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Jiang Cheng Yu wanted to ask her about her New Year’s Eve dinner—whether she celebrated with a big family gathering—and how her grandfather’s health had been recently.
But as soon as she said “thank you” and hung up, the call ended.
He had built snowmen for her, and all she said in return was “thank you.”
So dismissive.
When women inexplicably throw tantrums, once is never enough.
The last time, she gave him the cold shoulder while they were in bed. This time, she outright hung up on him.
On New Year’s Eve, she didn’t care at all about anyone else’s feelings.
“Uncle!” came a knock on the door.
“Just a moment.” Jiang Cheng Yu set down his phone, quickly washed up, changed clothes, and opened the door.
Li Zheng stood there holding an elegant tray of assorted nuts. Leaning casually against the doorframe, she said, “I don’t have anything important to say, just letting you know that some neighbors have come over to visit.”
Using the word “visit,” it was clear she meant the old neighbors from the compound.
“When I went upstairs, they were already talking about Yan He Yu and Tian Qing Lu’s engagement news. You know what that means, right?”
How could Jiang Cheng Yu not understand? After discussing Yan He Yu, the conversation would inevitably turn to matchmaking for him.
It wasn’t really a visit—it was about arranging his marriage.
He glanced at his watch. “I’m going back.”
Li Zheng crunched on some nuts as she eyed him. “Your villa is so empty and quiet. Why go back?”
Why indeed?
He asked himself the same question.
It was just a plate of oatmeal shrimp on the table.
Jiang Cheng Yu brushed off his niece with a few words, grabbed his car keys, and headed downstairs.
________________________________________
Until mid-February, there was no contact between Shen Tang and Jiang Cheng Yu.
It was now February 13th, 11:56 PM, and she still hadn’t gone to sleep, glancing at her phone from time to time.
Deep down, she couldn’t help but hope.
In a few more minutes, it would be Valentine’s Day.
Perhaps out of boredom, Shen Tang silently counted along with the ticking of her watch hands.
Round and round, counting through the past and fate.
At midnight, whether on social media or Weibo, couples flooded timelines with love-filled messages and blessings, leaving single people feeling utterly heartbroken.
Shen Tang turned off the lights. Before sleeping, she checked the chat window one last time—still no activity.
Early the next morning, filming began at 7:00 AM.
Upon waking up, she did the same thing she had done before bed—checked her WeChat.
Still, no message she wanted to see arrived.
She wasn’t sure if the production team was being considerate or deliberately trying to make her feel worse—they handed out a rose and a piece of chocolate to everyone.
That evening, after wrapping up work on set, Shen Tang kept checking her phone repeatedly, afraid of missing any calls or messages.
“Tonight, the crew is treating the singles to dinner. Want to join?” Huo Teng asked her.
Shen Tang politely declined. “I’m on a diet. If I go, I won’t be able to resist eating.”
Huo Teng hesitated, wanting to say something more but ultimately settled on reminding her, “You have a lot of scenes these days. Get plenty of rest.”
Back at the hotel, Shen Tang leaned on the windowsill, gazing at the nighttime view. The streets were livelier than usual.
Throughout the entire day, Jiang Cheng Yu hadn’t contacted her.
In the past, this would have been perfectly normal. When their schedules didn’t align, they wouldn’t celebrate holidays specifically. But whenever they were together, Jiang Cheng Yu would surprise her daily.
It was like making up for missed celebrations in double measure.
However, this year’s lack of contact felt deliberate.
She understood—he was using this method to tell her that his patience and compromises had limits. On New Year’s Eve, when he mentioned the snowmen and wanted to talk more, she had hung up on him again.
This Valentine’s Day, she waited from one midnight to the next.
Twenty-four hours passed, and by February 15th, she still hadn’t received any acknowledgment from him.
This cold war left her completely defeated.
Through his actions, he made it clear that while he was willing to spoil her, give her surprises, and help her solve any problems, marriage was off the table.
“Did something happen?” Huo Teng brought her a glass of warm water. He had wanted to ask her yesterday but held back when he saw her rushing back to the hotel. “You’ve been spacing out a lot lately.”
He sat down beside her.
Shen Tang held the cup of water in both hands. “Maybe I’m too immersed in my role.”
Huo Teng didn’t press further.
The weather in Hengdian had been pleasant these past few days, with bright sunshine melting the accumulated snow. Streams of water dripped down from the eaves.
