Love Contract with the Queen Actress - Chapter 22

There was no time to turn on the lights.

The night was as deep as water, with only scattered starlight spilling in through the window.

Shen Wu was pinned to the sofa by Su Yuchen.

Su Yuchen’s gaze was dark as she repeated the question she had asked in the elevator earlier.

“Have we met before?”

Shen Wu’s eyes were hazy, glistening with a thin layer of moisture as she narrowed them slightly.

“What do you think?”

“I… I don’t know.” Su Yuchen had drunk a lot of alcohol, making her misdeeds effortless. She pressed down on those pale wrists and chased after those crimson lips again.

She could only mumble incoherently in response: “Mmm, but… it feels like that time.”

“Which time?”

“The time in the dream.”

Both of their thoughts involuntarily drifted back to that night years ago.

Except one had memories, while the other felt as if she had stepped into a dream.

A hotel room. Su Yuchen, dressed in a server’s uniform, held Shen Wu’s slender waist, the fragrance of red wine lingering between their lips.

It was more of a bite than a kiss, ferocious, pressing relentlessly against her.

She seemed to enjoy nipping at things, a habit somewhat akin to that of a feline.

Just like tonight, the lights in the room were off. The cold purple neon glow of the city outside poured in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating a dim and obscure corner.

Shen Wu wore a champagne-colored evening gown that trailed on the floor, the shimmering embellishments on the fabric casting a galaxy-like glow.

Her slender, fair arms lifted, the crystal fringe cascading like a waterfall of stars.

The next second, those jade-like arms wrapped around the delicate neck of the server clad in a burgundy vest and a black A-line skirt.

Clothing from different occasions pressed together, two clashing temperaments quietly merging.

Both were stunningly beautiful, unrivaled even by the stars of the dark night.

Shen Wu’s delicate fingers loosened Su Yuchen’s high ponytail.

The black hair tie from Su Yuchen’s hair slipped onto Shen Wu’s elegantly boned wrist.

Long hair tumbled down, veiling fragrant shoulders.

Though there was light in the room, only the area by the window was bathed in its glow. The two behind the door couldn’t clearly see each other’s faces, but they could feel the other’s fervent heartbeat.

Originally, Shen Wu’s back had been pressed against the door.

Then her body was pulled into a spin, her toes kicking an empty wine bottle on the floor, sending it rolling away with a clatter.

The bottle knocked against the wall before quietly rolling aside again.

As if too shy to watch.

Just like tonight, their hearts raced in mirrored positions, unable to contain their exhilaration.

But unlike now, back then, Shen Wu was 24, disheartened after her first film missed out on a prestigious award.

Su Yuchen was 19, working a part-time job at the hotel bar, committing the only “mistake” of her life.

Shen Wu exhaled softly, the corners of her eyes tinged with watery red.

“Remember now?”

Su Yuchen’s reactions were sluggish, clearly unable to keep up with Shen Wu’s expectations.

“I had a dream once. If it was real… was that the first time we met?”

Her lips moved as she spoke, so close that each word brushed against Shen Wu’s skin, sending shivers down her spine.

Su Yuchen murmured under her breath, pecking lightly as she whispered.

“It feels like… the first time in the dream.”

Her words were slurred, but at this proximity, Shen Wu heard every syllable clearly.

“What first time?” Shen Wu’s lips were flushed red as she spoke with warm breath, but the constant pecking made her words unclear. She could only cup the face of the troublemaker, staring into her already burning eyes, and enunciate each word deliberately: “That was our second meeting.”

“And that wasn’t a dream, you dummy!”

“Mmm…” Clearly, the person before her could no longer grasp the meaning of the words, only tilting her head with bright yet slightly confused eyes as she looked at Shen Wu.

Second time? Hazy and muddled, Su Yuchen seemed to understand yet not, wasn’t that wrong? In her 22 years of life, hadn’t she only made that one mistake?

But her mind, now a swirling mess, had lost all capacity for thought, craving only the sweet fragrance of those lips.

So, Su Yuchen leaned in again.

Unsurprisingly, their lips met once more, the air thick with intoxicating pheromones, hearts brimming with the lush spring breeze.

Just then, a soft “Meow~~” sounded beside them.

Both froze, slowly turning their heads.

There, One Yuan sat before them, head tilted, round eyes wide with curiosity as she studied the two.

Their necks stiff, they endured an awkward silence.

