Chapter37

People always chase after what they don’t have. Cen Zhen liked Meng Fanchuan because of his unique sense of freedom, his vibrant energy, and the wild, passionate tension he carried with him.

But… definitely not like this.

His nonchalant words, "I would have liked to," were full of careless indifference. He didn’t hide his desires at all, leaving Cen Zhen red-faced and speechless, her throat caught, unsure how to respond to such shamelessly direct words.

Cen Zhen stood up, ready to leave.

Meng Fanchuan, helpless, followed her and grabbed her hand. "Wasn’t it you who asked me?"

"I asked if we did it, not if you wanted to—" Cen Zhen, flustered and angry, squeezed out the rest of the sentence: "If you wanted to!"

Fine, he had misunderstood the question. Meng Fanchuan apologized and answered again, "No."

Cen Zhen turned her back to him, lowering her head and biting her lip, silent.

The atmosphere in the teahouse seemed to soften suddenly. Earlier, her nerves were tense, but now, the faint fragrance of tea drifted into her nose, gently sweeping away the dark dust from her heart. In the past, silence had been about avoiding words; now, this silence felt more like the melting of snow or the clear sky after a storm.

Eventually, he couldn’t hold back and pulled her hand towards him, turning her to face him. "Don’t you have anything to say to me?"

Too many emotions surged inside her, and at that moment, Cen Zhen suddenly couldn’t bring herself to look at him.

Meng Fanchuan paused, then repeated the apology he had given when she was drunk: "I’m sorry, it’s my fault."

"...You’re not wrong." Cen Zhen lowered her gaze and replied.

Cen Zhen had never thought this was Meng Fanchuan’s fault. She had chosen to get involved, and it was she who had made the fake relationship real. She had gone against her original intentions, which is why she had ended up facing so much pain after seeing reality.

Meng Fanchuan had set off fireworks in her world. When they were at their brightest, they suddenly faded. Cen Zhen thought they would never ignite again, but now he said the fireworks were still there. Yet, Cen Zhen was no longer the carefree person she had been before, someone who could look up at them without worry.

She and Judy had made the same mistake, crossing boundaries within their roles. The only difference was that she had Meng Fanchuan’s favor.

But no matter how brilliant the fireworks, they would eventually die out. Not this time, maybe the next, or the next after that.

Meng Fanchuan loved her, but what about the world behind him? The unreachable mountain, could she climb over it?

Reality existed, and it was ruthless. The problem between them had never just been about Judy.

"You’re not wrong." Cen Zhen repeated, "I never blamed you."

"Then we—"

"Let me think about it." Cen Zhen interrupted him, feeling too overwhelmed. "Let me think carefully, is that okay?"

Meng Fanchuan knew he had said too much today. She probably needed some time to process.

He couldn’t force her.

That was what he thought, but his hand didn’t let go. "Then I’ll take you home."

"No need." Cen Zhen paused. "Your car is too flashy. I don’t want to be recognized."

"…"

Meng Fanchuan hadn’t expected his most special "business card" would one day become a burden. He felt a little reluctant, but he reached forward and pulled her into an embrace. "Then let me hug you before you go."

Cen Zhen froze for a moment. She only regained her senses once she was in his arms, but she didn’t resist. She closed her eyes slightly, accepting the familiar scent of him, even resting her head gently against his chest. In the chaos of the past month, she finally found a moment of peace.

In the end, it was Wen Hui who took Cen Zhen back to the hotel. Before they parted, Wen Hui said to Cen Zhen, "He’s serious."

"But Aunt Hui..." Cen Zhen sighed softly, "How far can we go?"

Wen Hui was taken aback, unable to answer Cen Zhen’s question. She had worked for both the Zhuang and Meng families for most of her youth, and she knew their working styles inside out. From a realistic perspective, she didn’t have much faith in them. But as an elder…

"Go as far as you can. One day at a time, just live for today. After all, people live in the present, right?"

The logic was sound, but humans were always greedy. Who would be willing to love someone with so much uncertainty?

Cen Zhen took a deep breath and forced a light smile. "Anyway, thank you for coming all the way here today."

"It’s no trouble at all." Aunt Hui patted Cen Zhen’s head. "As long as you’re happy, that’s enough."

