Chapter 9: Cheating?

As the lights came on, the night in Ningcheng was just beginning.

Jinghe Restaurant is located on the embankment by the river. The small Western-style building faces the water, and from the windows, one can see the rippling river, offering excellent privacy. Many celebrities in Ningcheng like to gather here.

The driver drove from Lan Ting Yuan Villa to the entrance of Jinghe Restaurant, where a waiter immediately greeted them and opened the car door. They were led to a private room. The interior of the restaurant was high-end and luxurious, exuding an atmosphere of extravagance and luxury.

“Brother Jiang, you’ve finally arrived.”

As they reached the door of the private room, everyone inside stood up to greet Jiang Qianchen. Shao Qin pulled out a chair for him and briefly introduced the people present: “Jiang Group, President Jiang.”

Everyone suddenly exclaimed and rushed to greet him.

Chen Baiwei sat in a secluded corner of the private room. Although she was barely considered a second-tier female celebrity in the entertainment industry, her status was completely inadequate in such gatherings of various capital. While sipping her tea, Chen Baiwei stole a glance at the person sitting at the top. The bosses, who had just been dignified and proud, suddenly changed their expressions, eagerly introducing and selling themselves to that person with a flattering look on their faces, as if they were in a sales pitch.

And the man sat directly opposite the private room door, looking calmly at everyone like a god on his throne, unmoved by the flattery and compliments.

Chen Baiwei unconsciously fell into his handsome profile until her agent shook her arm, and she snapped out of it.

“What are you daydreaming about? Get up quickly! Didn’t you hear Director Liu calling you to toast?”

The agent scolded her. He had focused resources on Chen Baiwei’s crazy marketing because she was usually very clever and capable, and she had lived up to expectations by climbing up the ladder. How could she make a mistake in such an important occasion?

Fortunately, Chen Baiwei quickly stood up, straightened her career line, and held her wine glass to toast with Mr. Liu, trying to show her most delicate and plump side.

Mr. Liu smiled and said, “My surname is Liu, and I am in charge of Ju Hui Film and Television. This is our company’s top star.” He gave Chen Baiwei a look and said, “Xiao Wei, go to President Jiang’s side.”

Chen Baiwei immediately got up and discreetly pulled up her skirt under the cover of the tablecloth. She was wearing a very short skirt today, and pulling it up revealed her long and slender legs, causing Director Liu to glance at her.

But the big shot’s brow furrowed, and his voice was like a stone falling to the ground:

“No need.”

Chen Baiwei stood awkwardly in the aisle, and Director Liu wanted to persuade her again, but Shao Qin, who was organizing the event, immediately eased the atmosphere: “President Jiang doesn’t like to be too close to others.”

Later, he casually chatted for a few more moments and then tactfully gave the order to dismiss the guests.

He was just helping Ju Hui to introduce Jiang Qianchen as a favor, and whether it would be successful or not would depend on the subsequent evaluations.

Shao Qin called the waiter to open a bottle of red wine and moved to the observation deck outside the private room with the man, enjoying the river view while leaning on the bar.

“Brother Jiang, are you not in a good mood today?”

He half-jokingly said. Although Jiang Qianchen usually disliked these business dealings, moments like this where he showed no mercy were rare. “I think that girl just now was about to cry.”

Jiang Qianchen did not speak. He swirled his wine glass lightly and looked through the glass at the bright and dim lights on the opposite of the river with a deep expression.

“I am pondering a question,” Jiang Qianchen paused. “If the most important person in your significant other’s heart is not you, what measures would you take?”

Shao Qin: “What do you mean? Is she cheating on me? Physically or emotionally?”

“If it’s physical, of course, I would let that couple taste what it’s like to be enemies with the Shao family. If it’s emotional…” Shao Qin suddenly realized, “Wait! Brother Jiang, you’re not talking about my sister-in-law, are you??”

Jiang Qianchen frowned. “It’s just a hypothesis.”

Shao Qin observed the man’s expression suspiciously. There was no anger or sadness on his face, just displeasure at the words he had just spoken.

Only then did he relax slightly. “That’s good. I knew my sister-in-law is not that kind of person.”

“Who in our circle doesn’t know how good your sister-in-law is?” Shao Qin drank his wine carelessly. “If she doesn’t love you, then she probably won’t find another genuinely good person.”

Seeing Jiang Qianchen’s gaze, Shao Qin continued, “Back then, everyone was betting on who could marry the pearl of Ningcheng, and whoever won would get beaten up at the wedding. But no one expected that you, Brother Jiang, would agree to the marriage between the two families.”

