After A Secret Marriage With The Trending Queen - Chapter 2

Chapter 2

At 7:30, Shen Lu carried a large pile of bags and followed behind Ye Qin. The group majestically took the elevator downstairs. At that moment, Sister Wang Lin drove up and parked her car.

The door of the pure black Odyssey minivan opened, revealing luxurious and comfortable seats inside. Ye Qin took out a pair of sunglasses from her bag, put them on, got into the car, and sat down. Shen Lu followed immediately, closing the car door behind her.

The car slowly started and drove out of the high-end residential complex. Sister Wang, who was busy driving, didn’t forget to toss a schedule to Shen Lu, instructing, “Shen Lu, take a look at this.”

“Oh, okay, Sister Wang.” Shen Lu reached out to take it. The schedule was densely packed with activities, almost suffocating. After double-checking, she asked, “Is this Sister Qin’s schedule for the next week?”

“Let me see.” Ye Qin reached for it, lifting her sunglasses halfway. “Are we entering the set of Peerless today?”

Wang Lin replied while driving, “You read the script before. You said there was no problem, so we signed the contract. Today is just to report to the production team; the official shooting starts tomorrow.” She paused and added, “We’ll pack up and leave right after the press conference.”

Shen Lu listened quietly beside them. Peerless was that famous TV series adapted from a GL novel, wasn’t it? She heard that Ye Qin’s co-star this time was the newly crowned Film Empress, Tan Xueying, who was known for her acting skills. And Ye Qin, emmmmm… Shen Lu was a little curious about what kind of sparks their collaboration would ignite. After all, apart from her terrifying popularity, Ye Qin was tacitly acknowledged as nothing but a pretty face, both inside and outside the industry.

Although it wasn’t good to think that way about her boss, it was undeniably true. Shen Lu found herself unable to control her facial expressions as she pondered.

“What are you laughing at?” Ye Qin asked, her eyes scanning over, causing Shen Lu to shiver involuntarily.

“N-nothing, no…” Shen Lu looked at her guiltily. Although Ye Qin’s expression looked fierce and cold, her slight, soft voice was irresistible. Ye Qin, ah, Ye Qin, your cool, sophisticated persona is probably ruined by your own voice.

Ye Qin frowned, put her sunglasses back on, and tossed the schedule in her hand into Shen Lu’s lap. Shen Lu caught it and could only obediently put it into her bag. Who told her she was just the odd-job worker next to a big star? She’d just endure it for a bit longer. Five years from now, she’d get five million and run away to live the life of a rich and carefree woman.

At 8:00 sharp, they arrived at the press conference venue. Sister Wang’s timing was undeniably precise, and Shen Lu’s admiration for her grew a little more. As the car door opened, the reporters and media, who had been waiting for a long time, swarmed forward instantly. As an assistant, Shen Lu had to personally do her job well, being the first to get out and help block people, preventing them from touching or harming Ye Qin.

“Hey, don’t shove, don’t shove, don’t shove!” Fortunately, the security guards arrived in time, otherwise, Shen Lu’s small stature wouldn’t have had the strength for that.

Ye Qin, surrounded and firmly protected, naturally walked with great splendor, while Shen Lu was squeezed into a human meatball. Mmm, this is the difference in treatment between a big star and a little assistant.

The press conference was just a formality: standing on the stage, striking a pose, taking photos, and saying a few words, then it was over. However, the interview session began once they were off stage.

“Ye Qin, Ye Qin, what are your thoughts on taking on the GL drama Peerless this time?”

“I think this will be a big challenge for me. After all, I’ve always acted in male-female romances before. This is my first attempt to portray a female-female relationship, but I will do my best not to disappoint everyone.”

Meanwhile, Shen Lu was standing three meters away from Ye Qin off the stage. Sister Wang’s task for her was to immediately pull Ye Qin away if reporters brought up any sensitive topics.

“Everyone says you have a deep affection for your grandmother. We heard that your grandmother has been ill recently and has always wished to see you married. Would you get married to fulfill your filial duty?”

“This…” Before Ye Qin could answer, Shen Lu rushed over in a panic, grabbed Ye Qin’s wrist, and told the reporters, “Excuse me, the interview time for today is over, truly sorry.”

Unexpectedly, Ye Qin actually blamed her afterwards. “Do you think I couldn’t handle that moment?”

“No, Sis, I was afraid you might let something slip,” Shen Lu replied quietly, looking extremely cowardly.

“…Forget it, I won’t argue with you.” Ye Qin lowered her hands from her waist, turned to her, and said, “Hurry up and pack the luggage; we’ll be heading to the film set soon.”

“Mhm.” Shen Lu softly hummed in acknowledgment and turned to retrieve the suitcase from Ye Qin’s walk-in closet.

