Chapter33

The moment Meng Fanchuan's gaze landed on her, Cen Zhen felt as if she had been transported back to that afternoon a few months ago.

She had accidentally barged into his fitting room, and the moment when he turned around and their eyes met was so similar to today.

He still looked the same as that day, his eyebrows and eyes framed by soft light and shadow. He looked lazy and distant, his demeanor clean and free-spirited, unforgettable.

Even now, with their relationship in such disarray, she still couldn’t control her heart.

At this moment, she couldn’t quite describe her feelings—there was a mix of bitterness, sorrow, and an endless sense of regret. If time could rewind, Cen Zhen might not have chosen that beginning for them. Otherwise, why would she now have to pretend to be generous and be the one to let go first?

The door was closed by Fu Xu, and the room suddenly became quiet. Trying to hide all the fleeting thoughts, Cen Zhen lowered her head and asked, “… Why are you here?”

“Why can’t it be me?” Meng Fanchuan stood up, walked in front of her, and paused, “Or, you don’t want it to be me?”

Cen Zhen took a deep breath. “No, it doesn’t matter who it is.” She forced herself to act normally, extending her hand to him, “Thank you, Young Master Meng, for your support.”

Her words seemed polite, but each one suffocated Meng Fanchuan, making it unbearable.

He looked at the hand in front of him, the hand that once intertwined with his own, now cold and marked with a price. He had to pay to hold it.

It was so ironic, it almost made him laugh.

Meng Fanchuan’s Adam’s apple moved as he gritted his teeth, biting down on his emotions. He expressionlessly took her hand.

But her hand was so cold.

The soft, fair skin was slightly reddened from the cold, and the hand in his felt frozen and fragile.

It was just like their relationship now—like it could never be warmed again, stuck in an unresolvable coldness.

Meng Fanchuan suddenly lost control.

He tightened his grip, gently pulling her into his arms. The person he had thought about so much, the one so close yet so distant, how could he bear to let go?

Meng Fanchuan held Cen Zhen completely in his arms. His arm around her waist was strong. Cen Zhen, caught off guard, tried to push him away but couldn’t.

She struggled to break free, but it felt as if her strength was failing her. The sound of her heartbeat grew heavy and intense in her ears. Cen Zhen moved from resisting to gradually yielding, her hands even raising to embrace him, but in the end, she hesitated and let them fall to her sides.

“... Young Master Meng.” Cen Zhen, caught between indulgence and avoidance, reminded him, “I only came to shake hands.”

Meng Fanchuan held her even tighter, his voice hoarse, “I spent tens of millions, don’t I deserve some special treatment?”

But Cen Zhen seemed to have been hurt in her core. She suddenly pushed him away, “What special treatment do you want? You spent tens of millions to hug me today, are you going to spend more millions to sleep with me tomorrow?”

Her gaze fell, sadness crossing her features as her words became disjointed, “Meng Fanchuan, I don’t want you spending money on me. I don’t want you to be my sponsor. I don’t want us to have this kind of relationship. Don’t you understand?”

Meng Fanchuan truly didn’t understand. “Didn’t you make me this way? Cen Zhen, I never thought like that.”

“You didn’t think about it.” Opening up this topic, Cen Zhen’s heart ached, “Because you’re still fascinated by me, or maybe because I’m obedient, you think I’m someone you can have a long-term relationship with?”

Meng Fanchuan furrowed his brows deeply, completely not understanding what Cen Zhen was saying. “What are you talking about?”

“Isn’t my meaning clear enough?” Cen Zhen’s throat tightened with discomfort. “From the start, I told you, you’re too far away from me. You have your future, I have mine, but our futures aren’t in the same world, not on the same line.”

Cen Zhen never had any ambition to climb into a wealthy family. She knew her place, and when she learned Meng Fanchuan had a well-matched fiancée, she didn’t even have the courage to pick up the pieces of her broken heart. The only thing left of her was that little bit of ridiculous pride.

Now, impulsively saying these things felt uncontrollable. She slowly distanced herself from Meng Fanchuan, turning her face away and saying coldly, “The handshake is done, I’m leaving. Don’t do things like this again.”

With that, she turned and left the room.

