The Scandalous Actress Needs to Strive GL - Chapter 16

Xicheng is a leisurely city, and the most famous spot is East Lake. Not only is the scenery picturesque, attracting crowds of tourists, but the surrounding area also boasts several famous sleepless streets, the most popular of which is Queen Street.

The first place she and Qiu Wan got entangled was in a hotel above the Sise Bar on Queen Street.

Yu Baishu’s booked restaurant was on Queen Street, but towards the end, standing right next to the lake.

The third-floor window seat had beautiful antique-style screens on both sides. Green plants, deliberately placed, shielded the aisle from the guests’ sight. Overall, it was a very private and stylish restaurant.

Looking down from the window, one could take in half of the East Lake’s scenery. Soothing music played softly, and the lighting in every area was adjusted perfectly to create a great ambiance.

They had a little pre-dinner wine, and the dishes were served one after another. Just then, Mu Qingchen’s phone rang. She glanced at it and immediately hung up. However, the phone rang again and again, tirelessly. The eyes of the other three people turned to her simultaneously. She pursed her lips, said “Excuse me,” and walked out of the restaurant with her phone.

With President Mu gone, the atmosphere among the remaining three clearly livened up. Jin Wen and Yu Baishu were old acquaintances. After a few mutual compliments, they clinked their glasses and did not forget to include Qiu Wan. After a few drinks, none of the three showed any sign of intoxication.

Yu Baishu was surprised. Although the alcohol was not very strong, a few drinks would usually show some sign of tipsiness in most women, and some might even get completely drunk. She and Jin Wen had always had good alcohol tolerance, but she hadn’t expected Qiu Wan to be able to keep up with them without changing her expression.

Qiu Wan did not miss the surprise in their eyes. She was inwardly a little proud. The original owner’s alcohol tolerance was not very good; otherwise, she would not have been drugged by her former agent and sent to a hotel bed last time. But when she was the eldest daughter of the Prime Minister’s residence, occasionally drinking a cup or two at banquets was normal. Perhaps she liked the feeling of being slightly tipsy, and in private, she particularly liked to have a few drinks alone. After a while, her alcohol tolerance improved significantly.

It seemed she had never been truly drunk all these years. It wasn’t that she was a natural heavy drinker, but rather that she was self-aware. A rational woman will never get drunk because she knows her limit, and she knows better than anyone when she should put down the glass.

Only women who do not know when to stop get drunk.

And a rational and smart woman not only knows when to stop but also knows how to subtly prolong the time leading up to that moment, thus giving people the illusion that she has a good tolerance and has been drinking for a long time without getting drunk. Qiu Wan was this kind of woman.

Outside the restaurant, Mu Qingchen looked at the number on her phone, a hint of resistance flashing in her eyes. She sighed inwardly and answered the call: “What is it?”

“Qingchen, I’m at Sise. I’m drunk. Can you come and pick me up?” Zhou Lanlan’s voice came through the phone, mixed with noisy music and the sound of the crowd.

Mu Qingchen did not speak, but looked towards the other end of Queen Street. It should only take 5 minutes to walk there that was Sise Bar.

In the past, even if she was at home, she would drive over, perhaps even thoughtfully taking Zhou Lanlan back to the Zhou family’s house, or even showing some simple concern.

But now, she didn’t want to do anything. Some things, once they happen, can never go back to the way the relationship was before.

And her sisterly bond of over ten years with Zhou Lanlan could never be the same after that cup of wine.

Liking someone might lead to occasional loss of reason. If Zhou Lanlan had only been clumsy because of her feelings, Mu Qingchen might not have been so disgusted.

But unlike herself, Zhou Lanlan had an engagement. For so many years, a person who had never resisted her engagement resorted to such a despicable trick against her good friend, and even spoke such disgusting and irresponsible words. It was more than just clumsiness.

At the bar entrance, there was a long silence on the phone. Zhou Lanlan gripped the wine glass in her hand, drank it all, and then questioned, “Do you have another woman? Are you living with another woman?”

She remembered Qiu Wan, and she remembered the call from her elder brother Zhou Yang at noon today: “Don’t try to dictate the role of Grand Secretary in the Song Dynasty drama. Who gave you permission to mess with Mu’s people? Whatever ideas you have, put them away. Mu Qingchen is your future sister-in-law. Before she marries into our Zhou family, do not do anything that will make her dislike you.”

Her elder brother had never concealed his feelings for Mu Qingchen, but Mu Qingchen had never been vague about rejecting her elder brother. Despite this, everyone in the Zhou family still believed that Mu Qingchen would eventually marry Zhou Yang.

Because the two families’ status in the entertainment industry complemented each other, and a marriage alliance would be a strong partnership. No one was more suitable to be together than the two of them.

Even the Mu family was happy to see it happen. Only Mu Qingchen was unmoved. However, Mu Qingchen had never acted differently because of anyone else, so Zhou Lanlan also thought that Mu Qingchen would eventually marry into the Zhou family.

