Chapter 58 Be Serious, I'm Angry. When husband and wife are of one mind, their strength can break metal. ...
All the residents on this floor of the Civic have been evacuated, but Shen Rou has not left. She insists that "a clear conscience fears no accusation" and that she will "fight the evil forces to the end."
In her eyes, the "evil force" was Zhu Qingzhi.
"I have nothing to talk to you about." Shen Rou glared at her, her whole demeanor screaming unwelcome.
Behind her was a half-packed, messy suitcase, the crumpled clothes inside seeming like a silent protest, "Get out of here."
Susan quickly pulled her behind her, smiling broadly as she apologized, "I'm sorry, we were indeed negligent in this matter. We can take responsibility for the losses you suffered."
Zhu Qingzhi ignored Susan's polite words and focused her gaze on Shen Rou's face, which was filled with anger, exhaustion, and grievance: "I know it wasn't you."
Shen Rou looked over in disbelief, as if she hadn't heard clearly, or as if she had heard something unbelievable. She looked Zhu Qingzhi up and down several times, as if trying to find a trace of mockery or deception in her indifferent expression.
Dim light shone down from above, her eyes flickering with confusion and bewilderment, a violent struggle that swayed between them. After a long while, she finally managed to utter a single, stiff "Oh."
This "oh" is less of a response and more of a defensive response born of helplessness.
Seeing this, Susan inexplicably breathed a sigh of relief and quickly smoothed things over, "Thank you for your understanding, we definitely will..."
As if provoked by Susan's weakness, Shen Rou snatched her phone and shoved Susan in a fit of anger: "Get out."
Zhu Qingzhi lowered her eyes and stepped aside to make way for Susan.
It was late at night, the wind howled outside the window, the room was dark and messy, like two people facing off on ruins.
Zhu Qingzhi took two steps inside and found that there was really nowhere to put her feet, so she simply leaned against the relatively tidy TV cabinet, her posture relaxed, without any tension or questioning intention. Shen Rou had also long lost her previous domineering and angry demeanor.
Almost simultaneously, the two spoke again.
"You have a grudge against Xiaoning?"
"Are you acquainted with Liu Xiaoning?"
As soon as she finished speaking, Zhu Qingzhi realized there was no need to talk anymore. They both knew who the real culprit was, so why waste words?
Seeing the subtle disappointment and humiliation on Shen Rou's face, she broke the brief silence first: "We are all decent people. Let's finish filming this movie properly, part ways amicably, and it will be better for everyone."
Her voice was calm, as if she had come here solely for this warning.
Zhu Qingzhi didn't reveal any other details. She knew very well that Shen Rou's silence at this moment was not because she felt she was wrong, but because she had a more realistic understanding of her own stupidity.
She disdained to sow discord or win over anyone, and she didn't expect Shen Rou to break ties with Liu Xiaoning and then side with her.
She was simply tired of the endless trouble caused by the same person and didn't want to suffer from uncertainties like Shen Rou on set again.
Wen Qi called at that moment.
As she pressed the answer button, Shen Rou suddenly called out to her and asked softly, "Are you a daughter of the Lu family?"
Her gentle voice was already sweet, and when she spoke softly, it had a harmonious, subtle quality. After this experience, she seemed to have become a little smarter. Zhu Qingzhi raised an eyebrow, mouthed "Goodnight," and then closed the door for her.
*
It snowed again in the south of the city. As I stepped out of the hotel, snowflakes were flying everywhere, and the city was covered in a blanket of white.
Driver Xiao Li was waiting in the hotel porch when he saw Zhu Qingzhi come out. He hurriedly went up to her and said, "Sister Dani hasn't come out yet. Please get in the car first."
Zhu Qingzhi nodded to indicate that she was not in a hurry, but she did not get on the car. Instead, she stood under the eaves, tilted her head slightly, and watched the snow falling heavily.
Wen Qi was analyzing the pros and cons with her through the receiver. She listened quietly the whole time, occasionally agreeing with a word, but she wasn't very interested.
Snowflakes were swept into the porch by the wind, gathering into countless swirling patterns, like tiny tornadoes. She suddenly stepped forward, reaching out her hand to catch a few snowflakes.
Snowflakes touched her skin and melted into water, forming a clear spring in her palm. She smiled and said, "President Wen is so rich and generous that he can give people holidays whenever he wants. He really doesn't care about the money."
The start date for "The Knot" was set before the Lunar New Year because Director Zheng wanted to observe the actors' condition in advance and check whether the various facilities in the set needed to be modified. If any problems were found, adjustments could be made in time during the Lunar New Year holiday.
However, given the recent security and privacy issues, the production team has informed them that they will only film for half an afternoon tomorrow and then wrap up early for the day off. Such a lack of regard for pay is beyond any explanation other than Wen Qi's suggestion.
"Of course, we must take safety issues seriously." Wen Qi's voice was clear and cool, like snowflakes falling into the palm of your hand, easily soothing the heat.
He paused, perhaps sensing her lack of interest, and his tone betrayed a hint of helplessness, "Don't you want to go back?"
"No, not exactly." Zhu Qingzhi withdrew her hand, shook the snow water off her palm, and put it back in her coat pocket.
She thought for a moment, then spoke up, "I'm wondering how there can be such a free person in the world? Can't she find something to do? Why does she keep focusing on me all day? What threat do I pose to her? She might as well put some effort into you."
She spoke one sentence after another, her tone flat and even, as if calmly stating objective facts.
Wen Qi stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, watching the city's neon lights gradually dim and the faint sound of snowflakes, accurately capturing her hidden emotions: "Are you angry?"
