When Jiang Ruan woke up, the person beside her was already gone; the large bed was occupied only by her.
The room was spotlessly clean, indicating that the servant had been in to tidy up.
Jiang Ruan was already used to this.
Bao Ye was the president of Bao Group, always busy, frequently traveling for business trips. In Beijing, he often left early in the morning and returned late at night, sometimes not coming back at all.
They both busied themselves with their own affairs.
When he had time, Bao Ye would text her.
Opening her phone, she found a message from her agent, Sister Qin.
Sister Qin: "Baby, are you awake?"
Sister Qin: "How are you feeling today? You drank so much last night; maybe you should take the afternoon off and rest at home."
A warmth filled Jiang Ruan's heart; it was Sister Qin who had guided her from her entry into the entertainment industry until now.
Sister Qin was a good person, straightforward and dedicated; having a caring and capable agent was a huge advantage for any celebrity.
Jiang Ruan replied: "It's okay, Sister Qin, work as usual this afternoon."
After sending the message, Jiang Ruan got out of bed.
Her whole body ached, her shoulders marked with traces; looking at herself in the mirror, she couldn't help but blush.
Fortunately, the day after tomorrow they were shooting a costume drama, only her neck would be revealed, otherwise, she would be in big trouble.
These little red marks couldn't be covered with just some basic foundation.
The gossip reporters would rip her apart.
In the morning, Jiang Ruan went to the gym; as a star, maintaining her figure was a compulsory course.
After her Pilates session, the aesthetician arrived, and Jiang Ruan had a facial treatment at home.
At noon, she had a simple lunch prepared by the servant, all light foods, since she was entering the crew the day after the next to begin filming and couldn't eat anything too greasy recently.
After lunch, Jiang Ruan went to the company.
Meanwhile, at Bao Group.
The 99th-floor president's office, a full 500 square meters were solely Bao Ye's domain. At this moment, the man sat upright at the desk, working, exuding the aura of a professional leader in his black suit and tie.
His distinct hand gripped a pen, signing beneath the documents.
The words "Bao Ye" were scribbled yet elegant.
Just then, the office door was pushed open.
Chen Nan walked in, coming in front of the suited man, respectfully bowing his head: "Mr. Bao, we've found out about Miss Jiang's matter."
The man continued to look at the documents without lifting his head, his right hand adorned with Buddha Beads, long and straight with the veins on the back of his hand prominent, revealing his raw wildness.
The taut jawline, the air filled with nobility and remoteness.
Chen Nan continued, "Last night it was a drink gathering for Miss Jiang's new crew. Originally, the female lead was the Assistant Director's daughter but was later replaced by Miss Jiang, which angered the Assistant Director, leading him to cause trouble for Miss Jiang during the evening, forcing her to drink a lot."
"This Assistant Director has some background in the entertainment industry, and is part of the crew with brought in investment. Although Miss Jiang is popular now, she has to endure such capital pressures."
Silence lingered for a few seconds after these words.
"Assistant Director?"
Bao Ye's voice came, his tone nonchalant, revealing contempt and chill.
Stopping his pen, the man raised his eyes, his jet-black eyes as unfathomable as a cold pond, revealing no real emotions.
"Yes." Chen Nan said, "His name's Li Peng, forty-five this year, his older brother is the owner of Feihong Entertainment, so…"
Before he could finish, Bao Ye coldly said, "Get him out of the entertainment circle."
Chen Nan was taken aback: "Ah?"
The man's expression was coldly dignified.
Quickly collecting his thoughts, Chen Nan responded, "Yes, Mr. Bao."
Understanding internally, Mr. Bao was avenging Miss Jiang.
Miss Jiang was Mr. Bao's woman, albeit a secret one, yet she was his only woman.
This showed her position in Mr. Bao's heart.
Daring to force Miss Jiang to drink and cause her trouble was no different from pulling the tiger's whiskers.
No matter how much capital, facing Bao Group, it was all garbage.
Chen Nan mused internally.
Seeing how Mr. Bao currently cared about Miss Jiang.
Perhaps someday, Miss Jiang might officially become part of the family.
Restraining his thoughts, Chen Nan asked another question: "What about Feihong Entertainment then?"
