Chapter 14

Jiang Yehui returned to Beigang one day early and only informed Xin Yan.

When she picked up her luggage, it was around 5 PM. As she walked out into the airport terminal, she immediately spotted a ridiculously eye-catching patch of red from several meters away in the pickup crowd.

Xin Yan was waving wildly at her, grinning from ear to ear, holding a massive bouquet of red roses that nearly swallowed her whole.

Jiang Yehui couldn’t help but press her hand to her forehead — this woman really couldn’t keep a low profile anywhere.

She quickly sped up her steps and headed toward a quieter corner.

Xin Yan ran over to her, practically bursting with joy.
“My beautiful Jiang! You’re finally back!”

As she said that, she stuffed the bouquet straight into her arms.

Luckily, Jiang Yehui had anticipated it and stepped back two paces to catch the flowers, avoiding a full-face flower attack.

She looked at her friend — whom she hadn’t seen in over three months — and laughed.
“This much fanfare? Was that necessary?”

“Absolutely! Come on, I’m taking you out for a good meal. Consider it your birthday present,” Xin Yan said, already taking charge of her luggage.
“What do you want to eat?”

Jiang Yehui thought for a moment. A name surfaced clearly in her mind.
“The Haitang Bay Restaurant in West City.”

Xin Yan was surprised.
“Aren’t you unfamiliar with Beigang? How do you know that place?”

Jiang Yehui shrugged.
“Heard someone say the food’s good.”

“It is good. Rumor has it celebs show up there all the time,” Xin Yan groaned,
“You’re clearly out to drain me dry, huh? Fine. Since you’re going to be my exclusive screenwriter from now on, for the sake of my glittery bling-bling future, I’ll bleed a little for you.”

The two got into Xin Yan’s Jaguar and headed straight for Haitang Bay.

It was a discreet spot, not in a busy commercial area. The entrance and signage looked just like any upscale restaurant, but as soon as they stepped inside, Jiang Yehui could tell it was something special — the ambiance and style were unique and flawless.

As they followed a waiter further inside, Xin Yan nudged her and whispered,
“Look, that’s Zong Liwei. And that one over there is…”

She suddenly stopped, changed her tone:
“Oh damn, they’re here too?”

Jiang Yehui turned to look — the first person she saw was none other than Director Xin Li, Xin Yan’s father. Next to him sat a beautiful woman — actress Pan Yali, in her thirties — also known as Xin Yan’s “stepmother.”

Sitting across from them was veteran actor Zong Liwei, who had recently served as the chairman of the Jinlu Awards jury.

Jiang Yehui recalled something.
“Wasn’t there a rumor that Yu Jiayun asked Gu Jingcheng to pull strings for her to win the Jinlu Award? What happened with that?”

At the time, she had been in Africa and had barely any access to her phone, so she hadn’t followed up.

“You don’t know? That drama is old news — the melon’s been eaten and digested already!”

Xin Yan pulled her to a table that the server had guided them to.

“There was so much gossip online at the time that Zong Liwei himself ended up speaking out! Do you know who he is? He’s always kept a low profile, known for both his talent and integrity — his reputation in the industry is impeccable.

He posted a formal statement on Weibo — calm and logical — basically saying that the rumors about Mingji manipulating the Jinlu Awards were completely false. He even said he’d never met Gu Jingcheng before.

Later, it was revealed that the person who spread the rumor was actually Yu Jiayun’s former assistant. The assistant eventually caved under pressure, apologized publicly, and admitted they made it all up out of personal spite toward Yu Jiayun.”**

After listening, Jiang Yehui had her own thoughts. Mingji had clearly done some behind-the-scenes PR work.

From her perspective, it wasn’t wrong that Yu Jiayun had sought out Gu Jingcheng for help. But Gu Jingcheng, on the other hand, probably never intended to pressure the Jinlu Awards for her sake. He was someone who used his influence, yes — but only when it was backed by real power. He never relied on shortcuts or cheap tricks.