Finally, One Yuan broke the silence: “Meow?”

For a fleeting moment, Shen Wu felt as if the cat was asking, “What are you two doing?”

The next second, One Yuan took matters into her own paws, squeezing between their faces, not only parting their lips but also sniffing back and forth.

In Su Yuchen’s mouth, she caught Shen Wu’s scent, and in Shen Wu’s mouth, she found Su Yuchen’s.

The kitten was utterly baffled, her expression one of shock, there was nothing tasty in their mouths, so why were they fighting over them?

Were they fighting over air? Their lips were swollen!

Humans, how silly can you be?

Though she didn’t understand, One Yuan mimicked them, kissing one, sniffing the other, and finally deigning to give Shen Wu’s face a lick.

“Meow~~”

Shen Wu, who had been wrapped in the intoxicating atmosphere, was now completely frozen.

Before she could even fully utter, “What are you doing?” she felt a sudden lightness as Su Yuchen lunged to the side, pinning One Yuan firmly beneath her.

“Haha! Shen Wu! Hic!”

Su Yuchen planted five or six rapid kisses on One Yuan, then looked up in confusion: “Shen Wu, why do you have whiskers now?”

Shen Wu: “…”

One Yuan, trapped: “…”

“Muah muah muah!”

Before she could react, One Yuan was smothered with more kisses, utterly bewildered.

Shen Wu was equally stunned.

Su Yuchen, having lavished the kitten with kisses, wore a blissful expression, her almond eyes glazed with happiness.

“Shen Wu, you’re so soft and sweet! Just like a kitty.”

“It’s like… like I’m really kissing a cat!”

Shen Wu: “…”

One Yuan: Heavens, meow! I am a cat!

Stop fighting! There’s nothing tasty in my mouth, meow!

Help, meow! The human world is terrifying, meow!

After a moment or perhaps no time at all, Su Yuchen rested her head against the kitten’s, pointing at the air as she spoke: “Shen Wu, do you know how much I’ve missed you these days?”

“I’ve missed you so, so much!”

“But my existence only brings you trouble. I shouldn’t be by your side, I should return to the earth. I am dust, and dust belongs in the soil!”

“I didn’t dare to look for you, didn’t even dare to ask about you. So, when I saw you coming to find me today, do you know how happy, how overjoyed I was?”

“But I want to tell you, I really can support myself. I’ve done it all these years… I… I won’t accept being kept.”

Shen Wu had shifted from lying flat to propping herself up on the sofa, resting her chin on one hand, watching Su Yuchen’s drunken ramblings with amused interest.

“I’ll earn money with my own hands, so I’ll soon buy my mom a big TV. I want her to see me on screen, that would make me happy.”

“Hic!”

“Mmm… Also, Shen Wu, I don’t want to hold you back. So, after this dream ends, I’ll keep living my life with strength. If… if one day I can achieve something on my own, then I’ll feel worthy of standing by your side. I… I know it’s presumptuous, but I have my own principles!”

Shen Wu continued to watch her, chin in hand, her peach-blossom eyes blinking slowly.

She said nothing, quietly observing the girl’s intoxicated murmurs.

Yet something inside her seemed to quietly unfurl.

A bittersweet, honeyed feeling of admiration, perhaps respect.

It was hard to define.

But a flower that braves wind and rain, growing alone without clinging to others or floating rootless, blooming stubbornly in an unnoticed corner, such a flower deserves applause.

“Alright,” Shen Wu said softly, gazing at her profile with sincerity. “I understand.”

“Mmm…”

Su Yuchen pinned down One Yuan, stroking it almost indecently before suddenly frowning in confusion. “Shen Wu, why have you gotten so tiny?”

“Am I the one who grew bigger in this dream?”

“…”

What an unfortunate line.

When “Shen Wu” didn’t respond, realization dawned on Su Yuchen’s flushed face.

“Oh right! I’m dreaming!”

“Well, since it’s a dream, I might as well be bold!”

Just as one wondered how bold she intended to be, Su Yuchen grabbed a napkin and draped it over the dazed One Yuan’s “belly.”

She lay down beside One Yuan, carefully tucking in the “blanket” corners.

“Sleeping with Shen Wu… how daring.”

“Hehe~”

Finally content, she closed her eyes with a blissful smile, her breathing gradually deepening into actual sleep.

“…”

At this moment, only three words echoed in Shen Wu’s mind, alcohol causes trouble.

