There might be trust between people, but Ji Mingshu felt there was none between her and Cen Sen.
Standing by the dining table, she watched Cen Sen eating unhurriedly, her mind completely filled with the word "accept" that Cen Sen had said before going to bed.
—Accept bribes and books? Once you accept, you can’t mention the men’s restroom again.
—Accept.
Bang bang bang!
After finishing, he then slapped her face, truly a model husband who is diligent, simple, and touching to all of China.
And the way this husband was rightfully enjoying the fruits of his labor under her gaze was simply, breathtaking :)
After watching Cen Sen eat for a while, Ji Mingshu closed her eyes, feeling so angry that she could skip breakfast, lunch, and dinner tomorrow.
Without a word, she ran back to her room, locked the door, and tossed and turned on the bed.
The air still carried the sweet, lingering scent of their intimacy. The more she tossed, the less she could sleep. The more she thought about it, the more she felt she had been thoroughly tricked into a marital one-night stand.
Several scenes kept replaying in her mind. Finally, too angry to sleep, she suddenly got up from the bed, intending to rush out and have a fierce confrontation with that selfish, deceitful scumbag.
Unexpectedly, as soon as she opened the door, she bumped right into the deceitful scumbag standing there holding a fresh, steaming bowl of pork rib noodles.
The color of the noodles and the small ribs was incredibly enticing, topped with delicate chopped green onions. The key was the aroma.
Ji Mingshu stared at the pork rib noodles, swallowing lightly, and said without taking her eyes off them, "You’re such a good person."
Ding! One good person card issued.
She didn’t even look at the "good person’s" expression, piously took the noodles, carried them all the way to the vanity table, and even arranged the stool properly.
Ji Mingshu was a pleasure to watch while eating. She took very small bites, remained quiet throughout, and didn’t make the slightest slurping sound.
It was unclear whether this was a sign of her impeccable socialite upbringing or a perfect demonstration of what it means to "stop complaining once the payment is settled."
That night, she slept relatively peacefully.
The next morning at eight o’clock, Zhou Jiaheng called on time to provide Cen Sen with his wake-up service.
After answering the call, Cen Sen lay in bed, slowly pinching the bridge of his nose.
He remembered that when he was studying in the U.S., he would occasionally cook for himself in his apartment during his free time. Years had passed since he started working, and last night was actually the first time he had cooked late at night.
Coming back to his senses, he turned his head to look.
The morning light of a summer day was particularly dazzling, but Ji Mingshu showed no reaction at all, lying as still as a piece of dough waiting to ferment.
She didn’t sleep very properly, probably because the Ji family had hired many tutors for her but forgot to hire one to teach her how to sleep with the elegant posture of a socialite from a young age.
When they first got married, she could still restrain herself to maintain a normal sleeping position, but it didn’t take long for her true nature to frequently reveal itself, especially after going to bed, when her defenses were extremely low.
Like now, she clung to Cen Sen like an octopus, her bare, well-proportioned long legs draped over his waist and abdomen.
Cen Sen was a normal man. Waking up in the morning with such a disheveled, seductive beauty draped over him, it was hard not to react.
Unfortunately, there wasn’t enough time.
He peeled off the octopus from his body, his movements not particularly gentle or caring.
However, just before leaving, he paused slightly and closed the blackout curtains.Previously, when returning from abroad, Ji Mingshu would at most sleep for half a day to adjust to the time difference. But this time, both physically and mentally exhausted, she slept straight through until six in the evening.
Her phone was filled with missed calls and WeChat messages.
She skimmed through them casually. Among the many WeChat messages, including one from Jiang Chun, most were asking whether she would attend Second Young Master Zhang’s birthday party that evening.
The Zhang family had two young masters: the elder was Zhang Qi, and the younger was Zhang Lin.
Zhang Qi was about the same age as Cen Sen and had already taken over many family affairs. Their family was involved in tourism resource development, and they likely had quite a few business dealings with Cen Sen as well.
Zhang Lin was the youngest child, born late in his parents’ lives, and was deeply cherished and spoiled by the family. Was he just turning twenty today? Ji Mingshu took a closer look—yes, twenty indeed.
A milestone birthday.
