After A Secret Marriage With The Trending Queen - Chapter 32

Chapter 32

“Ring, ring, ring, ring…” A phone call interrupted their conversation. Wang Lin pulled out her phone, recognized the caller, and looked up at Ye Qin. “Alright, it’s getting late. You should go back and rest early. I’ll step out to take a call, and I’ll drive you back in a moment.”

Before Ye Qin could ask anything, Wang Lin had already hurried off the balcony, clutching her phone. By the time Ye Qin returned to the room, Wang Lin had already gone out. It was then that Shen Lu, lying in the hospital gown on the bed, curiously called out to her. “Sister, if you and Sister Wang don’t have anything else to do, you should go back and rest early. I’m fine here.”

“Yang Li, what’s wrong?” Wang Lin answered the phone in the hallway.

“Nothing. I was just a little worried about you. Is everything… okay over there?”

“The situation is resolved, but I might not be able to come back to your place tonight,” Wang Lin replied.

“That’s okay. I’m glad you’re fine.”

“…I couldn’t even spend the holiday properly with you. I really owe you an apology…”

Yang Li sat by the bedside, smiling next to her sleeping son. “What are you talking about? I was very happy today. You get some rest and don’t overwork yourself.”

“Mhm, you too.”

…

Just as the call ended, Ye Qin emerged from the room. Wang Lin put away her phone, looking somewhat flustered. Although Ye Qin had inadvertently heard something, she didn’t press the issue. Instead, she just said, “Take me back to the hotel.”

Shen Lu sat on the hospital bed, bored. She watched as the night deepened, the clock’s hands ticking. Meanwhile, Shen Jing was curled up on the room’s sofa, happily playing mobile games. “Well, everyone else left, aren’t you going back?”

Shen Jing didn’t even lift his head, continuing his game. He casually tossed out a remark, “If I leave, won’t you be lonely by yourself? Look how nice I am, sacrificing myself to stay with you in the hospital.”

…

Shen Lu quietly clenched her fists, gritting her teeth and saying resentfully, “I don’t need you to keep me company. Now, get out.”

“But Sis, I had good intentions.”

“I’m fine, and I want to sleep. You go back, too,” Shen Lu said, pulling the corner of the blanket and covering her head with it. Seeing her like this, Shen Jing pouted, got up, and conceded, “Alright, I’m heading back then. I’ll come again tomorrow morning.”

…

Only after hearing the door close did Shen Lu come out for fresh air again. She had finally managed to send that brat Shen Jing away. Shen Lu turned and picked up the remote from the bedside table, turning on the TV in the room. She flipped through several channels, all showing boring programs, before finally stopping on a documentary, no longer bothering to change the channel.

The light from the TV flickered. The host’s voice, which was rich and gentle, was soothing. Shen Lu watched and, without realizing it, drifted off to sleep.

It was late into the night. The entire hospital was silent. The sound of high heels echoed in the corridor, crisp and clear, step by step—almost unsettlingly eerie.

Then, a door in the senior ward floor was pushed open. Shen Lu was still deep asleep, her expression calm and peaceful. The person who entered gently stroked her face, their eyes filled with immense tenderness. “You shouldn’t have been dragged into this, but I promise you, once this is all over, you will be compensated double.”

…

That night, Shen Lu had a dream. Tan Xueying and Ye Qin were both in it. It was a very strange dream. Even after waking up, she still felt a sense of immediacy, unable to fully detach, and for a second, she even felt that the events in the dream had actually happened.

Just then, the nurse pushed the door open. She performed a routine check and reported with a smile that Shen Lu’s body was fine and she could be discharged today. Shen Lu nodded and thanked the nurse. She just felt a little uncomfortable in her stomach, likely because she hadn’t eaten last night. Her cruise ship Japanese meal was ruined. Thinking about that made her so sad…

“Knock, knock, knock. Knock, knock, knock…”

There was another knock on the door. Shen Lu was just about to get out of bed. “Come in.”

When she saw the visitor, she gasped. “Sister Xueying!”

Tan Xueying carried fruit to visit her, approaching her with gentle warmth. “How are you? How does it feel to narrowly escape death?”

Shen Lu knew the other person was teasing her, so she played along. “It was incredibly thrilling… but I never want to experience it again in my life.”

At that moment, Tan Xueying’s hand suddenly stroked Shen Lu’s face, her eyes looking at her with extreme seriousness. “Trust me, there won’t be a second time.”

Shen Lu was momentarily stunned and dazed. The sudden physical touch felt strange and unfamiliar. She belatedly pulled away from Tan Xueying’s hand, her expression somewhat awkward and uncomfortable. “Of course, of course there won’t be a second time! I won’t take a boat again even if you kill me!”

“Pfft.” Tan Xueying burst out laughing. “So, all those people who survived car accidents just stay indoors for the rest of their lives? Your thought process is so cute.”

Shen Lu inexplicably blushed and stammered, “No, not really… it’s just… But Sister Xueying, why did you come? And how did you know I was hospitalized…”

“I… I saw the news. Don’t you know? As Ye Qin’s assistant, any event involving her can easily trend, so…”

Shen Lu slapped her forehead in resignation. So she was trending again? How could she, an outsider, trend more frequently than a celebrity? It was truly…

“Sister Xueying, thank you so much for visiting me. I’m a little overwhelmed.”

