tie to put her hair up. With her light makeup and black dress, she sat by the decorative window, looking as quiet and elegant as an ink-wash peony.

Lu Wenqi said, “I just saw Xue Cheng post on her Moments; she is here too.”

Nie Feiyin replied, “Yes, I ran into her.”

Lu Wenqi gave an “oh” and kept glancing between her and Jin Yuzhen, hoping the two would hit it off quickly.

But they did not. At the table, only Ning Sui was chattering. Jin Yuzhen and Nie Feiyin acted as the audience, saying nothing and occasionally nodding in agreement to be polite. Lu Wenqi recalled that both of them seemed to be slow to warm up to people.

Overall, it was a successful dinner. Everyone was in a good mood. Ning Sui was especially happy to get a free meal. She was not just eating, she was busy taking photos to post updates.

The price of posting those updates became clear when she looked up and saw a murderous-looking Ning Fang standing by the table. The table fell into an instant, heavy silence.

Ning Fang looked at her coldly and sneered, “Did you not say you were working overtime? Is this where you are working?”

Ning Sui looked down at her phone, filled with regret. She had forgotten to filter her post’s audience. She quickly put her phone away and stood up, replying sheepishly, “I just finished overtime and just got here.”

Ning Fang calculated the time for her. “Just finished? The distance from the company to Yujin takes at least forty minutes even without traffic. Can you fly?”

Ning Sui said, “No.”

Ning Fang reached out her hand. Ning Sui offered her head. Ning Fang easily grabbed her by the ear and dragged her away. As she was being pulled out, Ning Sui kept casting pleading looks at Jin Yuzhen, but Jin Yuzhen was powerless to help and could only pretend not to see. At least Ning Fang would not kill her. As long as she was still breathing, there was hope for the future.

Lu Wenqi was stunned. “What kind of day is it? Everyone is at Yujin.”

Clearly, Ning Fang was already here; otherwise, she could not have appeared the second Ning Sui posted to her Moments.

Jin Yuzhen said, “That is why I say: take fewer photos when eating, and if you take them, do not post them.”

Lu Wenqi was about to mock her when she looked up and saw Nie Feiyin saying seriously, “I have taken note of that.”

“…”

After Ning Sui was dragged to a corner and scolded thoroughly, she could not resist talking back. “Did you not tell me to get on Zhenzhen’s good side? I am doing exactly what you said.”

Ning Fang was livid. “Do you only listen to half of what I say? When I told you to get on her good side, I meant get close to her so you could eventually sideline her. And you? You are just spending every day being her dining and play companion. Is that fun for you?”

“Yes,” Ning Sui said stubbornly. “I do not even have to pay.”

Without exaggeration, Ning Fang felt her vision go dark. “Am I not giving you money? Are you that poor? Honestly, you should have reached financial freedom long ago!”

Ning Sui curled her lip and followed her logic. “Freedom? Of course, I am free. I have the freedom to not buy whatever I want. Is that not freedom?”

Ning Fang smacked her forehead. “You have no ambition at all. Jin Yuzhen has corrupted you.”

Ning Sui exposed her ruthlessly. “Cut it out. If Zhenzhen were your biological daughter, you would wake up laughing from your dreams every night.”

Ning Fang smacked her again.