After Transmigrating as a Scumbag Alpha, I Marked the Crazy Hotshot – Chapter 84

Travel Variety Show

January 22nd of the new year.

Cheng Jiqing and Cheng Jing met, having arranged the time a few days prior.

It was at Xiao Nanzhou again. It wasn’t that there was nowhere else to go, but Cheng Jing had mentioned it, and Cheng Jiqing didn’t mind the location, so it was settled.

With the Spring Festival just a few days away, Xiao Nanzhou, as a standard Chinese restaurant, was filled with a festive atmosphere both inside and out.

In the private room, small, fiery red lanterns hung on the door, swaying gently in the warm breeze.

They didn’t order any food.

Only a pot of black tea.

“Is work very tiring? You seem to have lost weight?” Cheng Jing poured her a cup and passed it over.

Cheng Jiqing thanked her and shook her head. “I have a costume drama, so I’ve been controlling my weight for the past two days.”

Cheng Jing’s brown, short hair had grown longer, appearing less sharp than before, but the aura she had cultivated from years in the business world remained unchanged.

She took a stack of documents out of her bag. “Take a look at this.”

Cheng Jiqing took them. Seeing Cheng Jing’s serious expression, she opened them with curiosity.

When she saw the bolded words 《Share Transfer Agreement》 on the first document, she was suddenly stunned.

She looked up, but before she could speak, Cheng Jing said, “These materials include all my shares in the Cheng Corporation, as well as some of my subsidiary assets. Just sign it. The transfer will take some time…”

“Wait a minute,” Cheng Jiqing interrupted. “What are you doing? I don’t understand.”

Cheng Jiqing was a bit bewildered by this move.

Cheng Jiqing’s reaction was clearly within Cheng Jing’s expectations. She said in a gentle voice, “You don’t need to worry about anything. If you’re not at ease, you can have a lawyer look it over. As long as you sign, all of this will be yours.”

Cheng Jiqing said, “Why are you doing this?”

Hearing this, Cheng Jing looked at Cheng Jiqing for a moment before speaking. “Up until the day Cheng Lan died, I had never received her approval. From a young age, I especially hated Cheng Lan. I always thought that she gave birth to me but never loved me, never cared about me. I always believed it was because I wasn’t good enough, but one day, Fu Rongjun told me that I wasn’t Cheng Lan’s biological daughter. I listened to Fu Rongjun, studied desperately, and pushed myself to get ahead. I also listened to her, and from that moment on, my life’s goal was to obtain the Cheng Corporation.”

She paused. “It wasn’t until your appearance that I experienced what it felt like to have a family. So I thought, even if the Cheng Corporation ended up with you, it wouldn’t matter.”

From that point on, her competitive and aggressive nature had mellowed.

Cheng Jiqing had redeemed her from the radical ideas of her youth, but things didn’t go as planned; she had a domineering, greedy mother.

“After Cheng Lan passed away, I was surprised to become the head of the Cheng Corporation according to the will. Everything went incredibly smoothly after that. I never thought Cheng Lan would hand the company over to me. I just figured it was perhaps because you were still young. But that didn’t matter; I would always protect you.”

But Fu Rongjun refused to let Cheng Jiqing study economics.

She even wanted to send Cheng Jiqing abroad.

Fu Rongjun held 40% of the shares, more than she did. Fu Rongjun could have interfered in the company’s affairs, but despite her airs of coming from a scholarly family, she was ultimately from a minor family and didn’t understand business.

She just used her right to speak to pressure her, telling her to stay out of Cheng Jiqing’s affairs.

Later, she found out it was because Fu Rongjun was afraid a second will might appear.

That was why she had been targeting Cheng Jiqing, trying to force her away, raise her to be useless, and ruin her reputation.

In truth, by the time she learned of this, she was already disappointed in Fu Rongjun. It was just that back then, she couldn’t bear to break ties with her biological mother.

Nor had she realized the harm she had been consistently causing Cheng Jiqing.

It wasn’t until their conversation on the anniversary of Cheng Lan’s death that she had a sudden awakening. All her so-called kindness towards Cheng Jiqing had been nothing but sharp swords.

