Taking Advantage of Her Vulnerability [Entertainment Industry] - Chapter 2

Wen Ling took Wennuan back to the capital. On the day they left, her mother caught her while Wennuan was napping and offered a few parting words: “Since divorce was your choice, you should have been prepared before you made it. Conversely, if you weren’t prepared—and if the situation is still salvageable—then do what’s within your power.”

Wen Ling hadn’t expected her mother to say such things. The divorce had caused a massive stir; while the public didn’t know who this third-rate writer was, her mother knew exactly. Yet, since the split, her mother hadn’t breathed a word about it. Even when Lin Xu brought up Gu Rongqing’s scandals the other night, her mother hadn’t shown a hint of surprise.

On the plane, Wennuan fell asleep. Holding her daughter’s small body, Wen Ling thought: Let it be. She had Wennuan, her child with Gu Rongqing. There was no need to be jealous of Ji Chenxi anymore. As for “taking advantage of her vulnerability” again? She didn’t know; she couldn’t do it anymore. Gu Rongqing likely wouldn’t give her the chance even if she tried.

After landing, she couldn’t bear to wake the sleeping child. She carried her through luggage claim and into a taxi. They arrived home at 3:00 PM. Since it was too early for dinner and Wennuan was still out, Wen Ling sat by the small bed and stared into space.

She wondered: Why didn’t I have the courage to ask for a divorce sooner? Yes, it was Wen Ling who had initiated it. She had been married to Gu Rongqing for seven years. Gu Rongqing was one year ahead of her in school. Back then, Gu Rongqing had just graduated and landed a supporting role that catapulted her to fame. From then on, her career took off—lead roles in dramas, then movies. Except for the year she had Wennuan, where she stopped for six months, she had almost never rested.

But no one knew that Wen Ling had married Gu Rongqing before even graduating college. The career she had just started loving was halted by Wennuan’s arrival, and she became the person behind Gu Rongqing’s shadow.

“Mommy… I’m hungry.” The soft, milky voice pulled Wen Ling from her memories. She picked her daughter up.

“What do you want for dinner? Mommy will make it for you.”

“Is Mami coming back to eat with us?”

Looking at her daughter’s face—which looked more like Gu Rongqing’s every day—Wen Ling felt a dull ache. She stammered, “Your Mami… she’s very busy…” Before she could finish, she saw Wennuan’s lip tremble, tears welling up.

“How about… you ask your Mami yourself?” Wen Ling said, unsure of her own feelings. Did she want to see Gu Rongqing? No. They hadn’t seen each other in a month—not since they walked out of the Civil Affairs Bureau.

Hearing this, Wennuan’s eyes curved into happy crescents. She grabbed her little toy phone to call Gu Rongqing.

Watching her daughter’s smile, Wen Ling realized it had been over a month since the child had seen Gu Rongqing. Although Wen Ling had raised her practically alone and the child was used to her other mother’s absence, a month was a long time. But Gu Rongqing probably didn’t want to see them. After all, during the divorce, Gu Rongqing hadn’t fought for custody at all; Wen Ling had obtained it effortlessly.

“Hello…” Gu Rongqing’s cool voice came through the phone. Still as cold as ever. Yet, Wennuan never seemed to feel that chill.

“Mami, Nuan-Nuan misses you so much. Are you coming back to eat with Nuan-Nuan today?” the child wheedled. Sometimes, Wen Ling wondered if Gu Rongqing ever acted this spoiled.

“Did your mother ask me to come over for dinner?”

Wen Ling tensed. Would she come? Hearing the question, she quickly took the phone from Wennuan. “Mommy will help you talk, be a good girl.” She patted Wennuan’s head and stepped out of the room.

“Nuan-Nuan doesn’t know any better. You shouldn’t talk like that.”

“I forgot. My apologies.” Gu Rongqing’s tone was polite but distant.

“It’s fine. If you’re free, come. If not, don’t worry about it; I’ll explain to Nuan-Nuan.”

“I’m free. I miss Nuan-Nuan.” With that, the line went dead.

“Is Mami coming?” Wennuan asked timidly. She was a sensitive child. She didn’t know her mothers were divorced, but she noticed that the other kids at kindergarten were picked up by a mom and a dad, or two moms. She only ever had Wen Ling. She suspected her mothers didn’t get along.

“Yes. Mami said she misses Nuan-Nuan.” Feeling a surge of pity, Wen Ling lifted her daughter high in the air. “Are you happy? Mami is coming to see you!”

