Chapter29

The large house returned to silence, as if time had frozen the moment Meng Fanchuan left.

Just a short while ago, it had been filled with his expectations, thinking that when Cen Zhen returned, it would be the beginning of their relationship finally becoming clear.

But there would be no beginning.

Cen Zhen sat silently at the dining table he had prepared for her, picking up the chopsticks, slowly eating the last bit of affection he had left for her.

But as she ate, a sour liquid slipped from the corner of her lips.

Who would have known that before yesterday, she had also harbored expectations—expecting that Meng Fanchuan would be overjoyed when he heard her say those words, expecting that he would happily accept the title of boyfriend, expecting that they truly had genuine feelings for each other.

Cen Zhen knew that Meng Fanchuan might have liked her at the moment, just as he liked a model. The other only had his novelty for a week, so how long could she last?

Two months, half a year? A year?

The novelty would eventually fade, and who would be next? When would his arranged marriage come?

The night they were in the villa, Cen Zhen had asked herself, if she didn’t want the resources, but just wanted Meng Fanchuan, could she have him?

Could she have him?

It turned out she couldn’t.

She had paid the price, entering this relationship with a purpose, and the greatest punishment she received was becoming the one trapped, unable to control her emotions.

Tears silently slid down her face, and the food she swallowed had no taste. Only the deep bitterness in her throat reminded her that no matter what her relationship with Meng Fanchuan had been in the past, it had ended the moment he walked away.

He left coldly, without looking back.

As night fell, the city lights flickered on one by one. Cen Zhen's exclusive interview aired during the weekend’s prime time, and while the scandal with Bai Yan was still fresh, people once again heard her shocking declaration. Everyone marveled at how the entertainment industry hadn’t seen a newcomer so brave in love and speech for many years.

"Ah, she already has a boyfriend. It's just a shame Bai Yan wasn’t lucky enough."

"Cen Zhen is so brave, I support her. There’s nothing wrong with girls being open about their relationships!"

"She’s obviously a powerhouse, can’t wait to see her work."

"Isn’t anyone curious who her boyfriend is?"

"Probably an ordinary person. Let her have her peaceful love life. Just focus on her work."

The interview sparked a new round of discussions among netizens, but Cen Zhen didn’t click on any related topics to see the comments.

Those comments were too glaring. She didn’t know how to calmly look at them. The words "boyfriend" hung in the headlines like a joke, each word pricking at her.

Tonight, the house was so quiet it felt suffocating. Cen Zhen turned on all her audio and video devices, but even though the whole house was filled with sound, she remained trapped in the sinking swamp of emotions, unable to escape.

After forcing herself to take a bath, just as she lay down in bed, Qiao Tingting called.

She was puzzled by Cen Zhen’s continuous trending on social media these days. "Is this your company's way of hyping you up? Which agency did you sign with? This method isn’t bad, but are you crazy to openly say you have a boyfriend?"

Cen Zhen was silent for a moment, then gently replied into the phone, "I said it myself."

Qiao Tingting paused, then exclaimed, "What? Did you get back together with Song Wang?"

"..." Cen Zhen tiredly supported her head and patiently responded, "No."

"Then where did this boyfriend come from? Did you just get a new one?" Qiao Tingting’s reaction was a bit slow. "And why did you suddenly ask me about the Qin family yesterday?"

The light in Cen Zhen's eyes dimmed. "It’s nothing," she softly said. "We were just chatting, I was curious."

But Cen Zhen was never one to actively dig for gossip. Qiao Tingting paused, then finally came to her senses. "Your boyfriend, could it be Meng Fanchuan?"

Cen Zhen didn’t know how to respond. Perhaps there was a time when she had hoped it was him, but now, that was certainly not the case.

"Of course not." Cen Zhen tried to sound casual, but it almost seemed like she was muttering to herself. "How could it be?"