When she heard that Fu Rongjun still planned to target Cheng Jiqing, she gave up completely.

She couldn’t change Fu Rongjun. In fact, her repeated concessions had given Fu Rongjun the opportunity to become even more relentless.

Cheng Jing took a sip of tea. “I don’t know if that will is real or fake. If it’s real, and I hand over this 30% of the shares to you, the person who has the will is sure to come looking for you. If it’s fake, the shareholders Cheng Lan left behind, including my side, will give you absolute support. Even with Fu Rongjun holding 40% of the shares, it will be of no use.”

The right to speak did not equate to the right to control.

Simply put, Cheng Jing had already cleared the path for Cheng Jiqing. The Cheng Corporation had long been in her hands. As long as Cheng Jiqing agreed, no one could sway things.

Including Fu Rongjun.

This meant Cheng Jing was ready to completely tear off all pretenses with Fu Rongjun.

As Cheng Jiqing’s heart pounded with shock, she also felt a wave of sorrow.

“Fu Rongjun won’t let this go,” Cheng Jiqing said.

“I used to go along with her because I had no choice. After I grew up, I went along with her because she is my mother. But Chengcheng, I never knew that all of this was built on your pain.”

Now that she knew, it was time for things to change.

“Is this compensation?”

“It is compensation, and it is also a gesture of my heart,” Cheng Jing said. “I understand there are things you can’t forgive me for, and I don’t dare to hope for it. But I have to do something.”

At the very least, she couldn’t let Fu Rongjun continue. She hoped that once Chengcheng took over the Cheng Corporation, Fu Rongjun would understand her resolve.

“You’re giving it all to me, but what about yourself?”

“I will stay at the company to help you. We can talk about it again after you’re settled in.”

“Are you sure? Once I sign, you’ll have nothing left. There’s no going back.”

Cheng Jing smiled, her expression filled with the same old doting affection. “Sign it.”

Cheng Jiqing lowered her eyes and was silent for a while. Cheng Jing didn’t rush her, just waited.

Looking at the stack of tangible assets, Cheng Jiqing’s heart trembled. The original host had considered Cheng Jing her dearest sister. Although there was resentment towards Cheng Jing at that time, there was also familial love.

If the original host knew that Cheng Jing had gone this far, what would she think? Would she forgive her, find release?

She didn’t know.

She thought, if one day the original host could appear in her dream.

She hoped she could find out the answer.

Cheng Jiqing stared at the agreement, remaining silent for a long time. Then, she opened the black fountain pen Cheng Jing had placed on the table and signed her name.

Although she didn’t care about the Cheng Corporation, this was indeed a way to restrain Fu Rongjun.

She wasn’t that kind, not a saint.

For what Fu Rongjun did to the original host, for the harm Cheng Jing caused the original host, what was wrong with them learning a lesson?

Especially since it was delivered right to her door.

“I’ve signed it. I’ll hold onto the contracts for now,” Cheng Jiqing said. “But it’s also true that I have neither the energy nor the interest to manage the company. You said you’d stay at the company to help, so…”

She said, “The Cheng Corporation will still be managed by you. When the day comes that I need to take it back, I will reclaim it at any time. Can you accept that?”

Cheng Jing picked up the black fountain pen, seemingly toying with it, but there was a hint of relief in her eyes. Perhaps to others, Cheng Jiqing’s words were unreasonable.

But she understood. Cheng Jiqing’s question was asking her if she needed a chance for self-redemption.

The events of the past were a psychological burden for Cheng Jiqing, and for her as well.

Staying at the company to help Cheng Jiqing, to protect Cheng Jiqing, was what she wanted.

“Okay.”

On the table was a paper cutout of a plum blossom tree. The character for “fortune” was pasted on its railing, and the tree rotated on the table with the warm breeze.

Its shadow fell on the tabletop, scattered and fragmented.

After a moment of silence.

Cheng Jiqing suddenly remembered something. She asked softly, “Then do you know who my biological mother is?”

She knew very little about the original host’s childhood. Investigating this secret would be extremely difficult.

The original host probably went to her grave without ever knowing who her biological mother was.

