Chapter 114
Regarding Li Chu's attendance at Ning Manqing's parents' funeral, the CP fans' first reaction wasn't wild joy, but bewilderment.
@NuoNuoEatsQingLi: Isn't this progress a bit too fast, my sisters? Oh my god, it's way more impactful than that award acceptance a week ago. When I first heard it, I thought I misheard. This progress is a leap, right?
@MeAndQingQingSleepTogether: Shook my whole family. This is equivalent to an alternative official announcement, right? It feels like they're not just dating, but family. Could it be they've already gotten their marriage license behind our backs?
@QingLiTingTing: Actually, it's not that sudden. Haven't there been rumors before? But the two haven't been seen together since filming ended, so everyone thought we were just grasping at straws. But no matter how sudden, it can't be more sudden than the two big scoops from the past few days. At least it's not a direct announcement of a child.
@SweetLiIsBaby: Wuwuwu, I was originally a solo fan, but after these continuous shocks, I feel like this isn't just a worthwhile investment, it's clearly a sister-in-law situation!
The turbulent waves of the outside world couldn't reach the protagonists at this moment.
Li Chu stood beside Ning Manqing, her expression solemn, listening to Ning Manqing read the eulogy.
Actually, Li Chu initially had a negative attitude towards attending Ning Manqing's parents' funeral.
It wasn't fear of publicizing their relationship, but rather that she felt her status hadn't reached that point yet. However, Ning Manqing insisted she come.
Li Chu understood that her presence here represented not just Ning Manqing's girlfriend, but a more solemn position.
Li Chu didn't refuse again and came with Ning Manqing.
When she stepped in and stood there, Li Chu felt a bit melancholic, but not because of the deceased.
Whether she was inside or outside the book before, these parents were, in her eyes, a very incompetent pair. Even if they disappeared from the world as lines of text, she wouldn't feel any sadness.
But when everything became concrete, seeing the portraits and coffins in the funeral hall, she truly realized that Ning Manqing really had no family left.
Those still alive who harbored malice towards her didn't deserve to be called family at all.
She quietly listened to Ning Manqing's voice, and when Ning Manqing held her hand, she firmly held it back.
Ning Manqing felt the warmth in her hand and looked at the coffin containing the ashes.
Actually, they knew about Li Chu's existence while they were alive. Some things couldn't be hidden from those who were interested. Even Ning Haoyuan and Ning Yunzhi could find out about her relationship with Li Chu, let alone her parents.
It's just that they never mentioned it. The only time they did was when Ning Haoyuan's plan to target Li Chu was exposed and she retaliated. Her parents advised her to stop there and warned Ning Manqing not to get too invested, not to care too much about Li Chu, since she wouldn't be marrying into the family anyway.
Ning Manqing didn't respond at the time, nor did she argue, because she knew what she wanted and what she would do. Since she wouldn't be swayed by others, why care about irrelevant words?
Not only would she marry Li Chu, she would also write her name into the Ning family genealogy, and after a hundred years, her name would be engraved on her tombstone.
Since they were already laid to rest, they might as well accept this outcome. They had to acknowledge it whether they wanted to or not.
Ning Manqing withdrew her gaze, thinking indifferently.
The weather that day was cloudy, and the wind blowing through the streets carried a chill.
Ning Manqing had chosen the cemetery for her parents. Li Chu looked at the couple she had never faced directly, placed a bouquet of flowers in front of the tombstone, and left with Ning Manqing.
All the turmoil seemed to subside with the funeral, but the tedious matters that followed were even more of a headache.
Ning Manqing was busy dealing with all sorts of things, and Li Chu also had her own matters to attend to.
First was her relationship with Ning Manqing. Tang Congnan paced back and forth in the hillside villa, asking Li Chu what she was thinking.
"My phone's been ringing off the hook. Everyone wants to interview you and get first-hand information. Do you want to go public, or at least clarify your relationship?"
Tang Congnan knew that Li Chu and Ning Manqing were currently dating and not married, but they seemed like they'd been married for a while. What Tang Congnan was worried about now was how to handle the public relations.
"Ignore it. Keep it confidential for now."
Neither Li Chu nor Ning Manqing were the type to announce their relationship progress to everyone. Let outsiders speculate however they wanted; they wouldn't publicize it, nor would they hide it.
If they said they were just dating, they would inevitably be asked when they were getting married, how Li Chu could appear at the funeral if they were just dating, whether they had any plans, and so on. Li Chu and Ning Manqing hadn't decided on these things themselves yet. Just thinking about the questions they would be asked made Li Chu feel suffocated.
Moreover, for Li Chu, their current state was very comfortable. As for when to take the next step, that would depend on when their mindset changed.
Dating in the entertainment industry was always different from ordinary people's relationships. The entertainment industry was very closed off and fickle. Relationships within it moved at several times the speed of ordinary people's. Things that required long-term accumulation and waiting for ordinary people could be easily achieved by them. At the same time, they faced more temptations, so the foundation of their relationships was very weak, and they were prone to breakups and divorces.
