My Queen, My Rules - Chapter 38

Chapter 38

Cen Sen sat there with a calm expression. His gaze lingered on Yan Yuexing for less than three seconds before quickly shifting away, his emotions unreadable.

The producer’s heart skipped a beat. He hurriedly rose to refill Cen Sen’s glass, then immediately changed the subject: "I’m not sure if you come to Star City often, President Cen. The crab at this Yaoyue Pavilion is a unique delicacy of Star City. You must taste it when it's served later!"

Although he didn't know which part he had gotten wrong, the producer could still tell that his "Golden Sponsor" was displeased.

He felt nervous, pinning all his hopes on the idea that the "Golden Sponsor" was magnanimous and wouldn't nitpick. Of course, it would be even better if the "Golden Sponsor" could just follow his lead and gently turn the page.

Very unfortunately, Cen Sen did not pick up on his cue. He stood up on his own and walked outside, not even leaving behind a polite "excuse me."

Just as the waiter was bringing in the dishes, the spacious private room fell into chaos. The protagonist was walking out, while the producer was chasing after him, shouting "President Cen! President Cen!" in a panic. The rest of the table was left staring at each other; the scene instantly became exceptionally bizarre.

"What happened? Why did he leave so suddenly?"

"I don't know, it’s inexplicable."

"He really didn't give Old Yang any face..."

"Since when did Old Yang have that much face?"

People muttered and discussed inside the private room, while outside, the night breeze was sparse and cold.

Zhou Jiaheng followed behind Cen Sen, smoothing out his overcoat as they walked.

After Cen Sen finished putting it on, he raised his hand slightly to adjust his collar. From beginning to end, he did not spare the producer even half a glance.

The producer was burning with anxiety. He didn't dare pull on Cen Sen, so he grabbed Zhou Jiaheng tightly, determined to get an explanation.

Having been by Cen Sen's side for a long time, Zhou Jiaheng was relatively calm in the face of trouble. He easily pried the producer’s fingers off. Before getting in the car, he said coldly, "It would be best for Producer Yang to talk less about right and wrong."

"...?"

Who was talking about right and wrong? Weren't they just praising the two designers Junyi wanted to promote?

Producer Yang was genuinely confused. He could only watch helplessly as Cen Sen’s car reversed out of the parking space and sped away from the main road, his mind filled with thoughts of "It’s over, it’s over, the sponsorship is going to fall through."

In the car, without needing Cen Sen to give an order, Zhou Jiaheng checked Ji Mingshu’s whereabouts and reported them one by one to Cen Sen.

Cen Sen said "Hmm," and looked out the window, his mood seemingly poor.

He knew Ji Mingshu had many flaws, but that didn't mean he enjoyed hearing others criticize his wife.

Seeing this, Zhou Jiaheng took the initiative to admit his error: "Apologies, President Cen. It was my dereliction of duty."

That Cen Sen could condescend to attend a show’s wrap-party was clearly because of Ji Mingshu.

But as his personal assistant, the fact that he hadn't even found out that Ji Mingshu had returned to the capital that afternoon was indeed a failure.

What was even worse was that he had allowed that group of blind fools to gossip about Ji Mingshu right in front of Cen Sen, running headfirst into the line of fire...

"You don't need to collect your year-end bonus this year."

Cen Sen looked out the window, not even raising his eyes.

Zhou Jiaheng felt a pang of regret. He knew it was displaced anger, but he had nothing to say.

The sponsorship for "The Designer" had already been disbursed, and the filming was finished. Interrupting the cooperation now because of a moment’s displeasure was clearly unrealistic.

But if anyone who had subtly insulted Ji Mingshu today ever appeared in a future Junyi investment project, he, as the chief assistant, should just pack his bags and leave.

His only prayer now was that "The Designer" would broadcast smoothly and not stir up any more trouble regarding the President’s wife.

Cen Sen’s abrupt departure left the production team in a state of panic. On the other side, Ji Mingshu had just finished her hot spring soak and seen the WeChat message from the staff.