A darkness flashed in Cheng Jing’s eyes as she said slowly, “I do.”

Cheng Jiqing noticed the odd look in her eyes and had a slight guess.

She heard Cheng Jing say, “Fu Rongjun didn’t tell me everything, but I had people investigate based on the clues I had. Chengcheng… she, your mother, is no longer alive.”

After Fu Rongjun told her she wasn’t related by blood to Cheng Jiqing, she had kept it in her heart.

After growing up, she slowly investigated and found traces from the few clues she had.

Before marrying Fu Rongjun, Cheng Lan had a first love. But due to a family alliance, she was forced to marry Fu Rongjun. In reality, Fu Rongjun also had a partner at the time.

This sort of thing was actually very common.

In their circle, love and marriage were like mountains and seas versus a barren desert.

Completely different things, different worlds.

The year Cheng Lan and Fu Rongjun married, Fu Rongjun gave birth to her prematurely. Naturally, she was not Cheng Lan’s child.

Both Cheng Lan and Fu Rongjun were well aware of this, but such a scandal could not be publicized in a family like theirs, so life went on as usual.

Later, the Fu family gradually declined, and Fu Rongjun began to see Cheng Lan as her pillar of support and developed feelings for her.

Unfortunately, Cheng Lan’s heart belonged to someone else, whom she had never forgotten over the years.

It was in the seventh year of their marriage that a scandal erupted in the Cheng family—Cheng Lan was photographed meeting another woman abroad.

This woman was Cheng Lan’s first love.

When she sent people to investigate this woman, she found out that the person had passed away twenty-three years ago. The cause of death was complications from childbirth.

Counting back, that was the year Cheng Jiqing was born.

The rest could be concluded with a little deduction.

After Cheng Jiqing’s biological mother died, Cheng Lan brought Cheng Jiqing back to the Cheng family. For the sake of the family’s reputation and so Cheng Jiqing wouldn’t bear the stigma of being an illegitimate child, she was given to Fu Rongjun to raise.

And this incident became the reason for Fu Rongjun’s hatred towards Cheng Lan and Cheng Jiqing.

Her tolerance for Fu Rongjun over the years was also partly due to this factor. Even if the reason for this hatred was complex and not very logical, Fu Rongjun was still her biological mother.

But all of this, the grudges of the previous generation, had nothing to do with Cheng Jiqing from beginning to end.

It was they who had dragged Cheng Jiqing into it.

Cheng Jiqing once saw Fu Rongjun as a mother, only to be met with harm. When she finally learned she had a biological mother, she was already gone.

“Chengcheng, are you okay?”

Cheng Jing’s brow furrowed slightly. She hadn’t told Cheng Jiqing because she was worried it would upset her.

Cheng Jiqing felt a slight tightness in her chest, as if she had been struck by that festive plum blossom tree.

After a long moment, she said, “Life is always full of regrets, isn’t it?”

It was just that the original host had a few more.

She was sad, but it wasn’t her own experience, so it wasn’t profound—she hadn’t walked the original host’s path. Even if she had watched it from beginning to end, it was impossible to truly empathize.

She was sad, but only for the original host.

She just felt that the original host had lived a life and seemed to have gained nothing before disappearing just like that.

“I want to ask one more question. What was your deal with Bai Zhaoliang?”

Cheng Jing said, “It was about blood ties. He knew I wasn’t Cheng Lan’s biological daughter, and he also knew you and I weren’t related by blood. Cheng Lan looked after the Bai family out of gratitude to Lu Man for saving you. Fu Rongjun and I made the deal because we didn’t want you to know about these things. He kept the secret of our bloodlines, and we kept the secret of him abandoning Lu Man.”

It was just that Bai Zhaoliang felt the deal wasn’t quite fair, so over the years, he had shamelessly taken advantage of the Cheng Corporation, both openly and secretly.

Hearing this, Cheng Jiqing felt that it did explain some things.

But she still felt as if she had overlooked something.

However, Cheng Jing was likely telling the truth. At this point, there was probably nothing left to hide from her.

The weather had been clear for the past two days.