The next second, she realized she couldn’t simply trick this fool with a straightforward contract. She needed subtle tactics, clever tricks, and a scheming strategy, a hybrid agreement to truly capture the little thing.

…

The next morning, sunlight streamed in.

Su Yuchen woke groggily, her arms limp as noodles, her body too weak to rise. Squinting at the warm light outside, she stared blankly for three full seconds before bolting upright.

“Oh my god!”

Her first instinct was to frantically pat around for her phone. Spotting it on the nightstand, she grabbed it and checked the time, already past ten.

“No no no no!”

“I’m late, I’m late!”

Su Yuchen scrambled out of bed, her throbbing head delivering a dizzying blow as her legs gave way the next second, sending her plopping onto the white shag rug in front of the bed.

“I…”

“I must still be hungover, I swear I smell something burning.”

After sitting for a few seconds, Su Yuchen confirmed it wasn’t a hallucination. There really was a charred odor creeping in through the door crack, wafting faintly, irritating her nostrils.

Leaning against the wall for support, she stumbled out of the bedroom.

The moment she stepped out, she saw Shen Wu charging out of the smoke-filled kitchen, wielding a spatula in one hand and a pot lid in the other. The expensive loungewear she wore was accessorized with an auntie-style frilly apron, and her face was half-hidden behind oversized sunglasses.

The kitchen smoke alarm shrieked sharply, blaring in frantic bursts.

Shen Wu, looking like a fully armed soldier dashing out of a trench, brandished the spatula at Su Yuchen. “Run!”

“Don’t worry, I’ve got this!”

“…”

Su Yuchen stood frozen for a long moment before finally heading toward the kitchen, where the alarm was still wailing.

Inside, she found two pancake-shaped lumps of charcoal in the pan, billowing thick black smoke. The stove flame roared violently, blue tongues licking the bottom of the pan, churning out even more swirling smoke.

This wasn’t cooking, it was alchemy.

Using the pot lid as a shield, Shen Wu inched closer. “Get out, quick! These eggs are defective, they’re smoking.”

Despite her hangover haze, Su Yuchen immediately noticed that the pot lid in Shen Wu’s hand was white, while the matching pan currently enduring its fiery trial on the stove had turned completely black, a high-end matte black, no less.

“…”

After a brief moment of speechlessness, Su Yuchen swiftly turned off the stove, shut the gas valve, and flung open the kitchen window.

Cool air rushed in as the range hood worked overtime to expel the choking smoke.

After much chaos, the smoke alarm finally stopped screeching, though not before the property management staff rushed up to investigate.

Clearly well-trained, the staff were still visibly shaken by the scene.

Two efficient-looking female managers in black pencil skirts couldn’t help but steal glances at the pan in the kitchen.

The suited supervisor, clutching a logbook, bombarded them with questions, making it clear just how seriously they took the incident.

And they had every reason to. The building stood in the most coveted, tranquil spot within the bustling heart of the capital, where land was worth its weight in gold, priced at over 200,000 yuan per square meter. Any resident plucked at random could have their achievements listed in a lengthy online search.

And then there was the penthouse, complete with a terrace garden and swimming pool. If that caught fire, the consequences would be unthinkable.

Shen Wu simply leaned against the kitchen doorway, arms crossed.

Her light beige loungewear was now streaked with soot, her fair face smudged with two streaks of pan-black, yet she still wore those oversized sunglasses indoors like makeshift goggles.

The dark shades obscured half her face, ill-fitting yet oddly making her features appear even more delicate. She tilted her head slightly, refusing to engage, her entire demeanor screaming: Don’t know, wasn’t me, stop looking at me.

Left with no choice, Su Yuchen obediently cooperated with the staff. “Yes, yes, nothing actually caught fire.”

“Right, just making breakfast. The heat was too high… Mm, that’s probably what happened.”

“No, no, no, I probably won’t try that again so easily in the future. Oh, the property management offers breakfast service? That’s just perfect.”

Before leaving, the staff member handed the work log to Shen Wu.

Shen Wu brushed her hair back and signed her name with a flourish in the homeowner’s signature section of the log.

She even added a wink doodle at the end.

“Heh, knew it. Here you go.”

Behind the staff member, whose face was practically twitching with exasperation, Su Yuchen slapped a hand to her own forehead.

…

The morning sun was gentle, and the kitchen door was closed, shutting out the cold wind whistling through the window. The temperature inside the room gradually warmed up.

