My Queen, My Rules - Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Ji Mingshu quickly noticed the bug in the screenshot. Assuming Cen Sen wouldn't see it so quickly, she swiftly tapped "recall" on both the screenshot and the "learn a thing or two" comment that followed, attempting to pretend as if nothing had happened.

However, less than thirty seconds after she recalled the messages, a string of texts popped up in the dialogue box one after another:

Cen Sen: [What kind of peerless fairy has fallen into the mortal world]

Cen Sen: [The dress isn't haute couture, you are]

Cen Sen: [The way our little canary baby works her beauty and spends money is truly mesmerizing]

Ji Mingshu: "..."

The rainbow-fart flattery, stripped of its exclamation marks, emitted from Cen Sen's pitch-black profile picture like a cold, mocking mechanical copy. For a fleeting moment, Ji Mingshu couldn't tell if he was trying to show off his memory or his ability to learn.

Cen Sen: [Did I learn it well?]

Ji Mingshu: [...]

She understood now; this dog of a man wanted to show off everything: )

He probably didn't repeat the last sentence because he felt his writing technique was impressive enough and purposely left it blank to give people infinite room for imagination.

She set down her phone and said to the shop assistant with a forced, skin-deep smile, "I'm sorry, I don't need the tie clip anymore."

Thanks to Cen Sen's provocation, Ji Mingshu did not hold back at all during the remaining three days of her Haute Couture Week schedule. Everywhere she went, she left behind the graceful trail of her swiping credit card.

Designers who were usually cold and distant in front of celebrities actively invited her to take photos, expressing how much they had missed her. Executives made time out of their busy schedules to invite this esteemed guest from China for lunch and dinner. As for the fashion shows, it went without saying—if it weren't a front-row seat, an invitation wouldn't even have reached her hands.

Gu Kaiyang, accustomed to this young lady's luxurious lifestyle, still couldn't help but comment with a tinge of envy—Wooo, having money really lets you do whatever you want! tvt

Gu Kaiyang had arrived in Paris with the magazine team. As the newly promoted deputy editor-in-chief, she had a pile of matters waiting for her decisions and naturally couldn't leave the group to act on her own.

After the Haute Couture Week events concluded, they still had some re-shoot plans that required them to stay an extra day. After all, the magazine group's "stingy" nature was unshakeable; it felt like they would be losing a fortune if they didn't shoot until they got their money's worth.

Ji Mingshu had originally intended to bring Gu Kaiyang along on her private jet to indulge in a corrupt return journey, but Gu Kaiyang couldn't get away. Plus, the plane was already due for its maintenance schedule, so she simply let the plane go for service and decided to stay in Paris for one more day to return to the country with Gu Kaiyang.

Although they returned together, Gu Kaiyang still had to catch up on work with her colleagues on the plane, so she didn't upgrade her seat.

Coincidentally, in the first-class cabin, Ji Mingshu ran into Jiang Chun again.

Jiang Chun was much thinner than she had been a few days ago. Her once-round chin had narrowed to a point. She wasn't wearing makeup and was dressed in a simple t-shirt and long jeans. Although she looked a bit haggard, there was a touch of "a beauty in distress" quality to her.

Ji Mingshu pulled her sunglasses down a bit and was actually quite surprised after seeing Jiang Chun’s little face clearly.

She had noticed before that Jiang Chun’s features were good, but this was the first time she had seen her without makeup. So, her name really did fit her; wasn't this a standard, pure little beauty?

Ji Mingshu had always liked beautiful people. Usually, she was aloof and ignored Jiang Chun, but this time she deigned to tease her, "Miss Jiang looks like she hasn't recovered from her heartbreak yet."

Jiang Chun: "..."

Seeing Ji Mingshu, Jiang Chun didn't behave like usual, where she could switch into a high-spirited "battle mode" at any second, nor did she act like the last time in the hotel lobby where she would bite Ji Mingshu regardless of the consequences.

She was slumped into her seat, emanating a mysterious, defeated aura that suggested, "Okay, I'm a cast-off woman; you can humiliate me however you like."

A flight attendant came over to serve drinks. Ji Mingshu lifted her chin slightly toward Jiang Chun. "Please serve this lady a meal, and a glass of 'Midsummer Breeze' as well, thank you."

Jiang Chun, curled up in her seat, didn't react.

The attendant looked at her, then at Ji Mingshu, unsure if they should acknowledge the request.

Ji Mingshu smiled, "We know each other. Go ahead."

The attendant paused for a moment, feeling their heart suddenly skip a beat.

This was, perhaps, too beautiful. That smile of hers was practically redefining the phrases "bright eyes and white teeth" and "stunningly beautiful"!

After the attendant left calmly, they asked their colleagues in the galley: Was that beautiful woman in first class some kind of celebrity? Why didn't they recognize her? Was it because she wasn't famous? But how could someone so pretty not be famous?

Before long, the meal Ji Mingshu ordered for Jiang Chun was served.

