Chapter30

To outsiders, Meng Fanchuan’s departure was as sudden as his arrival a few months ago, with no prior warning.

As time passed, people began to say it was because the promotional video for the Mingzhou Ski Festival had received excellent feedback, and after calming down, the CEO naturally allowed his second son to return to Beicheng.

After all, although Zhongshi Media held a significant position in the entertainment industry, compared to the vast international business of Yawan Group, it was just a small, insignificant profit on the financial report.

How could the eldest son of the group possibly settle for such a small company?

But only Cen Zhen knew that Meng Fanchuan’s departure was not sudden at all. Anyone who encountered such a situation wouldn’t want to face the woman who had fooled him for months.

In December, the city of Hu City officially entered the cold winter, and Cen Zhen's heart also closed off. Those sour, sunless feelings, no one knew that her world had gone through a storm, with a long, gloomy sky continuing to hang over the season, damp and cold.

On the first day after Meng Fanchuan left, an advertisement for sports bras was posted on Weibo. Perhaps it’s true that fame cannot be stopped, with just a few photos, Cen Zhen received over 300,000 likes, and her traffic quickly rivaled the most popular young actresses in the industry.

Her versatility and high plasticity were the most consistent comments from netizens.

The link to the sports bra was sold out that day. Bella Wang personally reposted Cen Zhen's Weibo, praising her exceptional fashion sense and directly inviting her to shoot a photo spread.

She had not yet officially entered the film industry, but fashion industry offers began flooding in. PR teams from major brands started inquiring whether Cen Zhen had any upcoming events or red carpets, and her studio was constantly receiving new dresses to try on.

"Ancient wisdom truly isn’t wrong; men only affect your speed of ascension!" Chi Yu often whispered in Cen Zhen’s ear.

Cen Zhen would smile faintly, "Which ancient person said that?"

Chi Yu replied, "Anyone whose name I can’t recall, let’s just say it was Lu Xun."

Chi Yu had already become comfortable bringing up Meng Fanchuan to Cen Zhen, and without any restraint, she would express her disdain for him.

She thought that Cen Zhen, who had been immersed in work and joking around with her, had already moved on. However, what she didn’t know was that—

Cen Zhen still thought about him.

She was still living in his apartment, sleeping in the bed he had slept in, spending many sleepless nights staring at the city’s night view, lost in thought.

Meng Fanchuan had returned to Beicheng more than half a month ago. Initially, it was said that he went to Hong Kong to accompany his grandfather, but after that, there had been no news of him.

Cen Zhen knew nothing about his recent situation.

Occasionally, she would open his WeChat Moments, but it was always empty. Sometimes, she impulsively thought about sending him a message, wondering if she had been too sharp with her words on that day and didn’t consider his feelings.

But every time her finger hovered over the screen, she would wonder—

Does he need it?

Perhaps in Beicheng, he had already found someone new.

She was not that important, nor irreplaceable.

Cen Zhen buried all her thoughts deep inside. In less than ten days, she had gone on three business trips, filmed advertisements, attended script-reading lessons, and studied scripts. She deliberately avoided work in Beicheng, even deciding to give up the upcoming play that Bai Yan was directing.

She didn’t want to go to that city with him. Even if they didn’t meet, she couldn’t control the emotions that would arise from seeing familiar places.

Her quiet life finally came to an end in late December when a phone call from Xie Qingzong informed Cen Zhen that she was scheduled to join the team in Beicheng.

Cen Zhen had no choice but to head for Beicheng.

By then, her agent was no longer Wen Hui. Shortly after Meng Fanchuan left, Cen Zhen had proactively requested a change of agent. She knew that Wen Hui had come in under emergency circumstances and that Wen Hui wasn’t really interested in this line of work. She had accompanied Meng Fanchuan, and although she didn’t leave with him, Cen Zhen knew that Wen Hui’s heart was still in Beicheng.

Perhaps, Cen Zhen wanted to start over slowly, to let go of everything related to him.

Wen Hui had pulled in a renowned agent from within the industry for Cen Zhen, which she saw as a way of supporting her career. After handling all the transition matters, Wen Hui left for Beicheng.

The new agent, Mo Xiang, was a very easygoing older sister who knew nothing about Cen Zhen’s past with Meng Fanchuan.

On the flight to Beicheng, Mo Xiang was busy going over Cen Zhen's work schedule after landing. "The LW ribbon-cutting ceremony is the day after tomorrow, I pushed for the editor-in-chief of Guilei Magazine, and they’ve also invited you to the Beicheng University Film Festival. But since you don’t have a film to present, there might be some controversy. We’ll consult with Director Xie and decide later."

