Whoever Falls in Love First is the Dog - Chapter 18

Chapter 18: “I’m the One Pulling Strings—your Relationship is Through the Contract: Proper and Legal.”

Spending a week in Ming City served two purposes for Shen Mengke: relaxation and, truthfully, escape.

She had come to Jiang City alone at eighteen for university, and now, nearly ten years later, it had become the place where she’d spent almost half her life. The city bore witness to too many of her joys, sorrows, and humiliations. And now, it just made her feel defeated.

Big cities are always full of young people chasing dreams, but some get their edges worn down. Shen Mengke was one of them now. Everything in Jiang City felt exhausting.

The shutdown of Ask Your Heart was like a sword hanging over her head. She had such high hopes for that project, only for it to come to a screeching halt. It was like her future had hit a fork in the road, standing in thick fog, with no path in sight.

Shen Mengke had to choose her way forward in the midst of that uncertainty.

It was hard—especially for someone like her, who had lost that initial drive. She couldn’t just dive in headfirst like a fresh graduate full of naive hope. She couldn’t. She didn’t dare.

So she sent Fan Shi back to Jiang City and stayed alone in Ming City, hoping to try living a week like an ordinary person. She wanted to see if life without cameras was even bearable.

But some people always show up out of nowhere to ruin your plans.

She ran into Chen Yanxing in Ming City.

During these days in Ming City, Shen Mengke wandered aimlessly, hunting for good food and enjoying herself. It was a sweet life—spending money, no work—where else could you find that?

That day, she had made a reservation at Qinghe Banquet, a place famous for its local dishes and impeccable service—hard to get a table, but she had booked three days in advance.

The summer in Ming City was slightly cooler than Jiang City. Shen Mengke wore a teal slip dress with a sheer white cover-up.

She didn’t wear makeup. Without it, she looked a little less vibrant than on camera, but her eyes still shone—probably thanks to the recent rest.

Her long hair was loosely braided and thrown over her shoulder. A white sunhat perched on her head, sunglasses on, bag over shoulder, she stepped out of her hotel.

After a bit of shopping at the mall, she headed to Qinghe Banquet, only to run into a familiar face at the entrance.

“Well, if it isn’t Miss Fox,” a teasing voice said.

Shen Mengke had just stepped into the restaurant, but the voice made her stop and turn. It was Ren Zhou, smiling with that same laid-back look.

Shen Mengke raised her brows and pulled her sunglasses down slightly. “Miss Ren?”

Ren Zhou gave her a friendly wave. “What a coincidence, Miss Shen. Work trip?”

“No, just here for fun.” Her gaze instinctively shifted behind Ren Zhou—to a white business van nearby, where two women stood. One of them was Chen Yanxing.

Dressed sharply in a fitted black blouse, her white cufflinks gleamed under the sun. In her left hand was… a contract, and with her right, she was shaking someone’s hand. From Shen Mengke’s angle, she could clearly see the small smile at the corner of her lips.

A loud snap of fingers in front of her snapped her out of her thoughts—Ren Zhou had startled her.

“Here to eat? Got a reservation?” Ren Zhou asked.

“Yeah, I do.”

“Perfect!” Ren Zhou clapped. “We had a private room booked and the food already ordered, but the clients left last minute…”

“If you haven’t ordered yet, come join us. Otherwise, it’ll all go to waste.”

Shen Mengke hesitated. After all, this trip was meant to bring her joy. But if the food they ordered wasn’t to her liking… Still, wasting food wasn’t great either…

Just then, Chen Yanxing walked over. Ren Zhou quickly explained the encounter and invitation. Seeing Shen Mengke’s hesitation, Chen Yanxing said, “Take a look at the dishes. If you don’t like any, we can change them.”

Shen Mengke’s eyes lit up. She looked up. “You’re paying?”

Chen Yanxing nodded.

“Alright then.”

Ren Zhou led her inside. Chen Yanxing followed behind and made a quick call.

Ten minutes later, a new contract was placed in front of Shen Mengke—right when she and Ren Zhou were debating which dishes to swap out.

