Chapter17

Meng Fanchuan's response suddenly made Cen Zhen snap to attention—

Why did she ask such a childish question?

She shouldn’t have made that call at all.

Didn’t she know what role she was playing in all of this?

Cen Zhen hung up the phone and silently returned the men’s items to their original places.

Chi Yu, curious, asked, “Why not throw them away? Who are you keeping them for?”

“…” Cen Zhen pursed her lips and simply decided not to explain. “For myself. No waste.”

“Huh?” Chi Yu blinked.

The slippers and shirts could be somewhat useful, but the razor?

Shave her legs?

Cen Zhen could tell that Chi Yu still had a hundred questions. To avoid dragging out the topic any further, she quickly handed Chi Yu the suitcase. “Help me hang up the clothes.”

Chi Yu, of course, was easily distracted. “Got it!”

Rich people’s houses always had designs that bordered on extravagant. The several hundred square meters of the flat had only two rooms—one for sleeping and the other for bathing—almost as if it were just a place to sleep. The rest, such as the wine cabinet, coat rack, study, and so on, were all done in an open-plan style.

The few things Cen Zhen brought fit in easily, as if she were just a passing guest who could leave at any time.

After everything was packed up, it was already late. Chi Yu happily took the luxurious face cream gifted by the butler and headed home. The vast apartment was left with only Cen Zhen.

She walked alone to the sky garden and looked out at the city’s nightscape. However, instead of feeling the ultimate luxury, she was overwhelmed by a sense of pressure.

Cen Zhen might never regret the decisions she had made, but in the face of an uncertain future, she honestly didn’t know if this was the right choice.

Jun Ting Hui was the top all-serviced apartment in Hu City. On her first night there, the butler had prepared a lavish welcome for her, including Grade-A white tulips airlifted from the Netherlands, a custom dinner from a Michelin chef, and thoughtful bedtime services.

But lying on the comfortable, spacious bed, Cen Zhen couldn’t fall asleep.

Whenever she closed her eyes, images of sharing a bed with Meng Fanchuan appeared. It felt like every time she turned over, she might suddenly land in his arms.

He had made no moves yet, which only made her guess and worry even more.

The night passed uneasily, and the next morning, before Cen Zhen had even woken up, she received a call from Wen Hui.

Wen Hui was a top graduate of the University of Hong Kong’s School of Business Administration. She had been Meng Fanchuan’s grandfather’s secretary when she was younger, and later, accompanied Meng Fanchuan’s mother to Bei City, helping to manage all the affairs of the Meng family. She was, in short, a multi-talented person who could handle everything from company matters to the household chores.

Yesterday, Meng Fanchuan had given her the title of manager, and today, she already had all of Cen Zhen’s information.

Wen Hui had been puzzled as to why Meng Fanchuan suddenly signed a girl without any prior announcement. However, after seeing Cen Zhen’s background of studying in Bei City, she seemed to have an inkling of the reason.

“Did you know Fanchuan in Bei City?”

Cen Zhen didn’t know why Wen Hui was asking but still answered her, “No, I only met him recently.”

Wen Hui had the feeling that there was more to their relationship, but since Meng Fanchuan hadn’t said anything, she naturally wouldn’t pry. Her primary duty right now was to map out a basic plan for Cen Zhen’s career.

Cen Zhen’s face was unforgettable—delicate but not thin, beautiful without being gaudy. It made people instinctively like her, which was a rare and precious thing for an actress.

Wen Hui knew that she was naturally made for the big screen.

As for the promotional video shoot, it could be considered as a trial before officially entering the industry.

“Director Xie has scheduled a team meeting for tonight. He’s very punctual, so make sure you arrive on time.”

“Okay, I will.”

Before taking on this job, Cen Zhen had a stereotyped view of promotional videos. For example, at the Snow Festival held in Mingzhou, one would think the focus would be on introducing the famous landmarks and local customs of Mingzhou to the world.

Or, at the very least, the promotional video would just feature the ski venue where the event was being held.

But the director for this project was Xie Qingzong.

The organizing committee had filmed multiple versions but wasn’t satisfied with any of them. In the end, they urgently contacted Xie Qingzong to save the situation and ensure a stunning global debut.

Cen Zhen thought that he would probably break her stereotypes.