Meng Fanchuan stood there, his mind lingering on Cen Zhen’s words for a long time.

What long-lasting lover? What fascination?

Why did she think she was a lover? And why did she think his affection for her was just a passing fancy?

Meanwhile, Mo Xiang was still anxiously waiting outside.

Mo Xiang knew nothing about the past between Cen Zhen and Meng Fanchuan. In an industry where new faces with outstanding looks had it rough, protecting someone like Cen Zhen was truly difficult. For resources and roles, newcomers sometimes had to sacrifice their dignity.

She had prepared for everything, even already dialing 110, but fortunately, Cen Zhen walked out of the private room unharmed.

Mo Xiang immediately stepped forward, looking her up and down. “How was it? Are you okay?”

Cen Zhen replied, “I’m fine, we can go now.”

Mo Xiang truly sighed in relief, immediately linking arms with Cen Zhen to leave the café. As they entered the elevator, she still felt uneasy. “What’s his background? Did he tell you?”Cen Zhen felt down, mechanically shaking her head.

Mo Xiang muttered to herself, "Forget it, as long as you're safe. People like him, we should stay far away from. The class gap is just too large. He was polite today, but what if one day he gets a whim and throws a few tens of millions at you to accompany him for dinner, drinks, or even to bed? Honestly, I might not be able to help you."

Cen Zhen took it all in.

How could she not know the distance between herself and Meng Fanchuan? She wore a cold, numb dress in freezing weather for an event, while he casually threw out tens of millions.

Perhaps even this brief encounter between them was a mistake.

Mo Xiang continued, "You should rest for a while. Just now, Director Xie’s assistant called, saying we're having dinner tonight. It’s a pre-shoot gathering, and the investors and producers will be there. I’ll go with you."

Cen Zhen nodded in silence. "Okay."

After the ribbon-cutting event, although the topic of the mysterious buyer sweeping up all the stock on Cen Zhen’s brand day hadn’t made it to the trending lists, it quietly left traces online. Fans began posting and asking questions—

[Curious, has anyone figured out who Cen Zhen's boyfriend is?]

Cen Zhen knew nothing of this. Even if she did, she would simply ignore it. She wasn’t worried about people speculating—after all, her boyfriend was already a non-existent character.

She went back to the hotel, closed all the curtains, and took an afternoon nap. When she slept, she didn’t have to think about anything—no worries, no constant thoughts of him.

She let herself sleep deeply until four in the afternoon. At that time, Chi Yu knocked on her door to say it was time to change clothes and get ready.

For Xie Qingzong’s dinner, there was no need to dress too formally, but Mo Xiang said the investors and producers would be there, so Chi Yu picked out a simple and elegant outfit for Cen Zhen and had the stylist redo her hair. Everything was set, and by six in the evening, Mo Xiang took Cen Zhen out.

While waiting for the elevator, Mo Xiang asked Cen Zhen, "There will probably be alcohol at the dinner tonight. Can you drink?"

Cen Zhen shook her head. "Not really. I get drunk easily."

Mo Xiang nodded. "Okay, then don’t worry about it. If someone offers you a drink, I’ll help you out."

Before each film begins, Xie Qingzong always arranges a big team-building dinner to allow the main actors to meet and get familiar with each other. This time for The Fall, it was no different.

The dinner was set at a private restaurant in the second ring of the Northern City, owned by Xie Qingzong’s friend and a regular place for celebrity gatherings in the city.

Xie Qingzong had booked a private room. When Cen Zhen and Mo Xiang arrived, he hadn’t yet come, but the assistant director and other assistants had arrived and greeted Cen Zhen warmly. The two main male actors of the film also arrived one after another, greeted Cen Zhen, and exchanged pleasantries.

One was a newcomer that Cen Zhen didn’t know, and the other was an experienced senior actor who played the role of the stepfather.

After a while, the producer of the film and Xie Qingzong appeared together. Cen Zhen and the two actors immediately stood up and nodded, "Director Xie."

Xie Qingzong held a high status in the industry. Every film he made became a hit, and young actors respected him, while peers admired him. It was said that when preparing for The Fall, the film’s heavy ethical themes made it hard to release in the country. The investors suddenly pulled out, almost causing the film project to collapse, and at one point, Xie Qingzong even considered selling his house to fund it.

