Stuck in a Chinese novel

Some may find this chapter unnecessary but do keep in mind that this tells you a little bit about the MC's past. So do give it a read and let me know what you think.

Also if you think that Xia Lu's reaction is unreasonable, then I would like you to understand and look at it from a woman's perspective. the reference to that reaction is taken from a tragedy in 1976. I won't go into details but I believe her reaction is reasonable.

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Wei Jun and Run Long both stopped in their tracks when they heard Quan Li's voice. Wei Jun didn't turn to look at her and kept his eyes on Run Long. As for Run Long, he stopped to gaze at Quan Li and as he watched her panicked expression, he couldn't help but tut as he turned to Wei Jun and say, "Consider this your lucky day."

Wei Jun scoffed but said no provocative remarks unlike his nature because he didn't want to push this drama any further. His goal was complete and he didn't need to push things too far for Quan Li as well.

Just as Run Long was about to turn around, a police car came in their direction but none of them noticed as they turned the siren at the last moment.

Wei Jun turned to look at them as he realized that he was the one who had called for the police. He also made sure to instruct Noh Tian on what to do next so he could get ready for the next phase of his act.

"We got a report of assault from here." The policeman said as he came out of the car along with his partner.

"Boss," Quan Li came forward as she saw that things wouldn't be good for Run Long.

Wei Jun turned to her and she said, almost as if she was pleading, "Although he was rude, this is my friend. Please…" She didn't need to complete her sentence to relay her intentions. Not to mention how ashamed she was at the moment.

Wei Jun, however, made no change in his cold expression so no one could tell what he was thinking when Noh Tian stepped forward and said, "Young master Ruan, although things didn't progress very well, but I'm sure there is no need to get the authorities involved."

Noh Tian's tone was that of an equal and authority wise, he was. If he wanted, he could easily have the charges dropped on Run Long but helping him now, in front of Wei Jun, and helping him then in front of the police were two different things.

Wei Jun exhaled deeply and addressed the police, "It was nothing. It was just a squabble that we have solved between us."

He then turned to Noh Tian and said, "But I will appreciate it if you can keep your friend in control, young master Tian. Also, we will be filing for a restraint order."

"What did you say?!" Run Long yelled angrily as he was being ignored all this while. He remained quiet because he didn't want trouble with the police but this guy was trying to make it difficult for him to approach Quan Li again.

"Brother Long! Not now." Noh Tian was fast enough to calm Run Long down to which he reluctantly backed off but not before he said, "We will meet again."

Wei Jun smirked and said, "I'd rather we didn't. I'm not into men you see."

Run Long gnashed his teeth but said nothing in return. Instead, he extended his palm towards Wei Jun. Wei Jun smiled and retrieved the wooden box of Run Long from his pocket and threw it at him. Run Log caught it and without another word, turned to leave.

This small episode came to an end when Wei Jun turned to Quan Li and said, "I thought I already mentioned it in the contract, no public relationships, and once they are formed, you have to keep them up like those two," He pointed at Quan Kui and Xiao Heiling who weren't just a secret couple but a TV couple as well.

Quan Li became flustered as she said, "No! Boss, you got it all wrong. He is just a friend." Quan Li tried to defend her.

"He didn't look like a friend." Wei Jun commented with a raised eyebrow.

"No, no, he really is. You have to believe me." She desperately said to which Wei Jun simply nodded but it didn't look like he really believed her. Quan Li panicked even more when Xia Lu disapprovingly said, "If she is saying he's not, then he's not. Why can't you just believe her?"

She didn't look happy with Wei Jun so he simply smiled and said, "I believe her. I just want her to make it clear because this could affect her career."

"She knows that. She isn't a child." Xia Lu defended Quan Li once again to which Wei Jun couldn't say anything but just simply nod.

The others stood tensed because arguments between Xia Lu and Wei Jun were mostly like fights between 'mommy and daddy.'