Shen Tang stared at the deep palace courtyard. “I think men’s hearts are truly like bottomless oceans.”
Huo Teng chuckled. “What brought this sudden realization on?”
Shen Tang sipped her water. “Before, when you were still a prince, I accompanied you on the battlefield. Several times, we almost lost our lives. Back then, I could easily see through what you were thinking. But later, when you fought for the throne and wanted to rule the world, I could no longer read you.”
Huo Teng: “….”
His eyes widened as he stared at her. “Are you really that into your role?”
Into her role? Hardly.
Shen Tang remained silent, seemingly agreeing by default.
She continued drinking her water.
The water was warm, but it felt icy cold once it hit her stomach.
Today, a new actor joined the cast. Though their part wasn’t extensive, the character played an important role in the overall story.
This character would become Huo Teng’s empress later on. To seize power, he married the daughter of a minister.
One of the key scenes to be filmed that afternoon was Huo Teng’s wedding. Her character would be heartbroken.
Shen Tang turned to look at him. “You’re getting married. What are you still doing here pretending to be nice?”
Huo Teng laughed. “You really are absorbed in this role. But actually, it’s good timing. For the emotional scene you have this afternoon, if you can’t empathize, it might be hard to pull it off.”
Shen Tang used the drama as a shield. “People always say women are pragmatic, but when men get pragmatic, they’re ruthless and heartless.”
She asked him, “You get married in every drama, and the weddings are always grand. By the time you get married in real life, won’t it feel less special?”
Huo Teng answered honestly, “I don’t even have a girlfriend yet. I haven’t thought that far ahead. What about you? Have you set any goals for yourself? When do you plan to settle down, or get married?”
She was already settled in a relationship, but marriage… who knew where that stood.
Shen Tang: “I’ll get married when I find the right person.”
She had an almost obsessive fixation on marriage.
Not just obsessive—it bordered on pathological.
Especially now that Grandpa was sick, this unhealthy mindset grew stronger. She feared having to eat New Year’s Eve dinner alone after losing him.
She feared never having a home to return to.
She feared winning awards and having no one to share her joy with.
Most of all, she feared that if she didn’t marry before Grandpa passed away, there’d be no family at her wedding.
She longed for a home, wanting Chen Nan Jin and Xiao Zhen to see that she was living better than anyone else. She didn’t need their affection.
But reality rarely granted wishes.
“Let’s go. The director’s calling,” Huo Teng patted her shoulder, jokingly adding, “Time for my wedding. Here comes another scene where you’ll hate me.”
Shen Tang smiled without responding, collected herself, and prepared to film.
________________________________________
Work ended late tonight, and coincidentally, Sister Li came to visit the set in Hengdian.
After returning to the hotel, Shen Tang took a hot bath. Before she could eat dinner, Sister Li arrived.
This visit wasn’t just for moral support—Sister Li also brought an endorsement contract.
“Take a look. See if there’s anything inappropriate or needs revision.”
Shen Tang flipped through a few pages. “Didn’t Chu Ran previously endorse Lemon?”
“Yes,” Sister Li noticed the abundance of fruit on her dining table and moved half of it to her side. “There was a change in Lemon’s management. A new female executive came in, didn’t think much of Chu Ran’s capabilities, and insisted on changing the spokesperson. The board was deadlocked, but in the end, they went along with her decision.”
Lemon Beverage Company was the leading brand in the fast-moving consumer goods industry. Thanks to her family background, Chu Ran had been endorsing Lemon products since two years ago.
“For an S-level endorsement like this, unless there’s a change in upper management, it’s very difficult for us to secure such resources.”
Shen Tang put the contract aside. “No need to check. If you and the company think the terms are fine, that’s good enough. As for the endorsement fee, I don’t care.”
As long as it irritated the Xiao family and Chu Ran, she’d even do it for free.
Unaware of Shen Tang’s hidden agenda, Sister Li tucked the contract away and started eating the fruit.
Shen Tang stared longingly at the fruit on the plate—half of her dinner had been taken.
After a brief silence, Sister Li asked, “Did you see today’s trending topics?”
“I haven’t had time to check Weibo yet.” Shen Tang guessed, “Is it related to me?”
Sister Li sighed. “If only it were.”
Shen Tang looked at her, puzzled.
Sister Li didn’t actually have much of an appetite for the fruit. She only ate it to prevent Shen Tang from consuming too much sugar and calories, reluctantly “stealing” half the fruit.
