My Queen, My Rules - 13
Heart
Inside the pub, the music still throbbed with energy, colorful lights still swept across the room, but the moment that slap landed, it was as though a spotlight had switched on. Every pair of eyes turned toward Ji Mingshu.
—Well? Listen carefully. Does one hand clap?
—Oh, it claps all right. Loudly.
The spectators answered silently in their hearts.
The little white lotus had recently played the second female lead in a historical romance web drama. It was one of those mindless, feel-good shows, not much in the way of logic, but it had generated a considerable buzz. It was a modest hit, and she had gained some exposure for people to recognize her face.
Now that everyone was looking over, many immediately recognized her. Camera flashes from sneaky phone photos flickered nonstop, accompanied by an ever-growing chorus of whispers.
Truthfully, no one cared much about the reason for the slap. What shocked them was that someone had actually started a fight at Zhang Lin's birthday party. Was this woman trying to embarrass the host, or had she simply come looking for trouble?
Not far away, Zhang Baoshu sat frozen in disbelief.
Earlier, she'd been too far away to make out Ji Mingshu's face.
Now, seeing her up close, she found herself unconsciously agreeing with Cen Sen's words from that night.
When a radiant pearl was already at your side, who would bother chasing the glow of a firefly?
The bustling room fell into an inexplicable silence that lingered for several long seconds.
One of the little white lotus's friends was the first to recover. She hurried to shield her before shouting at Ji Mingshu, "What's your problem?! Who do you think you are, hitting someone like that?!"
"Exactly! If you've got something to say, use your words! Do you have any manners?" another chimed in.
The little white lotus herself remained silent, biting her lip as she stood there looking dazed and pitiful.
Then she remembered.
That day in Paris, this was the very same woman who'd stood up for Jiang Chun and forced Yan Yu to apologize.
Yan Yu had clearly been unwilling to offend her. So this woman... probably had some serious backgrounds.
With that realization, she lowered her head without another word, flawlessly executing every step of the innocent white lotus routine.
Her friends remained completely oblivious, still convinced they were the aggrieved party as they demanded explanation after explanation from Ji Mingshu.
Ji Mingshu didn't even bother lifting her eyelids.
Accepting the warm towel that Little Earth Goose had somehow produced out of thin air, she slowly wiped her hands clean. Every flick of her eyes and every lift of her brow radiated effortless arrogance, perfectly embodying the attitude of ‘I hit you because I felt like it. Why would I need to check the calendar first?’
Anyone who had ever dealt with Cen Sen might have noticed something uncanny.
When it came to putting people in their place, husband and wife carried themselves with exactly the same effortless superiority.
Before long, Zhang Lin arrived after hearing the commotion.
The little white lotus's friends proved to be as fake as they came. The instant they saw him approach, their voices softened dramatically.
"Boss Zhang," one of them whined sweetly, "what's going on? This lady came over out of nowhere and hit someone. It's your birthday party. Isn't she disrespecting you?"
Zhang Lin spent three full seconds recovering from the sugary voice, glancing from one woman to another, completely baffled about how these completely unrelated people had managed to collide.
Fortunately, he hadn't started drinking yet.
His head was perfectly clear.
Once he figured out who had slapped whom, he visibly relaxed.
Turning immediately toward Ji Mingshu, he asked with exaggerated concern, "Sister Shu, is your hand okay? Does it hurt? Should I have someone bring you some medicine?"
Ji Mingshu smiled faintly. "I'm fine. Sorry about this. It is your birthday. I probably should've held back."
She truly hadn't intended to ruin anyone's party.
But just moments earlier, while she'd accompanied Jiang Chun to the restroom, she'd happened to overhear the little white lotus smugly declaring that "one hand can't clap alone."
Before she'd even thought it through, she'd already acted.
Zhang Lin waved it off. "Pfft, it's no big deal! Sis, as long as you're happy, that's all that matters!"
He immediately called someone over to fetch another warm towel for her hand while showering her with one shameless compliment after another.
In between, he glanced back at the little white lotus and her friends.
He didn’t do anything to them, after all, it was still his birthday party, and he didn't want to completely kill the vibe.
Unfortunately, some people simply didn't know when to stop.
Ji Mingshu had already decided not to make a bigger scene.
Yet the moment she turned to leave, someone deliberately made a point to let out a cold snort behind her.
Ji Mingshu paused mid-step and looked back.
The one who had snorted was the little white lotus's friend. She held her chin high, refusing even to look directly at Ji Mingshu.
Meanwhile, the little white lotus herself was still covering the cheek that had been slapped, tears shimmering beautifully in her eyes without quite falling.
Ji Mingshu laughed. "So you're willing to be someone's mistress, but never considered that getting slapped might come with the job? Your professional standards could use some work."
Zhang Lin's temper flared instantly.
He spun around and frowned impatiently. "What the hell is wrong with you people? Who brought this bunch in? Are you trying to jinx the next decade of my life? It's my birthday, and you're standing here crying like you're at a funeral. What did I ever do to you?"
The little white lotus jumped in fright.
