My Queen, My Rules - 55

Ribs

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For so many years, Ji Mingshu’s loathing for Li Wenyin had been bone-deep. A mere glass of red wine was clearly not enough to make it vanish without a trace.

The moment she stepped past Cen Sen, what she’d actually been thinking was to throw the wine straight into Li Wenyin’s face. Or maybe pour it over Li Wenyin’s head.

But her upbringing wouldn’t allow it. She also didn’t want to cause trouble for Gu Kaiyang, who was responsible for this event. And more than anything, she didn’t want Cen Sen to see her in a bad light.

The wine hitting the floor seemed to echo.

For a few seconds, the scene fell into a frozen silence.

But Li Wenyin was no naive little bunny who’d just sniffle and cry if bullied. Ji Mingshu had poured that wine right in front of her, like a libation for the dead, all while telling her to stay away from her own husband. If she didn’t react at all, she wouldn’t even make it out the door today before people started calling her a shameless husband-stealer.

Her expression shifted, but she quickly steadied herself and devised a powerful counterattack.

Pour the wine right back at Ji Mingshu.

Ji Mingshu had provoked her first. Any retaliation was justified. Moreover, Ji Mingshu's willful, spoiled nature was common knowledge. However she spun it, and to whomever she told it, Li Wenyin would have the moral high ground.

Just like their school days. No matter the truth of the matter, Ji Mingshu could never gain the upper hand against her.

But the instant Li Wenyin prepared to throw the wine, Cen Sen suddenly turned. His gaze was cold and direct as it landed on her.

Li Wenyin froze, but the glass in her hand was already in motion, impossible to pull back.

Cen Sen didn’t hesitate. With one hand, he grasped Ji Mingshu’s slender, pale wrist, pulling her gently behind him. With his other hand, he firmly and precisely caught Li Wenyin's wrist and twisted it inward, forcibly changing the glass's trajectory at the very last moment.

The purplish-red liquid flowed back up Li Wenyin's arm. Her apricot-colored A-line dress was quickly stained, the wine dripping from her arm, and the hem of her dress spattered on the floor.

She pressed her lips together, her face pale.

First, Cen Sen had shown not a shred of gallantry, mercilessly twisting her wrist. It hurt.

Second, she truly couldn't believe Cen Sen would be so heartless, laying hands on her for a woman like Ji Mingshu.

Cen Sen met her gaze. His voice was cold, stripped of even basic courtesy, as he simply delivered a final warning with exhausted patience: "Li Wenyin, know your limits."

In that moment, Li Wenyin suddenly felt the man before her was a stranger, completely different from the refined, gentle boy of ten years ago.

She shook her head slightly, murmuring to herself as if struggling to accept reality. “A-Sen… how did you become like this?”

Anyone who truly knew Cen Sen would know he had always been like this.

Li Wenyin was merely trapped in her own constantly idealized memories, trapped in her filtered fantasies, unable to extricate herself.

She had forgotten that even that refined, gentle boy from ten years ago had never shown her much tenderness or care after accepting her pursuit.

What she missed, what she had liked, perhaps was never Cen Sen himself, but the jealousy and envy from her peers that came with dating him; the conveniences and green lights his status afforded; and the sense of being the center of attention, haloed as the girlfriend of the top student.

She had never again in her life experienced such a glorious time.

The PR person from Zero Degree in charge of the event noticed the commotion and moved to intervene, even calling for a few security guards via walkie-talkie in case someone was deliberately causing trouble and needed to be escorted out.

But as she stepped forward, someone suddenly pulled her back. "Don't."

Turning, she saw it was Gu Kaiyang, who had been elusive since the event started.

“Sister Gu, over there…”

Gu Kaiyang followed her gaze, unblinking, a slight smile playing on her lips. She emphasized again, "I said, don't. I'll take responsibility."

—Their little princess had been holding this grudge for so many years. Now that Cen Sen was finally making a move, how could they possibly interrupt?

The PR person clearly didn’t understand, but with Gu Kaiyang giving the order, she could only wave the security away and turn a blind eye.

This all happened near the dessert table, where Jiang Chun happened to be.

Drawn by the commotion of the husband-wife duo in action, she sat up from the lounge sofa, gaping so wide she forgot to eat her cake. Unconsciously waving her little fork, she chanted in her heart: Get her, get her, teach her a lesson! That Little Lotus Li bitch who made our Little Canary Baby suffer so much injustice must drop dead on the spot and turn to ashes!!!

Unfortunately, Little Earth Goose’s wish was doomed to go unfulfilled.

For all Li Wenyin’s faults, she was still Cen Sen’s official ex-girlfriend. No normal man would publicly beat up and verbally humiliate an ex, let alone Cen Sen.

Honestly, the fact that Cen Sen had stepped in to stop her and delivered that ruthless warning was already beyond Ji Mingshu’s expectations. She had thought he had pulled her back to shield her from the wine. He was such a rational person; how could he…

Standing behind Cen Sen, it took her a long, long time to process—the scenario she’d imagined, of Cen Sen standing against Li Wenyin to protect her, had actually happened.

She peeked around Cen Sen’s sleeve to look at Li Wenyin, not expecting to meet Li Wenyin’s gaze—rarely so undisguised in its hatred.