Tan Xueying curved the corner of her mouth. “You don’t need to thank me. We’re friends, aren’t we?”

“F-friends?” Shen Lu was even more shocked. An acclaimed acting veteran and popular actress in the entertainment industry just called her a friend. Did her ears deceive her?

“Yes, I’ve long considered you my friend. So, it’s normal for friends to care about each other.”

…

No sooner had the words left her mouth than the door was forcefully shoved open. The newcomer was aggressive and full of hostility. “Since when did my assistant become friends with you?”

Ye Qin…

Shen Lu swallowed. “Sister Qin, you’re here! Sister Xueying was just being kind…”

Before she could finish, Ye Qin interrupted her. “I wasn’t asking you.” She then looked at Tan Xueying, her eyes filled with murderous intent. In an instant, the air seemed to be thick with the smoke of battle. “What are you doing here?”

Tan Xueying smiled. “I merely came to visit my friend. Is there a problem?”

Ye Qin was so angry her chest was heaving. Her eyes were cold, staring at Tan Xueying as if she wanted to flip her intentions inside out and see what she was truly up to.

“Of course not,” she sneered.

Tan Xueying turned to look at Shen Lu. “Well, I’ll be heading back now. See you on set.” She smiled at Shen Lu and waved.

Shen Lu returned the smile and waved goodbye.

Then, under Ye Qin’s intense gaze, Tan Xueying walked out proudly, her posture seemingly declaring that she had the upper hand.

Ye Qin was furious. Shen Lu was so frightened she didn’t dare utter a sound.

Ye Qin’s phone rang. It was Wang Lin.

“Hello, Qin. Did you get to the hospital? Before you left, you asked me to buy something and bring it to the hospital, right?”

“No need to buy anything,” Ye Qin said. She hung up the phone, clutching it in her hand, and turned to Shen Lu. “If you’re fine, check out. You need to get back to work.”

“…Oh, I’ll change my clothes and go complete the discharge procedures…” Shen Lu replied softly, while inwardly complaining that this woman’s anger was terrifying.

…

Later, Shen Lu dutifully checked out of the hospital and returned to her post.

When she first returned to the set, everyone offered their solicitous regards, and Shen Lu thanked them all individually. Not long after, her mother’s call came through on her own phone, which Shen Jing had delivered.

Her mother’s voice sounded extremely anxious and worried. Shen Lu realized her parents must have seen the news about her ordeal last night.

“Lulu, you finally answered our call! Your father and I were scared to death!”

“I’m fine. My phone got soaked in the seawater and stopped working, so I couldn’t contact you right away.”

“#@#%￥%……%……”

“Mom, what are you doing? Why is it so loud…” Shen Lu was confused by the many noises coming through the phone.

“Oh, your father and I are on the train. We’ll be arriving near you this afternoon.”

!!!

That was Shen Lu’s first reaction. Being discovered about her marriage had nearly killed her before, and now her parents were suddenly visiting the set. What if their contract marriage was exposed?

“Why are you coming? I’m very busy here, and I don’t have time to entertain you.”

“Don’t worry, your father and I absolutely won’t interfere with your work. We’ll just stay at the hotel. Besides, our dear daughter went through such an ordeal. We have to confirm you’re safe and sound before we can go back.”

Shen Lu scratched her head, feeling flustered and helpless. “Alright, alright, I understand. Call Shen Jing when you arrive; he’ll drive to the station to pick you up.”

…

After the call, Shen Lu was completely distressed, letting out an involuntary sigh. A voice suddenly spoke up behind her, giving her a fright.

“Why is someone still looking so unhappy after being discharged from the hospital?”

Shen Lu turned and patted her chest, then was slightly amused by her own nervousness. “Sister Xueying, you startled me again. That’s twice today.”

Tan Xueying waved her hand and laughed. “Then I apologize. A very sincere and heartfelt apology. Can you forgive me now?”

Shen Lu chuckled, covering her mouth. “Sister Xueying, you think too highly of me. How dare I be angry with you?”

“Seriously though,” Tan Xueying stopped smiling. “I’ll treat you to dinner tonight. Consider it compensation, or a celebration for your safe escape from death, or something.”

“Ah… treat me to dinner?” Shen Lu was surprised.

“Yes. I saw your post that you lost out on a Japanese meal. So, how about I treat you to Japanese food tonight?” Tan Xueying smiled faintly, playing with the ring on her finger, calculating her next move.

Shen Lu silently swallowed. She could already see various sushi and sashimi floating before her eyes…

…

On the other side, Ye Qin’s face was dark. The makeup artist applying touch-ups didn’t dare breathe heavily, their movements cautious.

Wang Lin, standing nearby, also caught sight of Tan Xueying and Shen Lu talking and laughing. She couldn’t help but say, “Since when did those two become so close?”

Ye Qin glanced over, her tone strange and prickly. “Who knows?” she said, pulling her gaze back and closing her eyes, letting the makeup artist continue to work on her face. She added, “Who cares?”

Wang Lin stifled a laugh and turned her neck. Why did that sound so sour?