Chapter46

Chi Yu turned back in confusion to look at Qin Shiyao's retreating figure, then knocked on Cen Zhen's door and asked, “Who was that just now?”

Cen Zhen took the food box she handed over, paused for a few seconds, then lightly said, “His fiancée.”

Chi Yu’s mouth dropped open: “Huh?”

She was shocked. The young master has a fiancée?

“But he called off the engagement.”

— Well, that’s fine then.

Chi Yu’s mouth relaxed and she closed it, “Oh.”

But after processing it, alarm bells went off in her mind, “Since the engagement was called off, what was that woman doing here? Did she bully you?”

It was called off, but as Qin Shiyao said, the Meng family hadn't made a statement yet, and Meng Songnian hadn’t spoken, so it was still uncertain.

Thus, her position as “girlfriend” felt a bit awkward in front of such a serious institution as marriage.

At this moment, Meng Fanchuan sent a message: “Why did you suddenly hang up the phone?”

Cen Zhen sent a picture of the meal: “Eating.”

Then she put the phone away, thoughtfully poking at the dishes in the box. Without warning, she asked Chi Yu, “Xiao Yu, what do you think of Director Xie’s film?”

Chi Yu wasn’t a professional and didn’t dare casually comment on Xie Qingzong’s work. She honestly said, “I don’t really understand these things.”

“I meant, how do you think I performed?”

Chi Yu froze for a moment, then immediately said without hesitation, “Of course, you were great.” She came over, pulling Cen Zhen’s sleeve sympathetically. “Which film crew shoots like yours? Getting slapped by your mother one day, beaten by your stepfather the next, covered in injuries.”

The scene they had filmed yesterday had been intense: Li Tao, who wanted to elope with a young man, was drugged by her mother with sleeping pills, only to discover her stepfather’s molestation in a daze. She struggled, resisted, and was dragged by the hair from the bathroom to the bedroom—

Afterward came the cruel scene described by Xie Qingzong.

Xie Qingzong’s shots were very artistic, hiding the darkness of human nature under a hazy yellow mosquito net, leaving blanks but making it impossible to imagine the despair within.

Chi Yu had cried on set, both because of Li Tao and because Cen Zhen had been repeatedly kicked and beaten by the male actor for an entire afternoon. After the shoot, she was unsteady on her feet, fearing a concussion, so she had even gone to a small-town hospital for an X-ray.

“How could you not be good?” Chi Yu said, “Director Xie said your performance was very impactful. Even the assistant director—when you questioned Teacher Wu in that scene, I saw his eyes turn red.”

“Do you think I could win an award?” Cen Zhen suddenly asked.

“…”

Chi Yu didn’t immediately respond. Cen Zhen continued, “When you introduced me, you said an actress and an actress who’s won the Best Actress award—don’t you think they’re a bit different?”

Chi Yu didn’t understand what she meant at first, until Cen Zhen lowered her gaze, “Xiao Yu, I want to get closer to him.”

On the fourth day after separating from Meng Fanchuan, Xiao Yunqi traveled all the way to Beicheng.

Ever since she learned that her daughter had a boyfriend, she had been uneasy. As the school holidays approached, she bought a plane ticket and flew to Beicheng to visit her daughter’s set and meet that man named Meng.

However, the timing wasn’t right.

After Cen Zhen finished shooting that day, she took her mother’s hand and said, “He’s on a business trip.”

“Are you sure you’re not lying to me?” Xiao Yunqi said doubtfully. “Why does he leave as soon as I arrive?”

Cen Zhen helplessly replied, “He’s been on a business trip for several days now. He didn’t just leave today.”

Once Xiao Yunqi heard that, she relaxed a bit. Since he was on a business trip, it meant he had work to do, not just idly spending his money on women. “How did you two meet?”

… As a sugar daddy.

Of course, Cen Zhen couldn’t say that. She only replied, “Work.”

Xiao Yunqi decided to stay at the film set for now, watching Cen Zhen act every day. She planned to wait for her son-in-law to come back, and then head back home to celebrate the New Year.

On the 28th of the twelfth lunar month, Xie Qingzong booked dozens of tables at a small-town restaurant for the entire crew to have their New Year’s meal.

