After Taking Advantage Of An Opening [Entertainment Industry] - Chapter 4

Liang Mei accompanied Gu Rongqing when she went to pick up Wen Nuan that evening, but Gu Rongqing was the one who collected the child from kindergarten.

The moment little Wen Nuan climbed into the car, she threw herself into Gu Rongqing’s arms.

“Mommy, I missed you so much~ Hug me~”

This was the first time Gu Rongqing had gone so long without seeing Wen Nuan. She and Wen Ling had been divorced for almost two months, and she hadn’t even made a single video call to the child.

If Wen Nuan hadn’t missed her and asked to call her this time, Gu Rongqing wouldn’t have dared to call them herself.

Although she was the one who had given birth to Wen Nuan, Wen Ling had been the child’s primary caregiver from the moment she was born.

“Nuan Nuan, what would you like to eat? Mommy will take you anywhere you want.”

“Isn’t Mama coming to dinner with us?” Wen Nuan asked innocently.

Gu Rongqing was momentarily speechless.

They hadn’t planned to tell Wen Nuan about the divorce yet. Gu Rongqing had never come home often in the first place, usually returning only once every two weeks or once a month. This absence had merely lasted a little longer than usual, so Wen Nuan hadn’t noticed much of a difference.

Just as Gu Rongqing was about to answer, her phone rang.

It was her mother.

“Hello, Mom.”

“When are you bringing Xiao Nuan home? I haven’t seen her in almost two months!” Gu Rongqing’s mother complained from the other end of the line.

Gu Rongqing recalled the call her mother had made when she first learned about the divorce.

Her mother had done nothing but blame her. Gu Rongqing truly couldn’t understand what kind of love potion Wen Ling had fed her.

At the time, news of their divorce had already been exposed. Gu Rongqing hadn’t even gotten the chance to tell her mother herself before the call came.

As soon as Gu Rongqing answered, her mother immediately took Wen Ling’s side.

“Rongqing, did you bully Wen Ling?”

“Wen Ling was the one who asked for a divorce.”

“Then you must have treated her even worse!”

“She was the one who asked for the divorce. How does that mean I bullied her?”

Gu Rongqing had become a little angry at the time. How had being divorced somehow become her fault?

“Wen Ling loves you so much and treats you so well that even a blind person could see it! Why would she ask for a divorce unless you hurt her?”

After hanging up, Gu Rongqing had thought about her mother’s words for a long time, yet she still didn’t think her mother was right.

She believed it even less now.

Wen Ling was already ignoring her!

“Rongqing? Are you listening to me?”

After talking for quite some time without receiving a response, Gu Rongqing’s mother grew impatient.

“Mom, I’m listening…”

“Then you heard me. Bring Wen Ling home for dinner tonight too.”

With that, her mother hung up.

Gu Rongqing was bewildered.

What exactly had her mother just said?

Bring Wen Ling home for dinner?

How was she supposed to do that?

“Mommy, let’s go pick up Mama now.”

Wen Nuan swung her short legs happily and gazed up at Gu Rongqing with wide eyes.

Gu Rongqing was at a loss.

Should she call Wen Ling?

“Mommy~ I’ll call Mama and tell her.”

Wen Nuan seemed to sense her hesitation and called Wen Ling herself.

“Mama~ Grandma invited us over for dinner. Hurry and get ready. Mommy and I are coming to pick you up.”

Wen Ling’s voice sounded hesitant.

“I… I’m a little busy right now. You and—”

“That’s settled! We’re almost there!”

Before Wen Ling could finish, Wen Nuan cut her off in her soft, childish voice.

She then happily climbed onto Gu Rongqing’s lap.

“Mommy, let’s go!”

On the other end of the call, Wen Ling was thoroughly startled.

She had been writing ever since returning home that afternoon. It was also true that she hadn’t prepared dinner yet…

But she hadn’t even dared to imagine having dinner together.

Still, now that such an opportunity had presented itself, she had to go!

Wen Ling immediately rushed into the bathroom to freshen up.

She hadn’t dressed up properly before going out earlier that day. She had simply thrown on a T-shirt and jeans.

But who could have expected Gu Rongqing to be there?

And Ji Chenxi too.

Anyone who compared Ji Chenxi with Wen Ling would know exactly whom to choose.

Especially since Xu Zhe had called her the moment she arrived home after the auditions.

“Wen Ling, your big brother really has to thank you for letting me witness such juicy gossip today.”

Xu Zhe’s tone was sarcastic. He was clearly mocking her.

“If you have nothing important to say, I’m hanging up.”

“Wait, don’t! Your brother is only calling because he cares about you.”

Wen Ling hung up on him.

Her mother didn’t know everything about her relationship with Gu Rongqing, but Xu Zhe did.

There wasn’t much of an age difference between Wen Ling and Xu Zhe, and they had played together as children.

