Chapter 155: Chapter 155: Li Zhen’s Invitation
Not knowing whether it was out of embarrassed fury, Li Zhen had a fierce quarrel with Gu Cheng, saying she had never loved him and demanded that he stay away from her from then on, ending their interaction.
Li Zhen moved out of the Gu family ho and returned to the house her parents had lived in before their deaths, then quickly signed with an entertainnt company and debuted six months later.
Gu Cheng looked for her many tis, but she avoided him, claiming she had signed a contract with the agency that prohibited romantic relationships.
After her debut, Gu Cheng secretly sponsored her opportunities, allowing her to participate in various performances, yet her individual talent was still sowhat lacking.
Later, she switched to acting, playing minor roles in different TV dramas.
Li Zhen wasn’t good at singing, but she had a gift for acting and, with Gu Cheng subtly helping behind the scenes, she was quickly noticed by directors and landed a supporting role that made her famous because of the character’s dashing presence.
Once famous, she had continuous film offers, established her own studio, and began acting alongside popular young actors.
Li Zhen was either joining one production team or another, so busy she could barely cope, and even found ti to appear on variety shows to expand her popularity.
She had almost completely lost contact with Gu Cheng.
After gaining fa, Li Zhen progressively beca unsatisfied with just TV dramas and began venturing into the film industry.
That period was notorious for bad movies, with even variety shows being edited into films to be released during the Spring Festival slot.
Li Zhen invested a great deal of effort in a movie, but its box office performance fell short compared to a variety show film shot in six days, leading to a significant financial loss.
She returned to TV dramas, aiming to challenge different types of roles.
However, having mostly played bold characters, her later forays into period dramas were criticized by viewers for being out of character.
During that ti, a well-known actor approached her, offered guidance, and through frequent discussions, she indeed learned a lot about acting.
She considered the male actor a confidant but overlooked the fact that he was married.
Also disregarded was the possibility that a man’s approach to a woman is rarely without motive.
Even though she and the actor had no romantic involvent, their frequent private interactions drew public censure.
One ti, after the actor’s birthday bash, when other guests had left and only the two of them remained, since they were both filming in Heng Dian and their hotels were near, they walked back together.
Unbeknownst to them, they were photographed by paparazzi, who, hungry for traffic, claid they had left the restaurant together and returned to the hotel as a couple.
Li Zhen’s studio responded imdiately, furiously denouncing the paparazzi’s rumors.
Nonetheless, the actor’s wife entered the fray with a cryptic comnt implying Li Zhen had seduced her husband.
When the wife spoke out, it triggered an upheaval.
Coupled with slander from online trolls paid by rivals and the resulting boycott of her work, a newly negotiated endorsent deal was canceled, and she was vilified across the internet as a howrecker.
The incident dealt a heavy blow to Li Zhen.
She completely lost interest in the entertainnt industry.
One day, she sought out Gu Cheng, accompanied by a three-month-old Husky.
This was the first ti she had initiated contact with Gu Cheng in over five years.
Gu Cheng no longer paid much attention to the entertainnt industry, occasionally watching her work, and was unaware of the current backlash.
“Gu Cheng, I’m leaving the entertainnt industry,” said Li Zhen with sorrow.
Gu Cheng saw the changes in Li Zhen after years of struggling in the industry.
She appeared more mature and captivating, but her gaze had lost its clarity, trading innocence for a piercing sharpness.
“If you’re tired, co back to ,” Gu Cheng offered.
He hadn’t dated anyone in those five years.
Li Zhen smiled.
“Gu Cheng, can you hold ?” she asked.
Gu Cheng opened his arms to her.
That night, they slept together once more.
After a passionate reunion, she asked, “Gu Cheng, haven’t you been with another woman in all these years?”
“No,” he answered.
Neither had she. During her years in the industry, she had t many and was chummy with everyone, seemingly close to all, but in truth, no one had penetrated her heart.
“Gu Cheng, you’re such a fool.”
After these words, Li Zhen fell asleep.
Gu Cheng also drifted into deep slumber.
The next day, Li Zhen was gone.
Unable to find her, Gu Cheng investigated and learned her studio had been disbanded.
That’s when he realized her recent hardship.
He knew she was upset and wanted solitude.
He was comforted that she had co to him when she was most heartbroken, simply seeking comfort in his embrace.
He hoped she might return eventually.
But eight years passed, and she never did.
No one knew where she went; it was as if she had evaporated overnight, leaving only a Husky behind.
Gradually Gu Cheng felt like a true fool; her visit was nothing more than seeking solace in her distress.
She never really loved him.
…
In the hotel, Gu Cheng candidly shared the story of him and Li Zhen with Zhou Yuan.
Zhou Yuan hugged Gu Cheng.
She wanted to say sothing but couldn’t find the words.
The most morable loves are often the first.
It seed that this feeling would always be etched in his heart.
Who was to bla for not being born earlier?
Gu Cheng also hugged Zhou Yuan tightly.
It was as if not holding on would loosen sothing inside him.
…
At dusk.
Zhou Yuan roasted a chicken in the hotel’s oven.
It was a chilly day, and they hadn’t gone anywhere.
Gu Cheng sat at the bar, watching Zhou Yuan bustling about.
He had already checked out another hotel in a different city, planning to take Zhou Yuan there the next day.
At that mont, the hotel phone rang. The server at the reception inford him that a woman nad Zhen was looking for him downstairs.
The call was on speakerphone, so Zhou Yuan heard as well.
Zhou Yuan looked at Gu Cheng, and he returned her gaze.
Gu Cheng sought her approval with his eyes, ready to go down to et the visitor if Zhou Yuan agreed—if not, he wouldn’t.
Zhou Yuan felt a pang in her chest.
If he didn’t want to et the woman, he would have imdiately declined without seeking her consent; his question was rely a formality out of respect for his wife.
“Brother Cheng, go and see her. I don’t mind,” Zhou Yuan said.
Taking his coat, Gu Cheng replied, “I’ll be back soon.”
Zhou Yuan offered him a faint smile.
As he left, her heart sank.
The roast in the oven was forgotten, gradually burning.
…
In the lobby, Li Zhen t Gu Cheng.
“I didn’t expect to see you here,” said Li Zhen.
Gu Cheng chuckled, “I didn’t expect to see you here either.”
“Shall we go outside and talk?”
“Is there a place nearby where we can chat?” asked Gu Cheng.
“The coffee shops are closed, only the bars are open,” Li Zhen replied.
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