Su Yuchen and Shen Wu sat at the dining table outside the kitchen. Under normal circumstances, a plate of lovingly made breakfast should have been placed in front of them to fit the scene.

But Shen Wu’s “love” had turned into a charred lump in the pan, fused so thoroughly with the metal that it couldn’t even be scraped out, let alone plated and served.

“Ahem.”

Su Yuchen cleared her throat, pursed her lips, and then asked, “Are you hungry? Should I call the property management to order breakfast?”

“Not hungry.”

Shen Wu took off her sunglasses and tossed them onto the table.

She seemed to be angry at someone, probably the incinerated eggs or the pan that had ascended to culinary heaven.

After a pause, she added, “I didn’t do anything just now. Forget about it quickly.”

“Right, right. Those eggs must have felt too cold in the fridge and decided to jump into the pan to warm up.”

Su Yuchen actually dared to crack a joke.

“…”

Shen Wu’s face darkened to about the same shade as the pan she had just ruined.

One Yuan, who had been hiding for a long time because of the stranger in the house, finally poked its little head out from its three-story luxury cat castle and let out a delicate “Meow.” But the moment it saw Su Yuchen turn around, it instantly recoiled and darted back into its princess fortress.

“…”

Su Yuchen found it odd. “Why is One Yuan a little scared of me after just one night?”

“…”

Any living creature would be terrified of you after what happened last night.

The thought lingered in Shen Wu’s mind, but she didn’t voice it.

Instead, she slowly retaliated with a joke of her own: “Oh, maybe it thinks you’re trying to steal its food.”

“Me?” Su Yuchen pointed at herself, waving her hands with a laugh. “No way, no way.”

From inside its luxury castle, One Yuan let out a series of aggrieved “Meow~” sounds, as if saying: Yes, you are! You totally are!

You even tried to snatch food from my mouth, good thing I didn’t have anything tasty in there!

You were pecking at my mouth like you did with that scary big sister, nom nom nom.

“……”

Naturally, Su Yuchen couldn’t understand the melodious meows of protest. She just fell silent for a second before suddenly realizing something. Her smile froze.

“Wait… did I do something… weird last night?”

The last few words came out one by one, slow and deliberate.

This time, before Shen Wu could answer, One Yuan protested first.

“Meow meow meow meow meow meow meow!” It yowled a whole tirade.

Some of it might not have been suitable for public consumption.

One thing was certain, something had happened last night.

The only reassurance was that they were both fully dressed, so it probably wasn’t anything that scandalous.

But the regret still lingered heavily.

“Last night, I really shouldn’t have drunk.” Su Yuchen rubbed the messy hair on her head regretfully.

Her chestnut-brown, cascading locks were tousled into disarray, yet even with such a disastrous hairstyle, her fair and delicate face, unwashed as it was still managed to carry it off effortlessly.

She mumbled “last night” repeatedly before suddenly lifting her head, her hair a wild mess.

With empty eyes, she asked, “What time is it now?”

Shen Wu glanced at the clock on the wall. “Eleven-thirty.”

!!!

The terror of being late for work struck Su Yuchen once again. Her hands flailed across the table in panic. “Ah! I’m late! Where’s my phone? Where’s my phone? I need to ask the crew for leave, or at least explain the situation.”

Watching her in such disarray, Shen Wu couldn’t help but press her hand down.

“No need to ask for leave,” Shen Wu said, her slender, elegant fingers resting atop Su Yuchen’s fair, delicate hand. “You don’t have any scenes scheduled for today.”

Su Yuchen felt as if she had been struggling in darkness only to suddenly see the light, as though a divine glow had descended upon her, offering salvation.

“Ah! Right, I don’t have any scenes today. Thank goodness.”

Seeing her repeatedly pat her chest in relief, Shen Wu curled her lips slightly.

“Tomorrow is ‘Starry Night.’ The crew has two days off, today and tomorrow because Director Gao and the main creative team have also been invited to attend.”

“Wasn’t this already announced in advance? I’m guessing you forgot again.”

This girl not only got drunk after one glass but also transformed, a little white rabbit turning into a ravenous wolf. Worst of all, she was constantly forgetting things.

Both parties involved were long accustomed to this.

Sure enough.

Su Yuchen promptly delivered the next line on cue.

“Ah… I really did forget. But I shouldn’t have, you’re also invited to ‘Starry Night,’ right?”

