Chapter 52 Jealousy
The leather shoes lifted up from Liang Kongxiang's ankles, gently parting the hem of her skirt, the tips of the shoes lightly touching her skin.
Liang Kongxiang opened her mouth but no sound came out. The force, though light, was like a thread, suspending her throat. Her expression was blank for a moment, like a boat suddenly entering a dry riverbed, coming to an abrupt stop.
Jiang Jiaoming, dressed in a suit and tie, sat opposite him, his hands crossed under his chin, calmly meeting Liang Kongxiang's gaze.
Others might not know, but Liang Kongxiang could tell what he wanted to say from his eyes.
He was warning him.
But this wasn't something she could decide alone, so Liang Kongxiang ignored Jiang Jiaoming's threats. She gently squeezed Chen Yun's hand under the table.
Chen Yun understood. This matter shouldn't have been decided by Liang Kongxiang, who was supposed to agree or refuse. However, with Jiang Jiaoming there and the topic so sensitive, she initially thought Liang Kongxiang wanted to explain herself. But now it seemed that it was more inconvenient for her.
“President Jiang, we still need to discuss this…” Chen Yun finished speaking, then turned to Xiang Hang beside her, whose agent was also present, “Brother Lin, what’s your opinion?”
"Let's look at Kongxiang," Brother Lin said. "It's convenient for us here."
All the heads on the table focused on Liang Kongxiang's face again.
She hadn't really made up her mind. While scandals could grab attention, they wouldn't really benefit her personally; she didn't need to break into the mainstream that way. But it was different for "Brilliant Past." If an ordinary film tried to use her as a gimmick to gain attention, she would absolutely refuse. But this was her and Cao Lengyu's joint effort, and no one wanted it to succeed more than they did. She shouldn't reject any useful method.
The head of the publicity department knew that the artist's side might not agree to this shortcut, but she also had KPIs to meet. Seeing that everyone at the table was silent, she observed Liang Kongxiang's expression but couldn't figure out what she was thinking. She could only try to persuade her, "You don't need to worry too much. We will provide a publicity plan and process. Both parties can see if it's suitable..."
Liang Kongxiang subconsciously met Xiang Hang's gaze. His expression was open and honest; he was simply considering the feasibility.
Liang Kongxiang frowned slightly, her hand on the table gripping the pen tightly. Her voice was relatively steady, but a hint of strain could be heard if you listened carefully: "...It's alright. Please continue."
The minister pursed his lips and said, "Okay. If you've reviewed the contract..."
Liang Kongxiang couldn't understand a word she was saying. Her attention was all under the table; when Jiang Jiaoming squeezed in and pulled hard, she broke out in a cold sweat for a moment.
The conference table wasn't wide, and to avoid making too much noise, Liang Kongxiang quietly moved back a little, but that foot followed closely behind, pressing against her again, impossible to shake off. This was only the beginning; he was already going crazy, completely disregarding the occasion, only concerned with venting his frustration on her.
Liang Kongxiang gave him a cold look across the way, warning him not to go crazy again.
Jiang Jiaoming sneered. What did that look mean? Did she expect him to be magnanimous enough to let his wife be intimate with another man, and even make it public knowledge?
He promised to change, but for him to accept such a thing was utterly a pipe dream. He was still just a clandestine lover; what right did Xiang Hang have to enjoy the title of "Liang Kongxiang's boyfriend" in public?
dream.
The minister explained the method in great detail, and just as she was waiting for the artist's side to respond, a voice unexpectedly interrupted her.
"The proposal is good, but it's rejected."
Her immediate supervisor, Jiang Jiaoming, raised his palm upwards and ruthlessly rejected the proposal that would have been beneficial to the issuance.
Jiang Jiaoming held the pen in his hand, tapping the table lightly with the end of his hand, making a "tap-tap" sound in the quiet conference room. He then said, "The reviews for our film so far have all been positive, which shows that our audience trusts the film. Relying on scandals can only get a lot of attention in the short term. Our film is obviously going to take the path of word of mouth and long-term success. Let's not do anything opportunistic."
The minister was still reeling from the shock of his boss rejecting the proposal, and stammered, "...Okay."
None of the people at the table offered any opinions. Jiang Jiaoming glanced at Xiang Hang, whose face remained as humble as ever.
What is this old man pretending for?
He glanced at Liang Kongxiang and Chen Yun again. Chen Yun showed no expression, clearly indicating that she had no objection to what he had said.
When Chen Yun turned her gaze, Liang Kongxiang next to him was no longer so calm. Her expression was not very good, and she kept her eyes down on the table, not bothering to look at him at all.
If Zhuang Yexue and Geng Jiali's team were to take advantage of the situation and further antagonize Liang Kongxiang, she would be completely surrounded by enemies. He would never agree to such a move.
“Yes, General Manager Jiang,” the minister replied.
