My Queen, My Rules - Chapter 39

Chapter 39

On an autumn afternoon, the sunlight was warm and the breeze was pleasant.

But as the "beep" of a disconnected call sounded from the other end of the line, the temperature around Cen Sen plummeted to freezing point.

Divorce?

Did Ji Mingshu just bring up a divorce?

Shu Yang, who was about as good at reading the room as a sun hiding behind clouds, let out a "what the hell" and blurted out a question without a second thought: "Did you and Li Wenyin rekindle your old flame? When did this happen? Damn it, Brother Sen, how did you handle this? How did you let Ji Mingshu find out! What are you going to do now?"

Cen Sen didn't reply. He dialed a speed-dial number for Zhou Jiaheng, his voice low: "Make arrangements. We are returning to the capital immediately."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Che put down his golf club and patted Cen Sen on the shoulder, saying nothing.

Zhao Yang didn't say anything either, but the questions in his mind were identical to Shu Yang's.

It was no wonder; both of them were men steeped in the company of women, playboys of the romantic scene who had seen countless women, with no concepts or principles regarding loyalty to love or marriage.

At this moment, they assumed Cen Sen had cheated with Li Wenyin and had been caught red-handed by Ji Mingshu. Their thoughts were focused on how to protect their buddy's interests.

After Cen Sen left, the two of them discussed it while continuing to play golf.

Shu Yang: "I didn't expect Li Wenyin to be that charming. How long has she been back? They've already hooked up again."

Zhao Yang thought for a moment and said: "Maybe it's a personality thing. Ji Mingshu... it's mainly her personality; most men truly can't handle it."

Shu Yang: "That's true. Hey, do you think they'll really divorce?"

Zhao Yang: "How could they? Do you think Ji Rusong and Ji Rubo are just for show? Without the backing of the Jingjian Group, would the Ji family still be the same Ji family it used to be? But this matter mainly depends on Brother Sen's intentions. If he wants to divorce, then even without this incident, it would still happen."

"That's also true," Shu Yang nodded. "But Grandfather Cen and Grandmother Cen both love Ji Mingshu so much, they definitely wouldn't agree. And Uncle Cen... it's not like I'm saying this to be mean, but even if they did divorce, it's impossible for Li Wenyin to enter the family. She wouldn't be able to pass the hurdle of Uncle Cen."

Hearing this, Zhao Yang gave a light sneer: "Forget it. Enter the family? Don't you see that Brother Sen never intended to divorce? Otherwise, why go back so quickly? Ji Mingshu was just talking; why are you worrying about things that don't concern you?"

...

The more they chatted, the more enthusiastic they became. Less than five minutes after Cen Sen left, the two were already discussing how property should be divided after the divorce.

Jiang Che’s attitude toward marriage was different from theirs, but since it was his own brother, he didn't have much to say. He gazed into the distance at the end of the green, saying only in a bland tone: "Stop talking. Less meddling."

One has to admit, Jiang Che’s advice to "stop meddling" was very prescient, but unfortunately, his warning lacked weight. Within the time it took to turn around, the two big-mouthed gossips, Zhao Yang and Shu Yang, had accidentally let the news slip out.

The alliance between the Cen and Ji families was already a matter of great public interest in their small circle. With such a sudden change, it naturally spread like wildfire.

By evening, the matter had undergone many shifts and turns in the rumor mill, and it had already reached the ears of the Ji family.

Ji Mingshu first received calls from her eldest aunt and second aunt.

Their arguments were roughly the same: they had heard she wanted a divorce and were calling to ask about the situation. They also added that if Cen Sen had bullied her or caused her any grievances, the Ji family would certainly help her seek justice.

The daughters-in-law married into the Ji family were all from prestigious backgrounds; they had good cultivation and their rhetoric was always well-rounded and comforting.

If not for the classic "urge reconciliation, not separation" quotes at the end, Ji Mingshu might have truly believed they were calling to protect their own.

She gave a perfunctory response. After her mood had plunged to rock bottom, it felt as though it had been submerged into a pool of icy water.

Perhaps her less-than-clear attitude gave the Ji family a sense of crisis. After her two aunts finished their persuasion, her eldest uncle, Ji Rusong, actually called her personally.