The carefully controlled tears she'd managed to keep trembling artistically in her eyes finally spilled down her cheeks.
Zhang Lin looked ready to explode. Too annoyed to waste another word, he simply gestured furiously for security to throw the entire group out.
Silence fell over everyone nearby.
No one could tell whether people were still processing what had happened or whether they were simply too stunned by Zhang Lin's spectacular double standards to speak.
Even after the birthday party ended, Jiang Chun still hadn't fully recovered.
Grabbing Ji Mingshu's arm, she asked bluntly, "Why was Zhang Lin sucking up to you so much? Isn't the Zhang family already powerful enough? He didn't have to go that far. It was honestly embarrassing to watch."
"His older brother doesn't need to." Ji Mingshu sounded completely unconcerned. "But Zhang Lin isn't Madam Zhang's son."
Jiang Chun blinked blankly. "What? He's not? But... isn't he the most doted child in the family?"
"Being dotted on and being an illegitimate son aren't mutually exclusive." Ji Mingshu looked at her. "Didn't you ever study logic?"
"Nope." Jiang Chun answered with complete sincerity.
Ji Mingshu nearly choked. "How long have you been living in the capital? How do you know absolutely nothing?"
She was genuinely astonished by Little Earth Goose's astonishing ignorance.
Jiang Chun, however, wore it proudly.
With the shameless confidence of someone blissfully unaware of her own lack of knowledge, she looped an arm through Ji Mingshu's. "No one's ever told me before. You know everything, so teach me."
"No."
"You just stood up for me! Doesn't that make us best friends now? Haven't you heard the saying, 'Once sisters, sisters for life’?"
Never heard of it.
And who was best friends with you Little Earth Goose?
Ji Mingshu shot her a look that translated perfectly into: Please stop forcing this friendship immediately.
But Jiang Chun clung tighter, even threatening to tell everyone about the men's room incident, and physically dragged her toward her car, insisting on showing off the luxury apartment she'd recently bought downtown.
During the drive, Jiang Chun pestered Ji Mingshu into revealing all the scandal of high society.
Each revelation left Jiang Chun more stunned than the last.
Even after they stepped into the apartment elevator, they were still discussing one famously "perfect" couple in their circle.
Jiang Chun gasped. "Is it really that messy? I thought they were so in love! So, if what you're saying is true, everyone's just... using each other? No one's actually married for love?"
Ji Mingshu was about to nod and confirm the painful reality that life was rarely as glamorous as it appeared.
Then Jiang Chun suddenly corrected herself, swiping her elevator card. "No, wait. You and Cen Sen seem different. Cen Sen absolutely dotes on you."
...?
For once, Ji Mingshu was at a loss for words.
Jiang Chun's apartment was only about a ten-minute drive from Bocui Tianhua.
It was another prime location, though surrounded by an even denser commercial district, the nights were somewhat noisy here.
Jiang Chun loved it, though. All the milk tea shops she loves were within five hundred meters.
The moment she stepped inside, Ji Mingshu was struck dumb.
Jiang Chun proudly began showing everything off. "So? What do you think? Look over here! And over here! I hired a designer to renovate all of this. It came as a fully furnished apartment, but the original design was ugly and completely impractical."
"Uglier than what you turned it into?"
Ji Mingshu stared at an entire wall covered by floral plastic sliding-door wardrobes that looked like they belonged somewhere between the countryside and the suburbs.
For one horrifying moment, she felt as though she'd traveled straight back to the 1990s.
"Planning to open a farmhouse restaurant in your living room?"
Looking around at the apartment Jiang Chun treasured so dearly, Ji Mingshu genuinely didn't know where it was safe to step.
Jiang Chun, meanwhile, remained stubbornly enthusiastic.
She dragged the thoroughly uninterested Ji Mingshu from room to room, passionately introducing every renovation in a desperate attempt to reform her aesthetic tastes.
Stopping in front of the bookshelf, Ji Mingshu glanced at the collection: My Secret Makeup Tricks, How to Capture His Heart, How an Elegant Beauty Is Made, One Hundred Ways to Improve Your Emotional Intelligence, The Cold-Hearted CEO and His Clumsy Angel.
Seeing Ji Mingshu staring at the one with "CEO" in the title, Jiang Chun eagerly pulled it off the shelf and stuffed it into her hands. "The title's kind of embarrassing, but it's actually really good. Give it a try."
Ji Mingshu recoiled immediately. "No thanks. I never read this stuff. What is wrong with your taste?"
Jiang Chun: “Really? What girl doesn’t read romance novels? You’re so weird.”
I read romance novels, just not this ancient, brainless fluff!
Ji Mingshu kept the thought to herself.
Jiang Chun refused to give up. "I hardly read physical books anymore anyway. You should download the Jinjiang app. There are loads of great novels on there."
Ji Mingshu didn't respond.
After touring the spectacularly ugly apartment, they settled onto the sofa to chat.
Ji Mingshu had never possessed much awareness of time. As long as she wasn't sleepy, she could stay awake until dawn without noticing.
