For the next week, Li Wu focused on preparing for his final exams, while Cen Jin was immersed in PINA Cosmetics’ new project.
After finishing the brief for the New Year gift set, her team threw themselves into intense preparations.
Thursday afternoon, Cen Jin went to the photo shoot location. At the studio, she met her client, Song Ci, in person for the first time.
The woman had short hair, pale skin, and light makeup, giving off a “minimalist chic” aesthetic beauty that matched Cen Jin’s mental image almost exactly.
But there was one unexpected detail – they were wearing the same coat from the same brand.
Cen Jin felt slightly awkward and found an excuse to take off her coat within minutes of their meeting, to prevent any discomfort for the client.
Song Ci didn’t seem to mind, and seeing Cen Jin’s action, she commented softly: “Nice coat.”
The awkwardness instantly dissolved, and Cen Jin smiled slightly.
The studio was shooting materials for Weibo splash screen ads and WeChat promotional H5. Lu Qiqi had come along with Cen Jin. As the creative team leader and a fan of PINA Cosmetics’ newest spokesperson, she had somewhat ulterior motives for this visit.
The three women stood side by side, watching the popular young actor Meng Xizhou expertly “strike poses” in the photography studio.
His appearance was superior, with excellent camera presence, and his golden ratio face was flawless from every angle.
Lu Qiqi was entranced, showering him with endless compliments.
Song Ci was used to this, and suddenly raised her chin: “Cen Jin, don’t you think Meng Xizhou’s eyes look a bit like your boyfriend’s?”
Cen Jin was slightly surprised, having assumed that a client like Song Ci wouldn’t pay attention to “romantic news” on social media. After a moment’s thought, she replied: “He’s more refined than my boyfriend.”
Song Ci said: “But your boyfriend’s eyes are clearer. What does he do?”
Cen Jin said: “Still a student, studying physics at F University.”
Song Ci let out a disappointed “ah”: “I thought he was a model, was thinking of recruiting him for our company’s shoots.”
Cen Jin laughed and shook her head: “No, he’s just an ordinary person.”
After one set of photos was complete, Meng Xizhou came down to drink water and rest, while they went to look at the unedited preliminary shots with the photographer.
During this time, Cen Jin paid special attention to Meng Xizhou’s eyes – they were indeed somewhat similar to Li Wu’s, both with thick eyebrows and large eyes, naturally forming beautiful eye bags without needing to force a big smile, but Li Wu’s pupils were clearer.
After roughly selecting photos, the coffee ordered by the artist’s assistant arrived at the studio. Song Ci brought a cup to Cen Jin, and as she took it, Song Ci smiled and asked: “Cen Jin, could you sit with me somewhere after we finish here?”
Cen Jin raised an eyebrow and nodded.
Afterward, they found the nearest café.
As the server brought their drinks, Song Ci got straight to the point: “You know my ex-husband?”
Cen Jin was startled, her mind racing through social connections: “Which one?”
“Zhou Sui’an,” Song Ci dropped a sugar cube into her cup, her expression calm: “I saw him in your likes the other day, how do you know him?”
Cen Jin thought for a moment, remembering that Zhou Sui’an had indeed appeared under her public status, but her impression of him hadn’t improved because of it. She only answered: “Because of a copyright infringement issue with an advertising video clip.”
Song Ci asked: “Is it resolved?”
“I think so.”
“That’s good,” Song Ci cupped her coffee with both hands: “Zhou Sui’an is crazy, stay away from him.”
The world was surprisingly small, and Cen Jin belatedly realized: “So you’re his ex-wife?”
Song Ci nodded, understanding in her eyes: “Seems you’ve heard about me?”
“Yes…” Cen Jin hesitated but still wanted to hear what she had to say: “You used to work in advertising too?”
Song Ci said: “Yes, I was at Hengmei before coming to PINA two years ago.”
She continued talking about her ex-husband: “Zhou Sui’an is sensitive, paranoid, calculating, emotionally unstable, like someone with cyclothymia, and it got worse after marriage. He couldn’t stand any men around me, would have people follow me, and plant devices in my car. I couldn’t take it anymore and decided to divorce him, fought a long legal battle to break free. He orchestrated a good show, putting himself completely in the victim’s position – that’s the version of the story you and others have heard, where I play the villain who betrayed the marriage, and I paid a heavy price for it.”
“These years he’s developed into a KOL using his advantages, not just to satisfy his performative personality, but to infiltrate my industry, trying to destroy me like a virus by bringing our ‘past’ into my work. After the divorce, all his girlfriends have been from our industry, and I worry you might become one of them. Though I’m not clear about his exact motives, one thing is certain – he’s an absolute psychopath.”
Chills ran down Cen Jin’s spine, and she found it difficult to judge truth from fiction, only able to continue along: “I haven’t had much interaction with him because I felt uncomfortable around him from the start.”
“Wise judgment,” Song Ci’s voice became more distant and slow: “We should have nothing to do with such people, but to see my child, I have to keep his contact information.”
She took a few small sips of coffee, looking back at Cen Jin, her expression like a calm lake after a thousand storms: “Let’s leave it at that, I need to get back to the company. Will you stay longer?”
Cen Jin was startled, smiling faintly and shaking her head: “I’ll head back too.”
―
Back at the company, Song Ci’s warning still echoed in her ears. Cen Jin asked Li Wu on WeChat: Last week when you returned the coat to Zhou Sui’an, did he say anything else to you?
Li Wu the Errand Boy reported truthfully: Yes, he did.
Cen Jin asked: What?
Li Wu replied: He asked what happened to his specimen.
Cen Jin finally remembered the specimen card she’d thrown in the trash in anger: Why didn’t you tell me?
Li Wu: I guessed you wouldn’t keep something like that, and I was afraid you’d think I was being petty again.
His pitiful expression made Cen Jin both angry and amused: I did throw it away, that very night because it was so disgusting.
Cen Jin asked: How did you answer him?
Li Wu said: I told him I threw it away.