"Little Shu, what is going on with you and Ah Sen? Why is everyone suddenly saying that you want to divorce him?"

Ji Rusong didn't beat around the bush and went straight to the point. His voice was as it had always been: gentle, yet lacking none of the majesty of a person in power.

Ji Mingshu was squatting on the ground packing her luggage. Having received several calls in a row, she wasn't surprised by Ji Rusong’s inquiry.

She put her phone on speaker and set it aside, her tone calm: "It was my decision, Uncle. I can no longer live with him."

"It really was your decision?" Ji Rusong didn't believe it at first, but hearing this, he finally grew anxious. "Little Shu, how can you be so willful!"

Ji Mingshu lowered her eyes and didn't reply.

Ji Rusong was still at the company. With one hand holding the phone and the other behind his back, he found himself with a splitting headache because of this niece.

He tried his best to calm himself down: "Little Shu, Uncle won't beat around the bush with you either. You are an adult; you cannot act according to your own whims! Do you know how important the South Bay project that Jingjian and Uncle are collaborating on is right now?"

"Times have changed. Jingjian doesn't necessarily have to cooperate with our Ji family, but if we don't cooperate with Jingjian, is there anyone else who can handle this project? All development will have to stop!"

He sighed, and added in an earnest tone: "And your second uncle—your second uncle has been working diligently for decades, not daring to take a single wrong step! Do you think the position he is in now is easy to sit in? If Jingjian weren't there supporting him from the sidelines, how many pairs of eyes would be watching, waiting to pull him down!"

Ji Rusong’s words, which felt like a mix of frustration at her incompetence and an inability to scold her, fell upon her ears, causing her already chaotic mind to become even more scrambled.

She slowly put down the clothing in her hands, then slowly stretched out both hands to cover her face.

Actually, if Ji Rusong had attacked her head-on with merciless scolding, she could have righteous indignation and say that they had only raised her for an alliance—there was no difference between that and raising "Yangzhou thin horses" in ancient times—and that they had no qualification to take on the posture of elders to criticize her.

But Ji Rusong didn't do that.

She knew better than anyone that Ji Rusong and Ji Rubo’s contributions to her had a purpose, but those contributions were not equivalent to hypocrisy.

When she was a child, classmates at school had mocked her for not having a father or mother, saying she was a wild child picked up from a trash heap. She was angered to tears and ran to tell on them to Ji Rusong.

When Ji Rusong found out, he didn't say a word and rushed back from another city, traveling through wind and dust to go to the school and talk to the leaders.

When he took her home after school, Ji Rusong even bought her ice cream. While holding her hand and walking toward the family compound, he patiently coaxed her: "Little Shu is the little princess of the Ji family; how could she be a wild child picked up from a trash heap? Next time someone talks nonsense, remember to tell Uncle. Uncle will help you catch the bad guys, okay?"

The slowed pace of the adult and the narrow alleyway had long since turned yellow with age, but remembering it now, every detail remained as clear as yesterday.

Her nose suddenly stung, and tears streamed down uncontrollably.

After a long time, she choked out to the other end of the line: "Uncle, I’m sorry, but I really... I really don't want to do this anymore. I’m in pain, I’m in so much pain right now."

She couldn't bear to think of the images of Cen Sen being with Li Wenyin, she didn't dare to think deeply about what Li Wenyin had said, and she couldn't convince herself that she was only angry because Cen Sen had slapped her face.

It was clearly just a business alliance, but suddenly, other things were added, and the interests were no longer pure.

The evening sunset looked like salted duck egg yolk in liquid form, orange with a hint of red.

Ji Rusong stood in front of the window, also suddenly falling silent.

He remembered that when Ji Mingshu was sent back to the old mansion after her parents died, it was also during an evening like this.

At that time, the little girl was like a small puff of pink, wearing a fluffy princess dress, holding a beautiful doll, and still knowing nothing of the world.

When the little girl saw him, her eyes bent into smiles. When the aunt taught her to call him "Uncle," it hopped out of her mouth, turning into the funny-sounding "Radish-sh."

