X
Shen Mengke stared at Chen Yanxing, stunned, and quietly hung up the phone.
“What’s this?” she asked.
Chen Yanxing handed her a file.
“Contract.”
Shen Mengke took it, surprised.
Their meeting was pure chance, but… was it a coincidence?
Did Chen Yanxing carry the contract everywhere?
They walked to the corridor’s end, where a window revealed the city below.
Neon lights glowed relentlessly, cars crawling like ants from their vantage point.
Shen Mengke’s vision blurred—she couldn’t gauge her distance from the skyline or the ground.
She closed her eyes, and when she opened them, clarity returned, but her mind was a mess.
Taking a quiet breath, she opened the file under Chen Yanxing’s gaze.
Two copies of the contract.
She skimmed it, finding no traps, and reached for the pen to sign.
Chen Yanxing grabbed her wrist.
“Read it carefully.”
Shen Mengke met her eyes, nodding.
“I did.”
“You sure?”
Her question shook Shen Mengke’s confidence.
She reread every word—no transactions, no hidden clauses.
What could Chen Yanxing possibly trick her with?
She nodded.
“Sure.”
Chen Yanxing said nothing, taking the contract and flipping to the first page, pointing to the first clause.
[During the relationship, only a one-on-one arrangement is accepted.]
Shen Mengke raised an eyebrow, puzzled, glancing at Chen Yanxing but not voicing her confusion.
She assumed it was a nod to the entertainment industry’s reputation—messy networks, messier personal lives.
The Chens probably thought the same.
But her?
She didn’t seem the type to play around with multiple partners.
Shen Mengke laughed lightly.
“Got it, Boss Chen.
Can I sign now?”
Chen Yanxing nodded, still holding her wrist.
“The contract’s for a year, but you can end it anytime.
The choice is yours.”
She added, “As long as, during this period, you’re there when I need you.”
The words carried a suggestive edge.
Shen Mengke pursed her lips, thinking she’d read too much into it—what need could it be besides the contract’s terms?
“OK.”
She agreed readily.
Chen Yanxing watched her, slowly releasing her wrist.
Her signature was already on the contract.
The moment Shen Mengke signed, it was official.
Done.
Shen Mengke smiled, extending her hand.
“Happy collaboration, Boss Chen.”
Chen Yanxing shook it.
“Happy collaboration, girlfriend.”
Her final three words were low, almost a whisper.
Shen Mengke’s breath caught, a warm flush tingling her ear, her heart itching.
She looked up, their eyes meeting midair, but no spark of romance flickered—just a business deal sealed, “girlfriend” equating to “Boss Chen.”
Maybe she’d been out too long.
Xu Shinian appeared.
“Dreamy!”
Spotting Shen Mengke with another woman, she hesitated, calling from a distance to give her time to compose herself.
Shen Mengke pulled her hand free, glancing at Xu approaching, then turned to Chen Yanxing.
“So… you’re here for…?”
“Friend’s birthday,” Chen Yanxing said, tucking the contract away carefully.
“Oh…”
As Xu drew closer, Shen Mengke briefly wanted Chen Yanxing to whisk her away.
The private room’s heavy atmosphere made her feel like a lamb among wolves.
But she hesitated—Chen Yanxing’s friend’s birthday wasn’t her place.
Changing tack, she smiled.
“Have fun, then.
I’ve got…”
Before she finished, Chen Yanxing looked up.
“Your side?”
“The contract’s signed.
It’s effective now.”
“I need you to fulfill your obligations.”
Shen Mengke blinked, staring.
Xu Shinian reached them, eyeing Chen Yanxing, recognizing her from the corridor.
Her gaze lingered on the white orchid brooch, a flicker of change in her eyes.
Smiling warmly, she asked, “Dreamy, who’s this?”
“Girlfriend.”
Chen Yanxing answered first, stepping in front of Shen Mengke, facing Xu.
Shen Mengke was stunned.
Hadn’t Chen Yanxing said she didn’t want their arrangement public?
But with the word out, Shen Mengke, the dutiful partner, played along.
“Sister Xu, this is my girlfriend…”
She paused, turning to Chen Yanxing.
“This is Xu Shinian, my co-star.”
Chen Yanxing nodded, extending a hand.
“Teacher Xu, a pleasure.”
Xu’s smile stiffened, but she shook hands, glancing at Shen Mengke.
“Didn’t hear about this…”
Shen Mengke: “Just happened recently.
Sorry for the surprise.”
“I see.”
Xu sensed hostility from Chen Yanxing but, wary of her status, didn’t dwell on it.
“Why don’t you join us, miss?
More the merrier.”
“Uh…”
“Sure.”
Chen Yanxing agreed before Shen Mengke could decline.
Shen Mengke stared, shocked.
She wanted out—going back in, especially together, would make them bigger targets.
Chen Yanxing decided for her again.
Shen Mengke frowned, pulling her back by the arm, stepping forward to Xu.
“Sorry, Sister Xu, something came up…”
She gestured to the file in Chen Yanxing’s hand.