Although it was windy when they went out, the ground beneath their feet was clean and dry.

A chill filled the air. Cheng Jiqing pulled her scarf up to her chin, a meager defense against the wind seeping into her collar.

Cheng Jing stood opposite her.

After a dozen seconds of silence, she looked at Cheng Jiqing earnestly and said, “Chengcheng, you will always be the most important family member in my heart.”

Hearing this, Cheng Jiqing slowly curved her lips.

I hope the original host can know this, she thought.

“Happy New Year.”

Cheng Jing said.

The New Year was in a few days, and it was impossible for them to spend the Spring Festival together this year.

Cheng Jing waited for two seconds, then turned to leave.

From behind her, Cheng Jiqing said softly.

“Happy New Year.”

“Cheng Jing.”

Cheng Jiqing suddenly called out to her, her voice turning crisp as it carried on the wind. “I don’t understand business, but I understand people. If Cheng Lan truly didn’t value you, she would have suppressed you early on instead of letting you grow freely and develop such skills. After she died, the shareholders who followed her probably wouldn’t have accepted you so easily either.”

“Perhaps she didn’t show enough concern for you, but that doesn’t mean she didn’t have feelings for you.”

In the back seat of a black Maybach, Cheng Jing stared at the “fortune” characters visible everywhere on the roadside, vaguely recalling a certain year from her childhood.

Cheng Lan had brought back a box of fireworks. Cheng Jiqing, who was only five at the time, ran over and hugged Cheng Lan upon hearing the noise.

The fireworks nearly fell to the ground, and she went over to catch them.

Cheng Lan glanced at her and said, “Go play with your sister in a bit.”

That night, while setting off fireworks, she accidentally got a spark on her clothes, nearly injuring Chengcheng. When Cheng Lan saw this, her face darkened, and she yanked her to the side. “What’s wrong with you?”

She was both scared and wronged, and just lowered her head without a word.

Fu Rongjun was beside them and, without asking a single question, just said, “Go change your clothes.”

Only little Cheng Jiqing took her hand and asked her, 『Jiejie, did you get burned?』

Cheng Jing rolled the car window down a few centimeters. The biting cold air helped dissipate some of the heat in her eyes. She vaguely remembered.

That night, she went downstairs to the kitchen and ran into Cheng Lan reading the newspaper in the living room.

Without looking up, Cheng Lan asked her in an extremely faint voice.

“Are you hurt?”

…

“President Cheng?”

Cheng Jing’s thoughts snapped back from the distant memory, like a tape measure recoiling, causing a sharp but light pain in the web of her thumb.

It was a quick sting, leaving an aftershock.

Secretary Liu in the front was talking about the schedule for the next few days. With the New Year approaching, some matters had to be resolved beforehand.

She redirected her attention to listen.

Then she asked, “Where?”

“Berlin.”

The destination for the business trip.

It was the night right before New Year’s Eve.

Secretary Liu seemed to think of something and added, “It’s quite close to Denmark.”

Tu Xiuxiu was now in Copenhagen, Denmark. From Berlin, one could get there in an hour if they were fast.

Cheng Jing didn’t respond, gazing out the window, her thoughts unreadable.

The day before New Year’s Eve.

An opera house in Copenhagen, Denmark.

It was smaller than the theater on Zealand Avenue, but more Chinese nationals came here to listen to opera. It was like a branch. Tu Xiuxiu, now somewhat famous, would occasionally come over.

The next day was New Year’s Eve, so even more patrons came.

For nostalgia, for the festival.

The time was three in the afternoon in Denmark. Tu Xiuxiu had to go to the main theater later to perform the opening act, so this first show was already packed.

Cheng Jing once again chose an inconspicuous corner.

Today, Tu Xiuxiu was performing 《Qin Tower》¹, a story about a female protagonist, a descendant of a general, who, at a time of national crisis, abandons her country and the city’s populace to rescue her lover who is in the Qin Tower.

She abandoned the world for one person.

But in the end, she and her lover went their separate ways.

Reborn, the protagonist chooses a path opposite to her previous life, but the Qin Tower is burned down, and she watches her lover die.