Ji Mingshu scrolled down until she found the invitation from Second Young Master Zhang and replied with an “ok” emoji.
Second Young Master Zhang quickly responded: “Thank you, Sister Shu, for honoring us with your presence!”
For this birthday party, Second Young Master Zhang had been preparing for a long time. He was clever, hosting the party at his soon-to-open pub, effectively giving himself a live advertisement.
By the time Ji Mingshu arrived, the atmosphere in the pub was already lively. Zhang Lin had quite the reputation—almost all the familiar faces from the inner circle of the capital were present, along with a crowd of influencers and minor celebrities whose names she couldn’t recall.
Ji Mingshu was personally welcomed in by Second Young Master Zhang himself.
Despite his young age, this Second Young Master Zhang hadn’t learned much else, but he had mastered the art of flattery to perfection. Standing at the entrance, he showered Ji Mingshu with compliments, affectionately calling her “sister” left and right. Fortunately, he didn’t have an older sister, or else she’d probably be so infuriated by his smooth-talking ways that she’d crawl back into the womb.
In these social settings, the host’s attitude often reflects the guest’s status. Among the attendees tonight, only a handful were personally greeted by Second Young Master Zhang.
Those who didn’t know Ji Mingshu, seeing Second Young Master Zhang’s eagerness, naturally formed an impression of her standing.
Once seated at the front, a group of professional sycophants—her so-called plastic sisters—took over from Second Young Master Zhang, rising to the occasion with their silver tongues, showering her with extravagant praise.
Ji Mingshu graciously acknowledged them, apologizing for her late arrival and taking the initiative to drink a beverage. She then chatted with them about the recent Haute Couture Week.
This was the world of extravagance and glamour that Ji Mingshu knew best, and she handled it with effortless ease and confidence.
Zhang Baoshu was also present tonight. It had been over a month since she last accompanied the elder young master, Zhang Qi, to a social event.
In just this short month, Zhang Baoshu felt she had experienced more ups and downs than in her entire nineteen years of life.
The youth campus web drama she had filmed before graduation had already been released, airing over twenty episodes on a streaming platform. While it wasn’t a massive hit in terms of reputation or viewership, it wasn’t entirely unknown either.
At the very least, through the fresh and natural persona of the female lead, she had effortlessly gained over five hundred thousand fans.
Combined with the data and traffic purchased by her company, she was now a rising star with millions of followers, garnering thousands of likes, comments, and shares with every Weibo post.
To outsiders, it might seem like she was simply lucky, effortlessly making a name for herself upon entering the entertainment industry.
But she knew all too well that every moment of glamour in the public eye came with its own price to pay behind the scenes.That night, after being mercilessly rejected by Cen Sen, her self-esteem crumbled bit by bit. She didn’t even know what she was thinking—in a daze, she turned around and somehow ended up in Young Master Zhang’s bed.
Young Master Zhang spoke dismissively of her and looked down on her, but his body was honest when it came to the act itself.
After accompanying him for three consecutive nights, the web drama she had been suppressed in was finally allowed to air. Senior artists under the same agent, knowing she was with Young Master Zhang, finally began to look at her with some respect. Even a prime-time TV drama that had previously refused to consider her for a minor supporting role now proactively extended an olive branch, inviting her to play the female lead’s rival.
Once someone takes a shortcut and tastes the ease of gaining fame and fortune, it becomes difficult to climb step by step with steady effort. Zhang Baoshu was no exception.
In truth, she was quite willing for rumors about her and Young Master Zhang to spread. Unfortunately, Young Master Zhang didn’t even leave her a way to contact him. After those three days, the two never met again.
It had only been a month, so others wouldn’t suspect anything. But if more time passed, people would naturally realize that her relationship with Young Master Zhang was far from close enough to be described as “being with” him.
Without Young Master Zhang, whether she could gain more in the future was another matter. But what she had already obtained might very well have to be given back.
Today, she had her agent pull strings to sneak into this place, hoping to run into Young Master Zhang, reminisce about old times, and rekindle their past connection.
Zhang Baoshu arrived early, her gaze intentionally or unintentionally following Second Young Master Zhang. She thought that since it was his younger brother’s birthday, the older brother would surely make an appearance. Yet, time and again, she was met with disappointment.
