After Taking Advantage Of An Opening [Entertainment Industry] - Chapter 1

The rainy spell in Dongcheng City had already lasted three days. It had begun on the very day Wen Ling returned, and the entire city was shrouded in dark clouds—much like Wen Ling’s current mood.

First, her secret marriage had been exposed. Then came the revelation of her divorce. Wen Ling, a little-known novelist, had truly become famous this time—all because the woman she had secretly married and divorced was Gu Rongqing, one of the hottest actresses in recent years.

In terms of talent, Gu Rongqing was a Golden Flower Best Actress, one of the more prestigious awards in the industry. As for popularity, the size of her fanbase rivaled those of the hottest young traffic stars. Naturally, the news sent shock waves through the entertainment industry, and those waves eventually reached Wen Ling as well.

So Wen Ling simply took Wen Nuan back to her hometown and hid away in peace for three days. Although she had spent every day looking after the child and cooking, making all three days rather busy, her mother, Ms. Xu, could no longer stand it.

“Wen Ling! How long do you plan on wallowing like this?”

Ms. Xu stormed into Wen Ling’s bedroom. She truly couldn’t stand seeing her daughter like this—getting divorced and then running all the way back from Jingcheng City to hide.

When the door flew open, she found her daughter telling her granddaughter a story. Wen Ling was wearing a plain cotton pajama set, her medium-length hair hanging somewhat messily over her shoulders. In Xu Yun’s eyes, her daughter had completely let herself go. She really didn’t think Wen Ling took after her at all.

Wen Ling wasn’t the least bit surprised that her mother had barged in without knocking. She didn’t even lift her head, continuing to read Wen Nuan her story.

Seeing her daughter ignore her, Ms. Xu was about to lose her temper again. But then her little granddaughter suddenly ran toward her on her short legs, and her anger instantly vanished. Her expression visibly transformed, her eyes nearly disappearing beneath her smile.

The child’s voice was uniquely soft and sweet, and she carried a delicious milky scent. Although Wen Nuan was almost five, she still smelled faintly of milk. Xu Yun watched her little granddaughter hug her leg and gaze up at her with enormous, blinking eyes, and her heart melted.

Once Ms. Xu had picked Wen Nuan up, she stopped arguing with Wen Ling and carried the child into the living room to dote on her instead.

Wen Ling breathed a sigh of relief. With her mother’s personality, Aunt Lin was probably the only person gentle enough to put up with her. No wonder her father and mother had been unable to make their marriage work.

Fortunately, Xiao Nuan was clever and knew exactly what worked on her grandmother.

“That little imp… She’s far too crafty for her own good.”

Wen Ling sighed. She honestly had no idea whom the child had inherited that personality from. Wen Ling herself was rather quiet and reserved, while Gu Rongqing… Gu Rongqing was far too cold.

Then again, perhaps Gu Rongqing was only cold toward her?

The more Wen Ling thought about it, the more sense it made. Back when they were students, the first things she had heard about Goddess Gu were that she was gentle, understanding, and friendly toward everyone.

It was only later—yes, only after Wen Ling had truly gotten to know her—that she realized Gu Rongqing was genuinely cold toward her.

So in the end, Wen Ling had only herself to blame.

She had stopped at nothing to get what she wanted.

“Heh… I really did deserve it.”

Wen Ling swept aside the hair falling over her eyes, then paused.

That was right. Nearly a month had passed since the divorce, the exposure of their marriage, and the subsequent revelation of their divorce. Even her hair had grown longer.

“Wen Ling, come out and start making dinner. Your Aunt Lin is coming over tonight.”

“Okay, I’m coming.”

Only when she heard Xu Yun calling her did Wen Ling remember that her mother’s girlfriend, Aunt Lin, would be joining them for dinner that evening.

Xu Yun and Wen Ling’s father had divorced when Wen Ling was in middle school. The reason was simple: Wen Ling’s father had found his true love. Xu Yun hadn’t pestered him and had agreed to the divorce without any fuss. Wen Ling’s father had supposedly left the marriage with nothing. In reality, that merely meant he had given Xu Yun the house they currently lived in and some savings. He had transferred away most of his assets, including the company he operated.

As for Aunt Lin, she had appeared during Wen Ling’s first year of university.

At the time, Wen Ling had only recently learned about her goddess, Gu Rongqing, and was still full of romantic fantasies. She had therefore asked her mother about her relationship.

Her mother told her that Aunt Lin was her first love. But she had also said that Wen Ling’s father had been the innocent love of her youth.

Wen Ling had been utterly confused when she heard that, so she asked, “If Dad was the innocent love of your youth, how can Aunt Lin be your first love?”

