Volume Ten: Those Few Years After She and I Broke Up
Coaxing
A band called [Miracle] and a dress-wearing “beauty” that people loved to the point of gritting their teeth emerged out of nowhere.
Just as Cong Huiruo had said, many people liked Wen Nuan, and even more people cursed her, but Wen Nuan was genuinely on fire, and by extension, [Miracle] exploded in popularity.
Because of the incident where Wen Nuan and that princess wore the same Feili Group dress, Wen Nuan also became famous abroad, which in turn gave [Miracle] a degree of international renown.
Linguan Entertainment provided the band with a dormitory, a manager, and personal assistants, arranging almost every aspect of their lives. As the band leader, Zhai Yi was conscientious and responsible for every member, especially the most restless one.
“Cong Hui is writing songs for the year-end concert, and An Siya is keeping her company. You’re the only idle one who can accompany me to the show.”
Zhai Yi crossed her arms, looking at Wen Nuan lying like a corpse1 on the bed.
Wen Nuan, lying on her stomach, extended a single finger.
Zhai Yi sighed. “I know you were busy until one in the morning last night, but this is a fashion show hosted by Hanwen Group, a partner of Feili Group. As artists under Linguan Entertainment, which is a subsidiary of Feili Group, we have to be there.”
Wen Nuan turned her finger around.
Zhai Yi sighed again. “I’d love to go by myself and let you rest, but Hanwen Group has demanded your presence. Even if I don’t go, you absolutely must.”
Wen Nuan lifted her head, her face marked with an imprint from the pillow. “Why?”
“I don’t know either,” Zhai Yi said, rubbing her chin thoughtfully. “I heard it’s the Hanwen Group president’s idea. They think you’re a red-hot artist and can bring some heat to the fashion show.”
“A fashion show hosted by Hanwen Group needs me to bring the heat?”
Zhai Yi shook her head. “No.”
Wen Nuan was perplexed. “Then why did Hanwen Group ask for me by name?”
She was suddenly horrified. “Does their boss have a thing for me? Was he conquered by my beauty?!”
“…” Zhai Yi counted on her fingers. “It’s been half a month since our official debut, and the number of times you’ve been rumored to be a kept woman is at least in the double digits. The most ridiculous one was when you wore that limited-edition Feili dress, and the majority of netizens thought you were being kept by the president of Feili Group. But they quickly decided that rumor was the least credible.”
Wen Nuan: “…”
Tsk tsk.
Zhai Yi recalled how that priceless dress had blown up the entertainment and fashion circles. Many netizens had rushed to Feili’s official blog2, even claiming that Wen Nuan had stolen Feili Group’s limited-edition gown.
“Thankfully, Feili Group later issued an official explanation. Only then did we find out that you had actually caught the eye of a Feili Group designer, who specially lent you the dress to wear.”
It wasn’t lent, it was given.
Wen Nuan looked past Zhai Yi’s shoulder. That priceless dress was still hanging in her closet.
“Honestly, do you know Feili Group’s designer? Limited-edition dresses are generally not lent out. Even Film Queens and Film Emperors3 can’t get their hands on them,” Zhai Yi said suspiciously.
Wen Nuan stroked her face. “Maybe it’s because I’m too beautiful.”
Zhai Yi: “…”
Seeing that Wen Nuan was unwilling to talk, she didn’t press the matter. “Alright, stop letting your imagination run wild. Hurry up and get ready. You’re coming with me.”
Wen Nuan played the rogue. “I’m not going.”
“For attending this show, our appearance fee is this much.” Zhai Yi made a “1” with her finger.
Wen Nuan scrutinized the single finger, then suddenly bounced up from the bed. “Let’s go.”
Zhai Yi broke into a sweat. “…”
The fashion show hosted by Hanwen Group was held in a castle in the suburbs. Famous figures from all walks of life gathered there, including Zhai Yi’s parents.
After the fashion show was a celebration banquet, held at Jinxiu Winery.
Wen Nuan watched as Zhai Yi was pulled aside by her parents, who poured out their love and how much they missed her.
Her eyes filled with envy and nostalgia.
Wen Nuan picked up a glass of wine and turned to leave. She rejected many invitations along the way and deliberately stayed far away from the entrance to the wine cellar.
She was scared.
Her look today was very understated, her makeup simple and elegant. As long as she didn’t speak, she looked like a pure and harmless little white flower4.
She just hadn’t expected to run into an old acquaintance here.
