My Queen, My Rules - 37

Wrap-Up

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The sound of that ‘thud’ seemed to hang in the air, lingering unpleasantly.

In over twenty years of life, Ji Mingshu had never had a car door slammed on her. The sudden act first stunned her, then filled her mind with a long string of question marks. Was Cen Sen insane? Treating his properly wedded, lawfully married wife like this? Was he even human?

She strode forward and slammed the other door with earth-shaking force.

Ji Mingshu’s ability to organize a verbal assault was formidable. In the mere tens of seconds it took to get into the car, she had already composed a long, soul-piercing, deafeningly eloquent series of accusations.

But the moment her eyes met Cen Sen's, a strange thought flashed through her mind: Wait... could it be... he's jealous?

At this idea, Ji Mingshu’s gaze flickered. A faint, inexplicable guilt prickled at her.

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Gu Kaiyang: [If this isn't jealousy, what else would it be, indigestion?]

Jiang Chun: [The literal embodiment of a vinegar jar. Case closed.]

Jiang Chun: [But isn't this the legendary 'asking for a friend' is actually me? Your Highness, no need to be so subtle when flaunting your love life in front of us. Please be more direct!]

Gu Kaiyang: [+1. Also, besides the two of us, what other 'friends' do you even have?]

Ji Mingshu: [?]

Gu Kaiyang: [My mistake. I mean, besides us, what random goose's relationship drama is worth your precious concern?]

Ji Mingshu: [...]

It's this random goose, alright.

Humble :)

---

After returning to the hotel that day, Ji Mingshu and Cen Sen settled into a very delicate stalemate.

They weren’t fighting, nor could it be called a cold war. At the hotel, they still ate meals together, still slept in the same bed at night. In the mornings, they could even stand side-by-side at the bathroom sink brushing their teeth.

—They just didn't talk to each other.

Cen Sen was habitually silent. Ji Mingshu, however, had more tangled matters on her mind and couldn’t spare the effort to break the ice just yet.

After wrestling with it for a day and a half, she finally transformed her suspicion about Cen Sen's jealousy into a clumsy 'friend's story' and shared it in her girls' group chat.

Although the Rainbow Fart Squad had already ruled it "jealousy," Ji Mingshu still couldn't quite believe it.

Because the Cen family affairs weren't something to publicize, she had omitted the deeper layer of the relationship between Cen Sen and Cen Yang during her retelling. Yet, it was precisely this deeper layer that made her, deep down, lean more towards the idea that Cen Sen wasn't jealous—he simply didn't want to hear anyone mention Cen Yang.

Amid Ji Mingshu's endless back-and-forth dilemma, the recording of Designer's Abode finally drew to a close.

Over the course of a month and a half, Ji Mingshu had trashed six pairs of high heels and, despite her already small frame, had somehow managed to lose a full four pounds.

On the final day of recording, Pei Xiyan gave gifts to his fellow group members and the staff.

The gifts were all standard, non-controversial items. For Feng Yan, a razor; for Yan Yuexing, skincare products, all brands he himself endorsed.

Ji Mingshu's gift was slightly more special: a box of vitamins, A through D, everything you could need. Inside was a small note telling her to supplement her nutrition properly to avoid fainting at any moment.

Pei Xiyan was still a minor and had always maintained a cool-boy persona completely in line with his personality; he was clearly incapable of such thoughtfulness.

Yet, Ji Mingshu stubbornly saw her beloved Pei Pei's concern and care for her in this team-prepared box of vitamins. So touched, she blasted out three consecutive posts on her social media feed, wildly lavishing praise on Pei Xiyan, declaring that for his next movie, she would definitely treat her Moments friend list to a private screening! Witnesses should screenshot and save this, everyone gets a spot!

Instantly, those three posts were flooded with people joining her in heaping on the praise and teasing her for her lavish generosity.

Spending his money to chase after a kid. Very generous indeed.

After browsing the updates, Cen Sen expressionlessly closed his phone.

---

With recording over, Ji Mingshu naturally had to return to the capital. However, Cen Sen hadn't finished his business in Xingcheng yet and couldn't leave with her. She didn't mind, secretly plotting to return first and properly deal with that little white lotus, Li Wenyin.

Ji Mingshu’s original plan had been to stay in Xingcheng for two more days to take photos at a certain viral art gallery. However, Gu Kaiyang secretly passed on a tip that Li Wenyin would be attending a certain high-end luxury brand cocktail party with an investor tomorrow.

Upon receiving this news, Ji Mingshu left without even saying goodbye, flying back to the capital ahead of schedule.

The moment the plane touched down at Capital Airport's T2 terminal, Ji Mingshu looked out the window at the setting sun and felt a surge of emotion, as if she were a migrant worker finally returning home after many years away.

Wahhh!

O glittering capital! This Golden Canary has returned to her most dazzling natural habitat!

Before even leaving the airport, she had already grabbed Gu Kaiyang and Jiang Chun, arranging a trio trip to the Shuiyunjian hot springs.

Soaking in the ginseng private spring she had once been unable to enter, Jiang Chun listlessly flicked at the water. "This ginseng one isn't that special either."

