Chapter 43: Is It Because of This? Part 1

After the engagement day, time entered November.

Cloud City’s temperatures dropped continuously. In a street-side café, Miao Zhu took off her cashmere coat, undid her soft chestnut shawl, and sat down with a smile.

“Li Zi was discharged?” Across the round table, Emma scooted her chair forward to get closer to Miao Zhu.

Emma’s buzz cut had reached its awkward phase, so she wore a rather retro brown handmade crochet hat today. The hat was lightweight and soft, hugging her head closely, with only a bit of her extremely short bangs peeking out at the forehead. Two tassels of uneven lengths hung from the ear sides, adorned with round pearls at the ends. Her fair skin and delicate features made her look enchantingly elfin in this outfit.

“Yeah, yesterday.” There was coffee Emma had ordered in advance on the table, and Miao Zhu took a sip to moisten her throat.

“So Sheng Xingran’s back in Cloud City too, and everything’s resolved?” Emma tossed out the second question.

The onshore hospital where they had taken Li Zi that night had advanced medical care, so Li Zi hadn’t transferred back to Cloud City. She had stayed there for treatment that week, and Sheng Xingran, plagued by guilt and openly and covertly blamed by Li Zi’s family, had remained at the hospital to accompany her.

Li Zi was discharged yesterday, so Sheng Xingran had naturally returned to Cloud City with her.

Miao Zhu said, “There was some unpleasantness between the two sides, but Li Zi kept apologizing, and her family couldn’t really say much more, so things are more or less settled.”

“Hard to say.” Emma couldn’t stand it—no matter if it was Li Zi attempting suicide on the eve of her engagement out of a secret crush on Sheng Xingran, or Sheng Xingran abandoning her fiancée to stay by Li Zi’s side until discharge—it all struck her as outrageous. “What does Sheng Xingran plan to do? Will she cut ties with Li Zi?”

Miao Zhu smiled. “Doesn’t matter. Whatever she does.”

“Something’s off.” Emma propped her cheeks on her hands. “Actually, I’ve never quite understood. You don’t seem to care about Sheng Xingran, yet you’re engaged to her. And what’s the deal with Mu Shanyi? But whatever you do, I support you anyway.”

Miao Zhu gazed out the window with a smile. It had been overcast for days, but the sun finally emerged today.

She thought about how she still had to go to the wedding house later—Sheng Xingran had scheduled a meeting with the designer there.

After returning from the Sea Island, Miao Ling had thrown a huge tantrum. That day, Miao Zhu got off work on time and went home, which irritated her again. She glared at Miao Zhu and questioned how, since they were already engaged, Sheng Xingran was still so unenthusiastic about moving in together.

Miao Zhu knew her time was running out. She grew annoyed listening to it, and seeing Miao Zhu’s mild reluctance, Miao Ling knew she couldn’t count on her, so she took the initiative. She discussed wedding house arrangements with Ni Xiaoying and, with Sheng Xingran’s support, happily selected the place in Tower Shadow Sunny River—the apartment Mu Shanyi had given to Sheng Xingran.

“Hey, Emma!” An unfamiliar female voice interrupted Miao Zhu’s thoughts. She looked toward the sound, and Emma was standing up, saying, “President Chen, what a coincidence.”

“Yeah, what a coincidence. I’m here to buy coffee.” Chen Aiming had shoulder-length short hair and a very capable demeanor. She nodded politely to Miao Zhu, seemingly stunned by her appearance, but quickly circled back to Emma. “How about that project I mentioned last time, Hidden in the Morning and Evening? Have you given it any thought?”

“I’ve already cleared my schedule for it,” Emma said with a smile.

“That’s great. Let’s set a time to sign the contract.” Chen Aiming smiled too. “By the way, you and President Tang are on good terms, right?”

“Yes, pretty good.”

Chen Aiming’s smile widened. “I knew it.”

After a brief exchange, Chen Aiming left. Emma pinched the bridge of her nose hard. “Lying makes your nose grow long.”

Miao Zhu’s smile spread to her eyes. “Who is she?”

Emma said, “President Chen from Chuanming Film, Chen Aiming. After Mo Wei was arrested, she met with me to talk about a potential second collaboration.”

Miao Zhu pieced it together—the “President Tang” Chen Aiming mentioned was most likely Tang Yuwen.

Sure enough, Emma added, “I’ve only met Wen Jie twice; we’re not that close. But making money to support the family comes first. Anyway, Wen Jie won’t find out I’m name-dropping her out here, and it’s work I can handle without embarrassing her.”

Miao Zhu followed Chen Aiming’s retreating figure with her eyes. Chen Aiming waited at the counter for her coffee when the café door was pushed open from outside. Chen Aiming waved at the person who entered.

“Wen Jie might find out any second now,” Miao Zhu regretfully informed Emma.

Emma turned her head. Chen Aiming was talking to the person beside her. That person had a head of fluffy, curly long hair and was taller than Chen Aiming. As she listened to Chen Aiming speak, she tilted her head slightly. With no smoking allowed in the café, a slim unlit cigarette flipped between her fingers.

Emma: “…”

Emma: “.”

Emma: “Heh, she probably won’t come over.”

Tang Yuwen came over, and Emma despaired as she sank into her chair.

Tang Yuwen stopped at their table. Miao Zhu greeted her, “Wen Jie.”

“…Wen Jie.” Emma was utterly defeated.

Tang Yuwen let out a low chuckle and turned back to Chen Aiming behind her. “President Chen, you know Emma. Take good care of her from now on.”

Chen Aiming, ever the successful businesswoman with high emotional intelligence, replied, “What are you saying? Emma’s a good friend of yours, President Tang, and so capable. It’s my honor to work with her.”

President Tang’s good friend… good friend…

When people are embarrassed, they really get embarrassed. Emma didn’t know where to put her hands and feet, so she helplessly shot Miao Zhu a pleading look, begging her to save her.

Before Miao Zhu could rescue Emma, Tang Yuwen extended her palm toward her and introduced to Chen Aiming, “Let me formally introduce this one. President Chen might not know her—she’s Miao Zhu, President Mu’s…”

Tang Yuwen paused thoughtfully. “Family.” She chose what she considered a very apt word.

As soon as the words landed, Emma’s pupils dilated in shock. She stared at Tang Yuwen in disbelief.

Family? What family? Whose family? What was Tang Yuwen saying?