Delicate Beauty in the Palm : Chapter 31 - Did This Dog Man Take the Wrong Meds Today?
Chapter 31: Did This Dog Man Take the Wrong Meds Today?
Actually, you couldn’t entirely blame Wen Liang.
The packaging on that pack of wet wipes really was misleading. And besides, Chen Die had messaged him earlier saying to just grab the one with black packaging.
In the end, Chen Die didn’t make Wen Liang go out again. She finally remembered she could just ask the makeup artist who was also staying in the hotel.
The next morning, she was woken up by a phone call from Chen Shao.
Still groggy, Chen Die stretched her legs and reached out under the covers for her phone on the nightstand.
As soon as she picked up, Chen Shao said, “Save me.”
Chen Die, still half-asleep: “Huh?”
“Come to the office. Now.”
She blinked: “What’s going on?”
“If you ask again, you’ll never see your brother again.”
Chen Die: ???
Who even said you were my brother?
Chen Shao repeated “hurry up” three more times, then very unreasonably hung up on her.
Was this man actually insane?
Still, Chen Die didn’t exactly rush. She was on medical leave, after all. So she stayed in bed for a while, waiting for her leg to loosen up—it was all stiff after just waking up.
After washing up, she ordered hotel breakfast, ate slowly in the room, then changed clothes. By the time she was heading out, an hour and a half had passed.
She took the elevator downstairs, and as soon as she stepped outside, she saw a familiar car parked in front.
Zhu Qicong quickly got out, walked around to the trunk, pulled out a folded wheelchair, and rolled it over to her. “Miss Chen, Mr. Wen asked me to take you wherever you need to go if you’re heading out.”
Chen Die looked at the wheelchair like it had personally offended her.
“I’m going to Yiming Entertainment.”
“I’ll drive you there.”
Zhu Qicong nudged the wheelchair closer again, probably worried she was still mad at Wen Liang and wouldn’t accept the ride.
Thankfully, Chen Die only shot the wheelchair a disgusted glance, then limped her way to the car and got in on her own.
Chen Shao, on the other hand, genuinely couldn’t understand how such an infuriating creature like Chen Shuyuan could even exist.
He had signed Chen Die secretly, and Chen Shuyuan had never suspected a thing. But after what happened yesterday, she somehow found out that he was one of the key people responsible for boosting Chen Die’s career.
Without a word, this “princess” stormed into his company first thing in the morning and demanded to confront him.
The so-called princess only ever acted sweet and demure in front of her grandfather and father. To everyone else, she was a raging nightmare.
Of course, Chen Shao wasn’t exactly a saint either.
After telling his assistant to block her at the door, he immediately called Chen Die.
He really didn’t want to argue with a shrew like Chen Shuyuan. All he wanted was for Chen Die to come distract her so he could get a moment’s peace.
But after waiting and waiting, there was still no sign of Chen Die. And then, against all odds, Chen Shuyuan broke through the barricade of assistants and stormed into his office.
An hour later…
Chen Shao was so frazzled from the shouting that he was pretty sure he was starting to hallucinate. All the things Chen Shuyuan had yelled kept echoing in his ears.
Buzzing like crazy.
He pressed a button, and gentle background music started playing through the office speakers.
Finally rescuing his eardrums from the torture.
There was a knock on the door.
“Mr. Chen, Miss Chen Die is here,” his assistant said.
Chen Shao turned in his chair and opened his eyes.
Even after yesterday’s fall and a hospital visit, Chen Die still looked as polished and radiant as ever. Compared to the emotional torment he’d just suffered, this only annoyed him more.
How did he end up with not one, but two sisters who pissed him off?
The assistant left after bringing Chen Die in. She didn’t bother with pleasantries, sitting down across from him with a straight face: “What did you call me here for?”
“I’m not your brother anymore.”
Chen Die nodded calmly. “Got it. So, Mr. Chen, what do you want?”
“…” Chen Shao sat up straighter. “Chen Shuyuan came here and made a huge scene just now.”
Chen Die raised an eyebrow.
“That thing yesterday… was it really her?”
“I think so.”
“Wen Liang actually let Chen Shuyuan keep her legs and walk over to me today?” Chen Shao narrowed his fox-like eyes and looked at her lazily. “Sister, has your charm started to fade?”
Chen Die rolled her eyes. She could tell Chen Shao was just stirring up trouble for fun.
“You called me here just to talk nonsense?”
“We’re siblings,” Chen Shao said with a sweeping gesture. “What’s wrong with bonding a little?”
As he spoke, he leaned closer across the desk. “Sister, interested in getting rid of Chen Shuyuan? I’m really sick of her.”
“No,” Chen Die replied flatly. She leaned back in her chair with her hands in her pockets, looking up at him. “I’m not interested in your whole Chen family.”
Chen Shao clicked his tongue.
Just then, the assistant came in on the internal line.
“Mr. Chen, the old master has arrived.”
Chen Die was caught off guard.
The Chen family’s empire had been built by the old man himself. He was already eighty now but still healthy and strong. While he had technically handed off power to his children, he still held the real reins.