It was, after all, his elder brother.
As long as Feihong Entertainment existed for a day, Li Peng had a chance to rise again.
To pull the weeds, one must remove the roots.
"Acquire it."
Bao Ye's icy voice delivered, a brief sentence yet it determined the fate of an enterprise.
Chen Nan took a breath, bowing his head: "Yes."
Quiet returned to the office.
Chen Nan was about to leave when another matter struck him; he looked at Bao Ye with a serious, tense gaze: "Mr. Bao, Dr. Tro knows you have severe insomnia recently. He says it's your old condition relapsing and hopes you can make time for treatment since medication has stopped working for you."
For a full half month, Bao Ye had been working over ten-hour days.
Under high stress, his sleep didn't exceed two hours.
This was already severe sleep disorder.
Bao Ye often experienced headaches lately, caused by nerve damage from lack of sleep.
Bao Ye had a sleeping disorder, yet it had improved over the years, but this month it relapsed again.
Dr. Tro mentioned if this continued.
Bao Ye's lifespan would shorten.
Upon hearing this, Bao Ye's expression didn't change, seemingly lost in thought, he opened his mouth coldly.
Speaking with a calmness devoid of emotion.
"I slept for seven hours last night."
These words came, and Chen Nan's eyes widened: "What!"
Seven hours!
For over half a month now, Bao Ye hadn't slept seven hours across two days.
Last night, he slept seven hours.
Could it be because of… Miss Jiang?
Chen Nan didn't dare ask, but hearing it, his excitement was uncontrolled: "I'll message Dr. Tro immediately."
Mr. Bao's sleep returned to normal.
That's a relief.
Watching Chen Nan exit the office, the large room quickly returned to dead silence. Bao Ye felt irritable, habitually removing the Buddha Beads from his right wrist.
The cold beads clutched in his hand, fingers rolling them, calming his restless heart.
Bao Ye rose, moving to the window, gazing out at the vast overcast weather outside, a cigarette between his lips.
The lighter came alive, smoke swirling around the man's determined, cold aura, his gaze dark and unclear.
Upon waking in the morning, seeing the time, he was also stunned for a moment.
Seven full hours.
In this half month, he had never slept that long.
At that moment, the woman lay asleep in his arms, her bare face pure and clean.
Bao Ye's dark eyes flickered. So long as she was around, it seemed he could always sleep a long time.
For reasons unknown, he just felt inexplicably at ease with her.
Thoughts floating in the chaos.
Collecting his emotions, Bao Ye snuffed the cigarette with his fingertips, the heat cooling instantly on his calloused fingers.
Tossing it in the trash, the man took languid steps, gazing at the Buddha Beads on his right hand.
Indian Emperor's Purple Sandalwood Buddha Beads.
Three years ago, he caught sight of it at an auction and immediately bought it.
It had been with him for three years.
Sometimes Bao Ye felt an illusion that it indeed calmed the mind, as he often clutched it when agitated.
Conversely, he felt it was no different than any ordinary plaything.
Because he, Bao Ye, did not believe in Buddha.
-
From afternoon onward at the company, Jiang Ruan didn't stay idle.
Two assignments, three promotional advertisements.
Jiang Ruan held high standards for her work, striving to be in the best condition for every shoot, cooperating eagerly with the clients.
Thus, by the time they wrapped filming the last ad, it was already nine in the evening.
Jiang Ruan was exhausted, so worn out she didn't even want to move a hair.
After wrapping up, Sister Qin said, "Should I drive you home?"
Jiang Ruan shook her head: "No need, Sister Qin, I drove myself."
"Then, be safe on the road."
Sister Qin patted her shoulder, tenderly saying, "Rest well when you get home, you worked hard today."
As her agent, she felt proud of having an artist with ambition and strong responsibility.
A warmth filled Jiang Ruan's heart, she showed a smile, softly saying: "Okay."
Sister Qin departed.
Reclaiming her focus, Jiang Ruan was about to get up when a text message notification sounded.
"Ding dong."
Her eyelid twitched.
Among all her contacts, only Bao Ye's texts were set with a unique sound.
After all, he was the boss; she had to afford the boss such treatment.
A short, two-word message.
"Bao Ye: Where are you?"