The meeting point set by Director Xie was at a teahouse. Cen Zhen arrived ten minutes early, but to her surprise, someone was already there before her.In the private room sat a young man. After exchanging a few glances with him, Cen Zhen recognized him.

"Cen Zhen?"

"Senior?"

The person who called her was Bai Yan, a senior who had graduated two years earlier from Bei City Film Academy, the same school as Cen Zhen.

Since Bai Yan graduated, he hadn't seen Cen Zhen, but now he worked at the National Drama Theatre and occasionally took on some quality drama roles. He was a calm and steady young actor, never in a rush.

"Did Director Xie mention there would be a female actress? Is that you?" Bai Yan asked, pulling out a chair for Cen Zhen, pleasantly surprised.

Cen Zhen didn't know there would be male actors, nor that she’d be meeting a senior from the same mentor and a long-lost friend. This unexpected encounter lifted her spirits. "Yes, it's me. I'll be relying on you more from now on, Senior."

"Don’t mention it. With your expertise, I’m surprised there hasn’t been any news of you since graduation."

Cen Zhen paused for a moment before giving a faint smile. Bai Yan also realized his question might have been a bit too direct. Just then, Director Xie Qingzong and two assistants arrived, and cheerful laughter filled the room.

"I told you, the actors I pick are always punctual," Director Xie remarked.

Wen Hui had met with Xie Qingzong downstairs. Since it was Cen Zhen's first official meeting with the director, she naturally had to follow. As they walked upstairs, they discussed how the current trend in the entertainment industry was one of laziness, and Xie Qingzong expressed his displeasure. Wen Hui was worried that Cen Zhen might be late.

Thankfully, the young lady was very obedient and humble.

"Director Xie." Cen Zhen and Bai Yan both stood up.

"No need to be formal, sit down," Xie Qingzong said.

The meeting mainly focused on the shooting process and schedule for the promotional video. Xie Qingzong told Cen Zhen and Bai Yan that the team would be in Mingzhou for filming in early November, but the actors needed to start preparing tomorrow.

"Tomorrow?" Cen Zhen asked, confused.

"Yes," Xie Qingzong replied. "Tomorrow, you and Bai Yan will head to Mingzhou for training."

Wen Hui, feeling the rush, calculated the time. "What kind of training takes two weeks?"

"Many things. Horseback riding, wire work, skiing, etc."

"…"

"This is part of the script. You can think of the promotional video as a short film. We need to create a video that promotes both Mingzhou's tourism and the event itself. To achieve this, you two will need to quickly master all these skills in the short span of two weeks."

Xie Qingzong paused briefly. "Prepare yourselves, it will be tough."

Xie Qingzong was known for his high standards in filmmaking. Cen Zhen hadn’t expected such attention to detail even for a promotional video. Although she didn’t know what his inspiration would be or how the filming would unfold, just these few words made her confident in his abilities.

"No problem," Cen Zhen and Bai Yan said almost in unison.

"I’ll have my assistant add all the core team members to the group chat later. It’ll be tough for everyone this next month," Xie Qingzong said briefly before standing up. "I still have other things to attend to. You can continue chatting."

Xie Qingzong worked efficiently. Having wrapped up the promotional video discussion, he was already on his way to a university lecture.

Bai Yan exchanged contact information with Cen Zhen, then bid her farewell. "See you in Mingzhou."

"Okay."

This brief meeting ended in less than twenty minutes. In the private room, only Cen Zhen and Wen Hui remained. They sat down to finalize a few details.

Wen Hui was also very efficient and quickly arranged Cen Zhen's flight and accommodation to Mingzhou.

"I'll go to the official shoot, but for the pre-training, Chi Yu will accompany you. If you have any issues, you can contact me anytime."

"The hotel is a bit far from the training site, but it’s quite comfortable. You’ll be able to rest well."

"Mingzhou's weather is cold. Remember to pack extra clothes."

Though they had just met, Cen Zhen could already feel Wen Hui’s attentive care beneath her practical approach.

Cen Zhen nodded. "Don’t worry, I’ll take care of myself."

"Good. If there’s nothing else, you can go back and pack your things. Get some rest and be ready to depart tomorrow," Wen Hui said, standing up to leave. She suddenly turned back, remembering something, and added, "Make sure to let Fanchuan know."