The attendant also brought Ji Mingshu a small piece of dessert, saying it was a complimentary sample of a new product.

Ji Mingshu gave them face and tried a bite.

Jiang Chun, however, looked listless and didn't seem to have any intention of eating.

Ji Mingshu didn't pay her much mind. She didn't live in the middle of the Pacific; whether Jiang Chun ate or not was her own business.

The surroundings were quiet. Jiang Chun gazed out the window, looking like a melancholy "Lin Daiyu" of the Jiang family.

Ji Mingshu finished her dessert and flipped through a magazine.

She had already seen all the fashion magazines provided on the plane. The only one she hadn't looked at was Zero Degree, which Gu Kaiyang and her team had produced. Zero Degree was a men's magazine, and she wasn't some virtuous wife who took full control of her husband's wardrobe, so why would she look at it?

She covered her mouth with a yawn, put on her eye mask, and prepared to sleep.

Outside the window, the sky was a bright, clear blue. The clouds beneath her feet looked like massive patches of cotton candy stuck together. The light was thin and warm, with the golden glow of the distant sun faintly visible.

After a long while without hearing the sound of pages turning, Jiang Chun cast a sidelong glance and discovered that Ji Mingshu had put on an eye mask and was resting. A thought stirred in her heart; she glanced at the meal and the wine, and subconsciously licked her lips.

She hadn't eaten properly for three or four days. If she hadn't seen food, it would be one thing, but with the food right in front of her, her attention was sucked in by the aroma, and her depressed mood dissipated quite a bit.

She very softly picked up the sandwich and looked at Ji Mingshu again.

Although Ji Mingshu hadn't moved, she was sleeping quite restlessly.

For some reason, she dreamed of the scene where Jiang Chun caught Yan cheating, except the people in it were replaced by herself and Cen Sen.

In the dream, Cen Sen was even more thoroughly scummy than Yan. He directly grabbed her wrist and pushed her aside, watching her fall to the ground without even bothering to give her half a glance.

Beside them were a group of her "plastic" girlfriends from the circle watching her make a fool of herself. Someone mocked: Tell her to just endure it. Serve the mistress tea and water in the future and wait on her well, otherwise, Cen Sen will sweep her out the door.

—Ji Mingshu was woken up by pure rage.

She tore off her eye mask and drank half a glass of water in one go. While she calmed herself down, telling herself it was just a dream, she couldn't help but silently curse Cen Sen, this dog of a man, for not letting her have peace even in her dreams.

She set down her water glass and, turning her head inadvertently, happened to lock eyes with Jiang Chun, who was secretly eating the sandwich.

Perhaps she was "starving stupid," but Jiang Chun took a huge bite. Before she could swallow it, she was startled by Ji Mingshu's sudden movement and choked. The sandwich got stuck in her throat, and she covered her mouth, coughing violently.

Ji Mingshu just watched as Jiang Chun coughed until her face was red. As Jiang Chun scrambled to find a tissue and drank wine to swallow it down, Ji Mingshu suddenly let out a laugh.

Jiang Chun, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, immediately bristled, "What are you laughing at? Can't I eat something? Cough! Cough cough cough!!!"

Ji Mingshu's mood inexplicably improved. She propped her chin on her hand, looked at Jiang Chun, and asked, "Don't you think you're a bit cute?"

"..."

Jiang Chun looked at her as if she were a lunatic.

Ji Mingshu racked her brain for a comparison, "Like a penguin that had never left Antarctica, suddenly not afraid of the cold and able to live in the subtropics... but still a clumsy type?"

Is there such a penguin?

Jiang Chun was stunned for two seconds before she finally understood, "Are you trying to say I'm unsophisticated?"

"No, it's 'unsophisticated-cute'."

Jiang Chun: "..."

Thank you so much for your compliment.

She rolled her eyes in annoyance, sat up straight, and simply started eating with righteous indignation.

It took eleven hours to fly from Paris to the capital. Ji Mingshu was bored, so she caught Jiang Chun to have some fun from time to time.

At first, Jiang Chun really didn't want to pay attention to Ji Mingshu, but the sad emotions she had been brewing had long since dissipated. Seeing that Ji Mingshu was watching a variety show she was also following, she couldn't help but pick up on the conversation.

"I think Pei Xiyan is quite handsome."

"I think so too," Jiang Chun couldn't help but agree. "Handsome and has personality. He'll definitely be extraordinary when he grows up."

"His EQ is also high."

Jiang Chun nodded repeatedly, "Right, right, right! I specifically watched the variety show he did with his mom when he was little. Actually, I don't really like his mom, but he was so cute since he was a kid. Really cool."

"Right? I think so too."

"Ladies and gentlemen, this flight is scheduled to arrive at the Capital International Airport in fifteen minutes. The ground temperature is 36°C."