Wang Jianbai laughed. How could someone as unscrupulous as Jiang Jiaoming say such a thing? What audience trust in movies… He used to believe in money above all else; if he didn't make money, he was a fool. No matter how vulgar, rotten, or underhanded the trick, as long as it worked, Jiang Jiaoming would always approve it.
However, what he said made some sense. Wang Jianbai didn't say anything, but turned his head to look at the woman who had made him act so strangely.
Liang Kongxiang remained silent, arms crossed, staring at the bottom page of the printout, ignoring Jiang Jiaoming's words. He wanted her to refuse him outright, but she couldn't bring herself to do it.
His possessiveness flared up recklessly, and he used that one unpleasant detail to torment her during this serious and important time. She had emphasized that she didn't like it and wouldn't accept it, so why was he still forcing her in this way?
What did he say when he hugged her and made his promise in Sisa Port? She talked about the nature of her profession, and he had been an actor since childhood. They could understand each other, and she had also reminded him that she didn't have time to deal with his possessiveness while handling her work.
He promised so readily, to change, to change, to change...
Liang Kongxiang gave a cold laugh. Is this the change he was talking about?
No progress whatsoever.
Several times, Liang Kongxiang had considered impulsively leaving, but there were business partners and his company's employees at the table. If she simply left, it would only damage her reputation and cause misunderstandings and conflicts, without changing anything.
After that, no matter what Jiang Jiaoming said, Liang Kongxiang just stared at the table and didn't look at him. She glanced at her watch and knew that the meeting was about to end.
"Alright, that concludes today's meeting. Thank you all for your hard work." Jiang Jiaoming leaned back in his black office chair, his expression indifferent as he finished his summary. "Meeting adjourned."
As everyone gradually got up, Liang Kongxiang, like a fish that had been on land for a long time, suddenly felt as if some water had been splashed on her to quench her thirst as soon as she heard the meeting was over, and she was eager to go out and return to the sea.
"Liang Kongxiang".
Before everyone had left, Jiang Jiaoming suddenly called out to her.
Liang Kongxiang didn't turn around, but then she heard him say, "Stay here for a moment, there are some film-related matters I need to discuss with you."
"Excuse me, Mr. Jiang," Liang Kongxiang said without turning her head at the door, "I have an urgent matter at the company and I have to go back first."
The person behind him paused for a moment, then spoke.
Are you sure, honey?
As soon as he finished speaking, the employees walking in front of her visibly paused, then quickened their pace and moved away from the conference room.
Chen Yun paused, then turned her head to look at Liang Kongxiang with a puzzled expression, clearly wanting to ask her what was going on.
Liang Kongxiang shook her head and sighed, then patted her arm: "You should go back first."
"...Are you alright?" Chen Yun had never seen Liang Kongxiang like this before, and couldn't help but stare at her for a few more seconds.
"It's alright." Liang Kongxiang reassured Chen Yun before turning and returning to the conference room. She locked the door and stood there without taking another step, coldly staring at Jiang Jiaoming. "What exactly do you want?"
"Come here." Jiang Jiaoming spread his legs wide, put one arm on the table, and beckoned to her with the other hand, clearly wanting her to sit on his lap.
How did he manage to act so nonchalantly?
Liang Kongxiang stood there, unmoved by his actions. "If President Jiang has nothing else, I'll be leaving now."
She started calling him "General Manager Jiang" again, clearly wanting to distance herself from him and return to being her calm and rational "Liang Kongxiang".
As soon as she turned around, Jiang Jiaoming called out to her again: "Did I say you could leave?"
This is absurd. Liang Kongxiang turned around and laughed: "Jiang Jiaoming, since we got back together, have I spoiled you too much? Have you forgotten how we broke up in the first place? Do I need to remind you?"
“No need,” Jiang Jiaoming said. “Why would I remember something that won’t happen again?”
Liang Kongxiang grabbed the iron door handle and pushed it outwards, striding through the company back home.
Chen Yun left the driver with her, and as soon as Liang Kongxiang got in the car, she gave her home address, intending to have some peace and quiet. She didn't want to see Jiang Jiaoming again anytime soon.
Halfway through the drive, she suddenly remembered with a headache that her computer and clothes were all at Jiang Jiaoming's house, and all her documents were on that computer. She hesitated whether to ask the driver to help her get them, but those odds and ends weren't stored in just one place.
With her temples pressed against her forehead, Liang Kongxiang tilted her head slightly against the car window, closed her eyes, and sighed. In the end, she asked the driver to change the route and go to Jiang Jiaoming's house.
He's still at the company, and T probably won't be back for a while.
There was no rush with the clothes. Liang Kongxiang went back to her room first to get her computer and charger, then pulled out her suitcase, intending to pick out the important items first.
Just as I closed my suitcase, there seemed to be some movement at the door.
Liang Kongxiang paused in locking the box, then locked it without hesitation and got up to leave.
