Taking Advantage of Her Vulnerability [Entertainment Industry] - Chapter 8

When Gu Rongqing set off in the morning, it was Ji Chenxi who came to pick her up. Wennuan had woken up early, so Mother Gu took her to play in the garden, just in time to see Ji Chenxi’s car parked at the gate. The car sat there for quite a while. Just as Mother Gu was about to go over and see whose it was, Father Gu came out to call them for breakfast.

“Old Gu, there’s a car parked at our gate, I don’t know who it belongs to.”

“Probably a neighbor?” Father Gu didn’t care much, still ushering them inside.

“Impossible! Every villa in this area has its own garage, not to mention I just saw it stop right at our door.”

Gu Rongqing came downstairs just in time to see the two of them arguing.

“What are you two bickering about?” Both turned to look at her as Wennuan ran over.

“Mami~ Grandpa and Grandma are talking about whose car is parked outside.”

“A car?”

Wennuan nodded, then chirped happily, “Mami looks so pretty today~”

Gu Rongqing felt a bit shy from the praise. She was wearing a white sleeveless dress today with a slightly low neckline. As she leaned down to speak to Wennuan, the child’s large, sparkling eyes stared at her unblinkingly, making her instinctively cover her chest.

“Heehee~ Mami is blushing,” Wennuan giggled, covering her mouth.

“You little rascal,” Gu Rongqing teased, tapping Wennuan’s forehead.

Just then, Gu Rongqing’s phone rang. It was Ji Chenxi.

“Rongqing, I’m at your gate.”

Gu Rongqing was bewildered. “?”

Ji Chenxi continued, “We’re going to the set today. I woke up early, so I thought I’d pick you up on the way.”

“…My assistant is coming to get me.”

“But I’m already at your door. Just tell your assistant to meet us directly at the studio city.”

Gu Rongqing thought about it for a moment and agreed.

“Rongqing, is that car outside for you?” Mother Gu overheard the conversation and realized it wasn’t a staff member picking her up, but someone else.

“It’s Chenxi,” Gu Rongqing told her mother casually. She added, “I won’t be staying for breakfast. Sorry for the trouble of looking after Wennuan.” She didn’t notice the sour look on her mother’s face as she kissed Wennuan and headed out.

Mother Gu followed her to the door and watched as Gu Rongqing got into Ji Chenxi’s car and drove away.

Mother Gu stamped her foot in frustration. If Gu Rongqing weren’t her own daughter, she’d have cursed her for being a scumbag! She wondered who the child took after.

Actually, Mother Gu had met Ji Chenxi before, but that was during a Film Academy anniversary where Rongqing and Ji Chenxi performed as co-leads. At the time, Mother Gu felt Ji Chenxi’s gaze was too sharp. After the performance, Gu Rongqing introduced them, and seeing the way Ji Chenxi looked at her daughter, Mother Gu was certain this girl was complicated—too calculating, and she clearly liked her daughter.

Gu Rongqing had grown up in a simple environment, and because her parents were rarely around, she had developed a very stubborn, one-track mind. Sometimes, if you lectured her, she’d just shut down. Stubborn to the core!

That was why she hoped Gu Rongqing would find someone simple who would truly treat her well. Wen Ling was that perfect person.

“Honey, what’s wrong?” Father Gu walked over after seeing her standing at the door for so long.

“Ji Chenxi came to pick up Rongqing.”

“Oh, her college classmate?”

“Yes, her!” Mother Gu’s tone was sharp.

Father Gu was confused. “Didn’t they get along well in school? Why are you angry?” Mother Gu stared at him in disbelief until he felt uneasy, rubbing his face and asking, “What? Is there something on my face?”

Mother Gu wanted to say something, but she just pointed at him, gave up, and went inside to eat. She finally realized it—Gu Rongqing took after her father! Neither of them had any situational awareness!

Thinking back to last night, she realized it even more. After Wen Ling said she had things at home to pack, Father Gu actually suggested that Rongqing accompany her to get them the next morning, making the thawing atmosphere awkward all over again. Mother Gu ate her breakfast, glancing at Father Gu from time to time, feeling so annoyed she was almost full. Why hadn’t she noticed before? Old Gu was completely devoid of emotional intelligence (EQ)! How did she fall for him? And how did Wen Ling fall for Gu Rongqing???

Meanwhile, Wen Ling, who was being thought of, sneezed several times as she left her house. She wondered if Ms. Xu was nagging her again.