Since she would marry into the Zhou family, and since she would marry her elder brother, how could such a beautiful Qingchen belong only to her elder brother? She didn’t know when, but the hidden desire to possess Mu Qingchen gradually became warped, transforming into a monster that fueled her desire.

However, even though Mu Qingchen drank that cup of wine and was so uncomfortable, she was unwilling to give herself to her. What was wrong with her? How was she inferior to Qiu Wan, that loose woman?

Thinking of this, Zhou Lanlan could no longer remain calm. She was afraid that Mu Qingchen would treat others differently. Borrowing the courage of her drunkenness and mixed with hatred, she wanted to scream and question.

After a long period of not hearing a response from the other side, Zhou Lanlan finally lost all reason and shouted into the phone, “Did you give your first time to that woman? Why did you give it to someone else? How is she worthy? How can she be worthy? How dare she? How dare you?”

“Who I am with is none of your business.” Mu Qingchen’s face was cold, and she directly turned off her phone. She didn’t want to engage in pointless arguments. Can you reason with someone who has lost her mind?

And the best way to deal with someone who is prejudiced and unreasonable is to ignore them, because the more attention you give them, the more they will push their limits.

Back in the restaurant, the four people finished their meal in silence, adhering to the principle of “don’t talk while eating or sleeping.” Yu Baishu glanced at the president, whose face was as cold as ever, and with the self-awareness of being a tool, she looked at Jin Wen. While giving frantic eye signals, she feigned casualness and said, “Want to go to a bar for a few drinks?”

“Sure, let’s drink until we drop. Do you two want to come along?” Jin Wen completely understood Yu Baishu’s meaning, but out of courtesy, she still asked the other two.

Qiu Wan looked at Jin Wen without speaking. She naturally picked up her glass, drank the remaining two mouthfuls, and then leaned back in the chair, her eyes hazy and lost, seemingly not understanding what Jin Wen had said.

Mu Qingchen looked at her lazy expression, a flash of astonishment in her eyes, but she frowned and asked, “How much did you drink? Do you still want more?”

“Just a little bit, just a little bit.” Qiu Wan slowly raised her eyebrows, her voice very soft, like sun-drenched wheat waves, freely rising and falling with the wind, making anyone who saw it feel stirred.

Yu Baishu next to her looked puzzled. How did the person who seemed to have such good alcohol tolerance and was so sober just now get so drunk after two sips?

It was Jin Wen who stood up first and said to Mu Qingchen, “Qiu Wan seems to be drunk. Yu Assistant and I will go. I’ll trouble the President to drop her off on the way.”

Mu Qingchen’s gaze was still fixed on Qiu Wan’s face. She nodded absentmindedly in agreement, then walked over and helped Qiu Wan up. The two of them leaned against each other and left the restaurant.

Jin Wen watched their closely embracing figures leave, a slight, unconscious maternal smile appearing at the corner of her mouth. Because of Qiu Wan’s recent performance, she almost forgot her artist’s former title.

The title of “Female Sea King” in the entertainment industry was truly not baseless.

Yu Baishu also watched her own President’s back. Looking at Qiu Wan, who was staggering a bit, she turned back and said with a slight worry, “Qiu Wan is so drunk. The President is going to have a rough night. We should have known not to drink so much with her.”

“Yes, it will be rough,” Jin Wen replied meaningfully. Looking at the clueless person in front of her, a clear disdain flashed in her eyes the disdain of being the only sober one among the drunk crowd, the disdain that comes from having a stupid teammate while she herself is exceptionally smart.

“What’s with that look?” Having known each other for so many years, Yu Baishu immediately knew she was being looked down upon again, and inexplicably, by this woman Jin Wen. Although the other party was her senior, she was the President’s confidante and personal assistant! Setting aside the position, she was second only to one person and above everyone else in the company! Why should she be looked down upon by this woman Jin Wen?

Jin Wen curled her lip, originally intending to ignore her, but then seeing Yu Baishu’s depressed expression, she couldn’t help but offer a hint: “Are you an idiot? Oh well, you’re a woman who’s never been in a relationship; it’s no surprise you wouldn’t understand.”

“That’s going too far! You’re getting ridiculous! What’s wrong with not being in a relationship? Don’t be discriminatory. Watch your manners!”

Yu Baishu was even more depressed. She was a single life advocate, alright? Being single was the best! She firmly protested Jin Wen’s discriminatory comments.

“Since I’m older, let me enlighten you. Qiu Wan can certainly drink a thousand cups without getting drunk when drinking with us, but when she drinks with President Mu, she’ll go down after one cup, kid. You still have a lot to learn.”

Jin Wen finished speaking, picked up her coat, and walked out. She thought to herself how awesome her artist was. If she could completely conquer the President, would she ever lack resources in the future? She would be able to walk sideways in the entertainment industry. And as for herself, what was a gold-medal agent? In the future, she could also walk sideways when she went out, as her artist had the number one boss in the entertainment industry backing her.

Yu Baishu frowned, thinking about Jin Wen’s words. “Drinking with us, she’s invulnerable drinking with President Mu, she’s drunk after one cup.” What kind of logic was that? She still didn’t quite understand.