It wasn't until Jiang Chun suddenly glanced at the clock that she exclaimed, "Oh! It's almost midnight. Shouldn't you message your husband? It's so late. He'll be worried."
Ji Mingshu's first instinct was to reply, ‘He's not my boss. Why would I report my whereabouts to him?’
But not wanting to shatter Little Earth Goose's last remaining fantasy about happy marriages, she simply murmured, "Mm," and opened WeChat.
Her conversation with Cen Sen was still sitting on the rainbow-praise exchange from last time.
Jiang Chun glanced over briefly. Though she didn't see the whole conversation, she sighed enviously. "I never would've guessed your husband was so sweet."
Ji Mingshu: "..."
She considered: if she directly messaged him saying she'll be home late, Cen Sen's bizarre train of thought would probably conclude she'd been kidnapped and was secretly asking for help.
So, she needed a more natural opening.
Remembering the noodles he'd made for her, inspiration struck.
Ji Mingshu: [What did you eat tonight, yam?]
After sending it, she admired her own handiwork.
Perfect. A perfectly ordinary conversation starter. Not overly affectionate.
And the cute tone would surely convince Jiang Chun that their marriage was wonderfully loving.
About three minutes later, Cen Sen actually replied.
Cen Sen: [Didn't eat yam.]
Jiang Chun's eyes immediately filled with hearts. "Your husband's adorable! So this is what he's like in private? I never would've guessed!"
She nudged Ji Mingshu excitedly. "He said he didn't eat! He's obviously waiting for you to comfort him! Hurry, reply!"
Ji Mingshu felt goosebumps race down her spine.
Tonight's Cen Sen was so strangely cute that it almost felt like someone had hacked his account.
Then another message came through.
Cen Sen: [I ate bamboo shoots.]
Jiang Chun: "..."
Ji Mingshu: "..."
Silence filled the hideously decorated apartment.
Together, they experienced the complete emotional journey from utter confusion, to vague realization, to complete enlightenment.
After staring at each other for three seconds, Ji Mingshu could clearly read two thoughts in Jiang Chun's eyes: ‘Maybe don't call me unfashionable anymore. Your husband is even more hopeless than I am.’ and ‘Does your husband's job not require access to the internet?’
Sorry for bothering you.
Humbly retreats.jpg
***
That evening, Cen Sen had attended a business dinner with Japanese partners.
Half the dishes catered to local tastes, the other half had been chosen for the guests.
He wasn't particularly fond of any of them, only the braised bamboo shoots earned more than a couple of bites.
By the time the dinner ended, it was already late at night. The cool breeze had blown away most of the alcohol. The night sky held no stars.
When he arrived home, he discovered Ji Mingshu was already back.
After receiving her earlier message, he'd even asked Zhou Jiaheng where Mrs. Cen was spending the evening.
Zhou Jiaheng had reported that she'd attended Zhang Lin's birthday party and later went to Jiang Chun's apartment.
Given Ji Mingshu's love of parties, Cen Sen had assumed she wouldn't be coming home tonight.
She really hadn't planned to. For one thing, Jiang Chun's apartment was so spectacularly ugly she couldn't imagine sleeping there. For another, she'd finally obtained a piece of blackmail material against Cen Sen and had intended to wait at home so she could mock him properly.
Unfortunately, after showering and climbing into bed with a novel, she'd fallen asleep without realizing it.
Cen Sen glanced at her but paid her no mind.
By the time he finished showering himself, Ji Mingshu had somehow rotated into yet another sleeping position, occupying even more of the bed. Her phone was still clutched tightly in her hand.
Walking over, he effortlessly picked her up, repositioned her into something resembling proper sleeping posture, then reached for the phone in her hand.
That was when Ji Mingshu woke up.
Sleepily, she opened her eyes.
She looked at Cen Sen, then at the time on her phone.
Her mind hadn't fully caught up with reality. She simply rolled over and immediately fell back asleep.
That movement loosened her grip on the phone. At the same time, the brief glance she'd taken had unlocked the screen with facial recognition.
When the phone reached Cen Sen's hand, the display was still open to the page she'd been browsing before falling asleep.
Strictly speaking, it wasn't Weibo itself.
It was one of Weibo's sponsored novel advertisements.
Cen Sen glanced at it.
“The moment Shangguan Haoran took Mu Ziwei's corneas and kidney, Mu Ziwei's heart died as well. Three years later, Mu Ziwei returned to B City, hoping only to live a quiet life. But the cold, ruthless commander of the Empire pulled her tightly into his embrace. ‘Woman, trying to run? You'll never escape the palm of my hand.’ Terror filled Mu Ziwei's eyes. ‘You’ve taken my corneas and my kidneys, isn’t that enough?’ ‘No,’ he said. ‘I want your heart.’”
Cen Sen paused. Then, for reasons unknown even to himself, he actually tapped open the first chapter.
Ji Mingshu slept restlessly.
She had rolled over only moments before, and now rolled back again, wrapping herself tightly inside the blanket.
One bare arm rested outside the covers.
Her hand happened to be pressed directly over her heart.
Cen Sen: "...”
---
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