That was something she actually admired about him.

Their table wasn’t far from Director Xin’s group. Jiang Yehui nudged Xin Yan,
“Aren’t you going to say hello? It’s a good chance to meet someone like Mr. Zong. Might help you down the line.”

Xin Yan pouted.
“Forget it. That woman’s there too. Why make things awkward?”

Just then, a voice called out, “Yanyan!”

Director Xin had already spotted his daughter and was waving at her.

Xin Yan rolled her eyes but resignedly dragged Jiang Yehui over with her.

Before Director Xin could even introduce them, Xin Yan turned to Zong Liwei and said,
“Hello, Mr. Zong! I’ve watched all your performances. I really, really admire you!”

Zong Liwei looked at the short-haired, smiling young woman with some hesitation and turned to Xin Li.
“And this is?”

“This is my disappointing daughter,” Xin Li said cheerfully,
“She just returned from studying directing in the UK. She’s in this industry too now. I hope you’ll guide her, Mr. Zong.”

Zong Liwei looked surprised at first, then praised her,
“Very ambitious. We need more talented female directors in this field!”

Director Xin laughed heartily, and Pan Yali followed with a light smile. She had already noticed the young, beautiful woman standing beside them and now asked,
“This must be Xiao Xin’s friend?”

“Oh,” Xin Yan, who never got along with Madam Pan, didn’t want to embarrass her dad in front of others, so she casually replied,
“My friend. We met in the UK.”

Pan Yali smiled,
“So pretty—I thought she was a newly debuted actress!”

Xin Li and Zong Liwei both couldn’t help but glance at Jiang Yehui again. In fact, they had already noticed her earlier. Her beauty was one thing, but it was her aura and bone structure that truly stood out.

Jiang Yehui simply smiled politely and didn’t say much.

Xin Yan didn’t continue the conversation and said,
“Dad, we won’t disturb you. My friend and I are going to eat.”

Director Xin waved them off.
“Go ahead. Let your friend order whatever she wants—Dad’s paying.”

Back at their original table, Xin Yan and Jiang Yehui really did order a feast.

As the first dish was served, they saw that another person had joined Director Xin’s table—none other than the rising star Lu Mingming.

She wore a loose, casual beige knit top—simple, yet radiant.

Xin Yan got excited.
“Wow! I need to go introduce myself. If I could get her to star in one of my films someday, that’d be amazing!”

Jiang Yehui looked across the room at Lu Mingming, who was chatting and laughing with the senior actors. In terms of looks, she wasn’t more beautiful than Yu Jiayun, but she had a graceful, enduring charm. Her acting was excellent, her range broad, and she had great audience appeal.

Xin Yan sighed,
“Lu Mingming won Best Actress at the Golden deer Awards, and now her value’s skyrocketed. She’s getting better resources and even sitting with veterans like Mr. Zong and my dad.”

Jiang Yehui nodded. For someone of Lu Mingming’s experience, she was indeed rising quickly.

They were nearly done eating, but Xin Yan was still thinking about Lu Mingming.
“I wonder what they’re discussing. Probably some kind of collaboration.”

She clicked her tongue.
“Mingji is really backing her hard. Among female stars right now, she’s unmatched.”

Sure enough, before they left, Director Xin waved Xin Yan over again to introduce her and Lu Mingming. Xin Yan took the opportunity to add Lu Mingming on WeChat.

Jiang Yehui didn’t go over this time. She simply stayed seated. When Xin Yan probably mentioned her name, Lu Mingming glanced her way, and they exchanged polite smiles.

Jiang Yehui was thinking—Was Gu Jingcheng supporting Lu Mingming purely for her potential, or because of personal feelings?

It wouldn’t be surprising if he liked her. She was a very capable girl, and from the looks of it, not arrogant at all.

After finishing the meal and saying goodbye to Xin Yan, Jiang Yehui didn’t return to the house on Jiangming Road. Instead, she took a taxi directly to her own apartment.