“That Summer has officially announced some of its main cast members. Chen Yi Nuo will play one of the female leads, and Gu Heng is the male lead.”
As for the other female lead, the official Weibo account hadn’t revealed anything yet.
Whether this role would fall to Shen Tang was uncertain.
Today, after announcing Gu Heng as the male lead, That Summer shot straight to the top of the trending list.
An actor of Gu Heng’s caliber, both a film and television emperor, was far beyond what Huo Teng could compare to at his current level.
Chen Nan Jin had spared no expense in promoting Chen Yi Nuo. He hired renowned director Zhou Ming Qian and even secured Gu Heng to act alongside Chen Yi Nuo.
She had used her personal connections and leaned on the company to pull strings, but they still hadn’t managed to secure this role for Shen Tang.
It wasn’t that she thought her artist was perfect, but that particular role seemed tailor-made for Shen Tang. If she landed this drama, it would mark a qualitative leap forward in her acting career.
Sister Li popped a strawberry into her mouth and suggested to Shen Tang, “Why don’t you go talk to Jiang Cheng Yu? Maybe there’s still a chance to secure this script.”
Shen Tang flatly refused: “No.”
It wouldn’t matter who she approached.
She had auditioned for That Summer , and Fan Yu definitely knew about it—how could he let her play the role again? And as usual, Chen Nan Jin once again sided with his wife.
That Summer didn’t lack investors. Even if Jiang Cheng Yu intervened, it might not make a difference.
Besides, given her current strained relationship with Jiang Cheng Yu, seeking his help would only be an exercise in futility.
Perhaps the strawberries were too sour, as Sister Li furrowed her brows while swallowing and pushed the fruit plate aside. “Shen Tang, can you stop being so stubborn and making yourself suffer? You know how many people are competing for That Summer right now.”
She absentmindedly wiped her hands with a wet wipe.
Frustrated, she scolded, “You and Jiang Cheng Yu are dating. Isn’t it reasonable to ask him for help when you’re in trouble? What exactly are you being so sensitive about?”
Shen Tang divided one strawberry into six bites, chewing slowly.
Sister Li found her nonchalant attitude infuriating. “How can you eat like nothing’s wrong?”
Shen Tang: “When I’m hungry, I’ll eat.”
Sister Li reminded herself that Shen Tang had always been difficult, so she shouldn’t get worked up over it. “Are you really willing to give up this role?”
Shen Tang: “Even if I’m unwilling, what can I do?”
“Didn’t I tell you to go find Jiang Cheng Yu?” “I haven’t been in touch with him for a long time.”
“What happened between you two?” Sister Li’s heart raced, more nervous than when she was in a relationship herself. “Wasn’t everything fine before the New Year? Didn’t you even go back to Beijing to cook oatmeal shrimp for him?”
Shen Tang replied indifferently, “Isn’t it after the New Year now?”
“...” Sister Li wasn’t in the mood for jokes. “Did you have a fight?”
“Kind of, but not really.” Shen Tang didn’t hide it. “We mentioned marriage, and afterward, things got awkward.”
Sister Li suddenly didn’t know what to say—should she comfort her or lecture her?
Sometimes, she couldn’t understand why a man like Jiang Cheng Yu didn’t want to get married. He could afford countless houses and raise several children without worrying about money.
He didn’t need to stress about finances at all.
Occasionally, she wondered—if she were as wealthy as Jiang Cheng Yu, with open-minded parents, good looks, and immense talent, with a net worth in the billions or even trillions, would she still marry a man?
Probably not. Why would anyone willingly shackle themselves?
Romance was fine, but marriage was out of the question.
“No couple avoids arguments. Don’t keep this cold war going—it hurts feelings.” Sister Li didn’t want to dwell on it further. “It’s late. Get some rest.”
Before leaving, she reminded Shen Tang: “You’re shooting an ad in Beijing at the end of the month.”
________________________________________
It wasn’t until the day Shen Tang returned to Beijing that Chu Ran learned her ad endorsement renewal had fallen through.
So what if it fell through—it was just one endorsement.
But the new spokesperson was Shen Tang. How could she swallow this bitter pill?
Early in the morning, in the hotel’s underground parking lot, two groups emerged from adjacent elevators, meeting head-on.
Shen Tang was heading to the airport, while Chu Ran was going to the set.