Wen Hui didn’t know what the exact nature of their relationship was. Although Meng Fanchuan would call her "Aunt Hui," she was still an employee and had no position to interfere with personal matters.

Since Cen Zhen would be leaving for half a month, it was necessary to inform him.

However, these matters were better for the two young people to handle between themselves.

After saying this, Wen Hui left, and Cen Zhen paused for a moment before finally voicing her inner question: "Why didn’t Master Meng come today?"

She had seen him with Xie Qingzong during their last meal together and had thought he would join today’s meeting as well.

"These trivial matters don’t need his attention," Wen Hui said, picking up her handbag. Before leaving, she gestured as if to make a phone call. "Remember what I said."

Actually, Cen Zhen didn’t need Wen Hui’s reminder. She would definitely inform Meng Fanchuan about her trip to Mingzhou. Their relationship was one of mutual understanding, and since she had received his favor, she was very clear about her position.

After returning to Meng Fanchuan’s residence from the teahouse, Cen Zhen found his number and tried calling him.The phone rang several times before it was answered by a low, soft voice. "Hello?"

Every time Cen Zhen heard Meng Fanchuan’s voice like this, strange, vague memories flashed through her mind, like a faint electric current suddenly coursing through her brain, causing her heart to inexplicably skip a beat.

But that feeling was fleeting, and she couldn’t recall where it came from.

In the end, it could only be roughly and hastily explained as—The Sugar Daddy Effect.

Cen Zhen steadied her mind and told him, "Mr. Meng, Director Xie said the promotional video for the ski festival requires prior training, so I will be leaving for Mingzhou tomorrow to prepare for filming. Chi Yu will accompany me, and Aunt Hui will come over for the official shoot."

She explained everything in detail, just like an employee reporting to her boss.

In fact, in Cen Zhen's mind, Meng Fanchuan was exactly like a boss, but compared to Chi Yu and the others, he was a boss with more personal dealings.

Meng Fanchuan listened and only responded with an "Mm."

"How long will you be gone?" he asked.

"Two weeks. The shoot is scheduled for early next month."

"Got it."

Even after hanging up, Cen Zhen couldn't believe that Meng Fanchuan had only asked two questions and ended the call just like that.

She vaguely felt that Meng Fanchuan seemed somewhat uninterested tonight, as if he didn’t have much mood to talk.

For Cen Zhen, this was certainly a good thing. She was leaving tomorrow, and at least for the next two weeks, she wouldn’t have to worry about how to deal with this man.

After packing her bags, Cen Zhen took a quick shower. It was 8 PM, and as she was about to scroll through the news and get into bed, her phone suddenly rang again.

Seeing the familiar name on the screen, she quickly sat up in bed, suppressed her heartbeat, and answered, "Hello?"

"Are you at home?"

"Mm."

"Come down. I’m downstairs."

"…"

"Come down?" Cen Zhen didn’t understand his meaning.

It was his house—he could clearly come up himself, right?

Cen Zhen often didn’t understand some of Meng Fanchuan's actions, but even though she didn’t get them, she still followed through with her "professional" principle and did as asked.

After quickly changing her clothes, Cen Zhen went downstairs but didn’t see Meng Fanchuan. Just as she was about to contact him through her phone, the sound of an engine grew louder.

The powerful sound waves surged towards her, and as she looked, she saw a striking deep blue sports car driving towards where she was standing. It looked unfamiliar to her until the car stopped in front of her, and the scissor doors slowly opened, revealing the familiar man sitting in the driver’s seat.

Meng Fanchuan pointed his chin towards the passenger seat. "Get in."

Cen Zhen, still stunned from the sudden appearance of the sports car, blinked and asked, "Where are we going?"

Meng Fanchuan glanced at his watch. "I’m borrowing Miss Cen for two hours. Consider it overtime."

"…"

His tone was not to be refused. Cen Zhen took a few seconds to steady her breath, lowered her head, and got into the car.

Compared to the spacious Bentley, the two-seater sports car felt incredibly cramped. After fastening her seatbelt, as the scissor doors automatically closed, Cen Zhen could almost feel the first breath of air she inhaled carrying Meng Fanchuan’s scent—hot, intense, gathering around her.

Her heartbeat inexplicably quickened, thumping against her chest with every beat.

