<h4>Chapter 54: Chapter 49: You Don’t Want Me Either?</h4>


    The indifferent and aggressive voice sounded in her ear, carrying the smell of alcohol, ruthlessly crushing the expectations Jiang Ruan shouldn’t have harbored deep in her heart.


    Her face turned slightly pale.


    Bao Ye sneered, "Are you scared?"


    "Someone like me is born without a heart, Jiang Ruan."


    Hezily pronounced her name.


    Jiang Ruan listened, her dark eyes glittering, holding his neck but then cupping his face, "Why should I be scared?"


    "I knew it when I was with you."


    His indifference was ingrained in his bones.


    Even when doing the most debauched things with her.


    His heart remained unmoved.


    She never felt she had entered his heart.


    She smiled bitterly, "I have gotten used to it, haven’t I?"


    Used to him having no heart, used to his indifference.


    Perhaps in this lifetime, she would never hear him say, "I love you."


    Looking at the man’s noble face, Jiang Ruan suddenly noticed how thin his lips were.


    Just like his surname.


    Just like him.


    Cold and unfeeling.


    Her red lips curved slightly, she lowered her head to hold his lips, kissing him, and mumbled, "What about me?"


    "Do you not want me either?"


    Bao Ye said nothing.


    She asked him again, "Not even me?"


    Her soft voice entered his ears, carrying a sense of grievance.


    Being questioned, Bao Ye’s hand on her waist suddenly tightened, the veins on his long hand protruding, exceptionally wild.


    Their breaths intertwined, full of ambiguous enchantment, he suddenly stood up, swept the sses off the table onto the floor, then put her down.


    His hot, scorching kisses followed, aggressive yet deeply rooted in his nature, his eye corners tinged with desire’s red, invading inch by inch.


    "Mmm..." Jiang Ruan couldn’t breathe, raised her hand to push him, "...Bao Ye..."


    Bao Ye reached out and tugged at her white dress.


    Jiang Ruan suddenly realized they were in the living room, startled, she stopped him, "No, let’s go to the bedroom, shall we?"


    Bao Ye only nibbled her earlobe, his warm breath washing over her ear, huskily whispering, "Don’t worry, no one wille tonight."


    Because he had moved everyone away.


    No one woulde here tonight.


    And no one would disturb them.


    As he finished speaking, the sound of fabric tearing resounded.


    The branded dress Jiang Ruan had bought and worn for the first time was turned into pieces of cloth and fell to the floor.


    In the end, Bao Ye never answered her question.


    —


    In the following days, Jiang Ruan was very busy with work.


    Shooting various promotional pieces and appearances.


    With the new drama’s press conference approaching, as the female lead, she had many social engagements.


    Meanwhile, public opinion online didn’t subside.


    Thinking that after suing that marketingpany, Li Xin would quiet down, unexpectedly, another batch of true fans emerged to support her.


    Li Xin actively tweeted various posts.


    Many video clips with Bai Yi from the new drama, and openly expressing her admiration and fondness for Bai Yi, calling him her idol.


    Then naturally, a bunch of fans shipping them two as a couple appeared, talking about their unresolved feelings.


    Even though Li Xin’s role as the second female lead wasn’t impressive, and she even couldn’t match her lines, her fans kept praising her.


    Looking at thements touting Li Xin on Weibo, Sister Qin couldn’t help but sneer, "With her skills? Can’t even remember the script, her acting is nothing but ring and crying, what’s so good?"


    "Why pick a weak point to praise, what kind of low-quality extra actor is this."


    Sister Qin disdainfully criticized.


    Jiang Ruan was doing her makeup, she had a social event to attend in the evening, the director said a bigwig would being, as the new drama’s female lead, she had to dress up.


    Watching the makeup artist’s actions in the mirror, she chuckled lightly, "Perhaps beauty is in the eye of the beholder? Because they are her fans, they see only virtues."


    Sister Qin scoffed, "Pff."


    "What kind of beauty."


    "More like an Eastern imitation."


    Feeling aggravated, Sister Qin outright turned off her phone.


    She came to Jiang Ruan’s side, saw her makeup was simple yet perfectly highlighted her features.


    Jiang Ruan’s skin was naturally good, white and smooth, with beautiful bone structure, the kind of pure, natural beauty, with an innate oval face.


    Just looking at her made people feel tender and protective.


    Wanted to cherish her with all their heart.


    Sister Qin praised her, "Just a foundation, and you’re this beautiful, you really are made for this industry."


    "If I were a man, I wouldn’t be able to resist you."


    As the makeup artist applied the makeup, Jiang Ruan stifled augh, ring at her in mock anger, "If you were a man, I’d definitely marry you."


    "We’d make a perfect pair."


    "After all, it’s not umon for stars and their managers to be together in the entertainment industry."


    Sister Qinughed heartily, "That’d be fine too, with a beauty like you, I probably wouldn’t leave bed for ten days to half a month."


    Suddenly the conversation went astray, Jiang Ruan blushed, "Sister Qin!"


    Inexplicably reminded of Bao Ye.


    When she first got together with him, indeed, there was a period when she spent most of her days in bed.


    Remembering those days made Jiang Ruan’s face even redder.


    The makeup was already thin.


    Blushing made it especially obvious.


    "Okay, okay, I won’t tease you anymore." Sister Qin said, "Look at you, blushing."


    "Your skin is really too thin, I barely said anything."


    Sister Qin teased, not knowing that Jiang Ruan was thinking about Bao Ye.


    And Sister Qin hit the nail on the head.


    She really did experience that.


    "By the way, Bai Yi will also be here tonight, you two can chat." Sister Qin said.


    Jiang Ruan responded, "Okay."


    Thinking of something, she curiously asked Sister Qin, "The director said a bigwig would being tonight, do you know who it is?"


    Hearing this, Sister Qin’s smile faded, bing a bit serious, "I heard it’s someone from official circles, even the director said so, so their status must not be low."


    "I’m also puzzled. Someone with that status and position should be avoiding scandals in the entertainment industry, why attend such a social event? But I heard it might be someone rted to the director."


    "Anyway, just be careful tonight, Bai Yi and the others will be there, that person probably won’t dare do anything."


    Jiang Ruan nodded, "I understand."


    "Be cautious around Li Xin." Sister Qin said, "I’m afraid she might be up to something behind the scenes."


    "Don’t drink anything that’s not from your own cup, especially not from her, okay?"


    Sister Qin was quite worried.


    Jiang Ruan smiled and said, "I know, Sister Qin, I’ve attended quite a few social events over the years, I know how to protect myself."


    Hearing this, Sister Qin finally sighed in relief, "That’s good."


    In the evening, at Shangri-La Hotel.


    49th floor VIP private room.


    When Jiang Ruan arrived, Bai Yi had just arrived too, they entered one after another.


    Bai Yi was also dressed up,plete in a gray suit, wearing a branded watch sponsored by thepany, exuding an elegant and gentle aura.


    Jiang Ruan smiled and greeted, "Brother Bai Yi, nice to see you again."