CEO's Ugly Flash-Marriage Wife Hides So Many Identities
Chapter 354: Emerging from the Water

Chapter 354: Chapter 354: Emerging from the Water

Liang Jinqian suddenly let out a cold laugh, his expression extremely grim. "You really fell for that man."

Qiao Rui smiled. "Mr. Liang, the habit of jumping to conclusions isn’t very flattering."

"Miss Rui, you don’t appear very sincere. Why do I feel like you’re constantly speaking on Pei Liyan’s behalf?" Liang Jinqian retorted coldly.

"I’m not speaking for him; I simply find your way of thinking rather peculiar, Mr. Liang. If I were to stand in the shoes of those young starlets you’ve played around with, and talk about the dynamics between men and women, would you find it easier to understand?"

Liang Jinqian frowned, his face filled with displeasure, yet unable to argue further.

"If those starlets had brothers or younger siblings who stepped forward to seek revenge against you, do you think you’d still be sitting here calmly discussing how to deal with Pei Liyan?"

Liang Jinqian let out a bitter laugh. "So, Miss Rui isn’t planning to take action against Pei Liyan? If it’s not because you’ve fallen for him, can I know the reason why?"

"Part ways amicably," Qiao Rui said heavily. "He’s certainly not a perfect person, but he’s not as utterly vile as you describe him. As for the matter of his relationship with your sister, whatever it may be, I think we are both outsiders and shouldn’t judge too hastily."

"He did wrong by my sister—he caused my sister to lose her child. Tell me, can I let him off the hook?" Liang Jinqian retorted.

Qiao Rui froze; she vividly recalled Pei Liyan mentioning that the night he spent with Rui Qing was their first time.

His willingness to admit to that incident suggested he wasn’t lying, especially since he even confessed to what happened with Ruirui. He had laid everything bare.

Qiao Rui felt that he wasn’t the type to lie.

So, what exactly was the story behind Liang Jinqian’s sister’s pregnancy?

Qiao Rui asked again, "Mr. Liang, how can you be so sure your sister’s child was Pei Liyan’s?"

"Don’t you dare slander my sister; she’s an innocent and wonderful young woman."

"You’re her brother, so thinking that way is understandable," Qiao Rui said.

"Do you think I’m the type of person who’d discard reason for the sake of family?"

Qiao Rui responded calmly, "It’s possible."

He himself had played around with numerous young women, some of those starlets had been coerced through hidden deals.

Qiao Rui understood well that some people might sell themselves for fame, but most of the women were left with no choice.

In the entertainment industry, without influential figures to support you, without capital backing you, it’s incredibly difficult to succeed.

There are very few who succeed without any compromises.

So there are those who sacrifice everything for the spotlight.

"Heh!" Liang Jinqian’s face darkened as he glared at Qiao Rui, his voice cold. "It seems Miss Rui and I indeed can’t collaborate."

"Hmm, differing paths lead to different directions," Qiao Rui said frankly. "We’re not the same kind of people, so it’s impossible to walk the same road."

"Alright, since Miss Rui is unwilling, I’ll find someone else to collaborate with," Liang Jinqian said.

"Suit yourself," Qiao Rui said with a smile.

Liang Jinqian also returned a faint smile. "It’s time for the dishes to be served. Dinner’s on me."

"Mr. Liang wants to silence me?" Qiao Rui asked. "They say that those who eat become indebted."

"Indeed, I do hope you keep this a secret," Liang Jinqian said.

Qiao Rui nodded. "Fine, for the sake of your honesty, I’ll keep your secret."

"That’s good," Liang Jinqian said with a smile. "Now I can rest assured—I trust in Miss Rui’s integrity."

"No need for flattery, Mr. Liang," Qiao Rui said indifferently.

"It’s not flattery; it’s just that you spoke up for those starlets, so your character doesn’t seem bad," Liang Jinqian said.

"If possible, I still hope Mr. Liang will respect those reluctant newcomers in the future and cause them no harm," Qiao Rui said.

"Heh, Miss Rui," Liang Jinqian said with a laugh. "How can you be so sure they weren’t willing? Every one of them was absolutely willing to get famous—some even went out of their way to seduce me. Tell me, I’m not Liu Xiahui; how could I possibly resist?"

Looking at his expression, Qiao Rui’s mind suddenly flashed with a thought. Liang Jinqian had been present during the film festival that day.

Could it have been him?

She immediately became alert.

Having investigated for a long time, she still hadn’t identified who was behind the attempt to kill her.

Could it have been Liang Jinqian that day?

She had found no one else with such a motive until now, but hearing what Liang Jinqian had said, she suddenly felt it was plausible.

She smiled subtly and said lightly, "Mr. Liang always knows how to justify himself, but as I said earlier, be careful not to become a parasite on society; it’s bad for you and bad for the world."

"How could I be a parasite?" Liang Jinqian responded with a calm smile. "I have acting skills, and I’ve brought the public so many famous movies—I’m an influential figure."

Hearing his shameless boasting, Qiao Rui curved her lips in mockery. "Mr. Liang, reputations can crumble easily. Staying grounded is better, or else you might find yourself in a tough spot—and who knows? You might not even get to act in a single movie again, with your past works all pulled from shelves."

"Even if that happens, I’ve accumulated enough wealth to sustain myself for the rest of my life," Liang Jinqian said with a chuckle. "I don’t care about threats from others."

"Heh, what if your assets get confiscated?" Qiao Rui countered with a smile.

Liang Jinqian’s face darkened.

Qiao Rui continued, "Wealth is just external. You don’t take it with you when you’re born, nor when you die. What you possess might not even be something you’ll get to spend."

At that moment, a knock sounded on the door.

Sister Hui came in to serve the dishes.

"Pardon me, the food is ready. Shall I bring it all at once?" Sister Hui asked.

"Go ahead, Sister Hui," Qiao Rui said calmly.

"Alright," Sister Hui said, and began plating the dishes one by one.

Liang Jinqian took a bite. "Sister Hui’s private kitchen—the food is quite light, very suitable for me."

"If Mr. Liang prefers greasy food, that’s available too," Qiao Rui said coolly. "Would you like to try?"

"I’d better not. Have to maintain my figure."

Qiao Rui smiled faintly.

She quietly ate, savoring the flavors, having quite a lot.

Seeing her appetite, Liang Jinqian smiled and asked, "A lot of women have body image concerns—does Miss Rui not?"

"No," Qiao Rui said.

"Oh, you remind me of someone I used to know," Liang Jinqian said with a smile. "During her filming days, she’d rarely restrict her diet; even though her manager always tried to, she’d indulge in private."

"Oh, really?" Qiao Rui responded with an understated smile. "Who might that be?"

"Someone with the same surname as you," Liang Jinqian said cryptically, his eyes glinting as he smiled. "Rui Qing."

"Ah, so it was her. No wonder you said ’used to,’" Qiao Rui spoke with her usual detached tone.

"What a pity she’s gone," Liang Jinqian sighed, his tone tinged with apparent regret.

Qiao Rui looked at him, her gaze intense. "The official report only states that she’s missing—neither dead nor alive. How can Mr. Liang be so certain she’s gone for good?"