Cen Zhen listened to each point, nodding, "I’ll follow your lead, Xiang Jie."

Mo Xiang closed her notebook and suddenly remembered something, asking Chi Yu beside her, "Did you book the hotel?"

Chi Yu sighed angrily, "I was just about to mention it. I had booked three rooms yesterday, but just before boarding, the hotel called and said they made a system error and overbooked. They want me to refund it, it’s so frustrating."

Since it wasn’t peak season, it wasn’t urgent, so Mo Xiang comforted her, "Let’s find another one near SKP, it’ll be more convenient for the events. It must be five stars, we can’t let Zhenzhen lose face."

Cen Zhen, who had been looking out the window, suddenly heard the key word. She turned and paused before saying to Chi Yu, "Let’s book the Wanyue Hotel across from SKP."

Mo Xiang smiled, "Oh? Have you stayed there before?"

Cen Zhen had stayed there, although just for one night.

Half a year ago, she had been at the Wanyue Group’s club, where Shen Zesheng had gotten her drunk. Later, a stranger had helped her open a room upstairs."Stayed for one night." Cen Zhen snapped out of her reverie, "I remember the environment was quite good."

Cen Zhen never had many requirements when it came to food, accommodation, or transportation during business trips. Sometimes, she even specifically saved costs for the company. This time, when she made a rare request, Mo Xiang nodded in agreement, "Then let’s stay at Wanyue, as you like."

Since she would be in Beicheng for at least three months, the company had arranged a driver and car for her. After landing, the driver picked them up, and they headed straight to the Wanyue Hotel.

Chi Yu had already booked three rooms online. When they arrived to check in, Cen Zhen suddenly asked out of nowhere, "Is Room 222 available? If it is, I’d like to stay in that room."

The front desk clerk checked and apologized, "Sorry, Miss Cen, Room 222 was recently booked by another guest for long-term stay, and we don't know when they'll check out."

Chi Yu, curious, asked, "Why do you want that room? Is it your lucky number?"

Cen Zhen shook her head, "Just asking."

Maybe it was just the impulse of returning to a familiar place.

Although much time had passed, Cen Zhen would never forget that chaotic night when she had hidden in Room 222, feeling safe.

At the time, she had wondered if she’d fall into another trap, too anxious to sleep. But in the end, the strong intoxication had overtaken her, and she woke up at 4 a.m. to realize she had slept safely in the bed.

That man had really helped her.

Chi Yu was right; 222 was indeed her lucky number for that night. If it hadn’t been for his appearance, she might have been unknowingly tricked into Shen Zesheng’s bed.

"Then any other room is fine," Cen Zhen didn’t press further.

Cen Zhen ended up with a suite on the 222nd floor, while Chi Yu and Mo Xiang stayed in the rooms next to hers.

After unpacking in her room, the call from Qiao Tingting came just as expected. The two best friends had not seen each other for a long time due to work, and when Qiao Tingting heard that Cen Zhen was coming to Beicheng, she eagerly awaited her arrival.

"Where are you? Wanyue? Not far from me. Wait for me, I’ll finish recording around five, and I’ll pick you up. Tonight, I’m treating my sister to a good meal!"

Qiao Tingting had been in Beicheng for two months and spoke with a sharp Beijing accent, making Cen Zhen laugh, "Who taught you to speak like that?"

"Well, when in Rome, do as the Romans do," Qiao Tingting quickly hung up the phone, "Sister, you just wait for me!"

Since it was a gathering of best friends, Mo Xiang and Chi Yu did not join them. True to her word, Qiao Tingting was punctual. She arrived at 5 p.m. in a red Porsche, and when Cen Zhen got in, the two immediately hugged tightly, "I missed you so much!"

Qiao Tingting looked Cen Zhen up and down, "Sister, you're glowing. You look so beautiful, I almost didn’t recognize you."

She was always so cheeky, and Cen Zhen, too lazy to argue, pursed her lips, "Wasn’t I supposed to be treated well? Where are we eating?"

"We're having Jingji Guanfu cuisine tonight." Qiao Tingting started the car, "It’s a really amazing place. I had to ask a friend to help me get a reservation. A basket of steamed dumplings costs 799, averaging 100 per dumpling. The signature dish, Amber Lobster with Molten Yolk Shrimp, costs four nines, and it’s hard to get in. Not just anyone can make a reservation."