Jiang Jiaoming stood in the entryway, head down, twirling his car keys. Leaning against the door, he turned his head to look when he heard the room door open. His gaze moved from Liang Kongxiang's indifferent eyes to the suitcase on her lower right.
"Where are we going, honey?"
"It's none of your business." Liang Kongxiang walked straight ahead, through the entrance hall, and was about to pass him when she touched the doorknob. Jiang Jiaoming raised his hand to block her way.
He turned to the side, looking directly at her: "It has nothing to do with me?"
"Get out of the way." Liang Kongxiang didn't want to waste any more words with him.
"I won't give in!" Not only did he refuse to budge, but he also kicked the suitcase she was carrying into the living room, put his arm around her waist, and forced her to stare at him: "Is it really necessary for you to do this for Xiang Hang?"
“You’re shifting the blame onto others again,” Liang Kongxiang tried to push him away, but still couldn’t break free. “Jiang Jiaoming, have you ever thought that neither Ruan Min nor Xiang Hang are the reasons I’m angry!”
Mentioning Ruan Min only made things worse; as soon as he was mentioned, Jiang Jiaoming's face turned cold instantly. "Then tell me, where is Ruan Min innocent?"
While she herself was wrong, Ruan Min was perfectly justified in taking the blame, so why did Liang Kongxiang start protecting that man again?
"Let me go, I don't want to talk to you right now." Hearing him say that, Liang Kongxiang calmed down and her voice returned to its usual calm tone.
"I won't let go." Jiang Jiaoming noticed Liang Kongxiang's change and knew that once she calmed down, things would become even more complicated. He would never let her go again, no matter what.
Liang Kongxiang was pressed tightly into his arms, her chest pressed against Jiang Jiaoming's body, making it difficult for her to breathe. But she really didn't want to talk to him anymore, preferring to take small breaths.
Jiang Jiaoming's ear was right next to Liang Kongxiang's mouth. He gradually realized something was wrong and immediately loosened his grip, but still held her tightly and refused to let go.
Liang Kongxiang kept putting up with him, letting him pester her, but this wasn't a long-term solution anyway, and he would eventually have to let her go.
As the sun gradually moved westward outside the window, its rays slanted across the building, dividing it into two halves of light and shadow.
Jiang Jiaoming released Liang Kongxiang, but then tightened his grip on her wrist. That afternoon, no one drank water or spoke; the two remained locked in a stalemate.
Seeing that her lips were a little pale, he finally broke the silence and asked softly, "Are you hungry?"
Liang Kongxiang ignored him, her gaze fixed on the window. Flocks of birds flew across the French windows, casting small shadows as the sky gradually darkened.
Seeing her weak appearance, Jiang Jiaoming became somewhat irritated and refused to let go of her hand. However, he also wanted to cook for her, so in the end, he had no choice but to hold her hand with one hand and open the refrigerator with the other to get the ingredients.
Liang Kongxiang was being dragged around the kitchen by his wrist. She felt helpless, but seeing that he was still cooking even though he was so angry, she couldn't bring herself to scold him and could only let him hold her wrist.
Water was flowing freely from the sink as Jiang Jiaoming washed rice with one hand.
Being "Yang Guo" wasn't easy. Washing rice with only one hand was incredibly inconvenient, and chopping vegetables was also a struggle. Liang Kongxiang, aside from not resisting his restraint, didn't offer any help out of pity. Jiang Jiaoming glanced at her.
She was daydreaming.
Knock knock!
Jiang Jiaoming swung the cleaver a little too hard, making quite a noise on the cutting board, but Liang Kongxiang didn't even spare a single glance for him.
The meal took a long time. Jiang Jiaoming ladled the dishes out of the pot, pulled Liang Kongxiang to the table, and then pulled her into the kitchen to get rice. He led her to sit down at the table and pushed the rice in front of her, saying, "Eat."
Liang Kongxiang remained silent, turning her head away from the food on the table, her resistance quite evident.
Having spent the entire day without eating or drinking anything, Jiang Jiaoming knew she hadn't eaten anything and was upset, so she must be even weaker now.
Liang Kongxiang was not going to eat. She knew that once she touched the bowl, he would again presumptuously assume that she was backing down.
"Eat your food, did you hear me?" Jiang Jiaoming tapped his fingers on the table.
Liang Kongxiang frowned slightly, turned her head to look at him, and finally spoke: "Who are you talking to?"
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Author's note: Jiang Jiaoming: I need to find a way to make my wife get angry at me instead of ignoring me.
Liang Kongxiang had absolutely no idea how to deal with him.
But actually, Jiang Jiaoming didn't speak loudly, and he always remembered not to say harsh words to his wife. His tone was just a little cold. But Kong Xiang is used to her husband spoiling her so much, so she felt like Jiang Jiaoming was scolding her when he was a little cold. Hahahaha.
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