Starry Night was the annual grand event of the entertainment industry, where stars and artists gathered under one roof.

Red carpet walks, charity auctions, signature board photos, art auctions, every little stir would trend on social media.

Not just on the night itself, even a week prior, the buzz had already taken over the trending lists: who got invited, which designer was crafting custom gowns, and so on.

In the entertainment world, being able to attend Starry Night was considered an honor and a mark of recognition, something everyone aspired to.

Such an elite event had nothing to do with her in previous years, she had merely followed the buzz online as an outsider.

But this year, Su Yuchen paid special attention for one reason: Shen Wu had, against all expectations, agreed to attend.

Scratching her head, she suddenly remembered something and slapped the table, standing up abruptly. “Ah, right! I really did forget! I ordered a TV and an air purifier for Mom, they’re supposed to arrive today!”

Shen Wu crossed her arms and sighed.

“That-you don’t need to worry about either.”

Slowly, Shen Wu rubbed her thumb and forefinger together, as if savoring the lingering warmth of someone’s skin. “They kept calling nonstop this morning, making it impossible to sleep. So, I canceled them.”

“Huh?”

Su Yuchen didn’t react immediately, unsure if her hangover was making her hear things. She repeated, “Canceled?”

“Exactly, otherwise why would I get up so early… cough!” Shen Wu said with an air of complete nonchalance. “Of course I returned it. Who could watch such a tiny TV you bought? When showing filial respect to elders, you should get them something proper. I ordered a new 120-inch laser TV instead. By my estimate, it should already be delivered and installed at your place by now.”

“…”

Su Yuchen, nearly petrified: “One-one hundred twenty inches?”

“Mhm.”

“Is 120 inches enough? If it’s not big enough, I can exchange it for an even larger one.”

Su Yuchen, who had already turned to stone and was now on the verge of crumbling into dust, shook his hands frantically, looking even more shattered.

“Enough, enough, enough. Oh no, my place might not even fit a 120-inch screen. Wait, that’s not the point.”

Shen Wu waved it off casually. “Also, that air purifier, such low power output, what good is it against this smog? It’s practically a toy. I replaced it with a high-powered, latest model. It should be getting installed right about now.”

“Do you want to go back and check the installation?” She lifted her wrist, gesturing at the clock on the wall. “If we head back now, we should still make it.”

“…”

A 120-inch screen must be expensive, right?

A brand-new air purifier sounded pricey too, didn’t it?

She probably couldn’t afford it.

Su Yuchen’s face flushed slightly as she stammered, “Um… about that… how much is it all together? If… if it’s too expensive.”

She really wanted to ask if they could return it if it was too costly, but Shen Wu had a point, when it came to honoring elders, you should buy the best. It’s just that she wasn’t sure if her freshly cashed paycheck would cover it.

Shen Wu raised a hand, cutting her off.

“Don’t worry about it. Think of it as a loan from me. No rush to pay it back all at once, you can split it into installments. Twelve months at 2% interest, twenty-four months at 1%- or thirty-six-months interest-free.”

“If you’re uneasy, we can draft an agreement. The addendum would require you to come over regularly to help me take care of my cat. The entrusted party must comply with all reasonable requests from the entrusting party. How does that sound?”

Su Yuchen thought for a moment. “That sounds a lot like the contract terms Sister Nan would come up with.”

“Hmm, indeed. You’re actually pretty sharp.” A faint smile tugged at Shen Wu’s lips. “She did draft it. If you’re willing to sign, I’ll have her send over the stamped contract.”

“But Sister Nan… doesn’t approve of you and me… of us.”

“Approve of what?” Shen Wu maintained her light smile, tilting her head slightly as she gazed at the smaller woman bracing her arms against the table.

This one always seemed a little dazed, but her moral compass was unshakable, her principles and hidden temper just as unyielding. Dealing with her required careful maneuvering.

She had no desire to relive those agonizing weeks, beating up plush pigs every day, sleepless nights, skipping meals, getting into two-hour shouting matches with her cat over a single flipped coin. Never again!

The mention of Fu Nan made Su Yuchen inexplicably nervous, her mouth going dry as she recalled that night. “It’s better not. Sister Nan doesn’t approve of us being together.”

“What’s between us is none of anyone else’s business.”

Shen Wu leaned in slightly, resting her elbows on the table as she closed the distance.