Cen Zhen frowned as she listened, "That's so expensive, don't go there, it’s too wasteful."

The superstar wouldn’t back down, "Well, you're here now, I have to treat you to a good meal. Don’t worry, I can still afford it, and my friend knows the chef, so we’ll get a discount."

Cen Zhen knew Qiao Tingting well, and once she had made plans, she wouldn’t change them. So she accepted the offer.

The Porsche drove through the busy streets of Beicheng, unchanged from when Cen Zhen had studied here. The tall buildings of the CBD glittered in the night, and the streets were bustling with people. The neon lights reflected off the glass facades, and the entire city was wrapped in an endless sea of lights, shining brightly. Passing by the imperial walls of the Wanren Palace, it also gave off a sense of historic solemnity.

This was Beicheng, the place where Cen Zhen had spent four years in college. Yet as she reentered the city, her mind wandered. Looking out at the night, she wondered if under the same sky, Meng Fanchuan had walked the same streets she was walking now.

…Why was she thinking about him again?

Cen Zhen lowered her head and closed her eyes, trying to push his name out of her mind. Beicheng was so big, with millions of people. The chances of meeting him by coincidence were slim.

The Jingji Guanfu restaurant was in the Chaoyang District. It was rush hour, and Qiao Tingting didn’t drive fast. While chatting with Cen Zhen, she was driving slowly. Suddenly, she seemed to spot something in the rearview mirror and shouted, "Holy crap."

Cen Zhen, not understanding, was about to ask what was going on when she suddenly heard the roar of an engine.

She froze for a moment and turned her head toward the sound. A black sports car sped up from behind, its tires seemingly modified, spinning rapidly to create a flashing silver line of light, contrasting sharply with the cold black body. It was arrogant and wild.

Cen Zhen’s heart started to race when she saw the license plate clearly.

She remembered that Qiao Tingting had once said that Meng Fanchuan owned one of only seven Black Knight supercars in the world, with a license plate that had five zeros.

As she watched the numbers becoming clearer, her mind went blank. She quickly turned away, not wanting to look, but the light turned red at that moment. Qiao Tingting stepped on the brakes, and the black sports car beside them did the same, slowing down.

It parked right next to the Porsche.

"...Is that... Meng Fanchuan?" Despite the windows being closed, Qiao Tingting quickly recognized the car's owner.

Even though the windows on Cen Zhen's side were also closed and she couldn’t see him, Cen Zhen still felt like she would be exposed through the thin glass. Her heart raced so fast that it seemed like it might burst out of her chest.

She wasn’t ready to face him.

"Five zeros. It really is him." Qiao Tingting stretched her neck to look, still astonished. "Damn, this car is so cool. No wonder it’s the top choice for female celebrities in Beicheng to ride in the passenger seat."

Seeing that Cen Zhen wasn’t speaking, Qiao Tingting nudged her with her elbow, "Do you want me to roll down the window and say hi?"

"Don’t!" Cen Zhen quickly refused and lowered her head. "I’m... not close with him."

Just then, the traffic light turned green. Qiao Tingting only placed her hand on the steering wheel when the black Knight car next to them released the brake. The engine roared as it passed by, quickly disappearing into the night. By the time Cen Zhen looked out again, only the blurred silhouette remained.Unrestrained like the wind, indeed, it was the way he should be.

Qiao Tingting clicked her tongue and slowly released the brake, continuing Cen Zhen’s sentence, “I used to think he was interested in you, but it’s probably for the best that you two have no future. Recently, the whole circle’s been talking about him and that young lady from the Qin family. It’s causing quite a stir.”

Cen Zhen paused for a moment, wanting to say something but holding back. In the end, her curiosity got the best of her, "What’s going on?"

"Aiyo, you still don’t know about Meng Fanchuan? He’s infamous for not being controlled by anyone. Even his dad has to take blood pressure medication before seeing him," Qiao Tingting said, her voice full of gossip. "I heard he doesn’t even want to get married, and that’s causing trouble for the Qin family. Qin Shiyao once went to one of Meng Fanchuan’s events and was crying like a drama queen, but he just had the person throw her out."

Qiao Tingting nodded to herself, "A wild horse that can’t be tamed. It’s a good thing you didn’t get involved back then."

Didn’t get involved?

Cen Zhen found it hard to speak. From pretending to act to becoming addicted, how deeply she had once sunk into him.

Her mind uncontrollably recalled the way he kissed her, the heat of his breath, the flood of emotions overwhelming her. Cen Zhen suddenly found it hard to breathe.