When this was mentioned, Xie Qingzong looked at the two newcomers he had chosen with some emotion. "At that time, other investors came to me with their designated actors and offered to invest 50 million. The condition was that I had to use their people."

Cen Zhen’s eyelids twitched. She nervously thought it was her, but the next moment, Xie Qingzong said, "Who wouldn’t want an investment? But their actors weren’t suitable for the role. If they weren’t, how could I use them? This isn’t a marketplace where you just pick what you want."

"I saw Zhenzhen’s performance and knew right away that Li Tao had to be her."

Cen Zhen was suddenly confused.

Wasn’t the role of Li Tao something Meng Fanchuan had gotten for her?

Was Xie Qingzong acting for the sake of drama? But he wasn’t that kind of person.

Cen Zhen vaguely felt there might be some misunderstanding and tentatively asked, "Director Xie, didn’t you have other candidates at first?"

"No," Xie Qingzong shook his head, pointing at her. "You were the one I decided on the moment I saw you."

Cen Zhen was even more confused. "But you said you couldn’t give me the role at that time…"

Xie Qingzong exchanged a glance with the assistant director, and they both laughed heartily, "The first investor suddenly pulled out, and the situation was unstable at that time. In other words, we didn’t even know if the film would continue. How could I give you the role?"

Cen Zhen: "..."

"Luckily, a new investor came in, and that’s when everything fell into place and we were able to confirm everything."

Time seemed to freeze for a few seconds. The people nearby started chatting about other topics, but Cen Zhen’s mind was in a mess. Xie Qingzong’s words kept echoing in her mind—

So, her role in the movie had nothing to do with Meng Fanchuan?

She had completely earned the role through her own talent?

This truth, which she had always believed to be a certain fact, suddenly came to light, throwing Cen Zhen into a state of confusion. Memories flashed through her mind, and she tried to piece them together—

So, what exactly had Meng Fanchuan promised her?

Just then, the door to the private room was pushed open again. Someone else walked in. Xie Qingzong, the assistant director, and the producer all stood up and enthusiastically said, "Here comes our investor and producer, everyone, please meet Mr. Meng Fanchuan, the second son of the Meng family, executive vice president of Yawan Group, and the owner of the famous F1 team Mution."

Cen Zhen’s heart skipped a beat. She raised her eyes and looked in the direction Xie Qingzong had pointed. Sure enough, she saw Meng Fanchuan standing at the door, followed by Wen Hui.

Perhaps to match the identity of the investor, Meng Fanchuan had rarely worn a formal suit tonight. As with their previous meeting in Hu City, he looked entirely different in a suit. Although the black suit still gave him a sharp and edgy appearance, his poised manner could not hide the distinguished aura of a wealthy heir.

Xie Qingzong spoke with precision, as if he had done background research in advance, listing off all the titles associated with Meng Fanchuan. "We are grateful to Young Master Meng for coming to our aid when The Fall’s funding was in jeopardy. Without him, our project would never have gotten off the ground."Cen Zhen: "......"

She understood now.

His help had indeed been help, but not in the way she had imagined.

Cen Zhen had never expected this truth. She lowered her eyes, and her heart began to race uncontrollably.

The position of executive vice president of the group was more of a symbolic title given to Meng Fanchuan by Meng Songnian. Originally, they wanted to put a label on him, hoping it would help him focus and stop expanding the overseas car teams and indulging in risky and exciting projects. Who knew this label didn’t help at all?

The executive vice president title was just a nominal position. Meng Fanchuan rarely even went to the group's headquarters.

These empty titles didn’t matter. As long as they knew he was from the Meng family, who would dare toMo Xiang wanted to speak, but Shen Zesheng, who held considerable influence in the entertainment industry, had his own ways. Mo Xiang knew him well, and Cen Zhen had no background. If she spoke up right away, it might only escalate his displeasure.

Mo Xiang took a deep breath and chose to endure for the moment.