The sight of the contract stunned both of them. Shen Mengke frowned slightly. “You…”

“A new contract. You’ve seen this version before,” Chen Yanxing said calmly.

“Tch—you really don’t miss a single opportunity, do you?” Shen Mengke pushed the menu to Ren Zhou, casually flipped through the contract, and then reached out. A pen was placed into her palm.

She signed her name with flair, then looked curiously at Chen Yanxing. “Last time was a coincidence. This time… also a coincidence?” She pushed the contract and pen back. “Do you really carry unsigned contracts around just in case?”

Which was clearly not believable—no one carries contracts at all times. Her deeper implication was suspicion—was she being followed?

Ren Zhou tapped the menu, laughing. “Boss Chen’s got connections everywhere. Even if you two ran into each other abroad, she could get a contract to you in ten minutes.”

She handed the menu back to the waiter and quietly made some notes before the waiter left. Then she turned to ask, “But… is this contract legit? Legal?”

Shen Mengke laughed. “I’m afraid this contract only binds the honorable.” She winked at Chen Yanxing. “Are you one of those, Miss Chen?”

Chen Yanxing carefully put the contract away and replied, “Well, I’m not the one who always initiates s3x.”

Shen Mengke: “…”

Ren Zhou coughed to break the tension. “Miss Shen, do you drink?”

“Nope. I ordered milk tea. It should be here—I’ll go get it.”

She practically fled the private room. A Daoist priest, and yet she talks so bluntly? No sense of occasion at all!

Ren Zhou chuckled as she watched Shen Mengke’s back. “She’s quite interesting.”

Chen Yanxing glanced at her. “You like her?”

Ren Zhou shrugged. “Sure. Want to give her to me?”

“No.”

Ren Zhou just smiled and dropped it.

At the dinner table, Shen Mengke was too busy enjoying the food. Chen Yanxing, true to form, was a “don’t speak while eating” type. Ren Zhou, on the other hand, loved a good chat and eventually couldn’t hold back.

“Miss Shen, working on any new projects lately?”

“Nope. Cancelled. Planning to join a variety show instead…” She paused mid-bite and looked up at Ren Zhou.

Ren Zhou blinked, nervous under her stare. “What?”

“Boss Ren, how’s the employee benefits at your company?”

“Huh?”

Ren Zhou was confused, but Chen Yanxing put her chopsticks down and looked at Shen Mengke. “Thinking of switching companies?”

“Not exactly. My current contract’s almost up.”

“I see.” Ren Zhou gave her a once-over. “You’ve got the looks, Miss Shen, but you’re not exactly famous, are you?”

Shen Mengke forced a smile and looked down, poking at a piece of fish.

The room fell into an awkward silence. Ren Zhou glanced nervously at Chen Yanxing, who was still watching Shen Mengke intently.

“She might be the one to make you famous,” Chen Yanxing suddenly said.

Both women stared at her, stunned.

Shen Mengke looked at her, then at Ren Zhou, confused.

Ren Zhou followed her gaze, then said slowly, “Maybe… but you know how it is in this industry. Getting famous is mostly luck…”

Before she could finish, Chen Yanxing added, “She will.”

At that moment, it was hard to tell who “she” referred to—was it Shen Mengke who could get famous, or Ren Zhou who could make her famous?

Either way, the implications were very different.

Shen Mengke remained silent, her gaze moving between the two.

“Starlight Media… that’s yours, right?” she asked Ren Zhou.

Ren Zhou looked at Chen Yanxing, then nodded.

“Then why do you listen to her? Who’s really in charge between you two?”

Chen Yanxing laughed lightly. “She’s the boss. I’m just pulling strings behind the scenes.”

Ren Zhou looked helplessly at the two of them and sighed like she’d given in. “When does your current contract end?”

“Next month.”

“Alright. I’ll prepare a new one and send it to you in a couple of days.”

She was straightforward, but Shen Mengke hesitated. Just a few days ago, she was thinking of quitting the industry. Agreeing now might make her seem fickle.

“I’ll think about it,” she said. “Deciding like this makes it feel like I’m sleeping my way to the top.”

“No,” said Chen Yanxing. “I’m the one pulling strings—your relationship is through the contract: proper and legal.”