Goddess Strategy GL - Chapter 18

From far to near, from ear to skin.

The dim light flickered, just like the cicadas chirping in that scorching summer years ago. Under the pristine, flowing curtains, there was a cool breeze and magnolia flowers. Their breaths intertwined through a layer of curtain gauze, and an innate heat began to stir. A shoulder strap slipped down, like a dragonfly perching on the sharp corner of a lotus leaf, and then a small river tinkled, with the sound of flowing water trickling. Beneath the clear sky, the flowing musical notes undulated continuously, until the originally plain white paper became a piece of brocade.

The sound of high heels landing slightly eased the awkward atmosphere.

“I’ll just do it myself.”

Ye Ruoqing, her face flushed red, handed over the medicated oil. Zhao Xin withdrew her leg and rubbed her ankle with her fingers.

“Is Zeng Jie the person you are looking for?”

Ye Ruoqing nodded. She still couldn’t completely break free from her memories. Sad memories are profound, but weren’t the happy memories just as much? She had waited for too long; every thought of Zeng Jie involved separation and worry. Only at this moment did she recall that they once shared a moment without any reservations.

“They are the reason you must stay, right?”

“Yes.”

“I won’t try to dissuade you anymore. Youth has the capital for stubbornness. When you are truly older, some things you want to salvage can no longer be salvaged.”

Zhao Xin’s expression was a bit lonely. Ye Ruoqing thought for a moment, then took the shawl from her shoulder and draped it over Zhao Xin.

“I’m not very good with words, but I just feel that people change, so it’s better for you to be a little wary.”

“Is that so?”

Zhao Xin turned her head to look out the window. Xiao Yuan hung up the phone and gradually approached. Her angry appearance suggested she was not in a good mood.

“The doctor agreed to meet immediately at the apartment. Ren Xi, she…” Zhao Xin interrupted her: “I know, I’ll contact her. First, take Ye Ruoqing back, and then we’ll return to the apartment.”

The antique clock in the room struck twelve times. Ye Ruoqing was suffering from insomnia.

She felt that her state was somewhat off. Zhao Xin’s shadow kept replaying in her mind: the indifferent Zhao Xin, the disappointed Zhao Xin, and the slightly panicked Zhao Xin when she made those impolite moves under the skirt. Ye Ruoqing truly didn’t understand why she was recalling that summer. The setting was wrong, the person was wrong, and her mood was even more wrong.

She fumbled under the pillow for the old Sony flip phone, opened it, and clicked through the photos in the album one by one. Zeng Jie was delicate and beautiful, and her attire was simple. She spoke softly, and her movements were also gentle. She always gave people a desire to protect her. Ye Ruoqing had noticed her a long time ago. There were many beauties in the communications school, and there were always some unsavory people lingering at the school gate with unknown intentions. Ye Ruoqing had finished her evening class and was drooling at a roadside barbecue stall, waiting for her skewers. When she saw someone being harassed, she didn’t even care about the skewers anymore. With a few punches and kicks, using her monkey-beating skills, she dispersed the group of scoundrels.

At that time, they called each other “best friends.”

They shared the same dinner and dessert delivered by a driver, went shopping, and watched movies. Ye Ruoqing protected Zeng Jie like she was guarding her own skewers. Adding her favorite cumin, adding some pepper powder—with Ye Ruoqing’s “golden armor” protection, the number of Zeng Jie’s suitors only increased.

Although Miss Ye was thick-skinned, when she discovered so many people were coveting her skewers, how could she tolerate it? Immediately, after finishing a bottle of Erguotou (a strong liquor), she hugged Zeng Jie and incoherently confessed her love. Afterwards, they were together for a full three years. For this, Ye Ruoqing gave up studying abroad and also gave up the opportunity to attend university in another city, choosing to stay in C City for college. She was confused about small matters but was completely clear-headed about major ones. Her family had plans to develop their business abroad. When her older brother returned to the country, it would be exactly the time of her college graduation. When she went out then, on one hand, after her relationship with Zeng Jie stabilized, she could focus on her career and dreams with peace of mind. On the other hand, she could use her brother’s network abroad to build a foundation, making it convenient for her future settlement.

She was determined to spend her life with Zeng Jie, but she didn’t expect things to happen so suddenly. The one who gave up first was actually Zeng Jie, who often worried about losing her. Do celebrities really have to choose between dreams and love? Ye Ruoqing was completely bewildered.

“If you still remember, it proves that everything I did was worth it.”

“Worth what? Worth you climbing into Director Wang’s bed and stealing my role?” The conversation between Ren Xi and Zhao Xin during the line-up that night suddenly flashed through her mind. Ye Ruoqing suddenly felt very uncomfortable. Whether it was slander or fact, she could not accept Zhao Xin being associated with the three words “casting couch” (under-the-table rules). Although they had only known each other for a short time, and Zhao Xin did seem somewhat aloof, she didn’t seem like the type of person who would use such methods. However, Zhao Xin’s later tone, and Ren Xi’s sneer…

Ye Ruoqing lay on the bed in a daze for a while, then suddenly got up and put on her clothes.

She was certain that Zhao Xin had a weakness (leverage) in Ren Xi’s hands, and no matter what, this was not a good thing.

“Hello? Hello…”

“What is it? In the middle of the night… I’m so sleepy.”

“Is Zhao Xin there?”

“Boss went to see Ren Xi. Miss Ye, is the rice gone again?”

“Did she go alone?”

“She drove there alone. Don’t worry, as long as Ren Xi still wants to be in this industry, she won’t do anything to Boss…”

Ye Ruoqing didn’t know why she was so worried about her creditor. She pulled open the drawer, dug out all the small bills, changed into that Givenchy outfit, and ran towards the main entrance. It was past midnight. Buses and subways had already stopped running. Ye Ruoqing ran to the nearby bar street and hailed a taxi in front of a door.

“Driver, do you know Night Rendezvous? It should be a bar or a club, called Night Rendezvous (Yè Huì).” The taxi drivers all shook their heads. A man dressed like a driver saw Ye Ruoqing knocking on the doors of taxis one by one and asked curiously, “Where are you trying to go? Why don’t the drivers know?”

Ye Ruoqing looked at her watch, feeling anxious, “Night Rendezvous, do you know it?”

“How do you know that place?”

“You know it?”

“Yes.”

“Please, driver, take me there.”

The man lit a cigarette and said slowly, “I won’t take you.”

“Then why are you wasting my time!” Ye Ruoqing turned and started to walk away.

The man said, “Why are you such an ill-tempered girl? Why don’t you ask what my conditions are?”

“What conditions?” The man’s eyes immediately lit up, “Are you willing to discuss serious literature with me?”

“?”

In order to find Zhao Xin, Ye Ruoqing decided to endure it. She put on a smiling face, affectionately calling him “Driver Master” and “Driver Uncle,” completely unaware that the man in front of her was only about thirty years old.

The man led Ye Ruoqing to a garage and said, “Wait for me for a moment.”

“You park your car in the underground garage, how do you pick up fares?”

“This is called ‘experiencing life.'”

The man’s slow pace made Ye Ruoqing particularly want to hit someone. Ye Ruoqing waited for a long time, and only a bright yellow Lamborghini slowly drove out of the garage. There was no sign of a taxi at all. Ye Ruoqing got angry, ran to the garage entrance, and shouted, “If you don’t come out, I’m going to complain about you to the taxi company!”

“I’m out now.” The window of the Lamborghini beside her slowly slid down. The man showed his face and smiled, “Get in, my Goddess of Muse.”

Ye Ruoqing got goosebumps all over.