Ji Mingshu gave her a once-over and poked her plump shoulder. "What did you expect? That you'd soak off three pounds in one go? Not to be harsh, but could you have a little more awareness of being a girl? Look at these shoulders, this collarbone... Oh, you don't have collarbones."

"..." Jiang Chun genuinely didn't know what she had done wrong. "Can't you be a little gentler after not seeing me for over a month?"

Ji Mingshu reached out and pressed, smiling gently. "I'm sorry, I was wrong. You do have collarbones. They're just... subtly presented."

Jiang Chun swatted her hand away, her face a constipated expression of 'Would you just shut up already?'

Gu Kaiyang had been hanging out with Jiang Chun for the past month or so. Unbeknownst to the Princess, the two had quietly betrayed her, twisting their meager combined strength into a single rope.

Now, seeing Jiang Chun being bullied, Gu Kaiyang patted her shoulder in comfort. "She's only this bold with her own people. Let's see if she dares to act this overbearing when she meets Li Wenyin tomorrow."

Ji Mingshu kicked her. "Why wouldn't I dare? Wow, I notice you're really good at boosting others' morale while deflating your own side's. What a grade-A plastic friend, switching sides so fast."

Busy dealing with these two weaklings, Ji Mingshu didn't notice the string of new messages pinging into her phone resting by the poolside.

These messages were from a staff member of Designer's Abode.

Ji Mingshu's group had finished all their recording yesterday morning. A proper production team operates with rules; the contract was clear, and they didn't drag it out a single day.

The other groups recording concurrently had also mostly finished their renovation projects around the same time. The latest was Li Che's group, which had encountered some unexpected issues and did some pick-up shots just today.

Just as a film wrap calls for a wrap party, after a variety show finishes recording, the production team also organizes a wrap party—partly to thank everyone for their hard work, partly to wish the show success in advance.

But when the director mentioned this after recording ended yesterday, Ji Mingshu had been in the restroom and missed it completely.

The director had asked a staff member familiar with Ji Mingshu to pass on the message. The staff member agreed, but amidst the busy post-production wrap-up work, the matter got completely forgotten.

Now, at the show's wrap party venue, the entrusted staff member finally remembered she hadn't notified Ji Mingshu.

Her heart sank in panic, and she hurriedly called and messaged Ji Mingshu, but received no response.

Unfortunately, the producer caught her and asked, "Are all the designers here?"

She stiffened and said guiltily, "Y-yes, they're all here. It's just… Designer Ji Mingshu from Group C, she had something come up last minute and can't make it."

The producer frowned. "What thing?"

"I...I don't know…"

The producer was about to lecture her when someone came running to notify him that the sponsor's representatives had arrived. He couldn't bother with this anymore and hurried outside to greet them.

The person coming from the sponsor's side this time was no small fry. Rumor had it, he was the crown prince of the Junyi Group, a figure difficult to meet under normal circumstances.

This crown prince was only able to grace them with his presence because he valued the development of their group's 'Yaji' project and happened to be in Xingcheng on business.

If they could make this particular personage view their program favorably, wouldn't their patron for seasons two and three be secured?

Thinking this, the producer's eyes instantly crinkled into smiles. He looked at Cen Sen as if he were a walking God of Wealth.

Cen Sen and Ji Mingshu hadn't exchanged a word for days. Their dynamic, which had with great difficulty thawed slightly, seemed to have overnight reverted to how it was when he first returned to the country. Recently, Ji Mingshu had been acting strange, constantly sizing him up, yet she hadn't pursued the car door incident, hadn't given him the cold shoulder or rolled her eyes. It was very unlike her.

Ushered into the main hall by the producer, Zhou Jiaheng stepped forward to help Cen Sen remove his overcoat.

Cen Sen straightened his shirt collar and, as if casually, let his gaze sweep over the large round table.

Taking his seat of honor, Cen Sen glanced up slightly and asked the producer, "Is everyone here?"

The producer hurriedly responded, "Yes, yes, everyone's here. Aside from young Pei who has classes and couldn't come, everyone else is present."

"Oh, is that so?"

The producer paused, then added, "Ah, there's also Designer Ji who isn't here. She had some personal matters today and couldn't make it last minute."

Remembering the sponsor's initial distinct lack of enthusiasm for featuring Ji Mingshu, he chuckled. "This Designer Ji... is still rather young. Girls, you know. When it comes to steadiness and maturity, we have to mention Designer Wu and Designer Yang. Their performances this time were quite remarkable."

The two he was praising happened to be the ones Junyi had favored and inserted into the show.

After praising them, he observed Cen Sen's expression, which remained unchanged.

The producer wasn't the only one on the team who knew about the sponsor's early, explicit refusal to feature Ji Mingshu prominently. With Ji Mingshu not present, others also followed the head producer's lead, making veiled, critical remarks about Ji Mingshu while praising the designers Junyi had favored.

Listening to the shifting wind, Yan Yuexing suddenly laughed lightly. "Designer Ji really knows how to run people ragged. Ugh, spending over a month with her really wore me out. I guess it's just a lack of experience. I'm so envious of you guys in Groups D and E…"

Before her insinuating words could finish, a wine glass was slammed down with a heavy, cold thud from the seat of honor.

The entire room fell abruptly silent, all eyes turning towards the sound.

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