Act I: First Encounter at the Dinner Party (I)
"Why didn't you leave?" After all, they had just chatted for a while, so Qi Jixin naturally became a little familiar with him. Bing Jie saw her approaching and raised his hand and waved it in front of him a few times: "Come over and answer the phone."
Qi Jixin stopped at the balcony door, about one meter away from him. She ruthlessly exposed his lie: "You are coming here to smoke, right?" After saying that, she raised her eyebrows, as if she was proud of her keen observation.
Bing Jie nodded, and just as he was about to praise her for her cleverness, she turned and left without any hesitation.
"Are you leaving?" he asked.
"Of course, I hate the smell of cigarettes," she said frankly, shrugging nonchalantly. "I'm not targeting you. Ever since I was little, I've always felt like vomiting when I smell cigarettes. It's a habit I can't change."
Watching her disappear in the corridor, Bing Jie felt mixed emotions. Of course he knew about her problem, and the miraculous "Bing Doctor" had cured her of it. But when he thought of how he had treated her, Bing Jie had a splitting headache.
When they were just together and were in the sweetest period of their relationship, he even promised to quit smoking for her. She happily hugged him and kissed him several times. In order to reward herself, she asked for everything.
What happened next? Bing Jie couldn't quite remember when he started smoking again.
He only remembered what he did when she frowned and brought up the topic of quitting smoking again - he took a deep puff of the cigarette and passed it to her with his mouth.
At first, she would often choke and burst into tears, but every time she was caught smoking, Bing Jie would do the same. In his eyes, her resistance was as fun as a kitten scratching its itch. Over time, she no longer said she didn't like cigarettes, and would deliberately avoid him at certain times.
Bing Jie thought about the past and suddenly froze in his tracks. He felt like he had done something wrong...
During the most precarious days of their marriage, she said all sorts of nasty things, but Bing Jie remained silent and didn't argue with her, thinking that she was just in a bad mood and would be fine after a while.
But when the signed divorce agreement was placed in front of him, he could no longer suppress the anger in his heart. It was the first time he got so angry at her. He refuted her previous hysterical accusations one by one, and condemned her for not knowing how to express herself and relying solely on her own guessing. How could she know what she wanted?
The rebuke back then was like a bullet that tore through time and space, whistling towards him and hitting him directly in the heart. There was no need for the bullet to create any cavity effect, his heart had already been empty. Would a hollow person feel pain?
Bing Jie was in so much pain that he could hardly breathe.
Why didn't she say anything? She simply didn't care. No wonder she looked so pale then. She hadn't raised her voice since then. She was like a flower that withered overnight, lifeless.
A few days before the new drama started filming, Qi Jixin was extremely busy, running around to do activities. In her free time, she had to memorize the lines for the new drama and also took time to dye her hair black.
There was no way. She heard people say privately that Bing Jie was very strict when filming. There were also rumors that he retired because he couldn't stand the stupidity of his co-stars... Although it was very abstract, she inexplicably felt that it was something he could do.
The sooner she could prepare for the scene and finish filming on the spot, the sooner she could get away from him. Qi Jixin had an indescribable feeling. Although he was gentle and well-mannered, she always subconsciously rejected him.
In a blink of an eye, it was time to start filming. After the celebration activities were over, everything went on in full swing.
The first scene is the first meeting between two people at a dinner party. The heroine in the play is an heiress to a wealthy family. She has all the qualities of a chosen one: cynical, unrestrained, and with outstanding abilities and decisiveness, it can be said that she is a standard domineering CEO.
The male protagonist is a fledgling movie star. He is as innocent as a blank sheet of paper and even feels proud of attending a top-notch dinner.
The following story is very cliché. The heroine standing in the center of the world noticed the hero, took the initiative to approach him and talk to him, which started a fateful relationship that was unknown to both of them.
The director was very strange. She repeatedly emphasized the use of long shots as much as possible and even suggested that the two of them complete all the shots of the dinner in one go.
Qi Jixin was glad that she had memorized the entire line, and she readily agreed to the director's suggestion. Bing Jie had no objection to this either, as all the plot was etched in his mind. All he had to do was throw himself into it and play the role of the former Qi Jixin.
After becoming familiar with the camera scheduling, the shooting officially began.
At the magnificent celebration banquet, there were only two types of people coming and going: bosses with ordinary looks but strong backgrounds, and the various beauties with outstanding looks they brought with them. Among them were bosses who brought their own artists to please the bosses.
Rumor has it in the industry that in addition to being gifted in business and investment, Ms. Qi is also unmatched in the area of changing lovers. In short, she is picky and fickle, and the people around her change one after another.
"Boss, which Miss Qi are you talking about?" Once Bing Jie got into the role, the keep-away barrier on his body quietly disappeared. He acted curious and restrained, really like a young and inexperienced actor just starting out.
