Chapter 54, The Kiss.
"Gu Junsheng is gone?" Xue Fangfei came out of the bathroom.
Chu Ruofu replied, "They just left."
Xue Fangfei: "Gu Junsheng is a good man."
"Hmm." Chu Ruofu had a good impression of Gu Junsheng. He did things perfectly and never made anyone feel uncomfortable.
"I've put the clothes in the washing machine." Xue Fangfei sighed, "Gu Junsheng even thought of preparing new clothes for us. He truly deserves to be called a busy CEO."
Chu Ruofu suddenly walked over and hugged Xue Fangfei.
Xue Fangfei was stunned for a moment, then her forced relaxed expression disappeared. She turned around and hugged Chu Ruofu, her body trembling slightly.
Only those who have experienced it can understand how terrifying and dangerous tonight was. She couldn't think calmly and made a mistake in a moment of impulse. She didn't care about being detained; what she feared most was implicating Chu Ruofu.
"Fufu, was I really unprofessional? I should have just held back and taken you away." Xue Fangfei's voice choked with emotion: "I shouldn't have hit him. I'll apologize to him tomorrow, I'll pay him whatever it takes."
Chu Ruofu quickly ran to get tissues to wipe her tears, saying with heartache, "Don't cry. If you cry again, I'll cry with you."
"He deserves to be hit," Chu Ruofu said angrily. "Even if you don't hit him, I will."
Xue Fangfei couldn't stop her tears: "I regret it so much. This has blown up. What will happen to your leading role? He's an investor. Even if we can reach a settlement, he definitely won't let you be the leading actress."
"You finally got the lead role, and I ruined it all. I'm not a good manager."
Chu Ruofu hugged her again: "Who said you're not qualified? I only want you as my manager for the rest of my life, I don't want anyone else."
The two girls hugged each other, heartbroken and in tears. They went to school together, entered the entertainment industry together, and their ten-year friendship was unbreakable. They had promised to walk towards a bright future together.
Reality is so cruel; without connections, it's impossible to make a living in the entertainment industry.
A good script and a good role are especially important for actors, which is why the entertainment industry can fight tooth and nail over roles and billing order.
Xue Fangfei pulled Chu Ruofu to sit down on the sofa and said seriously, "I thought about this for a long time in the car. I'm not a professional agent. You will become more and more famous in the future, and with my abilities, I may not be able to bring you more resources."
"I'm not calm enough when I encounter problems. I'm afraid I'll handle many unfamiliar situations very badly in the future."
"Why don't I just quit my job as your agent and stay by your side as your assistant? I can take care of your things and look after you."
"I don't agree with you giving up!" Chu Ruofu said seriously, "You know that the jobs of agent and assistant are completely different."
"Anyone can be an assistant, but not an agent. Have you forgotten what you told me before? You said you would work hard to become a top agent, make many female artists famous, and help them all become excellent actresses."
Xue Fangfei lowered her head in shame. In her youth, she was arrogant and ambitious, but after experiencing the harsh realities of society, she realized that her ideals were so unattainable.
The cruel reality knocked her to the ground, crushing her proud self-esteem, leaving her as pathetic as mud rolled by a wheel.
"I'm sorry, Fufu, I can't do it..."
After offending the investors in a moment of impulsiveness, she was terrified. Chu Ruofu had finally become famous, and if she ruined it, she would never forgive herself.
Many celebrities in the entertainment industry are unwilling to be subjected to unspoken rules. Offending capitalists can lead to being blacklisted for years and unable to make a comeback. Their golden years are only a few years long, and being blacklisted and banned means their careers are over.
Chu Ruofu cupped her face and said, "Look into my eyes and say it again."
“I…” Xue Fangfei’s nose stung with tears, and she couldn’t speak. She was still struggling internally, unwilling to accept her fate.
Chu Ruofu smiled through her tears: "You see, you don't want to give up."
"Life is just a series of setbacks; if you fall, you get back up."
Xue Fangfei sniffed and said, "You used to say that if you fall down, you should just lie down."
"Huh?" Chu Ruofu denied it: "Did I say that?"
Xue Fangfei: "Mm."
Chu Ruofu rubbed her face and said, "Then lie down for a while after falling down and then get up. In short, we are still young. Life can only knock us down once, but it can't kill us."
Xue Fangfei said in a muffled voice, "I never thought I'd need you to comfort me."
