Foreseeing the Future: The Scheming Film Queen and I Got Married - Chapter 17

“Hello.” A man’s voice came from the shop entrance. “May I ask if this is Miss Dong Yao?”

Dong Yao paused her brush and looked up toward the sound. A man around thirty years old, wearing a delivery uniform and a yellow helmet with a black insulated delivery box on his back, appeared at the doorway.

Dong Yao stood up in confusion. “That’s me. You are?”

“Your delivery has arrived.” The man walked in, opened the insulated box, and took out two tightly packed takeout boxes one after another.

Dong Yao did not take them. Instead, she became even more confused. “I didn’t order anything. And this town has delivery?”

She had lived here for more than twenty years, and this was the first time she had heard that this place had food delivery.

“This place doesn’t have delivery. I brought it over from the county town,” the deliveryman answered.

Dong Yao felt this was absurd. The county town was a two-hour drive from here. If it had been delivered from there, the delivery fee was probably dozens of times the price of the food.

Dong Yao looked the man up and down. Was he a scammer?

Dong Yao said warily, “I didn’t order it. I don’t want it. It’s not mine. You can leave.”

The deliveryman checked the address, then checked her identity and confirmed there was no mistake. “One serving of braised pork belly and one serving of braised chicken with rice. That’s right, this is yours. It wasn’t delivered to the wrong place. Your boyfriend probably ordered it for you.”

“He knew you wanted to eat these and immediately ordered them for you. Your boyfriend treats you really well.”

Dong Yao froze. What boyfriend?

Then she suddenly recalled that a few hours ago, she had sent Gu Shiqiu two pictures, which happened to match this delivery.

Could Gu Shiqiu have ordered it?

She took the two bags the deliveryman handed over. “Thank you.”

The deliveryman said, “Enjoy your meal.”

After the deliveryman left, Dong Yao placed the two bags on the table. She did not open them immediately. Instead, she first took a photo and sent it to Gu Shiqiu.

Dong Yao: Did you order this for me?

Gu Shiqiu quickly replied: It arrived already? That was quite fast. I thought it wouldn’t arrive until tonight.

Dong Yao: Why did you suddenly order this for me?

Gu Shiqiu: Didn’t you want to eat it?

Dong Yao looked back through their previous chat history. Staring at the two pictures she had sent, she understood. Gu Shiqiu had misunderstood.

Dong Yao: I said I wanted to eat it, and you just ordered it?

And in such an inconvenient place where delivery was not even available.

Gu Shiqiu: Eat quickly. Although there was an insulated box, it should be cold by now. Heat it up before eating. Next time, if there’s anything else you want to eat, you can tell me too.

Dong Yao smiled and typed back: Thank you for ordering this for me, but I didn’t mean that I wanted to eat it. It was just…

Gu Shiqiu: Just what?

Dong Yao: I saw a lot of people online scolding you, and I was afraid you might be unhappy, so I wanted to let you look at some delicious food. I thought that way, your mood might get a little better.

After the message was sent, the person who had been replying instantly did not reply for a full minute.

Dong Yao kept staring at the screen, waiting for her response.

Gu Shiqiu: So that’s what it meant.

Gu Shiqiu: But actually, I don’t need to look at any food pictures. Chatting with you can make even the worst mood better.

Dong Yao looked at the two messages she sent. For some reason, her heart felt sweet, and the corners of her mouth curved uncontrollably.

Dong Yao: Are you like this when you chat with other people too?

Gu Shiqiu: Like what?

Dong Yao could not describe it. She struggled for a long while, not knowing how to reply.

Gu Shiqiu: I don’t chat with other people.

The corners of Dong Yao’s mouth lifted again.

Dong Yao: Anyway, don’t take those online comments to heart. They’re all nonsense. I know you’re not that kind of person. Don’t pay attention to them!

She added a panda-head hugging sticker afterward.

Gu Shiqiu looked at the message she had sent, staring at the words “you’re not that kind of person,” and fell silent for a moment.

Knock, knock, knock.

After the knocking, the person outside the door said, “Shiqiu, it’s me, Jiang Qi. Can I come in now?”

Gu Shiqiu put down her phone and said, “Come in.”

Jiang Qi pushed open the door. Her hair was pinned up high, the strands pulled taut, without a single loose hair at her temples.

“We’ve already suppressed the negative news online. As for that ‘Mingmin Entertainment,’ this is already the second time they’ve published this kind of insinuating article.”