“Who has the right to approve or disapprove? There’s no need to worry. This is just a cat-care agreement with a few extra clauses. So, do you dare to sign?”

“No rush. How about we visit your family first, then sign the contract?”

“After all, there’ll be plenty more contracts to sign in the future. Better get used to it!”

…

The day after Little New Year.

The two returned to Su Yuchen’s old neighborhood. With Lunar New Year’s Eve approaching, many migrant workers had already left for their hometowns, so Shen Wu easily found a roadside parking spot for her sports car.

Shen Wu stepped out of the car, now clad in a coffee-brown woolen coat with a front-buttoned, waist-cinched design. Her snow-white legs defied the biting wind as she strode in ten-centimeter black velvet pumps with red soles, revealing slender feet and sharply defined ankles.

The moment she exited the vehicle, she adjusted her sunglasses, new ones.

At that moment, Fu Nan happened to walk out of the residential gate and waved at Shen Wu upon spotting her.

As they approached each other, Fu Nan spoke first, “Everything’s already installed. Her mother was really happy, and her uncle asked me a lot of questions like whether Xiao Su had suddenly struck it rich or something.”

“You know what to do.” Shen Wu shivered almost imperceptibly, tugging at her cuffs to cover the red marks left by someone’s relentless grip the night before.

“Yeah, I know.” Fu Nan’s gaze shifted past her, landing on Su Yuchen, who stood awkwardly by the car door.

“Hey, Yuchen.”

When Fu Nan greeted her, Su Yuchen responded with an equally stiff smile, “Uh, hi, Sister Nan.”

“Oh, I-I should go check on Mom. You two talk first.”

Su Yuchen didn’t even dare to invite them upstairs, bolting away in a fluster.

How could she not flee? The bold declaration she’d made to Fu Nan through the car window that she’d never cause trouble for anyone again still echoed in her ears. Now, it felt like she was being slapped in the face by her own words.

Su Yuchen’s face burned with embarrassment, the frigid winter wind doing little to cool the heat radiating from her cheeks.

Her fair skin flushed a delicate pink, making her look even more striking. As she turned and hurried away, though her blushing face was no longer visible, the tips of her ears, soft and pink like two rosy clouds, betrayed her fluster, adorable beyond words.

Watching her slender figure retreat, Fu Nan sighed. “Last time was my fault. I was too harsh.”

Hearing this, Shen Wu finally spared her a sidelong glance. “Good that you know. You’ll do better next time, right?”

Fu Nan pressed her fingers to her forehead, exhaling almost inaudibly before murmuring, “Yeah.” Then she mused, “A little white rabbit like Su Yuchen, once she’s caught in your grasp, there’s probably no escape.”

Shen Wu kept her eyes fixed on Su Yuchen until her figure disappeared into the building. After a long pause, she finally replied, her voice low, “Who’s the one with no escape? After searching for so many years, it’s me who’s trapped.”

…

After returning home and going through the motions, Su Yuchen endured her mother’s brief displeasure over her absence for the minor New Year’s Eve reunion. But once she promised to come back the next day to watch TV together, her mother, exhausted, quickly dozed off again.

Not wanting to linger and make small talk with her uncle and his ingratiating smiles, Su Yuchen excused herself after a few words and stepped outside. The red sports car and the white Jeep were still parked by the roadside, waiting silently for her.

The skeletal shadows of winter trees stretched sharply across the ground, the cold wind scraping against exposed skin.

But her heart was warm. Having someone waiting for her, it felt incredibly good.

Most importantly, the person waiting inside the car was her.

Su Yuchen approached the red sports car and lightly tapped on the window.

“Knock, knock, knock.”

The door unlocked from inside, and Su Yuchen slipped in, happily scrunching her eyes as she rubbed her icy hands together.

“Thanks,” she said, then suddenly mischievous, she thrust her freezing hands against Shen Wu’s neck. “Here, take it, take it, is it cold? Is it?”

A startled yelp came from the driver’s seat but the voice wasn’t Shen Wu’s.

Sitting in the driver’s seat, Fu Nan dropped the contract in her hands, staring at Su Yuchen in shock. Su Yuchen, equally stunned, was still frozen in the act of stuffing something down someone’s neck.

They remained locked in that awkward standoff.

“……”

“……”

“What are you two doing?”

From the backseat, Shen Wu’s voice drifted over eerily: “Having quite the fun little game right in front of me, huh?”