There had been so much news about Cen Zhen these past few days that Qiao Tingting was dizzy and couldn’t distinguish between what was true and what wasn’t. "Well, that’s good. I’ve heard some things while recording my new album in Beicheng. Anyway, stay away from him."

...But it was too late.

She had already gotten involved with the wrong person, and the wrong feelings had already happened.

The suffocating feeling of oppression surged again, and Cen Zhen didn’t want to bring it up anymore. She made an excuse to hang up on Qiao Tingting’s call. She pulled the blanket over herself and forced herself to sleep. In a haze, she felt cold, reached out to adjust the air conditioner, and then fell into a deep sleep until morning, when the constant buzzing of her phone woke her up.

She picked up the phone. It was Chi Yu’s frantic voice as if it would jump out of the screen. "Why haven’t you been answering the phone? If you don’t pick up, I’m going to call the police and come to your house!"

Cen Zhen realized that she had slept until 10 AM. Chi Yu had called her seven or eight times, and she hadn’t heard a single one.

Her voice was a bit hoarse. Cen Zhen sat up and asked, "I was asleep, is something wrong?"“Huì yí asked you to come to the company. Someone wants to see you.”

Cen Zhen replied, “Okay,” and hung up the phone. Only then did she realize how cold the house was. She thought it was because she hadn’t turned on the air conditioning, but when she looked closer, she found that yesterday, in her dazed state, she had set the air conditioner to cooling mode. No wonder the blanket felt too thin to keep her warm all night.

Ignoring the discomfort she felt in her body, Cen Zhen got up, washed up, and hurriedly drank some milk before heading to the company.

She thought it was a client related to work, but to her surprise, when she got there, Wen Huì led her straight to Meng Fanchuan’s office.

“Go in, he’s waiting for you inside.” Wen Huì, still oblivious to everything, smiled at Cen Zhen.

But Cen Zhen froze at the door, unable to take a step forward.

She clearly remembered the look in Meng Fanchuan’s eyes before he left yesterday. A proud person like him, being deceived and played with, should never want to see her again.

“What’s wrong? Why are you spacing out?” Wen Huì opened the office door directly. “Go on in.”

Cen Zhen’s heart skipped a beat, and before she could react, the person inside turned around and saw her. His eyes curved into a smile as he greeted her, “Cen Jie, you’re here?!”

...It was Meng Wen Nuo.

Cen Zhen hid the myriad emotions in her eyes and forced a smile, walking into the room. “Hello, Nuo Nuo.”

But just as she stood still, she saw the cold figure behind Meng Wen Nuo. He was sitting behind the desk, looking at something with his head lowered, seemingly unaware of her arrival.

But how could he not know?

The smile Cen Zhen had barely managed to put on couldn’t hold up any longer. She took a deep breath to maintain her expression and asked Meng Wen Nuo, “Did you want something from me?”

Meng Wen Nuo said, “Cen Jie, I’m going home now. If I don’t leave, my dad will come to Shanghai himself and drag me back.”

“…” Cen Zhen was stunned for a moment and nodded. “Okay, next time, you must come back to play.”

“Of course, I’ll definitely come again! The happiest thing in Shanghai was meeting you. By the way…” Meng Wen Nuo took a note out of his pocket. “I got the message you wrote for me. I’ll keep this little note safe.”

Cen Zhen felt embarrassed. “You left in a hurry, so I didn’t prepare a gift for you.”

“No need, no need!” Meng Wen Nuo pulled out his phone. “Let’s take a photo together as a gift, okay?”

“...Okay.”

Cen Zhen agreed, and Meng Wen Nuo excitedly turned around and called out to Meng Fanchuan, trying to play matchmaker. “Brother, let’s take a photo with Cen Jie!”

The room fell silent for a few seconds—

The man in black said, “No need. You two can take it.”

He kept his head lowered, absentmindedly fiddling with a lighter, his expression very cold.

Wen Huì frowned, glanced at Meng Fanchuan, then at Cen Zhen, and keenly noticed the unusual atmosphere between the two.

