After having lunch at Rong Dai's home, Lu Nianzhi took Qiao Wanzhou to move into the rented duplex that she had found.
After getting herself back into the right mindset, Rong Dai threw herself into her work with great vigor and drive.
She paid no attention at all to the vicious comments flooding the internet.
After confirming multiple times with her client, Qiao Wanzhou's agent immediately contacted the company executives and held a brief meeting.
Although dissatisfied with Qiao Wanzhou's recent actions that had caused them some losses, the company had not reached the point of terminating her contract.
So they only took routine PR measures and let things develop on their own.
If the keyboard warriors wanted to vent, then let them vent to their heart's content!
Zhou Jing's agent, however, was extremely anxious and worried.
He understood clearly the entanglement between Qiao Wanzhou and Zhou Jing.
But unlike Qiao Wanzhou, Zhou Jing had clawed his way to where he was today completely through his own hard work and perseverance.
What Qiao Wanzhou had done would not only deal a blow to her own career, but also bring about some irreparable consequences for Zhou Jing.
He was also aware of the emotional entanglement between the two of them. For it to erupt at this time was better than later.
Zhou Jing was now out of danger. Thankfully, the doctor said his face was fine, just some abrasions that would heal with proper care.
The internet was abuzz, and there was no peace to be found at the hospital either.
The company did not take any PR measures, but maintained a wait-and-see attitude.
After all, the two of them had huge popularity. This spat could increase Zhou Jing's popularity.
But only the agent knew why the company did not take PR action. They just wanted to tie this money tree down firmly.
The topic raged on Weibo for three days, still topping the hot search lists.
Rong Dai focused on her work wholeheartedly, eating and sleeping on time, video chatting with Huo Shao Ting, keeping up her productivity and quality.
Qiao Wanzhou stayed inside the duplex without going out for three days. She did not post anything on Weibo either, giving the impression that she had vanished from the world.
Only Lu Nianzhi and Rong Dai knew that Qiao Wanzhou had been drunk for three days straight.
On the fourth day, Zhou Jing woke up, and Qiao Wanzhou's hangover ended too.
"Have you figured out how to handle this? If you don't handle it properly, you'll ruin yourself."
The agent looked at Zhou Jing, still wrapped in bandages, and asked worriedly.
This was the artist he had raised up with his own hands. He had made Zhou Jing, but Zhou Jing had also made him the superstar agent he was today.
Leaning against the bed, Zhou Jing quietly browsed through the news on Weibo.
The vicious words - he had become numb to them after so many years.
Skillfully, he logged into another small account that was verified as his personal account.
The only person this account followed was Qiao Wanzhou.
He had carefully commented on her every post, paid attention to her every move.
No one knew Wanzhou better than him, no one would love her more than him.
He had hidden in his shell all these years, not daring to make any commitment to her, because he was afraid of losing her.
Now, what retreat or choices did he still have?
His original intention of entering the entertainment industry was to achieve excellence worthy of matching her.
If he still did not dare to respond now, it would be as Rong Dai said, he would never have the right again in the future.
The agent knew he had this small account, but Zhou Jing had never opened it in front of him before.
Seeing that everything was Qiao Wanzhou's posts, the big man could not help but tear up.
"Have you...really made up your mind?" he asked Zhou Jing.
Zhou Jing smiled at him. "Do you still remember what I said when I first became your artist? I did it for one person, and that person is Wanzhou."
"This car accident woke me up."
"I love her, I shouldn't have made her wait for twelve whole years. One does not get many twelve years in life."
Hearing him say this, the agent heaved a huge sigh of relief.
"It's good that you've figured it out. But the Qiao family won't agree so easily. Once you take this step, you know what you'll be facing. Blacklisting is the lighter consequence."
Zhou Jing shook his head with a smile. "I don't care. I only want her."
He had it all thought through and clear.
As long as Wanzhou was by his side, what did it matter if he lost all that glamour and brilliance?
As long as Wanzhou was willing, he would happily let the Qiao family take away his shine if they wished.
"Alright then. Tell me what you need me to do."
The agent spoke, prepared to live and die alongside Zhou Jing. Over more than ten years, their relationship had gone beyond agent and artist.
"There are a few things, actually."
Zhou Jing was resolute. He was grateful for this car accident.
It had made him see everything clearly and understand what he truly wanted.
What he wanted had never changed.
The news of Zhou Jing regaining consciousness immediately became a hot topic. Rong Dai happened to be taking a break. Qiao Wanzhou, holding her phone, stumbled to Rong Dai's home with red-rimmed eyes. She was too overwhelmed to speak.
Rong Dai was badly startled by her state.
"Sis Wanzhou, are...are you okay?"
"Wah..."
Qiao Wanzhou suddenly burst into loud sobs and ran towards Rong Dai, hugging her tightly. Her voice choked with emotion. "Thank you, Rong Dai!"
She was truly grateful to Rong Dai.
Without Rong Dai, she might never have gotten Zhou Jing's response.
Rong Dai was shocked by this sudden outpouring of emotion. She was not used to such intimate contact from others.
But she let Qiao Wanzhou hug her for a few seconds before pulling her away to ask, "What on earth happened?"
Qiao Wanzhou wept tears of joy. As she wiped away her tears, she showed Rong Dai the message on her phone with slightly trembling hands.
Puzzled, Rong Dai looked towards her phone screen.
There, she saw Zhou Jing's extremely firm and unambiguous response.
This time, I will not run away.
Wanzhou, I want to bravely face this together with you.
As long as you are willing, I will do my utmost to protect you.
Wanzhou, I've figured it out. I've done all this because I love you, because I want to achieve excellence worthy of you.
This time, I may lose everything. Will you still be willing?
Rong Dai could not bear to read further. It made her scalp tingle and teeth ache.
Now she could somewhat empathize with how sour Little Sister felt when she was intimate with Shao Ting.
"He answered me. This is the response I wanted."
Although the result made Qiao Wanzhou overjoyed, tears still kept streaming down uncontrollably.
"Thank you, Rong Dai. You really are a blessing to us!"
Qiao Wanzhou looked at her gratefully, too overwhelmed to know what to do.
Rong Dai looked at Qiao Wanzhou before her and recalled their first meeting at the Qiao residence. How confident and elegant Wanzhou had been then, witty and eloquent.
But even the strongest Qiao Wanzhou, the most perfect version of herself, was just like any other ordinary person at heart - longing for the one she loved to reciprocate her feelings.
Lovers destined finally come together, wishes granted, thoughts realized.
This was perhaps the most beautiful thing in the world.