She gained everything but lost her truest love.

In the end, the protagonist goes mad, her soul transforming into the Qin Tower, guarding it for eternity.

The song ended.

It wasn’t quite suitable for this joyous festival, yet it still brought tears to the eyes of those in the audience who understood.

Cheng Jing’s fingers gently tapped the lid of her teacup, lifting and lowering it several times. Tu Xiuxiu had once told her this story.

Back then, the full name of 《Qin Tower》 was 《The Allure of Qin Tower》.

Now, the allure was gone, leaving only the desolate Qin Tower.

As usual, the tea in her cup remained untouched.

Tu Xiuxiu used to say that this was her one delicate habit. She could tolerate anything, but she was just this picky about her tea.

Da. A light sound.

Cheng Jing put down the lid, straightened her clothes, and prepared to leave.

Just then, a waiter in a long robe came over and said respectfully, “President Cheng, Miss Tu invites you backstage for tea.”

Cheng Jing’s expression paused slightly.

The tea was served first, the person arrived after.

Tu Xiuxiu was still in her stage costume, having only removed the hairpins. Every glance and smile was gentle and charming.

“I thought I saw wrong.”

But Cheng Jing said, “You should have said goodbye when you left.”

Tu Xiuxiu: “I thought there was no need.”

“That’s true.” Cheng Jing smiled, lightly scraping the teacup with the lid, recognizing it as her favorite blend. “You have a right to resent me.”

“Then why did you come?”

“To have a look,” Cheng Jing sipped her tea. “You’re doing well now.”

The wooden backstage area was filled with dark lacquer. The layout was generous, and the decorations were arranged with care, but Cheng Jing felt it was just so-so.

The conversation paused. A woman in a cyan opera costume walked in from a side door. Her features were delicate and gentle. She glanced at Cheng Jing, nodded slightly, then walked to Tu Xiuxiu’s side. “Xiuxiu, are you done chatting? It’s time to rehearse our lines.”

After speaking, she patted Tu Xiuxiu’s slender shoulder.

Tu Xiuxiu’s gaze unconsciously drifted towards Cheng Jing. She didn’t dodge, simply replying, “I know.”

Cheng Jing’s gaze lingered on the hand for a moment before looking away. She set down her teacup. “The tea is good. You’re busy, so I won’t disturb you.”

“I was the one who told Bai Xin about you and Cheng Jiqing.”

Tu Xiuxiu suddenly interrupted Cheng Jing’s movement as she stood up.

Cheng Jing looked up, her expression showing no shock whatsoever. She just said faintly, “I know.”

How could she not figure out something so small?

But when she found out, she didn’t feel angry. It sounded absurd even to her, but the moment the secret was revealed, her heart wasn’t entirely filled with nervousness.

There was even a trace of relief.

Perhaps when a person is weighed down by a secret for too long, they also need a moment to breathe.

Tu Xiuxiu raised her eyebrows slightly. “You’re not angry?”

Cheng Jing looked at Tu Xiuxiu, then at the woman beside her who was watching her like a hawk. She lowered her eyes and chuckled. “Xiuxiu, if I were angry, how could you still be here singing so peacefully?”

If she wanted revenge, it would be all too simple.

But she wouldn’t resort to such methods against Tu Xiuxiu.

They had spent three years together. A person isn’t made of stone.

Cheng Jing stood up and turned to walk out. “Xiu Garden has been transferred to your name. If you don’t want it, just leave it be. From now on, take care of yourself.”

Tu Xiuxiu watched Cheng Jing’s retreating back. The bright yellow light entered her eyes, glinting with specks of brilliance.

After a couple of seconds, she reached for the tea beside her and took a sip.

The woman next to her asked, “Xiuxiu, why are you crying?”

Tu Xiuxiu didn’t answer.

It wasn’t just Cheng Jing who was delicate. Hadn’t she, too, been raised to be delicate over these past few years?

A single sip of ordinary tea felt like a struggle.

If her cheongsam had the slightest scuff, she would feel uncomfortable all over.

If the food wasn’t plated beautifully, her appetite would be affected.

People.