"Good best friends are those who are tolerant and supportive of each other," Chu Ruofu said earnestly. "We are the best of friends in the world; friendship is more precious than love."
Xue Fangfei was deeply moved upon hearing this and said, "If the male guest who likes you knew this, he would definitely be so jealous."
Chu Ruofu lowered her eyes and said, "Then let them be jealous. You are the most important friend in my heart. I will take you with me wherever I go from now on."
"Never mind then, I don't want to be under the car or under the bed." Xue Fangfei's mouth moved faster than her brain.
Chu Ruofu's face flushed red instantly, and she said, "What nonsense are you talking about?"
Xue Fangfei wiped the tears from her face with a tissue and said, "I'm just telling the truth. I don't want to be a third wheel. Don't take me on your date."
Chu Nufu: "..."
"The clothes seem to be dry, I'll go get them." Xue Fangfei washed her hands and took out the dried new clothes, asking her, "I want an LV business suit, and I'll give you another one in a sweet, heiress-style pink Chanel."
"Okay," Chu Ruofu agreed.
After showering, the two put on pajamas of different colors and opened the doors to the two bedrooms in the apartment. The master bedroom was where Gu Junsheng lived, decorated in a cool gray tone, with neat dark sheets.
"Let's sleep in the guest room together," Chu Ruofu said, closing the door.
Xue Fangfei said, "Just like in the novel, President Gu's room is simply luxurious, but it's not very lively."
Chu Ruofu said, "It's normal for him to have a more modern and technologically advanced personal style, given that he does scientific and technological research and development."
The guest bedroom is slightly smaller than the master bedroom. The white sheets are clean, and a soft, comfortable quilt is laid on top, exuding a faint fragrance.
Lying comfortably in bed, the two were very close. Xue Fangfei leaned against Chu Ruofu and said, "Fufu, I won't give up. I promised to become a nationally renowned agent, and I will definitely do it."
Chu Ruofu hummed in agreement and said, "You can do it!"
After chatting for a while, the two fell asleep.
On the other side.
After leaving the apartment, Gu Junsheng called his driver to pick him up. Once in the car, he dialed the number of the head of the company's legal department to inquire about and instruct the head to investigate Boss Ma's company that night.
When acquiring or merging with companies to gain controlling stakes, the group will also have its legal team investigate these companies to protect the group's legitimate rights and interests. The legal department is very professional in this regard.
Since Boss Ma dared to openly try to sexually harass actors, he must be a bad person in private. This kind of rotten old man must have committed many crimes.
To handle this kind of person, unconventional methods must be used.
Mr. Ma refused to settle out of court and called the police to deliberately make things difficult for Chu Ruofu. He needed to make thorough preparations in advance to ensure that the other party would accept a peaceful mediation.
He can still refuse to reconcile, but there are plenty of ways to get him arrested.
Gu Junsheng chatted with the Minister of Justice for a while and then hung up the phone.
When the car arrived at the private villa, he went upstairs to his study to deal with the emails he hadn't had time to reply to that day, and then took a shower at eleven o'clock.
After leaving the bathroom, Gu Junsheng, wearing a bathrobe, went downstairs to the liquor cabinet, poured himself a glass of whiskey, and took a small sip.
His phone vibrated on the bar counter. He picked it up and saw a message from the Minister of Justice. The message detailed that Mr. Ma was not only a deadbeat who owed people's wages, but also had driven an actress to suicide due to depression.
Fortunately, the actress's family rushed her to the hospital, saving her life. The actress then retired from the entertainment industry and disappeared from public view.
This Mr. Ma has kept several mistresses and countless lovers. Listing up all the evidence would be enough to ruin his reputation.
Gu Junsheng's eyes were dark and deep, and his handsome face was filled with a cold chill.
The thought that such a filthy thing dared to try to get close to Chu Ruofu made him want to tear the disgusting old man to pieces.
The assistant sent over a video, which was the merchant's private surveillance footage, recording the entire dinner party that Chu Ruofu attended tonight.
The restaurant told its customers that the private rooms were free of surveillance and offered privacy, but in reality, they had secretly installed hidden cameras to prevent any incidents from happening. The assistant subtly probed and coerced the restaurant owner into producing the surveillance video.
Gu Junsheng then sent the video to the Minister of Justice, telling him to get ready to go to the police station together the next day.
the next day.
