After A Secret Marriage With The Trending Queen - Chapter 41

Chapter 41

Ye Qin decided to let Shen Lu off the hook, seeing how frightened she looked. She returned to her spot, saying, “Alright, I won’t tease you anymore.” Then she reopened her book and continued reading.

Shen Lu pouted, feeling both shy and irritated. She quietly climbed into bed, turned her back to Ye Qin, and lay down on her side. The room was very quiet, quiet enough to hear each other’s breathing and the rustle of Ye Qin turning the book pages.

Shen Lu’s eyelids gradually grew heavy, and she drifted off to sleep without knowing when.

Ye Qin got tired halfway through her book. She put it away and saw that Shen Lu next to her was already sound asleep. Not wanting to wake her, her movements were very gentle. She suddenly paused, thinking, what exactly are they now? There was no answer, and Ye Qin shook her head and smiled.

…

As soon as Ye Qin got up, she smelled a distinct fragrance through the door. Shen Lu wasn’t there, so she must have woken up very early.

“Qinqin, hurry, breakfast is ready.”

On her way to the bathroom, Ye Qin couldn’t help but look back at the noodles on the table. “It’s Yangchun Noodles!”

She was a little impatient. After quickly washing up, she sat down at the dining table. Shen Lu and Grandma came out of the kitchen together, but Ye Qin didn’t notice, focused on tasting the bowl of Yangchun Noodles in front of her.

“Grandma, your noodles are still so delicious,” Ye Qin couldn’t help but praise.

Grandma laughed upon hearing this. “These noodles weren’t made by Grandma, oh!” She then looked at Shen Lu next to her.

Ye Qin was stunned and shifted her gaze to Shen Lu, looking surprised. “You made them?”

Shen Lu nodded, acknowledging it.

Ye Qin looked down at the noodles in the bowl again; they tasted almost exactly like Grandma’s, and she hadn’t even noticed the difference. “How did you learn to make them…”

“I taught Lulu last time she visited. That way, if Grandma is no longer around, someone can still make them for you,” Grandma said.

“Grandma, I forbid you to say things like that.” Ye Qin bit her lip, slightly angry, lowering her head as tears started to well up in her eyes.

Shen Lu quickly comforted her, saying, “Grandma means that when you’re filming and she’s not around, I can still make them for you.”

Death and separation were always the topics they least wanted to touch upon.

…

Shen Lu stayed with Ye Qin for most of the day, only setting off to return to H City in the afternoon. She had to admit, these two days were the most relaxed she’d been. It felt like a return home, and the pressure of work had been instantly released. She also felt her relationship with Ye Qin had grown a bit closer—at least, that’s what she thought and felt.

Because Ye Qin had taken a last-minute leave of absence, one of her solo scenes had been postponed until this evening. So, after arriving in H City, they had to rush to the film set immediately.

Everyone else had already wrapped up and gone home, but some crew members were working overtime to shoot Ye Qin’s scene.

The makeup was being done under an open-air tent, and Shen Lu stood right beside her, ready for any instructions.

“Shen Lu!”

Just then, a voice came from behind.

Shen Lu turned around, a little surprised. “Sister Xueying, I thought you had already wrapped up and gone home…”

“I was waiting for you.” Tan Xueying said, then directly took both of Shen Lu’s hands in front of everyone, including Ye Qin. “How about it, little Lulu, have you missed me after a day apart?”

Shen Lu felt awkward and embarrassed; so many people were watching, especially with Ye Qin right there. She stammered, pulling her hands away, and gave a somewhat perfunctory answer, “I miss everyone.”

Ye Qin squinted at the two of them, silently clenched her fist, and maintained a poker face.

“How about this, since it’s already evening, let’s go eat together. I have something I want to talk to you about.” Tan Xueying completely ignored Ye Qin, even giving the impression that she wanted to publicize everything. It was as if she wanted everyone to know that she, Tan Xueying, liked Shen Lu and was pursuing her.

Ye Qin knew the other person was provoking her, constantly challenging her bottom line. If she reacted, she would lose.