“Their side has softened their attitude. They hope to meet and apologize, then resolve this peacefully. But there’s no need to be polite to them anymore. I suggest suing them directly. Again and again, they’re taking advantage of your soft temper.”

Since her debut, no matter what the outside media said, Gu Shiqiu had never completely fallen out with anyone. Speaking of which, this was actually quite unbelievable. No matter how good-tempered someone was, they should not be this soft. But Gu Shiqiu happened to be exactly this kind of person.

Although Jiang Qi said this, she also knew that according to Gu Shiqiu’s usual way of handling things, she would probably say again, “Forget it. As long as it’s been suppressed, that’s enough. Just give them a small warning.”

It was always like this. She never cared too much. This time, Jiang Qi did not hold much hope either. Most likely, Gu Shiqiu would smooth things over again.

“The people from Mingmin Entertainment want to meet me?” Gu Shiqiu suddenly asked.

Jiang Qi said, “Yes. They said they want to meet you and apologize. I don’t know what they mean either, but I don’t think they have much sincerity.”

Gu Shiqiu said, “I remember Mingmin Entertainment’s boss seems to be called Yu Fei.”

“I think that’s the name. It’s a very small company. If this incident hadn’t made such a big splash, I wouldn’t even have noticed they were hiding in some corner stirring things up.” Jiang Qi looked disdainful. “But from your tone, do you know this Yu Fei?”

Mingmin Entertainment kept targeting Gu Shiqiu. Could there be some old grudge?

Then Jiang Qi felt it was impossible. How could someone like Gu Shiqiu have an old grudge with anyone? At most, her popularity had remained high for so long that she had attracted jealous people.

Gu Shiqiu did not say whether she knew her or not. “Since they want to meet me, then let’s meet.”

Jiang Qi did not understand. “Why meet them? There’s no need.”

Gu Shiqiu smiled and said nothing. She only said, “See when I have some free time and arrange it.”

Jiang Qi froze for a moment, not understanding why Gu Shiqiu wanted to meet them—a bunch of “scoundrels.”

“All right. I’ll arrange it,” Jiang Qi said.

Gu Shiqiu nodded. “Thank you for your trouble.”

Gu Shiqiu picked up her phone. Her gaze once again landed on the words Dong Yao had sent: “You’re not that kind of person.”

What if I am that kind of person?

The phone screen went dark. Gu Shiqiu’s gentle face was reflected on the phone screen. Deep within those eyes, which had always been soft and calm, something seemed to be hidden.

Barely perceptible.

The phone dinged. It was a message and picture from Dong Yao.

In the picture, Dong Yao had placed the braised pork belly onto a plate, arranging it neatly and squarely.

Dong Yao: Super delicious. Thank you~

The corners of Gu Shiqiu’s mouth curved upward, and her eyes returned to their usual gentleness.

In a private room at a café.

Gu Shiqiu stirred the spoon in her cup, her expression relaxed and calm.

Sitting opposite her was a woman wearing a luxury watch on her wrist, limited-edition earrings on her ears, and a designer bag beside her. From head to toe, she reeked of money.

Her aura was the complete opposite of Gu Shiqiu’s.

“I really didn’t expect you to agree to meet me.” The person speaking was none other than Yu Fei, the boss of Mingmin Entertainment.

Gu Shiqiu still slowly stirred the coffee in her cup and said nothing.

Yu Fei sighed. “You really are the same as before. You haven’t changed at all. You seem approachable on the surface, but in reality…”

Yu Fei sneered. “Your eyes are higher than the top of your head. You look down on everyone.”

Gu Shiqiu continued stirring her coffee.

“Since you agreed to meet, why aren’t you saying a word now? Ah, I know. Are you about to show your true colors again?” Yu Fei laughed softly, her words full of mockery.

The spoon Gu Shiqiu was using to stir the coffee stopped. The spoon struck the side of the cup, making a crisp sound.

The sound was not loud, but it echoed endlessly in the private room.

Gu Shiqiu raised her head and looked at Yu Fei.

Yu Fei’s aggressive arrogance instantly crumbled when she met Gu Shiqiu’s eyes, and she avoided her gaze.

Gu Shiqiu picked up her coffee and took a small sip.

Seeing Gu Shiqiu’s calm, victorious appearance, Yu Fei recalled certain things from high school, and anger rose in her heart. “Gu Shiqiu, what are you pretending for? Do you still need to pretend in front of me? We were classmates for three years in high school. No one else knows you, but I understand you better than anyone.”