As they were about to get off the plane, the gloominess that had been on Jiang Chun's face when she first boarded was completely gone. She was glowing, her eyes sparkling with hearts, and she even insisted on blocking Ji Mingshu from skipping forward, saying that her "baby's" godly beauty had to be appreciated frame by frame.

Ji Mingshu was speechless and simply threw the tablet into her arms.

Ji Mingshu's luggage had been shipped back to the country a day early; all she had on her was a small carry-on suitcase.

After getting off the plane, she had originally wanted to meet up with Gu Kaiyang, but Gu Kaiyang’s magazine had an emergency, and they had to rush back for a meeting. She had no choice but to go with Jiang Chun, kindly acting as a guide and explaining things as they walked through the airport duty-free shops.

Jiang Chun had never known there were so many tricks to choosing items. At first, she was walking side-by-side with Ji Mingshu, listening as they walked. Later, she didn't know what happened, but she transformed into Ji Mingshu's little luggage-pusher. She voluntarily found a trolley, put both their suitcases on it, and took charge of pushing them forward by herself.

At the exit, the airport crowd gradually became denser.

Ji Mingshu was still analyzing why a certain bag was classic, but her voice suddenly paused, and her steps slowed down.

Jiang Chun asked in a very naive way, "What's wrong with you?"

Ji Mingshu pressed her stomach, her brows slightly furrowed.

"Is your stomach hurting?" Jiang Chun looked around and pointed in a direction, "There's a restroom there."

Sweat beaded on Ji Mingshu's forehead. She hurried toward the restroom with difficulty.

She was wearing very high heels, and walking fast like this made her heels burn and go numb.

Walking into the restroom, Ji Mingshu's vision went black.

Jiang Chun, who had followed her, exclaimed in a low voice: "Why are there so many people!"

There were at least seven or eight people waiting in line, and this was likely the smallest of all the restrooms in the airport, with only four stalls, one of which was accessible.

After waiting for two minutes, the line made zero progress.

Jiang Chun had originally intended to ask Ji Mingshu if she wanted to go look somewhere else, but seeing Ji Mingshu’s completely hopeless expression as she struggled to hold it in, Jiang Chun cast a glance and a bad idea slipped out, "Why not use this one? It's empty anyway."

She pointed at the men's restroom to the side.

Ji Mingshu looked at her with an expression that said, "Are you crazy?"

But Jiang Chun was especially attentive; she even ran inside to scout the perimeter, "There's really no one there. I'll help you guard the door."

Ji Mingshu felt like her own brain might have short-circuited. Hearing Jiang Chun say this, she felt a sliver of hesitation deep inside.

As waves of intense pain hit her stomach, the hesitation grew.

In the end, she couldn't hold it anymore. She put on her sunglasses with difficulty and said in a low voice to Jiang Chun, "Help me guard it. WeChat me."

Jiang Chun nodded solemnly as if she had received some important mission.

Three minutes later, Ji Mingshu finally realized what kind of stupid thing she had done.

Jiang Chun: [Can't come out yet. A man walked in.]

Five minutes later.

Jiang Chun: [It's over, a tour group just arrived. You wait a bit longer, don't make a sound.]

Ji Mingshu: [...]

I really fell for your nonsense.

Just as Jiang Chun’s intelligence update arrived, a bunch of men rushed in. Awkward noises near the urinals echoed one after another, and one man stopped outside her stall and pounded on the door violently, "Bro, are you constipated? Have you been in there so long because you fell into the toilet pit?"

"..."

The stall was cramped and suffocating, and the smell was unbearable. Ji Mingshu was blushing from the base of her ears to her neck.

She silently closed her eyes, unable to recall what she had done wrong to end up in such a miserable situation where she was trapped in a men's restroom, afraid to make a sound.

Moreover, her mind was a blank slate, and she didn't know what she could do to escape this suffocating, awkward situation.

The most tragic part was that after five minutes, her legs had gone numb from squatting, and her phone had automatically shut down, which meant she had accidentally lost contact with the intelligence officer outside the door.

Before losing contact, the last message from the intelligence officer was—"Why don't you just rush out? No one knows who you are anyway."

What a joke!

She, Ji Mingshu, had lived a glorious life for twenty-plus years! It was always acceptable to skip a meal, but she could never lose face!

Even if she were to be suffocated to death in this restroom today, she would absolutely not risk the chance of people saying, "This woman looks so pretty, but she's such a pervert that she used a men's restroom," just to run out while there were still people around!

She stubbornly squatted there for a long time. Time ticked by second by second, and Ji Mingshu didn't know how many times she had silently blocked the knocking on the door. In short, her lower body had lost all sensation.

A long time passed, and the restroom suddenly fell silent.

Ji Mingshu's little heart was resurrected, thinking that there was finally no one outside.

But the second after she tried to stand up, a few knocks on the door came from outside: Dong, dong, dong.

Despair: )

She squatted on the ground, wrapped her arms around her knees, and buried her head in them without making a sound.

"Ji Mingshu, open the door. It's me.”