Taking Advantage of Her Vulnerability [Entertainment Industry] - Chapter 4

When Gu Rongqing went to pick up Wennuan that evening, Liang Mei accompanied her. It was the manager who actually retrieved the child from the kindergarten, and little Wennuan threw herself into Gu Rongqing’s arms the moment she got into the car.

“Mami, I missed you so much~ huggie~” This was the first time she hadn’t seen Wennuan for such a long period. It had been nearly two months since the divorce, and they hadn’t even had a video call. If Wennuan hadn’t asked to call her, Gu Rongqing wouldn’t have dared to reach out. Even though she was the one who gave birth to the child, Wen Ling had been the primary caregiver since day one.

“Nuan-Nuan, what do you want to eat? Mami will take you out.”

“Mami, isn’t Mommy coming to dinner too?” Wennuan asked innocently.

Gu Rongqing was momentarily speechless. They hadn’t planned on telling Wennuan about the divorce yet. Since she was rarely home anyway—returning only once or twice a month—the child hadn’t noticed much of a difference, other than this current absence being slightly longer than usual.

Before she could answer, her phone rang. It was her mother.

“Hello, Mom.”

“When are you bringing Xiao Nuan over? I haven’t seen her in nearly two months!” Her mother’s accusing voice boomed from the other end.

Gu Rongqing recalled the phone call she received right after the news of her divorce broke. Her mother had done nothing but criticize her. She truly couldn’t understand what kind of spell Wen Ling had cast on her mother. Back then, before Gu Rongqing could even break the news personally, her mother had called and immediately took Wen Ling’s side.

“Rongqing, did you bully Wen Ling?”

“Wen Ling was the one who wanted the divorce.”

“Then you definitely bullied her!”

“She’s the one who said it, how is it my fault?” Gu Rongqing had been annoyed at the time—how was being the one “gotten divorced from” still her fault?

“Wen Ling loves you so much and treats you so well, even a blind person can see it. If you hadn’t hurt her, why would she ask for a divorce?”

Later, after hanging up, she had thought about it for a long time and still didn’t think her mother was right. Now, it was even worse—Wen Ling was ignoring her!

“Rongqing? Are you listening to me?” Her mother grew impatient at the silence.

“Mom, I’m listening…”

“Then you heard me. Bring Wen Ling home for dinner today too.” With that, she hung up.

Gu Rongqing was stunned. Wait, what did she just say? Bring Wen Ling back for dinner? How?

“Mami, let’s go pick up Mommy now!” Wennuan wagged her short legs excitedly, looking at Gu Rongqing with wide eyes.

Gu Rongqing felt helpless. Should she call Wen Ling?

“Mami~ I’ll call Mommy and tell her!” Wennuan seemed to sense her hesitation and dialed Wen Ling herself.

“Mommy~ Grandma wants us to come over for dinner. Get ready quick, Mami and I are coming to get you!”

Wen Ling’s voice sounded hesitant over the speaker: “I… I’m a bit busy right now, you and—”

“That’s it, we’re almost there!” Before Wen Ling could finish, Wennuan gave a milky command and happily crawled into Gu Rongqing’s lap. “Mami, let’s go!”

On the other side, Wen Ling was startled by the call. She had been writing since returning in the afternoon and hadn’t started cooking yet… but the idea of eating together was something she hadn’t dared to imagine.

Still, if there was a chance, she had to go!

She rushed to the bathroom to clean up. She hadn’t bothered to dress up earlier, heading out in just a T-shirt and jeans. But who could have predicted encountering Gu Rongqing? Or Ji Chenxi? Comparing herself to Ji Chenxi, it seemed obvious who anyone would choose.

To make matters worse, her cousin Xu Zhe had called earlier to mock her.

“Wen Ling, your brother really has to thank you for letting me witness such a huge scandal today,” he had said sarcastically.

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

“Wait, wait, I’m just looking out for you.” Wen Ling hung up on him.

Her mother didn’t know the full details of her situation with Gu Rongqing, but Xu Zhe did. They were close in age and played together as kids after her mother’s divorce. As for Xu Mengmeng, she was much younger.

By the time she finished getting ready, Gu Rongqing and Wennuan arrived. They walked straight in. Wen Ling had settled on a black jumpsuit, her shoulder-length hair neatly styled and her makeup simple. Because of her sharp, “cool” features, overly feminine clothes didn’t suit her; the jumpsuit made her look sleek and spirited.

Gu Rongqing was dazed for a moment. It had been a long time since she had seen Wen Ling like this. At home, Wen Ling was usually in loungewear or pajamas while looking after the child.

“Let’s go,” Wen Ling said shortly. She didn’t know what else to say. she walked over, picked up Wennuan, and headed out. Gu Rongqing followed silently.

Gu Rongqing’s family home was in the suburbs, a one-hour drive away. Gu Rongqing drove, and before long, Wennuan fell asleep in Wen Ling’s arms. It was only then that Gu Rongqing explained, “My mom misses Wennuan and wanted her to come for dinner…”

Wen Ling didn’t say anything, and Gu Rongqing tactfully fell silent.

