After A Secret Marriage With The Trending Queen - Chapter 37

Chapter 37

The whole afternoon, Shen Lu hoped Ye Qin would talk to her about the situation, but she didn’t. The only thing she said to her during a break in filming was, “We’re having dinner together tonight, to accompany your aunt and uncle.”

“Oh,” Shen Lu mumbled, pouting. Even without that last sentence, I know you would never invite me to a private dinner.

…

At the hotel, Shen Lu’s mother (Mom Shen) was comfortably lying on the big bed in the room, looking content. A fruit basket on the nightstand contained freshly washed grapes, which she popped into her mouth one by one. She sighed with contentment, “This life is truly comfortable. Husband, wouldn’t it be great if we could live like this forever? I don’t want to leave.”

Shen Lu’s father (Dad Shen) glanced at her, saying crossly, “If you want to stay, stay alone. I’m going back after tonight.”

“Hey, what’s wrong with you? You’re so unromantic,” Mom Shen sat up, accusing Dad Shen. “You don’t know how to enjoy yourself at all.”

“Enjoy myself? We’re spending someone else’s money, not our daughter’s. Besides, our daughter is so busy working on set every day, and we two old people just stay in the hotel all day. Don’t you feel idle?”

“Old Shen, I take offense at that. What do you mean by ‘spending someone else’s money’? Isn’t Qin Qin part of our family now?”

“I don’t care about you. If you want to continue shamelessly staying here, go ahead.” Dad Shen angrily turned his face away.

“Old Shen, are you trying to pick a fight with me today!” Mom Shen angrily got out of bed, rolled up her sleeves, and marched over to Dad Shen.

Dad Shen backed down a step, patiently trying to persuade her. “We came because we were worried when Lulu was hospitalized. Now that she’s fine, we should stick to the principle of not bothering the children and go back soon. Staying too long isn’t good. Can you understand what I mean?”

“You just suffer for the sake of appearances!” Mom Shen complained.

Just then, Mom Shen’s phone rang. It was an unfamiliar number. After some hesitation, she answered. To her surprise, it was her daughter Shen Lu’s voice.

“Oh, it’s Lulu! Why did you change your number?”

“My phone fell into the sea a few days ago, so I got a new phone and a new SIM card. We’re having dinner together tonight. The crew has wrapped up, and we’re on our way back to the hotel now.”

“Good, good. Your dad and I will get ready to go out to eat.” Mom Shen hung up triumphantly and winked at Dad Shen. “Quick, tidy yourself up.”

Dad Shen looked down at his clothes, thinking, Do I even need to tidy up…

…

Sister Wang got out of the car halfway, instructing them before leaving, “I won’t be joining you for dinner tonight; I have something else to do. Remember to prioritize privacy protection. That’s all for now. See you tomorrow.”

“See you tomorrow, Sister Wang!” Shen Lu waved out the window, watching Sister Wang stride into an old residential community with her bag. She couldn’t help but ask curiously, “Does Sister Wang have relatives or friends in H City?” Since no one answered her, it sounded more like talking to herself.

Shen Jing was driving. Since they were away from the set, he was less restrained. “Sister Qin, where are we going for dinner tonight? Is it the same as yesterday?”

Ye Qin, who had been resting with closed eyes and sunglasses, was suddenly addressed. Shen Lu subconsciously slapped Shen Jing’s shoulder. “Drive properly. Sister Qin is tired and resting.”

The next second, Ye Qin lifted her sunglasses slightly. “You can go anywhere you want. Don’t worry about the price.”

Hearing this, Shen Jing looked smug. He swayed his body to the music playing in the car, as if deliberately trying to provoke Shen Lu. Shen Lu simply leaned back in her seat, closing her eyes and mouth, deciding not to speak for the rest of the journey.

Back at the hotel, Ye Qin went upstairs first to shower and change into comfortable clothes, as was her custom. Even though the weather was cool, the filming studio was very hot, making people sweat profusely. Shen Lu went to her parents’ room after dropping off her bag and found Shen Jing waiting there, rambling endlessly.

“Sis, let me play with your new iPhone, okay?” Shen Jing eagerly approached her.

Shen Lu swatted him away and walked inside. Seeing the packed suitcases, she was a little surprised. “Mom and Dad, are you going back?”

Mom Shen sat aside, pouting without speaking, acting as childish as a three-year-old.

Dad Shen patted the spot next to him and motioned for Shen Lu to sit. “Lulu, your mom and I have been here for two days. Seeing that you’re fine, we feel relieved. Staying here for too long isn’t right, so your mom and I decided to head back tomorrow morning.”

Shen Lu bit her lip. Although she was reluctant, she agreed. “Then, please be safe tomorrow. Take care of yourselves when you get back. My work here is almost finished. I have about a month left until Ye Qin wraps up the shoot, then I can come home.”

“Work hard. You’re the best, my daughter!” Dad Shen said, giving Shen Lu an encouraging pat on the shoulder.

