Second Take On Romance - The A-List Actor Wants Me
Chapter 217 : The Strained Relationship (4)

Chapter 217: Chapter 217 : The Strained Relationship (4)

After the third shooting period ended, Yan Renzhong and Shen Jingwei practically ceased all contact with each other.

Mother Shen and Shen Dou Dou no longer asked what was going on between the couple.

Shen Jingwei also did not want to talk about it. He went through his life the way he did before Yan Renzhong re-entered his life. This time around, it was even easier because his schedule was filled to the brim. He left the house early in the morning and returned past dinner time. There was little time left to dwell on emotions.

One late afternoon, right before dinner time, he received a call from Lawyer Hui.

"Good news, Mr. Shen!" the lawyer excitedly said. "We have successfully compiled the casefile, and are now ready to drag the responsible person to court. Please attend the court proceedings in three days. I might need to pull you to the stand as a witness."

Shen Jingwei was stunned.

"We are? But the butlers?"

"Everyone but Jin Zhuo already agreed to testify in Mr. Wu’s favor."

Shen Jingwei widened his eyes in surprise.

"They did?"

"Yes, thanks to Mr. Yan’s hard work."

"..."

Shen Jingwei bit into his lower lip. It had been days since anyone mentioned Yan Renzhong’s name in front of him.

"Well then, see you at court."

"Thank you, Mr. Hui. Please send Head Butler Wu my greetings."

"I will."

Shen Jingwei put his phone on the desk and stared at it.

It had been days since they stopped talking to each other.

Had Yan Renzhong cooled down?

What about him?

Shen Jingwei lowered his gaze and pressed his lips together in indignation.

When he had time to worry about Yan Renzhong, he began searching for more information regarding him and the so-called Empress Hua.

Apparently, they used to date for several months after Yan Renzhong and Shen Jingwei broke up the first time.

The relationship ended badly, with Hua Xueying dumping Yan Renzhong.

Unlike Shen Jingwei, who liked specifically men, Yan Renzhong could go both ways.

If Hua Xueying was the one who broke off the relationship, could it be that Yan Renzhong still had feelings for her?

Otherwise, why would they kiss during the movie premiere...?

But such kisses in the entertainment industry barely weighed anything.

Or did they?

Yan Renzhong never kissed him in public...

Shen Jingwei hugged his knees to his chest and buried his face into his arms.

Was he being petty and jealous for no reason?

It was he who wanted to keep their relationship a secret.

It was also he who threw a tantrum after smelling an unknown perfume on Yan Renzhong and seeing a picture of Yan Renzhong kissing another.

It was all so ridiculous.

"Mom," he called out as he stepped out of his bedroom. "I am going to the convenience store."

"Oh, please buy a bag of sugar on your way back!" Mother Shen cried out in response. "And come back soon, dinner is almost ready!"

"Big Brother, I want a bag of orange and strawberry lollipops!" Shen Dou Dou followed up eagerly. "And also a pack of mango pudding!"

"Yes, yes," Shen Jingwei said as he opened the door. "Got it."

Outside, the sky gradually grew darker, but there was still a sliver of light from the setting sun.

Shen Jingwei tightened his jacket around his body and walked toward the convenience store, located just between the Shen family’s house and Red Jade Pavilion.

On his way, he passed a jogger dressed in a tracksuit, glasses, and a hat. If Shen Jingwei had paid closer attention, he would have noticed the jogger’s suspicious movements. Upon seeing Shen Jingwei, he pulled his hat lower and accelerated his pace.

Lucky for the jogger, Shen Jingwei barely shot him a passing glance. Not enough to recognize him, anyway.

The convenience store had a small bakery inside. This late at night, the shopkeeper was eager to get rid of the remaining bread.

"Three buns for 10 Yuan!" she cried out to passing shoppers. "Come now before they are all gone!"

Shen Jingwei leaned in closer, inspecting the various rolls and buns on display.

"Handsome man, would you like to buy some bread?" the shopkeeper quickly approached him, her eyes gleaming with hope.

"Hmm... do you still have some curry buns?" Shen Jingwei asked.

"We have two curry buns left!" the shopkeeper announced.

"I will take both," Shen Jingwei said. "Can you please heat them up first?"

"Of course!"

While waiting for the buns to heat up, Shen Jingwei went to pick up some groceries, including a bag of sugar for Mother Shen, then a bag of lollipop and a pack of mango pudding for his little sister.

Once he left the convenience store, he did not go back home right away. He headed toward the Red Jade Pavilion instead.

Yan Renzhong had not deleted his name from the resident register, so the security guards allowed Shen Jingwei to enter.

He took the elevator to apartment 58C and stood awkwardly in the corridor.

Carefully, he hung the plastic bag containing the two curry buns at the door. And then, after drawing a lungful of air, he pressed the doorbell and bolted away like a thief.

Shen Jingwei’s heart pounded rapidly against his chest as he frantically pressed the elevator button.

Why, whyyyyyy did he not think about summoning the elevator beforehand? He was so dumb!

Thankfully, after a lot of nervous glances in the door’s direction, his worst fear did not come true. The elevator arrived before Yan Renzhong opened the door. Or maybe he wasn’t home at all.

It didn’t matter.

A genuine smile, the first in days, graced Shen Jingwei’s face as he left Red Jade Pavilion.

Again, he failed to take notice of the jogger, who was leaning against a tree nearby, watching him as he made his way back home.

The jogger then left the tree and walked toward the Red Jade Pavilion. He took the same elevator Shen Jingwei did, and arrived at apartment 58C.

Yan Renzhong took off the jacket and the hat before running a hand through his hair. His gaze fell upon the plastic bag hanging from his doorknob.

"..."

Inside were two curry buns, still warm to the touch.

Yan Renzhong lifted them to his lips and breathed in the warm, comforting aroma. Only two small curry buns, but they were enough to make him smile for the first time in days.