“…”

Su Yuchen stiffly turned her neck to look at Shen Wu, who sat in the back with her arms crossed, exuding the regal posture of a queen.

“You… why are you in the backseat?”

Shen Wu let out a cold “hmph” and brushed aside a piece of black fabric beside her.

“I was freezing, so I climbed back here to put on some thermal leggings, and in that short time, you two?”

“No, am I not allowed to wear thermal leggings?”

The rest of the ride passed in silence as both cars returned to Lan Mansion and parked in the underground garage.

Shen Wu’s face was dark enough to “kill someone,” and she got out of the car alongside Su Yuchen, who looked like she wanted to flee the galaxy out of sheer embarrassment. From a distance, they saw Fu Nan step out of the driver’s seat, walk around to the back, and retrieve a metal thermal lunchbox with a handle.

“Let’s go. Last time, Yuchen didn’t get to try the free-range chicken soup I brought from home, so this time I made sure to bring extra.”

“Enough for three people.”

With that, Fu Nan locked the car and, as she passed Su Yuchen and Shen Wu, gave them both a meaningful glance.

They were about the same height, both strikingly beautiful in their own ways.

One was radiant and bold, the other sweet and pure.

Standing together, they shone brilliantly, a perfect match.

Shen Wu had never been in a relationship all these years, only to “bloom late” at 27 and whisk someone straight into her home and with such fanfare, no less. She had stubbornly insisted on dragging Fu Nan into their elaborate schemes and “devious” contractual agreements, clearly dead set on making this happen.

The only question was, between these two, who was the top and who was the bottom?

Lost in her own imaginative musings, the agent followed them absentmindedly up to the penthouse.

As soon as Shen Wu stepped inside, she kicked off her shoes, slipped into fluffy slippers, and strode in without looking back.

Su Yuchen trailed behind, carefully picking up Shen Wu’s discarded shoes and arranging them neatly before entering.

Watching this, Fu Nan couldn’t help but silently click her tongue and shake her head.

Su Yuchen was definitely the bottom.

“Did you come just for soup?”

Shen Wu plopped down at the dining table, propping her chin on one hand as she eyed them.

Fu Nan sighed and set the thermal lunchbox on the table.

Just as she was about to speak, she wrinkled her nose. “What’s that smell in here?”

Her gaze slid toward the closed kitchen door, her eyes widening in horror. “You… didn’t try to cook, did you?”

“No, absolutely not, you’re imagining things.”

Shen Wu denied it three times in rapid succession. “Let’s skip this part and get to what you came here to talk about.”

Seeing that there was likely no real issue, Fu Nan wisely dropped the subject and didn’t ask about the new, budget-friendly duffel bag in the corner.

“In that case, I’ll cut to the chase.”

“First, I want to confirm the details for tomorrow’s ‘Starry Night’ event. Second here, let’s have some soup first.”

As she opened the lid of the thermal lunchbox, the rich aroma of chicken soup immediately filled the air.

“Meow.”

The soft, delicate sound of a kitten startled Fu Nan, who had been holding the lunchbox.

Before she could finish “getting straight to the point,” she looked down and saw a small cat crouching by her pant leg.

The kitten’s fur was a bit of a mess, but its little face and eyes were exceptionally beautiful. When it sat there looking at people, its eyes seemed to brim with a dazzling galaxy of stars.

Fu Nan was still holding the lunchbox lid in her hand. She glanced up at Shen Wu and couldn’t help but ask this time, “Why is there a cat in your house?”

“The mother cat brought her homeless kitten to my place.”

Shen Wu replied nonchalantly.

“…”

“You’re something else, being so popular with mama cats.” Fu Nan clearly didn’t believe her and played along with a laugh, though she raised an eyebrow at the kitten. “Someone who dislikes trouble so much is actually willing to raise a cat now.”

“But this kitten doesn’t seem like your style. I thought if you were going to raise one, it’d be some expensive breed.”

Shen Wu smiled without answering.

Finally, she said unhurriedly, “What does it matter if it’s expensive or not? As long as I like it.”

Fu Nan nodded. Finding the little creature adorable, she reached out to pet it, but the timid thing nimbly dodged her hand, leaping a few times before hiding under the sofa.

“…”

Having failed to touch the soft little thing, Fu Nan sighed and straightened up. “You’ve tried on the gown, and it’s settled, you’re wearing the wine-red one. The styling team will be here at 9 tomorrow morning, so be ready and don’t sleep in. Oh, and didn’t I give you a script earlier? Have you read it?”