Back then, Grandfather Ji was still around, and he had only just taken over some of Huadian’s businesses. He was young and vigorous, and he loved his younger brother’s daughter from the bottom of his heart.

It was unlike today: after passing through a thousand sails, all emotions have faded. Come to think of it, it was strange; the older one gets, the more one becomes unable to control one's own fate.

He held the railing in front of the window, his voice gradually softening: "Little Shu, Uncle doesn't want to force you; I only hope that you can consider the Ji family a little bit. You are in a bad emotional state right now, so Uncle won't say much more. You can cool off for a while, and then talk to Ah Sen properly."

Ji Mingshu hugged her legs with both arms, burying her head into her knees, and didn't speak for a long time.

Ji Rusong sighed and hung up the phone himself.

It was already nine o'clock at night when Cen Sen returned to the Mingshui Mansion. It likely wouldn't be a sunny day tomorrow; there wasn't a single star in the night sky.

The door to the master bedroom on the second floor was not shut, and the walk-in closet had its lights on. Two suitcases with monogram logos were placed in the doorway.

Cen Sen’s expression remained as usual. He walked toward the walk-in closet, looked at Ji Mingshu who was squatting inside packing her luggage, and asked in a flat tone: "Where do you want to go?"

Ji Mingshu’s spine stiffened. She didn't turn around, nor did she answer.

"Bai Cui Tian Hua?"

"Your second uncle just called me. He feels that you need to calm down properly at home."

The house in Bai Cui Tian Hua was a gift from Ji Rubo. Compared to Ji Rusong, Ji Rubo’s heart had always been a bit harder.

Ji Mingshu understood the meaning. She stood up abruptly, turned around and stared at Cen Sen for a few seconds, then stopped packing, lifted the suitcase at the doorway, and tried to walk outside.

Cen Sen, however, suddenly reached out and blocked her path.

"What do you want to do?"

Ji Mingshu lowered her eyelids, her voice cold.

Cen Sen looked at her deeply: "Ji Mingshu, I should be the one asking you that question."

The two of them were a body-length apart, frozen in the posture of one having their way blocked while trying to brush past the other.

Tired from the long journey, Cen Sen’s voice was low and hoarse, carrying an indescribable frustration.

"Li Wenyin’s movie—I did not approve that investment, and I never thought about slapping your face. Before you lose your temper, you could actually ask me first. I can't drop everything I have in my hands every single time to come back and deal with your temper tantrums whenever you're unhappy."

Hearing the second half of the sentence, Ji Mingshu suddenly wanted to laugh: "You think I’m just throwing a temper tantrum because I’m unhappy right now, is that it?"

She released the suitcase, looked up at the tall man in front of her, and raised her voice to interrogate him: "You say Li Wenyin’s movie investment wasn't approved by you, but is it or is it not a fact that Junyi invested in her movie?"

Cen Sen’s expression was cold, and he didn't answer.

"So it is a fact?"

Ji Mingshu felt that her internal organs were aching with anger. Her voice grew higher and her speed of speech grew faster: "Your company is investing in a movie being made by your first love to commemorate your pure love, and now you want to tell me that you know nothing about it, or that even if you know now, you don't have the right to stop it? Cen Sen, you are twenty-seven! Do you want to tell me that you only understand business but don't understand human relationships, to the point that you don't even understand such a basic concept as avoiding suspicion?!"

"It is not what you imagine. She found Junyi to invest through a connection with Director Chen. Director Chen and my father are old acquaintances, and it was hard to refuse him, so I had her go through the normal evaluation process from our investment subsidiary."

Cen Sen considered that he had already shown twelve percent of his patience, and his explanation was objective: "She was able to get this investment because the team doing the evaluation felt that her movie could get a return higher than the investment. Whether it is invested in or not has nothing to do with me."

"Nothing to do with you?" Ji Mingshu was so angry she laughed. The further she spoke, the more her voice trembled and choked: "Are you trying to tell me that your subordinates are so unable to read the room? If you had shown any sign of wanting to avoid suspicion, would they not have been able to see it and take the initiative to avoid it?!"

