How Can a Construction Foreman Be the Public Girlfriend of a Top Celebrity? - Chapter 47
Chapter 47
Zheng Ling felt even more distressed seeing her mother like this, though she didn’t show it. Sometimes, she thought she and her mother were quite alike—both using light-hearted, humorous words to mask their inner anxiety.
“Xiao Xuan, you’re here too?” Zheng Mother’s voice was muffled by the ventilator, but still clear enough.
“I was worried about you,” Shu Xuan replied honestly.
Zheng Mother, knowing how busy they were as actors, asked with concern, “Will this delay your schedule?”
“No, I’ll be heading back to Dongcheng later today. Once I wrap up the next few scenes, I’ll come visit you again.” Shu Xuan knelt beside the bed, and Zheng Mother reached out to hold her hand, her chest rising and falling with effort.
“Good child. Mom’s fine,” Zheng Mother then turned to Zheng Ling and said, “Take care of Xiao Xuan. Don’t let her work herself too hard.”
Zheng Ling knew how much her mother liked Shu Xuan. “I will.”
After a while, a nurse came in and said the patient needed to rest, so they stepped out of the room.
In the corridor, Shu Xuan’s phone rang—it was Da Tou calling.
“Teacher Shu, how much longer will you be tied up there?” Da Tou sounded anxious.
Shu Xuan glanced at Zheng Ling, and after exchanging a look, walked to a corner to answer. “What’s wrong?”
“Since we terminated contracts with several brands and had to pay compensation, I’ve been reaching out to some luxury brands. A few responded, and they’ve scheduled meetings at the studio tomorrow,” Da Tou explained while tidying up the studio’s office desk, the phone wedged between shoulder and ear.
“I was planning to fly back to Dongcheng this afternoon. Have Xiao Ying change my ticket to Nancheng instead,” said Shu Xuan.
Da Tou couldn’t resist asking, “Is Boss Zheng doing okay?”
“Mhm, she’s fine,” Shu Xuan had messaged him hurriedly when she first returned.
“Good to hear. By the way, Xiao Ying plans to take time off next week. Her family’s making her go on a blind date,” Da Tou mentioned, hoping Shu Xuan could find a temporary assistant to fill in.
Shu Xuan frowned slightly. “Blind date? Isn’t she a bit young for that?”
“You know how it is—these days we don’t have much of a say. If I don’t find someone myself by next year, I’ll probably get forced into one of those arranged marriages too,” Da Tou said with a bitter laugh.
“Alright, I got it.” Shu Xuan had actually considered helping both Da Tou and Xiao Ying find partners. Better to marry someone trustworthy than end up in a stranger-marriage situation like hers.
She turned around and saw Zheng Ling standing by the window at the end of the corridor. The osmanthus tree just outside bloomed with fragrance, sunlight filtering through the branches, casting golden rays on her.
Shu Xuan thought to herself—maybe marrying this person wasn’t such a bad thing after all.
Zheng Ling turned to her. “Heading back?”
“Yeah. If anything comes up, call me. I’m always here.” Saying those words felt oddly cheesy to Shu Xuan. She had never spoken like that before. Was she changing?
She looked at the osmanthus tree outside. No—it wasn’t her. It was this autumn air stirring up dreams and sentiments.
Zheng Ling went home to pack things for her mother, who was being transferred to a general ward that evening. Zheng Father had already arranged a VIP room, but Zheng Mother insisted on a regular one. “In a VIP room, all you hear is your own breathing—there’s not even anyone to talk to,” she’d said.
They all knew the truth: Zheng Mother was afraid. The silence of a private room could be terrifying. It was better to have others around, even if they were strangers.
When Shu Xuan landed in Nancheng, Xiao Ying came to pick her up in the studio’s nanny van.
“Teacher Shu, shall we grab something to eat?” Xiao Ying asked.
“Let’s do a spa first,” Shu Xuan replied as she buckled her seatbelt and leaned back in her seat.
After a pause, she added, “You’re going on a blind date next week?”
“Yeah,” Xiao Ying sighed, slumping like wilted cabbage. “Parental orders, matchmaker’s words. Sometimes I wonder if the Qing Dynasty ever really ended.”
“Do you know the guy?” Shu Xuan asked with her eyes closed.
Xiao Ying shook her head, then realized Shu Xuan couldn’t see her and added, “Nope. All I know is he graduated from a 985 university, works at a state-owned company, average looks, wears glasses, both parents alive, and he’s an only child.”
“Sounds decent on paper.”
“Maybe, but Teacher Shu, I don’t want to go on a blind date.” Xiao Ying’s small eyes were about to well up with tears, practically disappearing into her face.