After Meng Wen Nuo’s suggestion was rejected, and unable to pressure his brother publicly, he turned back with a smile. “Then Cen Jie, let’s take a photo.”

She handed the phone to Wen Huì and walked over to Cen Zhen, putting her arm around her. Just as she was about to smile for the camera, she suddenly sensed something, touched Cen Zhen’s hand, then her forehead, her eyes widening in shock. “Cen Jie, you’re running a fever? Why are you so hot?”

In the unnoticed corner, the hand that had been fiddling with the lighter paused slightly.

Wen Huì no longer cared about taking the photo. She stepped forward and touched Cen Zhen’s forehead, then called out, “Chi Yu, Chi Yu!”

Chi Yu had been helping with some documents in the next office. Hearing the call, he rushed over immediately. “What’s wrong, Huì yí?”

“Quick, take Zhen Zhen to the hospital.”

“Forget the hospital.” Wen Huì calmed down. “Take her home, I’ll have the doctor come over immediately.”

When Chi Yu touched Cen Zhen, he was startled. “Zhen Zhen, you’re burning up. Don’t you know?”

Of course, Cen Zhen felt it. After being under the cold air conditioning all night, she had woken up feeling a little light-headed, but fearing it would delay her work, she had pushed through to come here.

She didn’t say anything, her gaze uncontrollably drifting towards a certain direction, only to still see the indifferent face.

But he used to be someone she would worry about even if he frowned.

Cen Zhen lowered her eyes, a hint of bitterness flashed through her burning eyes, and her breath seemed to hurt with every inhale.

“Then Cen Jie, you should go lie down quickly.” Meng Wen Nuo was also anxious and apologetic. “Next time I come to Shanghai, or if you come to Beicheng, we’ll arrange another meet.”

“Okay, goodbye.”

Chi Yu helped Cen Zhen out the door. After they had walked several meters, Wen Huì could no longer hold back and asked Meng Fanchuan, “Aren’t you going to follow them to see?”

Meng Fanchuan’s thumb pressed down hard on the lighter, leaving deep impressions. After a long pause, he spoke coldly, “I’m not a doctor, why should I go?”

“You—” Wen Huì’s chest rose and fell. She couldn’t seem to take it anymore and raised her voice. “Meng Fanchuan, are you doing this again?”

Meng Wen Nuo, standing nearby, was confused, “What’s going on?”

She looked at Meng Fanchuan, her gaze bewildered. “Brother, you and Cen Jie…”“It's fine.” Meng Fanchuan stood up expressionlessly, “The person has been seen. You can go back and pack your things.”

Wen Huì: “…”

Wen Huì watched his retreating figure, feeling completely frustrated for the first time in her life. “What exactly are you trying to do? Have you gone mad?”

But in the end, she couldn’t stop him from leaving.

The doctor Wen Huì found came quickly to check on Cen Zhen. It was indeed because of the cold air conditioning blowing all night, combined with her already weak constitution, that she had caught a cold and developed a fever.

“Take the fever medicine quickly.” Chi Yu poured some water for Cen Zhen, urging her to take the medicine. “How could you set it to cooling without realizing it? Wasn’t the young master here yesterday?”

As soon as the words left his mouth, Chi Yu quickly realized his mistake.

It was clear to anyone with eyes that the atmosphere between them in the office was cold and distant.

Chi Yu lowered his head in silence. “I’m sorry.”

“There’s nothing to apologize for.” Cen Zhen took the medicine without expression, lying back on the soft bed. As her thoughts settled, she said calmly, “It’s over between him and me.”

“…”

Chi Yu opened his mouth but suddenly felt a deep sense of guilt. “Is it because of what I said? But that was just a rumor. You really shouldn’t take it to heart. Or you can ask the young master—”

“It has nothing to do with you.” Cen Zhen felt her head was heavy. She closed her eyes and said, “It has nothing to do with anyone.”

If she had pretended not to know anything, maybe she could still be lying in Meng Fanchuan's arms, enjoying his embrace and kisses.