Cen Zhen had been away from home for so many years, and Wen Hui’s words moved her. She listened carefully and nodded. "I will. Thank you."

That night, her thoughts were tangled. On one side was Meng Fanchuan’s renewed love, and on the other, Wen Hui’s advice. But as she tossed and turned in bed, Cen Zhen couldn’t stop thinking about that strange smile Judy had given her as she left, a smile that seemed to carry pity.

Life had changed overnight. Misunderstandings had cleared, and they should have gone back to how things were with Meng Fanchuan. Yet, why was she so hesitant now?Cen Zhen held the watch she had just regained in her hands and thought about it the entire night. By the time she went to try on dresses for the film festival the next day, Mo Xiang furrowed her brows when she saw how exhausted she looked.

"Didn't sleep well? You've got dark circles under your eyes."

Cen Zhen gave a faint "Mm," offering the excuse that she wasn’t used to the bed.

The plan for Cen Zhen's visit to Beicheng hadn’t originally included attending the College Student Film Festival. Even though the organizers had invited her early on, Cen Zhen felt that without any official work to present, it might seem out of place for her to attend. However, Xie Qingzong wanted her to participate and make the grandest entrance to introduce his lead actress. The pressure was then on Mo Xiang.

Mo Xiang quickly contacted the PR teams of major luxury brands in a few days, but the high-end brands turned her down. The few second- and third-tier brands that were willing to lend their pieces didn’t have much of a design flair.

This was Cen Zhen’s first public appearance since her promotional video, and it was for the official announcement of the lead actress. Mo Xiang wanted to give her screen career a dazzling start.

Fortunately, Mo Xiang later contacted Bella Wang, who agreed to send over three sets of her own personal brand haute couture. Though it couldn’t compare to the top luxury brands, Bella Wang’s status in the fashion world was undeniable, and her designs weren’t something just any actress could pull off. Among the three sets, Mo Xiang felt one in particular would complement Cen Zhen perfectly.

As they were doing her makeup, Mo Xiang casually asked Cen Zhen, "I heard from Chi Yu that he came to see you yesterday."

Cen Zhen’s heart stirred slightly, but she didn’t say much, only replying with an "Mm."

"He must be serious about you," Mo Xiang said casually.

Mo Xiang had been hired by Wen Hui and had previously been unaware of Cen Zhen and Meng Fanchuan's past. Now, hearing her say that, Cen Zhen didn’t think Mo Xiang’s experience would make her naively believe that someone coming to find her meant they were sincere.

She asked, "Why do you say that?"

Mo Xiang, who had been standing in front of her, paused for a moment before sitting down right in front of her, lowering her voice.

"Shen Zesheng has been investigated. News came out last night, but it’s been suppressed. The media hasn’t reported it yet."

Cen Zhen’s eyes widened in surprise. "Investigated?"

Shen Zesheng had been a powerful figure in the industry for years, making deals in the gray area. Only he knew where the wealth in his accounts had come from. No one had ever dared to touch him in the past, as his interests were tied to many others. But now, no one knew which power had made an enemy of him, suddenly pulling him out quietly.

"This is obviously something he did," Mo Xiang said. "He’s backing you."

"…"

Cen Zhen hadn’t known about this. Meng Fanchuan hadn’t mentioned it to her when they met yesterday.

But now that Shen Zesheng had suddenly fallen into trouble, it was hard to say whether it was related to him or not.

"Also," Mo Xiang seemed to remember something and let out a helpless chuckle, "The company called me this morning to say they received more than ten boxes of clothes, bags, and jewelry, all sent to your place."

Cen Zhen was confused. "Why send it to me?"

Mo Xiang looked at her. "What, you’ve already forgotten who cleared the way for you?"

"…"

Cen Zhen suddenly realized and felt a bit annoyed. She thought to herself that the next time they met, she would definitely tell him to stop wasting money on her like this.

She suddenly remembered the clingy hug from last night when they parted. Cen Zhen paused for a moment, then took out her phone and found Meng Fanchuan’s contact. She wanted to send him something, but her fingers hovered over the screen, typing and deleting, unable to send a single natural opening message.

It turned out that after being apart for so long, trying to reconnect and fill in the blank space between them felt like a difficult problem to solve.

