Zhu Chongyan's second role was still a supporting character. Due to the limited number of episodes, his scenes were finished in a little over a month. This time, he didn't choose another script; instead, he joined a variety show.
His agent thought he wanted a break, but Zhu Chongyan actually wanted to quickly build his reputation and earn money.
With each prenatal check-up's ultrasound image, he became more determined to earn enough for baby formula. Once the child was born and he had the money to raise it, Zhu Yan wouldn't dare suggest abandoning the child.
Zhu Yan discovered that even after finishing his filming, Zhu Chongyan still didn't have much time to accompany her. She harbored deep resentment and would visit him on set every few days. Gradually, their relationship became an open secret in the industry, and Zhu Chongyan frequently trended on hot searches because of it.
There was no helping it. When Zhu Yan went to see him, Sheng Jiangchen would follow. As the veritable domineering CEO of the entertainment industry, Sheng Jiangchen now also had a famous girlfriend in the circle, a double buff that made him almost instantly trend whenever he appeared.
The strange relationship between the three attracted much speculation from netizens. They dug and dug, eventually uncovering the relatively new but prestigious Future Star Group, which collaborated with an academy of sciences, and its chairwoman, Gu Yan, and chief executive officer, Sheng Jiangchen.
【So the relationship is: The chairwoman visits her boyfriend, and an employee follows to curry favor with the future chairwoman's husband?】
【Employee?】
【Even as CEO, he's still working for someone. Isn't a senior employee still an employee?】
【CEO Sheng: Excuse me?】
【I never expected the young man I just started to stan to have such a powerful background. Who should I be jealous of?】
【Industry rumors say Future Star's revenue exceeded ten digits last month, and it was all official collaborations. With a girlfriend like Zhu Yan, Zhu Chongyan is a clear winner in life. Why is he still acting?】
【Is this the legendary 'not acting, going home to inherit a multi-billion dollar fortune'?】
【Is Chairman Gu too old and ugly, so he wants to escape the control of a rich woman?】
【On the floor above, dare you compare a photo of Chairman Gu to yourself in a mirror? You must have a misunderstanding of what ugly means!】
【This is a recent photo. She's really beautiful, said to be only twenty, even younger than Zhu Chongyan. But why does her belly look a bit big? Could it be...】
【Pregnant, perhaps? Zhu Chongyan might just be the one to take over. No matter how capable a woman is, getting pregnant before marriage is too disgraceful. Her belly can't be hidden anymore, so she found a man to marry her. Zhu Chongyan is also an idiot; with his looks, what kind of woman couldn't he find? Why become a fallback?】
【Did the person on the floor above eat shit this morning?】
【Whether they marry or not, or get pregnant or not, what business is it of yours! You've got nothing better to do.】
【To each their own. Perhaps behind that statement lies a pre-marital pregnancy and a fallback.】
【A pre-marital pregnancy and a fallback? Is it pre-marital pregnancy or a fallback?】
【There's an honest person here, hurry up and bully him!】
...
After the farce, when people are at their peak, most actions are just adding fuel to the fire. Therefore, this incident only served to increase Zhu Chongyan's popularity and had no impact on their lives.
Zhu Yan continued to shuttle between the company and the film set daily, while Zhu Chongyan diligently prepared for the baby's expenses. Simultaneously, his fame grew.
Meanwhile, his enemy, at this very moment, was grinding her teeth, watching the two supposedly "loving and harmonious" individuals, her eyes flashing with malice.
Cheng Yingxin's heart was in turmoil. It was her own suggestion, yet now she was the one who couldn't stand it.
She had personally witnessed the touching love story between Lu Jingting and Zhu Keqing and had savored the feeling of being cherished by Lu Jingting. Now, she was witnessing all of that transferred to another woman. Even though she had orchestrated it, she found it hard to accept.
Why?
Why did this damn illness continue to plague her?
It must be because of those two!
In her past life, her misfortunes were due to them. They were the ones who gave birth to her with a heart condition. This time, she had made them live like ants and receive their due punishment, yet her body remained unchanged.
Why was she always the one who suffered?
She wallowed in self-pity for a while, completely unaware that the two had separated, and Rong Jin had walked up to her at some point.
"What are you doing here?"
Her tone was not pleasant. That fool babbled incomprehensible things to her every day, talking about love, forever, and three lifetimes. Did he even deserve it!
Rong Jin now wanted nothing more than to send him to hell!
She had originally wanted to see what magic these two words held, but instead, they had caused her endless worry. Beside her, another woman was staring at her with hateful, envious eyes. She wished she could gouge out those resentful, murky, and ugly eyeballs!
Fierce light flashed in Rong Jin's eyes, making Cheng Yingxin's heart tremble.
Why was this woman so fierce?
Someone like this, how could she be worthy of Lu Jingting?
Rong Jin looked at her and said sarcastically, "Your eyes are truly ugly, like an old woman who stole something and had to return it, with shifty, unwilling eyes. Hideous!
Cheng Yingxin's face contorted with anger.
She lost her composure for a moment and blurted out, "Don't be so smug. Do you think Jingting truly likes you? Everything he does is for me. You're just a..."
"Yingxin!"
Lu Jingting strode over, his face filled with anger. "What nonsense are you talking about? Go back to your room!"
Cheng Yingxin looked wronged, tears welling up in her eyes.
Lu Jingting, with his back to Rong Jin, gave her a reassuring glance. Cheng Yingxin then wiped her tears and returned to her room.
He turned to look at Rong Jin, his expression gentle. "She's ill, and she often talks nonsense. Jin'er, please don't mind her."
Rong Jin's face was full of impatience. "Don't call me that! Don't you understand what I'm saying?"
This was her sister's nickname for her. How could this fool have the right to call her that?
Lu Jingting had long been accustomed to her fickle moods and could now handle them calmly.
"Alright, I won't call you that. Then what should I call you? How about 'baby'? Or 'Bao Bao'?"
Rong Jin frowned, finding it a bit cloying.
But it wasn't her sister's nickname for her. She could accept other things. She said coolly, "As you wish."
Lu Jingting revealed a smile of absolute certainty.
This woman was truly playing hard to get!
He smiled gently. "Then I'll call you Bao Bao. I hope to take care of you like I would a baby."
Rong Jin felt disgusted but showed no expression on her face.
Just endure a little longer.
Once she understood the magic of "love," she would kill this fool!