The girl was pulled away by her, looking at her with a face full of confusion. “Who are you?”
“Why did you call him the Crown Prince just now?” Ji Xueli asked, driven by a touch of selfish motivation; she needed to understand the male lead’s background.
Hearing this, the girl sneered, “You don’t even know who he is, yet you’re still trying to throw yourself at him?”
“Have you heard of the Duan family? There are four aristocratic financial magnates: the Ji family, the Cheng family, the Ji family, and leading them all is the Duan family, who can cover the sky with one hand in Huacheng.”
Ji Xueli nodded to herself. Worthy of being the male lead; his background and status were indeed formidable.
“You’re new to this circle, aren’t you? Let me tell you, anyone backed by the Crown Prince has become famous across the entire nation,” the girl added, seeing Ji Xueli nodding in agreement.
Oh, in that case, the female lead must also belong to the entertainment industry.
“OK, thanks.” Ji Xueli waved at her understandingly, turning around to leave.
“Hey!” The girl frowned as she watched her walk away. Relying on a pretty face, she really doesn’t know her limits, throwing herself forward like that.
When she returned to the original spot, Duan Qingyu was nowhere to be seen. She looked around, and unable to find him, she decided to grab her bag and leave, but someone blocked her path.
“Leaving so soon?” Cheng Du suddenly appeared from somewhere, looking at her.
“Yeah, it’s boring.” Ji Xueli glanced at the woman in his arms.
Looking at her facial features, which seemed even more refined than before, Cheng Du couldn’t help but speak up, “Did you come straight to the sea ball right after coming back just for him? You used to dislike this kind of occasion.”
“I used to dislike this kind of occasion?” Ji Xueli caught the key phrase and asked tentatively.
“Yeah. You were either on set or on the red carpet.” Cheng Du nodded.
The original owner was a workaholic. Ji Xueli deduced this piece of information.
“Still, since you left so decisively, now that you’re back, do you still love him in your heart?” Cheng Du chuckled, asking gossipy.
She knew this kind of question was inevitable.
“Where’s Duan Qingyu?” Ji Xueli didn’t answer him and asked instead.
“Him?” Hearing this, Cheng Du couldn’t help looking around as well. “Huh, where did he go?”
Ji Xueli pulled out her phone. “Forget it, just give me his phone number.”
She and the male lead had definitely deleted each other’s contacts; she had to get his contact info first.
Cheng Du looked at her suspiciously. “What for? Asking for his number, are you plotting something untoward?”
He used to be quite familiar with Ji Xueli as they grew up together. Although they drifted apart later, he still spoke to her without any restraint.
“Mhm.” Ji Xueli nodded in admission. Since they all knew each other anyway, when he mentioned it to the male lead later, wouldn’t that indirectly reveal her heart?
Perfect.
“…”
No denial?! And so direct?! Cheng Du froze mid-action as he was typing in the phone number, his eyes widening in shock. “What! You really want to plot something against him?!”
He was completely stunned. A few years ago, didn’t she get into a fight with Duan Qingyu for the sake of Ji Yanzhou? How did it turn out like this now? Did going abroad open up her mind?
“Why such a big reaction? Is there a problem?” Ji Xueli felt he was making a fuss over nothing. Was wanting to reconcile after a breakup really that shocking?
The woman in his arms, having heard the entire conversation, looked at the person in front of her and said in a slightly sarcastic tone, “It seems the Crown Prince’s popularity is as high as ever. As soon as Xueli returned to the country, she headed straight for the Crown Prince.”
“Otherwise, should I head straight for you?” Ji Xueli smiled softly. Why did asking for the male lead’s contact info trigger so many reactions? Was there anything wrong with shamelessly begging for reconciliation?
Cheng Du turned a cold, impatient gaze toward the woman.
Under Cheng Du’s gaze, the woman cowered and whispered, “I’m sorry, Miss Ji.”
“Finished typing?” Ji Xueli stopped looking at her and turned back to Cheng Du.
“Hold on. But Xueli, Duan Qingyu isn’t easy to pursue,” Cheng Du said, swallowing hard and speaking dryly as he saw how calm she was.
Ji Xueli took her phone back and shrugged indifferently. “Even forced fruit tastes sweet.”
Cheng Du watched her leave, feeling emotional inside. After going abroad, she actually said that forced fruit is sweet; that’s something only her childhood self would say.
A few years ago, she was someone entirely devoted to her career and Ji Yanzhou. But now…
Cheng Du let out a soft laugh. He was looking forward more and more to the moment Ji Yanzhou would meet her.
Thinking of this, he couldn’t help but pull out his phone and send a message: Ji Xueli is back.
Just after sending it, a voice sounded from behind him: “What’s wrong?”
It was Duan Qingyu, who had disappeared just a moment ago.
“Xueli just asked me for your contact info,” Cheng Du told him truthfully.
Duan Qingyu raised an eyebrow slightly. “Mine?”
“Yeah, she said she wants to pursue you,” he added.
Cheng Du waited with anticipation to see what kind of emotion would appear on his face, but he merely curled his lips, casually said “Got it,” and nothing more.
Cheng Du grew even more curious. He patted his female companion’s waist, signaling for her to entertain herself for a moment.
“Crown Prince, aren’t you even a little bit curious? She’s the white moonlight that Ji Yanzhou has been yearning for. She finally came back to the country, yet she fell in love with you at first sight. Though we played together as kids, after you left Huacheng in high school, it was…”
Cheng Du stopped right there, saying no more to avoid any unpleasantness.
Duan Qingyu took a sip of his drink, his Adam’s apple bobbing slightly. “How does Ji Yanzhou’s secretary look?”
“I’ve seen her a few times. Quite pretty, except her eyes and eyebrows resemble Xueli’s a bit.” Cheng Du hadn’t thought much of it before, but having just seen Ji Xueli and now hearing him bring it up, he realized something.
He covered his mouth as if discovering a big secret: “A stand-in?!”
“Wow, looks like Ji Yanzhou really can’t forget Xueli. But aren’t you afraid that if he finds out Xueli wants to pursue you, he’ll come cause trouble for you?”
“It’s quite interesting. If she wants to pursue me, let her.” A playful smile appeared at the corner of Duan Qingyu’s lips, his dark eyes filled with nonchalance.
Hearing him say this, Cheng Du knew he wasn’t afraid at all. He shrugged. “Fine, you’re the Crown Prince, you’re not afraid of making trouble.”
“Does Ji Yanzhou know she’s back?” he asked again.
“I just told him.” Cheng Du was also someone who loved watching the drama unfold without fearing the mess.
“Then things are going to get even more interesting.” Duan Qingyu leaned back against the sofa, a few buttons on his shirt unfastened, revealing his collarbone beneath his snow-white neck.
He looked completely like an enchanter, far too seductive.
Cheng Du shifted his gaze away, finally understanding why so many people wanted to climb into his bed. Based on this face alone, even he almost felt his heart flutter.