It is easy to go from frugality to extravagance, but difficult to go from extravagance to frugality.

This was true for things, and it was true for the heart.

On this New Year’s Eve, the snow had just stopped.

Some employees at XM chose to stay and work at the company.

Ever since Bai Xin started coming to XM regularly, the people on the top floor had been living as if walking on thin ice. When Zhou Yushu was in charge, she was cold, but not to the point of being unapproachable.

It wasn’t just them; even the high-level executives were on edge during meetings. However, because of this, work efficiency had greatly improved.

At a little after three in the afternoon, Bai Xin returned to XM, bringing a gust of cold air with her.

The moment she entered, she heard people gossiping.

“A flash in the pan, I bet. She hasn’t released any work but is buying hot searches every day.”

“But Cheng Jiqing is really beautiful. I think her face is prettier than Li Yunlan’s, and she’s the type that gets more beautiful the more you look at her.”

A familiar name jumped into her ears.

Bai Xin stopped in her tracks. Zhou Yushu was next to her. She glanced at Bai Xin’s face and figured the last sentence was a compliment, so she didn’t say anything.

Who knew that in the next sentence, one of them would say:

“So what? Who knows if she’s had plastic surgery. And I think this person is too high-profile. A newcomer terminating her contract with Yi Xin… I heard she has a sponsor behind her. It makes sense, don’t you think she’s climbing the ladder way too fast? The entertainment industry is all like that, sleeping her way to the top.”

Zhou Yushu: “…”

Bai Xin remained expressionless and continued walking forward. She didn’t even spare a glance at the two gossiping employees as she passed, just said icily, “Fire them.”

Not a single wasted word.

The people left behind were stunned, and after a moment of realization, their faces turned pale.

Zhou Yushu walked over and looked at the employee who had spoken last. “Happy New Year. Go home for the holidays.”

She was normally a cold person, but with Bai Xin around, she could only play the role of the good cop.

But this girl’s mouth was indeed a bit loose. If it were someone else, it might not have been a fireable offense.

Seeing the person’s innocent look, as if wanting to say something, Zhou Yushu interrupted, “Just consider it bad luck.”

Of all people to talk about, she had to talk about Cheng Jiqing.

Even she had to be careful, let alone them.

Especially during this sensitive period.

Bai Xin returned to her office, feeling irritable from lack of sleep.

Her phone buzzed on the desk several times before she finally picked it up.

Tang Jia had at some point created a group chat. Tong Yanxi and Zhou Yushu were also in it, talking about the New Year.

In previous years, she never participated in these things. Festivals like the Spring Festival, meant for family reunions, had nothing to do with her.

She rubbed her brow and turned to look out the window. The snow had just stopped, leaving a thin, blurry layer of white on the tall building opposite. It was like her eyes were clouded.

Not long ago, she thought she could be with Cheng Jiqing. To celebrate Christmas together, to welcome the new year together, to spend the Spring Festival together.

The Spring Festival was here, but Cheng Jiqing was not.

She turned back and typed in the group chat.

【Does anyone know how to make dumplings?】

6:30 PM.

As luck would have it, Cheng Jiqing’s scenes had wrapped up yesterday.

Song Ling had said two days ago that she would come over to spend New Year’s Eve with her. They hired a chef, and the table was a mix of Chinese and Western cuisine. She also brought a few boisterous friends.

Red wine, white wine, beer—a whole table of it.

Worried about disturbing the neighbors, she took a bottle of good wine downstairs to say hello.

When she returned, a song called 《Good Luck Comes》 was playing in the room.

Song Ling was singing along with her friends with great passion and emotion. She leaned against the kitchen island, watching with interest. She preferred quiet, but she didn’t dislike this kind of liveliness.

“Xiao Cheng, come on, come have fun.”

Cheng Jiqing shook her head. “You guys have fun. I’m already tired just from watching.”

She listened to the liveliness and felt the liveliness.

But she just couldn’t get into the festive mood today. She felt like something was empty.

Her gaze fell on the sofa cover under Song Ling’s hand. It was water-blue, brand new, and pure cotton.

It felt very nice.