After thinking it through, Cen Zhen decided against it. Once the topic was started, it would likely never end. What if something was said that made things unpleasant? She’d just end up feeling aggrieved again.

Her current state had already been affected. It was better to wait until after the film festival to have a proper talk with him.

The Beicheng College Student Film Festival had been held for over thirty years. Though it wasn’t as prestigious as some of the top domestic film festivals, its unique features, such as the involvement of college students from various universities, had made it increasingly important in recent years. Many actors and actresses hoped to break into the young market by attending.

This year’s film festival was held at the Beicheng Cultural Center Industrial Park, and Xie Qingzong was a special guest at the awards ceremony. The event today was the opening ceremony, which included the much-anticipated celebrity red carpet.

The red carpet would begin at 4 p.m., and since Cen Zhen was a newcomer attending for the first time, she arrived early to prepare. Mo Xiang had the photographer take a few outdoor photos of her, planning to retouch them later and post them on Weibo.

"We’ll be following Director Xie, so we have to wait for about an hour," Chi Yu said, peeking out the window of the van.

The opening ceremony venue had been fenced off, and the celebrities' cars were entering in an orderly fashion.

"I’ll take a look around first," Cen Zhen said.

As the red carpet event started, Cen Zhen watched the live broadcast in the van. Since she had graduated from a professional school and had many alumni and classmates in the industry, it wasn’t surprising for her to run into familiar faces at such events.

What she hadn’t expected, though, was to run into him.

When the host announced his name, Cen Zhen froze for a moment. When she finally saw him on the red carpet, she realized it had been a long time since she had seen him—or kept up with his news.

"Wow, isn’t that the actor from Love Wish, Song Wang? He looks pretty handsome in real life," Chi Yu commented without understanding the situation.

Cen Zhen fell silent for a few seconds, then said in front of Mo Xiang and Chi Yu, "My ex-boyfriend."

Mo Xiang turned away from the live broadcast, surprised, and Chi Yu’s eyes widened. "Huh?"

But Cen Zhen had no other intentions. She simply wanted to inform the people closest to her. "We’ve been apart for a long time, and we don’t contact each other anymore."Chi Yu's gaze returned to the live broadcast interface, and for once, she said something in favor of Meng Fanchuan, "Well, compared to Young Master Meng, our Young Master is definitely the better one."

Cen Zhen: "…"

"Their agent is not a simple person, they're really good at hyping things up," Mo Xiang said disdainfully, then reminded Cen Zhen, "Try not to interact with him too much at the scene later."

Cen Zhen nodded. "Got it."

Her gaze returned to the live broadcast. She recognized several of the actors walking past, and even saw one of her respected seniors among them.

Six months ago, Cen Zhen might not have dared to imagine herself on this path, wearing the dress and makeup prepared by the company, walking the same path as the actors she admired, shining on the same red carpet.

She was getting closer and closer to her dream.

And all of this was closely related to Meng Fanchuan.

Thinking of this, Cen Zhen turned to Mo Xiang and asked, "Do I have work tomorrow?"

"Just waiting to get into the crew," Mo Xiang said knowingly, not pressing the matter, "If you have personal matters, it’s better to clear them up before the shoot starts."

"… Mm."

Cen Zhen was planning to meet Meng Fanchuan tomorrow. Although she wasn’t sure how the meeting would go, she knew from her understanding of him that if she didn’t reach out, he might show up at the set unannounced, which would only make things more complicated.

"Let's go. We’ll wait over there first." Mo Xiang closed her iPad and had the driver pull the car a little closer to the red carpet area. Several cars ahead were blocked, but she didn’t know which artist’s car it was. Since this was Cen Zhen’s first time on the red carpet, Mo Xiang didn’t want anything to go wrong, so she quickly opened the van door and got out.

Chi Yu followed right behind, putting a coat on Cen Zhen and helping her out of the car.

They were only about thirty meters away from the red carpet waiting area, and since Cen Zhen was a newcomer, she wasn’t concerned with the need to make a dramatic entrance by getting out of the car at the main entrance like some others.

The three of them slowly made their way to the waiting area, where the host was still announcing the names of the previous guests. Cen Zhen still had six more groups of guests ahead of her.