Chu Ruofu woke up naturally and found the seat next to her empty. She sat up and looked around, but didn't see Xue Fangfei. She quickly got out of bed and opened the bedroom door.
Xue Fangfei was dressed in a white business suit, an exquisitely tailored luxury garment that accentuated her noble air. She was on the phone when she saw Chu Ruofu come out and gestured to her.
Xue Fangfei mouthed, "The company boss is calling."
After what happened last night, the director will definitely tell the company immediately. The company boss called this morning and is furious.
"Would I lose a piece of my flesh if I went to sing karaoke with investors?"
"Does she even want to play leading roles anymore? Or does she only want to play supporting roles her whole life?"
"Now that the investors want to withdraw their funds, can you take responsibility for that? If you don't want to work here anymore, just say so!"
The company boss berated Xue Fangfei mercilessly, each word more offensive than the last.
Xue Fangfei listened in silence for a few minutes, then hung up the phone, slowly exhaled, and cursed a few times.
Back then, she and Chu Ruofu were too young. After graduation, they signed with a mediocre entertainment company. Such companies have few resources and many actors, so getting ahead depends entirely on luck.
She and Chu Ruofu had no choice; choosing a small entertainment company meant they lacked resources, while choosing a large entertainment company made it even harder to succeed.
Chu Ruofu looked worried and went to Xue Fangfei: "What did the boss say?"
"He didn't say anything." Xue Fangfei pretended to be relaxed and said, "You should go change your clothes quickly. President Gu sent a message saying he'll bring us breakfast later."
Chu Ruofu went to the bedroom and changed into a pink suit. She looked fresh and beautiful, very much like a wealthy heiress.
There was a knock on the door.
"President Gu is here, go open the door." Xue Fangfei nudged Chu Ruofu.
Chu Ruofu stepped forward and opened the door, where she saw Gu Junsheng dressed in a dark suit and trousers, with custom-made thin-soled leather shoes, carrying a steaming breakfast in his hand.
"Good morning," Gu Junsheng greeted casually.
Chu Ruofu smiled slightly at him: "Good morning."
Gu Junsheng stepped into the room, changed into black slippers, and asked, "How did you sleep last night?"
"That's fine." Chu Ruofu took two steps back, turned around and waited for him to go to the restaurant together.
Gu Junsheng placed the breakfast on the table and said, "I don't know what kind of breakfast you like, so I went and bought Haicheng's specialty crab roe soup dumplings and soy milk."
Chu Ruofu glanced at the breakfast and said, "Actually, you don't need to buy us breakfast. It's too much trouble for you."
Gu Junsheng said gently, "No trouble at all, I bought it on the way."
Xue Fangfei opened the food packaging bag and said with a smile, "President Gu, this is a bit far for you."
Chu Ruofu pulled out a chair and sat down, asking, "Have you eaten?"
Gu Junsheng nodded slightly: "I've already eaten. You guys eat, but be careful it's hot."
He said the last three words while staring at Chu Ruofu, making her a little embarrassed, and her slightly lowered eyelashes trembled.
Xue Fangfei took in everything, a maternal smile playing on her lips.
She now understood why those CP fans were so enthusiastic about shipping them; these ambiguous scenes between men and women were indeed captivating to watch.
Halfway through breakfast, Xue Fangfei answered the phone, "Hello."
"Yes, I'm in Beijing." Her expression was solemn. "I'll come over later when I have time."
After she hung up the phone, Chu Ruofu asked, "The police station's phone number?"
Xue Fangfei nodded and said, "Notify me to go to the police station for mediation."
Chu Ruofu couldn't help but feel a little worried.
Gu Junsheng said calmly, "No rush. After you finish breakfast, I'll accompany you to the police station. My company's legal director will also come along to help with mediation."
Chu Ruofu felt a little relieved. Gu Junsheng was in charge of a large group, and his group's legal department was well-versed in the law, so they would definitely have a way to mediate.
Gu Junsheng's gaze fell on the corner of her mouth. He reached out, grabbed a tissue, and handed it to her: "Wipe your mouth."
Chu Ruofu quickly took the tissue and wiped away the soup she had unintentionally left behind, saying thank you.
Xue Fangfei blinked. Her daughter, Fufu, was shy and reserved. If she hadn't been there, President Gu would have personally wiped Chu Ruofu's mouth.