“I’ll make it up with dinner another day.”
Xu glanced between them, still smiling.
“Come in for a quick drink and greeting.
You know there are seniors inside—leaving quietly doesn’t look good.”
Shen Mengke hesitated.
Chen Yanxing stepped forward, taking her hand.
“Let’s go.”
Xu gestured.
“After you.”
Chen Yanxing led Shen Mengke back to the room.
The earlier smoke had cleared, leaving only a faint trace in the air—Shen Mengke almost thought she’d entered the wrong place.
Xu followed, watching everyone closely from the moment they stepped in.
Two went out, three returned, and the room fell silent, countless eyes shifting between them.
As host, Xu greeted warmly, “This is Miss Shen’s girlfriend…”
She looked to Shen Mengke to introduce Chen Yanxing.
Shen Mengke played dumb, stepping forward to pour herself a drink.
“Sorry, I have to leave early for something urgent.
My apologies for disrupting everyone’s evening.
I’ll drink to that.”
The drink was nothing to her, but Chen Yanxing snatched the glass, downing it for her.
Shen Mengke stared, her feelings a tangled mix.
“Apologies on her behalf,” Chen Yanxing said.
“She was called to another event, clashing with this one.
This meal’s on me—just mention Ren Zhou’s name.
Until next time.”
It was the most Shen Mengke had ever heard Chen Yanxing say at once.
She pulled Shen Mengke out, leaving the room stunned.
“Ren Zhou?
Someone big?” Shen Jinglei asked suddenly.
As a Yuncheng outsider new to Jiangcheng, she didn’t know Ren Zhou.
Someone whispered, “Ren Zhou’s a titan in the industry.
No one crosses her.”
Shen Jinglei’s gaze swept the room, landing on the door that opened and closed again.
Everyone knew Ren Zhou’s weight in the industry.
Ren Zhou, the second daughter of the Ren family, ran Starlight Enterprises, a juggernaut spanning acting, music, film, variety shows, and more.
Newer than legacy companies, it grew fast with strong backing and resources, becoming an industry giant in years.
Chen Yanxing might be unknown, but Ren Zhou?
No one in the industry didn’t know her.
Ren Zhou rarely appeared, but she wasn’t invisible.
No one dared question Chen Yanxing—white orchid brooch, dropping Ren Zhou’s name—she was at least an equal, deeply connected.
An ordinary person wouldn’t be that close to Ren Zhou.
Xu Shinian frowned, staring at the door, her mind a mess.
She wasn’t alone.
Shen Mengke’s head spun too, eyeing the woman who’d drunk for her and pulled her out.
“Chen Yanxing?” she called, uncertain.
“Hm?” Chen Yanxing turned.
“You’re acting off.”
From their first moment in the corridor, Shen Mengke sensed something wrong.
Chen Yanxing was too domineering—signing the contract, claiming their relationship, drinking for her.
She could handle a drink.
Chen Yanxing let go of her hand but didn’t turn, speaking with her back to Shen Mengke.
“Miss Shen, it’s time to fulfill your contract obligations.”
Shen Mengke raised an eyebrow, circling to face her, eyes on the white orchid brooch, gleaming with eager curiosity.
Who said you couldn’t experience every role?
A high-society drama—what a rare chance!
“Your friend’s birthday?
Let’s go.”
Chen Yanxing didn’t catch the excitement in her eyes, pausing.
“No, I mean that party you were at—it’s not clean.”
“Miss Shen, during our arrangement, you need to stay clean to ensure my personal safety.”
Shen Mengke: “…”
Her expression cooled, followed by a cold laugh.
“Chen Yanxing, you…”
“Yansing!”
Her words were cut off.
Shen Mengke glanced back, annoyed, at the woman approaching from the corner—Ren Zhou, from Chen Yanxing’s earlier mention.
She looked between them, lips tight, irritation clouding her brow.
Chen Yanxing ignored Ren Zhou.
“I didn’t mean anything else.
As your contract partner, I’m just warning you—that party’s dirty.”
“Dirty?
You saying I’m dirty too?”
“No, I’ve seen your medical report.”
“…”
“Du Junyi’s here.
What’re you doing out here?”
Ren Zhou approached, slinging an arm over Chen Yanxing’s shoulder, eyeing Shen Mengke curiously.
“Good evening, beautiful.”
Shen Mengke smiled.
“Good evening.”
Ren Zhou nudged Chen Yanxing.
“No intro?”
Shen Mengke’s lips curved, catching Chen Yanxing’s glance.
She saw it—Chen Yanxing didn’t want their arrangement exposed to her friend.
She understood but played clueless.
Ren Zhou’s eyes landed on the contract in Shen Mengke’s hand, her smile narrowing to slits.
“Miss Fox, huh—”
She dragged out the words.
Chen Yanxing’s brow twitched.
Shen Mengke was confused.
Before Chen Yanxing could speak, Shen Mengke cut in:
“Hi, I’m Chen Yanxing’s girlfriend, Shen Mengke.”
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