She waited in place for a while, not expecting to encounter another familiar face.

Gu Ying, a former classmate from university, was the person who had wished Cen Zhen good luck at the audition for Falling and was later rumored by marketing accounts to be the potential female lead of Falling.

The two of them unexpectedly crossed paths on the red carpet. Gu Ying looked at Cen Zhen with a bit of surprise.

She had borrowed a high-end dress from a luxury brand, had the best team do her styling, and had even prepared a glowing press release to announce her red carpet appearance. But she unexpectedly ran into Cen Zhen.

In contrast to Gu Ying’s elaborate, eye-catching outfit, Cen Zhen’s look could be described as minimalist, with no jewelry at all, her red dress barely visible under her coat, exuding both charm and purity.

Compared to her, Gu Ying’s overdone styling suddenly seemed artificial and overly forced.

Gu Ying's heart sank, knowing that all the press releases would probably go to waste, and today, she was bound to be nothing more than Cen Zhen’s backdrop.

Gu Ying, feeling frustrated, said something a bit sharp, "Long time no see. Are you switching careers to become a red carpet star now?"

Cen Zhen didn’t respond to her sarcasm, instead focusing on the host’s progress.

Gu Ying felt as if she was hitting a wall, getting even more irritated. She deliberately started a conversation with someone nearby, saying, "How come anyone can come to the film festival? Do they even have any work, or are they just riding on others' coattails?"

Chi Yu was about to retort, but Mo Xiang stopped her.

This was the red carpet, and though they were standing far away, the cameras might occasionally catch a glimpse of them. It was more important to ensure that their own status looked the best.

Besides, in no time, Gu Ying would be slapping herself in the face, so why bother debating with her now?

Cen Zhen obviously thought the same way. She quietly stood there, never once giving Gu Ying a glance. Gu Ying, seeing no reaction, said a few more words before being called to walk the red carpet. Her face, which had been full of anger moments ago, instantly turned into a smile, which was more fitting for her role as an actress.

As the six groups of guests walked, Xie Qingzong also arrived on site. Cen Zhen nodded respectfully, "Director Xie."

Xie Qingzong had changed into a suit with a tie and looked gentle and refined, exuding the aura of a master.

He extended his hand to encourage Cen Zhen, "Let’s go, relax."

The street lights ahead flickered, and photographers on both sides were eagerly waiting. Cen Zhen knew that her acting career was officially beginning at this moment.

She took off her coat, took a deep breath, linked her arm with Xie Qingzong’s, and walked confidently forward.

The host, meanwhile, was slowly announcing the names on stage:

"The last guests to walk towards us are the famous director, Mr. Xie Qingzong, and the lead actress of his upcoming movie Falling, the young actress—Miss Cen Zhen."

The sound of the microphone echoed across the venue, causing Gu Ying, who was still taking pictures in front of the background, to freeze, her smile suddenly stiffening.

Not far away, someone talking to a reporter heard the familiar name, and paused for a moment before turning to gaze toward the center of the red carpet.

At the start of the new year, Zhuang Jiayi called her son home for a meal during the New Year holiday. It was a good thing that Meng Songnian had gone to Europe on a business trip; otherwise, even if his mother asked, Meng Fanchuan wouldn’t have stepped foot in the house for a while.

After lunch, during their rare free time, Zhuang Jiayi took the opportunity to discuss with Meng Fanchuan, "Your father will be gone for a week. How about you stay and spend a few days with your mom?"

Zhuang Jiayi was gentle and generous, a typical Hong Kong-style lady from a prestigious family. After the 1997 handover, she had married into the Meng family, and at the time, the public wasn’t too optimistic about this marriage, which seemed too pragmatic. When she was young, Meng Songnian was somewhat similar to Meng Fanchuan now—appearing steady as the family’s eldest son, but unwilling to accept a wife who didn’t even speak Mandarin well.But at that time, he had no choice but to accept, thinking that a respectful relationship with Zhuang Jiayi would be the best outcome. He didn’t expect that after many years, his wife, with her gentle strength, had successfully captured his heart.