Hmm. It was weirdly satisfying.

She forgot the setting for a moment too, offering Li Wenyin a sweet, utterly fake smile, shrugging her shoulders, her eyes full of a helpless ‘so sorry, my husband just has to take my side, what can I do? I really can't stop him.’

The next second, as Cen Sen turned back, she instantly switched faces, playing the naive innocent, timidly tugging his sleeve with the look of a kind soul who didn’t want to make a big deal out of it.

Surprisingly, Cen Sen seemed to buy it. He actively took her hand and even ruffled her hair reassuringly.

The plastic sisters watching the show were veterans of over a decade in this world of decadence. Their perception was razor-sharp. Earlier, they’d watched from the back, quiet as mice. Now, sensing the climax was over, they rushed forward one after another to play their parts, comforting Ji Mingshu while not forgetting to diss Li Wenyin.

“Darling, you’re just too kind. What kind of person does this, picking on you right to your face, and you still don’t hold a grudge? I’m about to die of anger!”

“Xiao Shu has always had a good heart, don’t you know her by now? Oh, right, I just remembered a friend saying she’s most afraid of offending writers, painters, and filmmakers. Cross them, and who knows how you’ll be vilified in their so-called ‘works.’ These days, more and more people use the banner of artistic expression for personal vendettas.”

“Exactly, I say people like that should be blacklisted!”

“And those with questionable private morals should be blacklisted too.”

“I think the scariest thing these days isn’t those using art for vendettas, but those using it for wishful thinking. I’ve never seen anyone so delusional as to think a married man is still pining for them, carrying a torch.”

“Well, now you have.”

Several of the girls couldn’t help but giggle.

After the laughter died down, someone else said, “Xiao Shu, let’s not come to events like this anymore. Anyone can scrounge up an invite these days.”

"Even without an invitation, they can just latch onto someone who has one. Who can stop that?”

They exchanged knowing smiles, glancing at Li Wenyin with identical looks of disdain.

Ji Mingshu didn’t usually mind the flattery, but standing next to Cen Sen and getting praised like this made her a bit guilty. And these plastic flowers’ ridicules and looks were just too on point; she was almost embarrassed to turn and see Li Wenyin’s expression.

But still… it was so damn satisfying tvt!

She was so exhilarated she felt a bit dizzy. Worried that going too far might make Cen Sen dislike her or feel pity for Li Wenyin, she quickly accepted a few invitations to future money-spending events, then apologized and said she had to leave.

As she spoke, she glanced around for Gu Kaiyang and Jiang Chun. Gu Kaiyang, probably feeling too guilty for her treasonous non-intervention, was nowhere to be seen. But Jiang Chun was easy to spot.

She secretly made a “call me” gesture to Jiang Chun, then, surrounded by the plastic flowers, led Cen Sen away, leaving the chaotic event behind.

“So… do you think I was a bit too harsh on Li Wenyin?” Snow flurried down on the winter night. On the way home, Ji Mingshu couldn’t help but ask.

“No.”

Cen Sen was looking at his schedule on a tablet, answering without hesitation.

Slightly reassured, Ji Mingshu stole a few glances at him, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. She pretended nonchalance, playing with her phone as she asked, “Li Wenyin said you’re completely different from before, but I think you’re the same… Were you gentler when you were dating Li Wenyin?”

When no answer came after a while, she muttered to herself, “Well, I’ll find out when the movie comes out anyway.”

Cen Sen closed the tablet cover. “The movie won’t be released.”

…?

He had warned Li Wenyin more than once not to make it, but she wouldn’t listen. After Junyi pulled funding, she stubbornly went and got investment from the Yuan family just to save face. In that case, he couldn’t guarantee at what stage the film would encounter an insurmountable problem.

After all, the process from a film’s initial conception to official release was complex and lengthy. The film industry was also highly sensitive these days; a film could be pulled the day before release. And the later the problem occurred, the heavier the cost. Until the audience had seen it and passed judgment, who could say a film could truly be released?

“Won’t be released?” Ji Mingshu repeated hesitantly, seeking confirmation.

Cen Sen gave an affirmative "Mm," then added, "Just wait a bit longer. There's no hurry."

The final stone weighing on Ji Mingshu's heart was finally lifted by Cen Sen himself. She turned to look out the window, unable to suppress the upward curve of her lips.

The Bentley drove from the event venue toward Mingshui Manor. At the fork in the road just before entering the suburbs, Cen Sen glanced at the sign for a fresh market up ahead and suddenly asked, “Mingshu, do you feel like braised pork ribs today?”

“…”

Just hearing the words ‘pork ribs’ now made Ji Mingshu's heart race and her face blush. She kept her face turned towards the window, only stammering a reply as the traffic light was about to change. “S-sure, I guess. Haven't had them in a while.”

The driver understood, turning toward the market.

After answering, Ji Mingshu blushed like a pure-hearted teenager, her heart pounding wildly. Helpless, she cracked the window open a sliver for air.

The capital’s snow always fell thick and biting.

Cold wind carrying snowflakes drifted in through the crack, landing on Ji Mingshu’s hair. Cen Sen suddenly leaned over, brushing the snow from her hair, then whispered hoarsely near her ear, "I'll make it for you when we get home.”

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