After having breakfast, the group went to the police station. When they arrived, they called the police, but they hadn't arrived yet. The police station invited them to sit down in the mediation office and asked them about the events of the day while they took notes.
The head of the legal department of Gu Junsheng Group wore black-rimmed glasses and looked very professional as a lawyer. He spoke clearly and in his words, Xue Fangfei smashing the bottle was considered self-defense and that no apology or compensation was required.
"That's just your side of the story." The police officer in charge of questioning asked, "Is there any evidence?"
The minister produced video surveillance footage: "My client was so frightened that, in order to avoid being persecuted, he had no choice but to fight back while not fully conscious."
The door was suddenly pushed open, and Boss Ma arrived late with his bodyguards, his attitude arrogant and domineering: "I don't accept mediation. Arrest her and detain her. Sentence her however you want!"
Chu Ruofu glared fiercely at the disgusting, overweight, greasy old man, wishing she could kill him with her eyes.
Gu Junsheng tapped his long fingers on the table and said indifferently, "I suggest you accept mediation."
"Mr. Ma, hello." The head of the legal department walked over, smiling and extending his hand: "Let me introduce myself. I am the head of Mr. Gu's legal team. My surname is Liu."
Mr. Ma glanced at Lawyer Liu, completely disregarding him. According to the law, he was in the right, and no one could change his mind.
"Mr. Ma, I have something I'd like to discuss with you privately. Could you give me three minutes?" Attorney Liu asked with his usual standard smile.
Xue Fangfei whispered in Chu Ruofu's ear, "Attorney Liu's smile is so creepy, it gives me goosebumps."
Chu Ruofu felt that this lawyer Liu, who was completely different from Lu Xubai, was indeed very much like a villain who smiled while hiding a knife in a TV series.
"Do you know how valuable my time is?" Boss Ma said arrogantly, "Stop talking nonsense. If you can't come up with a million, nothing you say will work on me."
Mr. Ma looked at Gu Junsheng and said, "Mr. Gu, you have a large family and a wealthy business, yet you can't even come up with a million to pay for your woman's affairs?"
Chu Ruofu's face instantly turned red with anger.
Gu Junsheng's eyes were icy as he said, "Even if I threw a million at a dog on the street, I wouldn't give it to you."
"You!" Boss Ma's expression changed.
Attorney Liu grabbed Mr. Ma's arm and dragged him to the window, away from the long table. The bodyguard didn't react in time and was about to go over.
"I'd like to have a private conversation with Mr. Ma," Attorney Liu said with a smile. "It's best if bystanders don't eavesdrop; I'm not responsible for that."
The bodyguard hesitated, thinking about what kind of person his boss was.
Mr. Ma stared at Attorney Liu with a fierce glint in his eyes: "What do you want to say?"
Attorney Liu lowered his voice, took out his phone to show him, and laughed, "Mr. Ma has taken advantage of loopholes in his business over the years. Tell me, if this evidence is submitted, how many years will he have to go to jail?"
Mr. Ma's expression changed, and his imposing manner immediately diminished: "Stop making things up."
“As a lawyer, how could I do something illegal like fabricating evidence? The evidence is conclusive. If you don’t believe me,” Attorney Liu said, spreading his hands. “There’s nothing I can do.”
Mr. Ma looked grim. He knew he shouldn't offend anyone, especially not a lawyer, and his mind was racing.
Attorney Liu said, "I advise Mr. Ma to keep to himself and settle this amicably. If you want to get rid of me, I believe that I will immediately take your case to court."
Mr. Ma has been committing all sorts of evil deeds for so many years, but he never expected to actually stumble today. His expression changed repeatedly, and he forced a smile: "What are you talking about? It's just a small misunderstanding. Why make such a fuss?"
Attorney Liu found the other party's eccentric expression hilarious. Seeing Gu Junsheng, she should have known this day would come. Trying to make an exorbitant demand of Gu Junsheng was just asking for trouble.
"See, if you had said so earlier, none of this would have happened."
Mr. Ma and Attorney Liu returned to the long table and sat down, indicating their agreement to settle the matter, stating that what happened that day was a misunderstanding.
The police were pleased to see the two parties reach a settlement and immediately had them sign a settlement agreement, thus resolving the incident.
The more arrogant Mr. Ma was when he arrived, the more dejected he was when he left.
Chu Ruofu and Xue Fangfei smiled easily, feeling that the sunshine in Beijing was much brighter today, and the group left the police station.
