Fog Returns to the Capital

Chapter 18 Do we know each other?
The two staff members who had been blocking Li Wu from entering the car seemed to know who was inside when they saw it.

He hurriedly walked to the car door.

With a perfectly made-up face, she smiled politely, bowed slightly, and respectfully opened the car door with both hands.

"Mr. Zhou, you've arrived."

Li Wu looked in the direction of the sound.

Then I saw a tall, slender man step out of the car. His handmade, pure black suit was pressed so perfectly that not a single wrinkle was visible, and the exquisite, understated luxury of his cufflinks gave off a cool, subtle glow.

Her aura was noble and aloof, which unconsciously inspired fear in others.

The waiter bowed slightly and respectfully led the way for him.

As the man walked past Li Wu, he didn't look to the side, not even letting his peripheral vision betray him.

A hazy light shone down, making him appear gentle, refined, and aloof.

To him, Li Wu was like a stranger.

Li Wu felt a pang of sadness, a sorrow that had already spread through her heart before she could even react.

A person like him, whether he looks at someone or not, always has the power to control them.

Li Wu watched him approach the door, hesitating between continuing to wait hopelessly outside and trying to ask him for help.

But in reality, Li Wu had no choice.

"Mr. Zhou..."

Li Wu took two steps forward, looked at Zhou Jinghuai's back, and spoke cautiously.

I figured the worst that could happen was that I'd just refuse.

But perhaps Li Wu's voice was too soft, because Zhou Jinghuai didn't hear it.

He continued walking steadily forward without pausing for a moment.

"Mr. Zhou!"

Li Wu made up her mind and raised her voice considerably.

It was at this moment that the elegant, jade-like figure not far ahead stopped in its tracks.

Seeing that he had actually stopped.

Li Wu's heart skipped a beat for a moment, as if it had forgotten to beat.

But soon.

Before Zhou Jinghuai could turn around, Li Wu jogged towards him.

But before she could reach him, she was stopped by a bodyguard.

Li Wu didn't have time to worry about any of that. She simply raised her voice slightly and said with a tone full of apology, "I'm sorry, Mr. Zhou. I didn't mean to disturb you. I'm really sorry."

"I...I am Li Wu, do you remember me?"

The girl tilted her head slightly to look at him; her pure and beautiful face was excessively pale.

Her eyes, like black agate, were pure and clear. Deep within them, however, lay a barely perceptible hint of trepidation and fear.

do you remember?

Zhou Jinghuai looked at her calmly, a faint emotion flickering in his dark, ink-like eyes.

"what's up?"

Zhou Jinghuai said calmly.

His tone was so calm and even indifferent that it revealed no emotion whatsoever.

Li Wu wondered, does he remember, or does he not remember...?

But I sensed that his aura was even more refreshing than before.

Li Wu carefully chose her words, "I have something urgent to attend to and need to go in to see someone. They said I need to show an invitation before they can let me in."

"Could you...could you take me inside?"

As she spoke her last sentence, Li Wu's voice grew softer and softer, almost devoid of any confidence.

She was terrified that Zhou Jinghuai would casually ask her: "Do we know each other?"
Zhou Jinghuai stood under the lights, looking at her calmly, his eyes deep and serene.

It was quiet for a few seconds.

Seeing that Zhou Jinghuai was just looking at her and didn't seem to be about to speak, she noticed that Zhou Jinghuai was just looking at her and didn't seem to be about to speak.

Li Wu lowered her head slightly, and the temperature on her face seemed to gradually become hot.

A slight embarrassment and a touch of inexplicable grievance crept into my heart.

When he spoke again.

Li Wu's voice became very low, with a slight tremor, "If it's inconvenient, then... then consider this as me disturbing you..."

talking.

Li Wu turned around and prepared to leave.

At that very moment, the man's calm and indifferent voice rang out.

Did I say I wouldn't bring it?

“…But you didn’t say you’d take me in…” Hearing him say that, the tension that had been building up in Li Wu’s mind suddenly eased.

There was an unconscious hint of grievance in her tone.

It wasn't a very obvious sense of grievance, but rather a softening of the tone of voice. It was like the gentle, unconscious tone one would adopt when speaking to someone close to them.

Zhou Jinghuai's gaze deepened as he looked at her, but it returned to normal in an instant.

Her voice was like snowmelt dripping from a mountaintop onto jade, clear and cold, "You do have your own ideas."

Unfounded.

Li Wu felt that his words had an implied meaning and were not a compliment.

But before Li Wu could investigate further, she heard Zhou Jinghuai tell the respectfully waiting servant that she could come and go freely from here in the future.

"Ok."

The waiter responded cautiously, without even a second of hesitation.

"..."

Li Wu thought about the more than ten minutes she was kept outside, and how they wouldn't let her in no matter what she said.

Zhou Jinghuai only said one sentence, and they were afraid that if they answered too slowly, they would displease him.

I sighed silently to myself.

But when Li Wu followed Zhou Jinghuai inside and thanked him, she was genuinely sincere. "Thank you so much for today. If you hadn't brought me in, I don't know how much longer I would have had to wait outside."

When she said this, her tone no longer carried the caution and fear she had shown when she first met him; instead, it revealed a sense of ease.

Even when Zhou Jinghuai looked over.

Li Wu tilted her head slightly and smiled at him with her eyes crinkling.

Zhou Jinghuai's deep gaze fell into her eyes, lingered for a second or two, and he said in a calm tone, "You change your expression pretty quickly."

"..."