Since they didn't know what to do in this scenario, they simply held it in and said nothing. This had long stopped about Quan Li but now was about Xia Lu and Wei Jun.

Wei Jun sighed and turned to Quan Li, "I apologize for doubting you. I hope you can forgive me."

Quan Li panicked and hurriedly said, "NO, NO, BOSS! You were just----"

"Don't forgive him." Xia Lu interrupted Quan Li mid-speech, freezing everyone. The atmosphere was awkward, to say the least, and the tense pressure was weighing down on the four innocent bystanders.

"If he can't trust you, then there is no need to be considerate of him either." Xia Lu added after her interruption.

Wei Jun was at a loss about what to do when he suddenly remembered a few questions he asked his brother when he taught him about flirting and women, 'What do women want?' Once asked his brother.

At that time the child Wei Jun simply said, 'Love.'

'Oh, my sweet and innocent little brother. That's the third thing they want. The first and foremost thing is actually pretty simple.'

'What is that?' Wei Jun curiously asked.

'They want what they want.' His brother replied.

Wei Jun didn't understand so he asked for elaboration to which his brother explained, 'If a woman asks for a man to choose between something good or bad, and the man makes a choice for her, there is a ninety percent chance she would do the exact opposite because she would feel like you are trying to undermine her opinion, and in doing so, her freedom.

If there is one thing women desire the most, that is their independence.'

'Let them do what they want, and they will ninety percent do what you wanted.'

The young Wei Jun didn't understand such a complicated thing and asked, 'Is that why dad always fears mom so much?'

'Nope, that's for a whole different reason.' His brother replied, 'Anyway, never undermine a woman's authority. That is not only an unethical thing as a man, but not doing so is the form of greatest trust.'

'Remember, trust is one of the pillars of a relationship. If you want a woman to trust you, trust her.' His bother said.

Wei Jun nodded and when he remembered those words in his current situation, he sighed because he had offered the wrong type of apology. This wasn't just about Quan Li, it was also about him and Xia Lu, and she needed to know whether he trusted her or not.

He once again addressed Quan Li and said, "I apologize. Ignore my earlier words because they don't matter. I trust you."

Everyone was dumbfounded and stood frozen in place. Well, everyone except one individual. Xia Lu smiled subtly and the strict gaze she held softened immediately.

Quan Li didn't know what to do so she turned to Xia Lu, who immediately removed the smile from her face, but not before everyone saw it, and assumed her strict expression as she said, "That was better. You can now forgive him."

Wei Jun sighed and inwardly thanked his brother for imparting knowledge of women to him, something he believed to be useless before today.

"It's okay, boss. I can tell how anyone can misunderstand such a situation. If you want to file the restraint order, I would understand." Quan Li said, a little tensed but a little relieved as well.

"There's no need. If you say there's no problem, then there's no problem." Wei Jun learned his lesson so he made sure not to use any words or tone that could suggest he still doubted Quan Li. From the corner of his eye, he saw Xia Lu nodding in approval and couldn't help but smile slightly.

When everyone thought it was over, Xia Lu spoke, "Remember Quan Li, although his words were harsh," She glanced at Wei Jun before she continued, "He wasn't wrong either."

"There may be nothing but remember, you are now a celebrity, and you soon will be a big time given your talent and hard work. Anything like this can be a permanent stain on your character. People don't look for the good things about us, especially female celebrities, they always look for the bad things. So protect yourself as much as you can.

Understood?" Xia Lu's tone was strict but also like she was guiding a junior.

"Yes, sister." Quan Li hurriedly replied.

"Good, now, let us celebrate the completion of our first work." She said before she turned to Wei Jun and said, or more like ordered, "You're joining too."

Wei Jun quirked his eyebrow but he instinctively nodded which even he found strange. He wasn't the one to follow orders. And it was then that he understood his brother's expression when he inquired about their parents, 'Nope, that's for a whole different reason.'

He shook his head and smiled while he made his way to his car, he subtly patted his pocket where a wooden box that was the same as Run Long's acupuncture box was.