Jiang Qianchen’s hand holding the glass paused, and he suddenly asked, “Many people pursued her?”

“Of course,” Shao Qin replied. “For example, that person from the Fang family said he would give up half of his wealth to marry her, and there was someone from the Xu family, Director Zhao’s youngest son… But my sister-in-law remained steadfast.” He continued without stopping, “Can it be, Brother Jiang, that you didn’t know about all this?”

“Let me tell you, Brother Jiang, people nowadays are too fickle.” Without waiting for Jiang Qianchen’s response, Shao Qin leaned on the railing. “Not to mention that families like ours tend to have separate lives after marriage. Even for ordinary people, enduring the loneliness and sleeping alone for two years is not an easy thing.”

“Moreover, during those years overseas, my sister-in-law almost called you every day and had Secretary Xu take care of your daily life. It’s really rare.”

He was Jiang Qianchen’s childhood friend and rarely saw him hesitate when it came to matters of the heart.

Shao Qin sighed a few times. Indeed, she deserved the title of the pearl of Ningcheng. Yu Zhi had finally endured the clouds to see the moon and allowed even the old tree to bloom.

Unfortunately, those pursuers who were waiting for Yu Zhi to divorce probably won’t have a chance anymore.

Thinking of this, Shao Qin’s tone couldn’t help but become heavy. “Brother Jiang, although I don’t know what issues you and my sister-in-law are facing, but with women, you have to pamper them.”

“For example, buy a few handbags and jewelry. They like these things. Just understand their preferences.” Shao Qin said, “Like the one I just started dating, Xiao Li…”

Jiang Qianchen gave him a profound and inscrutable look.

Shao Qin was still planning to passionately describe his romantic history, but he only heard the man slightly raise his chin and scoff at his words.

“Heh.”

“My wife is not that shallow.”

His words were filled with disdain for people like Xiao Li.

Shao Qin: …Caught off guard by the display.

Although Jiang Qianchen didn’t agree with Shao Qin’s values, it couldn’t be denied that “understanding each other” was indeed good advice.

He needed to figure out first why Yu Zhi left him and immediately flew to Huacheng, and secondly, why she ignored his messages after replying to Aunt Chen’s greetings.

On the way out of the private room, Jiang Qianchen was contemplating if there were any valuable collectibles worth acquiring as a gift for his beloved. As he stepped out of the Jinghe Restaurant, the driver was already waiting at the entrance. Just as he was about to get into the car, a figure beside a potted plant suddenly intercepted him in the night breeze.

“President Jiang…” Chen Baiwei bit her lip and hurriedly approached the car door. “My nanny’s car broke down. Could you give me a ride?”

…

…

As for the person on the other end of WeChat, who was anxiously waiting for a reply, Yu Zhi was still unaware. She arrived at the room arranged by the program team and started the meticulous skincare routine from beginning to end after tidying up a bit.

Humming a song, she applied face masks and hand masks, applied hair treatment essence and put on a heated cap, then comfortably soaked her feet while watching the latest episode of the program.

When facing the camera, she must maintain the most perfect state!

The next morning, Yu Zhi woke up early. She chose a sweet Japanese-style makeup look, with double ponytails tied with bow ribbons, paired with a plaid skirt that reached above her knees, perfectly resembling an 18-year-old high school girl.

Yu Zhi took a full-body photo without showing her face in front of the hotel mirror, and then logged into her long-unused Weibo account, “Yi Zhi Yu Yu Zi.” The overwhelming number of comments and followers left her dazzled. During Jiang Qianchen’s absence, she only had time to check in on the Super Topic every day.

At first, Yu Zhi was just bored. During the time when the scumbag wasn’t in Ningcheng, she occasionally posted some outfit and daily life pictures online, and unexpectedly gained popularity.

Although He Mengxin was known for his dancing skills, he had very few die-hard fans, and his statistics were far behind those of other comeback artists. Yu Zhi worried about his debut position and held a lottery on Weibo, giving away phones and handbags. Unexpectedly, a wave of active real-life fans quickly emerged, and they would shower her with compliments every day.

For example, the pink-themed look she casually shot at the spa received high praise, with 300-word essays of admiration that were all unique.

The outfit she posted this time received the same treatment, and fans quickly occupied the front row:

[Oh my god! What a pair of stunning legs!! After squatting for months, you finally wore a skirt!]