“Heehee… so happy! Nuan-Nuan misses Mami too!”

They spent over an hour preparing the meal. By 6:00 PM, they were sitting on the sofa waiting. Wen Ling knew Wennuan must be starving, but the child didn’t complain; she was waiting for Gu Rongqing.

“Baby, are you hungry? Should we eat first?”

“No! I want to wait for Mami!”

Just as Wen Ling was about to respond, her phone rang. It was Gu Rongqing.

“Hello? When will you be here?”

“I… can’t make it today.” Gu Rongqing’s voice held a hint of apology.

“Okay.”

“Help me apologize to Nuan-Nuan.”

“Okay.” Wen Ling hung up. “Nuan-Nuan, Mami is busy and can’t come. She asked me to—”

Wen Ling saw Wennuan’s eyes redden, a single tear rolling down her cheek. She rushed over to pull the child into a hug. Her heart ached. To this day, she still didn’t understand: Why did Gu Rongqing choose to have Wennuan?

Same-sex marriage had been legal for ten years. They married seven years ago. At that time, having children was an option, but Wen Ling had never thought about it. Gu Rongqing was too busy, and Wen Ling didn’t feel a strong need for one; back then, she felt that having Gu Rongqing was having everything.

It was Gu Rongqing who said she wanted a child. Wen Ling had said yes.

Wen Ling thought that with a child, Gu Rongqing might stay home more. But that only lasted the six months of the pregnancy. Afterward, Gu Rongqing would be away for at least two weeks at a time, sometimes up to three months. Wen Ling raised the child alone.

After five years of this, Wen Ling finally woke up. In the first two years of marriage, she had been immersed in a self-perceived “happiness”—the person she had looked up to and chased for so long had become her wife. She didn’t need Gu Rongqing to do anything to feel blessed. But once the child arrived, Wen Ling changed. She started wanting more. she wanted Gu Rongqing home; she wanted a warm, harmonious family of three.

Until three months ago. Gu Rongqing came home, and Wen Ling noticed something different. Joy. Every time she returned, there was a look of joy on her face.

It turned out she was back in contact with Ji Chenxi.

Wen Ling didn’t understand. What did these seven years mean? To Gu Rongqing, what was she?

Gu Rongqing and Ji Chenxi were trending again.

Since the “hotel incident,” leaks claimed they were spotted dining together, laughing and chatting—a far cry from their unhappy parting at the hotel entrance.

“Rongqing, what exactly is going on between you and Ji Chenxi?”

The speaker was Liang Mei, Gu Rongqing’s manager. She was nursing a massive headache. The secret marriage leak was one thing, but the current public narrative was that infidelity had caused the divorce. She had called Gu Rongqing to the office to demand the truth.

“Oh, nothing. Just friends,” Gu Rongqing said nonchalantly.

Liang Mei lost her cool. “Do you realize how bad your situation is right now?”

“I know. If there’s nothing else, I’m leaving. I’m having dinner with Nuan-Nuan tonight.”

“I’m asking you, what is wrong with you lately?” Liang Mei had managed her since her debut; she knew her better than anyone.

“Nothing. Like I said, I’m having dinner with Nuan-Nuan.” Gu Rongqing’s expression turned cold. She didn’t like Liang Mei overstepping.

“Fine. I’ll walk out with you.” Liang Mei sighed. She knew Gu Rongqing’s personality—sometimes she was cold as ice, but other times she could be so gentle it was drowning.

As they reached the parking lot, they were swarmed by entertainment reporters.

“Gu Rongqing, what was the reason for your divorce?”

“Is it because of Ji Chenxi?”

“Are you and Ji Chenxi first loves?”

“Was your ex-wife the one who destroyed your relationship with Ji Chenxi?”

“The relationship fell apart,” Gu Rongqing dropped those words and got into her car. The reporters followed her. That was when she called Wen Ling to say she couldn’t make it. Shortly after, she received a call from Ji Chenxi, inviting her to dinner.

Wen Ling only found out the next day why Gu Rongqing hadn’t come: she was afraid the reporters would follow her to her ex-wife’s house.

Wen Ling discovered this when she tried to leave her own home, only to find it surrounded by reporters. She hadn’t expected them to be so resourceful; she had never even shown her face publicly.

“Excuse me, did you and Movie Queen Gu divorce because of Movie Queen Ji?”

Wen Ling didn’t wait for the next question. She asked back, “What did she say?”

“She said the relationship fell apart.”

“There was no ‘relationship,'” Wen Ling replied. “I just took advantage of her vulnerability.”