Taking Advantage of Her Vulnerability [Entertainment Industry] - Chapter 13

Ever since Gu Rongqing discovered the relationship between Wen Ling and Xu Mengmeng, every time they met, Gu Rongqing either avoided her gaze entirely or looked at her with a very strange expression. Wen Ling wanted to explain, but she never found the opportunity.

It was the same during today’s shoot. Wen Ling sat on one side of Director Li Xin, while Ji Chenxi sat on the other.

“Cut! Pass!” Gu Rongqing’s acting skills were beyond doubt, and under Wen Ling’s guidance, Xu Mengmeng was also hitting her stride. The results over the past few days were obvious, and the progress had accelerated significantly. The movie was already one-third finished.

Once the cameras stopped, Ji Chenxi immediately went up to praise Gu Rongqing’s performance. Director Li Xin added that she was indeed “Movie Queen Gu” for a reason—truly impressive.

Xu Mengmeng felt a bit awkward until Director Li Xin added, “Mengmeng was also very impressive. She didn’t falter at all playing opposite the Movie Queen.”

Wen Ling sat to the side in silence, praising no one. She knew exactly how great Gu Rongqing was—she had watched all of her movies countless times. And Xu Mengmeng’s talent was plain for all to see. Wen Ling simply didn’t care for the flattery.

What she cared about was the fact that Gu Rongqing still wouldn’t look her in the eye.

Wen Ling could only sigh to herself… only to hear Lin Xu sigh right beside her.

“What’s wrong with you? Why the long face?”

“Aren’t you the same?”

Wen Ling thought: I’m like this because of my ex-wife, which is natural. But what could you possibly be sighing about? Unless…

“Sister Liang Mei hasn’t been to the set much lately,” Lin Xu muttered.

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

“Can we talk?”

Wen Ling knew the words were directed at her, but she truly had nothing to say to Ji Chenxi. Seeing Wen Ling’s lack of response, Ji Chenxi leaned in and whispered, “Let’s talk about Rongqing.”

Wen Ling glanced at Gu Rongqing, who was busy filming, and followed Ji Chenxi away.

“Wen Ling, you and Rongqing are already divorced.” As soon as they reached a quiet corner of the set, Ji Chenxi spoke up.

Wen Ling didn’t know what Ji Chenxi wanted. The divorce was practically public knowledge; what was the point of bringing it up?

“Speak plainly.”

Ji Chenxi chuckled softly. She really didn’t understand what Gu Rongqing saw in Wen Ling—marrying her, having a child, and even after the divorce, still losing sleep and appetite over her.

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

“She and I—”

“You and she have no connection anymore. I want you to stay away from my girlfriend.”

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

When Wen Ling returned, she looked lost and dejected. Lin Xu wanted to ask what Ji Chenxi had said but didn’t know how to start.

They endured until evening. Lin Xu tried to drag Wen Ling out for dinner, but Wen Ling had no interest. She declined, saying she had a video call scheduled with Xiao Nuan, and returned to the hotel alone.

While waiting for the elevator, she happened to run into Ji Chenxi and Gu Rongqing coming out. Wen Ling looked at them and thought they truly were a perfect match. Even if Ji Chenxi hadn’t claimed Gu Rongqing was her girlfriend today, the entire crew probably assumed they were a couple anyway. She had even overheard people gossiping:

“If I were Gu Rongqing, I’d choose Movie Queen Ji too.”

“Wen Ling is just a small-time screenwriter.”

It was true. She was just an obscure screenwriter; how could she compare to Ji Chenxi? When she ran into them, she tried to look past them and just keep walking… but they weren’t going to let her. Especially not Ji Chenxi.

“Teacher Wen, aren’t you going to dinner?”

Wen Ling didn’t want to talk and just gave a nod, trying to move past. But Ji Chenxi spoke again: “Rongqing and I are going to eat. Would Teacher Wen like to join us?”

Ji Chenxi’s hand was resting on Gu Rongqing’s shoulder as she looked at Wen Ling with a raised eyebrow.

“No, thank you.”

Wen Ling ignored them, stepped into the elevator, and quickly pressed the button for her floor. As the doors closed, she saw Gu Rongqing turn back to look at her with an expression she couldn’t decipher.