Shen Zesheng handed Cen Zhen the glass of alcohol that Meng Fanchuan had not drunk, pretending to be friendly as he squeezed closer to her. "Little girl’s making progress, huh? Getting a role in Director Xie’s film. Come, let me toast to you. I wish you more success and instant fame."

Mo Xiang immediately picked up her own glass. "Mr. Shen, Zhen Zhen can’t drink alcohol. Let me drink with you instead."

Shen Zesheng sneered, "Oh, so being famous changes things, huh? You don’t drink now? Before, when you weren’t in films, you’d drink cup after cup with me, right?"

This remark pushed Mo Xiang back, and everyone at the table turned their attention to her. Cen Zhen closed her eyes, not wanting to let rumors about her acting high and mighty spread. With the thought of "the sooner I drink, the sooner the bad luck will leave," she picked up her own glass and calmly stood up to address Director Xie and the entire team:

"Then let me toast to Director Xie and to everyone here. I hope the movie shoots smoothly, and I look forward to working with all of you in the upcoming months."

She drank the whole glass in one go.

Shen Zesheng's glass contained 52-degree white liquor, so strong that it made Cen Zhen's throat and esophagus burn painfully.

But she endured it. She sat back down, straightened her back, and showed no emotional change despite Shen Zesheng's mockery.

Cen Zhen didn’t want to lose face in front of Meng Fanchuan. The distance between them was already far enough. If she became a plaything for Shen Zesheng to mock and throw alcohol at in front of everyone, she wouldn’t know how to face him in the future.

Meng Fanchuan quietly observed Cen Zhen for a few seconds before he turned his gaze away, his chest slightly heaving in a barely perceptible manner, trying to control his emotions.

Cen Zhen's behavior of ignoring him clearly angered Shen Zesheng. He had once been determined to win her over. If she didn’t listen, he’d cut off all her opportunities, waiting for the day she’d beg him. But after a few months, he found that she had somehow quietly established a connection with Director Xie.

He couldn’t have her, and now he wondered if it was because Director Xie had gotten ahead of him. The thought made Shen Zesheng feel a mix of frustration and humiliation.

"I heard that you have a boyfriend now," Shen Zesheng refilled Cen Zhen’s glass, deliberately mocking her. "Why didn’t you bring him along to let everyone meet him?"

At this point, it was obvious to everyone that Shen Zesheng was deliberately targeting Cen Zhen.

The pleasant atmosphere at the table had been ruined. Some people pretended to look at their phones, some wanted to help but couldn’t, and the rest nervously watched the situation unfold.

Cen Zhen knew this man was like a stubborn stain that wouldn’t come off, and despite her disgust, she remained calm and replied, "Today’s dinner is hosted by Director Xie, and I don’t think Director Xie invited Mr. Shen."

Shen Zesheng snorted and turned to Director Xie, "Director Xie, would it be alright if I join? I have a project I’d like to discuss with you."

Director Xie furrowed his brows, about to speak up, but before he could, Shen Zesheng pushed the full glass of alcohol toward Cen Zhen’s lips. "Drink this, and the lead role in my next drama is yours."

Mo Xiang: "Mr. Shen—"

"Not your business. Sit down."

Shen Zesheng snapped at Mo Xiang and then turned back to Cen Zhen, insisting that she drink, his attitude firm and domineering. "Aren’t you going to show me some respect?"

The tension in the air grew so thick that no one knew how to react. Director Xie sighed in exasperation, about to intervene, but before he could, a cold, biting voice rang out—

"Are you fucking done yet?"

The tone sounded calm, but the pressure from it swept over everyone immediately.

Everyone turned toward the head of the table in shock. Wen Hui, especially, froze in surprise—

Meng Fanchuan, despite his rebellious nature, was deeply rooted in the upbringing of a noble family, and in his twenty-plus years of life, he had rarely cursed.

If he swore, it meant someone had really pushed him too far.

The room fell into stunned silence, and no one dared to speak.

Shen Zesheng, still unaware of the situation, turned around in surprise, looking to see who Meng Fanchuan was speaking to. He hadn’t intended to take his hand off Cen Zhen’s shoulder either.

But in the next second, Meng Fanchuan, with furrowed brows, coldly and arrogantly stared at him.

"My girlfriend doesn’t need to give you any face."