Jiang Liuyue immediately took out her phone.
"What are you doing?" Cen Yuan asked nervously.
"Calling my boyfriend."
Seeing her about to dial, Cen Yuan stepped forward and snatched the phone away.
"I just want to discuss a collaboration with you, I mean no harm."
"Collaboration?" Jiang Liuyue was surprised.
At the coffee shop.
The waiter brought two cups of coffee to the table.
One hot Americano, and one hot latte.
Cen Yuan's attitude had softened significantly by now. He pushed the hot latte in front of Jiang Liuyue.
"I'm sorry about what happened at noon."
"But you also called me a wild dog, so let's call it even," he said.
Jiang Liuyue stared at the man in front of her with a look of suspicion.
When they interacted earlier, he was acting incredibly arrogant. Now, not only had he blocked Li Feile's slap for her, but he was also buying her coffee to apologize.
No matter how she looked at it, something was off.
Cen Yuan took a sip of his coffee, looked up, and cut straight to the chase:
"Yes, I do like Feile."
"But as you know, her heart has always been set on Han Zheng."
Jiang Liuyue didn't quite get it.
"So?"
"You showed up at the perfect time. Hold onto Han Zheng tightly so that Feile doesn't have a single chance." He paused, then explained, "Only then will I have a chance."
Jiang Liuyue almost laughed out loud.
Her gaze fell on the hot latte in front of her. She picked up the small silver spoon and stirred it, her movements unhurried.
Her tone was equally slow and deliberate.
"Do you have a split personality?"
"What do you mean?" Cen Yuan straightened his back, sitting up a bit taller.
"At noon, you blocked me in the hallway and told me not to steal someone else's man. Now, you're telling me I did a great job."
She tapped her fingertips lightly against the tabletop.
Smiling faintly, she said:
"Cen Yuan, are you sure you don't have a split personality?"
Hearing this.
A flash of irritation crossed the man's face, but he restrained himself.
He explained:
"What happened at noon was because I promised Feile I would give her an explanation."
"But after thinking it over carefully, why should I help her get together with Han Zheng? I'm not that generous."
Jiang Liuyue felt a bit bored.
Oh, that's it?
How old are they, still playing this game of 'you love me, I love him, he loves her'?
If you really had any skills, you'd just steal her away.
Seeing her waning interest, Cen Yuan spoke again:
"I will tell you Feile's movements. In return, you have to tell me about Han Zheng's."
By this time, Jiang Liuyue had already stood up.
She hadn't taken a single sip of that hot latte.
Who knew if someone like Cen Yuan would drug it? It was better to be safe than sorry.
"There's no need for a collaboration."
"You go chase your Li Feile. As for how things are between me and Song Han, you guys don't need to worry about it."
Jiang Liuyue grabbed her bag, pushed the door open, and left the coffee shop.
Cen Yuan anxiously stood up to stop her, but failed to do so.
After a while.
At the back door of the coffee shop, Li Feile walked in, her silver high heels clicking against the floor.
Seeing the empty seat and the steaming latte on the table.
She said unceremoniously:
"She didn't drink it? You can't even handle such a small thing?"
Cen Yuan's eyes darkened. This cup of coffee had been drugged.
If only Jiang Liuyue had taken just one sip earlier.
She wouldn't have been able to walk out of here safely today.
He said in frustration:
"Her guard is too high! She doesn't trust me at all."
Li Feile scolded him harshly:
"Didn't you say you were incredibly charming? You can't even handle one Jiang Liuyue? Hah, and you expect me to trust you!"
Cen Yuan remained silent for a long moment.
His eyes turned cold as he said, "Give me another chance. I'll take care of her."
Li Feile's lips curled up, and she gave a soft snort.
"Handle it quickly!"
...
Jiang Liuyue had plans to eat dinner with Shu Qing that evening.
As soon as she arrived at the restaurant, she spotted Shu Qing from afar at a round table on the left side of the hall, excitedly raising her hand and waving.
"Over here."