Li Chu and Ning Manqing didn't want to rush. It was fine to take it slow.
After all, they had never established any single persona. Compared to their relationship, Li Chu hoped that everyone would pay attention to her and Ning Manqing's works, or support Ning Manqing's businesses, whether by using the software she developed or buying products from her company.
Tang Congnan nodded. "Okay, I understand what you mean. I know how to handle it."
As Tang Congnan was about to leave, he remembered something and asked, "Are you preparing to leave Black Gold now?"
He finally understood why Black Gold had so easily brought him in and wasn't strict with Li Chu. It turned out Li Chu was just a foster child, destined to leave sooner or later.
It seemed there had already been signs back then. Tang Congnan sighed inwardly at his own obtuseness. He had initially been worried that Li Chu was being coaxed and kept by Ning Manqing, but after witnessing some things, Tang Congnan's heart was at ease.
"Yes. What about you, Brother Nan? Are you coming with me to the studio, or staying at Black Gold?"
Li Chu had long considered leaving the company. She had initially signed a five-year short-term contract with Black Gold. Termination would require a penalty, but it wasn't much. Li Chu could easily afford it herself.
"If you get rich, don't forget each other."
Tang Congnan patted his chest and said the same words as before.
Li Chu chuckled and high-fived Tang Congnan.
Li Chu changed companies and established her own studio. This was something everyone expected. Fans were quite concerned about Li Chu's relationship status, but Li Chu herself didn't explicitly say anything, and neither did the studio. They only responded that Li Chu was very happy now, so everyone gradually stopped asking.
Because everyone had already reached a tacit understanding. When Li Chu was on variety shows and faced such questions, she would respond with a silly smile or change the subject, and everyone would laugh along.
A high-rise building was built in the QingLi super topic, and everyone waited for their marriage announcement every day.
@QingLiLoveski: This is definitely the most confident and secure CP I've ever shipped. There's no need to ask if it's real anymore. Just wait for the day we get wedding candies, okay?
@QingLi'sBaby: Thanks for the invitation. I'm waiting for myself to be born every day.
@BaldyWantsCandyToday: Hahahaha, the sister upstairs cracked me up. I'm reminded of that online rumor that Sweet Li hasn't been active for months because she's expecting. Damn it, why isn't it true?!
Li Chu would browse the super topic during her work breaks. Sometimes it was quite entertaining. Thanks to these people, the recent posts in the super topic were either about marriage or having children.
However, the pheromones these people wrote about were all over the place, because Li Chu and Ning Manqing had never revealed their pheromone scents. And some people's pheromones were subjectively defined, feeling different to different people. But this didn't hinder anything. Li Chu still read with great interest.
"Sister Li, get some sleep. There's a night scene later, and you have to go in the water."
Qian Duoduo said softly beside her. Li Chu nodded and put her phone in her hand.
After those matters were made public, Qian Duoduo was upset for a while because, as Li Chu's personal assistant, she didn't even know about these things. But she didn't show it during work, though the feeling of grievance almost overflowed from her bun-like face. Li Chu found it amusing and funny. She gave her a gift and explained, making Qian Duoduo feel embarrassed and work even harder.
Li Chu was now on set. This was the first drama she had taken since establishing her own studio. It was adapted from a popular historical palace drama IP, with Li Chu as the female lead.
Li Chu didn't always want to be involved in crime dramas. It was good to change genres occasionally. She had been resting at home for a long time, and if this drama wasn't padded, it wouldn't be long. It could wrap up before the New Year at the latest, and Li Chu wanted to go back and spend the New Year with Ning Manqing.
A year passed faster than one could imagine. At the end of the Gregorian year, Li Chu received news from Director Wang that The Exiled , which she had finished filming in the summer, was scheduled to be released during the winter break.
This meant that Li Chu would have another period of exposure. Li Chu was very confident in this drama.
The Exiled had sufficient pre-release hype and achieved a high rating upon airing. There was also a rather ironic incident that trended on social media.
@ShuYao: I'm dumbfounded. The company suddenly gave out benefits. Everyone can get three months of free video VIP. Coordinates: Yuanhe Group's subsidiary company. Everyone in the office has three months of VIP, thank you. Even though it wasn't explicitly stated, I know why.
@AsAlways: Main company employee checking in. The top salesperson was rewarded with a year of VIP. The director meaningfully encouraged him to watch more dramas to relax, such as The Exiled . Bro, can this drama even be relaxing???
@TuTuTuTuTu: Tiange employees say we're also participating. The president said it was sponsored by Yuanhe next door. Is this the pampering of a domineering film queen?
@QingLiQingLiYa: I'm dying of laughter. Is this how my CP gives out sugar? So unique, hahaha.
【Xiao Chu】: You're really something [Thumbs Up.jpg]
【Ning Manqing】: Cat fist bump.jpg
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