After Taking Advantage Of An Opening [Entertainment Industry] - Chapter 13

Ever since Gu Rongqing learned about Wen Ling’s relationship with Xu Mengmeng, she had behaved strangely whenever they met. She either refused to look directly at Wen Ling or stared at her with an indescribably peculiar expression.

Wen Ling wanted to explain, but she never found the opportunity.

It was the same during filming today.

Wen Ling sat beside Director Li Xin, while Ji Chenxi sat on his other side.

“Cut! That’s a pass!”

Gu Rongqing’s acting ability was beyond question. After receiving Wen Ling’s guidance, Xu Mengmeng had also gradually found her rhythm. The improvement had been obvious over the past several days, and their progress had accelerated considerably.

They had already filmed one-third of the movie.

The moment filming paused, Ji Chenxi went directly to Gu Rongqing and praised her acting.

Director Li Xin also remarked, “As expected of Best Actress Gu. You truly are remarkable.”

Xu Mengmeng was left standing there somewhat awkwardly…

Director Li Xin quickly added, “Mengmeng was excellent too. You held your own perfectly while acting opposite Best Actress Gu.”

Wen Ling sat nearby without saying anything.

She didn’t praise either of them.

She knew exactly how talented Gu Rongqing was. Wen Ling had lost count of how many times she had watched every one of her movies.

Xu Mengmeng’s acting ability was also obvious to everyone.

Wen Ling simply disliked this sort of excessive praise and flattery.

The only thing she cared about was that Gu Rongqing still refused to look directly at her.

All Wen Ling could do was sit there sighing…

Then Lin Xu sighed beside her as well.

“What’s wrong with you? Why do you look so miserable?”

“Aren’t you the same?”

Wen Ling thought, I’m upset because of my ex-wife. That’s perfectly understandable. But what could possibly be troubling you? Unless…

“Sister Liang Mei hasn’t been coming to the set much lately.”

After saying that, Lin Xu sighed again.

Just as Wen Ling was about to tease her, Ji Chenxi approached.

“Can we talk?”

Wen Ling knew the question was directed at her, but she genuinely had nothing to say to Ji Chenxi.

When Wen Ling gave no response, Ji Chenxi moved closer and said, “Let’s talk about Rongqing.”

Wen Ling glanced at Gu Rongqing, who had resumed filming, then followed Ji Chenxi away.

“Wen Ling, you and Rongqing are already divorced.”

The moment they reached a quiet corner of the set, Ji Chenxi spoke.

Wen Ling didn’t understand what she wanted.

Practically everyone already knew that she and Gu Rongqing were divorced, so what was the point of saying this?

“Get to the point.”

Ji Chenxi chuckled softly.

She truly couldn’t understand what Gu Rongqing had seen in Wen Ling. They had married and had a child together, and even after the divorce, Gu Rongqing was still so affected by her that she could neither eat nor sleep properly.

“Since you’re divorced, stay away from Rongqing.”

“She and I—”

“You have nothing to do with her anymore. I hope you’ll stay away from my girlfriend.”

Girlfriend?

Hearing that word from Ji Chenxi for the first time made Wen Ling’s heart ache terribly.

When Lin Xu saw Wen Ling return, she looked completely distracted.

Lin Xu didn’t know what Ji Chenxi had said to her. She wanted to ask, but she didn’t know how to begin…

Wen Ling remained in that state until evening.

Lin Xu tried to persuade her to go out for dinner, but Wen Ling had no appetite and refused. She said Xiao Nuan would be video-calling that evening, so she returned to the hotel alone.

While waiting for the elevator, she happened to encounter Ji Chenxi and Gu Rongqing stepping out together.

Looking at the two women, Wen Ling thought they truly appeared perfect for each other…

Even if Ji Chenxi hadn’t approached her today and claimed that Gu Rongqing was her girlfriend, everyone on the production probably already assumed they were a couple.

Wen Ling had even overheard people saying such things.

“If I were Gu Rongqing, I’d choose Best Actress Ji too.”

“Wen Ling is only some insignificant little screenwriter.”

That was right.

She was merely an unknown screenwriter.

How could she possibly compare with Ji Chenxi?

When she encountered the two of them, Wen Ling tried to pretend she hadn’t seen them and walk past.

But the women in front of her—especially Ji Chenxi—had no intention of letting her succeed.

“Teacher Wen, didn’t you go out for dinner?”

Wen Ling didn’t want to speak to her. She merely nodded in acknowledgment and prepared to continue walking.

Unexpectedly, Ji Chenxi spoke again.

“Rongqing and I are going to dinner. Would you like to join us, Teacher Wen?”

Her hand remained on Gu Rongqing’s shoulder as she raised an eyebrow at Wen Ling.

“No, thank you.”

Without paying them any further attention, Wen Ling walked directly into the elevator and quickly pressed the button for her floor.