She checked the time, replied with "Apologies, I am not in Star City," and paid no more attention to it.

Her heart and mind were entirely focused on "how to outshine Li Wenyin tomorrow."

The grudge between Ji Mingshu and Li Wenyin had lingered for over twenty years; everyone in their social circle knew it.

The root of their enmity could be traced back to the first grade of elementary school.

Back then, Ji Mingshu gave candy she had brought from abroad to a very handsome boy in her class. The boy accepted it, but then passed it to Li Wenyin. Li Wenyin knew the candy was from Ji Mingshu and chewed it right in front of her to show off. Ji Mingshu was furious, and they had a physical fight.

It was as if the magnetic fields between people were predestined. From the first grade, Ji Mingshu and Li Wenyin were at odds. Over the years, the rift only grew deeper, with no possibility of reconciliation.

The next afternoon, the C-brand wine gala was held at the Obeart Center.

Looking at the invitation, Ji Mingshu realized the dress code was casual, so her original idea of outshining Li Wenyin with a gorgeous haute couture gown was inapplicable here.

After much deliberation, she finally chose a wine-red, strapless, knee-length dress. It didn't look overly formal, but it accentuated her graceful figure. Paired with a pearl-white clutch, it was perfect!

But as luck would have it, Li Wenyin was wearing a pearl-white strapless jumpsuit today and was carrying a wine-red clutch.

She walked arm-in-arm with an investor, smiling and socializing, every gesture exuding a quiet, scholarly air.

A circle of socialites led by Ji Mingshu gathered from afar to observe her, picking her apart sentence by sentence.

Someone quipped, "Mingshu, you and her outfits today are like a red rose and a white rose."

Immediately, someone retorted: "A white rose? Does she deserve that?"

"Exactly, can you even speak properly? Hey, don't you know her mother used to be the nanny for Mingshu’s family?"

"Ah? Is that true?"

"Yes, it was only because the Ji family was kind-hearted that they took them in. Yet she has been acting against Mingshu since she was a child. She really should check her status." The girl’s voice was soft, but the ridicule in her words was undisguised.

Jiang Chun stood by Ji Mingshu’s side and thought, What the hell, suddenly feeling like Li Wenyin had the script of a Cinderella rising to power, while they were all just the archetypal "wicked supporting characters."

It wasn't just Jiang Chun who felt this; Ji Mingshu had lived her whole life with this thorn named "Li Wenyin" stuck in her heart.

Even after all these years, the thorn hadn't been removed; it would flare up from time to time, torturing her until she felt like she wanted to tear her own flesh.

Unlike Ji Mingshu and her circle of wealthy socialites who had nothing better to do than gossip, Li Wenyin had come to the gala with the specific intent of being introduced to famous film directors. She wanted to invite them to be executive producers to protect her debut film.

She naturally spotted Ji Mingshu, but for years, she had never considered Ji Mingshu a threat. Her posture remained as lofty as always, not even bothering to spare her half a glance.

Li Wenyin’s attitude made it clear she intended to ignore her. Ji Mingshu was unhappy, but she couldn't just rush over and start trouble without a reason.

She drank a glass of red wine to calm her nerves, then acted as if nothing were wrong, watching the performance on stage with Jiang Chun.

Jiang Chun lowered her voice and asked, "Are you not planning a frontal battle?"

Ji Mingshu: "How do I do a frontal battle?"

Jiang Chun: "Weren't you here specifically to outshine her and warn her not to film that lousy movie? You should at least have a segment where you say something harsh or throw red wine."

Ji Mingshu: "You’ve been reading too many novels, throwing red wine..."

Jiang Chun whispered while eating cake, passing on various "winning strategies" for battles between romantic rivals to Ji Mingshu.

Ji Mingshu was also a die-hard novel reader. The more she heard, the more something felt off. She felt that the tactics Jiang Chun was suggesting were only things silly supporting characters would do; it was just too low-class.

As Jiang Chun spoke, she suddenly paused. "She went to the restroom. Quick, quick, follow her!"