The restaurant wasn’t far from the set. At 6 p.m., after everyone finished work, they all headed to the restaurant together. With New Year’s Eve approaching, the streets were filled with Spring Festival couplets and the character “(blessing), ” and the atmosphere of the New Year could be felt as they walked down the street.

Xiao Yunqi didn’t like noisy environments, so she stayed at the hotel and didn’t come over.

Outside, it started to snow lightly. Chi Yu walked along, stretching her hand out, and suddenly remembered something, muttering to herself, “Do you think the snow will affect the flights?”Cen Zhen paused slightly and looked up at the sky.

Meng Fanchuan was returning to Beicheng tomorrow.

The restaurant had already served a variety of dishes. The smell of lamb soup, which Xie Qingzong loved, could be smelled from afar. When Cen Zhen and Chi Yu arrived, a few crew members and the script supervisor were already playing a game of "huaquan" at a nearby table.

"Come on, Zhen Zhen, sit here." Xie Qingzong pointed to the seat next to him. After the experience with Shen Zesheng forcing alcohol on her last time, Xie Qingzong was worried about someone bothering her again, so he had arranged for her to sit next to him. This way, if anyone got drunk and caused trouble, he could step in and block it.

Chi Yu sat at another table with a few other assistants, chatting and laughing. There was a lot of exaggerated laughter, drowned out by the noise of people playing games and chatting, making the New Year’s gathering even livelier.

But Cen Zhen kept looking out the window at the falling snow, repeatedly thinking about what Chi Yu had said—what if the snow got heavier and affected tomorrow's flight?

"Xiao Cen, where’s your boyfriend?" During the meal, the slightly tipsy script supervisor came over, swaying. "Why isn’t he here to join us?"

Cen Zhen replied, "He’s on a business trip."

After sending him off to another table to toast, Cen Zhen returned to her seat and continued to watch the snow. Meanwhile, Xie Qingzong took a phone call and left the table, which didn’t catch her attention.

She was fully absorbed in watching the snow outside, thinking about what she would do if it snowed heavily and she couldn’t see him tomorrow.

She missed him so much.

In the bustling hall, while everyone was immersed in conversation about celebrity gossip, international issues, real estate, and parenting, Cen Zhen was deep in thought. She didn’t notice when someone sat next to her until a faint voice reached her ear:

“The soup is cold.”

Cen Zhen snapped back to reality, thinking someone was reminding her. She turned around, instinctively about to thank the person, but when she saw the figure in front of her, she froze.

He looked weary, his black coat speckled with a few snowflakes. He seemed to have come from a faraway snowy place, unreal.

Cen Zhen opened her mouth. "You..."

Meng Fanchuan calmly took the bowl and scooped her some fresh soup. "Drink it while it’s hot."

The dozens of tables in the hall, where people were just moments ago eagerly discussing various topics, suddenly seemed to stop, as if on cue, and everyone turned to look at the main table.

Those seated farther away even stood up to get a better look.

It was inevitable. Even though he had quietly entered and was dressed casually, when he sat down, the snow outside seemed to grow more noble, shimmering with silver, drawing everyone's attention. They couldn’t help but look, but also didn’t dare to stare too long, afraid their gaze might be intrusive and make them seem unsophisticated.

After a few seconds of everyone’s gaze being fixed on him, Xie Qingzong, who had already moved to another table, called out, “What are you looking at? Drink your wine!”

This snapped everyone out of their daze, and they lowered their heads, continuing their previous conversations, but their eyes would still sneak a few glances in his direction.

"Is that Cen Zhen’s boyfriend?"

"The soup is already at his lips, so he can’t be the male assistant, right?"

“The legendary Second Young Master?”

“If it really is him, why bother acting? He has enough money to last several lifetimes.”

"Move your head, I can’t see!"

Amidst the whispers, Chi Yu couldn’t resist and posted a wild moment on her WeChat Moments:

“Ahhhhhhhhhhh!!!”

The hall seemed to return to the lively atmosphere it had before Meng Fanchuan arrived, but only Cen Zhen remained frozen. After a while, she took the soup from him. "Aren’t you supposed to come back tomorrow?"

“I said I’d come back as soon as possible.”

“...Then why didn’t you call me?”

“I called, but you and Chi Yu didn’t answer.” Meng Fanchuan took her hand under the table. “So I called Director Xie.”