She nodded again: "Fine. I won't hold you to that, but now that you know she has received Junyi’s investment and you know what she is going to film, call the Group and cancel the investment right now! Call them and ban this movie!"

"Ji Mingshu, I think you need to calm down."

Cen Sen’s voice was deep, and he gripped the hand she wanted to pull away.

Ji Mingshu looked at him, and without warning, tears suddenly rolled down.

She struggled hard to break free of Cen Sen’s restraint and wiped her face with the back of her hand, but the tears fell in strings, and no matter how she wiped them, they wouldn't stop.

A sense of indescribable agitation welled up in the bottom of Cen Sen’s heart.

Ji Mingshu retreated two steps: "I am very calm now. You won't, right? Or is it that you can't? As the President of Junyi, as the President of Jingjian, is it really that hard for you to ban a movie that hasn't even started filming yet? Are you unable to do it, or are you unwilling to do it! If you are unwilling, fine—let’s divorce. I’ve had enough!"

By the time she reached the end, Ji Mingshu was already on the verge of a hysterical breakdown.

All those emotions hidden deep in her heart, which she didn't want to touch, were uncontrollably pouring out at this moment.

Her face was covered in tears, and both her shoulders and fingers were trembling.

That’s right.

She, Ji Mingshu, was just a villainess.

She had liked Cen Sen for many years, but she just didn't want to face her true emotions and just didn't want to admit it.

She was jealous—jealous that since childhood, Li Wenyin had held the script of a Cinderella rising to power, jealous that even though Li Wenyin’s looks, figure, and family background were all inferior to hers, she had once captured Cen Sen’s heart, and as long as she appeared again, Cen Sen would show her compassion. And she, Ji Mingshu, had been married to Cen Sen for three years, and Cen Sen simply didn't like her and never would!

Actually, if it were just a commercial alliance, she could deceive herself and pretend to be deaf and dumb, but why did it have to be Li Wenyin? Had he not considered her feelings for even a second? He clearly knew what her relationship with Li Wenyin was; why would he do this!

"Stop making a scene."

Hearing Ji Mingshu say that she wanted him to ban Li Wenyin—and that if he didn't ban her, they would divorce—Cen Sen only felt that she was being unreasonable at this moment.

"I am not making a scene. Cen Sen, I am serious—let’s divorce."

She pried apart Cen Sen’s fingers one by one, her voice broken and intermittent, containing a calm that only came after total exhaustion.

She absolutely would not allow this ridiculous marriage to be stripped of its last shred of dignity by Li Wenyin, this lingering ex-girlfriend. Cen Sen could dislike her, he could not love her, but he could not remain in a marital state with her while still keeping ties with Li Wenyin. Absolutely not.

Cen Sen felt his temple throbbing, the agitation in his heart growing increasingly obvious. Some words he hadn't intended to bring into the open, for some reason, slipped out before he could think about them.

"Divorce? You keep bringing up divorce again and again—do you truly think that your life after divorce will be more comfortable than it is now? Ji Mingshu, what else can you do if you leave me?"

"Ask yourself: once divorced, would the people of the Ji family still treat you the way they did before? How many people in your circle would still be willing to play second fiddle to you? You are not a child anymore; you have to be responsible for your own words and actions."

Ji Mingshu closed her eyes: "Yes, I know nothing, I can do nothing; I am just a canary being kept by you! So you have never seen me in your eyes, never looked down on me. It’s not just you; your friends, my family—they all think that without you, I am just a piece of trash that can't walk independently!"

"I am not as good as Li Wenyin; I don't have her talent, nor do I have her shamelessness—breaking up and still using the excuse of 'cherishing the past' to entangle an ex! And I certainly don't have her great ability to make you, this ex, use your wife’s face to fulfill her dreams! So now, I want to fly out; is that allowed? Even if I fly out and get struck by lightning and die immediately, it’s none of your business! Let me go!"

Ji Mingshu pushed Cen Sen hard. This time, she didn't even take her suitcase and tried to walk out.

Since Cen Sen had made things so clear—that everything she had was given by him—she didn't need to be shameless and pack them up to take away.

But before she could walk out of the bedroom, Cen Sen suddenly gripped her wrist from behind, pulled her the whole way, and threw her onto the bed.

