Whoever Falls in Love First is the Dog - Chapter 45

Chapter 45

As she spoke, her eyes swept over Shu Yun, clearly counting her as one of the “troubles.”

The café fell into complete silence, as if even the air had frozen.

Shen Mengke’s chest was rising and falling with anger, yet no one dared respond at that moment.

As the only outsider present, Chen Yanxing remained relatively calm. She knew this wasn’t the right setting to discuss such matters—especially when two of the four people present were public figures. Chen Yanxing herself had barely stayed off the trending searches.

But Shen Mengke was clutching her hand tightly, hard enough to leave a red mark. She couldn’t leave, so she signaled the café owner to clear the place.

The café doors were closed, a “Closed” sign hung up. Only then did Chen Yanxing pull Shen Mengke to sit down. She picked up the cup of milk and held it to her lips, urging her to take a sip.

“Technically, your matters aren’t mine to interfere with. But since Shen Mengke is about to become one of our company’s people, as her boss, I do have a responsibility to help her sort out these troubles.”

As she said this, her eyes once again passed over Shu Yun, still categorizing her as “trouble.”

Shu Yun, however, never once looked at Chen Yanxing. Her gaze remained fixed solely on Shen Mengke.

“Mengke, I don’t want things between us to reach a point of no return. You know I’ve always treated you well,” she said.

Shen Mengke lowered her eyes and nodded. “Yes, you’ve always treated me well. But that kindness—it came with a purpose, didn’t it?”

“Because I was obedient, right?”

Shu Yun shook her head. “I was good to you because you’re you. You’re the one I love most. It had nothing to do with anything else.”

A tear lingered on her lashes as she blinked. Shen Mengke let out a soft laugh. “Mm. I believe you. But I also believe what I’ve come to understand.”

“You’ve always tried to control me. You wanted me to be a parasitic flower sheltered under your wings, didn’t you?”

It wasn’t a question—it was a statement. Shen Mengke was an incredibly smart woman. She had climbed from a poorly resourced rural middle school to a top city high school, then worked her way into the nation’s best film academy.

She was too smart to be deceived. The only question was whether she allowed herself to be deceived.

In the past, she trusted Shu Yun completely. Whatever Shu Yun said was law to her. That trust stemmed from Shu Yun having provided her with a warm, stable home.

She believed she could walk the path Shu Yun had paved for her, and Shu Yun believed the same. But then things changed. Shu Yun fell ill, and could no longer manage her. So she began secretly controlling her growth, hoping that Shen Mengke would remain a budding flower until Shu Yun returned to the country.

But people change. No one remains a star-gazing child forever. No one keeps believing in a fantasy flower house forever.

As Shu Yun left, as public opinion online shifted, as Shen Mengke’s popularity faded…

She was an actress, a celebrity. If she disappeared from the internet, it was as if she ceased to exist.

Shu Yun thought she could always be the wind beneath Shen Mengke’s wings. But the years she missed had carved a chasm too wide to cross between them.

Staring at Shen Mengke—at the trembling tear on her lashes—Shu Yun suddenly seemed defeated. “You’re right,” she admitted.

Shen Mengke looked up, not directly at Shu Yun.

“But you know, Mengke, I came back this time to help you. You will become famous. You’ll be China’s most unique actress. You’ll stand on the awards stage with me. We’ll be that perfect couple everyone envies. Isn’t that… good?”

Good? Of course it was good. If this were six years ago—even just one year ago, before she met Chen Yanxing—she would’ve said yes. But now things were different.

Shen Mengke glanced at Chen Yanxing, then shook her head. “No.”

“I can rise to fame on my own. I’m not a parasitic flower. I don’t need to rely on anyone.”

“No, Mengke, you’re too naive. In this industry, no one can succeed without help…”

“That’s right,” Chen Yanxing interjected, “But she can rely on Fanxing—a company a thousand times better than JING.”

Shu Yun cast her a cold glance. “As far as I know, Fanxing has never produced a hit.”

“Oh, but we have,” Chen Yanxing said, lifting the hand still clasped with Shen Mengke’s. “She’s sitting right here in front of you.”

“I’ve never believed she needed anyone to make it.” As she spoke, Chen Yanxing glanced toward the café window and spotted Ren Zhou’s car pulling up.

She smiled. “Since everyone’s here, let’s clear up the contract termination and new signing, all at once.”

Just then, Ren Zhou pushed open the door. The café owner tried to stop her, but Ren Zhou smiled and handed him a card. “We’re together. Any damages tonight—put them on my tab.”

Ren Zhou’s entrance was loud. Shen Mengke looked up. Her eyes were still misty, but when she saw what Ren Zhou was holding, her body finally relaxed.

She leaned back in her chair, released Chen Yanxing’s hand, and downed the rest of the milk. In the light, the tears in her eyes sparkled.

This matter had dragged on long enough. It was time to settle things.

“I’m late?” Ren Zhou said as she walked in, tossed a contract onto the table, and stood with arms crossed, eyeing the group.

“Who’s in charge here?”