Squatting on the floor, folding clothes, she began to complain to herself, “I thought that after marrying you, your attitude towards me would improve a little. At least legally we are husband and wife, but I didn’t expect it to be the same.” She finished with a heavy sigh.

Immediately afterwards, Ye Qin’s voice leisurely drifted from the living room, “How come I hear someone talking bad about me behind my back?”

“Sister, you must have misheard!” Shen Lu loudly responded.

Ye Qin, sitting cross-legged on the sofa, was looking at the morning’s interview on her laptop. Unexpectedly, when she said she would perform well in Peerless, the bullet comments were all saying, “Where does Ye Qin get her confidence?” “Is she going to be a pretty vase again?” “Why would Tan Xueying be so foolish as to work with her?” “…”

And so on, similar remarks.

The next second, she irritably slammed the laptop shut.

Shen Lu, the hard-working laborer who had quietly finished packing the luggage, came out pushing the suitcase. She saw Ye Qin sitting on the sofa, seemingly lost in thought, looking troubled. She asked, “Sister, what’s wrong?”

“Come here.” Ye Qin crooked a finger at her.

Shen Lu immediately obediently ran over and sat down beside her, staring at her face.

Ye Qin moved her face even closer and asked very seriously, “What do you think of me?”

Shen Lu carefully examined her exquisite and flawless features, almost getting lost in thought. She couldn’t help but sigh internally that this woman was naturally meant to be a star. “V-very beautiful.”

“What about my acting?” Ye Qin continued to press.

“A-also not bad… ah…” Shen Lu stammered her reply.

“What do you mean ‘not bad’!” Ye Qin suddenly became agitated, pushing Shen Lu down onto the sofa. The two were instantly in a very ambiguous posture.

Shen Lu was startled out of her wits; this woman was simply too terrifying…

“It means very good.” Seriously, forcing her to say something against her conscience.

Ye Qin pouted, seemingly a little appeased, but asked again, unconvinced, “Really?”

“Really, really.” Shen Lu nodded frantically. However, she was complaining internally, Being ‘sofa-pinned’ like this by you, Grandma, even if it was fake, it’s definitely true now.

Hearing this, Ye Qin finally let her go, got up, and sat back properly. She sighed softly, “Since my debut, I’ve been branded as a ‘pretty vase.’ But I’ve truly been working hard to improve my acting these past few years. Why won’t people acknowledge me, even just a little?”

Shen Lu also climbed up and sat properly. Seeing her say this, she felt quite sorry for her. After all, Shen Lu had witnessed her journey firsthand. She was a hardworking girl, but perhaps her brain really had trouble grasping acting. There was progress, but…

“It’s hard to change the established image in the audience’s minds. You’ve improved, but perhaps they just haven’t seen it. They always assume you’re still the same as before. Don’t rush, though; that day will eventually come.”

“Shen Lu, thank you.”

“Huh?” Shen Lu was surprised to hear such words from Ye Qin’s mouth.

“If you hadn’t been willing to help me, I wouldn’t have known how to explain things to Grandma. Now, seeing her happy every day, I feel like everything is worth it.”

“It’s nothing, don’t mention it. You’re my boss, I rely on you for my livelihood, so helping out is what I should do,” Shen Lu said with a cheerful smile.

Who knew that in the next second, Ye Qin’s demeanor would suddenly change.

“Very good. You’re quite self-aware. You know I’m your boss. Even though we have the marriage certificate, we are still a supervisor and a subordinate.”

“Understood,” Shen Lu nodded.

Hmph, legally, you are still my wife though.

Ye Qin stood up. “Since everything is packed, you should go home first and pack your own luggage. This trip will last at least three months.”

Shen Lu rushed home and found that her mother was also home. After saying, “I’m back,” she went into her room to pack her luggage, not daring to delay for a moment.

Halfway through packing, her mother came in. “You’re going out again?”

Shen Lu hummed in agreement.

“How many days this time?”

“About three months, at least.”

“If you ask me, you should just quit this job. It’s hard, tiring, and the salary isn’t even high. Your uncle’s cousin’s sister’s husband has opened an entertainment company now. Why don’t you go work there?”

“Aiya, Mom, I’m doing quite well now.” She’ll be a woman with five million in five years, why would she quit?

“Stubborn and unteachable.” Her mother complained. “Oh, by the way, have you seen our household register book? I can’t find it anywhere.”

Household register book? Shoot, she forgot to take it back after getting the marriage certificate with Ye Qin last time.

“I… I don’t know,” Shen Lu started playing dumb. If her mother found out about this, wouldn’t all hell break loose? Not only that, but she would also have to pay Ye Qin fifty million in liquidated damages.

“Then where could it be? Tell me, did you secretly take the household register book to do something bad?”

“No, Mom, I really didn’t take it.” Beads of sweat appeared on Shen Lu’s forehead.

It looked like she would have to find an opportunity to secretly take it back next time.