As she said this, she pushed Ji Mingshu. "You could take a broom and lock her in a stall, or splash water on her!"

Are you crazy? What kind of venue is this—how could there possibly be a broom in the bathroom?

Ji Mingshu was pushed into standing up. Amidst her chaotic thoughts, she found herself walking toward the restroom.

The restroom of the arts center also had a very artistic atmosphere.

If not for the obvious "Women’s Restroom" sign in front, one might think they had accidentally walked into a high-end makeup studio.

Ji Mingshu was absentmindedly touching up her makeup in front of the vanity, her eyes fixed on the mirror, fully focused on the movements behind her in the stalls.

After about three minutes, Li Wenyin emerged from a stall.

Seeing Ji Mingshu touching up her makeup at the sink, she paused slightly, though she wasn't particularly surprised.

Ji Mingshu patted the powder onto her face for the second time. As Li Wenyin walked to her side to wash her hands, she said nonchalantly, "What a coincidence."

Li Wenyin chuckled without looking up. "I don't think so."

Ji Mingshu: "..."

After washing her hands, Li Wenyin grabbed a paper towel. As she wiped them, she looked at Ji Mingshu through the mirror and said knowingly, "I haven't seen you in so many years, but I didn't expect you to still be this childish."

"? Who is childish?"

Ji Mingshu entered combat mode in a second.

"Ji Mingshu, you have the money and the free time; why don't you go do something meaningful? We are all adults; don't play these childhood games anymore."

Li Wenyin took out her lipstick and calmly applied a layer of light color.

Ji Mingshu froze for three seconds, then suddenly laughed in anger, her voice rising by more than one octave. "We’re both foxes from the same mountain, so why are you acting like a ghost story in front of me? Don't you know in your heart who is acting up behind the scenes? You don't even know how to be a quiet, closed-mouthed ex-girlfriend, so why are you pretending to be intellectual and elegant in front of me?"

"Do you know I’m going to make a movie?" Li Wenyin paused for a few seconds, then suddenly glanced at her. "Did Cen Sen tell you?"

What does this have to do with Cen Sen?

Seeing her expression, Li Wenyin suddenly chuckled. "I guess Cen Sen definitely didn't tell you that Junyi is investing in my movie. But since he doesn't mind, why do you mind? You’ve liked him for so many years and used your schemes to successfully marry him, yet you still haven't won his heart?"

She had finished tidying up and was preparing to leave. As she brushed past Ji Mingshu, she didn't know what thought crossed her mind, but she whispered lightly into her ear: "How pitiful."

That "pitiful" carried the lingering resentment that had been branded onto Ji Mingshu’s heart since her student days. It made Ji Mingshu’s heart tighten abruptly, as if she couldn't breathe.

Li Wenyin’s high heels clicked away, fading into the distance.

Ji Mingshu’s psychological defenses, built up over days, were easily shattered by Li Wenyin’s cold, nonchalant words. Now, she could only lean against the sink, forcing herself to stand steady.

When he received Ji Mingshu’s call, Cen Sen was playing golf with Jiang Che at the golf course. Besides the two of them, Shu Yang and Zhao Yang were also there.

The four of them were standing together, very close.

Seeing it was a call from Ji Mingshu, Shu Yang teased maliciously, "Oh, little Shu-shu is checking up on you again!"

This was the first time Ji Mingshu had called him since their standoff began days ago. Cen Sen ignored him and pressed answer.

He didn't know what was wrong with the phone, but even though he hadn't pressed speakerphone, the voice was so loud that all three people nearby could hear it.

On the other end of the line, Ji Mingshu’s voice was trembling, filled with a hysteria she was trying to suppress but couldn't.

"Do you remember what I told you? And do you remember what you promised me? What is the meaning of you investing in the movie that Li Wenyin is using to commemorate your love?! Are you trying to slap my face and let the whole world see how ridiculous I am?!"

After a few seconds, her voice calmed slightly.

"I have nothing left to say to you. When are you coming back? Let’s get a divorce.”