Gu Shiqiu suddenly smiled, very faintly.

“Others don’t know, but you know in your own heart. The article I published may not be one hundred percent true, but it is at least ninety percent true.” Yu Fei narrowed her eyes.

“You came to meet me because you were afraid I had some evidence in my hands, right? You weren’t sure, so you came to meet me to put your mind at ease. Let me tell you, don’t even think about feeling at ease. If you don’t want others to know, then don’t do it in the first place. I really do have quite a bit of evidence.”

“But, well, I’m not wholeheartedly trying to drag you down with me. I stopped caring about those rotten high school matters long ago. Think about it yourself. If I truly wanted us both to perish together, I would’ve taken the evidence out the first time.”

Yu Fei picked up her coffee and took a fierce gulp.

Gu Shiqiu remained silent, watching her quietly.

Yu Fei heavily placed the cup back onto the table. “We can cooperate. My company needs investment. If you’re willing to put money into it, I’ll never mention this matter again. That evidence will also be sealed away and never appear in the public eye.”

Gu Shiqiu gently set down her cup.

Yu Fei said, “This isn’t a discussion, but it isn’t a threat either. In short, think it over yourself. I don’t have much patience. If you keep refusing to speak, then don’t blame me for disregarding our old classmate ties.”

Gu Shiqiu said, “Do you want me to speak that much?”

Yu Fei’s expression froze. A trace of panic appeared in her eyes, and her gaze instinctively flicked toward the phone placed on the table.

Gu Shiqiu reached out and directly picked up her phone.

Yu Fei shot to her feet. “What are you doing!”

Gu Shiqiu turned off the recording on the phone.

“You’re still the same as before.” The softness in Gu Shiqiu’s eyes faded, replaced by a coldness that had never appeared in her eyes before. “Stupid.”

Yu Fei’s chest rose and fell violently, her eyes wide and round. She looked as if she wanted to rush over and wrestle with her.

Gu Shiqiu tossed her phone back onto the table, pulled out a tissue, and slowly wiped her mouth without hurry.

Then she stood and left.

Crash.

Behind her came the sound of Yu Fei, furious, sweeping the coffee cup off the table.

Gu Shiqiu turned back and said, “Do you know why I came to meet you?”

Yu Fei snapped, “You’re sick!”

Gu Shiqiu sneered and said nothing more. She pushed open the private room door, left, and never looked back.

Why had she come?

Because Yu Fei said she wanted to apologize.

And Yu Fei did indeed owe her an apology.

Only, from this moment onward, even if Yu Fei apologized ten thousand times, it would be useless.

Inside the nanny van, Jiang Qi sat in the front passenger seat. She turned back and asked, “Shiqiu, how did your talk with the boss of Mingmin Entertainment go? Did they apologize?”

Jiang Qi actually did not quite understand Gu Shiqiu’s behavior at this moment. Gu Shiqiu was not someone who would deliberately meet someone just to hear an apology, especially not a small, unknown company like Mingmin Entertainment, which had built itself by spreading rumors and attracting attention.

Gu Shiqiu looked out the window and did not answer Jiang Qi’s question.

Unable to read her, Jiang Qi asked, “Then the lawsuit against Mingmin Entertainment…”

“Sue them.” Gu Shiqiu’s expression was calm as she aimlessly watched the street scenes passing by outside the window.

Jiang Qi thought she had misheard. “You want to sue them?”

Gu Shiqiu hummed in confirmation.

Jiang Qi was shocked. This was the first time Gu Shiqiu had ever said she wanted to sue someone and pursue the matter to the end.

“All right. I’ll handle all of this properly…”

Gu Shiqiu withdrew her gaze from the window and looked at Jiang Qi. Her gaze was icy, without the slightest warmth. “Not only sue them. I want Mingmin to disappear from this industry.”

Jiang Qi froze, unable to react for a long while.

By the time Jiang Qi looked at Gu Shiqiu again, Gu Shiqiu had returned to her usual self, her gaze gentle and her smile faint.

It was as if the person who had been so cold just now, the person who had said she wanted the other party to disappear from the industry, had not been Gu Shiqiu at all.

And Gu Shiqiu did indeed have the ability to remove Mingmin from the industry. She had always merely chosen not to care, not lacked the ability to care.

Jiang Qi looked deeply at Gu Shiqiu. After working with her for so many years, Jiang Qi realized she had never truly understood her.

Author’s Note:

Thank you for the gifts: