Chapter 35
The sudden compliment, or at least it was a compliment, was too much for Wen Zhenni to handle. She blinked, her expression incredulous. "...I didn't hear you clearly just now. Say it again."
"Forget it if you didn't hear it clearly." Ciheng looked away and his tone returned to his usual calmness, as if the previous sentence was an auditory hallucination.
Wen Zhenni fixed her gaze on the side of his face, the warm light outlining his features, the tiredness in his eyes faded, leaving only a rare softness.
She noticed him taking off his tie and asked, "Are you having a social event tonight?"
"Well, yes." Ciheng replied briefly.
After a moment of silence, he recalled the incident in the office that day and asked casually, "Why didn't you buy flowers?"
Wen Zhenni was puzzled by the question. "Boss Ci, I've resigned. I'm not your assistant anymore."
I have been his slave for more than a month, but does that mean I will be his slave for the rest of my life?
Ci Heng narrowed his eyes, "What do you mean, you won't buy flowers after you resign?"
Since he was determined to get to the bottom of it, Wen Zhenni dropped the politeness altogether. She mimicked his usual playful and sarcastic tone and replied slowly, "The flowers I bought are cheap and unpresentable. How can they compare to imported luxury goods?"
Every word and sentence clearly points to the office lewd incident.
Ci Heng raised his eyebrows and said, "You even know this. You and Mom share intelligence?"
"Not only do I know this, I also know you scolded that intern girl and made her cry." Wen Zhenni shook her head, not quite agreeing with his way of handling the matter. "It's just a bouquet of flowers. If you don't like it, just change it. Why be so harsh on her?"
"Heh..." Ci Heng chuckled, his eyes locked on hers as he unbuttoned his shirt with one hand. His casual movements were surprisingly charged with tension. "During your time at the company, did you think I was fierce? Or was I fiercer than you?"
Wen Zhenni thought about it and nodded frankly: "To be honest, sometimes it is a little bit."
Ciheng: "Then why don't you cry?"
Wen Zhenni looked straight at him, she was really not afraid of him: "Why are you crying? You won't eat me even if I'm fierce."
And he is very easy to coax, just stroke his fur and you'll be fine.
She did exactly that. Even when she was occasionally affected by his coldness, she would not show fear. Instead, she would come up to him like a puppy wagging its tail, making people feel helpless but also soft-hearted.
She was completely unprepared and thought everyone was a good person and would fall for her tricks.
But seeing her like this, Ciheng felt as if something soft had poked the tip of his heart, and he found her more adorable than ever.
He reached out, took the tablet off her lap, and naturally hugged her in his arms. Wen Zhenni was suddenly embraced by him, and subconsciously thought he was going to kiss her, when she felt a wet touch on her neck, followed by a slight stinging pain.
…She was bitten.
"Why are you biting me?" Wen Zhenni covered her neck and stared at him in shock and confusion.
Ci Heng said matter-of-factly, "Cute, I can't help it."
She thinks he is cute and aggressive!
Wen Zhenni struggled to get up from his arms, but Ciheng grabbed both of her wrists, pinned them behind her back, and held her tightly in his arms. He lowered his eyes and watched her struggle in vain. "Actually, you're wrong. I will eat you."
Being stared at by him with such direct eyes, Wen Zhenni felt like a lamb to be slaughtered. She wanted to divert her attention, but his palm was too hot. The fire spread through her thin dress, burned to the tip of her heart, and vaporized her soul into a light mist.
The only sound in the vast living room was the mechanical rustle of stars sliding by, occasionally interspersed with the rustling of clothes. The warm light from the floor lamp flowed quietly over Ciheng's tense jaw, seeming too quiet, and a kind of indescribable intimacy.
The sound of her heartbeat was amplified, pounding on her eardrums. Wen Zhenni wanted to say something, but when she opened her mouth, only a faint breath came out.
Finally, he slightly widened the distance between them and hooked his fingers around the crooked blue morpho butterfly necklace around her neck. "Don't forget, keep buying flowers."
This matter alone is worth his consideration until now.
He is indeed an unscrupulous capitalist. Even after leaving your job, you still have to work like a slave for him.
Wen Zhenni curled her lips: "Oh, I see, I'll buy it."
She bought it right away. Before going to bed, she carefully selected several kinds of flowers on the flower shop mini program. She not only selected the ones for tomorrow, but also reserved the quantity for the next month to ensure that there would be different flowers every week.
In this way, Ciheng should not be able to find any fault with her.
However, compared to her previous styles, the flowers she ordered this time seemed a bit too unique. Either flaming red roses or a colorful mix and match style.
The moment Lu Fangyang arrived at the CEO's office, he noticed something different. He wasn't used to it at first, but after looking at it for a while, he actually found it quite lively, at least to his eyes.
But today's bouquet of black tulips and chocolate cosmos gave him a heart-stopping feeling: "...After my wife left her job, her aesthetic taste has become increasingly wild."
Ci Heng didn't even raise his eyelids, his attention was all on the computer screen: "What's wrong?"