"A little." Zhu Qingzhi was honest and no longer tried to hide anything.
The cold air seeped into her lungs, making her feel unhappy even more clearly. "Are you close to her? Classmates or childhood friends? How long have you known each other? Have you ever had feelings for her?"
Zhu Qingzhi didn't seem to care much about Liu Xiaoning's sudden appearance. Even though she had acted impulsively because she mistakenly thought Wen Qi had attended her welcome party, she stubbornly attributed that impulse to alcohol.
But today she suddenly realized that Liu Xiaoning's appearance had actually caused her a lot of trouble. Whether it was the unyielding attitude at the LR dinner, the confrontation in the Modo corridor, or this bugging incident.
She hates this person. Absolutely hates him.
She had initially thought that this annoyance stemmed from Liu Xiaoning's malicious actions, but tonight, at this moment, she finally discovered the root cause of this annoyance: Liu Xiaoning's affection for Wen Qi.
"We're not close, just classmates. I've never had any romantic feelings for anyone." The person on the other end of the phone answered almost without pause, their voice clear and firm: "Never."
Zhu Qingzhi blinked and gave a muffled "Oh".
Wen Qi asked again, "Is that why you're angry?"
"Yes," she admitted.
In the silent night, only the wind howls, and the somber night sky, adorned with snowflakes, has a dazzling, star-studded appearance.
Suddenly, Wen Qi chuckled softly, a gentleness that was hard to describe mixed with a hint of barely suppressed joy: "Is there anything else you want to ask?"
Zhu Qingzhi looked at the snowflakes dancing in the air, a chaotic yet harmonious scene, and said softly, "It's snowing in the south of the city."
"I know, it's snowing in Beijing too." His voice was still gentle, with a hint of indulgent indulgence.
She added, "The snow is very heavy."
"Um."
"I might not be able to go home tomorrow," she emphasized again, her voice carrying a subtle hint of grievance and whining that she herself didn't even realize.
"Then I wish that the snow will stop soon."
She kicked the edge of the flowerbed with her toe, splashing snow all over the ground: "Wish invalid."
"When we're together, a united couple can overcome anything," he said earnestly, a statement quite out of character for him.
"No way," Zhu Qingzhi retorted, a slight smile playing on her lips.
Please, please.
Zhu Qingzhi couldn't help but laugh, but she still tried to suppress her laughter: "Please be serious, I'm angry, okay!"
"Okay." Wen Qi's voice seemed to carry a warm breath. "I've blocked all her contact information. I promise I won't let her bother you again."
Zhu Qingzhi gave a soft "humph" and did not respond.
Wen Qi took a thoughtful breath and then began to flatter and fawn: "Wife, I was wrong."
"Oh." She kicked the edge of the flowerbed with her toes, as if she wouldn't stop until she had broken up all the snow.
Then came his firm and earnest words, "I only love you."
Zhu Qingzhi's smile was clearly barely concealed, but she still tried to put on an act.
Just then, Dani rushed out of the hotel to her side, one hand covering the phone receiver, her face filled with panic.
Zhu Qingzhi glanced at the phone screen; it showed a string of numbers.
It looks familiar.
Dani leaned close to her ear and whispered, "Your brother."
? ? ?
Zhu Qingzhi opened her eyes wide.
It's so late, what good could Lu Yao possibly want from her? But she hadn't offended him today!
Almost instinctively, she asked Wen Qi, "Did you offend my brother?"
In response to her rambling remarks, Wen Qi replied, "No."
She wanted to ask for more details, but a voice uttering "Zhu Qingzhi!" through gritted teeth came through Dani's phone, penetrating her clearly and precisely.
Before she could even think, she snatched the phone and said, "Brother~, aren't you resting so late?"
"Why didn't you tell me about something this big?"
"Huh? No." Zhu Qingzhi felt her mind go blank.
Lu Yao was at his wit's end, but he still managed to hold back his even greater rage: "A listening device was found in the hotel room, and you call that not happening?"
Zhu Qingzhi breathed a sigh of relief and quickly reassured him gently, "Brother, this matter has been resolved, you..."
Before I could finish speaking, a busy signal came through.
Zhu Qingzhi: "..."
She really couldn't understand the meaning of this phone call, which came so suddenly and went even more suddenly.
Dani awkwardly put her phone away: "Your brother said he kept calling you but the line was always busy, so he contacted me instead."
Zhu Qingzhi remained silent. Her phone had indeed been ringing, but she was on the phone with Wen Qi and hadn't bothered to switch. But why was Lu Yao so persistent in calling her, not letting her finish her sentence?
“He might be worried about you.” Dani saw the name “Wen Qi” on Zhu Qingzhi’s phone screen and moved a little further away. “It’s getting late, shall we talk in the car?”
Zhu Qingzhi nodded and was about to take a step when Wen Qi on the other end of the phone clicked his tongue lightly: "I understand."
His voice held a hint of understanding and mockery, and even a touch of eager, secret satisfaction.
"What?"
Zhu Qingzhi didn't quite understand why these two men could always create this sense of destiny, like they were "in sync." If it weren't for the practicalities, she would almost be a fan of their relationship.
"It's nothing." Wen Qi picked up the black coat from the edge of the sofa. "I did offend him. I'll go to Lu's Group now to apologize to him."
-----------------------
Author's Note: Kiyoshi [chin resting on hand]: ? ? ? ? ?
Wen Qi [sunglasses]: Sorry to the person downstairs.
Lu Yao [cracked]: You upstairs, just you wait.
Ah Mei [crying]: Rushing to meet a deadline! [crying]
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