As the two brushed past, Chu Ran stopped and glanced sideways. “Let me give you a friendly piece of advice— even when you're complacent, remember to leave yourself a way out. Besides, who knows how long your complacency will last. Your best friend's today is your tomorrow.”
She smirked mockingly: “Take care of yourself.”
By the time her words faded, Shen Tang was already at her chauffeur-driven car.
Chu Ran’s sarcastic remarks were clear in their intent. The endorsement she lost had ended up in Shen Tang’s hands, and Chu Ran was far from accepting it.
Shen Tang’s success, in Chu Ran’s eyes, was thanks to her relationship with Jiang Cheng Yu.
“Your best friend’s today is your tomorrow”—Shen Tang didn’t fully grasp the meaning yet.
Once inside the car, Shen Tang messaged Wen Di: [Are you busy? I’m back in Beijing today, and I’m free tonight. I’ll come find you for dinner.]
Wen Di: [What a surprise first thing in the morning (kisses)! I’m going to the film company this morning, but I’m free to hang out all afternoon and evening~]
Seeing her cheerful mood, perhaps Shen Tang had misinterpreted Chu Ran’s earlier words.
Wen Di asked: [How long are you staying in Beijing?]
Shen Tang: [One day and one night. I’m shooting an ad tomorrow morning and returning tomorrow evening.]
With such a tight schedule, Wen Di decided: [Let’s have afternoon tea instead. If I invite you to dinner tonight, your Jiang Cheng Yu might see me as a thorn in his side.]
Shen Tang wasn’t in the mood to joke around. She hadn’t contacted Jiang Cheng Yu since arriving in Beijing and didn’t plan to make the first move. The more desperate she seemed, the less he cared. She sent a cheek-pinching GIF.
They agreed on a place for afternoon tea.
After some idle chatter, Wen Di got up to apply makeup and head to the film company, while Shen Tang scrolled through her WeChat chats. Her conversation with Jiang Cheng Yu still lingered on New Year’s Eve.
On the plane, Shen Tang had a dream.
In the dream, it was Jiang Cheng Yu’s wedding on a private island. There was a beach, waves, a sea of roses, and a venue filled with guests. Violins and pianos played in harmony.
After exchanging rings, Jiang Cheng Yu passionately kissed the bride.
The surroundings erupted in cheers and screams.
She shouted his name hoarsely, but it was as if he couldn’t hear her—he didn’t even turn his head.
“Ladies and gentlemen…” The flight attendant’s pleasant voice pulled Shen Tang out of the nightmare.
Shen Tang shuddered involuntarily, snapping her eyes open and taking a deep breath.
It was just a dream.
But the pain from the dream lingered into reality.
She hadn’t seen the bride’s face clearly in the dream—he held her tightly, as if afraid she would slip away.
Before this dream, she had never imagined how she would feel if he were with another woman.
Today, she got a taste of it.
As the plane landed in Beijing, Shen Tang felt disoriented, unsure whether she was still in the dream or had woken up. In the past, she had always looked forward to coming to Beijing.
While typing a message, she instructed her assistant: “Pick me up from Wen Di’s place tomorrow morning.”
She wasn’t going to the villa—she’d stay at Wen Di’s for the night.
Shen Tang messaged ‘The Wanderer of the Double Bed’: [I just dreamed about your private island. From now on, don’t let anyone else hold a wedding there without my permission.]
At 2:10 AM in New York, ‘The Wanderer of the Double Bed’ replied: [Did your rival and the person you like hold their wedding on my island?]
Right to the point.
Shen Tang naturally wouldn’t admit it: [I’m saving it for myself.]
Her car was already waiting at the exit.
The bodyguard rushed over and opened the rear door for her.
As Shen Tang stepped halfway into the car, she noticed a large bouquet of roses on the seat—and the person sitting beside them, the man she had been longing for day and night.
He was actually in the car, waiting specifically for her.
Jiang Cheng Yu wore a white shirt and a tie today. After finishing a business meeting, he had rushed straight to the airport to pick her up.
He quietly watched her, a faint scent of alcohol lingering on him.
Shen Tang realized he must have known she was coming to Beijing—it wasn’t surprising. Her bodyguards were his men, and finding out her itinerary was just a phone call away.
“Do you not recognize me?” His tone wasn’t gentle.
Shen Tang steadied herself and placed her other leg inside.
She deliberately pushed the bouquet aside with impatience and sat close to the door.
The bodyguards and assistants got into the car behind them.
The car slowly pulled away. Shen Tang ignored Jiang Cheng Yu entirely, turning her head to look out the window.
