My Queen, My Rules - Chapter 72

Chapter 72

Ji Mingshu had always remembered the time she wanted to participate in the Junyi designer hotel project, only to be mocked by Cen Sen, who told her that perhaps kowtowing all the way to the Potala Palace would move the heavens and the earth. Now that her great revenge had finally been exacted, she was naturally in high spirits.

After the clouds cleared and the rain ceased late that night, she nestled lazily in Cen Sen’s arms, fidgeting with his eyelashes. She was still muddled and thinking: "That dog of a man, he’s just a dog. He claimed on his lips that he was letting me participate because my design skills had improved, but his actions were honest. He has a company meeting at eight o'clock tomorrow morning, yet he still didn't forget to toss and turn until three in the morning..."

Before she could think much more, she drifted off into a drowsy slumber.

After the New Year, the first high-level management meeting for Junyi took place. Cen Sen attended on time, dressed in a sharp suit. After the meeting, a group of high-level executives headed by Cen Sen marched downstairs to conduct an inspection of the work areas of various departments.

As always, Cen Sen’s expression was gentle yet carried a sense of aloofness. Wherever he went, a radius of ten meters expanded around him like a circle; within it, no one dared to act recklessly.

Everyone stood respectfully, listening to the leader speak, though perhaps only a third were truly listening. Another third were preoccupied with their own private work matters, while the final third, the moment they saw Cen Sen, subconsciously recalled all the gossip about the CEO and the CEO’s wife that had been circulating lately.

People online all said their CEO was henpecked, but looking at the CEO’s current expression—which seemed to say, "The ancestors of your eighteen generations all owe me eighteen billion"—they truly couldn't imagine what he would look like when he was being managed by his wife to the point where he dared not even let out a fart.

However, the colleagues in the project department were fortunate enough to catch a glimpse.

Because when the inspection ended, Zhou Jiaheng lingered for a moment, asking the head of Group A for the Junyi Yaji project not to finalize the list of designers yet. He said they needed to add one more designer’s portfolio to the file. When the department head asked for the materials, Zhou Jiaheng said they weren't ready yet, but he did have the name.

——Ji Mingshu.

After Zhou Jiaheng left, the head asked the project team members, "Who is Ji Mingshu? Have you heard of her?"

Everyone collectively looked at him with eyes that said, "Boss, do you never go online or read the company group messages?" After a long pause, someone finally explained to him:

"Of course we've heard of her..."

"She’s the CEO’s wife..."

While Cen Sen was at work, Ji Mingshu also meticulously wrote her New Year's plan. The plan wasn't entirely about work; it included hosting parties, going on trips, attending haute couture week, and entering "couple mode" with Cen Sen to start dating, among a variety of other things.

After reading it, Jiang Chun gave her a sincere suggestion: "I feel like there is a very important part missing from your plan."

"What?"

"Preparing for pregnancy and having a baby."

Jiang Chun said it quite matter-of-factly and even started nagging her with that same set of rhetoric her second uncle used.

Ji Mingshu thought she was being very strange. "Why did you suddenly think of this?" Normally, this little "earthy goose" couldn't go three sentences without mentioning something delicious to eat, but after the New Year, she had suddenly skipped over being a virtuous wife and entered the stage of a good mother.

Jiang Chun smiled with a mix of mystery, shyness, and a hint of smugness, then extended her small "goose claw" and shook it frantically in front of her.

Ji Mingshu owned too many diamond rings. Usually, she just picked one at random to wear for fun, and most didn't have any special meaning. Had Jiang Chun not made it so obvious, she truly wouldn't have reacted.

After freezing for three seconds, she asked: "Did you and Tang Zhizhou 'get on the bus before buying the ticket'...?"

"What nonsense are you spouting? Tang Zhizhou and I are still very pure, okay? This is an engagement ring!" Jiang Chun slapped her indignantly.

"..." Ji Mingshu resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "It's just an engagement ring. You haven't even held the engagement ceremony yet, and you're already thinking about having a kid? Can you have a little more ambition?"

Jiang Chun gave a forced smile. "To tell you the truth, I was thinking about having a kid before I was even engaged."

Ji Mingshu didn't know what she had done wrong; she just wanted to have afternoon tea with her best friend and yet had to be lectured with ideas about "having the crystallization of love with the one you love early on." If Jiang Chun hadn't mentioned a second child, she might even have suspected that her second uncle had expanded his ideological work to her inner circle, planning a brainwashing strategy of surrounding her with her best friends to get to the main target.

Actually, it wasn't that Ji Mingshu didn't want to have children; she just felt that she hadn't been with Cen Sen for long after confirming their feelings. They hadn't really enjoyed their life as a couple yet, and jumping straight to the finish line would be a loss. She still wanted to make up for the regrets of not dating during her school years with Cen Sen.

But thinking about how busy Cen Sen was, she felt dejected again. The WeChat message she sent when she went out hadn't been replied to yet—and she wanted to date!

If this were her school years, this kind of boyfriend would have been dumped three thousand, nine hundred, and eighty-six times over by the girl!

She didn't know if Cen Sen sensed her underlying resentment, but not long after, a WeChat message came through.

Cen Sen: 【I’m going to Star City on a business trip tomorrow.】

This WeChat message was even worse than not replying! TVT!

Cen Sen: 【Do you want to come with me?】

Actually, there was another sentence following it: 【If you go, I can take you to inspect the designer hotel that Vester has opened in Star City.】

But before he could send it, Ji Mingshu replied with a single word: "Okay," followed by an excited exclamation mark.