Shen Lu’s first reaction was to lean closer to Ye Qin. “I still have work to do, Sister Qin hasn’t wrapped up yet…”

The words had barely left her mouth when Ye Qin said coldly, “You can go. You’re not needed here.”

“But, Sister, I…” Shen Lu’s expression was full of helplessness and a plea for rescue.

But Ye Qin remained unmoved. Shen Lu was a little confused. Why was she always so hot and cold towards her? Did she find it fun to mess with her?

After a long internal struggle, Shen Lu gritted her teeth. “Sister Xueying, I’ll go with you. Let’s leave now, since Sister Qin doesn’t need me here anyway.”

“Good.” Tan Xueying smiled slightly and placed a hand on Shen Lu’s shoulder. Shen Lu didn’t object.

After a long time, Ye Qin looked back at their retreating figures. Even the makeup artist couldn’t help but say, “They’ve gone.”

“If they’ve gone, they’ve gone…” Ye Qin said, her tone somewhat dejected.

…

Once outside, Shen Lu got into Tan Xueying’s car and remained silent throughout the drive, looking like she was pouting.

Tan Xueying, driving, couldn’t help but try to comfort her. “Alright, you’re out with me now, can you try to be happy?”

Shen Lu mumbled, seemingly to herself, “Maybe it really is just me being wishful and self-sentimental…”

“Huh, what did you say?” Tan Xueying hadn’t heard clearly.

Shen Lu smiled. “Nothing. Where are we going now?”

“Let’s eat first, and then I’ll take you to the beach.” Tan Xueying smiled at her.

“Sister Xueying, thank you.”

“Thank me for what?” Tan Xueying laughed out loud.

Shen Lu shook her head. She realized that her entire heart was tied to Ye Qin’s every action—happy one moment, sad the next, feeling blissful one moment, and then depressed and sorrowful. This might be the feeling of love, the feeling of loving someone.

Seeing her silent, Tan Xueying took the initiative to hold her hand. “Be my girlfriend, okay?”

Shen Lu looked at Tan Xueying’s face. Her mouth opened and closed. She was very beautiful, with no major flaws or scandals. Over the years, she had been a well-regarded rising star with good acting skills and public appeal. Logically, there was no reason to refuse a person like her, but…

“Sister Xueying, actually, I…” She really, really wanted to speak her mind and tell the other person she already liked someone else, but Sister Wang had told her to stall Tan Xueying. So, what should she do now?

“Never mind. I won’t pressure you. I can wait for you. Let’s eat.” Tan Xueying smiled slightly and politely let go of her hand.

On the other side, Ye Qin had just finished her shoot in the quickest and best condition. She immediately received a message on her phone, sent by Tan Xueying.

Tan Xueying: She agreed to be mine.

These five incredibly brief words instantly shook Ye Qin’s heart, stirring up a massive storm and creating huge ripples within her.

She felt she couldn’t wait any longer. She had only one thought.

“Ye Qin, where are you going!” Wang Lin was too late to stop her; she watched as Ye Qin grabbed her car keys and drove away.

Tan Xueying put away her phone, pretending everything was normal, and continued eating with Shen Lu. If her calculations were correct, Ye Qin would be arriving soon. She had already contacted the media reporters in advance. Now, all they had to do was wait for the show to begin.

Ye Qin parked her car in front of the restaurant where they were eating. She anxiously got out of the car. The lying-in-wait media were ready to rush for the breaking news.

Ye Qin went inside and glanced around. She spotted Shen Lu and Tan Xueying at a window table. Without a word, she strode over with a stern face and grabbed Shen Lu’s wrist, leaving Shen Lu flustered and caught off guard. “Sister, why are you here?”

“I forbid you to be with her,” Ye Qin said, then looked at Tan Xueying, her eyes full of inviolable possession and possessiveness.

“W-why? Didn’t you tell me to…” Before Shen Lu could finish speaking, Ye Qin anxiously interrupted her.

“Because you’re mine!”

Shen Lu was so shocked her eyes almost popped out.

With that, Ye Qin pulled Shen Lu out of the restaurant right in front of Tan Xueying.

Tan Xueying sat alone at the table and couldn’t help but sneer. Ye Qin, oh, Ye Qin, in the end, you still lost to me.