The boss shushed him twice in shock. Although all his colleagues knew that they came here just to associate with Qi Jixin, it was still embarrassing to say it so blatantly.
"Grandpa, keep your mouth shut! I'll tell you when she gets here, and besides—" He looked around, then lowered his voice and continued, "What Miss Qi? You have to call her President Qi."
Bing Jie snorted nonchalantly. He didn't expect to associate himself with any powerful people. Along the way, he only believed in himself. Compared with these illusory things, it would be better to have a few more drinks and have a few bites of a good meal.
While the boss was holding a glass of wine and chatting with a middle-aged man with a big belly, Bing Jie raised his hand to loosen the tie around his neck and walked towards the dining table with a variety of dishes. He ate slowly and leisurely, so he had time to observe the situation around him.
The word "magnificent" is no exaggeration to describe this dinner party. People dressed in their best were chatting in groups of three or five. Everything was peaceful and beautiful.
The camera followed his perspective and finally stopped at the most important place in the hall - the extra-wide staircase with a red carpet in the middle and golden railings decorated with flowers.
At first glance, you can tell that this is where the protagonist makes his grand entrance.
Bing Jie had just finished a small dessert, which was slightly sweet but not greasy, and very much to his liking. When he reached out for the dessert plate again, everyone in the hall fell silent at first, and then they all looked at one place and applauded.
At this moment, Qi Jixin appeared on the second floor. She was wearing a smart and simple shirt and trousers. Her long, shiny black hair was casually tied into a bun at the back of her head. The ends of her hair were even scattered all over the place. Compared to those who were dressed up, she was too casual.
But after just one look, Bing Jie was stunned and just stared at her stupidly.
The person walking down the stairs slowly was calm and composed. As soon as she appeared, she became the focus of the whole audience. She only needed to be herself, and the rest of the people or things would rush to cater to her.
Qi Jixin stood on two steps, speaking polite words to the partners who gathered around her. She was very adept at dealing with this kind of situation.
While chatting with others with a smile, she met Bing Jie's eyes through the crowd. The corners of her mouth rose slightly, but she said nothing. She just raised the wine glass in her hand, as if clinking glasses with him from a distance.
Bing Jie suddenly felt dry mouth and tongue. Yes, he had to find some wine to drink.
His panicked back as he fled was perfectly captured by the camera, but only he knew the entanglement in his heart.
I am so despicable. Bing Jie is now very good at criticizing himself, but he will never change his mistakes.
The situation just now was almost the same as the reality, but he changed the script with selfish motives. Qi Jixin did not look at him that night. She was eating happily at the dining table, and he had spotted her without her noticing.
Ms. Qi is now very open and frank. She is interested in the person in front of her and expresses it directly.
Bing Jie sighed, detaching from the plot. How come you are still so open and honest after swapping personalities?
The plot continues. Qi Jixin walks to the designated camera position while chatting with people. After showing her authoritative image as the president of the Qi family, it is time to chat with friends and reveal her uninhibited lifestyle.
"Boss Qi, why isn't that little singer here? You got kicked out again." A sister teased her with a smile. Qi Jixin tilted her head nonchalantly and said, "If you're tired of her, just change her."
The man asked rather gossipily, "Hey, there are so many people here tonight, is there anyone you like?"
Another young woman with short, sassy hair followed suit, sighing, "Let's see who'll get lucky tonight and become a millionaire overnight with a sponsor like you!"
Qi Jixin shook his head with amusement: "Not tonight, so I'm going to slip away."
These friends chatted and laughed as they escorted her to the next room. Bing Jie watched her leave and muttered to himself, "What a willful and conceited person! She just showed up for such a big event and then left?"
After a while, her friends came out of the room one after another, but Qi Jixin was not among them. The woman with short, sleek hair walked straight towards him, looking at him with interest.
"Congratulations, you won the jackpot."
When Bing Jie pushed the door open feeling a little uneasy, Qi Jixin was standing by the piano, her fingers pressing the keys intermittently. She didn't turn around when she heard someone coming.
"come over."
After Bing Jie stood beside her, Qi Jixin used her chin to guide him: "Can you play the piano?" After saying that, she looked up at him.
"No." He answered simply.
Qi Jixin tutted, not trying to hide her displeasure: "You should know how to do it."
Bing Jie had to admit that she was very oppressive. In the two seconds of silence after her "tsk tsk", his heart seemed to be grabbed and he almost forgot how to beat.
"Why?" He was puzzled and asked subconsciously, but when he met Qi Jixin's sharp eyes, he took a deep breath.
Qi Jixin's expression suddenly relaxed, and she curled her lips in a smile, just like the glance on the stairs just now, which disturbed Bing Jie's heart, and her next words made Bing Jie even more confused.
"I'll like you more that way."
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