“Hi.”
Wen Nuan raised an eyebrow. “What is it?”
It was a familiar greeting, and Wen Xiuran didn’t mind her tone. The Wen Nuan of today was even more beautiful than the last time he had seen her.
“I saw you were alone and wanted to come have a drink and chat with you.”
Wen Nuan tilted her head back and downed the wine. “No time.”
Wen Xiuran gave an awkward smile. “Do you really not want to be around me that much?”
“My current status is not suitable for being with a single man. It will cause unnecessary misunderstandings.”
Wen Nuan didn’t want any more scandals. Because of the rumors these past few days, Yi Jing wasn’t even speaking to her.
Wen Xiuran was aware of the messy rumors surrounding Wen Nuan. “I don’t mind.”
“I mind.” Wen Nuan was about to leave when she felt her wrist being grabbed. “Let go.”
If it weren’t for the fact that Wen Xiuran had helped her get information before, she would have already kicked him.
“I… I like you,” Wen Xiuran said anxiously.
From love at first sight to thinking of her day and night, he felt himself sinking deeper and deeper.
Wen Xiuran tracked Wen Nuan’s every move online every day. Even though so many people online cursed her for being indecent and vain, he didn’t believe any of it.
Because he had seen Wen Nuan’s eyes. They were very clean, not at all as filthy and disgusting as those people claimed.
Just as Wen Nuan was about to shake him off, a familiar voice came from the side.
“Xiuran, let go of Miss Wen.”
Wen Xiuning, the male lead of this mission world.
Seeing his sudden appearance, Wen Xiuran’s hand trembled in shock, and he immediately released Wen Nuan, standing obediently to the side.
Wen Xiuning shot him a glare that screamed you’re hopeless before turning to Wen Nuan with a faint smile. “Long time no see, Miss Wen.”
“Indeed, long time no see, Mr. Wen.” The corners of Wen Nuan’s mouth lifted.
“Would it be convenient to talk?”
“Aren’t you afraid of being linked to me in a scandal, Mr. Wen?”
Wen Xiuning joked, “These days, any president who hasn’t been in a scandal with Miss Wen isn’t a good president.”
Wen Nuan gave a short laugh. “Since Mr. Wen doesn’t mind, I am naturally happy to oblige.”
“Let’s go inside. It’s noisy here, not a good place to talk.” Seeing the curious look on Wen Xiuran’s face, Wen Xiuning glared at him again. “Go home.”
Wen Xiuran pouted and, looking back at Wen Nuan every three steps, reluctantly left the banquet.
“Miss Wen’s elegance is as great as it ever was,” Wen Xiuning said, raising a hand in invitation.
Wen Nuan walked alongside Wen Xiuning, entering the winery with him.
The two took an elevator to a lounge area where there was almost no one around.
Wen Xiuning selected a bottle of red wine from a wall cabinet, opened it, poured a glass for Wen Nuan, and handed it to her. “Did you spend all of the five million?”
Wen Nuan took a sip. “Mhm.”
“How much more do you want?” Wen Xiuning raised an eyebrow. “Ten million? A hundred million?”
“Mr. Wen is quite generous.”
“When I learned that a little money could solve my biggest problem, I was more than happy to spend it.”
The best thing Wen Xiuning ever did was use five million to drive Wen Nuan away, allowing him to stay by Yi Jing’s side and take care of her.
Wen Nuan drained her wine and laughed self-deprecatingly. “I want Hanwen Group. Can you afford it?”
“As long as you leave forever, disappear from Yi Jing’s sight forever, I can give up Hanwen Group.”
Wen Xiuning spoke with such conviction that it was easy to believe his sincerity and earnestness.
The Heavenly Dao5 could testify to the male lead’s sincerity toward the female lead, but who could testify to hers?
Wen Nuan set down her glass. “Mr. Wen, you’re getting anxious.”
Wen Xiuning’s brow furrowed.
“Worried about my appearance? Afraid that Yi Jing won’t marry you?” Wen Nuan smiled maliciously.
Wen Nuan knew she didn’t have enough clout for Hanwen Group to specifically request her attendance at their fashion show.
Unless… someone knew she was back, and he was desperate to find a new opening through her.
Wen Xiuning’s expression changed.
“That’s why you so strongly insisted that I attend this fashion show hosted by Hanwen Group, right?”
Wen Nuan walked toward Wen Xiuning, unbuttoned his suit jacket, and took the phone from his inner pocket.
