Chapter 34 - Conscience ("Every word of yours hurts like a dagger. I don't feel that you have a conscience.")

The charity ball ended smoothly, Xu WanZhi happened to walk past Jiang ChenXi on her way out and she greeted him naturally. Without Jiang YueXian's introduction, Xu WanZhi felt that she had left Jiang ChenXi with a decent impression. Jiang YueXian even told her to be well prepared for the audition and try to get the Best New Actress award.

After the event was over, Xu WanZhi got back inside her nanny van and opened up Weibo. That's when she noticed that news about the red-carpet event had already taken over half the Weibo.

All the account owners had amazing photo editing speed.

On the topic list, the most trended one was titled "Three Film Empresses in the Same Frame; New Actress Xu WanZhi Looked Like a Fairy; Who was the Winner of Tonight's Red-Carpet Event".

From the start of the article there was a series of high definition pictures of all of the actresses, in order of popularity. One could immediately see all the actresses' outfits and make over.

Xu WanZhi was listed closer toward the end. Xiao Yuan scanned down the list and was still able to quickly locate her. "WanZhi-jie, look. Boat load of actresses, all of them beautiful, but you were the one who stood out the most! I could spot you right away. Then, looking at the other, tsk tsk tsk, all meh."

Xu WanZhi's thought was still on Mu ZhenYu. She merely mumbled an acknowledgement and didn't pay Xiao Yuan too much attention.

Xiao Yuan studied her look and could tell there Xu WanZhi had something on her mind. She slowed down purposefully and said, "Let me read this to you. It says here that, Xu WanZhi, how had been up on the most trended list a lot as of late, has also attended the red-carpet event. Her Tianna Chou spring-summer series short dress was very well received. Her pendant earrings and necklace from Brand B's Whisper Series gave her an unearthly feel. She had thoroughly demonstrated to us the charm of Brand B's #1 spokesperson. In front of the red carpet, she was in the same picture as the three film empresses, including Chen Jin, and had attracted a lot of discussions. Judging from the pictures from the event, the three film empresses were already the age of an older sister. In comparison, the new girl and the collagen on her cheeks were simply better." Xiao Yuan skimmed over the article quickly and finally gave her summary on it. "Blah blah blah, after that it was all about your scandal with Jiang YueXian a while back and then being seen together today. Look at this, WanZhi-jie. This article mentioned more about you than all three of obsolete film empresses. I think your audition for 'Plainness' would be a sure in."

Seeing that Xu WanZhi still didn't look too happy, Xiao Yuan added, "It says here that from third tier all the way to first tier, let it be the pictures taken on site or the ones that had been edited, they all looked fake. Except for yours, your on-site pictures looked even better than the edited ones. They all said you looked like a fairy who could stir up a breeze when you walked. And, Tianna had reposted your pictures too. She even said that you've helped her re-experienced the feeling of youth and heart throb when she was a young designer…" Xiao Yuan went on excitedly for while but still couldn't move Xu WanZhi. She finally couldn't help but asked, "WanZhi-jie, what you thinking about? You seem so distracted."

"Oh?" Xu WanZhi paused for a little before she looked away from the window.

The truth was, she was thinking about the original novel. She had no recollection on the name Feng Chun. As far as the original novel was concerned, all she could think of was the romantic scenes of breaking up and getting back together between Qin Sheng and Liang ZhiQuan.

As for Mu ZhenYu, his role was that of a "functional villain". He created obstacles between the otherwise uneventful relationship between the male and female leads and finally contrasted the happiness between them with his own tragic end.

But how was he able to get back onto his feet? And why did he end up in jail?

And what kind of a role did Feng Chun play in all these?

She had no idea whatsoever.

Seeing Xiao Yuan's anticipating and curious look, she blinked a couple of times and decided to be concise, "I am thinking about Mu ZhenYu."

Xiao Yuan's eyes widened immediately. And then, her little cheeks blushed. "Aiya, WanZhi-jie, I am so envious of the two of you."

Xu WanZhi pursed her lips helplessly but had no intention to clarify the unimportant misunderstanding. She fell back into silence.

The water in the river was surging and the cool wind blew inside the little apartment. There was already a layer of cigarette butts inside of the chic ash tray on the table.

It was already 10:30. Mu ZhenYu's face was cold like ice. Staring at the clock for a while, he started unbuttoning himself. He needed to go take a shower to clear his head.

And, at this very moment, he could hear keys jangling. He looked up and saw Xu WanZhi walking inside with her keys in her hand, looking normal.

She kicked off her high heels and paused for a little but when she saw Mu ZhenYu standing in the middle of the living room. Then, with a happy look, she said, "Mr. Mu, you are home so early?"

She looked down naturally and saw his abdominal muscles. And then, she turned away, a bit frantic. She turned around and put down her purse. "Did you just get home?"

Mu ZhenYu just stood in the same spot that he was and looked at her bright eyes. He remained silent.

The anticipation and happiness in her eyes were real. She wasn't testing him nor did she go and do something that she shouldn't have while he was "out."

He didn't even want to bother asking her why she called him tonight.

The minute that her lips curved, the entire night of waiting was no longer important. As long as he could have her by his side, so what if he was set up and went bankrupt after he had followed through with his plans?

He nodded slightly. "Yes, I'm just about to go take a shower."