Her mother had replied that it was because she had been young and ignorant.

Her mother and Aunt Lin had been high school classmates, and they had shared an extremely close relationship. But people back then had been somewhat slow when it came to recognizing their feelings—especially feelings of that nature.

Aunt Lin, however, had been very bold. After they graduated from high school, she confessed to Wen Ling’s mother.

Naturally, Xu Yun rejected her. The confession had even frightened her badly.

The two of them had originally agreed to attend university together in the south, but Xu Yun ultimately applied to a school in Dongcheng City instead. Aunt Lin still went south alone.

Later, Xu Yun met Wen Ling’s father and gradually forgot that chapter of her past. Before she had even graduated from university, she became pregnant with Wen Ling at the age of twenty. With no other choice, she married and gave birth, caring for Wen Ling while continuing her studies. After graduation, she became a full-time housewife.

In that respect, Wen Ling was quite similar to her mother.

She and Gu Rongqing had attended the same university, where Wen Ling majored in screenwriting and directing. After graduating, she worked as a writer-director at a children’s theater in Jingcheng City for two years.

Why only two years?

Because Gu Rongqing became pregnant with Wen Nuan around that time.

Wen Ling resigned and stayed home, first to care for the adult and then to care for the child. Along the way, she also began writing novels and became a third-rate little author.

That was simply how love worked. There always had to be one person who kept giving.

“Mom, why isn’t Aunt Lin here yet?”

Wen Ling had prepared quite a few dishes: red-braised pork, which Wen Nuan loved; winter melon and pork-rib soup, which Aunt Lin enjoyed; and several other home-style dishes.

After finishing everything, she discovered that her mother was still playing with Wen Nuan, while Aunt Lin had yet to arrive.

“Your Aunt Lin said she’d be a little late today. Lin Xu is back.”

“Why didn’t you tell me earlier? What if there isn’t enough food?”

Wen Ling was a little annoyed. Her mother always forgot to mention things like this.

To be honest, Wen Ling wasn’t close to Lin Xu. They had probably met fewer than five times altogether. Lin Xu was five years younger than her and had graduated from university less than two years ago—a young woman still brimming with youthful energy.

Xu Yun, who was playing with her granddaughter, heard the displeasure in Wen Ling’s voice. She turned around and glared at her.

“You have the nerve to get angry? They’re my guests tonight. If anything, you’re the one intruding on us.”

After saying that, she went back to playing with Wen Nuan.

“Xiao Nuan, look at your mama. Doesn’t she look like a poor little punching bag?”

Wen Nuan looked at her mama, then at her grandmother, and nodded very seriously.

She then said to Wen Ling, “Mama, if you take good care of Grandma and me, Nuan Nuan will give you a reward.”

Afterward, she dissolved into giggles.

To Wen Ling, that was definitely mockery.

Not long afterward, the doorbell rang. Her mother told her to answer it, and sure enough, Aunt Lin and Lin Xu were standing outside.

As usual, Lin Xu was dressed in a youthful outfit—a sweatshirt and jeans. Her face was slightly round, giving her an inexplicably adorable appearance.

Wen Ling, by contrast, wasn’t unattractive. She was probably considered moderately good-looking, but her features carried a slightly heroic air. Whenever she actually made an effort with her appearance, she had a somewhat alpha-like edge and looked cool and dashing.

But she usually didn’t bother.

That was right. She was generally quite sloppy.

Perhaps that was why she had been attacked so harshly after news of their secret marriage came out.

After all, Gu Rongqing wasn’t known as a goddess for nothing. She had been a campus goddess ever since university, with fair skin, a beautiful face, and a pair of long legs. She was also genuinely cold and aloof.

Her excellent figure was always concealed by the way she dressed. She wore either shirts and trousers or dresses, and she was forever immaculately put together. Every button on her shirts was fastened all the way to the collar, while every dress she wore reached well below her knees. Her entire being exuded an ascetic air.

“Xiao Ling, you’re home? I haven’t seen you in quite some time.”

The first to speak was Lin Song, otherwise known as Aunt Lin.

In truth, Aunt Lin didn’t look much like Lin Xu. Aunt Lin possessed a gentle, gracious air and was also classically beautiful. Although she was older now, it was easy to imagine how dazzling she must have been in her youth.

Lin Xu, on the other hand, was simply adorable.

“Mm, I only came back a couple of days ago. Come inside, Aunt Lin—and you too, Lin Xu.”

Wen Ling wondered whether Aunt Lin knew that the person she had married was Gu Rongqing.

Oh, wait. Gu Rongqing should now be referred to as the woman she had divorced.

“Mama, who are the pretty auntie and the cute big sister?”