At the time, Wen Ling’s mother had only recently gotten divorced. Her maternal uncle felt sorry for his younger sister and visited them every few days. During the summer holidays, he would bring Xu Zhe along and leave him at Wen Ling’s home for the entire summer.

That was when Wen Ling and Xu Zhe developed a sibling-like bond.

As for Xu Mengmeng, she had been far too young at the time.

Wen Ling had only just finished getting ready when Gu Rongqing and Wen Nuan arrived. The two of them came straight inside.

Wen Ling had just finished dressing. Today, she wore a black jumpsuit, and her hair had grown long enough to brush her shoulders. She had also applied some light makeup.

Wen Ling’s features were rather heroic, so overly feminine clothing didn’t suit her particularly well. The cool-looking jumpsuit, however, made her appear even more striking and dashing.

Gu Rongqing froze slightly when she saw her.

It had been a long time since she had seen Wen Ling looking like this.

Wen Ling rarely dressed up while caring for the child at home. She usually wore a T-shirt and shorts or simply stayed in her pajamas. Even when she went out, she normally dressed casually.

“Let’s go.”

Wen Ling didn’t want to say anything more. She didn’t know what she could possibly say.

She walked over, picked up Wen Nuan, and left the apartment.

Seeing the two of them walk out, Gu Rongqing followed.

Gu Rongqing’s family lived in the suburbs, and the drive would take an hour.

Gu Rongqing was driving. Not long after they set out, Wen Nuan grew sleepy and fell asleep in Wen Ling’s arms.

Only then did Gu Rongqing explain, “My mother misses Wen Nuan and wanted her to come over for dinner…”

Wen Ling didn’t respond, and Gu Rongqing wisely stopped talking.

In truth, Wen Ling wanted to ask who had invited her to dinner.

Had it been Gu Rongqing?

Wen Ling didn’t know when she had become such a coward.

She had also been timid when she secretly loved Gu Rongqing at university. At the very least, however, she had still dared to pursue Gu Rongqing after Ji Chenxi went abroad.

So what was wrong with her now?

It was impossible to claim that she no longer loved Gu Rongqing.

Wen Ling knew better than anyone how much she loved her. She would have gladly torn out her heart and laid it before Gu Rongqing.

They had been together for seven years. Wen Ling had believed she would eventually melt Gu Rongqing’s frozen heart.

But she hadn’t.

Neither Wen Ling nor Gu Rongqing spoke during the drive.

Wen Ling found the silence unbearable. There were many things she wanted to ask Gu Rongqing.

For example, what was happening between her and Ji Chenxi?

The thought had only just flashed through Wen Ling’s mind when the question slipped from her lips.

“Are you and Ji Chenxi together?”

Gu Rongqing glanced back at Wen Ling, surprise in her eyes.

“Chenxi and me?”

Her gaze made Wen Ling uncomfortable, but since she had already asked, she could only brace herself and continue.

“Yes. You and Ji Chenxi.”

“Why would I… be together with her?”

The question left Wen Ling confused.

The two of them had been appearing everywhere together. Didn’t that mean they were dating?

Wen Ling’s personality was far too avoidant.

They had been together for so many years. During the first two years of their marriage, both of them were busy. Later, after they had Wen Nuan, Wen Ling’s life revolved almost entirely around the child.

Meanwhile, Gu Rongqing became increasingly busy and famous.

The two of them barely crossed paths anymore.

If Gu Rongqing managed to eat at home once a week, she would immediately return to work after the meal. She only stayed overnight about once every two weeks.

Naturally, intimacy between them had also become rare.

Moreover, Gu Rongqing always behaved like a piece of wood.

Was she obedient?

Yes, she was.

No matter the position or how Wen Ling teased and touched her, Gu Rongqing accepted everything. Whenever Wen Ling thought she was finally about to lose control and cry, Gu Rongqing would hold it back and remain completely silent.

When they first became intimate, Wen Ling had been extremely cautious.

To her, Gu Rongqing had been sacred and untouchable.

Yet Wen Ling had laid her hands on her anyway.

Later, Wen Ling wanted to make Gu Rongqing cry. She wanted to hear Gu Rongqing beg her to stop.

But it never happened.

Gu Rongqing never refused, but she never took the initiative either. She was always the one receiving, quietly playing the part of a pillow princess.

Wen Ling was embarrassed even to admit it.

They had been married for so many years and already had a child together, yet Gu Rongqing had only touched her once.

And even that had required Wen Ling to pressure her into it.

It happened after Wen Nuan was born, when Wen Ling began expecting more from their relationship. She wanted the two of them to behave like an ordinary married couple.

But Gu Rongqing didn’t know how.

She hurt Wen Ling so badly that Wen Ling thought she might die.

After that, Gu Rongqing became even more afraid to try again.

Little by little, Gu Rongqing’s indifference had worn away Wen Ling’s courage.

Then Ji Chenxi reappeared and crushed her final shred of hope.