She ran up to him and grabbed him by his arm. "Wait, don't go yet."

"What's the matter?" he stopped and asked, looking at her with interest.

"There's something that I need to talk to you about." She took off her fancy Brand B earrings and casually put them down on top of the coffee table as though the pricey jewelry was nowhere as important as talking to him. She put on a serious look. She couldn't have looked more solemn. But all of a sudden, she was at loss of words.

How should she broach the subject? How could she remind him to be careful without sounding like she was interfering with his work? She was troubled.

Mu ZhenYu's lips curled upward. He took a few steps over to the couch, sat down somewhat in the middle of it, and said, "Let's talk sitting down."

Xu WanZhi pursed her lips but she still looked troubled – it didn't matter whether they were going to talk about this standing up versus sitting down. But he urged her with his look so she nodded, walked around the coffee table and walked over to the wider side.

As though he did that intentionally, he patted the narrower side of the couch next to him and said, "C'mon, WanWan."

If she sat over there, her thigh would be touching his…

Xu WanZhi felt that she had been tricked but she still sat down carefully while holding onto the bottom of her dress.

"What is it that you want to talk about?" He, on the other hand, looked like he was in a good mood. His look was sincerely as though he was very willing to listen to what she had to say to him.

"I ran into Feng Chun during the red-carpet event today. I didn't know him before but that one time when you were drunk and Mr. Bai called and asked me to go and pick you up, I've inadvertently heard Mr. Bai bringing him up. So… I got nosey and paid particular attention to what he was saying." She watched Mu ZhenYu's reaction closely as she talked. After she was sure that he did not looked displeased at all, she carried on. "Mr. Mu, don't be too trusting of him. He said to someone today that he is going to inject another round of investment into the Qin's. He also said that once Mu XiYuan has recovered, he would join hand with Qin Sheng to plot against you."

A long while had passed before Mu ZhenYu finally nodded gently and said, "I know."

"You knew?" That was unexpecting but not unreasonable. Xu WanZhi nodded too and said, "That make sense, I guess. You were the one who asked me to cure Mu XiYuan, so you must have your plans… Well, I just wanted you to know was all."

"So you called tonight to see if I was going to be home so you could tell me that?" His tone was high and mighty but surprisingly not repulsive.

Xu WanZhi nodded and said, "Yes, I thought it's best we talk about this face to face. Screens are so big nowadays. Who knows who else could see our screen if I have texted you?"

Mu ZhenYu suddenly felt that this girl was quite interesting.

It was late and it's getting dimmer outside. The atmosphere inside the apartment was peculiar and she was sitting so close to him. Her leg was only separated from his by a thin layer of fabric of his dress pants.

She was just walking down the red-carpet in light-hearted steps not too long ago.

Half the actresses from the entertainment circle was there competing among each other to be the most beautiful one there and she was the one who stood out the most.

And now, she was seriously discussing the screen sizes of cellphones with him?

He stretched out his right arm and placed it over the back of the couch behind her, making her entire body falling almost entire in his arm. "Xu WanZhi, if only you didn't keep on reminding me about your amazing customer service, I'd almost think that you care about me."

Xu WanZhi leaned back a little bit and said, "You are quite nice to me. The fifty million notwithstanding… I have a conscience too."

That's the ways of the demons were in the past hundreds and thousands of years. They know who were good to them and who weren't. Which was why demons were always returning favors in folklores.

Xu WanZhi clearly remembered that original owner did not live as long as her in the novel.

And, up to this point in time, she has yet to be locked inside of the trunk of the car. That was definitely a favor that she needed to return.

As such, her "conscience theory" might sounded grand but she was, in fact, telling the truth.

The smile, on the other hand, left Mu ZhenYu's face and he returned to his usual cold look. "Every word coming from you hurt like a dagger. I certainly don't feel that you have a conscience."

Xu WanZhi was a little stunned and wasn't sure how to respond.

Mu ZhenYu stood up, took his shirt off and tossed it to one side. The muscles on his back bulged out a little. Then, back to his normal strong and mean tone, he said, "I'm going to shower. You should too. Don't stay up too late."

"Okay." Xu WanZhi never knew what it was that she said that had offended him. She, too, stood up and walked toward her own bathroom as she reached back to undo her necklace.

She was half way through when she noticed that Mu ZhenYu had stopped in his steps.

The air seemed to have solidified. Without needing to use her magic, she could feel his eyes burning a hole on her back.

She sighed to herself then, turning around, asked him, "What's the matter?"

Mu ZhenYu didn't say anything but walked over to her briskly. He lifted his arms and his slender fingers tugged at it gently and he took her necklace off for her. Handing it over to her, he said, "Here."

Then, he placed his hands on the zipper on the back of her dress and said to her, "Hang on to your dress."

"What did you just say?" Before Xu WanZhi could process what he was saying to her, he had already unzipped her dress.

His knuckles, running down the entire length of her back, gave her a tingling sensation. She quickly grabbed onto her dress and, quickly throwing him a "thank you", dashed into the bathroom without even daring to look back.

He could hear the sound of the bathroom door being locked. Remaining at the same spot for a long time, he finally let out an ironic sigh at himself.

Standing under the cold water, all he could think of was her smooth back and her pale skin.

She was ridiculously delicate.