“This… is…”

Wen Ling found herself at a loss for words.

How was she supposed to tell Xiao Nuan that this woman was her grandmother’s girlfriend?

Wen Nuan looked confused. Her eyes widened as she stared without blinking at the mother and daughter who had just entered. She had a feeling she might have addressed them incorrectly.

“Xiao Nuan, you should call her Grandma.”

Xu Yun pointed at Lin Song, then pointed at Lin Xu.

“And you should call her Auntie.”

“Hello, Grandma. Hello, Auntie,” Wen Nuan greeted obediently.

“Is this Sister Wen Ling’s daughter? She’s so cute!”

Lin Xu scooped Wen Nuan into her arms and pinched her cheek.

Wen Nuan’s expression immediately crumpled. She was unhappy. Being picked up without warning and having her cheeks pinched was so annoying.

“Mama~” Wen Nuan called out aggrievedly.

Even Lin Song couldn’t bear to watch anymore and gave Lin Xu a light smack.

“Oh, I’m sorry. She was just far too adorable! And she’s such a beautiful baby.”

Lin Xu stuck out her tongue in embarrassment and put Wen Nuan back down.

“It’s all right. She’s a little shy.”

Wen Ling picked Wen Nuan up and stroked her small face.

Privately, she thought that this child was truly a little tyrant at home. She was incredibly mischievous around people she knew, but became timid whenever she met a stranger.

“Let’s eat. I didn’t know Lin Xu would be coming, so I’m not sure whether the food will suit your tastes.”

“It’s fine. I’m not a picky eater. Sorry to trouble you.”

After dinner, everyone sat in the living room chatting while entertaining Wen Nuan.

Wen Nuan was no longer as reserved as she had been at first. She even climbed into Lin Xu’s lap and began acting spoiled.

Wen Ling pressed a hand to her forehead.

As expected, the moment this child became familiar with someone, she started revealing her true nature.

Lin Xu asked Wen Ling about her work. Wen Ling explained that she currently made money by writing novels and earned just enough to cover their basic living expenses.

Her mother then asked Lin Xu how her job was going. Only then did Wen Ling learn that the younger woman had studied photography. After graduating, she joined a magazine and occasionally took on freelance work as well.

As the adults warmed to the conversation, Lin Xu began talking about her job and couldn’t seem to stop. She shared several amusing stories from different photoshoots, most of which involved celebrities.

Wen Ling gradually stopped listening. Holding Wen Nuan in her arms, she amused herself by gently squeezing her precious daughter’s little belly.

Then she suddenly heard Gu Rongqing’s name.

Lin Xu said that her magazine had recently been planning to invite Gu Rongqing for a photoshoot. The negotiations had originally begun when news of her secret marriage broke.

But now, not only had both the secret marriage and divorce been exposed, there were also rumors that Gu Rongqing had been seen entering and leaving a hotel with internationally renowned Best Actress Ji Chenxi.

Wen Ling couldn’t bear to listen anymore. She wanted to return to her bedroom.

Wen Nuan had wanted to speak when she heard Mommy’s name, but then she noticed that her mama’s arms had tightened painfully around her.

“Mama~ It hurts~” she whimpered.

Only then did Wen Ling realize that she was holding the child too tightly.

“I’m sorry, baby. Mama didn’t mean to.”

Wen Ling hurriedly apologized and comforted Wen Nuan.

Meanwhile, the conversation had already moved from Gu Rongqing and Ji Chenxi entering and leaving a hotel together to the scene of Gu Rongqing coming out of the hotel, wrenching her hand free from Ji Chenxi’s grasp, and leaving in tears.

The rumors surrounding Gu Rongqing online had progressed from her secret marriage and divorce, to her having an affair with Ji Chenxi during her marriage, and then to Ji Chenxi dumping her.

People even said that Gu Rongqing hadn’t looked this devastated when she got divorced.

Wen Ling’s thoughts were filled with only one thing.

Ji Chenxi had returned.

Ji Chenxi.

If Gu Rongqing was Wen Ling’s goddess, then Ji Chenxi was Gu Rongqing’s goddess.

That woman had been dazzling, sexy, and mesmerizing, captivating everyone at Jingcheng City Film Academy and earning their worship as a goddess.

As for Wen Ling, Ji Chenxi might have been her goddess’s goddess, but Wen Ling had only ever been captivated by Gu Rongqing.

Back then, Ji Chenxi had gone abroad.

While Gu Rongqing was heartbroken over her departure, Wen Ling had taken advantage of the opening and slipped into her life.

So now that Ji Chenxi had hurt Gu Rongqing again…

Could Wen Ling take advantage of the opening one more time?