My Queen, My Rules - Chapter 49

Chapter 49

The drive from the restaurant to Star Harbor International was only half an hour, but due to the surge in traffic on Christmas Eve, that half-hour was stretched to double its length.

At the restaurant, Ji Mingshu and Cen Yang had only chatted about childhood anecdotes. Once they merged into the sea of lights and traffic, it was as if they had stepped into the adult world, asking each other about their real lives.

Ji Mingshu’s real life had nothing particularly novel or worth belaboring; it was merely a path that followed the trajectory glimpsed in her childhood, one she hadn't strayed from over the years.

Cen Yang, on the other hand, had once been the sole, heaven-favored son of the Cen family of Jingjian. When the sudden change occurred, he didn't exactly fall from the clouds into the dirt, but from the moment his identity shifted, his childhood days of being high above were destined to be a final destination he could never reach again. The life that lay ahead for the "Crown Prince" of the Cen family was a journey he would never have the chance to tread.

Perhaps due to a thin bond of kinship, Ji Mingshu had been able to empathize with Cen Yang’s situation ever since she learned the truth in her second year of middle school.

She always felt that if a certain crown prince were to suddenly tell her she was their long-lost daughter, she would happily move over to become a noble little princess.

But if it were a pair of impoverished slum-dwelling parents from an obscure town who came to claim her, she might collapse on the spot and cling to the marble pillars of the Ji family porch, refusing to leave.

Listening to Ji Mingshu delicately express her point of view, Cen Yang merely smiled.

With one hand on the steering wheel, he took a pack of gum from the storage compartment. As he unwrapped it, he looked toward the distant neon lights, his voice calm: "It’s not as unacceptable as you think. I’ve been quite fine all these years."

Ji Mingshu tilted her head to look at him.

"Actually, it wasn't good at the beginning. But once I got used to it, it became fine."

Stopped at a red light, Cen Yang handed her a piece of gum. Recalling the past, he sounded remarkably lighthearted: "Honestly, perhaps it’s because so much time has passed that I can’t clearly remember many things. I only remember that when I first moved away from Nanqiao Alley, I suffered from insomnia for about half a month... I couldn't sleep all night, missing my grandparents, my parents, and missing Shuyang and the others."

He looked at Ji Mingshu: "Of course, there was also you, little shrimp. I always thought you were such a noisy little girl back then, but when you stopped running to our house to cause a racket, I actually felt quite unaccustomed to it."

Ji Mingshu pursed her lips and didn't answer.

Cen Yang continued: "It wouldn't be realistic to say I’ve never held resentment or hate. I’m doing venture capital now, and when I first started working, the pressure was immense. I would always think: if I were still the Cen Yang of the Cen family, I wouldn't have to work so hard."

He paused slightly and let out a soft laugh: "Let’s not talk about this. It really has been a long time. Everyone is doing quite well now, back in their respective places. Life is life, wherever you are."

"Life is life, wherever you are"—that’s easy to say, but extremely difficult to experience.

—The little golden canary who had run away from home for several months understood this deeply.

She wanted to offer some comfort, but didn't know where to start, so she just nodded and changed the subject: "So you... you’re twenty-seven this year, right? Are you seeing anyone?"

Cen Yang squinted slightly, reminiscing: "I dated a few people off and on after college, but it wasn't a good fit, so we broke up. I’ve been busy with work these past few years and haven't had time for a girlfriend."

The light turned green, and the car crawled forward. Remembering something, he asked: "I just came from Star City. I heard from Anning that you and he went there a while ago?"

"Yeah, we went for a meal. Is Anning... and Auntie An doing well?"

Cen Yang replied without hesitation: "They’re doing fine. I wanted to bring them to live in the Imperial Capital once I was settled, but they said they couldn't get used to it here, so they didn't come."

Seeing Cen Yang’s calm expression when he said this, Ji Mingshu couldn't help but feel a bit puzzled: Didn't Chen Biqing say that Cen Yang didn't have much of a relationship with them and didn't stay in touch? Why did it feel like Cen Yang didn't reject them that much? Strange.

However, based on the few words mentioned by Chen Biqing, the Cen Yang she imagined should have been a cold, gloomy person unable to let go of the change in his origin. But the Cen Yang she saw today was positive, generous, and didn't seem to care much about the past.

—This was clearly the best result after fate had toyed with him, yet Ji Mingshu felt it was somewhat unreal.

After arriving at Star Harbor International, Cen Yang parked and walked around to open the passenger door for Ji Mingshu. Seeing that Ji Mingshu was still lost in thought, he leaned in to help her unbuckle her seatbelt.

Ji Mingshu reacted in time and blocked him with her hand: "No need, I can do it myself."

She unbuckled the belt, grabbed her bag, and hurried out of the car.

It was snowing outside, and the flakes were falling heavier than when they were on the road.

Cen Yang looked up and asked: "Is this the first snow of the year in the Imperial Capital?"

Ji Mingshu nodded and reached out to catch some: "The weather forecast had been saying it for a while; I didn't expect it to fall only today."

As she said this, a trace of imperceptible loneliness flashed in her eyes.

Actually, she really wanted to watch the first snow with Cen Sen, and she really wanted to spend Christmas Eve with Cen Sen, too.

But Cen Sen hadn't contacted her once since the show, other than having Zhou Jiaheng send over some clothes... as if anyone actually coveted his lousy clothes.

Though, even if he did contact her, it wouldn't be any use. Cen Sen, that emotionless capital-machine who would work himself to death for his career, probably wouldn't have the romantic sentiment to spend Christmas Eve or Christmas with his wife in this lifetime.

Thinking about it this way, she actually didn't feel as disappointed.