Once the elevator doors were shut, Gu Rongqing turned to Ji Chenxi. “Chenxi, sorry, I just remembered Liang Mei has something she needs to talk to me about. I can’t go to dinner after all.”

Before Wen Ling even reached her room, the video call request from Wennuan arrived. She rushed inside and answered. On the screen, Mother Gu was holding Wennuan. The child looked unhappy. “Mommy, why were you so slow?”

“Mommy was outside just now. Sorry, Xiao Nuan. Did you miss me?”

“Yes! I miss Mommy, and Mami too~ Why isn’t Mami there again?” Wennuan’s crisp voice made Wen Ling feel awkward. The child had been asking during every call lately. Before Wen Ling could make an excuse, Wennuan continued: “Does Mami not miss Xiao Nuan? I miss Mami.”

Hearing the sob in her daughter’s voice, Wen Ling felt a wave of misery. On the screen, Mother Gu was trying to comfort the child. Wen Ling began to wonder: Was I too impulsive about the divorce? How did she let things get to this point? How could she let Xiao Nuan be this sad while Gu Rongqing became someone else’s girlfriend?

She wanted to go find Gu Rongqing right now and ask: What are you thinking? What did our seven years together mean? What does Wennuan mean? How can you disregard everything?

Eventually, Mother Gu suggested they hang up, saying Wennuan wasn’t in a good state and they would talk tomorrow.

Wen Ling decided to go out for a walk. she didn’t want to be there when Lin Xu returned and saw her in this state. She bought two bottles of liquor and sat alone by the bridge near the studio city, drinking her sorrows away.

She thought of her past with Gu Rongqing—the joy and the pain. The wind made her cold, and the alcohol made her want to cry.

Suddenly, she felt someone sit down beside her. She turned and saw Gu Rongqing.

“Am I drunk? Why is Rongqing here?” Wen Ling mumbled, her hand reaching out to touch Gu Rongqing’s face.

Gu Rongqing just let her touch her. She didn’t know what was wrong with her either. Since that morning they spent together, Wen Ling had been avoiding her. Then, finding out Wen Ling had kept her family background a secret made Gu want to ignore her. But whenever she wasn’t busy, her gaze would always sneak back to Wen Ling.

She was angry that Wen Ling wasn’t paying attention to her, but also unhappy that Wen Ling was ignoring her. Lately, she had been replaying Liang Mei’s words in her head. She didn’t like Ji Chenxi, but she didn’t know if she liked Wen Ling. She didn’t even know if Wen Ling liked her.

If Wen Ling liked her, why did she start ignoring her the day after “that” happened?

“Hiss…” Gu Rongqing swatted Wen Ling’s hand away. Wen Ling had pinched her too hard.

Wen Ling looked startled. She hadn’t expected it to be the real Gu Rongqing.

“Why are you drinking here?” Gu Rongqing asked.

“Didn’t you go to dinner with Ji Chenxi?” Wen Ling countered.

They both spoke at once, then fell silent together. After staring at each other for a long time, Wen Ling wanted to ask all the questions she had just been thinking, but she lost her nerve. “I just wanted a drink.”

Gu Rongqing just watched her. There was a question in her heart, but she didn’t know how to say it. She called Wen Ling’s name softly.

Wen Ling looked at her, confused. “?”

“I have something to tell you,” Gu Rongqing said. “I might… like you.”

“???”

“But aren’t you with Ji Chenxi?” Wen Ling blurted out.

Gu Rongqing grew a little angry. Why did Wen Ling always have to ask about that?

Seeing Gu Rongqing’s face change the moment she mentioned Ji Chenxi, Wen Ling felt flustered.

“Wen Ling, do you want me to be with Chenxi? Is that why you did those things to me that night and now refuse to take responsibility?”

Wen Ling was bewildered. What is she talking about? Refuse to take responsibility?

“Nothing happened that night! And besides, Ji Chenxi told me herself that you are her girlfriend!” Wen Ling practically shouted.

“She says it, so it’s true? Why didn’t you ever ask me?” Gu Rongqing retorted.