The apartment was one of her wedding gifts from her older brother. Before the wedding, she had already redecorated it to her liking and had hired an auntie to clean and cook, so it was always ready to move into.

After a good night’s sleep, she woke up to breakfast already prepared.

Jiang Yehui enjoyed her breakfast leisurely, not in a rush to confront Gu Jingcheng.

It was a weekday, and he should be at the office during the day.

She waited until after lunch to start getting ready.

She spent far more time than usual picking her outfit. After trying several options, she finally settled on a light-colored suit with a soft drape, paired with a bold, queen-like red lipstick—to give her a more commanding presence.

After all, she was about to face Gu Jingcheng. She couldn’t let her aura lose.

Once fully dressed, she picked up her things and went downstairs. In the garage sat a volcano gray Panamera—another wedding gift.

She rarely drove herself since there was usually a chauffeur, and she was now wondering whether she should hire a personal driver for when she starts living independently.

But today, she’d drive herself.

She carefully pulled the car out and drove toward Jiangming Road.

The road was clear. After passing the iconic Mingji Building and crossing an intersection, she arrived at the Yuzhou-built villa complex.

Jiang Yehui had an access card, so she drove directly into the community. As she approached the gate of her house, she honked once.

A middle-aged woman came out, mumbling something when she saw the unfamiliar car.

Jiang Yehui rolled down her window and smiled,
“Aunt Xie.”

Aunt Xie was stunned, took a couple of steps closer, and gasped,
“Madam! Oh my—it’s you! I was just wondering if it was the sir coming by—but this isn’t his car!”

Clearly emotional, she pressed the button on the wall to open the gate automatically.

Jiang Yehui’s heart stirred. From what Aunt Xie said… did Gu Jingcheng not live here anymore?

After parking, she entered the house with Aunt Xie. She looked around and found that everything was exactly as it had been the last time she saw it.

This house had been arranged for her by Assistant Jin after the wedding, and she’d met everyone here back then.

She greeted everyone warmly.
“Uncle Xie, Aunt Xie, Aunt Lan—hello!”

They all looked pleasantly surprised. Aunt Xie smiled and rubbed her hands together.
“Didn’t expect you to remember our names!”

“They’re easy to remember. How could I forget?”

But… who’s that?

Jiang Yehui looked curiously at a man in his forties who entered just then.

The man quickly introduced himself.
“Madam, I’m Zhang Cheng. I’ll be your driver from now on.”

Jiang Yehui suddenly remembered—during the wedding, her mother-in-law had gifted her a white Bentley, which had been parked here. She hadn’t realized it came with a personal driver too.

She curved her lips into a smile.
“Then I’ll call you Uncle Zhang from now on.”

“Of course, Madam!” Zhang Cheng replied with a warm, honest smile.

Jiang Yehui beamed.
“I brought some gifts for everyone. I hope you like them.”

She was glad she had prepared extras — enough for all four of them.

These were gifts she’d spent a whole day selecting in London before leaving. Since tonight would likely be her last time staying here, she had taken care to choose them as a thoughtful farewell.

All of them had worked in wealthy households before, and the moment they saw the gifts, they could tell they weren’t just casually picked. That made them genuinely happy — it was rare to have such a kind and generous hostess.

Aunt Xie, who managed the household, asked warmly,
“Madam, what would you like for dinner tonight? Shall I have Aunt Lan cook? She’s really good at Nanlin cuisine.”

Aunt Lan smiled shyly beside her.

“Sure,” Jiang Yehui said with a graceful curve of her lips.
“Make your best dishes. The gentleman will be joining us for dinner tonight too.”

Aunt Lan quickly nodded and headed to the kitchen.

Jiang Yehui went upstairs to take a look. The layout and decor of the house were exactly her style — such a shame she’d never spent a night here. And unless something changed, she wouldn’t be staying tonight either.

Entering the master bedroom, she looked around and found no trace of Gu Jingcheng’s clothing in the wardrobe. She checked the other rooms too — still no signs that he had ever lived here.