Not long after the assistant’s notice, the old man pushed open the door and came in.
Despite his age, he looked energetic. His beard and hair were neatly trimmed, and he walked in briskly with a cane.
Out of everyone in the Chen family, Chen Die actually had the best impression of the old man.
After she moved in with Wen Liang, the old master had secretly come to find her several times, trying to persuade her to come back to live with the Chen family. He even promised no other kids in the family would bully her. But Chen Die had refused each time.
There wasn’t much the old man could do. He couldn’t exactly drag a child back by force. All he could do was leave her his phone number, saying if she ever needed anything, she could contact him.
That number was still saved in Chen Die’s phone, but she’d never used it.
She understood how much the older generation valued blood ties—but she couldn’t understand, let alone forgive, the way they casually and recklessly disrupted her life.
She turned her head.
The old master spotted her quickly and recognized her. He opened his mouth, hesitated briefly, and said, “Oh, Chen Die’s here, too.”
It sounded like the most ordinary greeting.
He’d come today to ask Chen Shao about her signing with Yiming Entertainment. He hadn’t expected to run into her directly.
The assistant brought in three cups of tea.
The old man sat beside Chen Die and asked gently, “You’re okay? I saw in the paper that you had a fall from a horse?”
Chen Die replied, “I’m fine.”
Chen Shao immediately cut in, “Fine my ass. Grandpa, look at her leg—it’s from yesterday. Chen Shuyuan did that to her.”
Chen Die: “…”
Even in front of the old master, Chen Shao wasn’t about to pretend to be some caring brother. And he didn’t care that there was no real proof Chen Shuyuan had done it—he just went ahead and ratted her out.
Still, it successfully shifted the old man’s attention to Chen Die’s leg.
She was wearing long pants, so the injury wasn’t visible.
“Yuanyuan did it?”
The old man hadn’t heard anything about it until now.
Truthfully, Chen Die wasn’t the type to be easily bullied. But with Chen Shao painting such a vivid picture beside her, it made her look like the victim, and it felt wrong to even explain.
She pressed her lips together. “Not sure who it was.”
“You see that?!” Chen Shao slammed the table. “Grandpa, Chen Shuyuan’s going too far. She bullied Chen Die so bad she doesn’t even dare say it!”
Chen Die: “…”
This guy is seriously messed up.
She realized she couldn’t stay near Chen Shao for too long—every ten minutes, she got the urge to punch him.
The old man frowned and asked Chen Shao, “What happened? Explain it clearly.”
So Chen Shao launched into a dramatic, exaggerated account of everything that happened the day before, complete with embellishments and plenty of flair.
…The pettiness of men is terrifying.
Chen Die kicked him under the table with her uninjured leg. “Shut up already.”
The old master looked surprised by her action. He glanced at her, then at Chen Shao. “You two get along?”
Chen Die said, “He’s my boss.”
Chen Shao added, “We’re good.”
“How’s your leg? Did A-Shao send someone to pick you up today?” the old man asked.
“I’m okay. I came on my own,” Chen Die answered.
The old man gave Chen Shao a dissatisfied look, then turned back to Chen Die. “I heard you’re living alone now?” He still avoided mentioning Wen Liang directly.
Chen Die knew exactly what he was about to say next, so she stayed silent.
Sure enough, the old master continued, “I know your work keeps you busy, but if you have the time, why not come back home to stay? Your leg is injured—you need someone to take care of you.”
“Go back where?” Chen Die gave a quiet laugh and calmly asked back, “Can you really call that a home?”
“I do believe your injury this time has something to do with Yuanyuan. I’ll go back and talk to her about it. If you don’t want to live under the same roof as her, I understand. Or if there's somewhere more convenient you’d rather stay, I can arrange for someone to look after you.”
“No need.”
The old master was speaking kindly, so Chen Die couldn’t really put on a cold face. “I’m not planning to go back.”
He sighed, at a loss for what else to say.
After all these years, Chen Die’s attitude had never changed.
He chatted with Chen Shao a bit more, then got up to leave. Seeing that Chen Die and Chen Shao seemed to be getting along, he figured that might be a potential breakthrough and chose not to wedge himself between them.
Once he left, Chen Die also stood up to say goodbye.
“Sister.”
Chen Die looked back at him with a side glance.
“Still not even a little interested in the inheritance?” Chen Shao raised an eyebrow.
“You don’t look all that interested either,” she replied.
If he were, he wouldn’t be acting so smug in front of the old man.
Chen Shao chuckled and patted the table. “I’ve got my own company—I won’t starve.”
“What a coincidence,” Chen Die blinked. “I think I’m capable of keeping myself fed too.”
It was noon when she left Yiming Entertainment.
The autumn sun wasn’t harsh anymore; it was pleasantly warm. Maple trees lined the path, their leaves a vibrant red.
Thanks to the old master’s ‘hint,’ Chen Shao had finally grown a conscience and asked if she needed a driver to take her back. Chen Die declined. But when she got downstairs, she was surprised to find Zhu Qicong still waiting there.
She walked over. “Don’t you have work to do lately?”
Zhu Qicong replied, “Mr. Wen handed off the upcoming work arrangements to others for now.”