The Hong Kong media at the time frequently criticized the young lady from the Zhuang family, saying she had no status in North City and was treated with indifference. But what they didn’t know was that Meng Songnian came home every day after work to learn Cantonese, just so he could communicate with Zhuang Jiayi in her familiar dialect. Later, one year on her birthday, Meng Songnian went all out, setting off extravagant fireworks over Victoria Harbour and even renting out advertising spaces on the high-rise buildings around the harbor to publicly declare his love for her.

Because of that, Meng Songnian always believed that a marriage of convenience could still have love.

On the contrary, a marriage between families of equal status might be more likely to create a deep spiritual connection.

He and Zhuang Jiayi were the best example, and his eldest son, Meng Qinghuai, also had a harmonious and happy marriage. So why was it that when it came to Meng Fanchuan, things didn’t work out?

Father and son remained in a prolonged deadlock over the marriage issue. Zhuang Jiayi tried to mediate but with little effect, and could only take advantage of her husband’s trip abroad to briefly meet her son.

But Meng Fanchuan didn’t want to stay, saying, "I’m busy lately."

Zhuang Jiayi asked, "What are you busy with?"

Meng Fanchuan didn’t want to mention Cen Zhen’s existence to her. He wasn’t sure if his mother would accept it, and at the moment, Cen Zhen hadn’t accepted him either.

He still had work to do.

"Something with Zhongshi." Meng Fanchuan gave her a simple answer.

It was an excuse, but Meng Fanchuan wasn’t lying. He had returned from Shanghai, but his position hadn’t changed. Wang Yuan still sent him company business reports every week. He hadn’t bothered to read them before, but recently, for some reason, he found himself gradually paying attention. Last night, he even patiently read through a ten-page document Wang Yuan had sent.

This was something that would have been impossible before.

"You’re taking care of company matters?" Zhuang Jiayi was relieved, but also perceptive, "Why the sudden change of heart?"

Meng Fanchuan only smiled and walked away without answering, heading to the backyard to find his sister, Meng Wenruo. Zhuang Jiayi, knowing her son’s temperament, helplessly called after him:

"Your grandfather is out of the hospital. He’s spending New Year’s Eve in Hong Kong this year. You need to plan your time ahead of that."

Meng Fanchuan’s back disappeared around the corner, and his voice drifted back lazily, "Got it."

Avoiding his mother’s questioning, Meng Fanchuan went to the backyard to clear his head. The Meng household was large, with dozens of servants. There were many people assigned to different tasks, including four specialists who were responsible for maintaining and organizing the expensive handbags and high heels that Zhuang Jiayi and Meng Wenruo used every day.

One of the reasons Meng Fanchuan didn’t want to return home was because of all the people; it was simply overwhelming.

At the moment, Meng Wenruo was in the garden, holding a tablet, likely watching an online acting class. She had become so obsessed with acting recently that Meng Fanchuan found it a bit strange.

Meng Fanchuan casually found a place to sit.

He pulled out a cigarette but didn’t light it.

It had already been 48 hours, and Cen Zhen still hadn’t sent him a message or called.

She said she needed time to think, so he gave her the space she asked for.

But it had been quite a while.

How long was she going to think?

"Brother?" Meng Wenruo noticed Meng Fanchuan had come out and waved to him, "Want to watch with me?"

Meng Fanchuan, still thinking about Cen Zhen, answered absentmindedly, "Watch what?"

"The North City University Film Festival red carpet! There are so many stars I like!"

Meng Fanchuan uninterestedly pulled his gaze away, continuing to contemplate what he should do if Cen Zhen still didn’t contact him today.

Should he call her?

Or should he go straight to the set?

While he was thinking, his sister’s voice suddenly exploded in his ear, her words coming out in a rush, "Huh? Ah! Ahhh! Brother! It’s Sister Cen!"

Meng Wenruo ran up to him and held up the tablet, showing him, "She went to the film festival too!"

Meng Fanchuan frowned from the noise, but his gaze fell on the screen—

On the live broadcast, the host was announcing Cen Zhen’s arrival. She was walking alongside Xie Qingzong, her posture elegant and graceful. She occasionally nodded to the media on either side, showing off her signature smile, radiating confidence with no hint of the usual nervousness of someone attending the red carpet for the first time.