[!! If I’m not mistaken, that plaid skirt should be the limited edition school uniform that was hyped up in that circle? And the top is the embroidered rose shirt from the Xiang family. Leaving tears of poverty behind quq]

[I envy this figure. When will I become a fairy with both wealth and beauty? [Cat crying].]

Yu Zhi casually replied, [Thank you for the compliments, you will have it too~]

Other fans were even more excited to see this and flooded the comments:

[Caught it! It’s the living Fish^[1]魚(Yu) = Fish!]

[Aww, I also want to be noticed! Why doesn’t the rich sister take a look at me? Is it because I’m not standing in a high enough position?]

Of course, there were also some negative comments, mostly attacking her appearance, after all, she had never shown her face.

[I really don’t understand why you guys are so obsessed with her. Isn’t she just riding on He Mengxin’s popularity? Maybe she’s terrifyingly ugly in real life.]

But Yu Zhi didn’t care much, as these comments wouldn’t last a day under her Weibo posts anyway.

At the right time, there was a knock on the door outside the hotel. Lin Ruixuan had gone to the venue early, and the program team arranged for another staff member to receive her. Yu Zhi put on a few sparkling sequins at the corner of her eyes, grabbed her bag, and entered the venue with the invitation.

This episode was prepared to be recorded at Wanhua Mountain in Huacheng. The boys would first hike from the foot of the mountain to the top, then shout out their dreams loudly, and then the list of those who could enter the Night Group would be announced one by one. The others would sadly bid farewell with tears in Huacheng.

And their fans would be sitting in the observation deck at the mountaintop. Wanhua Mountain wasn’t particularly high, so when the photography team appeared, Yu Zhi immediately saw He Mengxin standing in the front row.

“He’s gotten thinner,” Yu Zhi sighed and put down the telescope. “When will the program team focus on individuals? Always doing some flashy planning.” Climbing the mountain, I’d rather flatten the garbage in his head first.

When everyone arrived at the mountaintop, the fans who came to the scene were specifically assigned to a location and were asked to cheer and applaud after the boys made their declarations. As the final selections were announced and the eliminated contestants left, the field was filled with sobs and cheers.

He Mengxin stood in the center of the crowd, patting their shoulders, not saying anything sentimental, but using actions to give them strength.

Truly worthy of being the offspring she raised with her money! She is so well-mannered! Yu Zhi, with starry eyes, waved her handkerchief and swayed her twin ponytails, full of youthful vitality.

The nearby photographer couldn’t help but capture this moving scene, the girl’s appearance was even more dazzling than a star.

However, in this smile… there seemed to be a hint of kindness?

The program also recorded behind-the-scenes footage and interviews, and it wasn’t until evening that they finished recording. As a devoted fan of He Mengxin, Yu Zhi had already prepared refreshing drinks and snacks to beat the heat, and then gracefully accepted the invitation to join the dinner in the evening.

Just now, she only saw a glimpse of Xiao He’s figure from afar. This time, she would have the opportunity to get close to her idol, and maybe even shake hands and communicate with him. Yu Zhi struggled for a while, but ultimately decided to take off her youthful school uniform and change into a slightly more mature elegant dress, complete with a wedding ring.

Yu Zhi: Oh no, I can’t do this! I haven’t divorced that scumbag yet! I need to hold myself back!

Only the diamond pigeon eggs could calm her wandering mind.

After checking all the details, Yu Zhi finally left her room and prepared to attend the banquet. The dinner was arranged in the hotel, just a short walk downstairs.

And as she waited for the elevator at the end of the corridor, she suddenly realized that the two people next to her seemed familiar.

“Hey, isn’t this our sister Chen?” Fu Xia raised her chest, exuding a strong aura as soon as she approached, “How come I didn’t see you supervising their training at the program group a few days ago, and yet you’re here for the farewell ceremony today.”

The woman in sunglasses adjusted her glasses  and smiled nonchalantly at her.

“I didn’t want to either, but unfortunately, the company arranged too many notices for me.”

The two of them are trainers for the trainees of “Perfect Heartthrob Idol,” responsible for image management and dance, and it seems they are from the same company according to their conversation.

The elevator “dinged” open, and Yu Zhi, who was watching, couldn’t be bothered with the conflicts between these female celebrities, and entered the door first, with them following behind.

However, as the elevator continued to descend, the woman wearing sunglasses suddenly raised her voice, “Fu Xia, I advise you not to show off in front of Director Liu, you can’t beat others and end up making a fool of yourself.”

She looked down on the other person arrogantly, “Do you know whose car I took to Huacheng last night?”

Chen Baiwei remained composed, “It was from the Jiang Group, that President Jiang.”