But she knew clearly that those things weren’t real, and they weren’t lasting.

The clearer the love, the more selfish it became. It was impossible to pretend to be blissfully ignorant.

The doctor advised Cen Zhen to rest more after taking the medicine. Seeing that she wanted to sleep, Chi Yu quietly sat on the sofa outside to keep watch. When Cen Zhen woke up, it was already dark outside. She saw a figure sitting quietly in the living room. In her daze, she thought it was Meng Fanchuan returning. She walked forward with a heavy heart, only to realize it was Chi Yu.

It wasn’t him.

“Are you awake? Do you want to eat something?” Chi Yu pulled out his phone. “Huì yí said if you want anything, let her know. She had someone prepare it and send it over.”

The overwhelming sense of emptiness made Cen Zhen silently shake her head. “You can go back. I’m not hungry.”

“But Huì yí asked me to stay with you.”

Cen Zhen turned her face away. “Xiao Yu, let me be alone for a while.”

Chi Yu knew Cen Zhen was in a bad mood, so he didn’t force her. He waited until she took her second dose of medicine before leaving.

Cen Zhen closed all the curtains, leaving only a small light on, and returned to bed. The fever came on strong, making her dizzy and half-conscious. She felt as though she was drifting in a hazy dream. Flashbacks of memories kept swirling in her mind, those fragments of memories piercing her heart unguarded, so sour that in the end, they turned into a sharp pain in her chest.

Who is the winner of this game, and who can explain it clearly?

Cen Zhen knew that parting was inevitable. But even in the half-conscious state, she still vaguely remembered the warmth of his hand when he held hers.

It was like, once again, gently resting on her forehead.

A familiar figure seemed to be standing by her dim bed. Cen Zhen sensed his restraint, helplessness, unwillingness, and anger—so many emotions. That hand slowly slid down her forehead, finally leaving her completely.

Cen Zhen tried to open her eyes but felt as if she were trapped, unable to open them no matter what. It seemed like she was so close to touching him, yet always just a little bit too far.

That brief moment of warmth quickly disappeared, and Cen Zhen fell back into a deep sleep.

The next day when she woke up, the sunlight was already bright.

Wen Huì was sitting at the bedside, eyes closed, resting.

“Huì yí.” Cen Zhen tried to sit up. “Why are you here?”

Wen Huì opened her eyes when she heard the movement, sat by the bed, and helped her adjust the cushion. “Chi Yu said you didn’t want her to stay with you, so I was worried. I came over this morning to check on you. When I arrived, you were still asleep, so I didn’t disturb you.”

The lingering warmth in her palm seemed to still be on Cen Zhen's forehead. She looked around, suddenly unable to distinguish reality from dream. She parted her lips and asked Wen Huì, “Last night… did someone come by?”

“Last night?” Wen Huì shook her head. “I don’t think so. I arrived at 6 AM, and the house was very quiet.”

Cen Zhen lowered her eyes. Right, what was she imagining? Could she really expect the young master who had deceived and played with her to come see her in the middle of the night? How could she still dream such a ridiculous dream and wish it were true?

“Huì yí.” Cen Zhen forced herself to speak calmly. “Can I find a place to move out?”

She couldn’t stay here any longer, nor did she have the right to stay.

“This is the company’s staff dormitory. As long as you’re still an artist with the company, you should stay here properly.” Wen Huì, of course, knew the reason Cen Zhen wanted to move. After she finished speaking, she pressed her tired brows, speaking in a comforting tone, “I really don’t know what’s going on between you two. What happened?”

Cen Zhen fell into a long silence.

After a while, she took a deep breath and said, “Huì yí, don’t worry. No matter what happens, I won’t let it affect my work. Even if I see him in the company, I will—”

“You won’t see him.” Wen Huì interrupted Cen Zhen.She paused and sighed helplessly, "Fanchuan and Wen Nuo have returned to Beicheng together."