Chapter 59 The woman in the red dress slept in the place where he had slept last night.
The two slept in the same bed for one night, which was quite proper.
Knowing that Aunt Ming would be coming to wake her up in the morning, Meng Cenjun had no choice but to leave first.
The torrential rain had been pouring down all night and had only just begun to subside. A sliver of pale gray sunlight filtered through the linen curtains, and the room was very quiet.
Lan Jia was still asleep, curled up in his arms as if hibernating, her arms and legs twisted around him.
Meng Cenjun carefully released her, gently positioning her limbs before sitting up. Perhaps because the source of heat was gone, Lan Jia grumbled unhappily, but being too sleepy, she turned over and continued to doze off. He looked at her for a while, then, moved, he gently rubbed her cheek with his knuckles, his gesture remarkably calm and serene.
When you encounter it, a sense of melancholy follows. Such moments don't happen every day.
What if we get married in the future?
He was startled by the thought.
The thought of an older brother and his younger sister, a man in his thirties and a girl who hadn't even graduated from university yet, someone he had watched grow up... well, it felt like getting your shoes and socks wet on a rainy day, getting your feet covered in mud, making you feel incredibly filthy and disgusted.
When did he become so shameless?
Meng Cenjun walked out with a gloomy expression.
Lan Jia was very happy today.
When I woke up in the morning, all the items that had been stained with honey yesterday were neatly arranged on the dressing table. Even the pages of my work log had been refrigerated, and the solidified honey had been scraped off clean. When Aunt Ming got her bag, the octopus keychain that she had lost the day before yesterday had miraculously reappeared, hanging safely on her shoulder strap.
It's just like the magic of the Seashell Fairy.
Even though she knew it was her family who did it.
Actually, she's easy to coax and doesn't hold grudges. Seeing the sincerity of the apology, she immediately let bygones be bygones, radiating happiness and sweetness.
But she forgot that it is also a sin to show even a little bit of happiness when someone is feeling down.
Even if their joys and sorrows are not the same.
As soon as Ruan Jingwei arrived at the film set, Lan Jia immediately noticed the change in her and sincerely praised her, "Hey, are those new shoes? They're so pretty."
To her surprise, those words struck her like a hammer blow. Ruan Jingwei's expression immediately changed, and she thought to herself: Really so indifferent? Can't he recognize her shoes? Is it true that having too much makes giving away a couple of things insignificant?
Or did they already recognize him and were deliberately making sarcastic remarks?
No matter what, it would make her unhappy.
But remembering that it was a gift from Meng Cenjun and not something she stole, she immediately felt at ease and replied calmly, "Oh, really? I think it's fine."
Lan Jia immediately sensed that something was wrong with her, so she suppressed her smile and stopped bothering her.
While working, she couldn't help but wonder if Jingwei had suffered some mistreatment at home again? Was it because of the arranged marriage? Or was she upset that Jingwei had promised to find a solution but hadn't shown any remorse? But she had just had a huge fight with Meng Cenjun yesterday, and her mind was still unsettled, so she had temporarily put Jingwei's matter out of her mind. The more Lan Jia thought about it, the more regretful and guilty she felt. Just as she was about to explain to her, another person came to the door, calling out to her from afar: "Lan Jia, the producer is looking for you."
Reluctantly, I had no choice but to go there first.
Ruan Jingwei glanced at her, then continued ironing the clothes without saying a word.
Once she calmed down, the disgusting events of yesterday gnawed at her mind like a venomous snake. Perhaps it was Shen Kuo's complaint; upon returning home, her father flew into a rage, beating her severely. Her stepmother, shrewd and hypocritical, outwardly tried to reconcile them while secretly scheming. And her useless brother, besides demanding and spending money, was also a master at stirring up trouble. This home was simply unbearable…
Yesterday was utterly awful, and it seemed only that cashmere shawl offered her any warmth. Thinking of it, she thought of Meng Cenjun. In that torrential rain, she wondered how he had even noticed her, let alone helped her out, given her something, or lent her a handkerchief to wipe her tears. He doted on his sister so much; could it be that he had taken pity on her because they resembled each other? And could she use that, use this man, to find a way out of her predicament?
As she was thinking this, something suddenly fell off the table, startling her. Upon closer inspection, it was a cylindrical object that had fallen from Lan Jia's canvas bag, rolling to her feet. After a moment's examination, she recognized it as a slow-release asthma inhaler. She had no idea she had this condition; her friend had kept it a secret very well during their acquaintance.
Ruan Jingwei didn't pick it up immediately. Instead, she stretched out a foot to probe it, lightly touching the delicate lambskin sole with the tip of her shoe, then stepping on it, and gradually crushing it bit by bit. She didn't know why she was doing this; it seemed involuntary. But gradually, she felt a stimulating pleasure, as if she were being controlled by a demon.
If it weren't for Lan Jia, her face would be unique. If it weren't for Lan Jia, would everything she possessed have fallen into her lap?
As Ruan Jingwei was thinking, she suddenly trembled all over.
How could she have such a vicious thought?
She bent down to pick up the items, intending to casually put them back in her bag, when she looked up and saw someone leaning against the door, which startled her so much that her heart almost stopped.
Song Qingqu stared at her for a while, then smiled and said, "Lan Jia is looking for you, and she also wants you to go to the producer's office."
When did he arrive? Did you see him? How much did you see?
Ruan Jingwei secretly gripped the medicine bottle tightly: "I'll be there in a bit."
Song Qingqu nodded, turned around and left.
For the entire afternoon, Ruan Jingwei was on tenterhooks, keeping a close eye on the two of them, afraid that he might say something to Lan Jia.
Fortunately, the two men continued to treat her as usual.