Shen Jing, standing to the side, mumbled, “So I’m the one who causes the most trouble, I guess.”

This remark led to a burst of laughter, with the whole family roaring together. “Hahahahahah…”

…

The dinner venue was a Japanese restaurant, a comparable rival to the one Shen Lu went to the night before. Mom Shen was overjoyed. Rubbing her hands together, she proudly said, “I’ve never had Japanese food before. I’ll have something to brag about to those neighborhood ladies when I get back.”

Before entering, Shen Jing deliberately stood next to Shen Lu and teased, “See? Sister Qin must be angry, intentionally choosing a Japanese restaurant. Why did you have to go eat Japanese food with another woman last night?”

Shen Lu rolled her eyes at him. “Oh, is that right?” She then strode forward, leaving him far behind.

During dinner, Shen Jing started talking too much again. Whether accidentally or intentionally, he brought up the bouquet of flowers Shen Lu received on set, teasing, “You don’t know, everyone on set was gossiping happily today, guessing who sent the flowers to my sister. Some even said a rich second generation! I even laughed and said, why would a rich second generation be interested in my sister!”

No sooner had he finished speaking than Mom Shen hit his mouth with her chopsticks. “What nonsense are you talking about?” She then glanced at Ye Qin, worried she would be unhappy. Although Ye Qin didn’t show much, she didn’t look particularly happy. “Qin Qin, we’ve really caused you trouble these past two days.”

Ye Qin paused, then smiled. “Not at all, Auntie. Please don’t say that. It’s an honor to have you and Uncle here. I was worried I hadn’t hosted you well enough.”

“My youngest son, he’s a chatterbox, too nosy, and irritable. I hope you don’t mind,” Mom Shen said.

“Not at all, not at all…”

“What kind of mother talks about her son like that…” Shen Jing mumbled discontentedly.

Everyone was chatting while eating, but Shen Lu didn’t join in. She ate silently and slowly, deep in thought.

Ye Qin noticed this and called out to her. “What, do you think the taste of this restaurant isn’t as good as the one you went to yesterday?”

“No, no.” Shen Lu suddenly snapped back to attention, only then realizing the double meaning in Ye Qin’s words.

After dinner and paying the bill, the five happily returned to the hotel. Although “happily” was the word used, two of them were not very happy, barely speaking more than a few words, and even those were dismissive.

“Mom and Dad, get some rest tonight. You have a trip to catch tomorrow,” Shen Lu said after seeing her parents back to their room. She was about to head to her own room when Ye Qin called out, “You, come with me. Let’s talk.”

Leaving Shen Jing alone at the door, he smacked his lips, arms crossed, guessing. It must be about the flowers today. They’re probably going to have a big fight, or maybe they’ll make up and be all lovey-dovey.

Shen Lu obediently followed behind Ye Qin, her heart heavy, conflicted, and anxious. The situation she faced was unusually complex. On one hand, Sister Xueying had confessed to her and wanted to poach her to work in her studio, but on the other hand, she and Ye Qin were legally married with a contract. What should she do?

The elevator went up. Ye Qin stood in front, and Shen Lu stood behind. Surrounded by mirrors, Shen Lu could glimpse Ye Qin’s face in the reflection, devoid of expression. This made her even more nervous, and she nervously pinched her fingers the entire ride.

Arriving at Ye Qin’s room, Ye Qin opened the door and entered, taking off her jacket. Shen Lu followed, closing the door, and then quickly turned on the indoor heating. She then awkwardly stood, unsure whether to stand or sit, facing Ye Qin’s back as she stood by the floor-to-ceiling window. “Sister, what did you want to talk about?”

Ye Qin, dressed only in a thin top, looked very slender but held her back straight against Shen Lu. Her long, pale fingers were casually interlaced, her tall figure silhouetted against the glass of the window in the late evening light.

“Tan Xueying wants to pursue you. What do you think?”

“I…” Shen Lu bit her lip. “I don’t know.”

Ye Qin let out a cold laugh, the corners of her mouth slightly curved. Her tone sounded deliberately cold. “If you were to refuse Tan Xueying just to please me, I would feel insulted.”

“No, I haven’t refused her, but I haven’t agreed to her either. I was so scared when she came up to me and said those things. I didn’t have time to think about all that,” Shen Lu mumbled, her voice trailing off.

Just then, Ye Qin turned around, fixing her gaze on Shen Lu’s face. “Tan Xueying is right. I can’t interfere with your private relationship. Even if you choose Tan Xueying, I can’t stop you.”

Shen Lu scratched her finger, feeling confused. I never said I was going to choose Tan Xueying. Ye Qin’s words sounded strange.

“Oh, and another thing. No matter what happens between you two in the future, remember your obligations during the contract period,” Ye Qin said, giving her no chance to respond. “Alright, I’ve said what I needed to say. You can leave now.”

Shen Lu: ???

Tan Xueying, if you’re trying to provoke me with this move, it won’t work, because I genuinely don’t care who Shen Lu ends up with, Ye Qin thought, clenching her fists in secret.