After several deep breaths, she forced herself to change the subject, "How much longer until we get there?"

Qiao Tingting glanced at the navigation, "Almost there. I’m just driving slowly. If it were Meng Fanchuan’s speed, we’d probably be sitting down and ordering by now."

"…"

As Qiao Tingting said, Meng Fanchuan drove fast and arrived at Jingji Guanfu Cuisine ten minutes earlier than her.

The black sports car arrogantly parked in front of the restaurant. He got out of the car, casually tossing the keys to the valet who had been waiting respectfully on the side. A faint look of disdain flashed in his eyes as he spoke coolly, “Which private room?”

Before the valet could respond, the restaurant manager rushed over, bowing slightly to lead the way, “Young Master, Mr. Meng and the others are already here. Please follow me.”

Jingji Guanfu Cuisine in Beicheng had incredibly high standards, and it wasn’t just about having money—it was a place where the background of its owner was closely guarded. Even the staff who opened the door to greet you were of a high status.

Even Qiao Tingting, already a big star, had only managed to book a small private room thanks to the favor of a friend.

But for the Meng family, stepping into such a place was already a form of condescension.

Meng Fanchuan, looking worn and tired, had his black windbreaker casually unbuttoned. After entering the private room, he nonchalantly sat down, leaning against the chair and glancing up, “What kind of meal makes someone travel this far to eat?”

The patriarch, Meng Songnian, shot a stern look at him, “What time is it? The whole family’s waiting for you.”

Inside the spacious private room, Meng Songnian and his wife, Meng Qinghuai and his wife, as well as Meng Wenruo, were already seated at the round table. Only Meng Fanchuan had arrived late, still acting indifferent.

“A minute late,” Meng Fanchuan glanced at his watch, “Is that a crime, Mr. Meng?”

Meng Songnian: “…”

Seeing the father and son on the verge of another clash, his mother, Zhuang Jiayi, quickly stepped in to mediate, “It’s not late, it’s not late. Today’s just a family meal. The important thing is that the family is together.”

She glared at Meng Songnian and lowered her voice, “Your son finally came back. Can you control your temper?”

Meng Wenruo quickly signaled for the manager to start serving the food. The atmosphere around the table briefly became harmonious. Although this was called a family meal, it was actually Zhuang Jiayi’s attempt to reconcile the two. Ever since Meng Fanchuan returned to Beicheng, he hadn’t gone home, and the father and son had been at an impasse over the matter of marriage. Someone had to step in to mediate.

Zhuang Jiayi seized the opportunity to test the waters, “Ah Chuan, when will you come home to stay? Always staying in hotels, what’s that about? Mom will miss you, and you can also drink the soup I made for you, right?”

Before Meng Fanchuan could speak, Meng Songnian couldn’t help but interrupt, “Is it really beneath your dignity to marry the Qin family’s daughter? What’s wrong with her? What kind of woman are you looking for? A fairy from the heavens? Go ahead and bring one back, let’s see!”

Meng Fanchuan fell silent.

He thought of Cen Zhen.

It wasn’t that he hadn’t dated before—it had just been a joke.

A wave of inexplicable frustration surged. Meng Fanchuan coldly tossed his napkin aside and stood up, “I’m full.”

Meanwhile, under the careful and safe driving of the superstar, Cen Zhen and Qiao Tingting finally arrived at the restaurant fifteen minutes later.

The waiter politely led them inside. Qiao Tingting, linking arms with Cen Zhen, guided her into the smallest private room, but it was still cozy enough for the two friends to sit comfortably. Cen Zhen took off her mask and looked around; the paintings hanging on the walls were all from renowned artists. No wonder the cost was sky-high.

After ordering, Cen Zhen wanted to wash her hands, but the small private room didn’t have a bathroom, so she had to get up and go out into the corridor.

“Do you want me to come with you?” Qiao Tingting asked.

“No, I’ll just wash my hands and come back.”

Cen Zhen thought that meeting Meng Fanchuan’s sports car on the road had been just a coincidence, and even more so, an end with no further consequences.

With a population of tens of millions in Beicheng, how could she possibly meet him again?Cen Zhen had never imagined that, just like all the previous strange and unexpected encounters, her second meeting with Meng Fanchuan would still catch her completely off guard.

She pushed open the door, asked the waiter for directions, and was heading towards the bathroom when, at the corner, she collided with a man coming out of the private room.

She almost bumped into his arms, stunned and about to apologize, but when she looked up, she saw a pair of eyes she knew all too well.