For so many years, Ji Mingshu’s aversion to Li Wenyin had long penetrated to her bones. A mere glass of red wine was not enough to make it vanish into thin air.
In the moment she stepped past Cen Sen, what she really wanted to do was splash the wine directly at Li Wenyin, or pour it down from the top of Li Wenyin’s head.
But her upbringing wouldn’t allow it. She didn’t want to cause trouble for Gu Kaiyang, who was responsible for this event, and even more, she didn’t want Cen Sen to see her looking ugly while being a bad woman.
The wine poured onto the floor seemed to echo.
For a few seconds, the scene fell into a silence that seemed almost frozen.
But Li Wenyin wasn’t some silly sweet girl who would just whimper “wuwuwu” when bullied. Ji Mingshu had poured this glass of wine in front of her like a Qingming Festival offering to the dead, and while pouring, had told her to stay away from her husband. If she did not react, then before she even walked out the door today, she’d be labeled as a shameless woman who tried to seduce someone else’s husband.
Her expression changed slightly, but she quickly steadied herself and came up with a powerful counterattack strategy.
—Splash wine directly at Ji Mingshu.
Ji Mingshu had provoked her first, so however she counterattacked wouldn’t be excessive. Moreover, Ji Mingshu’s willful and unreasonable nature was known to all, so no matter what was said or to whom, she would be in the right.
Just like in their student days, regardless of the truth of the matter, Ji Mingshu would never get any advantage from her.
But just as she was about to splash the wine, Cen Sen suddenly turned around, his gaze cold and direct upon her.
Li Wenyin froze, but her hand with the wine glass could no longer be withdrawn.
Cen Sen didn’t think much, with one hand grasping Ji Mingshu’s slender white wrist, gently pulling her behind him. With his other hand, he firmly and precisely twisted Li Wenyin’s wrist bone, folding it inward, forcibly changing the direction of the tilting glass at the last moment.
The purple-tinted red liquid flowed back up along Li Wenyin’s arm, and her apricot-colored A-line dress was quickly stained with wine. The wine stains continued along her arm and the hem of her dress, dripping onto the floor.
She pressed her lips together, her face pale.
First, Cen Sen truly showed no mercy or pity for her delicate femininity, mercilessly twisting her wrist bone, which hurt her.
Second, she truly couldn’t believe that Cen Sen could be so unsentimental, physically confronting her for a woman like Ji Mingshu.
Cen Sen met her gaze, his voice cold, without even basic politeness, purely out of exhausted patience, giving her a final ultimatum: “Li Wenyin, know your limits.”
At that moment, Li Wenyin suddenly felt the man before her was a stranger, completely different from the handsome, gentle young man of ten years ago.
She shook her head slightly, muttering to herself, seemingly finding it hard to accept reality, “Asen, how did you become like this?”
Those who truly knew Cen Sen would know that he had always been like this.
Li Wenyin was just trapped in her own constantly beautified memories, trapped in her own filtered fantasies, unable to extricate herself.
She had forgotten that even the handsome, gentle young man of ten years ago, after accepting her pursuit, hadn’t given her much tenderness or pity.
What she missed and liked was perhaps never Cen Sen, but the jealousy and envy from peers she received after dating Cen Sen, the conveniences and green lights that came because of Cen Sen, and the sense of being the focus of attention, with the halo of being the academic star’s girlfriend.
In her life, she had never experienced such glory again.
The PR person controlling the scene at “Zero Degrees” noticed their sudden situation and was about to step forward to mediate and handle it, even calling security guards on the walkie-talkie to prevent anyone from deliberately causing trouble and having to be expelled.
But just as she took a step, she was suddenly stopped by someone. “Leave it alone.”
Looking back, it was Gu Kaiyang who had been appearing and disappearing mysteriously since the event began.
“Sister Gu, over there…”
Gu Kaiyang followed her gaze, her eyes unwavering, the corners of her lips slightly curling upward, and she emphasized again: “I said, leave it alone. I’ll take responsibility.”
—Their little princess had been holding in this anger for how many years now, and finally, Cen Sen had stepped in. How could they easily interrupt?
The PR person clearly couldn’t understand, but since Gu Kaiyang had given such instructions, she could only dismiss the security guards and pretend not to see.
This incident happened at the dessert table, and Jiang Chun happened to be nearby.
Attracted by the commotion of this husband-and-wife mixed doubles match, she sat up from the bean bag, so astounded that she forgot to eat her cake, unconsciously waving her small fork while silently chanting in her heart: Cut her down, cut her down, keep cutting her down! The big bitch Li Xiaolian who made our little goldfinch baby suffer so much must die on the spot and be reduced to ashes!!!
However, the little muddy goose’s wish was destined to be unfulfilled.
No matter how wrong Li Wenyin was, she was still Cen Sen’s formally dated girlfriend. Physically attacking and verbally humiliating an ex-girlfriend in public was something no normal man would do, let alone Cen Sen.
Cen Sen’s intervention to stop her and his merciless warning already exceeded Ji Mingshu’s expectations. She had originally thought Cen Sen pulled her aside to shield her from the wine. How could someone as rational as he…
She stood behind Cen Sen, and it took her a very, very long time to realize—what she had imagined, Cen Sen standing in opposition to Li Wenyin to protect her, had actually happened.
She tugged at Cen Sen’s sleeve and secretly glanced at Li Wenyin, but unexpectedly met Li Wenyin’s rare, undisguised look of hatred.
Hmm, for some reason, it felt so satisfying.