He loosened his tie; there was a thin layer of brutality on his face.

He leaned over Ji Mingshu, twisted her two slender wrists behind her back and clamped them tightly, while his other hand gripped her chin, forcing her to accept his kiss.

He rarely kissed with such urgency, with such intensity. He didn't investigate why he was doing this; he just did it out of subconscious instinct.

Ji Mingshu had just been crying; her eyes were red and slightly swollen, and her face and cheeks were covered in a salty, astringent taste.

Cen Sen kissed from her lips to her brows and eyes, then to her earlobes, neck, and collarbone, as if he were lighting fire, cluster by cluster, on her body.

For the first half-minute after being thrown onto the bed, Ji Mingshu hadn't even reacted. It wasn't until she reacted to the storm-like kisses and Cen Sen began to undo her buttons that she began to struggle.

"Let me go! Let me go! Let me go! You pervert!"

Her hands were controlled so tightly that she couldn't move at all, and her kicks were flat and weak.

It wasn't until Cen Sen kissed her lips again that she found an opportunity to bite him hard. In an instant, the taste of rust spread in both of their mouths.

Being bitten like this, Cen Sen seemed to clear up a bit, and the agitation in his heart slowly dissipated.

He braced himself against the side of Ji Mingshu’s waist, his finger slowly sliding over her bleeding lower lip. He didn't seem to feel the pain; his eyes were fixed on Ji Mingshu, examining her carefully inch by inch, as if admiring an exquisite work of art.

After a while, he stood up and stood by the bed, slowly adjusting his collar, his gaze becoming calm.

"I, like your uncle, feel that you need to calm down. Stay here; you are not allowed to go anywhere."

Ji Mingshu struggled to sit up from the bed, but before she could get up, Cen Sen walked out of the bedroom, slammed the door with a "bang," and locked it from the outside.

She froze for three seconds, not even wearing shoes as she rushed to turn the handle.

It was truly locked.

Cen Sen had locked her in this bedroom?!

Ji Mingshu stood at the door, feeling like her brain was about to explode. Her train of thought couldn't keep up with the progression of events at all.

Why wouldn't Cen Sen let her leave?

Did he think that if she left like this, Li Wenyin would be unfairly branded with the stigma of being a mistress? Or did he want to wait for the trial to finish so the Ji family could settle the score on all the money she had spent over the years?

It was truly absurd—in the twenty-first century, there were still people who, if they couldn't win an argument, would lock their wives in a room? Was this imprisonment?

After coming out of the room, Cen Sen stood at the top of the stairs, not moving for a long time. He closed his eyes, recalling the series of things he had just done; he seemed unable to find any logic in them at all.

The only thing he was clear about in his heart was that he could not let Ji Mingshu leave.

It seemed all the loss of control had begun from the moment Ji Mingshu said the word "divorce"—from the time in Star City, from the moment of boarding the plane, from the silent journey home.

He rubbed his eyebrow bone and called Zhou Jiaheng: "Regarding Li Wenyin’s movie, Junyi is withdrawing its investment for no reason. Also, find another way to get Li Wenyin’s contact information and send it to me."

Ten minutes later, he dialed the string of unfamiliar digits sent by Zhou Jiaheng.

"Hello, hello." The female voice was gentle and intellectual.

"This is Cen Sen."

The other end of the line went quiet for two seconds, then the gentle voice spoke again: "Oh, do you need something? Is it Mingshu... did she say something to you?"

He went straight to the point: "Ms. Li, I dated you for three months, and that period has been over for nearly ten years. I believe there is nothing between us worth making into a movie as a commemoration."

Li Wenyin was startled, then laughed lightly: "Movies now all require some means of promotion. Audiences won't pay for a movie with no story. You can rest assured; I won't expose your identity, and I have no intention of destroying the relationship between you and Mingshu... if there is one."

Cen Sen’s voice was cold: "I am not interested in any of this. I made this call only to notify you that while you can continue filming, neither my wife nor I like to be consumed by anyone in any form. Therefore, I cannot guarantee that Ms. Li’s movie will be able to be released smoothly."

After finishing his sentence, he hung up the phone directly.