Taking Advantage of Her Vulnerability [Entertainment Industry] - Chapter 6

After Wen Ling left, Gu Rongqing finally let out a sigh of relief. Recalling the scene of being in Wen Ling’s arms just now, she actually felt a hint of lingering attachment…

But at the thought that she might never be able to indulge in that embrace again, Gu Rongqing felt a wave of discomfort in her heart.

Regarding the divorce, she had agreed to Wen Ling’s request almost without hesitation at the time. They had been together for seven years. Sometimes, Gu Rongqing wondered: Is what I feel for Wen Ling love? She couldn’t figure it out.

She only knew that being with Wen Ling was very comfortable, and Wen Ling was good enough to her. But she herself was “no good.” Gu Rongqing had confidence in her abilities and her work, but she had no confidence in herself.

She could only treat Wen Ling well in the ways she thought were best—such as giving birth to Wennuan.

“Knock, knock.” Suddenly hearing two raps on the door, Gu Rongqing got up to open it.

“Rongqing, are you up? I thought you were still sleeping and was going to call you for breakfast,” it was Mother Gu.

“Yes, I’m up.”

“Where’s Wen Ling?” Mother Gu glanced inside but didn’t see her.

“She went to see Nuan-Nuan.”

“Go tell them it’s time to eat, then.” Gu Rongqing nodded.

When Gu Rongqing found them in the garden, she was just about to call out to Wen Ling when she heard Wennuan’s tearful voice: “Do you not love Mami anymore?” Hearing this made Gu Rongqing nervous, yet she also felt a spark of anticipation.

But… she didn’t hear an answer from Wen Ling.

Gu Rongqing’s hand gripped the doorframe tightly. She felt her heart… ache. It was an indescribable feeling. Even when Wen Ling proposed the divorce, she hadn’t felt this miserable—this hollow, sinking pain.

Gu Rongqing took a deep breath, composed herself, and walked toward Wen Ling and Wennuan.

“Mami~” Wennuan saw her first. Since Wen Ling was holding Wennuan, her back was turned to Gu Rongqing. She only turned around when she heard Wennuan’s call.

“Time to eat.” Gu Rongqing didn’t look at Wen Ling; she simply reached out her hand toward Wennuan.

Wennuan looked at her Mami’s outstretched hand, then at the Mommy who was holding her. She wriggled out of Wen Ling’s arms, took her hand, walked to Gu Rongqing, and placed Gu Rongqing’s hand into Wen Ling’s. Then she said to Wen Ling, “Mommy, let’s go eat with Mami quickly.”

Both Wen Ling and Gu Rongqing subconsciously stared at their clasped hands. Gu Rongqing frowned, feeling a bit uneasy. Seeing her frown, Wen Ling instinctively wanted to let go, but little Wen Nuan didn’t give her the chance. She pulled them toward the house, chirping, “Hurry up, I’m so hungry.” There was no trace of the little crybaby from moments ago. Wen Ling stopped trying to pull away and instead tightened her grip on Gu Rongqing.

Breakfast was prepared by Mother Gu—simple milk and sandwiches, nutritious and healthy. Wen Ling remained silent, busy taking care of Wennuan, and Gu Rongqing didn’t know what to say either, though her eyes never left the two of them. Wen Ling really took excellent care of Nuan-Nuan. When Nuan-Nuan got milk on her face, Wen Ling would laugh, call her a “little calico cat,” and wipe it off.

In fact, the gaze Gu Rongqing directed at them was incredibly tender. Mother Gu saw everything. She knew her daughter was bad at expressing herself—sometimes not even knowing her own heart—and certainly didn’t realize she looked this gentle while watching Wen Ling and Wennuan. She truly couldn’t bear to see this family fall apart. She loved her daughter, but she also cherished Wen Ling—a person who truly kept Rongqing in her heart and was so considerate and sensible.

Because she genuinely liked Wen Ling and wanted the two children to be happy, she knew she had to help.

“Wen Ling, I heard your book is being made into a movie?”

Wen Ling put down her fork and replied, “Yes, it’s being adapted.”

“Then the rumors are true?” Mother Gu’s tone was delighted. She nudged Father Gu beside her. “Old Gu, the movie Rongqing is going to star in was written by Wen Ling!”

“Didn’t you tell me that yesterday? You were happy about it for ages,” Father Gu exposed her bluntly.