Cheng Jiqing watched for a while, feeling a bit thirsty. She walked to the kitchen and, after a brief thought, took out a can of tea leaves.

The tea leaves were black and glossy. After adding water, a mellow aroma like pine resin filled the air.

She wasn’t particular about her tea; a quick rinse was enough.

Then she watched the tea leaves float and sink in the transparent glass cup, and her memory drifted back to that snowy evening.

“What if I said, I want to pursue you again?”

The city was battered by ice and snow. Light snow fell from the gloomy sky. The Omega’s voice was slightly cold due to the chill. It was hard to deny that her irritation at that moment stemmed from the turmoil in her heart.

There’s a line in 《Going Ashore》 that says, love may be fleeting, or it may be long. So fleeting it ends with a single word, so long it’s unforgettable for half a lifetime.

After she refused her that day, Bai Xin didn’t appear again.

But the film crew she was with often received afternoon tea, mostly warm orange juice and ginger tea.

The crew’s boxed lunches were never cold again; there was always hot, refreshing chicken soup every day.

In the rest area, several windproof tents with heaters running at full blast appeared overnight.

Thick, soft fleece cushions were prepared on every actor’s lounge chair.

The actors said they had never seen such a generous and comfortable film set.

The director said the investor was generous.

Cheng Jiqing was always silent. She tried her best not to think too much about it, afraid that she would lose control.

Just an investor.

“Ah! It’s snowing again.”

In the lively room, during a sudden lull, someone’s voice rang out.

Cheng Jiqing looked up at the window. Fine snow was falling, dense and intertwined.

Bai Xin’s voice echoed in her ear: “Chengcheng, you will eventually know that in this world, I will never be like this for a second person.”

“Chengcheng, come eat something.”

Cheng Jiqing snapped back to reality. “Coming.”

She answered, but didn’t move immediately. She lowered her head. The black tea in the glass cup hadn’t fully settled yet. The tea’s fragrance wafted up, and through the curling steam, she watched the tea leaves tumble down.

Just as she was about to walk towards her friends, her pocket vibrated.

She took out her phone. It was Tong Yanxi.

【I’m downstairs at your place.】

She was slightly surprised. Before this message, Tong Yanxi had asked if she was home, but she didn’t expect her to come directly.

Then she suddenly remembered that the person who brought Bai Xin to see her in Jiangcheng was also Tong Yanxi.

Tong Yanxi: 【Helping that Tang Jia deliver something.】

Cheng Jiqing pursed her lips: 【Wait a moment.】

She put on her coat and went downstairs.

The snow was falling gently. Looking from near to far, the scene went from light to dark.

Tong Yanxi was wearing a thick padded jacket, moving around to keep warm. When she saw her, she said, “Quick, quick, I’m freezing to death.”

Cheng Jiqing hurried over and took the insulated bag.

As if by some strange twist of fate, seeing this thing now made her think of things she shouldn’t.

Tong Yanxi said, “Tang Jia made the dumplings herself. She said it’s to express her apologies.”

Cheng Jiqing: “She knows how to do this?”

“Just learned today.”

“Then… thank her for me.”

Tong Yanxi shrugged. “Oh, right, she also wishes you a Happy New Year.”

Hearing this, Cheng Jiqing let out an inexplicable laugh. “Then wish her a Happy New Year too. And a Happy New Year to you too, Director Tong.”

“You’re welcome.” Tong Yanxi smiled. “Delivery made. I’m out.”

“Be careful on the road.”

Cheng Jiqing clutched her collar tightly, watching Tong Yanxi walk towards a black car by the roadside. She suddenly felt as if she sensed something.

The light on top of the black car was broken.

The fine snow fell like frosted glass. She peered through layers of barriers, through the dim glass.

She couldn’t see anything clearly.

Here, Tong Yanxi opened the car door.

“Not going to see her?”

Bai Xin watched Cheng Jiqing’s figure go upstairs. She rested her sore neck against the seat, her cool voice laced with emotion. “It’s okay. We’ll see each other soon.”

Cheng Jiqing, Happy New Year.

Cheng Jiqing carried the dumplings upstairs.