“I have.”

A flicker of joy had just appeared in Fu Nan’s eyes when it was dashed.

Because Shen Wu then added, “Haven’t finished it.”

“Huh? Was the script not good?”

Su Yuchen guiltily handed over a few bowls, took the insulated lunchbox, and ladled out the chicken soup into each one for the people at the table.

“Thanks.” Fu Nan accepted the soup, silently labeling Su Yuchen in her mind as the “timid young wife type.”

Then she turned her attention back to Shen Wu.

Shen Wu parted her red lips and said, “It’s well-written, just a bit scary. I think I’ll pass.”

“Scary?”

Fu Nan’s expression turned incredulous. “You, the person who plays zombie horror games in the middle of the night while trash-talking the undead over voice chat, are calling a script ‘scary’?”

“You literally watch horror movies while eating and sleeping, and you’re telling me it’s ‘scary’?”

Fu Nan might as well have had the words plastered on her forehead: Just how scary is it?! The way you’re talking is what’s scary!

“…”

“I screened the script before giving it to you. It didn’t scare me, but it scared you?”

“Honestly, no need to be so shocked. There’s a kid who’s a bit afraid.” Shen Wu met Fu Nan’s gaze without flinching, admitting it openly.

Su Yuchen wished she could vanish into the ground but managed to maintain a calm façade until One Yuan let out a proud “meow~” from the sofa.

All three turned to look and saw One Yuan pouncing on a pig plushie on the sofa, striking a pose any adult would instantly recognize, “pecking” at the plushie’s “mouth.”

“…”

“…”

“…”

The three of them fell silent. Fu Nan’s mental reaction went from confused shock to wicked understanding, Oh, learning by doing, huh?

Tsk tsk. On the sofa, no less. Wild.

The one downstairs must be Su Yuchen. So, Shen Wu can be so domineering and fierce when she gets like that? Su Yuchen must have red marks on her wrists by now. Being the bottom really isn’t easy!

“……”

The tips of Su Yuchen’s ears were tinged with a faint pink.

Mechanically turning around, she walked stiffly toward the kitchen: “I’ll make some light snacks to go with the chicken soup for everyone.”

She was thin-skinned and mortified, compounded by her identity as the “cat mom” who had torn up the script. Most of all, as the prime example of a “mischievous kitten,” she just wanted to disappear somewhere, if possible, even leave the galaxy altogether.

“Thanks, but no need to go to that trouble.”

Fu Nan’s tone was just a hair’s breadth away from adding “sis-in-law” at the end.

Shen Wu called out toward the kitchen, “Is the kitchen still usable? Should we just replace the whole thing?”

“No, no!” Su Yuchen hurriedly replied, “Apart from the pot, it just needs a good scrub. It’s still usable, please don’t waste money like that.”

Shen Wu propped her chin on her hand and smiled. “Then I’d like the steamed white pears you made last time.”

“Ah, sure.”

Su Yuchen’s voice drifted from afar, followed by the sound of running water.

“Actually, never mind. Pumpkin is low-calorie, how about milk-steamed pumpkin instead?”

“Okay, just give me a moment.”

Without hesitation, Su Yuchen got to work, the sounds of preparation soon filling the air.

Fu Nan couldn’t help but comment, “So domestic.”

Shen Wu smugly picked up her bowl of chicken soup. “Don’t be jealous.”

Fu Nan couldn’t resist adding a second remark: “I was actually thinking the contrast is just tragic.”

“……”

What Fu Nan didn’t say aloud was: Su Yuchen has such a good temper, she must be completely at Shen Wu’s mercy.

Being the bottom really isn’t easy!

She sighed. “I know all these years you’ve… well, never mind. You must have your reasons. If you don’t want to act, then don’t. But right now, there aren’t any better options.”

The warm yellow light over the dining table made the chicken soup look especially inviting.

Shen Wu gazed at her through the rising steam. “Who says there isn’t a better option?”

Fu Nan looked at her, puzzled. “What better option?”

Shen Wu picked up her bowl again, leisurely blowing on the shimmering layer of oil before taking a slow sip.

After a moment, she finally spoke, unhurried: “Go ahead and reach out. I’m serious about joining Love OR Marriage.”

Then, gesturing toward the kitchen, she added, “And I’m pairing up with her.”