Shu Xuan sat up and opened her eyes. “Isn’t Da Tou also unmarried? Why don’t you two make do with each other? You can divorce later if you find someone you really like.”
Xiao Ying quickly shook her head. “I wouldn’t want to hold Da Tou back.”
“Then ask her what she thinks.” Shu Xuan’s tone suggested she suspected Xiao Ying had considered it.
“Let’s change the subject. How’s Boss Zheng’s family?” Xiao Ying’s ears were a bit red. She hadn’t expected Shu Xuan to speak like this. Was it Zheng Ling’s bad influence?
“Alright. Once I finish these few scenes, I’ll go back and see her.” Shu Xuan soon fell asleep after the spa. She had a meeting with the brand the next morning, then she’d rush back to Dongcheng for filming.
The brand they were meeting was top-tier luxury. Shu Xuan had worn their designs before; some of her most iconic looks came from them. She memorized the brand’s history, recent collections, and trends—her excellent memory helped.
Sitting on the couch, she took out her phone and sent Zheng Ling a message.
X: [What are you up to?]
Zheng Ling had just left the family villa, dragging her luggage to the hospital, when she ran into Yang Yin.
Yang Yin wasn’t wearing a mask, dressed in a black windbreaker zipped up to her mouth, looking suspicious. She was poking around the flowerbeds near the inpatient wing like a cat hunting for food.
“Yang Yin, what are you doing here?” Zheng Ling asked.
“I’m looking for something,” Yang Yin jumped at the sound, startled.
“What are you looking for? Want help?” Zheng Ling offered, turning on her flashlight.
“No, no, I’ll find it myself.” Yang Yin quickly declined.
Zheng Ling didn’t press further but reminded her, “There could be snakes this time of year. Be careful.”
“I will.”
Zheng Ling entered her mother’s room, who was half-sitting in bed chatting with the elderly patients in the ward.
“I’m telling you, my daughter-in-law is gorgeous—like a fairy!” Zheng Mother said proudly, rubbing two golden walnuts in her hand.
“A daughter-in-law?” the auntie with a fractured arm asked.
“Yes! I basically have two daughters now. You’ve never seen anyone so beautiful!”
The uncle with a leg amputation looked even worse off than Zheng Mother despite only being admitted for three days.
“Don’t believe me? Next time my daughter-in-law visits, you’ll see. She’s a real celebrity!” Zheng Mother grinned.
“You’re bragging,” the auntie chuckled.
“I’m not! Want an autograph? Free of charge!” Zheng Mother almost climbed out of bed to grab her phone.
Zheng Ling walked in just as her mother was saying that. “Mom, what nonsense are you spouting?”
Zheng Mother introduced her, “This is my daughter.”
“Hello, auntie, uncle,” Zheng Ling greeted and unpacked the luggage full of her mother’s essentials—plus two absurd romance novels her mother had requested: The Overbearing Migrant Worker Fell for the Pretty Wife, CEO! Your Child Is Mine, and Runaway Mommy with a Baby Bump.
Zheng Ling thought these brainless novels had surely corrupted her mother’s mind.
She handed out fruit to the roommates, and one of them commented, “Such a pretty girl—but she doesn’t look like you.”
Zheng Mother’s face twitched. “Takes after her dad.” She didn’t dare admit how much cosmetic surgery she’d had.
“Your daughter’s so grown up, and you’re still so well-maintained. Living the good life,” the uncle remarked.
Zheng Mother beamed, boasting away as usual. Zheng Father had returned to work, and Zheng Ling now had time to visit the company.
After a meeting, Zheng Father wired her a huge sum of money. When Zheng Ling saw the six-figure transfer, she immediately called the finance department.
In the stairwell, smelling smoke, she asked, “Did you transfer money by mistake? Company funds need to match the ledger—we can’t mix private and business accounts.”
“No, Ling-jie, I didn’t send any money. Aside from routine reimbursements, there’s nothing else,” the accountant confirmed.
“Okay, understood. Oh, the relief supplies for Jin City—I signed everything and mailed it back. Should arrive tomorrow.”
“I’ll let Brother Yang Lei know.”
Only then did Zheng Ling realize the money came from her father’s personal account.
She called him immediately. “Dad, what’s the meaning of this?”
“Take care of your mom. Consider it a hardship allowance,” he replied as his assistant reminded him of another call.
“No, Dad. It’s my duty to take care of her, I—”
“I’ve got a meeting. Just accept it. You rarely get allowance money anyway. Consider this a supplement since you’re missing work.” He hung up before she could refuse.
