Chapter 25: I, Ling Qiong, Send the Money! (25)

Although the man Su’s father chose for Ling Qiong wasn’t quite up to Shen Qin Chuan’s standards, he was still decent in all respects. Su’s father didn’t believe a word of Ling Qiong’s nonsense and was determined to find her a match. Ling Qiong didn’t resist much either—whatever he arranged, she followed, obedient as could be.

This docility left Su’s father, who had been on his guard, utterly bewildered. He’d expected at least a bit of protest...

But soon enough, Su’s father got his answer as to why she wasn’t making a fuss.

Within a few days, the man’s family called him, politely explaining that they just weren’t suitable. Don’t ask why—just a matter of not seeing eye to eye.

Su’s father was speechless.

Nonsense! When they first met, the man’s eyes were practically glued to the girl, and now he claimed there was no spark? Who did he think he was fooling?

Fuming, Su’s father confronted Ling Qiong. “Su Miaomiao, what did you do? Why did he say you two aren’t a good match?”

“We just aren’t,” Ling Qiong replied with a shrug. “No particular reason.”

“Don’t give me that! Tell me the truth. What really happened?”

...

On set.

The assistant called out twice, but Lu Wenci ignored him. Finally, the assistant had to nudge him. “Bro, what are you thinking about? It’s your turn.”

“Oh...”

“Bro, your jacket!”

Lu Wenci took off the jacket slung over his shoulders and set it aside, then went to prepare. The assistant scratched his head. What was up with his brother these days? He’d been absent-minded all week.

Lu Wenci’s performance was off, the shots didn’t turn out well, and the director was getting annoyed. At last, the director told him to take a break until he got back on track.

“Bro, are you alright? Are you sick?” the assistant asked anxiously.

Lu Wenci shook his head. “I’m fine.”

“This is fine? You’ve never made this many mistakes before.”

Lu Wenci fell silent.

He said he was tired and went back to the hotel to rest. The assistant kept pacing around him, worrying first that he was sick, then that someone had bullied him.

“I’m just under a lot of pressure,” Lu Wenci told him. “Once I adjust, I’ll be fine. Just give me some space.”

“Are you sure?”

“Mm.”

The assistant left, glancing back every few steps.

Lu Wenci exhaled and collapsed onto the bed, one hand resting on his forehead. The moment he closed his eyes, the image replayed in his mind.

Two days earlier, Chen Fangchuan had picked him up for an event, and on their way back, they passed by a mall. Chen Fangchuan had some business there and stopped for a bit.

That’s when Lu Wenci saw Ling Qiong walking with a strange man.

The girl, dressed as strikingly as ever—beautiful but not delicate, dazzling yet not garish. When she spoke, she’d tilt her head and smile faintly. The two walked together, looking every bit the close pair.

More importantly, the man was carrying a pile of shopping bags.

Witnessing this, Lu Wenci felt an unpleasant twinge inside. It was as if his place had been quietly taken by someone else.

As an actor, he understood his emotions well enough—he knew exactly what this was. He’d noticed it as far back as that day in the cinema.

He rubbed his brow, thoughts in turmoil, unable to make sense of anything.

...

Lu Wenci eventually pulled himself together, caught up on his scenes, and even got ahead, filming more than scheduled. He managed to free up some time, took a leave, and hurried home.

But the moment he opened the door, a chill swept through him.

The apartment was cold and silent. A fine layer of dust had gathered atop the shoe cabinet by the door—it had been uninhabited for days.

He stood for a few seconds, then opened the shoe cabinet. Inside, women’s shoes of all colors and styles were neatly arranged.

In the bedroom, the clothes in the wardrobe were all still there.

He closed the closet, returned to the living room, and pulled out his phone, opening Ling Qiong’s chat window.

[Are you...]

He deleted the two words, hesitated, then typed again.

[I’m off today. Do you have time to eat together?]

After sending the message, he put his phone face down, too nervous to check for a reply.

A soft vibration.

He grabbed the phone eagerly—only to find it was a message from his assistant.

He refreshed the chat; no reply from her. He refreshed again. Nothing.

Just as he was about to give up, a red “1” appeared in his chat list.

His heart quickened as he tapped her familiar profile picture.

[I’m here.jpg]

[Sure.]

In his mind, he could see her tilting her head with that sweet, gentle “Sure.” The image made him smile unconsciously.

He pocketed his phone and paced the living room in circles, not quite knowing what to do with himself.

...

Ling Qiong parked her little sports car amid a flock of electric scooters, making it instantly the most eye-catching thing around.

She got out, grabbed her bags, and headed upstairs. Though she had a key, if Lu Wenci was home, she never used it—she’d just knock with her foot.

When Lu Wenci opened the door, he was immediately handed a pile of shopping bags, his view completely blocked.

Ling Qiong kicked off her shoes, swapped them for slippers, and walked in. “You have the day off?”

Her tone was light and casual, as if she’d never left at all.

“Yeah.”

He sorted out her bags and set them aside.

Ling Qiong let out a small exclamation. “Your film crew is pretty nice, giving you time off.”

He’d only gotten the day off by working extra hard and getting ahead, but he said nothing.

“Where should we eat? I want steak...” Ling Qiong was already choosing the menu without a hint of restraint.

“Then let’s have steak,” Lu Wenci replied.

“You’re such a good person,” Ling Qiong said with a beaming smile, bestowing upon him the “Good Guy” card.

It was still early, so Lu Wenci helped put away the things Ling Qiong had brought. She trailed behind, hugging a box of milk, sipping as she chattered away.

“Do you know what my life has been like these past few days? You’re still the nicest sight—why are you so good-looking?”

Lu Wenci said nothing.

Was his looks all that drew her?

Trying to sound casual, he asked, “What’s been keeping you busy?”

“Blind dates,” Ling Qiong sighed, as if she’d made the ultimate sacrifice for the family business.

Hearing this, Lu Wenci’s hands stilled on the clothes, and he glanced at her from the corner of his eye.

She didn’t seem to notice, her face crumpled with frustration. “My dad found a bunch of rich heirs from who-knows-where and insists I choose one.”

His grip tightened, then relaxed, as he hung up her clothes.

“So... did you find anyone you liked?”

“Like who?” she retorted, rolling her eyes and putting her hands on her hips. “If it weren’t for the family business, I wouldn’t go along with my dad’s boring schemes. Aside from being rich, those guys have no redeeming qualities. I have no idea what my dad sees in them.”

Lu Wenci was silent.

He was afraid she’d marry for money.

But hearing her tone, it seemed safe for now.

He relaxed a bit. “What do blind dates have to do with inheriting the family business?”

Ling Qiong put on a mock-serious voice, perfectly mimicking her father: “Let me tell you, if you want to inherit the family business, forget about it unless you get married and have a son—the Su family will belong to him in the future.”

“Can you believe it?” Ling Qiong dropped the act and resumed her own voice, indignant. “Sexist, feudal thinking! I’ll inherit the family business just to spite him!”

*

Su’s father: Life is so hard.