Her mother had called her yesterday to offer “condolences” regarding the news about her and Gu Rongqing. She even asked if there was a chance for reconciliation since they’d be in the same crew. Wen Ling couldn’t understand it—had her mother not seen the news about Gu Rongqing and Ji Chenxi’s cafe date? Why was she still asking about getting back together?

After some arguing, her mother finally got to the point: Auntie Lin’s daughter, Lin Xu, had quit her job and was currently unemployed but wanted to see the entertainment industry for herself.

“Let Lin Xu follow you and learn a bit.”

“Mom, I’m just a screenwriter, not an actress.”

“Talk to the director, let her shadow the photography crew,” Xu Yun said dismissively.

“It’s not my set; I don’t call the shots.”

“Then let her be your assistant for now. Auntie Lin and I will go to the capital in a while to talk to Xiao Zhe.”

“Whatever you want.”

“I’ll have her contact you.”

And so, Lin Xu had called her last night, asked for her address, and said she’d pick her up this morning.

But the agreed time was 9:00 AM, and Wen Ling had been waiting for nearly half an hour. Just as she was about to call her, a car pulled up.

“Wen Ling-jie, I overslept,” Lin Xu said sheepishly.

Wen Ling didn’t say anything and just got in. It was a two-hour drive to the studio city. Along the way, Lin Xu kept asking about the movie, then started subtly asking about Ji Chenxi. Wen Ling’s lack of familiarity with Ji Chenxi left Lin Xu looking a bit dejected.

Wen Ling realized it: Lin Xu was likely a fan of Ji Chenxi, and that was probably why she wanted to tag along.

“Are you a fan of hers?” Wen Ling asked. Lin Xu looked uncomfortable.

“Wen Ling-jie, I’m sorry, I…”

“It’s fine, no need to apologize.” Who she liked was her own business; Wen Ling had no right or desire to interfere.

Upon arriving at the studio city, they were checked into their rooms. They were told Director Li Xin and the others were preparing and would have a dinner together tonight before the official opening ceremony tomorrow.

The two of them freshened up and went out for lunch. Since it was their first time there, they decided to wander around the snack street. Just as they left their room, they ran into Liang Mei in the hallway.

Liang Mei had just arrived to oversee the start of filming. She hadn’t expected to see Wen Ling before seeing Gu Rongqing. Meeting face-to-face, Liang Mei was the first to greet her.

“Wen Ling.”

“Sister Liang, you’re here too.” Liang Mei was two years older than Wen Ling, so Wen Ling always called her “Sister.”

“Just came to see the start of the shoot.” After that, Wen Ling didn’t know what to say, and Liang Mei was equally tongue-tied.

Lin Xu broke the tension. Looking at the sexy and beautiful woman before her, she said excitedly, “Is this sister a friend of Wen Ling-jie? I’m her assistant. We’re going to eat; come with us!”

Liang Mei was about to decline, but then she thought—with Rongqing and Wen Ling just divorced, a refusal might seem snobbish, especially since their past meetings had always been friendly.

“Then… let’s go. I haven’t eaten either.”

The three walked along the snack street. Wen Ling and Liang Mei barely spoke—Liang Mei out of awkwardness and Wen Ling because she truly had nothing to say. Lin Xu was the one keeping the atmosphere alive, eventually picking a Sichuan restaurant.

To their surprise, as soon as they walked in, they saw Gu Rongqing and Ji Chenxi.

The group stared at each other, everyone’s minds racing.

Wen Ling’s eyes fixed on the bright red dishes on their table. She remembered clearly: Gu Rongqing couldn’t eat spicy food.

Gu Rongqing looked surprised. When she followed Wen Ling’s gaze to the table, her expression became uneasy. Ji Chenxi, however, remained composed and greeted them.

Liang Mei looked at Wen Ling, then at the two at the table, and felt so awkward she wanted to leave. Her interactions with Wen Ling were few, but they always left a good impression. Wen Ling always looked at Rongqing tenderly and remembered all her little habits.

Rongqing can’t eat spicy food.

Liang Mei had completely forgotten her own warning to Gu Rongqing to stay away from these people. Now, her only thought was: Gu Rongqing really is a scumbag!

Meanwhile, Lin Xu was thrilled. She didn’t know the deep history of their love and hatred. Before, she didn’t dare say anything because she hadn’t seen them in person and was wary of Wen Ling’s feelings.

But now…

“Goddess Ji, could you give me an autograph?”

Gu Rongqing and Ji Chenxi didn’t react much to the request, but Wen Ling and Liang Mei were stunned.

Especially Liang Mei, who thought: What kind of bizarre assistant did Wen Ling hire???