"if people are trying
to bring you DOWN
it only means that
you are above them"

"do not compare me with someone else because we are in different body with a different mind thinking a different way on rowing a different boat to a different places"


Monday, December 23, 2024

36. Entering the Women’s Bathroom to Find Someone

 In the car, Little Treasure was staring at the cellphone with a heavy expression.


Lu Tingxiao released his safety belt.”I’ll go in to look, wait here for me.”


Little Treasure immediately tugged on his father’s sleeve, indicating he wanted to go as well.


Lu Tingxiao glanced at his son. “If by chance she is drunk, do I carry you or do I carry her?”


Little Treasure puffed up his cheeks, expressing his disagreement. He didn’t need anyone to carry him.


Lu Tingxiao’s expression darkened. “How unfortunate, after what happened last time, my trust in you hit rock bottom. I don’t believe that you can take care of yourself. If it happens again, even I cannot handle the consequences. Do you understand?”


Little Treasure dropped his head, looking dejected.


Realizing that he had been too harsh, he touched his son’s hair. “I’ll be back soon.”


“Old Zhang, drive the car to the underground parking.”


“Yes, Young Master.”


Under the gazes of the crowd standing at the hotel entrance, a car door opened and a man stepped out.


He was wearing a whole suit of steel gray and his body was like that of a jade statue, exuding tremendous pressure.


“Ah… It’s Lu… Lu Tingxiao, ahhh! Just now we were wondering which god of fortune it was going to be, who knew it was really the God of Fortune! I say, besides the God of Fortune, who else can drive such a luxurious car! Compared with Master Xiao, the Su family is practically nothing!”


“My god, hold me. I’m shocked, I’m about to faint… I only saw him once in a magazine. Who knew that by coming here, I would see the real thing! I really want to get a signature! Sign my panties!!!”


“Those famous, good looking actors can only kneel down before our Master Xiao. if he ever entered the entertainment circle, who would even bother with those small fry!”


“Dream on, just encountering him like this from afar is already worth a person’s entire lifetime of luck, you even want him to enter the entertainment circle so you can admire him everyday?”


…


Even after that person had entered the hotel, the crowd standing outside the entrance still did not disperse and was still gossiping like before.


“Big Boss Lu has never gone anywhere without prior announcement. I wonder why he came alone to the hotel so late at night. What did he come here for?”


“Who knows, it’s not like he came here to find a woman!”


“What a pity. He’s such an outstanding man but doesn’t get close with women! Why do you think he doesn’t get close with women?”


“He likes men!”


“That’s nonsense. If he liked men, where did his son come from? I think Master Xiao is a sentimental person and is still hung up on his child’s mother. He must have loved her so deeply that he remained celibate all these years!”


…


When Lu Tingxiao reached the top floor of the hotel, he realized that the cast and crew had already left. The crowd just then must have been the last batch of people, but he still did not see Ning Xi.


He continued down the hallway trying to find her as he called Ning Xi’s number once more.


She was still not picking up the phone.


As he passed by a restroom, he suddenly stopped walking. From the restroom, he could hear the faint sound of her ringtone.


He stood there and listened for a moment and realized the sound came from the women’s restroom.


Lu Tingxiao hung up his phone and the sound from the women’s restroom also cut off.


After finally finding the person he was looking for, he let out a breath of relief, before creasing his eyebrows.


He had no choice but to enter the women’s restroom to find her.


Her cellphone had rung so loudly yet she had no reacted. It seemed she must be quite drunk.


“Ning Xi?”


He tested by calling out, but there was no reply.


He stood between the men’s and women’s restroom and pinched the skin between his eyebrows. His expression was the same one he wore when working on a 10 billion yuan deal.


A few seconds later, his long legs stretched forward as he headed towards the women’s restroom.


35. Which God of Fortune is This?

 “Brother Yan, why did you come? Didn’t I say you didn’t have to pick me up?” Ning Xueluo was like a little bird as she fluttered happily over to her man.


“I was worried. It’s raining outside.” Su Yan took off his jacket to drape over her, his gaze unhappy. “Why are you wearing so little?”


Nng Xueluo’s expression was as sweet as honey. “Oh you, how old do you think I am. You still treat me like a child!”


Ning Xi was unsteady as she pressed against the icy cold wall and felt that she was really unlucky.


All night, if she wasn’t witnessing the parental love directed at Ning Xueluo, then she was a spectator to Ning Xueluo’s love life.


As if this wasn’t enough, Ning Xueluo purposely grabbed onto Su Yan’s arm and led him towards her, saying warmly, “Junior Sister, I can tell you’ve drunk a little too much. How about we leave together? I'll have my boyfriend drive you back!”


Ning Xueluo intentionally emphasized the word ‘boyfriend’.


Only then did Su Yan notice Ning Xi. the moment he saw her, his pupil contracted.


Ning Xi…


It had already been a long time.


They hadn’t met even once during those years that she was gone overseas, and after her return, he had only seen her from afar when he picked Xueluo up from the company a few times.


He was not prepared for what he saw. She had changed so much that he almost couldn’t recognize her.


That girl who had always worn braids and floral dresses in the past had somehow become a woman who could capture the hearts of all men…


Noticing Su Yan’s gaze on Ning Xi, a trace of hostility flashed through Ning Xueluo’s eyes as she tugged on his arm. “Brother Yan, what do you say?”


Su Yan then came out of his reverie and immediately nodded his head. “Yes, let’s go together.”


“Junior Sis Ning… Junior Sis Ning? Are you alright?” Ning Xueluo pretended to be worried.