He drove her back to the set. Not wanting to delay his work, Chen Die told him he could head back afterward.
When she returned to the crew, the first to spot her was Qi Cheng. He immediately rushed over. “Are you okay? Why are you even here? I was planning to visit you after filming today.”
“I’m fine, just wanted to drop by. Feeling a lot better now,” Chen Die said. “I’m sorry this whole incident messed up your shooting schedule.”
Out of everyone in the cast, Qi Cheng had the most packed schedule. He occasionally had to leave to film variety shows, and right after this drama wrapped, he was already booked for the next show.
Since many of Chen Die’s scenes later involved action, and she was still injured from the fall, Director Feng had rearranged everything. Qi Cheng’s scenes were moved up, and the male-female lead scenes involving Chen Die would be postponed until she recovered.
“No need to apologize. Falling off a horse—who could’ve predicted that?”
Chen Die slowly made her way to her seat.
But soon she noticed something was off.
Previously, the crew treated her like a newbie—everyone was casual and easygoing around her. But today, her treatment suddenly leveled up to that of Qi Cheng.
As soon as she got near her seat, someone stood up and offered the closest chair to her.
Then someone else poured her a cup of water, and instead of calling her “Chen Die,” they now called her “sister”.
Though… that “sister” did make her feel a little old.
Even Xiao Qi, the makeup artist who got along best with her, was standing nearby after touching up Wang Yunxi’s makeup, hesitant about whether to approach.
Chen Die waved her over. When she came closer, she asked, “What’s going on?”
“Sister Chen Die…”
Chen Die raised her hand and cut her off. “You’re older than me.”
“…Then what should I call you?”
“What did you call me before?”
Xiao Qi hesitated. “Wouldn’t that be kind of disrespectful now?”
Chen Die couldn’t help laughing. “What’s wrong with all of you?”
Xiao Qi stared at her for a moment, then sighed and leaned in to whisper, “Ah, it’s because of yesterday. Everyone found out you and Mr. Wen are dating. You’re unbelievable—you never said anything before, so low-key!”
Chen Die finally grasped the reason behind all the strange behavior.
“No, we’re not in that kind of relationship,” she said.
Xiao Qi looked curious. “Then what kind?”
“No relationship.”
“Pfft.” Xiao Qi pouted. “Who would believe that? But honestly, we used to gossip and thought maybe Director Lu had a thing for you.”
Before Chen Die could say anything, Lu Chuan walked over and said in a low voice, “Chen Die, I want to talk to you.”
Xiao Qi immediately got the hint and scurried off, leaving space for Lu Chuan.
“I didn’t get the chance to apologize for what happened yesterday,” Lu Chuan said.
“Hm? Why are you apologizing to me?”
“Chen Shuyuan came to the set because of me, after all. I didn’t handle things well between us, which is why she acted that way. So I definitely owe you an apology.”
Though truth be told, Chen Shuyuan’s actions weren’t just because of that.
Chen Die pressed her lips together and waved it off. “It’s not your fault.”
“I’ve already told you before—I like you,” Lu Chuan said, looking her in the eyes. “I made everything clear with Chen Shuyuan yesterday. I won’t let her hurt you again. Can you tell me what you're thinking now?”
Chen Die’s hand, holding the cup of water, paused. She turned her head to look at him.
“To be honest, my thoughts haven’t changed from before,” she said frankly. “Lu Chuan, I just don’t think we’re a good match.”
“Is it because of Wen Liang?”
Chen Die froze. “Huh?”
“He’s your ex-boyfriend, isn’t he?”
“......”
Lu Chuan really lived up to his reputation.
His ability to read people was uncanny.
And just then, the man in question appeared behind her, his voice sounding suddenly: “Chen Die.”
It wasn’t loud, and the tone was flat, but the deep, magnetic voice.
It still instantly drew everyone’s attention.
Wen Liang also noticed the gazes turning his way. He gave a slight nod in acknowledgment, then walked over to Chen Die and asked softly, “Why are you still walking around when your leg’s injured?”
“......”
Chen Die swore she had never heard Wen Liang speak so gently in all the years she’d known him.
It gave her instant goosebumps.
She was so not used to this.
Even Director Feng Zhi, who had been buried in shooting, turned his head and finally noticed Chen Die had arrived.
“Mr. Wen, what brings you by at this hour? Here to see Chen Die?” Feng Zhi asked.
“Mm, came to take her out for lunch. Just wondering if she’s free to leave now?”
“Of course she is—we gave her the day off anyway.” Feng Zhi smiled, then teased, “Mr. Wen really kept it under wraps. We’re nearly done filming and only now do we find out what’s going on between you two.”
Yesterday it was all just speculation, but now that he had shown up in person to take her to lunch, it was basically confirmed.
Wen Liang smiled faintly, his eyes sweeping indifferently past Lu Chuan. Then he gently placed a hand on Chen Die’s shoulder and said: “We’re not officially together yet. I’m currently pursuing her.”
Chen Die, unable to move much because of her leg, could only let him rest his hand there.
But in her mind: did this dog man take the wrong meds today?
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