She breathed a sigh of relief, realizing she had been overthinking things. Faced with Lan Jia's occasional words of concern, she regretted her foolish act of wanting her to disappear. A surge of intense remorse and self-reproach overwhelmed her, making her clear her mind and resolve to be a truly good person.
But she didn't know that once she started this, the devil would come back sooner or later.
As people were leaving get off work, a flashy sports car roared up to the apartment building, sparking a flurry of discussion among the crowd.
Ruan Jingwei and Lan Jia went downstairs and immediately saw the person leaning against the car door, whose face was deathly pale.
"Weiwei, why do you look like you've seen a ghost when you see me?" Shen Kuo joked casually, but his eyes revealed a ruthless glint.
Having suffered such a huge loss yesterday, I'm determined to get my revenge on her.
Lan Jia also saw Shen Kuo, and an inexplicable anger surged up her head. She immediately shielded Ruan Jingwei behind her.
"what you up to?"
Shen Kuo recalled the incident at the bar and felt a lingering pain in his face. Unfortunately, the Yi family's powerful background prevented him from harming her. Afterwards, Old Deng personally came to apologize and gave him a severe scolding, telling him to behave himself. Now, having encountered her again, even though he harbored resentment, he dared not be as arrogant as before.
"I'm here to pick up my fiancée, what's it to you?" Shen Kuo said impatiently.
"What kind of fiancée is she? Shameless!" Lan Jia said indignantly.
Ruan Jingwei turned and left coldly.
"You dare to run?" Shen Kuo flashed to block her path, but unexpectedly a shadow fell over her head.
Zuo Tai stood solemnly, blocking him like an impenetrable wall.
"Young Miss, you should go first."
Shen Kuo stared at him like a little chick, then looked at the two people's backs, his teeth itching with hatred.
Lan Jia put her arm around Ruan Jingwei's shoulder and gently comforted her, "It's alright, I'll take you home today."
Ruan Jingwei was completely numb. After walking for a while, tears started to fall: "What good would it do to go back?"
Lan Jia thought so too. She had Shen Kuo with her today, but what if he wasn't there? Shen Kuo was utterly inhuman. If he came to her house again, her family might not help her. In that case, she wouldn't be able to go back.
"Jingwei, why don't you stay at my house for a few days?"
She stopped crying and said blankly, "Isn't it inappropriate to bother you like this?"
"What time is it, and you're still telling me this?" Lan Jia feigned anger, but then, thinking that she might be worried about Meng Cenjun, she assured her, "My brother won't say anything. Come on over, just keep me company for a few days?"
Ruan Jingwei considered that this might be an opportunity, so she reluctantly agreed.
They had already discussed it with Meng Cenjun, but they hadn't discussed it with her.
He was busy today and didn't have time to pick up Lan Jia. Lan Jia's whole heart was focused on Ruan Jingwei, so she didn't have time to pay attention to him.
It wasn't until Meng Cenjun returned and saw the familiar shoes in the entryway that she realized she had brought guests to her home again.
Aunt Ming came over, put Ruan Jingwei's shoes into the closet, and said, "It's that Miss Ruan from last time who came. I heard she's going to stay for a few days."
Upon hearing this, Meng Cenjun remained expressionless, revealing neither joy nor anger: "Then arrange a guest room for her."
"The young lady instructed that the two of them would share a bed." Aunt Ming smiled and added, "It's rare to see her bring people to the house so often, especially since they are such good friends."
He knew, of course, that Lan Jia valued her; otherwise, he wouldn't have interfered in her affairs yesterday.
But upon hearing the first sentence, he frowned and couldn't help but think: Sleep in the same bed? Sleep in the place he slept in last night? What kind of situation would that be?
Since yesterday, Meng Cenjun had harbored some suspicion towards Ruan Jingwei. When he thought that Lan Jia had not informed him in advance, his territorial instincts kicked in, and he immediately became slightly annoyed.
When I got upstairs, I heard Lan Jia's bedroom chattering and laughing happily. In contrast, my earlier gloom intensified.
Inside the dressing room, the two are playing a game that girls love most.
Velvet, satin, taffeta, beaded, sequined, plush—expensive gowns were piled up on the carpet. The two of them tried them on for ages, then collapsed on the floor, panting and exhausted.
As they lay side by side, Lan Jia turned to look at her: "Jingwei, are you any happier now?"
Happiness is only temporary, especially happiness brought by others, which is fleeting.
But she didn't want to say something so discouraging, so she forced a smile and nodded.
Seeing the bitterness in her smile, Lan Jia knew that without addressing the root of the problem, she wouldn't be able to truly relax.
After lying down for a while, she sat up as if she had made up her mind and said, "You rest first. I asked the kitchen to make some late-night snacks. Someone will bring them up later."
Seeing that she was about to leave, Ruan Jingwei asked, "Where are you going?"
"I'll be back in a bit."
After speaking in a reassuring tone, Lan Jia walked out.
She was still wearing the dress she had tried on last time. She tugged at the hem, took another deep breath, and knocked on the study door.
"Come in." A deep voice came from inside.
Meng Cenjun looked up from her desk and saw that the door was open and Lan Jia was standing in the doorway.
He met her gaze in silence, his breathing slow and labored, and he swallowed almost imperceptibly once.
In his deep eyes, there was his Lan Jia, wearing a red knee-length skirt, her shoulders and back were snow-white, and a velvet ribbon around her waist was tied into the shape of a butterfly using the knotting method he had taught her.
Like a beautifully wrapped gift.
A gift that belongs only to him.
Author's note: A man in love becomes as petty as a pinhead. [laughing and crying emoji]
The next chapter is sweet [milk tea]
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