Chapter Eighty-Five: The Legendary Patron's Capital

“What would happen?” Bai Chenxi looked at Jiang Jize with a smile that brimmed with mischief. “Half a sentence, arsenic mixed with rice.”

Jiang Jize couldn’t help but touch his neck.

He tugged at the sleeve of Bai Chenxi’s costume. “Help me act it out first! We’ll talk after.”

Bai Chenxi pulled her sleeve free. “Alright, alright. I agree.”

The people around the crew watched their interaction, exchanging glances as if they all understood.

Tang Ziyu cast a cold look in their direction, then closed her eyes and stopped speaking.

Meng Ling nearly tore her script apart with frustration. Her assistant cautiously reminded her, “Sister, Xia said Bai Chenxi is Jiang’s person. She told you not to mess with her anymore.”

Meng Ling shot the assistant a sideways glance, impatient. “Got it. Stop using Xia to pressure me.”

At that moment, Jiang Jize was completely unaware that he was dancing on the edge of death.

For the rest of the day, Jiang Jize spared no effort in showering Bai Chenxi with attentions.

When Bai Chenxi finished a scene, he was right there, fussing over her, massaging her shoulders and back.

When she was filming, he stood by and watched. If she hadn’t promised Jiang Jize to keep up the act, Bai Chenxi would have taken action herself—he was simply too oily.

Bai Chenxi pulled Jiang Jize aside.

“Come on, say it. You’ve performed all day—who are you trying to make jealous?”

Jiang Jize replied awkwardly, “What do you mean, make someone jealous? I don’t understand what you’re saying.”

Hmph! Pretending with me.

Bai Chenxi deliberately said, “Then it doesn’t matter. I was going to say, if you were trying to make someone jealous, you’d be doomed.”

Her words made Jiang Jize uneasy. He was anxious inside but tried to look unconcerned. “Why would I be doomed?”

Bai Chenxi secretly laughed: Let’s see how long you can keep up the act.

“Oh, it’s nothing. Anyway, it’s none of your business.”

“Alright, alright, I’ll say it. It’s Tang Ziyu.”

“Who?” Bai Chenxi couldn’t believe her ears. “Sorry, I might not have heard clearly. Could you say it again?”

Since he’d already said it, Jiang Jize repeated himself.

Bai Chenxi sized him up. “So you’re the legendary sponsor, the actual principal?”

He really didn’t look the part. In all the news about Tang Ziyu’s sponsor, she imagined he’d be the domineering CEO type. Looking at Jiang Jize now, when did the world start favoring quirky CEOs?

Jiang Jize gave a feeble smile. “Yes, I’m the legendary sponsor, the principal.” What kind of title was that? Chu’s woman really was extraordinary.

Now Bai Chenxi finally understood why, as soon as she joined the crew, Tang Ziyu acted so strangely toward her. She’d been cast as a rival in love.

Thinking about Tang Ziyu’s gaze, Bai Chenxi felt that agreeing to Jiang Jize’s request was an utterly reckless move.

She shot Jiang Jize a look of disdain. Because of him, she’d made so many enemies. Meng Ling alone wasn’t enough; now Tang Ziyu was added to the list.

If she kept acting with him, would she even leave the crew alive? Bai Chenxi stood on tiptoe, trying to pat his shoulder but couldn’t reach. Why were they all so tall?

She switched tactics and patted Jiang Jize’s arm. “Let’s keep a low profile from now on, and stop flirting around. Spare some thought for me, who’s getting dragged into all this.”

Jiang Jize thought for a moment. “I’m not.”

Bai Chenxi nodded perfunctorily. “Jealousy needs moderation—a little is charming, too much is harmful. With her temperament, if you keep messing around, she might just say goodbye to you.”

“She wouldn’t dare.” Jiang Jize’s face darkened. Tang Ziyu, always timid in front of him, couldn’t possibly say such a thing.

His attitude made Bai Chenxi uncomfortable. She looked at him with displeasure. “Why wouldn’t she? Is this how you pursue someone? You haven’t even won her over, yet your airs are overwhelming.”

Jiang Jize retorted, “Who’s pursuing her? I’m not!”

“Then why all this drama today?” Now she understood why Tang Ziyu was so indifferent to him. If it were her, with Jiang Jize’s behavior, she’d want him gone as far as possible.

“I…” Jiang Jize tried to argue, but couldn’t find the words. In the end, he muttered, “I do as I please.”

Bai Chenxi nodded. “Fine, please yourself then!” With that, she turned to leave.

“You just said, with her temperament, she—what kind of temperament?” Jiang Jize’s voice came from behind, but he didn’t call after Bai Chenxi. He wanted the answer, yet feared it wouldn’t be what he hoped.

Bai Chenxi didn’t look back and sighed. “Why don’t you find out for yourself?”

If it weren’t for Tang Ziyu’s attitude toward her, she wouldn’t even bother—she felt he might still have a chance. Alas! She truly pitied Tang Ziyu for falling for a blockhead. (Chu Muyun: Shouldn’t that be my line?)

After speaking, Bai Chenxi strode away, feeling as though something was left unfinished, but unable to recall what.

After Bai Chenxi left, Jiang Jize stood alone: Find out for himself? They had known each other for three years—how could he not understand her?

She had always been gentle and obedient, preparing everything in advance whenever he went on business trips. She never came to his company, never clung to him, never called him incessantly.

She always conducted herself gracefully, never troubling him with her own affairs. If possible, although three years had passed, he wished their relationship could stay just as it was; after all, they got along well.

But unexpectedly, Tang Ziyu said she wanted to leave. Jiang Jize thought, maybe it was for the best. Then she’d realize how good she had it, and eventually come back.

He never imagined Tang Ziyu would actually leave without a word. When he felt something missing and called her, he heard:

“Sorry, the number you dialed is invalid. Please check and try again!”

She hadn’t deleted him from WeChat, but she’d blocked him. When he saw her posts through his secretary’s phone, she was traveling and enjoying herself, living more freely than he ever had.

Jiang Jize’s face darkened instantly; he tossed his phone to his assistant and said irritably, “Don’t mention her to me again.”

Why should she live so freely while he waited here? Tang Ziyu, your chance is gone; if you dare, don’t ever come back.

He never expected that, when he saw her again, she would claim—what? That she was dead.

At first, Jiang Jize was angry, but then he wondered: Was she trying to come back, using this as an excuse because she was too shy? The more he thought about it, the more plausible it seemed—especially seeing how jealous she’d been lately!

If so, going to fetch her back wasn’t impossible. But to his surprise, when he arrived, she was still playing hard to get.

And her temperament had changed; after so many years together, she couldn’t not know what he liked. Wasn’t it obvious she was provoking him, trying to draw his attention?

As Jiang Jize pondered, his phone rang. Seeing the caller’s name, he had no time to think about tactics. His mind was filled with panic: Oh no, oh no! Will I even make it home alive?