Lu Fangyang quickly straightened his expression and placed a stack of folders on the table: "No big deal, just these few documents that need your review and signature."
Ciheng opened the merger and acquisition agreement and quickly browsed the terms.
While his boss was signing, Lu Fangyang took the opportunity to gossip, "The new drama my wife is in aired at noon today, with six episodes updated in one go. President Ci, have you... seen it?"
When it comes to personal matters at work, Ciheng usually just lets it go in one ear and out the other. But this time, he raised his eyelids for the first time, "Are you still watching dramas?"
This is not like him, who can work without rest all year round and is a heartless work machine.
"I'm now considered a fan of my wife's looks... her acting skills." He originally meant to say she's a fan of her looks, but then he changed the subject and swallowed it back, "As a fan, there's nothing wrong with supporting the work."
"Oh, I see. Remember to contribute to the number of views." Ci Heng glanced at his face with disdain, paused, and added, "Please support the part where she appears a few more times."
Lu Fangyang: “…”
There's no need to loop a few minutes of outstanding scenes.
Ciheng returned the signed document to him, glanced at his watch, then turned off the computer and prepared to leave.
Lu Fangyang asked curiously, "Is President Ci going out?"
"It's time to get off work." Ciheng walked towards the special elevator without stopping.
"So early?" Lu Fangyang was so shocked that he stood there in a daze.
The sun is rising from the west? It's good enough that the boss doesn't work overtime. When has he ever finished the early shift?
Ciheng ignored him and took the elevator downstairs.
I got in the car, unlocked my phone and opened WeChat, and the unread messages in the group chat popped up one after another.
Feng Zhen was calling out to the group: "We agreed to meet at the usual place at 8 o'clock. Everyone, come quickly! Especially Jiang Zhuofan, you're back at Tianhai today, you have to be there."
Jiang Zhuofan: [You installed a tracking device on me?]
Feng Zhen: [You and Brother Heng are both very busy. We finally got the chance. It would be disloyal if we didn't come for a drink.]
On the other side, Jiang Zhuofan had just gotten off the plane when Feng Zhen invited him again and again. He signaled with his eyes, and the assistant beside him immediately opened the itinerary.
Jiang Zhuofan glanced at it and replied, "Call Ciheng as well."
Feng Zhen: [@Ciheng brother, you are the only one missing! ]
Looking at the noisy news, Ciheng didn't even raise an eyebrow.
The light from his phone screen reflected his indifferent expression. After hesitating for a few seconds on the input box, his fingertips typed two cold words: [Busy.]
Once the message is sent successfully, ignore the group message.
The screen went dark, and he leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingertips on the armrest.
"What time does your wife finish work today?" he asked.
Lin Nuo, who was driving, glanced at him in the rearview mirror and said, "My wife is out of town. She'll be back tomorrow."
Ciheng paused with her fingertips resting on the armrest. Then she remembered that she had mentioned last night that she had asked for leave from the crew and was going out of town to shoot a promotional video today.
After a few seconds of silence, he opened his phone again.
The recommended Weibo page featured a photo from an airport Reuters post by a marketing account. She was wearing a light green top, a denim skirt, and a pair of smiling eyes curved like crescent moons beneath a bucket hat. She hadn't done anything, yet she'd already stirred up a storm in the comments section.
He remembered that she left the house at five in the morning. She was still sleepy and yawning. She casually put on a basic T-shirt and didn't even have time to flatten the hair sticking out behind her ears.
At this moment, the big star under the camera changed his confused and tired expression into a sweet smile, and his hair to his fingernails were exquisite.
The discussion in the entry is quite heated. Although praise makes people happy, the vicious insults are like maggots attached to the bones, making people more and more upset the more they read.
Ci Heng's face remained calm, but he calmly instructed Lin Nuo, "Deal with the garbage on the Weibo platform, and save all the accounts that frequently make personal attacks."
"Okay, Mr. Ci." Lin Nuo agreed.
The car started the engine, and Ciheng stroked the screen of his mobile phone, wanting to make a call, but finally gave up.
"Let's go to the Jinhuang Night Banquet."
Then I re-entered the still noisy childhood friend group and typed three words: [I'll be there soon.]
**
After shooting the last set of promotional materials, Wen Zhenni and her team returned to the hotel where they were staying.
The summer night in North City was unbearably hot. As soon as she entered the room, she threw herself onto the sofa and sighed weakly, "Xiao Chengzi, my bones are falling apart..."
Chengzi stuffed a cup of warm flower and fruit tea into her palm, her eyes sparkling, suppressing her excitement. "I'm a little tired, but today is really refreshing."
Wen Zhenni grabbed her phone and swiped the screen, reading the feedback on the new drama. She laughed when she heard this, "In this industry, flattering the powerful and bullying the weak is the norm. Without a backstage background, even if you're a top-tier star, you'll be stepped on by smaller actors with connections to get to the top."