Ning Xi waved her hand and shook her head. Because of the alcohol, her mind was growing more muddled, her heart was beating faster and her blood was rushing backwards. It feel as though there was a beast roaring inside her body, wanting to break out and tear the two fake faces before her to shreds.


“No need…” Ning Xi stumbled in the direction of the bathroom before she lost control.


Ning Xueluo smirked at Ning Xi’s sorry-looking escape, but when she turned around to face Su Yan, her expression was one of hurt. “Brother Yan, Xiao Xi doesn’t seem like she wants to forgive me… I already worked so hard to make it up to her. In the company, I tried to take care of her, and yet she showed me a face like that. I really don’t know what else I can do…”


“Don’t worry, Xiao Xi always likes this. Give her time and she’ll eventually forgive you!” Su Yan consoled her in a soft voice.


Outside the hotel, ladies from the crew were excitedly admiring Su Yan’s high-end-car.


“I just checked, this maserati is worth at least 10 million, it’s so expensive!”


“I also want to find a rich boyfriend, just how many years will it take me!”


“More importantly, he’s so handsome! So many celebrities marry rich, but they’re all to fate, middle-aged men, seeing that really turns my stomach…”


…


While everyone was gossiping, they all saw Su Yan and Ning Xueluo leave the hotel together.


A good-looking couple standing together really drew the eye.


Everyone watched enviously as Ning Xueluo, with Su Yan’s jacket draped over her, stepped into the luxurious car, and only after the car was out of sight did they release a longing sigh.


But not long after the car had left, there was a sudden piercing sound as a silver-white silhouette appeared and drew closer. It was a sports car speeding over, stopping right at the entrance of the hotel.


More importantly, this car…


This car was too dazzling!


Such a handsome, low chassis, a smooth body and cool scissor doors. It was a work of art…


Even more importantly, the price…


“F*** me, that’s the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport, the  world’s most expensive sports car. It cost approximately over a billion yuan… mother…which god of fortune is this…”


34. That Youth No Longer Exists

 To this day, there are still people who would joke about how Ning Yaohua’s daughter had drunk the lemon water meant for washing hands, and how she had worn counterfeit clothes to a banquet. If people were to find out about the incident from back then, would he still have any pride left?


At Ning Yaohua’s words, Ning Xi went pale.


That night, that stranger, that dead baby…


This was her weakness.


That year, the Ning family had hushed up everything for fear of the shame and Ning Yaohua kept quiet for fear of being exposed herself, but that was still Ning Xi’s darkest nightmare.


“I’m giving you a face letting you leave on your own terms, but if you refuse to, then don;t blame me for not acknowledging our father-daughter relationship.”


“Oh, so there’s actually still a father-daughter relationship between us…”


“Dad, Xiao Xi… what’s going on?” Ning Xueluo’s astonished voice came from behind them.


Noticing Ning Xueluo, Ning Yaohua immediately switched to a loving expression. “Nothing for you to worry about. When you go back later, ask your company if they can find a better second female lead.


The meaning behind his words being that Ning Xi should be replaced.


Ning Xueluo was pleased, but put on a nervous face. “Dad, why? The role of second female lead has already been given to Xiao Xi ah!”


“It’s good enough if she can do small roles and cameos, but how can she possibly play such an important role? I didn’t invest 30 million yuan into this drama for her to fool around!”


“But dad, Xiao Xi put in a lot of effort to get the role…”


“Xueluo, don’t defend her anymore. I’ve told you before not to help her, but you never listen! You still actually complimented her in front of the reporters! Does she even deserve all that praise?”


“But Xiao Xi is still your…”


“Be quiet, such things must never ever be mentioned. I’ve already said it before, you are my only daughter!”


“Dad, don’t be mad. I won’t say anything else, alright?”


“I still have business to attend to, so I’m leaving first. When you have time, help me persuade her to stop being stubborn!” Ning Yaohua gave Ning Xi one last cold look that told her to behave herself before turning around to leave.


After Ning Yaohua left, Ning Xueluo’s sweet and obedient expression changed, as she said innocently, “Ning Xi, don’t say this time that I wanted to make things hard for you. Originally, I was going to give you a chance. What a pity…”


“Ha…” Ning Xi couldn’t help but laugh, but it was a sorrowful sound.


Who could possibly have guessed that in the end, the person to destroy all her efforts and throw her back into the dust would be her own father.


She worked hard for so long, devoted herself to preparing for the role, but for what?


Just like that, everything was gone…


When the opening ceremony ended, it was a little past eleven.


Looks like it’s true that it’s easy to get drunk when you’re upset.


Ning Xi felt that she hadn’t drunk that much that night, but when she got up, she was unsteady and her head throbbed painfully.


So of course it was right at this moment that she saw the one person who would make her feel even worse…


Su Yan…


Beside her, the cast and crew, especially the ladies, were loudly expressing their surprise when they saw the person approaching.


“Ah! It’s Young Master Su! He’s so handsome! He’s actually a hundred times better looking in person than what rumors say!”


“He must be here to pick Ning Xueluo up! I’m so jealous. She has a great acting career, comes from such a good family, and her boyfriend is so handsome! As expected of the Winner of Life!”


“These types of people have been winners since they were born. We don’t even have the right to be envious!”


…


Ning Xi used the wall as support, her gaze frozen on the man walking towards Ning Xueluo.


The Su family had done well in recent years. Su Yan’s status was like a boat on a high tidal wave, while Ning Xi was a faded shadow of his past.


The boy back then who had been convalescing in the countryside due to his lung illness, who had become her warm and gentle Brother Yan who would always read to her - that boy had already died with the passing of time.