EIP 79

Xin Wanjun came from a prestigious family, well-versed in all the skills a socialite should have. However, life is unpredictable, and her family gradually fell into decline. Her eldest brother and parents were addicted to smoking, burning through money as if it were nothing. Left with no choice, Xin Wanjun began frequenting high-end clubs to network with the elite, becoming a social butterfly. But truth be told, she was nothing more than a high-class escort.

Zhou Jun contacted someone to arrange for her company and paid for three months, claiming he needed a female companion for social events. She assumed he would be like the others before him, requiring her company and, at times, more. Yet Zhou Jun was different. He was thoughtful, respectful, and never crossing any lines. Later, she heard that Zhou Jun’s family faced some trouble, and he stopped asking her to accompany him. She thought he would come to demand a refund for the remaining time, but surprisingly, he never brought it up.

Not long after, she met her nemesis. By then, Zhou Jun no longer sought her company, and she found herself with some free time. Xin Wanjun was quite content, enjoying a simple and peaceful life. She would go grocery shopping, cook, arrange flowers, and occasionally visit art galleries. But life has a way of disrupting peace when things seem too good to be true.

She saved a man, an unidentified stranger who was gravely injured. It felt like one of those clichéd stories. She saved him, fell in love, and even became intimate with him. Xin Wanjun knew her family was a bottomless pit, and she had no right to pursue love. Her only fate was to exhaust her body and wait for the day death would finally set her free.

But love is intoxicating, and even more shocking was this man’s identity. She didn’t know much about him, only that he was connected to several highly influential figures. He was in his prime, and while his injuries masked his presence at first, his imposing aura became evident as he recovered. He rarely spoke about himself, only telling her that his surname was Shi, so she addressed him as Mr. Shi.

Mr. Shi promised to repay her kindness. He stayed in her home for half a month, during which men in black suits frequently visited her small house to have private discussions with him. During these times, Xin Wanjun would tactfully step aside, preparing pickles and snacks for them.

Xin Wanjun was skilled in many things, having received a proper education as a socialite. She was fluent in several languages and proficient with multiple musical instruments. One day, Mr. Shi called her into his room, held both her hands, and asked, “Have you decided what you want?” Feeling the warmth of his palms, her eyes drifted to the ring on his fourth finger. After a long pause, she quietly said, “I don’t want to live the life I had before.” I want you… but that’s just wishful thinking.

Mr. Shi left her small apartment that same day. That afternoon, an assistant visited her with a stack of documents. Dazed, Xin Wanjun signed several papers before finally asking what they were about. The assistant, wearing a peculiar expression, explained everything. Mr. Shi had paved a new path for her. A career in acting.

It didn’t matter if she had no acting skills. They arranged intensive training for her. First, she would act in a film, then move on to commercials. After all, nothing brought in money faster than being a celebrity. Mr. Shi would support her, and once she became a top-tier actress, they would owe each other nothing. Instead of giving her a fish, he was teaching her to fish. Knowing her greatest asset was her beauty, he provided the backing to ensure her success and a future full of possibilities.

Xin Wanjun acted in movies and commercials, appearing on the front pages of newspapers multiple times. She rose to fame quickly. Though the work was exhausting, it wasn’t the same as before. No one dared to belittle her now. Yet, perhaps people are never truly satisfied. Xin Wanjun’s heart still held unspoken desires.

Mr. Shi had bought her a small villa, but she rarely stayed there. Instead, she often returned to her old apartment. That place was filled with memories of the two of them, and she could even catch faint traces of Mr. Shi’s scent. After arranging her stardom, he had stopped seeing her altogether. His intentions were clear. Later, she discovered she was pregnant, already three months along. She didn’t dare to gamble on how Mr. Shi would react to this child.