When she returned to the ward, her mother was playing cards on her phone. “Xiao Ling, fetch Mother two bowls of spicy noodles.”
“Doctor said bland food only,” Zheng Ling replied.
“Then how about sour and spicy rice noodles?”
The auntie joked, “You’re not here for a broken leg; you’re here for postpartum recovery.”
“Can’t help it—I’m craving!” Zheng Mother’s phone buzzed with a “Hu le!” from her card game.
Zheng Ling offered fruit instead. “When you’re discharged, we’ll have a feast, okay?”
“Fine. Then at least get me some barbecue?”
Unable to win the argument, Zheng Ling bought barbecue with lots of vegetables and minimal seasoning—just oil and salt.
On her way back, she bumped into Yang Yin carrying a bag of fruit out of the hospital. Strange—shouldn’t she be bringing fruit in?
“Yang Yin, why are you in such a hurry?”
“I—I have something to do. Gotta go,” Yang Yin stammered.
Zheng Ling grabbed her sleeve. “Are you okay? Did your husband hurt you?”
“No, I swear. Please, just let me go.”
Zheng Ling noticed her gloves—probably used for peeling fruit.
“Is your husband discharged?”
“No… not yet.”
“Then why are you carrying fruit out? Are they spoiled?” Zheng Ling reached to check, and a few mangoes tumbled out. Some were dirty—and not just any mangoes. They were sea mangoes—toxic fruits.
Zheng Ling immediately realized something was wrong. “You’re not planning to feed this to your husband, are you?”
Yang Yin burst into tears. She’d backed out at the last moment, scared. She’d been searching for the hidden sea mangoes when Zheng Ling found her earlier.
“I won’t say anything. Pretend today never happened. Do you know how to dispose of these properly?” Zheng Ling said softly.
She sympathized. Divorce was painfully difficult in this society, and maybe this was the only escape Yang Yin saw.
“Thank you, Zheng Ling. I know what to do,” Yang Yin sobbed.
Zheng Ling offered a solution after helping her dispose of the mangoes, then returned to the ward.
Fan 2: [Attached photos of the aid packages sent by Zheng Ling’s company to Jin City] I’m a resident of Jin City, and I’m truly grateful to Ms. Zheng Ling.
Fan 3: Whether it’s donating supplies or accompanying her partner’s mother in the hospital, she does everything in silence. Those who know, know. No need to explain to those who don’t.
There were also some who made jokes in a relaxed tone:
Netizen: [Photo of Zheng Ling holding Yang Yin by the sleeve] If this isn’t a fight between wives, then what is? That expression is exactly like a jealous wife questioning a third party!
Netizen: I dare to bet ten boxes of hotpot ingredients, Zheng Ling was definitely saying, “Are you still thinking of him? Do you know how long I’ve been waiting for you?”
Netizen: Yang Yin must be saying, “I know I was wrong, don’t be angry… I’m just here to return your things.”
While these jokes were flying around online, the public relations team of the studio was also closely monitoring the trend. Fortunately, things didn’t spiral into full-on rumors, and most people just treated it as gossip with no real evidence. There was no need to make a statement.
Back in the hospital, Zheng Ling had just tucked her mother in and helped her lie down comfortably. After adjusting the IV line and checking the time, she got up and walked out.
She turned on her phone and checked the news, seeing that the search term #Shu Xuan’s Partner Secretly Meeting with Yang Yin# was still trending.
Zheng Ling rubbed her temples.
Just as she was about to put her phone away, a message from Shu Xuan popped up.
X: Next time you have a secret rendezvous, can you at least tell me in advance so I don’t have to find out through the hot searches?
Zheng Ling looked at the message and burst out laughing.
She replied: Didn’t I already report everything to you last night? Also, it was clearly not a rendezvous. She cried, I consoled. You can go check the security footage if you want.
X: If I go check it, are you sure I won’t find any love confessions?
Zheng Ling: At most, it was a confession about marital troubles.
X: Fine, I’ll let you off this time. But I want compensation.
Zheng Ling: What do you want?
X: I want a private dinner, a couple’s photo, and a kiss.
Zheng Ling was stunned, not expecting Shu Xuan to be so demanding and bold.
She stared at the screen, her fingers hovering over the keyboard for a while before typing:
Deal. Once I finish handling the company affairs and mom stabilizes, I’ll fly over to see you.
X: Waiting for you.
Zheng Ling smiled softly, put her phone away, and walked towards the elevator.
The autumn wind outside was crisp, and the sweet scent of osmanthus filled the air.
Life might be a mess of responsibilities, gossip, and fatigue—but in moments like this, it still felt warm and worth it.