The assistant booked a high-end restaurant for Gu Junsheng, and the group went to a private room for lunch.
Xue Fangfei asked Lawyer Liu what he had said to Boss Ma. Lawyer Liu looked at Gu Junsheng, received instructions from Gu's eyes, smiled and said, "Nothing much, just a few casual words, and I managed to influence Boss Ma a little."
Seeing that the other party didn't want to talk, Xue Fangfei didn't press for details, but chuckled and said, "Are all lawyers so good at 'influencing' people?"
Chu Ruofu recalled her first meeting with Lu Xubai. She saw Lu Xubai, who was as tall as a wild beast, and imagined a scene where he would persuade people with reason.
"Is it to your liking?" Gu Junsheng's voice came.
Chu Ruofu snapped out of her reverie and gave him a slight smile: "The dishes are all delicious."
Gu Junsheng noticed that she was lost in thought and guessed that she was thinking about someone else, who was very likely Lu Xubai, with whom she had been intimate. He felt a subtle displeasure and spoke up to bring her back to reality.
Have you ever visited Beijing before?
Chu Ruofu shook her head and said, "I've only come here with the crew to film a few palace dramas."
At that time, she had just become an actress and played a palace maid in the play. In the dead of winter, she wore thick, old cotton clothes that were difficult to move in. The main characters and important supporting characters were all warming themselves by the fire in the house, while the unknown actress could only stomp her feet to resist the cold.
Survival is difficult enough; who has the energy to go out and have fun?
Gu Junsheng used serving chopsticks to put some of her favorite small fish on her plate and asked, "Shall I go sightseeing with you this afternoon?"
Chu Ruofu's heart skipped a beat, and she whispered, "Okay."
Seeing the atmosphere between Chu Ruofu and Gu Junsheng that no one else could get in, Xue Fangfei clicked her tongue inwardly. So sweet! The ambiguous period is really addictive.
After she finishes eating, she won't be a third wheel anymore. She's hit an investor, so she needs to get back to the Haicheng headquarters early to face the boss's wrath.
After the meal, Attorney Liu left first. Xue Fangfei had urgent business to attend to and needed to return to Haicheng first. She hadn't been able to buy Chu Ruofu's plane ticket, so she told Xue Fangfei to stay in Beijing for now and that she would book a ticket for her when it became available.
Chu Ruofu was 'left behind' and happened to go on a trip to Beijing alone with Gu Junsheng.
In early autumn, Beijing is full of beautiful scenery, perfect for a stroll.
Chu Ruofu used to prefer staying at home watching movies, TV shows, and reading novels, and rarely went out shopping with others. Now, walking with Gu Junsheng along the shimmering lakeside under the sun, looking at the palace in the distance, she felt refreshed and relaxed.
Gu Junsheng is from Beijing and grew up there. He is very familiar with every tourist attraction. His explanations are interesting and not boring, and the whole trip is comfortable for both body and mind.
In the evening, Gu Junsheng drove her to a picturesque classical courtyard villa for dinner. After dinner, they drove to the top of the mountain to enjoy the open-air scenery and camp on the grassy area.
With the roof open, you can sit inside and rest while gazing at the twinkling stars.
Chu Ruofu looked up at the sky and said, "There are so many stars tonight."
Gu Junsheng had watched edited versions of the variety show and knew that Chu Ruofu liked to look at the stars, which is why he brought her to the resort for dinner today and then went up the mountain to look at the stars.
"I haven't seen so many stars in a long time."
Chu Ruofu turned to look at him: "It seems we're very lucky today."
"Hmm." Gu Junsheng stared intently at her, his eyes deep and unfathomable.
The atmosphere inside the car was silent; even the sound of heartbeats seemed to become clearly audible. Under the starlight, the two gazed at each other, and an ambiguous atmosphere flowed through the car.
Time ticked by, and Chu Ruofu's heart pounded rapidly. In the dim light, his handsome face was close to hers. She tightened her grip on her hand at her side, and pressed it closer as he restrained himself.
His lips were soft and warm, carrying a unique, cool, woody fragrance that was captivating.
The kiss lasted only a short while before Gu Junsheng, supporting her shoulder, moved slightly away.
"Calm down." He wasn't sure if he was talking to her or to himself.
“I don’t want you to kiss me out of gratitude…” Gu Junsheng’s voice was hoarse.
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