Chapter 39 Each with their own ulterior motives: The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.

When Jiang Yueyao woke up from her daze, she heard these words.

Immediately afterwards, two blurry figures could be seen entangled.

"What are you doing?!"

She suddenly widened her eyes and snapped back to reality.

"Yueyao, you're awake?"

Shen Linzhou shoved Zhou Ruoyu aside and strode to the bedside. The latter stumbled and fell, hatred flashing in her eyes.

"What were you all doing just now?!" Jiang Yueyao raised her voice and repeated her previous question, "First it was Song Ying, and now it's Zhou Ruoyu and Shen Linzhou. You really aren't picky!"

"Things aren't what you think, listen to me..."

"Yueyao, you've misunderstood Actor Shen. I was just helping him wipe the water stains. Please don't overthink it. We're best friends, and you and Actor Shen have been boyfriend and girlfriend for many years. Don't you know what kind of people we are?"

Zhou Ruoyu explained faster than Shen Linzhou, speaking softly and gently.

Originally, she would have been fine if she hadn't said anything, but once she opened her mouth, she made Jiang Yueyao even angrier.

Most importantly, Shen Linzhou also chimed in, "That's right, Yueyao, you've really misunderstood."

"Get out! Both of you get out!"

Jiang Yueyao's shrill voice quickly attracted the attention of medical staff.

"The patient is a bit agitated, please step out for a moment," the nurse said.

With outsiders present, it was no longer appropriate to repeat what had been said earlier, so Shen Linzhou could only suppress his frustration. "Alright, I'll go out first. Yueyao, you should calm down too. There are reporters all over the hospital right now, so don't get too agitated."

The ward door closed, and Shen Linzhou angrily punched the wall.

He gasped in pain.

"Linzhou, are you alright?" Zhou Ruoyu asked with concern.

Shen Linzhou looked over upon hearing the sound and scrutinized Zhou Ruoyu for a moment.

"Did you do that on purpose?"

"How could that be?" Zhou Ruoyu protested. "I'm not a god, how would I know when Yueyao would wake up?"

As she spoke, Zhou Ruoyu lowered her eyes, her voice softening, "I just..."

"Just what?"

"It's just that I couldn't help myself, it's just that I felt sorry for you."

Zhou Ruoyu looked up, her eyes slightly red. "Back then, Yueyao and I met you at the same time, but in your eyes, there was always only her, not me. I knew I couldn't compare to Yueyao, so after you two got together, I suppressed my feelings and only thought of wishing you well."

“I thought you two could grow old together in love, so I suppressed my feelings for you. But over the years, how good you have been to Yueyao, and how has she treated you? I can be with someone I don’t like, but I can’t bear to watch her deceive you time and time again.”

"If loving someone is a sin, then Shen Linzhou, from the moment I met you, I was doomed."

By the end, Zhou Ruoyu was already in tears.

Shen Linzhou was aware of Zhou Ruoyu's feelings for him, but since she was close to Jiang Yueyao, he naturally dared not have an affair with someone so close to him.

Hearing Zhou Ruoyu say these words herself now brings a different kind of vanity and excitement, a completely different feeling.

"Why do you have to do this..."

Shen Linzhou sighed, took out a pack of tissues from his pocket, and handed it over.

"Let's wipe it off, now is not the time to talk about this. There's nothing wrong with liking someone, it's just that Yueyao doesn't understand."

"Are you still going to forgive her?" Zhou Ruoyu looked at Shen Linzhou but didn't answer.

She now has a pretty good idea of ​​what happened last night.

"What can I do?" Shen Linzhou said helplessly, taking Zhou Ruoyu's hand and stuffing a tissue into it.

“But she cheated on me first.” Zhou Ruoyu stared intently at Shen Linzhou.

After a long pause, he said, "If you want justice, I'm willing to be a witness."

Shen Linzhou suddenly looked over.

These words struck a chord with him.

but.

"Ruoyu, don't say that anymore. You two are good sisters after all. Don't let me affect your sisterly relationship."

“I don’t care! Shen Linzhou, you are more important to me than she is! You are so outstanding, so excellent, a hundred times, a thousand times better than that Qin Shu, but she is still not satisfied. She was clearly in the wrong first, so why should you suffer such injustice!”

"But we've been together for four years after all..."

"So you want to live with this green hat for the next few decades?" Zhou Ruoyu gripped Shen Linzhou's hand. "Do you think she'll be grateful or respect you? Shen Linzhou, wake up! Jiang Yueyao doesn't like you anymore!"

Shen Linzhou was not confused.

He knew better than anyone the extent of his entanglement and feelings with Jiang Yueyao.

He just needs an opportunity.