Shu Yun glanced at her but said nothing. Fan Shi was just an employee—she had no say either.

Setting down her empty cup, Shen Mengke finally looked up and said, “I already paid the termination fee. If you’re planning to stall, I’m not.”

She fixed her gaze on Shu Yun. “If you want to go to court, I’ll see you there.”

At that, Shu Yun looked up at her. The two stared at each other across the table. Then Shu Yun smiled slightly.

“Do you remember the contract you signed with me a few days ago?”

Shen Mengke froze. Chen Yanxing instinctively looked at her. “What contract?”

“Nothing major. Just that Mengke agreed to complete one project with me. It was signed under her personal name, before she officially terminated with JING. That makes it a breach of contract.”

Shu Yun said it calmly, gently rubbing the rim of her now-cold coffee cup. Her eyes were soft, as if looking at something precious.

“I don’t care what’s between you all. Strictly speaking, JING has nothing to do with me. Whether you terminate or not doesn’t matter to me. I just want you to finish this project with me, Mengke. After all, this is Director Qing’s final script in her lifetime.”

Shen Mengke suddenly snapped alert. “What happened to Director Qing?”

“Cancer. Probably doesn’t have long. Her health shouldn’t even allow her to finish the shoot.”

“Is that true?”

“I have no reason to lie.”

Shen Mengke was silent for a moment, then turned to Ren Zhou. “Do you have a pen?”

Ren Zhou handed her a black pen. Without even glancing at the contract, Shen Mengke flipped to the last page and signed her name. Then she looked up at Fan Shi.

“She says she has nothing to do with it. Fine. But you received that money. I wanted a clean break, but apparently, that’s unnecessary now.”

“I’ll transfer the breach penalty for Heart Journey to your account tomorrow. As for the rest, consider it my breach. Sue me if you like.”

Then she turned to Ren Zhou. “By the way, how’s Fanxing’s legal team?”

Ren Zhou laughed. “You’ve signed already. Worst case, we pay more. I’ve got money.”

“Good.” Shen Mengke pushed the contract toward her. “Take care of the rest. I’ll follow your arrangements. Just don’t accept any new jobs for me in the short term. As you heard, I’m still being blackmailed.”

She stood and turned to Chen Yanxing. “Let’s go.”

Chen Yanxing nodded and rose with her. As they left, she said to Ren Zhou, “It’s in your hands now.”

Ren Zhou gave her a reassuring smile.

After the two left, Shu Yun didn’t stay another second. Fan Shi, more professional than the rest, quickly followed up with Ren Zhou to handle the handover.

Fan Shi didn’t have the final say—but her boss listened to Shu Yun, and Shu Yun’s attitude was clear.

No matter how ugly tonight had gotten, in the end, Shu Yun still didn’t want to make things too difficult for Shen Mengke. So they could treat it as a clean break on both sides.

By the time the drama was over, it was just past nine.

Outside the complex, the streets were vibrant with neon lights, bustling with people. It was peak nightlife.

Shen Mengke looked up. The sky was overcast. No stars. No moon.

“Will you walk with me?” she tilted her head and asked Chen Yanxing.

Chen Yanxing nodded. “Here? It’s pretty crowded.”

Shen Mengke chuckled. “I’ve already trended so many times. One more won’t kill me.”

Chen Yanxing hadn’t meant that—but seeing her, she suddenly didn’t know what to say.

Shen Mengke didn’t want to go home. That home was Shu Yun’s gift, not truly hers.

“Does Fanxing have staff dorms?”

“Thinking of moving?”

“Mm. I haven’t saved much these years. I just spent a bunch terminating the contract. After tomorrow’s penalty, I’ll barely have anything left.”

It was ironic. After all these years in the spotlight, she’d lived comfortably, but never richly. Anything extra required a huge cost.

Chen Yanxing looked at her in profile and said, “If you don’t mind, you can live at my place.”

“Mm? Convenient for hookups?” Shen Mengke smirked, though the laugh didn’t reach her eyes. A grim joke.

“It’s not technically mine. Ren Zhou gave it to me. But you know, I haven’t lived in Jiangcheng for years. I have another place here. That one’s empty.”

Shen Mengke laughed. “My place? Shu Yun gave it to me under JING’s name. I’m traumatized. Ren Zhou won’t turn into another Shu Yun, will she?”

“No. You’re just borrowing it. You’ll pay rent.”

“Oh.” Shen Mengke nodded, head down, walking slowly.

“I want to move out tonight.”

“Okay.”

She closed her eyes for a second, listening to the traffic and snippets of conversations from passersby.

“This place really sucks… really, really sucks…”

“Yeah. I know.”

Chen Yanxing simply agreed. Shen Mengke turned to her and laughed, “What do you mean you know?”

Chen Yanxing didn’t reply—but suddenly raised her hand.

Her palm was just inches from Shen Mengke’s cheek. Shen Mengke looked up.

She had nearly walked straight into a utility pole.

Chen Yanxing’s hand stood between her and the pole, shielding her from a painful collision.