Li Sihe’s expression was listless as he faced Su Youxue, stubbornness written across her face. He said, "What you should learn is how to profit from me, not how to demand affection. Focus on your acting—I will come to see you again."
Su Youxue didn’t know how to express her heartache to others at that moment.
To be so abjectly low that she had to beg for everything herself, it was clear that it stemmed from admiration, but the other party didn’t even deem it necessary to offer her the slightest respect.
Yet, she found herself speechless. As things had come to this point, it seemed as if she had brought it upon herself.
She watched as Li Sihe’s figure receded, feeling a mild yet spreading sadness within her heart.
Her lips were pressed tightly together, and she bit down hard on the flesh of her cheek to finally keep herself in check, preventing the tears from bursting forth.
Wang Dan’an saw everything clearly. Approaching Su Youxue, his words carried a deeper significance, "Youxue, I’ve supported you all along the way. I’m kindly advising you—it’s best you recognize your place in Li Sihe’s heart now. It’s okay to deceive others with certain things, but don’t end up deceiving yourself in the end."
Su Youxue’s jaw trembled. The so-called guidance from Wang Dan’an was undoubtedly a slap in her face.
Overwhelmed with numb pain, she could only scoff coldly, feigning composure as she said, "Thank you for the guidance, President Wang."
Bian Yue returned to the set with a bag of cold beverages as Yao Yimin was rehearsing a scene with a male actor.
The male lead was a recently popular internet celebrity, whose casual posts on Weibo could easily garner hundreds of millions of shares.
Bian Yue surmised that although there might be some inflated numbers, she couldn’t deny that this fresh-faced actor was indeed good-looking and talented in acting—he was handpicked by Wen Jiao after all.
Thinking of Wen Jiao, they hadn’t been in touch for a long time. Bian Yue sent her a message to ask how she had been and whether she wanted to come to the set for a visit.
Bian Yue also mentioned, "The male actor you recommended really does look good, and his acting is decent. Even Yao Yimin’s scenes can barely be handled by him. If he’s properly trained by a professional acting coach, his future is bright."
In the past, such compliments from Bian Yue would have thrilled Wen Jiao, and she would have responded with flattering words about her own prowess.
For instance, she might have said, "Bian Yue, only I could find the perfect actor that suits your taste. What average agent could compare to me?"
But today, she had no response, and didn’t reply for a long while.
Bian Yue frowned, puzzled, when finally Wen Jiao’s message arrived. Wen Jiao said, "Bian Yue, I might be getting married."
It was an utter bombshell, totally unexpected.
Without a second thought, Bian Yue immediately made a phone call.
The phone was answered after only a few rings.
Bian Yue asked anxiously, "Why are you suddenly getting married?"
"Wei Shuqian proposed to my father, and he agreed."
Bian Yue was shocked, finding it incredibly unreal, "Why would your uncle agree? Doesn’t he know you don’t want to get married?"
"I said I wanted to."
"Why?" Bian Yue asked worriedly, "Wen Jiao, did he threaten you somehow?"
Wen Jiao lowered her gaze and listened quietly to the concern in Bian Yue’s voice, then laughed carelessly, "What could he threaten me with? I was already planning to get married. Wei Shuqian is really wealthy now—rich enough to bury me in money. What reason would I have not to marry him?"
Bian Yue’s heart ached, detecting the reluctance in Wen Jiao’s words, but she decided not to pry, speaking in an even gentler voice, "Wen Jiao, if you don’t want to get married, just tell me. I have money too."
"Did you get your inheritance?" Wen Jiao asked excitedly.
Bian Yue said it was in her hands and should be no less than Wei Shuqian’s fortune—it could help her buy out her freedom.
Wen Jiao’s eyes grew hot, she took a deep breath, and with a trembling voice masked by a smile, she said, "Yueyue, don’t worry. I’m not someone who would let herself be wronged. It’s only a decision to get married now, there’s still time. Wait until you’re done with your busy period, and we’ll have a good talk."
Having said that, she made up an excuse on the fly and hung up the phone amidst Bian Yue’s hesitations.
Wen Jiao sat in front of the vanity, looking at her own pale face.
Footsteps sounded from behind, and the man’s slender, cold hand gently brushed over her chin, toying with it indifferently while looking down from above.
He watched from the mirror as Wen Jiao carried herself with beauty and pride, his eyebrows lightly raised, he spoke indifferently, "Why not ask Bian Yue for help?"
"What help?" Wen Jiao looked at Wei Shuqian’s stern brows and eyes, no longer the youthful tenderness of yesteryears, only the forbidding and sharp coldness remaining.
"For example, having her plead in front of Shen Jinci, asking Shen Jinci to intervene and annul our marriage. Just so you know, I would actually listen to Shen Jinci."
While he spoke, he stared steadily at his own reflection in the mirror, as if looking at a possession that belonged to him, his gaze filled with a piercing possessiveness.
Wen Jiao’s smile was feeble, and she said lightly, "And after that?"
"After that, maybe I’ll let you go," he said with a voice full of sarcasm.
Wen Jiao’s eyes were red, and she said calmly and slowly, "I know, you won’t let me go, you hate me."
The last smile on the man’s face vanished.
Suddenly, he forcefully twisted Wen Jiao’s shoulder, causing her pain as her back hit the edge of the vanity.
Before her cry of pain could escape, the man’s angry kiss had already landed on her lips, as if he wanted to devour her whole...
In such a painful moment, Wen Jiao suddenly thought of a sentence she had once read in a book—hatred lasts longer than love.
So, all these years, Wei Shuqian, have you carried this hatred for me until today, never daring to forget, determined to make me pay the price?
The corners of Wen Jiao’s eyes were moist, but in the moment their eyes met, she switched to a frivolous smile.
Her soft arms wrapped around Wei Shuqian’s neck, she straightened her waist, drew close to him, her lips brushing his ear, she whispered softly, "How about this, am I cooperative enough? Are the women from the S province not as pleasing to you as I am?"
Wei Shuqian appeared to freeze on the spot, motionless for a long while, with only the veins popping out on the backs of his hands that were bracing on either side of Wen Jiao.
He looked at the heartless woman in front of him.
After a long time, he chuckled lightly, "Miss Wen, who can compare to you, which is why it’s worth it for me to come here specially for you."
It was too much like a love confession, if one were to ignore the deadly coldness within the words.
And Wei Shuqian had no intention of waiting for Wen Jiao’s answer, as he kissed her lips, deepening it bit by bit, inch by inch, taking possession...
After a day’s work, Bian Yue returned to her hotel, and the sky had darkened.
The hands of her watch pointed to the ’9’, signifying that the night had completely set in.
Bian Yue opened the hotel room door, and there was a subtle fragrance in the air.
On her way here, the rain had just stopped.
Now, the dim light illuminated the water curtains on the floor-to-ceiling windows drenched by the rain, and the man standing in front of the window, with his back to her.
Shen Jinci stood there, seemingly looking at something, his figure made gentle and harmless by the light.
Bian Yue’s exhaustion from the day’s rush faded at this moment, leaving only joy. He had arrived two hours earlier than he had told her.
So, she tiptoed towards him, purposely making no sound.