Her encounter with Zhou Jun was entirely by chance. The night before, she had dined with a director and the lead actor. When they suggested drinks afterward, Xin Wanjun, though reluctant, couldn’t refuse. This was her first film, and she wanted to make a good impression. She only hoped to avoid drinking too much, and with her newfound backing, no one would push her beyond her limits. But unexpectedly, she came across Zhou Jun, who had been beaten and had collapsed on the ground

She had her assistant help Zhou Jun up, intending to take him away. But a young man blocked her path and asked, “Where are you taking my friend?” Xin Wanjun recalled Zhou Jun’s faint cry for help and, seeing his condition, knew something was wrong. She had seen enough of the world to recognize that sometimes the people closest to you could be the ones to use underhanded methods.

Trusting no one, she took Zhou Jun away. After all, she meant him no harm. She instructed her assistant to call another driver and turned to the young man. “I’m a friend of Zhou Jun’s. I noticed he wasn’t doing well and planned to take him to the hospital. Would you like to come along?” At the mention of a hospital, a flicker of discomfort crossed the young man’s face.

She smiled faintly without insisting further, then turned and left. She didn’t take Zhou Jun to the hospital. She was somewhat of a public figure now, having appeared in newspapers a few times. Being spotted late at night with a man at the hospital could lead to rumors that might arouse Mr. Shi’s suspicions, which was the last thing she wanted. Instead, she had her assistant take Zhou Jun to her apartment and called a private doctor.

This doctor was a high school classmate of hers, someone she had once helped and who had stayed in touch with her ever since. Trusted for discretion, he was one of the few people she considered a good friend. It was also this doctor who had confirmed her pregnancy. After examining Zhou Jun and ensuring there was nothing seriously wrong, the doctor left.

Not long after, the rarely used phone in her apartment rang. Very few people knew that number. Besides her assistant, only Mr. Shi. At the time, Xin Wanjun was helping Zhou Jun out of his clothes, and the sudden ringing startled her. She hurried to the phone, took a deep breath, and carefully picked it up. It had been a long time since she heard Mr. Shi’s voice, but just one brief question “Where are you?” brought tears to her eyes.

She replied softly, “I’m at the apartment.”

Mr. Shi was silent for a moment before saying, “I’ll arrange for two bodyguards to protect you starting tomorrow.”

“No… no need,” she quickly responded. “I’m fine now, I have my assistant—”

He cut her off. “I’m not asking for your opinion.”

Xin Wanjun fell silent. After a pause, she lowered her voice and asked, “Did something happen?”

Mr. Shi didn’t answer. She hesitated before asking again, “Will we… see each other again?”

His tone turned cold. “It’s clearly written in the contract. Once you’ve achieved what you want, we’ll have no further ties.”

Her hand trembled so much that she nearly dropped the phone. She wanted to ask why, but she was afraid of humiliating herself. Why else? It must have been because he found out about her past and despised her, wanting nothing more to do with her.

Xin Wanjun sat in her living room for half the night, grappling with her thoughts. Her pregnancy wouldn’t stay hidden forever, and Mr. Shi, who wanted no ties to her, would surely reject the child. She thought long and hard, eventually coming up with a foolish idea, to find someone else to be the child’s father.

When Zhou Jun woke up the next day, she proposed the idea to him. Unsurprisingly, Zhou Jun refused outright.

She lied to him, saying, “There are reporters downstairs already. Either we go public, or you agree to help me.”

Zhou Jun looked distressed and said helplessly, “Is there no other way? I already have someone I like. If this gets out, he’ll leave me. Miss Xin, please don’t ruin my relationship.”

Ashamed, Xin Wanjun lowered her head. “There is another way. I’m sorry for making such a sudden request. We don’t have to go public. Please, Zhou Jun, I’m begging you. Think of it as repayment for what I did for you last night. All you need to do is pretend to be the father of my child in front of one person. No one else will know, just him.”

Zhou Jun took the cigarette from her lips, frowning. “You’re pregnant. Why are you still smoking?”

That one remark was all it took for her tears to flow uncontrollably. She pressed the back of her hand to her eyes and choked out, “I’m sorry… I lied to you just now. There are no reporters downstairs. I just… I didn’t know what else to do…”

She sobbed and shook her head. “Forget I said anything. It was wrong of me to push you like this. Don’t take it to heart, and please don’t be angry with me.”