Just before the birthday party began, Second Young Master Zhang eagerly brought someone in from outside. The pub’s lighting was dim, and at first glance, she thought his enthusiasm meant he was welcoming his brother. But upon closer look, she realized it was a graceful, curvaceous woman, and her heart sank with another wave of disappointment.
Amid the noise, she overheard people nearby discussing:
“Who is that woman? Why is Zhang Er so attentive?”
“No idea, but the bag she’s carrying looks like… a Himalaya Birkin?”
Someone added, “And it’s the diamond-encrusted version.”
Only then did Zhang Baoshu take a closer look.
But she was too far away to see the woman’s features clearly. All she could sense was that the woman had a unique aura—strikingly radiant and captivating even from a distance, the kind of beauty that held one’s gaze. Even the casual gesture of brushing her hair looked like a shampoo commercial.
“Don’t stare, she’s not in our league,” someone who knew Ji Mingshu pointed toward the red sofa. “That kind of background.”
Everyone instantly understood.
The person continued, “You know Junyi Splendor, right? Her husband is the owner of the entire Junyi Group, and her background runs even deeper. Otherwise, why do you think Zhang Er is being so attentive?”
Junyi?
Zhang Baoshu suddenly froze.
The words Cen Sen had spoken that night flashed through her mind: “In looks, temperament, education, or background, you don’t compare to my wife in any way. You might as well wash your face and sober up.”
Was this his wife?
Without even realizing it, Zhang Baoshu dug her cat-eye nails deep into the sofa seam.
The pub was lively as night fell. Once everyone had arrived, Second Young Master Zhang, wearing a birthday hat, took the microphone and gave a speech on stage. He then treated everyone to a painfully off-key song, which was met with enthusiastic cheers and laughter from the crowd below.Jiang Chun arrived just as they were about to cut the cake. Initially unsure whether to approach Ji Mingshu, she was surprised when Ji Mingshu spotted her and gave a slight nod in her direction. Naturally, Jiang Chun scurried over eagerly.
The group of superficial friends had just finished gossiping about Jiang Chun being cheated on by Yan, and they found it odd that Ji Mingshu hadn’t uttered a word or even cracked a smile. Now, seeing her call Jiang Chun over, their expressions grew even more peculiar.
Ji Mingshu, however, remained completely unbothered. She even gestured for someone to make room, clearing a seat for Jiang Chun.
Jiang Chun felt an inexplicable sense of pride. She tugged discreetly at Ji Mingshu’s skirt and whispered, “Yesterday in the restroom, you…”
Ji Mingshu shot her a timely look that clearly said, “Please shut up and forget about it immediately.”
Jiang Chun promptly stopped herself and changed the subject. “How do I look today?”
Ji Mingshu glanced her up and down, and whether out of revenge or not, delivered a direct blow to her heart. “Maybe you should just stop trying to dress up, Little Earth Goose.”
Jiang Chun: “…”
Why had she come here just to be humiliated?
When Ji Mingshu arrived, she drew attention, and naturally, Jiang Chun’s arrival didn’t go unnoticed either.
Sitting near Zhang Baoshu were several minor celebrities and influencers, including the Little White Flower Yan had cheated with.
When she saw Jiang Chun enter, she acted as if nothing had happened, sighing to her friends about how small the social circles in the capital were. She even put on an affected tone and said, “What should I do? That’s his ex-girlfriend. This is so awkward.”
Her friend reassured her, “Why should it be awkward? Yan likes you. She shouldn’t be so petty, right?”
Soon, a few others joined the conversation.
Given the Little White Flower’s status, landing someone like Yan was something worth bragging about, and the others were more than happy to flatter her openly and subtly.
The Little White Flower mostly maintained her innocent persona, timidly staying quiet. Only at key moments would she softly add, “Yan and her were only engaged because of family connections. She knew Yan had other girlfriends outside but still wanted to keep up the engagement. Honestly, it takes two to tango…”
Before she could finish her sentence, she suddenly noticed a pair of sparkling high heels stepping into her line of sight.
Before she could react—smack!—a sharp, resounding slap landed on her face, leaving her ears ringing momentarily.
“Well? Does that sound loud enough to you?”
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