Cen Sen half-covered his lips, suddenly laughing softly.

Cen Sen wasn't going to Star City alone this time; he brought five or six high-level executives, plus the assistants trailing behind, adding up to over a dozen people.

Standing beside Cen Sen wearing sunglasses, Ji Mingshu felt a little thrill because this was her first time going out with him and the group's high-level executives in the capacity of the CEO’s wife.

Of course, one couldn't tell she was thrilled on the surface—she maintained the same "husband and wife" poker face the entire time. Combined with a matte velvet, deep red lipstick, a camel-colored trench coat with an excellent drape, and boots with thin, high heels, she looked sharp and spirited. Her entire being exuded the aura of a high-powered corporate career woman ready to sit at the negotiating table at any moment.

The high-level executives in Star City, who had recently been "cleansed" (replaced), were in the dark. When they came out to greet them, they thought that the CEO’s executive assistant had been replaced.

Of course, Ji Mingshu’s posturing only lasted until they checked into the hotel.

When they were dining at the revolving restaurant on the top floor that night, she asked quite excitedly: "How is it? Do I look like a 'power woman' today?"

Cen Sen loosened a collar button, said "Hm" in agreement, and swapped his cut steak for hers.

Resting her chin on her hand, Ji Mingshu was still savoring the feeling. "I suddenly feel that being a big boss is pretty good. You know, the kind of person who is resourceful, gives directions to the world, and is inscrutable... Mmph..."

She leaned back slightly, frowning with dissatisfaction, looking down at the dessert Cen Sen had stuffed into her mouth.

Although Cen Sen didn't speak or make any expressions, Ji Mingshu guessed with keen self-awareness that his psychological state was surely—If you want to eat well, drink well, and live well for the rest of your life, it would be best if you spared the company.

Before she could stubbornly express any more grand theories, Cen Sen spoke to her first about the Design Home program resuming broadcasts.

This matter had been approved by Ji Mingshu.

The production team apologizing with tears and snot every other day was secondary; she primarily considered the other designers.

The program had only aired two episodes so far, which were the recording contents from the group she was in. If the subsequent episodes couldn't be aired, it would be unfair to the other celebrities and amateur designers who participated in the filming.

Especially the amateur designers; during the filming, she had interacted with some of them. Many of their design concepts were no worse than top international interior designers, but they simply lacked the opportunity to stand out.

With a program like this, regardless of the subsequent ratings, it was at least a platform that provided them with an opportunity to showcase themselves and let industry insiders see their true levels.

Besides, those two episodes of hers had been re-edited. Yan Yuexing had already disappeared, and the production team had learned a painful lesson. In fact, continuing the broadcast would have no impact on her.

However, when Cen Sen brought up the program, she had an idea. "When are you free? I want to pay a return visit to the homeowner whose house I remodeled before."

She didn't have much experience in guest room design like the Junyi Yaji project, but the home interior design she did for that family previously had a lot in common with hotel room design. She wanted to visit and see what kind of feedback the homeowner would give now that they were truly living in it.

Cen Sen glanced at the schedule on his phone. "I won't finish until 7:00 PM tomorrow, and not until 8:00 PM the day after."

"A return visit at night? That doesn't seem very appropriate."

Ji Mingshu thought for a moment. "How about this: I’ll go over by myself tomorrow afternoon, and when you’re done, you can come pick me up. How’s that?"

Cen Sen: "Can you do it alone?"

"What’s wrong with that? Just have someone send me over. Don't tell me that in your eyes, I can't even walk independently?"

Cen Sen cut his steak in silence.

The trajectory of the knife and fork made it clear: Yes, that's exactly right. You are just a little vase that cannot walk independently.

Ji Mingshu couldn't help but kick him under the table again, and only then did he reluctantly nod and agree.

The following afternoon, Ji Mingshu deliberately wore a plain beige turtleneck sweater paired with skinny jeans. Passing by a fruit shop, she had the driver stop so she could buy a fruit basket.

After arriving at the residential complex, she carried the fruit basket, following her memory to find the old school-district apartment where she had stayed for over a month.

She was praising herself in her heart for having such a good memory while knocking on the door.

Listening to footsteps slowly approaching from the inside, she waited, but the person inside delayed opening the door. Ji Mingshu asked politely, "Excuse me, are Mr. Wang and Ms. Li here?"

A slightly immature boy’s voice finally came from inside. "My uncle and my aunt aren't here."

"You are Mr. Wang and Ms. Li’s nephew, right?"

"Yes, who are you?" The boy clearly saw from the peephole that she was beautiful, so he spoke to her a bit more.

Ji Mingshu said patiently, "Hello, little friend. I’m the designer who previously did the home renovation for your aunt and uncle. I came here today for a follow-up visit. I’ll take a look and be on my way. If you’re afraid to open the door, you can call your aunt and uncle first."

The boy hesitated in the room and opened the wooden door, but the security iron gate remained closed.

"Just take a look like this. There are no adults home, so I’m still not opening the door for you."

"Which time were you the designer for? My aunt and uncle just hired someone to renovate it again before the New Year. I heard our house was even on a show before. My aunt and uncle talk about it every day at home—that the show was full of scammers. It made it so we couldn't even live here. Except for the appliances given, everything else was just stuff that looked good but was useless."

Standing at the door, Ji Mingshu looked through the gaps in the security gate at the living room inside, which had now lost all sense of design, and her mind went blank.