The dress by Bella Wang was red, but it was a very special shade of red—Burgundy red. It was high-end without being flashy, understated but with a depth that was intoxicating. The simple, futuristic design was bold and avant-garde, and the dress fit her perfectly, exuding both sensuality and elegance, while still maintaining a sharp brightness.

This was also the reason Mo Xiang had chosen this dress. She wanted Cen Zhen’s first public appearance to be a good omen.

From then on, she would become an overnight sensation, with her star shining brightly.

The casting for Falling had not been publicly announced yet, and Xie Qingzong had kept the mystery until the last minute. Announcing it at such a well-known but not overly high-profile event was a calculated decision.

In truth, he didn’t have to personally take on a newcomer, but Cen Zhen had talent, and Meng Fanchuan had given him face, so Xie Qingzong was happy to return the favor.

The news came suddenly, and the media flashes were all focused on Cen Zhen at that moment.

The lights and shadows danced as she gently tucked her long hair behind her ear, her eyebrows dark, lips red, looking both glamorous and restrained.After both of them signed their names in front of the signature board, there was a brief interview. Xie Qingzong, being a master of the entertainment industry, experienced in numerous public appearances, answered a few questions with flawless composure, smiling as the interview came to an end.

The host shifted the focus to Cen Zhen.

Xie Qingzong had already made it clear that this movie was aiming for Cannes this year, and regardless of whether it won awards or not, the actress he chose for the lead role was naturally a one-in-a-million talent with limitless prospects. Starting her journey at Cannes, who could compare?

All the photographers turned their cameras toward Cen Zhen. From head to toe, from her hairstyle to her makeup, almost every detail was magnified in slow motion for the audience to see.

"Cen Zhen looks so good in this outfit today," Meng Wenruo commented while following the camera, pausing briefly before adding, "Her legs are so long and white."

Bella Wang’s design sought the ultimate color contrast. If someone with darker skin wore the same dress, the effect would be lost. The back of the dress had an oval cut-out, while the front had a high slit. It required someone with very fair skin to pull it off, so that when they moved, their slim, snowy white legs would subtly peek out from the deep Burgundy red, achieving the ultimate visual contrast.

Cen Zhen pulled it off. The live broadcast was filled with barrage comments.

"This sister really deserves to be the finale, she’s totally killing it."

"Her bone structure is amazing, truly a movie face."

"Is this the one who shot the ski festival promo? I didn’t even recognize her!"

"Okay okay, I declare the goddess of beauty has descended tonight!"

"This is the first time I truly understand what it means to shine with dialogue."

"How did she get such perfect proportions? Those legs and chest are unreal."

"She's only 21, a beautiful young lady!!"

At this point, the host had already asked Cen Zhen a round of questions about the movie, and Cen Zhen answered thoughtfully. Just as she thought the interview was nearly over, the host suddenly changed the subject, smiling as they asked:

"This dress today is beautiful, did your boyfriend help you pick it out?"

Cen Zhen was caught off guard by the question.

Before coming today, Mo Xiang had prepared a list of questions that the host might ask, and she had them memorized. But suddenly, the host brought up her boyfriend?

What boyfriend?

It was only for a brief moment, but Cen Zhen quickly remembered—she had publicly mentioned her boyfriend in a past interview.

A lapse in judgment, Cen Zhen didn’t expect the host to ask this out of the blue. Her thoughts briefly stalled for a second. There wasn’t enough time to think too much, especially in such a setting where speaking too much could lead to mistakes. The most important thing was to steer the conversation away from this topic.

If she said she didn’t have a boyfriend, the host would definitely ask why, and might even continue to inquire about their relationship. At that point, she wouldn’t know how to answer.

So Cen Zhen smiled and nodded, "Mhm."

Meng Wenruo, who was watching the live stream, paused in surprise. "Huh? Didn’t Sister Cen say she didn’t have a boyfriend?"

She completely missed the faint, almost imperceptible cold laugh from her brother beside her.

The host responded with a playful "Wow" and teasingly asked, "Aren’t you a bit jealous?"

After all, this dress was quite daring, exposing her back and legs to the audience.

Off-screen, Meng Fanchuan took a deep, light breath, his expression unchanged as he watched Cen Zhen on the screen.

He saw her hesitate for two seconds, then smile slightly, "No."

There was even a hint of happiness on her face. "He likes it."