Li Wu wiped the smile off her face.

When she spoke again, it was to say goodbye to him, "Mr. Zhou, I have to go find someone."

There was a pause.

Zhou Jinghuai finally spoke up, "Do you need any help?"

His tone was very casual, as if it were just a gentleman's casual question.

But don't want to.

Li Wu refused without hesitation, "No need, no need. You've already done me a great favor by bringing me in today." "I know the specific room number, I'll just go find him directly."

In front of Zhou Jinghuai, Li Wu did not want to tell him about how she had already finished filming but her role had been changed.

Always felt.

It's a little... embarrassing.

At that time, Li Wu had never met someone of Zhou Jinghuai's stature, and knew nothing about his way of doing things.

So I don't know either.

People like Zhou Jinghuai never ask simple, casual questions.

Hearing Li Wu refuse.

Zhou Jinghuai's dark, deep eyes remained unmoved; he simply gave a faint "hmm."

Li Wu looked at Zhou Jinghuai, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back.

But in the end, she just smiled and turned to find Director Jiang.

……

Li Wu did not meet Director Jiang at first.

Director Jiang simply sent her a message saying that the role had already been cast and that her payment would be made as originally agreed, and that she should stop contacting him.

Li Wu refused.

She stood outside the private room and refused to leave, insisting on seeing Director Jiang.

The days are gloomy, and the nights are long and dark.

The early winter night was already chilly, and the lush green bamboo grove in the courtyard swayed gently, casting dappled moonlight shadows on the ground.

Li Wu has always been afraid of the cold, and usually dresses in a way that prioritizes warmth over style.

But at this moment, she still felt waves of coldness seeping into her body.

She stood under the veranda, leaning slightly against the pillars carved with ancient and intricate patterns, which offered some protection from the cold wind.

Li Wu's calves were a little numb from standing for so long.

As she looked towards the door of the private room, she saw a group of people coming out. One of the two people walking in front was Director Jiang.

"Director Jiang!"

Ignoring the tingling sensation in her calves that kept rising with every movement, Li Wu quickly walked up to Director Jiang.

You're still here?

Director Jiang looked surprised when he saw her. He seemed to have not expected that she would still be waiting outside after so long.

"I'm sorry, Director Jiang, I know I've bothered you, but could you possibly..."

But before Li Wu could finish speaking, Director Jiang interrupted her, "The role has already been decided, and your salary will be paid as usual. This is already quite good for you."

The decision to continue paying his salary was made by him at the time.

"Director Jiang, you said during the audition that I was very suitable for the role of Li Luo. During the filming process, I was able to get the role right in one take, and you were very satisfied."

Li Wu tried her best to argue for herself, "Could you please reconsider?"

Perhaps it was because she had been standing outside for so long, and her little face was red from the cold.

They look inexplicably pitiful.

When Director Jiang spoke again, his tone was more earnest, "Li Wu, you should know that the person who has taken a liking to this role is Chu Xuan, a top actress from Huanying Entertainment."

Whether or not I can use you is not a decision I can make alone.

The capital behind Chu Xuan, the influence of Huanying Entertainment in the industry, their investors, and the producers of their production team are all factors that need to be considered.

Aside from the first two, Director Jiang can still decide who to use.

"If a suitable opportunity arises in the future, I will give you priority consideration, and then we can cooperate again."

After saying his last words, Director Jiang left with his friend.

……

Li Wu stood there for a long time.

She turned and slowly left when a cool breeze came.

From a very young age, she understood that there is no such thing as fairness in this world.

But I still felt an overwhelming sadness deep down.

Li Wu walked along absentmindedly.

So they didn't realize they had gone in the wrong direction.

When she looked up and realized something was wrong, she was about to ask someone how to get out when she saw the door to the private room next to her suddenly open from the inside.

Several people who looked drunk were coming out of there.

"It's you?"

A muffled male voice, tinged with surprise, rang out.

Li Wu looked up.

The man had a few strands of blue hair dyed on his head, and wore a flamboyant floral shirt and casual pants, looking exactly like a spoiled rich kid.

Li Wu didn't remember ever seeing him.

She simply nodded politely and walked past him to leave.

But don't want to.

Li Wu moved to the side, and he followed suit, taking a step to the side as well.

He stopped her without making any attempt to hide his intentions.

"Please give way."

Li Wu's voice was a little cold.

The man ignored her and instead shouted into the private room—

"Brother Wang! Look who this is!"

The person inside sat alone on the sofa, leaning back lazily.

He was wearing a pure black shirt, with the top two buttons undone, just loosely open, exuding a carefree and unrestrained air.

He seemed to have been living in a world of splendor and prosperity for many years, and his every move exuded the lazy and casual air of a top-tier nobleman.

Li Wu recognized him at first glance.

Jiang Wang.

The person who smashed a bottle of wine worth a million dollars at her feet that day.

This also reminded me of the guzheng teacher's explanation to her that day:
Among the many wealthy families in Beijing, the Jiang family is one of them. It's said that Jiang Wang was worth billions from birth. Not to mention, he's the patriarch's favorite grandson…

"Isn't this Miss Li, who only drinks a glass of wine worth 500,000?"

Jiang Wang's tone was casual and unreliable.

But from the moment he saw Li Wu, his gaze remained fixed on her face, devoid of any emotion, unlike the casual tone in his voice.

Deep and heavy.

It's like looking at prey that was ungrateful before but is now offering itself up to them.

Li Wu had a bad feeling in her heart.

really.

next second...

(End of this chapter)