An opportune moment to back down.

Now, as he retreated step by step, Zhou Ruoyu pressed closer and closer, and the steps were laid out beneath his feet.

"I...I'll think about it some more."

Shen Linzhou looked conflicted. He sat down on a nearby bench, put his hands behind his head, and looked dejected and guilty.

Zhou Ruoyu obediently sat down on the other side, a slight smile playing on her lips.

Just like when she persuaded Jiang Yueyao to deliver water to Qin Shu.

But life is like a game of chess; where is there a good thing where one person can control the game from beginning to end?

Most of them have ulterior motives.

More often than not, it's a case of the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.

Those who lure others into the game, how can they be sure they aren't also pawns in someone else's game?

When the medical staff came out of the ward, Jiang Yueyao's agent Xu Zhou and Bai Yang, the director of "Love Journey", happened to be back to see her.

Upon hearing that the person had woken up, they rushed in to check on them.

Shen Linzhou went inside, while Zhou Ruoyu remained seated in the corridor.

"Oh my goodness, Teacher Jiang, you really scared me to death! How did you suddenly start arguing?"

Bai Yang's round, chubby face was full of exaggerated expressions, making him look like a comedian.

"Thankfully, you're alright now. Those reporters outside are going crazy, insisting that the production team is behind it, and that your relationship with Teacher Shen has soured. It's infuriating. When you have time later, you'd better issue a proper statement to prevent those people online from spreading more nonsense."

Xu Zhou, standing next to him, couldn't help but purse his lips.

The man surnamed Bai is quite shrewd. He claimed he was afraid people online would criticize their relationship, but in reality, he wanted Jiang Yueyao to explain that falling into the water had nothing to do with the production team, so he could clear himself of any wrongdoing.

"Director Bai, now that Yueyao is awake, we will take care of the public relations and statement. I will handle things at the hospital, so please continue with your work. Thank you for your hard work."

If Xu Zhou had something to ask Jiang Yueyao, he would naturally have to send Bai Yang away.

"Alright, I'll head back now. I've had them pause the filming this morning. If Yueyao has a confirmed return date, let me know in advance and I'll have someone pick her up."

"Take care, Director Bai." Xu Zhou saw the person out.

After the ward door closed, Xu Zhou asked Shen Linzhou and Jiang Yueyao again.

"Tell me, what exactly happened?"

You can hide it from others, but you can't hide it from your own agent.

Shen Linzhou could only recount the events of last night in a few words.

"...I didn't mean to push her. She kept kicking and hitting me, and I wanted to calm her down, so I covered her mouth. But she bit me. The commotion attracted the crew, and I lost my grip. I didn't mean to. Nobody expected the lake to be so deep."

Jiang Yueyao sneered, "Whether it was an accident or intentional, Shen Linzhou, don't you really know? So what if I went to see Qin Shu? Are you clean yourself?"

As a result, Shen Linzhou's past was also exposed.

Including the conversation with Zhou Ruoyu just now.

"Since you enjoy cheating on me so much, we might as well just break up. Then I won't interfere, and you can stop trying to disgust me!"

"Who's disgusting whom? You think you're so clean? Jiang Yueyao, let me tell you, I've had enough of you all these years!"

"Then let's break up! Now! Right now! Immediately!"

"Fine, let's break up!"

"Shut up, both of you!!" Xu Zhou shouted, interrupting their outburst.

"You two are all in your late twenties, almost thirty. Can't you be a little more mature?"

Xu Zhou was having a terrible headache. In the past few years, his hairline had receded several centimeters because he had to clean up the messes left by the two of them.

Isn't the current situation already chaotic enough? Now they have to fight amongst themselves!

"I only have one question—after the breakup, who will pay the breach of contract fees for those joint endorsements? You? Or you!"

Xu Zhou kept a close eye on them one by one.

Jiang Yueyao and Shen Linzhou both fell silent.

As a model couple in the industry, the two have rarely done solo endorsements in the past two years; when they do, it's always a joint endorsement, and the fees are not low.

Moreover, the contracts stipulate that the two parties cannot break up during the contract period, and they must not violate any legal rules.

If they breach the contract, the exorbitant penalty fees are simply beyond their means.

"Now that you know how serious this is, everyone should calm down and stop saying anything in anger. You should also take this opportunity to think about how to issue a statement later."

The phone rang, and Xu Zhou looked down. "I'm going out to take this call. You guys figure it out yourselves."

After saying that, he pushed open the door and left.

Two minutes later, Xu Zhou strode back, pushed open the door abruptly, and his face was filled with a furious rage.

The phone was smashed in front of Jiang Yueyao.

"You'd better explain this to me clearly, what exactly is going on!"