Pampered by My Ex's Cousin

Chapter 518 - 510: Mom and Dad Together (Part 8)

The assistant followed her, fielding one phone call after another.

Ji Anning arrived at the private room, opened the door, and was warmly greeted by a tall and burly middle-aged foreign man. She quickened her pace to meet him, politely extending her right hand, "Director Beck, it is a pleasure to see you again."

Director Beck grinned, "Me too, it’s an honor to see Miss Li once again."

They exchanged pleasantries while walking toward the dining table.

"Please, take a seat." Beck pulled out a chair like a gentleman and, with his other hand on Ji Anning’s back, politely urged her to sit first.

Then he took the seat beside Ji Anning.

"Indeed." Beck stared at Ji Anning’s face for a while, then suddenly said, "Looking at you now, you are most suited to be Helian’s partner—what your country calls ’a talented man and a beautiful woman’."

Upon hearing this, Ji Anning felt somewhat embarrassed and replied with a laugh, "Ha... Director Beck, you jest."

It was only then that she had a sudden realization—her selection as the cover story guest of Fashion might have been due to the light cast by Qi Helian.

"It’s not just me who thinks so," Director Beck shrugged. "But let’s have our meal first; we don’t talk business during dinner."

Director Mark had a very humorous personality, and Ji Anning had a great time dining with him, and the work matters proceeded smoothly as well.

"Here’s to our enjoyable collaboration."

The two arrived at the parking lot together; as they said their farewells, Director Mark gave Ji Anning a polite hug.

This was normal etiquette abroad, and Ji Anning didn’t give it much thought.

However, she didn’t anticipate that this hug would lead her to become the source of the media’s groundless speculations.

The next morning, she was on the front pages of major domestic news outlets, ’Domestic actress suspected of being favored by famous director Mark to land the role of the Fashion cover story. They enter the hotel together for over two hours, and part reluctantly in the parking lot...’

These stories weren’t just on domestic websites and newspapers, but on some in N city and J city as well.

Seeing these, Ji Anning felt very troubled, thinking, Can they get any more ludicrous?

...

’She has moved to Mr. Charles’s villa in N city.’

In the spacious office that felt almost too large, Ji Chicheng held his phone and reclined in his comfortable office chair, staring out the full-wall floor-to-ceiling window at the dazzling city lights reflected in his deep, dark eyes.

But those bright lights couldn’t illuminate the darkness of his mood, nor dispel the gloom and melancholy between his brows.

The computer screen behind him displayed the scandal of Ji Anning being secretly favored by Director Beck, and his ears echoed with the news the phone call had brought him just moments ago.

Charles... Beck... those aren’t enough, and now you’ve added Qi Helian.

Ji Anning, I truly underestimated you yet overestimated you all at once.

The office door was open. Beige tapped twice on the door, but the man seated before the window did not react at all. She took light footsteps towards him, stopping behind him, pursed her lips, and hesitated before saying, "Boss, Juce called to say Miss Anning is at the entrance, she wants to see Fenfen."

At the sound of Ji Anning’s name, Ji Chicheng radiated a terrifying hostility, his voice cold and somber as he replied, "Tell her to get lost!"

Beige sensed the ominous atmosphere and didn’t dare to say more, helplessly pursing her lips, she nodded, and turned to leave.

"Wait a second."

Ji Chicheng suddenly gripped his phone tight, stood up, and dashed past Beige with the speed of the wind.

Beige stood in shock for a moment, the tall figure already out of sight.