"Are you settled?"

"Mm."

Meng Fanchuan turned, released the brake, and the powerful sound of the car’s engine startled Cen Zhen. Before she could react, the sports car had already shot forward.

Cen Zhen felt a thrilling sensation, like her soul had left her body. She gasped, her hands instinctively reaching out for something to grab onto—

Without thinking, she grabbed the nearest thing.

Her hand clenched tightly around something and wouldn’t let go. "Slow down, slow down."

The city had speed limits, and Meng Fanchuan wasn’t going that fast, but the initial surge of power from the sports car caught Cen Zhen off guard.

He glanced down at her hand, which was gripping his arm, paused for a moment, then looked at the dashboard, unconsciously easing off the accelerator.

The car’s speed finally slowed down, and Cen Zhen exhaled. It was only then that she realized she had been holding Meng Fanchuan’s arm the entire time.

Her soul returned to her body instantly. Cen Zhen quickly withdrew her hand, a blush creeping onto her face. "…Sorry."

However, Meng Fanchuan didn’t seem to mind at all. His gaze remained fixed ahead, not once looking at her.

Cen Zhen felt her palm burning. She tried several times to relax her grip, but the lingering warmth from his arm was hard to shake off.The texture of the shirt sleeve, and the outline of his forearm.

They seemed like a special mark, lingering on the skin's memory for a long time.

The sports car drove smoothly, even slowly, through the city center. The car was very quiet, and once Meng Fanchuan got in, he hadn’t spoken again.

Cen Zhen occasionally glanced at him through the reflection in her side window, remembering what Qiao Tingting had once mentioned—

Meng Fanchuan had his own F1 team invested in North America; Meng Fanchuan looked cool when he drove; Meng Fanchuan owned a black knight supercar with a license plate of five zeros, one of only seven in the world, and even with money, it was impossible to buy.

At this moment, although the car wasn’t going fast, Cen Zhen could clearly see the familiarity and ease in Meng Fanchuan's every movement.

"Is this Mr. Meng’s car?" Cen Zhen broke the silence.

"A friend’s," Meng Fanchuan patiently drove the sports car like a tortoise. "Hua Xun, you met him at the party."

Only he would both love to play the role of a prince charming while buying cars in all sorts of flashy colors. Meng Fanchuan had wanted to borrow one to relax, but he couldn’t find a single car in the garage he could drive out.

This midnight blue 918 was the most understated car Hua Xun owned.

The car exited the inner ring of the city center and started heading towards the outskirts. The area became more remote, and the car gradually picked up speed. Cen Zhen tightened her grip on the seatbelt. "Where are we going, Mr. Meng?"

After a long silence, she finally heard his response, "I don’t know."

Cen Zhen: "…?"

Meng Fanchuan indeed had no fixed destination. He glanced casually at the navigation, turned the steering wheel, and after about five more minutes of driving, finally stopped at a secluded spot.

Meng Fanchuan opened the car doors on both sides and got out first.

Cen Zhen didn’t recognize where they were. The surroundings were vast and empty, with sparse lights but almost no people. It was so quiet that she could hear the wind rustling in her ears.

She hesitated for a moment before getting out of the car and walking over to him. "What are we doing here?"

Meng Fanchuan leaned against the car, seemingly lost in thought, then slightly lowered his head, taking a cigarette box from his pocket. "You don’t mind, right?"

Cen Zhen shook her head.

Meng Fanchuan tilted his head and lit the cigarette, taking a light puff and exhaling. His half-closed eyes slowly blurred in the swirling smoke rising from his fingertips.

The air around him clearly exuded a sense of deep repression and displeasure.

Cen Zhen watched him for a few seconds before hesitantly asking, "Mr. Meng... are you in a bad mood?"

Meng Fanchuan turned his head to look at her. "Why do you ask?"

Cen Zhen wasn’t sure; it was just a gut feeling.

Tonight, he seemed a lot like the man from the day at the Hua Mansion, with eyes full of cold detachment and weariness. His emotions were completely flat.

"Are you missing your family?" Cen Zhen tried to come up with a topic for conversation in this desolate place.

Meng Fanchuan suddenly smiled, his smile carrying an imperceptible hint of mockery. He lowered his head without speaking, and after a moment, he asked, "Miss Cen, does your family support your acting career?"