“There’s nothing between Chenxi and me…”

“Don’t bother. It isn’t important anymore.”

Wen Ling interrupted Gu Rongqing and turned away, no longer wanting to look at her.

Gu Rongqing didn’t know what to say.

Her hands tightened around the steering wheel.

As she watched Wen Ling turn toward the window, Gu Rongqing finally began to understand the divorce for the first time…

Neither of them spoke again.

When they were almost at the Gu residence, Wen Ling woke Wen Nuan. She carried the child inside, while Gu Rongqing followed behind them.

Gu Rongqing’s mother came out to greet them.

Gu Rongqing had inherited her beauty from her mother. Mrs. Gu had already been in her thirties when she gave birth to Gu Rongqing and was now nearly sixty, but it was still easy to see that she must have been a great beauty in her youth.

Mrs. Gu was also gentle by nature—or at least Wen Ling had always thought so.

Throughout their seven years of marriage, Mrs. Gu had always spoken softly and rarely displayed any anger.

Gu Rongqing called out, “Mom.”

Wen Ling opened her mouth but couldn’t bring herself to say it…

Mrs. Gu had already rushed toward Wen Nuan.

“Oh, my precious Nuan Nuan! Grandma missed you so much!”

She completely ignored her own daughter.

But Wen Nuan could only be blamed for being far too adorable and sweet-tongued.

“Grandma, Nuan Nuan missed you too.”

Wen Nuan wriggled out of Wen Ling’s arms and hurried toward her grandmother on her short legs.

The two of them embraced with deep affection.

Wen Ling thought that if Ms. Xu saw this scene, she would probably burst into emotional tears.

“You two should come inside too.”

Mrs. Gu carried Wen Nuan into the house without even looking at them.

Dinner had been prepared by Mr. Gu.

When he was younger, Mr. Gu had been a chef and opened his own restaurant. After marrying Mrs. Gu, the restaurant grew increasingly successful. Once it had made a name for itself in Jingcheng City, they expanded it into a nationwide chain.

Mrs. Gu had once said that she brought prosperity to her husband. His business had indeed grown rapidly after they married. They had both been so busy that she didn’t have time to give birth to Gu Rongqing until she was in her thirties.

As a result, Gu Rongqing had been doted on from childhood.

Later, however, Mrs. Gu realized that she and her husband had been too busy and had spent too little time with their daughter. That lack of companionship had shaped Gu Rongqing into the person she was now—someone who understood little about human warmth and affection.

That was why they had been extremely satisfied with Wen Ling.

Although Wen Ling was one year younger than their daughter, she was usually the one taking care of Gu Rongqing.

Before the two of them married, whenever Mrs. Gu called Gu Rongqing, mother and daughter never had anything heartfelt to say to each other.

Wen Ling was different.

She always called to offer greetings during holidays. Whenever she had time, she brought Wen Nuan to visit them.

“Dinner is ready. Grandpa made lots of Xiao Nuan’s favorite dishes.”

Mr. Gu carried the final dish to the table, and everyone sat down to eat.

Mrs. Gu did most of the talking throughout dinner.

Mr. Gu was a man of few words. He remained beside Wen Nuan, busy feeding her.

Wen Ling kept Mrs. Gu company in conversation, although Mrs. Gu guided most of it. Gu Rongqing quietly ate without saying much.

After dinner, Wen Ling took the initiative to clear the dishes.

Mrs. Gu couldn’t bear to watch.

“Rongqing, go help her.”

“I… I can manage by myself.”

Wen Ling opened her mouth, but she still couldn’t bring herself to call Mrs. Gu “Mom.”

Mrs. Gu noticed.

She genuinely liked Wen Ling. She felt that after spending these past several years with Wen Ling, even her daughter had gained a little more human warmth.

In the end, Mrs. Gu pushed both Gu Rongqing and Wen Ling into the kitchen together.

The two of them silently washed the dishes.

When they came back out, they heard Mrs. Gu announce that she wanted Wen Nuan to sleep with her. She carried the child away and told the two of them to return to their room and sleep.

Return to their room?

Which room? Wen Ling wondered.

The Gu residence was a small two-story villa. There were guest rooms on the first floor, but no one had stayed in them for a long time. Whenever Wen Ling and Gu Rongqing visited, they always slept in Gu Rongqing’s bedroom.

Where was Wen Ling supposed to sleep now?

Besides, Mr. and Mrs. Gu probably both knew about their divorce.

Yet the two of them were behaving as though nothing had happened.

Wen Ling truly couldn’t understand them.

“Why are the two of you standing there? Go upstairs! There’s nowhere for you to sleep on the first floor!”

Mrs. Gu became anxious when neither of them moved.

Left with no choice, the two could only obey.

Wen Ling didn’t particularly mind.

Gu Rongqing, however, felt somewhat…

Wen Ling had been the one to ask for a divorce.

Gu Rongqing had never expected her to agree to come home for dinner with her—much less share the same room and the same bed…