At the moment the doors closed, she saw Gu Rongqing look back at her.

There was something in Gu Rongqing’s eyes that Wen Ling couldn’t understand.

Watching the elevator doors close, Gu Rongqing turned to Ji Chenxi.

“Chenxi, I’m sorry. I suddenly remembered that Liang Mei needed to discuss something with me. I won’t be able to have dinner with you.”

Before Wen Ling even reached her room, Wen Nuan’s video call arrived.

Wen Ling hurried toward the room and answered.

In the video, Mrs. Gu held Wen Nuan and greeted Wen Ling.

Wen Nuan, however, looked unhappy.

“Mama, why did you take so long~?”

“Mama was outside just now. I’m sorry, Xiao Nuan.”

“Did you miss Mama?”

“Yes! I missed Mama so much—and Mommy too~ Why isn’t Mommy here again?”

Wen Nuan’s bright, childish voice came through the phone, leaving Wen Ling somewhat embarrassed.

Wen Nuan had asked about Gu Rongqing during their last several video calls. Wen Ling had offered an excuse each time.

This time, before she could say anything, Wen Nuan asked another question.

“Doesn’t Mommy miss Xiao Nuan? I miss Mommy.”

Hearing the tears entering her daughter’s voice made Wen Ling’s heart ache.

Mrs. Gu continued comforting Wen Nuan through the video, while Wen Ling began wondering whether she had been too hasty about the divorce.

How had she allowed herself and Gu Rongqing to reach this point?

How could she have made Xiao Nuan so sad?

And now Gu Rongqing had become someone else’s girlfriend.

Wen Ling wanted to confront Gu Rongqing and ask what she was thinking.

What had the seven years they spent together meant to her?

What did Wen Nuan mean to her?

How could she disregard everything so completely?

Eventually, Mrs. Gu suggested ending the call. Wen Nuan wasn’t in a good state, so they could talk again tomorrow.

After thinking for a while, Wen Ling left the hotel.

She wanted to take a walk, and she didn’t want Lin Xu to return and see her like this.

Wen Ling bought two bottles of alcohol and sat alone by a bridge near the studio complex, drinking away her sorrows.

She thought about everything that had happened between her and Gu Rongqing over the years.

The happiness.

The sadness.

The wind made her feel cold, while the alcohol made her want to cry.

At that moment, she sensed someone sit beside her.

When she turned, she discovered that it was Gu Rongqing.

“Am I drunk? How did Rongqing end up here?”

Wen Ling mumbled to herself, but her hand reached out to touch Gu Rongqing’s face.

Gu Rongqing allowed her to do as she pleased.

She didn’t understand what was wrong with her either.

Ever since they separated that morning, Wen Ling had been avoiding her. Later, after Gu Rongqing learned that Wen Ling had concealed her connection to Yiyang, she stopped wanting to speak to her.

She felt that she might be angry.

She didn’t want to pay attention to Wen Ling, but when Wen Ling ignored her too, Gu Rongqing became unhappy…

Over the past several days, she had repeatedly thought about what Liang Mei had said.

She didn’t like Ji Chenxi.

But she didn’t know whether she liked Wen Ling.

Nor did she know whether Wen Ling still liked her.

If Wen Ling did like her, why had she started avoiding Gu Rongqing the very next day after something like that happened between them?

“Hiss…”

Gu Rongqing smacked Wen Ling’s hand away.

Wen Ling had pinched her too hard.

Wen Ling stared at her in surprise.

She hadn’t expected this to be the real Gu Rongqing…

“Why are you drinking here?”

“Didn’t you go to dinner with Ji Chenxi?”

They spoke at the same time, then fell silent together.

They stared at each other for a long while.

Wen Ling wanted to ask all the questions that had been tormenting her, but when the words reached her lips, she lost her courage.

“I just felt like drinking.”

Gu Rongqing continued looking at her.

There was something she wanted to ask, but she didn’t know how to say it.

She softly called Wen Ling’s name.

Wen Ling looked at her in confusion. “?”

“There’s something I want to tell you.”

Wen Ling blinked at Gu Rongqing.

“I might… like you.”

“???”

“Aren’t you together with Ji Chenxi?”

Gu Rongqing became angry.

Why did Wen Ling bring this up every single time?

Seeing Gu Rongqing’s expression abruptly change at the mention of Ji Chenxi left Wen Ling at a loss…

“Wen Ling, do you want me to be with Chenxi? Is that why you did those things to me that night but have no intention of taking responsibility?”

Wen Ling was utterly bewildered.

What was Gu Rongqing talking about?

How was Wen Ling refusing to take responsibility?

“Nothing happened that night! Besides, Ji Chenxi was the one who told me you were her girlfriend!”

Wen Ling practically shouted the words.

“Just because she said it, you believed her? Why have you never asked me?”