Jiang Liuyue walked closer and took a look.
Only then did she notice there was a man beside Shu Qing.
It wasn't Chen Cheng.
Noticing her gaze, Shu Qing smiled and explained:
"A friend of mine, outside the industry."
The man had a fair complexion and wore a suit. His facial features were quite ordinary, but fortunately, his temperament was outstanding.
After Jiang Liuyue sat down, Shu Qing called the waiter over to start serving the dishes.
"I'm sorry, Liuyue. After agreeing to dinner with you, I remembered I had already made plans with my friend. I didn't want to stand either of you up, so I had to invite you both together."
"Please don't mind."
Jiang Liuyue shook her head and smiled, "Not at all."
In truth, her relationship with Shu Qing was just that of ordinary friends. They had merely met in an acting class and shared a few meals.
It was already very nice of her to specifically set aside time for her.
"By the way, what was the question you said you wanted to ask me?" Shu Qing said, pointing to her friend. "He knows how to keep a secret, he won't go blabbing."
Jiang Liuyue then explained that her company had accepted a lead role in a youth idol drama for her, and that it was going to be directed by the famous Director Da Qing.
Shu Qing's eyes lit up upon hearing this.
She excitedly patted Jiang Liuyue on both shoulders.
"Girl, you're about to strike it rich!"
"Is it really okay? I'm just confused as to why they would cast a newcomer like me. I just feel..."
She just felt uneasy.
Like it was some kind of trap.
Hearing her say this, Shu Qing lowered her head and began to ponder.
She muttered:
"That's true! This is a highly coveted role. So many new actors in the industry want it. I'm guessing it's not set in stone yet."
"Before you officially join the cast, be careful. I'm worried someone might try to steal it from you."
Jiang Liuyue then asked some more questions about Director Da Qing.
Shu Qing patiently answered them one by one.
During this time, the two of them chatted enthusiastically, while Shu Qing's friend sat quietly to the side.
After finishing their meal, just as they were getting ready to leave.
Suddenly, someone charged into the restaurant from outside and headed straight for their table.
Jiang Liuyue saw clearly this time; it was Chen Cheng.
Before she even had time to greet him, she saw Chen Cheng throw a punch, smashing it right into the face of Shu Qing's male friend.
It was swift and fierce!
Shu Qing quickly grabbed Chen Cheng and yelled, "What are you doing? Are you crazy?!"
"I'm crazy? He's the one who's crazy." Chen Cheng pointed at the man furiously and said, "Are you even my brother? You're just going to steal my woman like this?"
As Shu Qing pulled the two apart, she said in utter shock:
"What nonsense are you spouting? When was I ever with you?"
Chen Cheng nodded and said, "Yes, I like you." He pointed at the man again and said, "He's my childhood friend. He knows our relationship but still pursues you. Is this how a brother acts?"
Jiang Liuyue stood to the side, quietly watching the drama unfold.
The crowd was buzzing. Some people had originally wanted to call the police, but upon hearing Chen Cheng's words, they immediately understood.
Oh, so it was just romantic rivals acting out of jealousy.
Shu Qing was somewhat famous after all, and Chen Cheng even more so.
Jiang Liuyue quickly reminded them:
"We'd better get out of here quickly. Otherwise, if the paparazzi snap pictures of this, we'll never be able to explain it!"
Only then did Chen Cheng notice that Jiang Liuyue was also present.
"Why are you here?"
"I was the one who invited Shu Qing out for dinner."
Chen Cheng looked at Shu Qing in shock and said, "You weren't having dinner with him alone?"
"What do you think?"
Furious, Shu Qing hit his shoulder hard twice with her bag, then squatted down to help her male friend up.
The group hurried out through the back door of the restaurant.
A white sedan was already waiting there, its window slowly rolling down.
Lin Yizhou's gaze swept past the others and landed on Jiang Liuyue.
He then asked with concern,
"Chen Cheng, are you alright?"
Shu Qing snapped, "He's fine, but his buddy was almost beaten to death."
