Chapter 2

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Afterwards, Jiang Nian turned to head for the bathroom. Wen Nian caught his wrist, her voice dripping with coy suspicion. “Nian-ge, are you sure there’s nothing going on between you and that ugly manager of yours?”

Jiang Nian’s step faltered, a flicker of something complex crossing his eyes. Then, he looked down at Wen Nian with practiced gentleness. “Hmm. I’ve kept her around simply because she’s useful. Don’t overthink it. It’s you I love.” The words were meant for Wen Nian, yet they sounded more like a desperate reassurance to himself.

Useful?
It’s you I love?

Each denial stabbed into Jiang Zhi’s heart. Her face paled, a bitter, self-mocking smile twisting her lips. She remembered chasing him relentlessly for two years in university, met with utter indifference. Finally, on graduation night, he had agreed to be with her – on the condition she abandon her own chance at a leading role and become his manager instead. Blinded by adoration, she had agreed without hesitation. For his career, she had willingly been his secret lover for three years. She poured her heart and soul into selecting scripts, securing endorsements, handling every detail of his life herself.

So, all she had done was merely… useful. Everything suddenly made sense. Throughout those three years, Jiang Nian had treated her with detached politeness. Occasionally, she’d caught flashes of disgust or even hatred in his eyes, vanishing before she could be sure. She’d dismissed them as illusions. Now she knew they were his true feelings. No wonder he only held her close when drunk, mimicking a normal couple. Even when visibly struggling with desire, he’d never touched her, retreating instead to cold showers. His restraint, fueled by her own self-delusion, had transformed into proof of profound love in her mind. Self-deception only wounds the deceiver. It was time to wake up.

Online, clips of Jiang Nian and Wen Nian’s playful interactions on their new drama set flooded feeds. Their fans were rabid, dissecting every frame for proof of their real-life romance. This was the warning bell Jiang Zhi couldn’t ignore. It was why she’d faked a business trip, planning this surprise. Tonight, she had gambled. Clearly, she had lost. In that instant, with one sentence, one clear thought, her feelings evaporated. He’s just a rotten vegetable now. Whoever wants him can have him. I’m done.

Stuck in her miserable hiding place, Jiang Zhi was still debating whether to confront them or wait for them to leave when fate intervened. Her phone rang, piercing the silence of the wardrobe, the sudden noise freezing the conversation in the bedroom. Jiang Zhi answered immediately. Xiao Ran’s frantic voice came through. “Jiang Zhi-jie! It’s bad! Paparazzi have photos of Film Emperor Jiang kissing Wen Nian in his car and them entering the apartment complex together! They’re demanding ten million to keep quiet!” Xiao Ran had worked with Jiang Zhi and Jiang Nian for two years. To her, Jiang Nian was the epitome of grace, restraint, and gentle refinement. Knowing Jiang Zhi was with him tonight, she couldn’t fathom him capable of cheating. She was convinced the photos were clever angles, a paparazzi scam. Jiang Zhi’s calm reply shattered Xiao Ran’s carefully constructed image of the man. “Let them publish. I imagine Film Emperor Jiang would be quite pleased to publicly announce his relationship with Miss Wen Nian.”

As the words left Jiang Zhi’s lips, the wardrobe door swung open. Jiang Nian stood there, his handsome face a mask of shock, panic, and utter disbelief.

Moments later, composure snapped back into place. He frowned. “Were you hiding in there spying on me?” His accusation – the audacity of the guilty blaming the victim – chilled Jiang Zhi further. She calmly ended the call and stepped out of the wardrobe. Her gaze swept over the revealing black slip dress she wore, then lifted to meet Jiang Nian’s eyes. A red-lipped smile curved, her voice deceptively soft and innocent. “I only wanted to give you a birthday surprise.” She paused, her gaze shifting pointedly to Wen Nian on the bed, shoulders bare and marked with love bites. Her tone turned icy. “Though it seems you didn’t need it.” Before his betrayal, this black slip had felt like a lover’s secret weapon. Now, it felt shameful and grotesque. The fabric clinging to her skin burned.

Jiang Nian finally registered Jiang Zhi’s attire. The lustrous black silk hugged her perfect figure – the deep valley between her breasts, the impossibly slender waist, the long, shapely legs on full display. Understanding the implication of her choice sent an inexplicable surge through him. His throat tightened. His eyes darted involuntarily between Wen Nian on the bed and Jiang Zhi before him, his expression conflicted, visibly weighing his options.

Jiang Zhi saw his hesitation, disgust flooding her. He’s actually choosing? Before Jiang Nian could speak, she delivered the blow. “Jiang Nian. Let’s break up.”

The words hung in the air. Without waiting for a response, she strode past him, her long legs carrying her swiftly towards the exit without a backward glance. This apartment had been their shared space for three years. No – more accurately, it was cohabitation. Jiang Nian had never allowed her into his room; only when he was drunk had she briefly crossed the threshold. They were less a couple, more like roommates. Jiang Zhi couldn’t bear to stay another second. The dress felt like an invitation she now despised. She grabbed a long coat, wrapping it tightly around herself, snatched her bag, and headed for the door.

The words “break up” struck Jiang Nian like a physical blow, rooting him to the spot. In his memory, Jiang Zhi had always been pliant, obedient. Never had she walked away from him with such finality. A sudden, hollow feeling yawned in his chest, as if he were falling through endless space. Before he could identify the emotion, his body acted on its own. He spun around and lunged after her. “Nian-ge! Where are you going?!” Wen Nian cried out in alarm. Jiang Zhi’s hand was on the doorknob when a powerful grip seized her wrist. The gentle refinement was gone. Jiang Nian held her tightly, his voice low and intense. “I didn’t agree!”

他的握手感觉就像一条毒蛇缠绕在她的肉体上。纯粹的厌恶笼罩着江芷。她与他的目光对视，她的眼睛冰冷清澈。“我没有问。”意思是明确的：你们的协议无关紧要。这已经结束了。江念的眼中笼罩着一层愤怒。“江志，你有什么权利结束这一切？只要我不同意，你就不会离开！江芷冷笑一声。完全不合理。他是骗子，却敢指责她没有权利？这是什么扭曲的逻辑？她美丽的狐狸般的眼睛因轻蔑而眯起。“是什么让你认为我想要一个被别人弄脏的男人？”

脏了？他对像她这样的垃圾来说绰绰有余！江念张了张嘴想要反驳，但江芷接下来的话还没等一个声音传出，就打断了他的话。