When Cen Zhen first wanted to switch majors, her mother, Xiao Yunqi, opposed it. After all, she had studied dance for more than ten years, and it seemed such a waste to just throw it all away.

But in the end, she couldn’t stop Cen Zhen and let her make her own decision.

"My mom didn’t approve at first, but I liked it, so she let me do it."

—"I liked it, so she let me do it."

Such a light, casual sentence was truly ironic to Meng Fanchuan, who had just argued with his father.

What he liked, Meng Songnian never cared about. His father always took a high-handed approach, trying to teach him a lesson and change him.

At 18, he fell in love with skiing abroad, won a medal, and still didn’t get an ounce of approval from his father. Later, when he returned to China, a new conflict arose regarding his career plans. He had his own preferred job, but his father forced him to join the family business, and now even interfered with his marriage—

For the sake of family harmony, Meng Fanchuan had followed his father to Shanghai, yet what was there to reflect on?

It was nothing but not following the path his father had planned for him, making some rebellious decisions that embarrassed him, which only made his father angry and humiliated.

Meng Fanchuan didn’t know if other families had similar parent-child communication struggles, but to him, it always felt like a battle.

And now, it was obvious that it wasn’t the same.

"I did need to come out and relax," Meng Fanchuan finally admitted to his current mood, but he didn’t want to talk about those complicated matters with Cen Zhen. He flicked the cigarette and casually said, "So, Miss Cen, do you have any ways to make someone happy?"

Cen Zhen froze for a moment.

Make someone happy?

Making someone happy wasn’t particularly difficult, but making Meng Fanchuan happy might not be that easy.

He was clearly in a bad mood tonight, so should she tell him a cold joke? Or maybe show him a funny video? Or gossip about the entertainment industry?

Cen Zhen seriously thought about this problem until a sudden thought popped into her mind—

Wait.Is the happiness he wants the same as the happiness she understands?

… Could he be hinting at something?

Meng Fanchuan's actions were unpredictable, and Cen Zhen, who had to guess his intentions, was afraid she wouldn't be able to understand her benefactor’s intentions in time.

She was leaving tomorrow, with training and filming, and they would be unable to meet for at least a month. Now, he had pulled her out in the middle of the night, saying he was in a bad mood and asking her to find a way to make him happy…

Cen Zhen suddenly glanced at the desolation behind her.

… Here?

In a place like this?

Make him happy?

Cen Zhen felt absurd at the thought that crossed her mind. She found it unbelievable, opened her mouth, and hesitated before asking Meng Fanchuan, "Here?"

Meng Fanchuan looked around the surroundings, seemingly confused. "What's wrong with here?"

Cen Zhen was caught off guard by the question.

Thinking about it, a man who enjoys thrilling activities—could he also have some strange, thrill-seeking preferences in this regard...

He even asked again, "Does this place not allow people to be happy?"

Cen Zhen's face turned red.

So, he had gone through all this trouble to bring her to this secluded place, just to ask her to make him happy before he left... in this desolate wilderness?

In the open field, with only a two-person sports car... wasn’t he being a bit too reckless and indulgent?

Her heart was beating fast. She had thought about being with him, but not in a place like this.

"Miss Cen?" Meng Fanchuan frowned, not understanding why she suddenly spaced out.

Cen Zhen thought he was urging her and closed her eyes, pushing those vivid, sensual images out of her mind. After quickly preparing herself mentally, she walked slowly toward him.

Just treat it like acting in a play.

She was best at getting into character.

Cen Zhen raised her eyes and, in the dim light of the night, met Meng Fanchuan's gaze, staring at that face that was undeniably flawless.

Should she kiss him first?

She probably should.

Cen Zhen’s gaze dropped to his lips.

His lips were slightly pressed together, evenly proportioned, and the corners of his mouth seemed to carry a hint of leisurely calm.

This was the first time Cen Zhen was doing something like this. How could she please him? She had no experience and didn’t even know where to put her hands. So, she took another step closer to Meng Fanchuan, hesitated, then awkwardly grabbed his arms.

It didn’t feel quite right, so Cen Zhen changed positions, moving both hands up and, with a steely resolve, wrapped them around his waist.

Her soft hands suddenly touched his waist, and Meng Fanchuan looked down at her hands: "...?"