She instantly forgot about the occasion and bitchily gave Li Wenyin a gentle smile, even shrugging her shoulders, her eyes full of “sorry, but my husband wants to protect me, and I really can’t stop him” helplessness.
The next second, Cen Sen turned around, and she immediately changed her expression to play the innocent sweet girl, timidly pulling his sleeve, appearing as if she didn’t want to dwell on this woman, a picture of benevolence.
Unexpectedly, Cen Sen fell for this act, taking her hand proactively, and even patting her head to comfort her.
The plastic sisters who were watching the drama were all characters who had been immersed in a life of wine and luxury for over a decade, with incredibly sharp observation skills. Earlier, they had stood back watching quietly as chickens, but now, sensing the finale, they rushed forward one after another to play the big drama, consoling Ji Mingshu while not forgetting to diss Li Wenyin.
“Darling, you’re just too kind. What kind of person is this, bullying you, and you still don’t hold a grudge? I’m almost furious to death!”
“Little Shu has always been good-hearted. Did you just meet Little Shu today? Oh, by the way, I suddenly remembered my friend saying she’s most afraid of offending writers, painters, and filmmakers. If you upset them, who knows how you’ll be vilified in their so-called works? Nowadays, there are more and more people using the banner of artistic creation to vent personal grudges.”
“Exactly! In my opinion, such people should be banned!”
“Those with moral issues should also be banned.”
“I think the most terrifying people these days aren’t those who vent personal grudges under the banner of artistic creation, but those who daydream under the banner of artistic creation. I’ve never seen a man with a wife still being deeply infatuated with himself.”
“Now you’ve seen one, haven’t you?”
Several girls couldn’t help but giggle.
After laughing, someone else said, “Little Shu, let’s not attend this kind of event in the future. Anyone can get an invitation.”
“Even without an invitation, they can still enter with those who have invitations. Who can stop that?”
Everyone exchanged smiles, looking at Li Wenyin with tacit understanding, their eyes uniformly contemptuous.
Ji Mingshu usually didn’t feel much when being praised, but now, standing next to Cen Sen and receiving such praise, she felt quite guilty. Moreover, the mockery and gazes of these plastic flowers were so on point that she was too embarrassed to look back at Li Wenyin’s expression.
But, well… it still felt so good, TVT!
She was so delighted that she felt a bit dizzy, but afraid that going too far would cause Cen Sen to dislike her and pity Li Wenyin, so she quickly accepted a few invitations to spend money on activities, then apologetically said she had to leave first.
As she spoke, she looked around for Gu Kaiyang and Jiang Chun. Gu Kaiyang was probably too guilty for collaborating with the enemy, nowhere to be seen, but Jiang Chun could be spotted at a glance.
She secretly made a phone call gesture to Jiang Chun, then pulled Cen Sen along, and amidst the entourage of plastic flowers, left this messy event first.
“Um, do you think I was a bit too harsh on Li Wenyin?” On a snowy winter day, on the way home, Ji Mingshu couldn’t help but ask Cen Sen this question.
“No.”
Cen Sen was looking at the schedule on his tablet, answering without hesitation.
Ji Mingshu felt slightly relieved, sneaking a few glances at Cen Sen, tucking some stray hair behind her ear, pretending to be casual, playing with her phone while asking: “Li Wenyin said you’re completely different from before, but I feel like you’re the same as before… Were you more gentle when you were dating Li Wenyin?”
After not getting an answer from Cen Sen for a while, she continued rambling to herself: “Anyway, I’ll know when the movie is released.”
Cen Sen covered his tablet. “The movie won’t be released.”
…?
He had warned Li Wenyin more than once not to make the film, but she wouldn’t listen, and after Junyi withdrew investment, she still had to prove herself by getting funding from the Yuan family. So he could hardly guarantee that this movie wouldn’t encounter unsolvable problems at some stage.
After all, the process from a film’s initial form to its official release is complex and the waiting time is long. The film industry is very sensitive now, and it’s not impossible for a film to be withdrawn even a day before its release. And the later the problem occurs, the heavier the price to pay. Who dares say they’ve truly released a film before the audience has finished watching and making their evaluation?
“Won’t be released?” Ji Mingshu hesitantly repeated for confirmation.
Cen Sen made an “Mm” sound, then said: “Wait a bit longer, there’s no rush.”
The last stone pressing on Ji Mingshu’s heart was finally removed by Cen Sen’s own hands. She turned to look out the window, but couldn’t flatten her upturned lips no matter what.
The Bentley drove from the event venue towards Mingshui Mansion. As they were about to enter the suburban fork in the road, Cen Sen looked at the sign of a fresh food supermarket not far away and suddenly asked, “Mingshu, do you want to eat braised pork ribs today?”
“…”
Ji Mingshu now had a conditioned reflex of blushing and heart racing upon hearing the two words “pork ribs.” She still looked out the window, and only stammered a response as the traffic light was about to change, “Also… also fine, haven’t had it for a long time.”
The driver understood and turned toward the supermarket.
After responding, Ji Mingshu blushed explosively like a pure teenage girl, her heart beating especially fast. Out of necessity, she had to open a small crack in the window for air.
The capital’s snow always fell thick and biting.
Cold wind, carrying snowflakes, drifted in through the window crack, falling on Ji Mingshu’s hair. Cen Sen suddenly leaned over, helping her remove the snowflakes from her hair, then leaned close to her ear and said in a hoarse voice: “I’ll make it for you when we get home.”