"...Xiaoshu?" After Cen Yang called her name and received no response, he called again.

"Ah?" Ji Mingshu came back to her senses and looked at Cen Yang apologetically: "I’m sorry, I was thinking about something. What is it?"

"It’s nothing, I just think it feels really good to be able to see you again."

Cen Yang chuckled, revealing two rows of white, neat teeth. His figure was tall and straight, and standing in the drifting snow of the winter night, he appeared exceptionally clear, mild, and warm.

Ji Mingshu couldn't help but smile, and that smile lingered on the corners of her lips for a long time before fading slightly.

Looking at Cen Yang, she said with some emotion: "It doesn't seem very appropriate to call you Brother Cen Yang now that I’m grown up. I don't seem to have the position to stand on your side and face the world together anymore... But no matter what happened before, or what happens in the future, I truly hope you can live happily. I also truly hope you can always be as warm and sunny as you are in my memories."

Cen Yang also looked at her, a shallow smile that didn't reach his eyes on his lips, and he suddenly stepped forward to hug her.

A black Maybach was parked in the distance.

Cen Yang looked at the distant, blurry driver's seat. His gaze was quiet and straight; he remained silent.

—Xiaoshu, I’m sorry. Since a long time ago, I stopped being the Brother Cen Yang in your memories.

After returning to the apartment, Ji Mingshu went through her usual routine of removing her makeup and washing up. The house was quiet. On Christmas Eve, Gu Kaiyang was still struggling on the front lines of unpaid overtime, and there was no telling when she’d be back.

After applying her face mask, Ji Mingshu checked her phone. That pig Cen Sen hadn't even sent her a punctuation mark; it was simply suffocating.

She sat cross-legged on the sofa, becoming more unable to figure it out the more she thought about it.

Didn't he also go to college abroad? Why was he so dismissive of Christmas Eve and Christmas? If he wasn't obsessed with foreign things, why did he go to Harvard? Would his stock price plummet by thirty percent if he sent a "Merry Christmas" text? Was he even human? How did he manage to get a wife?

Ji Mingshu was trapped in the bitterness of not being greeted on Christmas Eve, unable to extricate herself. At such a time, Jiang Chun had the misfortune of walking right into the line of fire to show off her affection.

Jiang Chun: [Image 1]

Jiang Chun: [Image 2]

Jiang Chun: [The ring Tang Zhizhou gave me, isn't it pretty!]

Ji Mingshu: [...]

Ji Mingshu: [Have you ever practiced the finger exercises I taught you? Your fingers are short and stubby and don't look as good as my toes, yet you have the nerve to wear a ring. Don't tell me you’ve already posted it on WeChat Moments. Tell you what, if you insist on posting to Moments, just take it off and take a picture of the box. Don't embarrass yourself.]

Jiang Chun: [...]

Jiang Chun: [Already posted it.]

Jiang Chun had long become accustomed to being roasted. If Ji Mingshu praised her, she would feel uneasy, always suspecting that Ji Mingshu was brewing some ultimate move, waiting for her to float away on her own beauty before striking her down in one blow.

Receiving Ji Mingshu’s standard response, Jiang Chun felt safe and bold enough to act spoiled toward Tang Zhizhou.

She puffed out her cheeks, held up her chubby hand, and asked: "Shushu said my hands are short and fat and it doesn't look good to wear a ring. What do you think?"

Tang Zhizhou rubbed her head: "You look good in everything."

Jiang Chun nodded and sent a message to Ji Mingshu again.

Jiang Chun: [Tang Zhizhou said I look good in everything, hee hee.]

Jiang Chun: [Satisfied.jpg]

Fortunately, she still understood some boundaries. Before Ji Mingshu could officially enter attack mode, she promptly offered the latest intelligence to divert her attention.

Jiang Chun: [By the way, Tang Zhizhou and I were watching a movie at Jiufang Department Store today and ran into Li Xiaolian.]

Ji Mingshu: [Li Xiaolian? Who?]

Jiang Chun: [...Li Wenyin! Can you maintain at least the most basic level of respect for your love rival!]

Ji Mingshu: [...]

Ji Mingshu: [Who was she watching the movie with?]

Jiang Chun: [A man, quite tall. But there were too many people in the cinema tonight; I didn't see his face, and besides, didn't we go into the theater by then? It was pitch black in there, and I didn't see them when I came out either.]

Ji Mingshu subconsciously thought of Cen Sen, and her mood grew agitated.

Jiang Chun: [But it definitely wasn't your Cen Sen. He didn't have that "I can earn a hundred million in one minute" domineering CEO aura your Cen Sen has.]

Ji Mingshu: [...]

Ji Mingshu: [Please pay attention to correct phrasing next time, otherwise just don't speak, thanks.]

Jiang Chun: [...]

Jiang Chun: [What did I do wrong again?]

Jiang Chun couldn't help but express her grievance at being bombarded instead of praised for reporting information in a timely manner. Ji Mingshu was too lazy to watch her ramble, and just as she was about to put down her phone to wash off her mask, Gu Kaiyang suddenly called.

She pressed answer. On the other end, Gu Kaiyang sounded like she was being chased by a chainsaw-wielding maniac, panting and babbling incoherently: "You know, do you know what I saw? I’m back, I’m in the elevator, I saw Cen Sen, and a man, downstairs..."

Ji Mingshu froze for a second: "Kissing?"

"...?"

"What are you thinking? It’s just two men, no, a man..."

Ji Mingshu suddenly remembered something, ran to the window without even putting on her shoes, and pulled back the curtains.

Cen Yang’s white Mercedes didn't speed away, but had driven across the street and pulled up beside a Maybach.

The two men stood between the two cars, hands in their pockets, looking up in unison—at her?