No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t return to the carefree days of the past.
Last year, her feelings weren’t like this. When he unexpectedly showed up at a business dinner in Shanghai, she had only felt surprise and gratitude.
But after their relationship deepened, all she felt now was grievance.
Seeing him, all her longing turned into endless grievances and sadness.
She had never cared about Valentine’s Day before, but now she minded that he hadn’t spent it with her.
She minded even more that he hadn’t contacted her for so many days.
Once deeply entangled, it was hard to remain aloof.
No matter how indifferent she appeared on the surface, the pain of entanglement was hers alone to bear.
Jiang Cheng Yu reached out to pull her toward him, but his hand hesitated mid-air before retreating.
He had dropped everything at the company, postponing an afternoon meeting just to come pick her up, and this was how she treated him.
Jiang Cheng Yu leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes to rest.
The quieter he wanted it, the less peace he found. His chest felt like fireworks exploding, crackling relentlessly.
In his lifetime, he had never expected to experience cold violence from someone.
Neither spoke for a long time.
The driver sensed the tense atmosphere and discreetly raised the partition, playing soft music for them.
“Shen Tang,” Jiang Cheng Yu glanced at her, “You really don’t plan to let me hold you?”
Shen Tang responded by leaning half an inch closer to the car door.
Stubborn and difficult.
Jiang Cheng Yu loosened his tie, picked up the bouquet, and switched seats with it. He sat in the middle of the backseat, right next to her.
“If it weren’t for the ad shoot, would you have planned to avoid coming back to Beijing altogether?”
Shen Tang froze, suddenly turning to look at him.
Realization dawned: “That ad endorsement?”
“A Valentine’s Day gift for you.”
Shen Tang opened her mouth but found no words to say.
She couldn’t describe the mix of emotions she felt.
Jiang Cheng Yu raised his hand, pulling her into his arms.
He gently kissed her cheek. “After more than two months apart, don’t you miss me?”
Shen Tang remained silent.
Jiang Cheng Yu didn’t press the issue, kissing her lips lightly.
It was a tender, consoling kiss.
Today had nearly drained him of all the patience he had in his life.
His thumb caressed her jawline. “Why have you lost weight again?”
Shen Tang lifted her eyelids: “From missing you. Do you believe me?”
Her sharp, sarcastic tone made it impossible for him to believe her even if he wanted to.
“It’s fine to lose weight, but don’t starve yourself.” Jiang Cheng Yu stopped talking about it, intertwining his fingers with hers and letting her lean against him. “Get some rest.”
Shen Tang really was sleepy. She hadn’t slept well for several days, and the nightmare on the plane hadn’t helped.
Surrounded by his familiar scent, she drifted off into a peaceful sleep.
Jiang Cheng Yu still had to rush to a company meeting. “Go home first. I’ll try to finish early tonight.”
Shen Tang hummed in response. He leaned down to kiss her. “Wait for me.”
Jiang Cheng Yu opened the car door and stepped out.
Shen Tang watched him cross the street and enter a dessert shop.
Soon, Jiang Cheng Yu came out carrying a bag of food.
From the moment he stepped out of the car to when he returned, Shen Tang’s gaze followed him like a shadow.
Jiang Cheng Yu didn’t get back into the car. Instead, he handed her a paper bag from the shop through the window. “Didn’t you say you didn’t get enough of the semi-baked cheese I bought last time?”
Shen Tang loved semi-baked cheese, but Sister Li strictly controlled her diet, forbidding her from eating high-calorie sweets.
Her fingers hooked the paper bag, and her icy demeanor toward him softened.
Jiang Cheng Yu’s heart melted too: “I’ve canceled all my evening engagements. I’ll go home early to keep you company.”
He turned and got into his car parked by the roadside, driving off to the company.
Shen Tang stared at the semi-baked cheese and the large bouquet of roses on the seat, suddenly feeling lost about the future of her relationship with Jiang Cheng Yu.
Marriage—he wouldn’t give her that. He only wanted to maintain the status quo they once had.
Just as she took a bite of the cheese, her phone vibrated.
Shen Tang pulled out her phone and opened the message.
Wen Di: [Sweetie, sorry, but I can’t join you for afternoon tea. Yan He Yu is engaged to someone else—they’ve been engaged since the beginning of the year, and I only found out now. I’ve been in contact with him this whole time, and his fiancée has asked to meet me.]
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