Cen Zhen took out her phone and realized she had missed his call. It was probably because it had been too noisy during dinner, and she hadn’t heard it.

Her adrenaline spiked from the sudden surprise, and Cen Zhen’s skin felt warm. She turned her face away to calm down for a few seconds, then took a sip of the hot soup in front of her, but her heart was racing even more.

Finally, she suddenly stood up, saying to the people around her, "Sorry, you all eat first."

She then pulled Meng Fanchuan’s hand and left the hall.

Those who had been sneaking glances didn’t realize it until they looked back again: where did that pair of figures go?

The two of them left the hall and walked not far before they reached an empty private room, the door locked behind them.

Their lips urgently met, more in sync than ever. Cen Zhen hugged Meng Fanchuan tightly, wanting to kiss him for the first time, but her movements weren’t enough. In the end, he took control, and she was kissed so deeply that her heart and body trembled with waves of sensation.

In the world of adults, longing needs to be soothed by embraces and kisses.

The wind and snow outside seemed to grow stronger, but the temperature inside the private room rose sharply. Their breaths, mingled with their kissing, grew hotter, and their coats were quickly discarded. Meng Fanchuan held Cen Zhen’s slender waist, pulling her closer to him, kissing her again and again, losing himself in the sensation.

Cen Zhen almost felt like she might break, her head tilted back as he kissed her neck. She whispered, her voice muffled and aggrieved, “It’s snowing outside. I thought you wouldn’t be able to make it back tomorrow.”"I could never bear to." Meng Fanchuan responded while kissing her.

Cen Zhen closed her eyes, trembling slightly as she responded to him.

His hand wandered restlessly, moving over her skin in waves, and as it moved upwards, wanting to continue downward, hurried footsteps sounded from outside: "Why hasn't the braised pomfret for those tables been served yet? Hurry up!"

The two of them, lost in their kiss, were interrupted and pulled apart. Gasping lightly, they looked at each other, their gazes sticky like threads.

Meng Fanchuan couldn't stand the way Cen Zhen looked at him. But with reason returning, he knew that such desires couldn't be released in this place, and he cursed inwardly.

As the server walked past, he let out a deep breath, helped Cen Zhen put her clothes back on, and kissed the corner of her lips. "Should we go back?"

Cen Zhen shook her head.

She couldn’t bear to go back, not with her slightly disheveled hair and lips that were reddened from his kisses. Anyone with sharp eyes could tell what she had just been doing.

"Then shall I take you back to the hotel?"

"Mm."

The fire was temporarily extinguished. They held hands as they went downstairs and borrowed an umbrella from the cashier.

The cashier couldn’t help but glance at them as they left, thinking to herself, what a handsome young man, what a beautiful young woman. No wonder they’re celebrities in the entertainment industry; their looks were beyond flawless.

Once outside, Cen Zhen realized that the snow had indeed become heavier. The cold wind carried the snowflakes directly at them, and the ground had already accumulated a thin layer of snow. By tomorrow morning, the town would likely be blanketed in white.

"Do you like the snow?" Cen Zhen suddenly asked him.

Meng Fanchuan didn’t have much of a romantic understanding of snow; it was just a kind of weather in winter. Sometimes, when a snowstorm affected transportation, it could even be a bit annoying.

So he said, "Not really."

Cen Zhen nodded, but the question that had been lingering in her heart suddenly lost its courage to be spoken.

Meng Fanchuan didn’t notice her thoughts. He asked as they walked, "Does the crew still not have a break?"

Cen Zhen paused for two seconds before answering, "Mm."

Afraid he might press further, she quickly changed the subject. "I heard from Nuo Nuo that you guys are going to Hong Kong for the New Year, right?"

Meng Fanchuan slightly paused, as if he wanted to say something, but the subtle thought vanished in an instant. In the end, he didn’t speak.

At that moment, someone called him via video. He glanced at it and pressed the answer button.

On the other side of the screen was a dark-skinned Filipino maid, speaking in English. Meng Fanchuan directly replied with a "good."

In the next second, an elderly person sitting in a wheelchair appeared on the screen, their voice dissatisfied, "Ah Chuan, Why haven’t you come back yet?"

All the family members had arrived in Hong Kong that afternoon, but because he wanted to see Cen Zhen before leaving, Meng Fanchuan had not flown directly from London to Hong Kong. Instead, he made a detour back to Beicheng first.