So it seemed Gu Jingcheng really hadn’t stayed here at all recently.

At 6 PM, the sound of a car came from outside.

Jiang Yehui calmly descended the stairs, catching sight of Gu Jingcheng entering just as she reached halfway down.

Gu Jingcheng naturally looked her way, and their eyes met.

Jiang Yehui offered a sweet smile, gently lifting the hem of her long dress and giving a graceful lady’s curtsy.
“Good evening, Mr. Gu.”

Gu Jingcheng’s gaze flickered slightly, and he offered a slight bow in return.
“Good evening, Mrs. Gu.”

As Jiang Yehui walked down the steps under his gaze, she noticed two men standing by the door.

One was Xiao Li, the driver she had seen with Gu Jingcheng before. The other was a man she didn’t recognize.

Both were carrying bags and luggage.

Jiang Yehui glanced at Gu Jingcheng, puzzled.

Gu Jingcheng gestured toward Aunt Xie, who was standing nearby with a bright smile.
“Take care of it.”

“Yes, sir!”

Aunt Xie quickly turned to the two men.
“Follow me!”

Just before she walked off, she turned back to ask,
“Sir, should I place these in the master bedroom?”

Gu Jingcheng gave a low “mm” in response.

At that moment, everything became clear to Jiang Yehui — Mr. Gu was moving in, and he planned to sleep in the master bedroom tonight.

She let out a silent “hmph” internally, but on the surface, her expression remained sweet and peaceful — like all was well in the world.

Dinner was served at 6:30.

It was the first meal the newlyweds had shared together in this house. Aunt Lan had clearly put in great effort, preparing a table full of mouthwatering dishes.

Jiang Yehui decided to finish this “parting dinner” before saying anything — who knew if they’d ever sit and eat like this again.

They seemed to fall into an unspoken rhythm, exchanging a few light, meaningless remarks here and there.

Aunt Lan’s cooking was truly excellent. Several of the dishes were signature Nanlin specialties and tasted authentic. For the first time, Jiang Yehui helped herself to a second bowl of rice.

While she was eating her second bowl, Gu Jingcheng glanced at her a few extra times from across the table.

Jiang Yehui flicked her cheek playfully and said with a smile,
“Fair-skinned and beautiful women can afford to gain a little weight.”

Gu Jingcheng tilted his head, gave her a long look, and said truthfully with a slight frown:
“Not that fair. Passably pretty.”

“…”

Jiang Yehui’s smile dropped.

She really had tanned quite a bit. During filming, she had spent all her time outdoors and barely had a chance to wash her face — let alone apply sunscreen. The past few days, she had been using face masks every night to try and recover.

Seeing her put down her chopsticks, Gu Jingcheng added without changing his expression,
“A beautiful tan.”

Jiang Yehui narrowed her eyes and gave him a fake smile.
“Thanks so much for that.”

The atmosphere lightened a little — just the way she wanted. Jiang Yehui didn’t want any tension tonight.

She was the first to set down her chopsticks, dabbing her mouth with a napkin, as if wanting to speak but hesitating.

Gu Jingcheng, still sipping his soup without looking up, somehow sensed it anyway. He set his spoon down and said,
“Go ahead.”

So he’s already prepared for this?

Jiang Yehui didn’t beat around the bush. Her tone was calm.
“Mr. Gu, you’ve violated the supplementary agreement.”

Gu Jingcheng looked at her and gestured for her to continue.
“Explain.”

Playing dumb, are we?

Jiang Yehui locked eyes with him, smiling.
“You cheated during the marriage.”

Gu Jingcheng’s lips twitched.
“Proof.”

“Yu Jiayun admitted it herself.”

Gu Jingcheng leaned back in his chair and said casually,
“She’s trying to ride my coattails.”

Jiang Yehui frowned.
“You dare to do it but not admit it?”

“She’s not my type.”

“Then who is your type?”

Gu Jingcheng glanced at her, refusing to answer.