Quan Jiu had never heard Chu Rong speak so openly before.
He had never told her he liked her, let alone loved her. In fact, when Chu Rong proposed, it was quite casual. As they were walking, he suddenly handed her a ring and asked if she was willing.
There had never been any sense of ceremony between them. No wedding photos, no honeymoon, no wedding banquet, not even a proper title.
Quan Jiu didn't care much about these things. She hadn't had much growing up, so she was easily satisfied. For her, a marriage certificate was enough.
Even without a formal title, Chu Rong's tenderness and consideration were real, and the Chu family's affection for her as their own daughter was also real. Therefore, Quan Jiu never asked "Do you love me?" or "Do you like me?" such sentimental questions.
"I've wanted to marry you for a long time." This was the sweetest thing she had ever heard Chu Rong say.
Quan Jiu's heart softened. After all, he was the man she had loved for ten years. Feelings, the more you invest, the harder it is to let go, and that is the truth. Ten years of youth, how could she just let go? If she were to cut off all contact with Chu Rong, she would only bury that affection in her heart and take it to her grave.
Letting go, how could she let go? This man, successful in his career, handsome, controlling the vast Chu Corporation, yet he could cook for her, be domineering at times, gentle at others, but always considerate. How could anyone not love him?
"A Jiu..."
Perhaps seeing her silence, Chu Rong called out softly.
Quan Jiu was pulled back to her thoughts and couldn't help but smile, "So you've had your eye on me for a long time. Why didn't you say anything before?"
Chu Rong paused before saying somewhat helplessly, "I thought you understood."
Quan Jiu felt wronged, "How could I understand? I was the one who actively pursued you."
"Have you seen any other women around me? I always kept my distance from them. Only you were by my side. Isn't that obvious?" Chu Rong couldn't help but retort.
Quan Jiu was stunned. That was true. In Chu Rong's eyes, men and women were the same. Unless necessary, he wouldn't let any man or woman get close to him. In short, he was reclusive.
"Then how would I know it wasn't just because I was persistent?" Quan Jiu pouted. "Besides, didn't you take Jiang Mengran to the villa later?"
Chu Rong sighed softly, "Sending her to the villa was indeed my own doing. I just didn't want you to be bothered. The villa is in the suburbs, quite far from Shujing and the old house."
It was because of that? Quan Jiu's heart felt a little lighter. She thought for a moment and finally decided to get to the heart of the matter, "Then why didn't you come home at night and stayed at the villa to take care of her?"
"I wasn't taking care of her. I just didn't want you to worry, and I didn't tell you the truth. When we first got married, the company was actually in financial crisis. I had just taken over, and things were complicated. The nights I wasn't home, I was staying up late at the company dealing with matters."
Quan Jiu was shocked. She had always thought the Chu Corporation was as stable as a rock. Little did she know it was in financial crisis when they got married. No wonder he was out early and late then. And she, as his wife, didn't even know about such a big matter.
"Why didn't you tell me?" she asked reproachfully, looking at Chu Rong.
"I just didn't want you to worry. If you knew I was staying up late, you wouldn't be able to sleep well either. I just wanted you to be carefree and be a happy young lady of the house."
Chu Rong cupped Quan Jiu's cheeks, regretting, "But it wasn't until you left that I realized I was too self-righteous. I thought I could handle anything, but when it came to emotions, family, and especially you, I was terribly wrong."
Tears were already uncontrollable for Quan Jiu. She never expected the misunderstandings between them to be so deep. She had always thought Chu Rong married her because of Jiang Mengran, and that he preferred working overtime at the company to coming home because he didn't like her. She even thought he loved Jiang Mengran.
Chu Rong gently wiped the tears from Quan Jiu's face and said softly, "Do you know why I didn't make you public?"
Quan Jiu paused, feeling a little less confident, "Because... of the company?" She had always thought the secret marriage was a commercial tactic to stabilize company stocks or something similar.
"When the company was in financial crisis, many people were watching me, wanting to take it over. In the end, I took them over instead, and I offended quite a few people in the process.
The business world is like a battlefield. For the Chu Corporation at that time, it was a protracted war. My opponents were not short of ruthless individuals. If they had known about your existence, you would have become a bargaining chip for them to retaliate against me."
It was... like that. Quan Jiu was stunned into silence. When they first got married, she was only twenty years old, just starting university. She could understand why Chu Rong would do that.
"Then... on your birthday in our first year of marriage, when I went to the company to bring you food, and you sent me away, was that intentional too?" After understanding, Quan Jiu thought back to that embarrassing night, and her heart suddenly felt at ease.
"Yes, I was negotiating with someone at the time. He was a ruthless character who dealt with both the underworld and the legitimate world. I was afraid he might harm you, so I yelled at you to leave."
Saying this, Chu Rong closed his eyes in regret. "I know it was raining heavily, and I deliberately didn't let the driver take you back. I only went to find you after the person I was negotiating with left, but..."
He looked at Quan Jiu with pain. "In the end, I lost you, A Jiu. I know I deserve it. No excuse can change the harm I caused you. It's only right that you resent me. I'm just fortunate that you've returned, fortunate that you're willing to give me another chance."
Quan Jiu had never heard Chu Rong speak so frankly. In her perception, this man was incredibly powerful, giving her the illusion that he was invincible.
But in reality, he had simply said nothing, hiding everything in his heart.
Quan Jiu subconsciously hugged Chu Rong and said softly, "It takes two to tango. I also have problems. I've been reflecting a lot recently. In the past, my love was too blind. I was just trying my best to play the role of a full-time wife. I was also loving you with my own assumptions."
At twenty, she wasn't mature, and she didn't understand much. She was just immersed in the joy of finally marrying the man she had pursued for eight years. She... wasn't a qualified wife either.
"A Jiu..."
With this voice filled with deep affection, regret, and longing, a series of passionate kisses fell into Quan Jiu's heart.
...
After resting for the afternoon, to catch up, Quan Jiu got up at five in the morning. Chu Rong insisted on driving her to the film set. After makeup and styling, filming began at 7:30.
The four bodyguards still watched from nearby. They were secretly relieved that Chu Rong wasn't pursuing the matter further and became even more cautious. Anyone who had contact with Quan Jiu had to be approved by them.
The other cast and crew members, due to the two accidents yesterday, knew that someone must have deliberately caused trouble. Therefore, they didn't mind the bodyguards' caution towards Quan Jiu.
Guo Wen also had no objections. However, during the twenty-minute break in the middle of filming, he called Quan Jiu over for a private talk.
"You and Quan Zhixi, you've only just met, right?" Guo Wen asked directly, not caring if it was abrupt.
Quan Jiu was slightly startled but replied, "She's a big star. I've definitely seen her on TV, but I only met her in person just now." She then asked curiously, "What's wrong?"
Although it had only been two days, Guo Wen had come to appreciate Quan Jiu's character and knew she was a steady person, so he didn't beat around the bush. "Regarding the wire and the iron frame incidents, I suspect they were deliberate, and very likely targeted at you. You have bodyguards with you, so you should understand. Did you have a falling out with Liu Zhixi?"