Actually, Wen Ling wanted to ask: Who was the one who wanted me to come? Was it you, Gu Rongqing?

She didn’t know when she had become so timid. She had been shy when she had a crush on Gu in college, but back then she at least had the guts to pursue her after Ji Chenxi went abroad. What was wrong now? It wasn’t that she stopped loving her—she loved Gu Rongqing so much it hurt. After seven years, she thought she could melt that icy heart, but… she failed.

The silence in the car was grueling. Thoughts flashed through Wen Ling’s mind, and her mouth moved faster than her brain.

“Are you and Ji Chenxi together?”

Gu Rongqing turned to look at Wen Ling, her eyes filled with surprise. “Me and Chenxi?”

Wen Ling felt awkward under that gaze but pushed through. “Yes. You and Ji Chenxi.”

“Why would I… be with her?”

The counter-question left Wen Ling confused. They were constantly seen together; weren’t they a couple?

Wen Ling’s personality was too “ostrich-like”—she tended to hide from problems. In their seven years, the first two were busy, and after Wennuan arrived, Wen Ling’s world revolved around the child while Gu Rongqing’s fame grew. Their lives barely overlapped. Gu Rongqing would eat at home maybe once a week and stay over once every half-month. Consequently, their intimacy was rare.

Furthermore, Gu Rongqing was always like a “wooden log” in bed. Was she obedient? Yes. She accepted every position and every touch, but even when Wen Ling felt like Gu was on the verge of tears, the actress would endure it in total silence. In the beginning, Wen Ling was cautious, feeling as though she were “defiling” an untouchable goddess. Later, she wanted to hear Gu Rongqing cry out or plead, but it never happened. Gu Rongqing never refused, but she never initiated; she was always the passive “pillow princess.”

Wen Ling was almost embarrassed to admit that in all those years, Gu Rongqing had only initiated touch once—and even then, she was forced into it after Wennuan was born when Wen Ling demanded a “normal” marital life. It had been so painful for Wen Ling that Gu Rongqing never dared try again.

Wen Ling’s courage had been eroded bit by bit by Gu Rongqing’s coldness. Ji Chenxi’s reappearance was simply the final straw.

“Chenxi and I… there’s nothing between us.”

“Don’t say it. It doesn’t matter anymore,” Wen Ling interrupted, turning her head toward the window.

Gu Rongqing didn’t know what to say, her hands gripping the steering wheel tightly. Looking at Wen Ling’s profile, she felt a flicker of realization about why the divorce had happened…

They didn’t speak again until they reached the Gu residence. Wen Ling woke Wennuan and carried her inside, with Gu Rongqing following behind.

Gu Rongqing’s mother came out to greet them. Gu Rongqing had inherited her beauty from her mother, who, though nearly sixty, was clearly a great beauty in her youth. Mrs. Gu was gentle—at least in Wen Ling’s eyes. In seven years, she had always been soft-spoken.

Gu Rongqing called out “Mom,” but Wen Ling found she couldn’t quite bring herself to say the word.

Mrs. Gu didn’t seem to notice, rushing straight for the child. “Oh, my Nuan-Nuan! Grandma missed you to death!” She ignored her own daughter entirely; Wennuan was simply too sweet and cute.

“Grandma, Nuan-Nuan missed you too!” The child wiggled out of Wen Ling’s arms and ran to her grandmother for a deep embrace.

Wen Ling thought that if her own mother, Ms. Xu, saw this, she would probably be moved to tears of jealousy.

“You two, come in quickly.” Mrs. Gu carried Wennuan inside without a second glance at the adults.

Dinner was prepared by Gu Rongqing’s father. He had been a chef in his youth and eventually built a successful nationwide restaurant chain. He was a man of few words, busy feeding Wennuan at the table. Wen Ling chatted with Mrs. Gu, while Gu Rongqing ate in silence.

After dinner, Wen Ling reflexively started to clear the dishes. Mrs. Gu frowned.

“Rongqing, go help.”

“That… I’ll do it myself,” Wen Ling stammered, still unable to say the word “Mom.”

Mrs. Gu saw right through it. She truly loved Wen Ling and felt that her daughter had become more “human” thanks to Wen Ling’s influence over the years. Ultimately, she pushed both of them into the kitchen together.

The two washed dishes in silence. When they emerged, Mrs. Gu announced she was taking Wennuan to sleep with her, telling the two of them to go to their own room.

Go back to the room? Which one? Wen Ling wondered.

The Gu home was a small two-story villa. There was a guest room on the first floor, but it was rarely used. Whenever they visited, they stayed in Gu Rongqing’s bedroom. Where was she supposed to go now? Both of Gu’s parents surely knew about the divorce, yet they acted as if nothing had happened.

“What are you two standing there for? Go upstairs! There’s no room on the first floor!” Mrs. Gu urged them.

With no choice, they obeyed. Wen Ling felt awkward, but Gu Rongqing felt… even more so. Wen Ling was the one who initiated the divorce; Gu Rongqing hadn’t expected her to agree to come home for dinner, let alone share a room—and a bed.