It was still recording. Wen Nuan tapped stop.
“It’s been three years, Mr. Wen. Your methods are still the same old child’s play.”
Wen Xiuning gripped Wen Nuan’s wrist tightly, his teeth gritted. “At least I succeeded, didn’t I?”
“So what now?” Wen Nuan looked troubled. “Money eventually runs out. I still think a person is better.”
“Wen Nuan, you don’t love her at all. You were toying with her from beginning to end. Are you even worthy of her?” Wen Xiuning said furiously.
Wen Nuan lowered her lashes, a provocative smile playing on her lips. “So what? She can’t let me go. That’s what’s important, isn’t it?”
Wen Xiuning’s grip tightened, his voice turning cold. “You will only bring her sorrow and pain. You’ll never know how much she suffered in the three years you were gone.”
“Wen Xiuning, do you believe in a prodigal son returning6?”
“I do,” Wen Xiuning’s eyes glinted with sarcasm, “but I don’t believe in you.”
Wen Nuan laughed self-mockingly. “Then do you think she will?”
Wen Xiuning froze.
Wen Nuan managed to anger Wen Xiuning into leaving. She didn’t stay much longer herself, sending Zhai Yi a WeChat message before departing.
Wen Nuan had intended to find Yi Jing at her company, but Secretary Li said Yi Jing had left work early. So, she took a taxi to the rented apartment she and Yi Jing had lived in three years ago.
The apartment had a new owner; it seemed a new tenant had moved in.
The surrounding area had changed a lot, but the swing set in the park hadn’t been torn down.
Wen Nuan sat on a swing, rocking back and forth, murmuring, “When I first agreed to the Main System’s special mission, I was only thinking of myself. I never cared if anyone else lived or died.”
“She wanted to hold my hand in front of everyone, to announce us to the world. I flatly refused her, but she never blamed me and still did everything I asked.”
“She learned to cook for me. No matter how tired she was from work every day, she’d come home and make me dinner, while I was out wining and dining, making her wait until the food grew cold.”
“Time and time again, she endured the different men who appeared by my side. She knew I liked money, beautiful clothes, bags, and jewelry, so she did everything she could to earn more money for me to spend, without complaint.”
“She never got angry with me, never gave me the cold shoulder. But I was cold and indifferent to her, and sometimes when I was in a bad mood, I’d take it out on her.”
“And…”
The system interrupted her, quickly offering comfort: 【That wasn’t your choice. It was a mission required by the Main System. You had to do it.】
Wen Nuan’s expression was bleak, her voice trembling. “But… but I was the one who personally accepted the mission. I… I clearly could have refused, couldn’t I?”
“In this mission, I indulged my vile nature and bullied her so terribly…”
Wen Nuan and the system were grieving for spring and lamenting for autumn7 in the small park for a long time. Just as she was about to get up and leave, she saw the lights in the apartment she and the female lead had lived in go out. A moment later, someone walked out of the building’s corridor.
It was Yi Jing.
As if by instinct, Yi Jing suddenly glanced toward the small park, and the two of them locked eyes in silent understanding.
For a brief moment, panic and confusion flashed across Yi Jing’s face before she regained her composure. She walked up to Wen Nuan and demanded, “What are you doing here?”
At this time, [Miracle] was supposed to be at the Hanwen Group fashion show. Yi Jing knew their band’s schedule inside and out.
“Just taking a walk.”
“A walk that takes you all the way here?” Yi Jing coldly exposed Wen Nuan’s lie. “Don’t tell me you came to reminisce about the dump you used to live in?”
“I’m not reminiscing about the dump,” Wen Nuan stated frankly.
Yi Jing knew how heartless Wen Nuan could be. That sounded exactly like something she would say.
“I just missed you a little.”
Yi Jing froze. “What?”
Wen Nuan said pitifully, “Lately, you don’t reply to my texts or answer my calls. The band’s schedule is so busy I don’t even have time to drink a mouthful of water, so I haven’t had any time to come find you. I finally got a little time today, so I snuck out of the fashion show’s celebration banquet and called your company, but they said you’d left work early. I didn’t want to go back to the dorm, and I had nowhere else to go, so I came here.”
The band had just been formed and was constantly busy with schedules; Yi Jing knew that.
But this was the life of a celebrity. The high income came at a price, and the effort required was proportional.
Wasn’t this what she had once dreamed of?