Cen Zhen, hearing the Cantonese, immediately realized what was happening and tried to step aside.

But Meng Fanchuan pulled her back, "Where are you going?"

At this moment, Zhuang Tai finally noticed there was a young woman in his grandson's arms. He looked closely and immediately softened his voice, "Is she...?"

"Mm." Meng Fanchuan smiled softly, as though he had returned to that afternoon long ago when he squatted beside Zhuang Tai with his phone, saying, "She is Zhen Zhen."

Now, he could finally hold her in his arms and proudly tell his grandfather—

She is Zhen Zhen.

"Oh, Zhen Zhen, hello!" Zhuang Tai suddenly sat up straight, looking full of energy.

Cen Zhen felt a little awkward, but being held by Meng Fanchuan, she could only force a smile and respectfully say, "Hello, Mr. Zhuang."

As soon as she finished speaking, the man beside her let out a soft laugh, "What did you call him?"

Cen Zhen thought she might have said something wrong, and nervously mouthed to him, "How should I call him?"

Meng Fanchuan was so charmed by her expression that he slowly pulled her back into the frame. "Call him grandpa with me."

"..."

"Yes, yes, call him grandpa." Zhuang Tai said, his Mandarin a little rushed, before switching back to Cantonese, "Zhen Zhen, you’re such a talented girl. I’ve watched that promotional video many times."

Cen Zhen forced a smile, "Thank you, Grandpa."

Suddenly, Meng Fanchuan stopped, giving her an ambiguous look.

Zhuang Tai continued, "Zhen Zhen, come back to celebrate the New Year with Ah Chuan."

Cen Zhen politely shook her head, "I still have work to do. Wishing you a happy New Year."

Zhuang Tai was about to say more when Meng Fanchuan took the phone away, telling him that they would be back in Hong Kong tomorrow before hanging up the video call.He then put his phone away and stared at Cen Zhen without blinking.

Cen Zhen felt a strange sense of guilt under his gaze, "…What’s wrong?"

"You understand Cantonese." Meng Fanchuan looked at her and said.

"…"

Cen Zhen’s heart skipped a beat, and she quickly lowered her gaze. She had been so nervous earlier that she had forgotten to pretend, and now Meng Fanchuan had caught her red-handed.

"So, everything I’ve said with Aunt Hui in front of you, you understood?"

Cen Zhen swallowed nervously and could only admit honestly, "Mm..."

Meng Fanchuan stopped for a few seconds, then began to recall if he had said anything he shouldn’t have.

Not remembering anything, he asked her, "What did I say?"

Most of the time, it was just work-related stuff or trivial daily conversations. But there was one sentence Cen Zhen clearly remembered.

It was because of that sentence that Cen Zhen had misunderstood that Meng Fanchuan only wanted to play with her.

She pressed her lips together, bringing up the past, "That time when I treated you to late-night snacks, we ran into Director Xie and Aunt Hui. Later, Aunt Hui and you quietly talked behind my back, I heard it."

Meng Fanchuan vaguely sensed that his girlfriend was upset.

Sure enough—

Cen Zhen raised her head, looking at him as though counting a debt, "Aunt Hui asked you if you liked me, and you pretended to be clueless, saying you didn’t know what she was talking about."

Meng Fanchuan: "…"

Meng Fanchuan hadn’t expected there was such a score to settle in Cen Zhen’s heart. If it hadn’t been for today’s accidental discovery that she understood Cantonese, he might’ve carried this unwarranted guilt for the rest of his life.

"It’s not like that." Meng Fanchuan tried to reason with Cen Zhen, "You had a boyfriend at the time, what could I have said?"

Not denying it was already proof that he had been moved.

Cen Zhen pursed her lips and pretended to be angry.

Meng Fanchuan, feeling helpless, decided to have her face him. With one hand holding the umbrella, he gently cupped her face and coaxed her, "Then how about I recreate the scene and answer again?"

Cen Zhen turned her face away and smiled, "But Aunt Hui’s not here."

"I’m saying it to you." In the falling snow, Meng Fanchuan pulled her close, paused for a moment, then leaned in and whispered in her ear in Cantonese:

"Yes, I really like Miss Cen."