When Song Ling and the others saw her return, they came over to ask what it was and who sent it.

Cheng Jiqing waved them away, unzipped the insulated bag, and took out the thermos inside. There was no sticky note on the thermos like before.

Song Ling stood beside her, saw that Cheng Jiqing was still rummaging through the bag, and asked, “What are you looking for?”

Cheng Jiqing paused. “Nothing.”

I’m really going crazy.

This New Year’s Eve was peaceful and lively.

The Song family had strict rules; on a day like this, she should have stayed at home, but she came to accompany her and even brought a few friends.

Perhaps because of this, it wasn’t as lonely as she had imagined.

Except at midnight, when the sky outside the window was filled with romantic white flakes and the sound of brilliant fireworks reached her ears, a faint trace of regret welled up in her heart.

So much regret.

But.

Happy New Year.

Mid-February arrived quietly, just as her heart was about to fall into disarray.

Spring had already arrived in the south, but North City was still in winter.

But compared to the sub-zero temperatures, it had warmed up considerably—though the snow still fell as usual.

The first episode of 《Let’s Go Together》 was a pilot. The first official stop was Copenhagen, Denmark. The program team would start filming from the moment of recording.

They found a vacant apartment, and filmed everything from self-introductions to packing clothes.

She had been on a reality show in her original world, so she knew the general procedure.

Next, she needed to take her luggage and gather at a location in Zhoucheng, then head to Denmark after meeting up.

North City to Zhoucheng was only a little over an hour.

The director asked a few questions on the way.

“Chengcheng, do you usually cook?”

“I do, mostly congee.”

“Do you have any peculiar habits?”

“I don’t think so… hmm, does liking to draw the curtains completely shut when I sleep count?”

The director laughed and said, “It counts. Is there anything you particularly dislike? Or something you don’t like to do?”

Cheng Jiqing thought for a moment. “Rabbits, I guess. The kind I’d rather not see if I can help it.”

“But rabbits are so cute?”

Cheng Jiqing shrugged and then remembered, “Director, we don’t have any escape room activities this season, do we?”

The director gave a mysterious smile and asked, “If there were, would you mind?”

Cheng Jiqing: “I wouldn’t mind, but I would run.”

The director and the driver in the car both laughed. She had a cool-looking face, but she was easy-going and interesting to talk to. For those of them doing follow-up filming and interviews, they preferred guests like this.

After a brief chat.

The director said that three guests had already arrived at the location.

Cheng Jiqing nodded. They were also ten minutes away.

Ten minutes later, Zhoucheng wasn’t too different from North City, but the location 《Let’s Go Together》 had chosen was more suitable as an opening venue.

It was a large villa garden.

The place was very spacious, like a special kind of guesthouse.

As soon as she entered, she could see the logo for 《Let’s Go Together》. From here on, only the follow-up director was with her.

She followed the address on the sign and finally found the location.

It was still cold. After dragging her luggage all the way, her knuckles were now purple from the cold. When the wind blew, it felt like her skin was about to crack.

The paved brick road was not easy to walk on. Cheng Jiqing easily lifted her suitcase.

Then she walked towards the main entrance of the villa.

It was a black door with a code lock. She had a key card. Just as her card was about to touch the sensor and she was preparing to push the door in, it was suddenly pulled open from the inside.

She moved fast, and the person inside moved fast too.

Almost as soon as she entered, she collided with the other person. A familiar lily fragrance rushed towards her. Seeing that she was about to fall, she subconsciously pulled the person tightly into her arms to protect them…

Cheng Jiqing’s expression faltered slightly.

The woman had taken off her coat. Her cold fingertips landed on the woman’s waist through her sweater, the touch firm yet soft.

She lowered her gaze and met those peach blossom eyes. Her heart trembled lightly.

Bai Xin… what is she doing here?

Just as she was full of confusion and astonishment.

She suddenly noticed that the air in the room had gone silent. Cheng Jiqing swept her gaze across the room and was stunned again—Qin Yufu was standing in front of the sofa, looking at her with the same stunned expression.

“…?”

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The author has something to say:

Bai-jie: Hi, wifey

Chengcheng: ?

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