Wen Ling and Gu Rongqing exchanged a glance, both seeing the awkwardness in each other’s eyes. But Mother Gu didn’t care. “You two are truly impressive.”

She turned to Wennuan. “Nuan-Nuan, aren’t your Mommy and Mami amazing?” Wennuan nodded, agreeing they were. She didn’t fully understand, but she knew her parents were very capable.

“When does filming start?”

“Wen Ling, will you be joining the crew on set?”

“If you’re both busy, what will our Nuan-Nuan do?”

Mother Gu fired off three questions in a row. They had answers for the first two, but the last one stumped Wen Ling. If she was busy on set, she really couldn’t look after Wennuan properly, and her own mother wasn’t in the capital to help.

Hearing her mother and seeing Wen Ling’s troubled expression, Gu Rongqing prepared to speak up for her. “Mom… Wen Ling can…”

“You, be quiet.” Mother Gu shot her a look, feeling anxious. Why is this child so hopeless? Who do you think I’m doing this for? If the child stays with me, you two can see each other at the studio and then come home together!

“Wen Ling, leave Nuan-Nuan with me. I’ll take care of her.” Mother Gu smiled at Wen Ling, then quickly turned to Wennuan to prevent a refusal. “Nuan-Nuan, how about staying at Grandma’s for a while? Mommy and Mami are going to be busy working together, so they can’t look after you, but they’ll come back to see you together.”

Wennuan pouted, looking back and forth between her parents. She was reluctant… but then she thought about what Grandma said. If they were working together, that meant they were together, and maybe they wouldn’t get divorced.

“Okay, Grandma.”

Wen Ling and Gu Rongqing watched their daughter transform from reluctant to cheerful in a heartbeat. Truly, a child’s mood is as fickle as June weather. Since Wennuan had agreed, Wen Ling couldn’t find a way to refuse.

After breakfast, Wen Ling prepared to take Wennuan home. She told Mother Gu she wouldn’t join the crew for a few days; she would go home first to pack Wennuan’s things and then bring her back.

As they were heading out the door, Wennuan stopped again. She let go of Wen Ling’s hand and walked up to Gu Rongqing.

“Mami~ aren’t you coming home with us?” Wennuan stared at her without blinking.

“Nuan-Nuan, I’m sorry, Mami has work to do today.” Gu Rongqing knelt down to hug her. Though the child’s gaze pained her, she knew she no longer belonged to that home.

Standing nearby, Wen Ling heard this and thought of the phone call with Ji Chenxi last night. As expected.

“Nuan-Nuan, Mami is busy. Don’t bother her.”

“No, I want Mami!” Wennuan’s little hands gripped Gu Rongqing’s neck even tighter.

Wen Ling sighed and knelt down. “How about Mommy takes you for ice cream? Didn’t you say you like strawberry best?” Knowing her child was a foodie, Wen Ling struck where it was effective. Wennuan’s expression wavered immediately, clearly lured by the promise of ice cream.

Ultimately, Wennuan followed the ice cream.

Mother Gu watched them leave, then looked at Gu Rongqing’s obvious longing. She was clearly angry with her daughter. “What could be so important that you won’t accompany your child?”

Gu Rongqing felt a sting of discomfort and retorted, “You and Dad were very busy when you were young, too.” Mother Gu was left speechless.

After leaving the Gu residence, Wen Ling took Wennuan to a shopping mall. They got ice cream, then went to the top-floor indoor playground. Since she was starting work soon, Wen Ling wanted to spend the weekend solely with Nuan-Nuan.

At the playground, Wennuan ran off to play. Wen Ling sat in the parents’ lounge area, watching her. She remembered how, in the past, Wennuan would ask why Mami didn’t come along. At the time, Wen Ling explained that Mami was “very, very busy.”

Wen Ling thought to herself: Even if she weren’t busy, I wouldn’t bring her to such a crowded place. If Gu Rongqing showed up, Wennuan wouldn’t even be able to play in peace.

After two hours, Wennuan ran back, her face flushed and sweaty. Wen Ling wiped her down carefully. “Mommy, Mommy~ I’m hungry~ I want fried chicken.”

“Little glutton. Let’s go.”

They headed to the first floor. Across from the fried chicken shop was a cafe. Wen Ling had never been there, but she’d seen recommendations saying the coffee was excellent. She had once imagined coming here with Gu Rongqing.

But when she saw Gu Rongqing and Ji Chenxi sitting together in that very cafe, Wen Ling knew she never wanted to step foot in that shop ever again.