Filming for the drama "When I Love You" took place last year. Back then, the supporting actress, forced in by the film's investors, was incredibly arrogant, relying on her financial backing. Even a top-tier actress like her was forced to the sidelines during a photo session with production executives, hogging the spot next to the lead actress.
That incident was bought into the trending search that day, and rivals openly mocked her for a long time. Chengzi still grits her teeth in anger when she thinks about it. "Who could have imagined she would end up like this? How arrogant she was last year, how ugly she is today."
Today, when I went to shoot materials, the supporting actress was also there. Although she had already gotten the lead role, she didn't dare to say much when she greeted Wen Zhenni, and her attitude was much more humble than last time.
It is said that even though Wen Zhenni signed with Wanli Entertainment, her agent, Qin Qing, who has produced numerous Best Actor and Best Actress winners, helped her get a role in a big IP that was fought over by many big and small stars.
To reach this level, strength and qualifications alone are not enough, you need a background to stand firm. So even if you think about it with your toes, you know that the connections behind her are not something you can afford to offend.
Chengzi felt a sense of satisfaction, as if she had finally gotten her revenge. "Just signing Wanli, hiring Sister Qin as her agent, and securing a large investment has already caused such a dramatic change in attitude. If they knew my wealth, those companies would be envious to the point of madness... It really is true that only with strength and background can others truly respect you."
After Wen Zhenni debuted, she had to fight for all the resources on her own. She was average, neither good nor bad. Now someone is feeding the resources directly into her mouth, and she suddenly feels relieved.
Although I may be criticized for being resource-rich, what can I say? There are gains and losses.
Wen Zhenni: "From now on I just need to focus on acting and ignore everything else. It's also pretty good."
Orange agreed: "Besides, no one can take away your resources. Just do your best."
The future is limitless and a bright future is beckoning.
Chengzi was even happier than her. "Everyone says JY is the top entertainment company in China, but compared to Wanli, there's a world of difference. What kind of life did we have before?"
"Oh no, I almost forgot something!" Chengzi slapped his forehead, suddenly remembering the most important thing, "'Partial Time' has started airing, I have to quickly check the online feedback."
She immediately stood up, frantically rummaging through her bag, and took out her cell phone.
Wen Zhenni was unhurried. She had already skimmed through the feedback and had already clicked on the first episode.
Before she knew it, the fruit tea was finished. She turned off her phone and took a comfortable bath.
Back in the bedroom, Chengzi was sorting out clothes. Seeing her come back, she pointed at the phone on the bed and said, "Sister, my brother-in-law just called."
Wen Zhenni threw herself onto the soft and fragrant bed, took out her cell phone, and sure enough, there was a missed call.
She tapped her fingertips and called back the video.
The screen lit up, and the handsome face of a man appeared in front of him. He was not wearing glasses and was leaning casually on the railing. Behind him were the bright lights of the city, and it looked like the rooftop of a splendid night banquet.
On the other end of the video, Ci Heng noticed that she was in a good mood, and the corners of his mouth curled up unconsciously, "Are you so happy that you went out to pick up money?"
It's almost like picking up money.
Wen Zhenni sat cross-legged on the bed in the hotel, twisting her fingers around her hair. "The filming went smoothly today, and the new drama has also started airing. Of course I'm happy."
Ciheng's brows were filled with fatigue, but he felt much more relaxed when he heard her voice. "Have you seen the new drama?"
"You've watched some." Wen Zhenni looked at the screen. "Why are you smoking? Did you have any social events tonight?"
There were sparks burning between Ciheng's fingers, flickering in the night.
The wind blew through the collar of his shirt, which had one button undone, and ruffled his hair, giving him a somewhat unruly look.
He bit his cigarette and smiled vaguely: "Feng Zhen is playing cards here."
"Did you win any money?" she asked.
"I will definitely win." This is not a lie. He has good luck in playing cards and rarely loses.
Wen Zhenni was in a better mood when her husband won money. "Everyone who sees it gets a share. I want a red envelope."
Ciheng didn't say anything and started a transfer.
Wen Zhenni lay on the pillow, her calves dangling behind her, and while she clicked on the red envelope to receive the payment, she chatted with him casually.
"Hubby, you don't know how hard it is for people without background to make it in the industry. When I first debuted, I couldn't even get a decent fourth-lead role. If I was lucky enough to get a good script, I'd be replaced on the day filming started. I worked my way up from a small-time unknown to the top, only to have the show changed by a newcomer shoved in by the investors."
Ciheng's relaxed expression suddenly froze, and a fierce look appeared in his eyes: "When did this happen?"
"What happened last year is long gone."
She was just talking casually, chatting with him, and had no intention of complaining.
Ci Heng's eyes dimmed: "Which play do you want? I will get it back for you."
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The author has something to say: Write an article for our mixed-race president Evgen Jiang Zhuofan.
Because he couldn't understand what his wife was saying, he was so angry that he burst into tears. The mixed-race boss spoke faster than his brain and called people "slutty bitches" in different ways.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