Yi Jing looked at Wen Nuan. She was a bit thinner, and her eyes were rimmed with red, as if she had just been crying.
But she knew, how could someone like Wen Nuan possibly cry?
She had probably just had too much to drink.
“Nowhere to go?” Yi Jing’s brow furrowed as she looked at the white hem of Wen Nuan’s dress, stained by dirty water on the ground.
She sneered, “All you have to do is flash a few smiles at those ‘presidents,’ and you’ll naturally have plenty of nice places to go. Why come to this dirty, messy old neighborhood to suffer?”
Wen Nuan ignored Yi Jing’s sarcasm. She raised a smile, looking pure and harmless. “I already told you, I missed you.”
“Heh.”
Yi Jing wore an expression that said, “You think I’ll believe that?”
Wen Nuan felt a bead of sweat. She knew Yi Jing wouldn’t believe anything she said; after all, she had once belittled this rented apartment as completely worthless.
Yi Jing glanced at her watch. It was almost 10 o’clock.
Wen Nuan stood alone in the dilapidated little park, wearing a stained, white tube dress, looking forlorn and helpless. Anyone who saw her would feel a pang of pity.
For a few seconds, Yi Jing was drawn to the fairness of her neck, her gaze lightly tracing the rose tattoo there.
Passersby couldn’t help but stare at Wen Nuan. Some even recognized her and were already taking out their phones to take pictures.
With a sigh of resignation, Yi Jing took off her jacket and draped it over Wen Nuan. “Head down.”
Wen Nuan did as she was told.
Yi Jing took her hand and walked briskly toward the parking lot.
She opened the car door and, with an overly forceful motion, pushed Wen Nuan directly into the passenger seat.
Wen Nuan’s brows knitted slightly, but she said nothing.
Yi Jing brought Wen Nuan back to her own home. Other than her grandfather, Wen Nuan was the first person she had ever brought here.
“Get out of the car.”
Wen Nuan got out and watched as Yi Jing parked the car and walked toward her.
“Keep up.”
Wen Nuan followed one step at a time behind Yi Jing, until Yi Jing noticed something was wrong.
Yi Jing turned, her eyes on Wen Nuan’s feet hidden beneath her dress. “What’s wrong with your foot?”
Wen Nuan glanced at her. “Nothing.”
“I’ll ask one more time. What’s wrong with your foot?”
Wen Nuan bit her lip. “I twisted it.”
Yi Jing’s brow creased. She walked over and lifted the hem of the dress. Wen Nuan’s slender ankle was swollen to the size of a fist.
“How did this happen?”
Wen Nuan didn’t speak, just looked at her quietly.
At first, Yi Jing was flustered by her gaze, but then she suddenly understood and looked embarrassed. “Go sit on the sofa. I’ll get the first-aid kit.”
Wen Nuan hopped over to the sofa.
Yi Jing returned with the first-aid kit and an ice pack. She knelt down and carefully removed Wen Nuan’s shoe.
A flash of remorse crossed her eyes, and her movements became even gentler.
“If it hurts, why didn’t you say so?”
“You were angry.”
Yi Jing’s hand paused. “What am I angry about? It’s not my ankle that’s sprained.”
Wen Nuan tilted her head to look at her. “Don’t take the rumors about me seriously. The gossip reporters just make things up.”
Yi Jing looked down. “I didn’t pay any mind to them.”
“Whether you did or not, I want to tell you that I have nothing to do with those presidents.”
Yi Jing massaged her ankle, her tone stiff. “You don’t need to tell me these things.”
“Why not?” Wen Nuan’s fingertip hooked Yi Jing’s chin, forcing her to look into her ink-black eyes. “I am your property. Naturally, I cannot have anything to do with anyone else.”
She smiled enchantingly. “Even if I did have a relationship with someone, it could only be with you.”
“Isn’t that right? My true jinzhu dada8.”
Everyone suspected Wen Nuan was being kept, but no one ever suspected her relationship with Yi Jing, the president of Feili Group.
They secretly and crazily tormented each other, enjoying the thrill and pleasure that came from their mutual entanglement.
Yi Jing gripped Wen Nuan’s ankle, her thumb stroking the swollen area. Her eyes were deep and dark as she gave a self-deprecating smile. “Wen Nuan, it turns out you’re very good at coaxing people, aren’t you?”
She could so easily see through her anger and frustration, then strike right at the heart of her softness and panic.
She was, in fact, very good at coaxing people.
It was just that before, she had been unwilling to coax her.
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