After that, neither of them brought up the matter again.
After the meal, Bai Yinyue called a driver and bid farewell to the two.
She left rather hurriedly, unlike the previous few times when she would say a proper goodbye to Zhong Ruanxing and confess her feelings before leaving.
Zhong Ruanxing actually understood her feelings very well. When she was in school and got her first period in class, the class monitor had rushed over to cover her with a school jacket. She still remembered how the monitor had seemed like a superhero to her at that moment.
She knew too well how panicked and helpless the person would feel in such a situation.
Today, no matter who the person was, acquaintance or stranger, she would do the same thing when she saw it happen.
It just so happened that Bai Yinyue had feelings for her. With how she had helped her today, Bai Yinyue was probably even more smitten with her now.
When she got home that night and called Song Jinxing, she worriedly told him about it, "Should I make up a first love story about White Moonlight, saying that you're waiting for her return and want to remain chaste for her? What do you think?"
Song Jinxing: "..." He was silent for a few seconds. "You can just tell her directly that I have a girlfriend."
"Huh?" Zhong Ruanxing sat up in bed. "Who is she? Where? When?"
Song Jinxing glanced at Zhong You beside him playing with bugs, then got up and walked out to the balcony. The autumn night wind already carried a chill. Standing here, he could see Miaoman's reflection through the glass window of the balcony.
He wanted to say something but ultimately didn't say anything. He only said, "Anyway, it's made up. Might as well directly make her give up."
Zhong Ruanxing felt strangely relieved for some reason, and lay back down on the bed. "I thought of that too, but don't the people around you know whether you have a girlfriend or not? If she insists on asking who my girlfriend is, how do I answer?"
Song Jinxing said, "It's you."
The person who had just lain down bolted up again. "Huh?"
Song Jinxing smiled silently, but his tone was still as calm as usual. "I thought about it. We don't know when we'll be able to switch back, so we might as well confirm our relationship. That would not only facilitate future contact but also help ward off a lot of trouble for each other."
Zhong Ruanxing's eyes widened, and she was stunned for a long time before asking, "Are you serious?"
Song Jinxing said, "Yes."
Zhong Ruanxing screamed silently in her heart, but the calm voice from the phone quickly calmed her down again.
No, this wasn't a confession.
Confirming a relationship, as he had put it, was only to make life more convenient for them both in the future, to give them a more justified reason to interact in front of others. She could help him reject Bai Yinyue, and he could also help ward off the rotten peach blossoms in the entertainment industry for her.
It was a win-win policy that suited Song Jinxing's consistent style.
Zhong Ruanxing couldn't say how she felt right now, but had to admit that for a moment earlier, her heart had stirred. But that was just her one-sided delusion. How could she fantasize that someone with emotional detachment would propose a relationship because of feelings?
If he knew her thoughts, would he ridicule her for wishful thinking?
Probably not. A gentle and polite person like him would only calmly and thoroughly tell her that even without feelings, he would still choose to be with her.
But the more it was like this, the more disappointed she felt.
The other end of the phone suddenly fell silent. Song Jinxing's grip on his phone unconsciously tightened as an unprecedented unease arose in his heart.
After a while, he softly asked, "Do you not want to?"
Zhong Ruanxing moistened her lips, and finally smiled. "What's there to not want? A mutually beneficial method, sounds good. I'll tell Bai Yinyue that when she contacts me again."
Song Jinxing felt her words were a bit odd but didn't know exactly what was wrong. He could only say, "Alright, I'll also tell your parents and Ran Tong about the relationship. She said she wanted to do PR in advance."
But Zhong Ruanxing declined, "No need, it's not a real relationship anyway, just an excuse to fend people off. There would be a lot more trouble if it went public."
Song Jinxing was silent for a moment. "Alright, as you say."
Tonight, when they hung up, Zhong Ruanxing didn't say goodnight to him.
And Song Jinxing, who no longer had sleep issues after the switch, also unusually suffered from insomnia.
The next day, Zhong Ruanxing went to the company with dark eye circles to catch up on sleep.
Near noon, Fu Ling knocked to wake up the napping Zhong Ruanxing. She went to the bathroom to splash water on her face and wake herself up. When she came out, she heard Fu Ling say, "Boss, Little Cheng from Shiryu Real Estate wants to take you out for lunch today."
Zhong Ruanxing thought of the things Cheng Yaowen had done and didn't want to see him, but Chengyi Group was cooperating on projects with Shiryu so she couldn't really refuse. She nodded in agreement.
It seemed Cheng Yaowen really had something to discuss with her. The location was set at a Western restaurant not far from Chengyi Tower. When Zhong Ruanxing arrived, Cheng Yaowen was already there.
This playboy young master always put on a proper appearance in front of others, but that lazy aura could never be concealed. Seeing her walk over, Cheng Yaowen's gaze was full of meaningful probing.
Zhong Ruanxing took her seat across from him and got straight to the point, "What did you want to see me for, Cheng?"
Cheng Yaowen stared at her, his tone somewhat gloomy. "Chairman Song, isn't this rather unfair play for business partners?"
Zhong Ruanxing recalled having Fu Ling investigate the Cheng and Tian families and guessed why he had called her here today.
Sure enough, Cheng Yaowen took out a few documents from a file bag beside him and flung them in front of her. "My mother's maiden family's electronics factory faced closure as all its supply channels were cut off, then your company acquired it at a low price. The Song family's business is huge, so I suppose an electronics factory this small is beneath your notice. I wonder how the Tian family offended Chairman Song to receive such vicious treatment?"
Zhong Ruanxing expressionlessly picked up the documents to take a look.
This matter was arranged by Song Jinxing for Fu Ling to handle. He had not even tried to cover it up at all, as if just waiting for Cheng Yaowen to come investigate.
Zhong Ruanxing quickly guessed his intentions after thinking it over.
Cheng Yaowen and his mother had thought she was a small star without background, which was why they dared be so casual in humiliating her. But now Song Jinxing had stepped up to clearly tell them that he was her backer.
That person was standing up for her fair and square.
Zhong Ruanxing was somewhat touched inside, but her expression remained icy cold. She gave a cold laugh under Cheng Yaowen's gloomy gaze. "Why did I do this? Doesn't Cheng know?"
As expected, Cheng Yaowen's expression flickered slightly. After a long time, he revealed a mocking smile. "So it was you."
Zhong Ruanxing lazily flung the documents in her hand back at him. "Cheng, my girlfriend already warned you guys. Today you've come to my door, so let me warn you again as well." Her eyes turned cold. "Don't bother her anymore, or the Tian family won't be the only one to close down."
Cheng Yaowen's face was very taut, his gaze icy as he stared at her.
Girlfriend?
What? Girlfriend?
The esteemed heir of the Song family actually openly acknowledged a scandal-ridden female star as his girlfriend just like that?
Rumors said Song Jinxing shunned women and didn't recognize relatives, yet surprisingly, he would protect a female star like this?
Until long after Zhong Ruanxing had left, Cheng Yaowen still sat in the same spot.
His assistant walked over from the private room next door, a bit hesitant. "Chairman Cheng, the projects from Shiryu that got revoked..."
Cheng Yaowen said, "No need to look into them anymore. He must have done that too."
The assistant really hadn't expected that Miss Zhong would actually be the girlfriend of the Song Group's heir. Chairman Cheng had really kicked an iron plate this time. But this was good too. If the chairman knew when to retreat, his job would be much easier.
Just as he was thinking this, he suddenly heard his boss give an odd laugh.
"Fighting with Song Jinxing over a woman, how thrilling."
