Chapter 1435 - 1431: Dream at the Brink of Life and Death
"The domestic public opinion has always been implying that Miss Yiren has a close relationship with you," Zheng Gu said tactfully. In fact, when Luo Yiren came to the hospital, Mr. Ji was too uninterested to see her. Luo Yiren wandered outside the ward for a while before leaving, but outsiders were unaware of this and imagined countless scenarios just from seeing the photos of her at the hospital.
"Miss Yiren might have become acquainted with Madam during the time you were injured and Madam came to visit, which was extensively reported by the media." The Countess was actively involved in high society and charity, and her every appearance would cause the media to compete for coverage.
Zheng Gu glanced up at Mr. Ji’s face and, seeing he did not appear overtly displeased, continued, "Mr. Ji, do you need me to contact the domestic media to clarify the situation?"
Constantine Stewart shook his head slightly and said softly, "Make arrangements for discharge procedures; let’s return to the Imperial City."
Zheng Gu breathed a sigh of relief. It seems the trip to France can finally end; Sir’s attachment to the Imperial City is indeed unusual.
Perhaps due to the injury, Constantine Stewart’s entire demeanor changed after he woke up. If he was once like a cold lotus hidden in the mist of the mountains, now he revealed a genuinely indifferent side without the mist’s concealment.
"Alright, but Miss Yiren is still staying in Paris. Do you need me to go and explain things to Madam?" Zheng Gu asked softly. Not clarifying the domestic rumors was one thing, but if Madam misunderstood Luo Yiren’s identity, given her social skills, she might just introduce Luo Yiren into France’s high society.
During Mr. Ji’s recuperation, the elder butler from the Earl’s Mansion would often visit. Since the elderly butler could no longer take care of Mr. Ji personally, he shared some of Mr. Ji’s past with him. It was only then that Zheng Gu learned about the poor relationship between Mr. Ji and the Countess, and how the Countess had done many things over the years to repair the mother-son relationship.
In reality, even the legitimate Young Mrs. Ji hadn’t enjoyed such treatment, and if Luo Yiren, who wasn’t even considered a rumored girlfriend, got such benefits for nothing, Zheng Gu thought it was unfair.
Constantine Stewart scoffed and said, "There’s no need, we will return to the Imperial City in a few days."
Seeing Mr. Ji frowned, Zheng Gu dared not say more and hurried to handle the discharge procedures.
Constantine Stewart stood up and settled into the wheelchair beside him. His fracture had not yet fully healed, and he now relied on a wheelchair to move from his bed.
The man entered the bathroom and gazed at the familiar yet unfamiliar reflection in the mirror. A bluish stubble sprouted from his sharp chin, and there were scars on his brow that hadn’t healed completely. The avalanche had been utterly unexpected, yet by some fortune, he had broken through the thick ice layer, fallen into the icy pit, and had been rescued by the rescue team.
From May to the summer break, for a full three months, he returned to his life of six years ago, engaging in various extreme sports, tearing off the polished and graceful facade of Mr. Ji, and once more becoming the aloof and rebellious stepson of the Earl, a lifestyle that had once ignited his very blood. Reliving the past route and experiences somehow left him feeling tasteless.
The daily extreme challenges kept his body and mind in a state of high tension and fatigue, but in the quiet of the night, he was acutely aware that this kind of life could no longer move him.
Falling into an ice pit, waiting for rescue, he broke two ribs at his chest, suffered a shattered fracture in his right leg, and was covered in countless wounds, yet he still crawled to find his backpack, from which he pulled out a small gold medal. Inside the gold medal was a photo.
The eighteen-year-old girl, yet to fully blossom in her features, with her dark eyes misty, bangs neatly in place, and dimples forming when she smiled, was remarkably adorable, like a little angel.
When he learned of her from the orphanage, it was merely out of boredom, a whim to see her, spurred by a hint of curiosity.
At fifteen, she was like an emerging lotus bud, naive and charming. Back then, her growth was stunted by malnutrition, wearing second-hand clothes donated by others, perpetually on guard, and she had smeared her face with soot from somewhere, making her look dirty, her clothes equally so. Yet the bright, spring-water-clear dark eyes, full of life, were impossible to hide.
He originally intended to make a donation to the orphanage, to support the child until adulthood, paving her future path without further involvement. But upon seeing her, an inexplicable feeling arose within him, prompting him to announce his intention to adopt her.
He had never raised a child before and disliked any long-term relationships bound by family ties, yet he adopted her anyway, raising her for three years and watching her grow ever cuter, then abruptly married her.
A ten-year age gap, combined with differences in wealth and status, placed Constantine Stewart in an absolutely dominant position in this relationship. He thought of her as a cute kitten he had whimsically liked and decided to keep for a few years, developing some affection, but never truly loving his little pet.
It was only at the brink of life and death that he dreamed a dream where they still lived in the private residence on Fulham Road. The girl had grown up to be breathtakingly beautiful, and two short little children clung to his legs on either side, sweetly calling out, "Daddy, hold me."
He finally understood his current longing.
Constantine Stewart snapped back to reality, silently picked up a razor, and carefully shaved the bluish stubble from his chin. He wiped his face clean with a towel, returned to the ward, and made a phone call to Richard Shaw.
"I will return to the Imperial City this month."
*
Chloe Winston rested for nearly four months, vanishing from the industry, causing the anti-fans to disperse, leaving only the loyal fans on Weibo, waiting and asking when their goddess would return.
Due to the fame of the variety show "Let’s Fall in Love," Daniel gained significant recognition and later worked on another new variety show. However, the official word remained silent about a second season of "Let’s Fall in Love."
Perhaps there would never be a second season.
With his prestigious status, Constantine Stewart returned to France. Chloe Winston’s presence in the industry went completely silent, and Charles Taylor had stopped accepting any variety or screenplay offers, shifting to become a behind-the-scenes investor while the other guests had their own plans.
Not to mention a second season of "Let’s Fall in Love," even domestic survival-style variety shows that followed the trend were suppressed by Qingshi and Starshine Media, none passing censorship or being broadcast. The industry quickly understood that the big players were intent on completely smothering the online public opinion to quell the previous storm.
Chloe Winston and Charles Taylor entered the small meeting room for auditions, and as soon as Director Faust saw them, he was instantly pleased. With her high popularity in the entertainment sector, combined with commendable acting skills and renowned beauty, Chloe Winston’s willingness to participate in this film was indeed like manna from the heavens.