After Rebirth, the Cold and Aloof Film Queen Always Wants to Cuddle with Me - Chapter 31

Chapter 31

“That’s my salary card, isn’t it… You’re right. I’ll let you manage the winery—here’s half the shares.” Ye Ruihuan smoothly waved to Assistant Li, ready to start drafting the contract.

“…That’s not what I meant… Well, half isn’t bad either…” Ye Zhi’s voice grew softer and softer.

After signing the contract, Ye Zhifeng hurried off again, but this time with a smiling face.

There was no more movement at the door. The little bunny probably wouldn’t be coming back. What’s more, she hadn’t returned in the past few days—almost as if she was deliberately avoiding her.

During her absence, the scenes in her dreams kept shifting and evolving. Slowly, some fragmented bits began to connect. The Ye Ruihuan in the dreams acted like her old self, but Lin Ruijiao—the protagonist—was completely different. She began to suspect the dream was just a fabrication of her imagination.

However, the nightmares that followed shattered that suspicion. Even the dream-version of herself started to change, doing things she found utterly baffling.

In the pitch-black night, the only sound was the howling wind outside the window. A bead of sweat slid down Ye Ruihuan’s temple. Suddenly, she woke up gasping, leaned against the headboard, and pondered deeply.

The dream was way too real. In the first half, she was attending some lavish industry party—luxurious and grand, with flowing wine and laughter, and even Dong Yulan was there. Everyone was chatting happily.

Then, suddenly, she remembered she had something important to do. The dream-version of herself found it odd and thought for a long time before recalling—today was the one-year anniversary of being officially together with Lin Ruijiao.

“Since when were she and Lin Ruijiao together? How strange…”

Even amidst the harmonious party, this thought weighed heavily on her mind. She resolved to apologize later for not telling her in advance she’d be late getting home.

Feeling uneasy but forced to smile, Ye Ruihuan played along. Today, Ye Zhi had also insisted she come, saying some big shot would show up tonight. If Jue’er threw a fit, it’d be on her.

“‘Jue’er’? That nickname?!” In the dream, Ye Ruihuan seemed to have some consciousness of her own but couldn’t control her body or actions. Though thoughts flashed through her mind, she had no choice but to experience everything as it unfolded.

After a long while, she found Ye Zhi near the party’s end. The “big shot” hadn’t appeared yet, but Ye Zhi was still insisting she stay.

“What does this big shot have to do with me?” she wondered, wanting to leave.

Though she strongly wished to go, she stayed and joined the group’s conversation.

“Ruihuan, when will you officially introduce your girlfriend to everyone?” Dong Yulan teased with a smile.

“Girlfriend? Lin Ruijiao? Yulan knows? Does everyone know?” Ye Ruihuan’s mind filled with questions she couldn’t voice. She felt like a soul attached to her own body, unable to respond, only to live through the events.

“Next time, next time,” she replied with a smile, a hint of sweetness crossing her face.

“What do you mean next time? Hurry up and find a chance. Director Wen Xian’s script is set to start filming in the second half of the year. Your girlfriend’s acting is said to be pretty good. Bring her over to audition, okay?” Chen Xiao casually added.

“Alright, it’s a deal,” Ye Ruihuan agreed immediately. At least she had an explanation to bring Jiao Jiao home. With the chance to be in Director Wen Xian’s work, Jue’er would definitely be happy; she had been talking about it for a long time.

The so-called big shot finally arrived. After a grand introduction by the host, it turned out to be a monk—a rather strange choice for a “big shot.” Ye Ruihuan’s expression stiffened. She thought she’d rather have gone home earlier than wasting so much time meeting a monk.

Listening to the host praise how powerful he was, Ye Ruihuan felt nothing but disdain and impatience. What era was this, still stuck in feudal superstitions? Yet, she could swear the kind old man with prayer beads occasionally glanced at her.

“She was startled and confused but not scared. The old man gave off a calm, peaceful aura, somehow familiar.”

“Strange, yet she knew nothing about this.”

Ye Zhi whispered, puzzled, “Ye Ruihuan, is that old man looking at you? Maybe you’re connected to Buddhism, and he wants to take you as a disciple—make you a nun,” she teased.

Ye Ruihuan rolled her eyes, too lazy to respond.

Strangely, though he was hailed as a big shot, the monk just chanted some unknown scripture briefly and left—though not without giving Ye Ruihuan a lingering look.

So it was true: the old man had been looking at her, but she couldn’t tell what was in his eyes from so far away.

And thus, the grand banquet ended. Publicity was rampant, inviting many industry bigwigs. Yet, it turned out to be nothing special. Better to go home to see Jue’er. She wondered if Jue’er was waiting for her so late.

Ye Ruihuan was filled with anticipation and even some happiness on the way, about to see her lovely girlfriend—pure, adorable, simply irresistible. For a moment, everything else was forgotten; her heart belonged to Lin Ruijiao alone, and she even hummed happily.

Should she contact her? After thinking it over, she decided against it, preferring to surprise her at home. She had already arranged gifts with Assistant Li beforehand. Among them was a precious jade peace pendant she always wore, passed down through generations in her family. Regardless of market value, it was one of a kind in the world.

Jue’er had often praised how beautiful the pendant was. Thinking of this, Ye Ruihuan’s smile softened.

“Stop showing off, hurry and contact her—get home, it’s so late…” the dream-version of herself was anxious, as if sensing something was about to happen.

Sure enough, when Ye Ruihuan arrived at the Yuwan Villa, from afar it was pitch black inside, not a single light.

Jue’er must have fallen asleep. Ye Ruihuan felt disappointed—normally, Jue’er would wait for her. Maybe she was just too late tonight…

“…Better go in and check.”

Pushing the door open, she saw the house decorated with balloons and streamers—Jue’er had prepared everything carefully. Following the signs further inside, there was a table set for a candlelight dinner, with wine and candles arranged neatly.

Ye Ruihuan smiled happily and went upstairs to find her beloved girlfriend.

But when she got to their room, it was pitch dark and empty. Every other room was empty as well. A bad feeling crept over her, and she started to panic, searching desperately for any sign of Jue’er, her trembling hand barely holding steady.

Her mind went blank. After a long moment, she realized she should call her.

The call connected, but no answer. Ye Ruihuan was confused. Jue’er wouldn’t ignore her just because she came home late.

Yet for some unknown reason, she had no other explanation.

She called again and again, but no answer. Some of her personal belongings seemed to have disappeared from the house.

Ye Ruihuan sat dumbfounded in the living room, head down, clutching her phone tightly. Her delicate makeup was smeared; her formal dress was still on.

After a long time, she called Assistant Li and asked her to find out about Jue’er’s whereabouts. Shortly after, her phone lit up.

It was a message from Lin Ruijiao:
“Let’s break up. You probably know why.”