Love Contract with the Queen Actress - Chapter 24

Su Yuchen felt like she was being stuffed into the luxury van.

Immediately, makeup brushes and powder puffs came at her from all directions, while several stylish hairdressers each tugged at a lock of her hair, exchanging comments.

“Ah, didn’t anyone tell the talent yesterday? You can’t tie your hair up after waking up in the morning. Look at these ends, they’re all frizzy and won’t lay flat no matter what. So frustrating!”

The one speaking with a delicate flourish of his fingers was quickly followed by another stylist.

“Oh my, look at this gorgeous hair, smooth as a waterfall, silky as satin. How did it end up so tangled?”

“Right? Ugh, what a shame~!”

“Sweetie, just how violently did you treat your hair this morning?”

Everyone had something to say.

Su Yuchen was pulled this way and that, silent as if muted.

She didn’t dare speak, she really didn’t dare.

After all, it was her fault. That morning, while washing her face, she had found her hair annoying and hastily twisted it into a messy bun, securing it tightly with a hair tie. Not satisfied, she had then clamped it all down with a giant shark clip, smugly taming every last stray strand.

If she admitted that now, these hairstylists who were painstakingly trying to salvage her hair might just faint from sheer exasperation.

So, out of sheer consideration, she chose to keep her mouth shut.

…

The ride wasn’t particularly congested, but the detour along a few wide, smooth roads meant it still took some time to reach Gaole Entertainment.

By the time Su Yuchen stepped out of the car, her face was radiant.

Her fair complexion was lightly dusted with makeup, and her hair had been elegantly swept up, accentuating her swan-like neck, pale and slender.

She wore a simple updo, her hair pinned in place with colorful clips, while plastic sheets and tiny clasps secured the sides likely to prevent any rebellious strands from escaping.

Fu Nan was already waiting at the office door. Spotting Su Yuchen from afar, she snapped her fingers. “Makeup looks good. Bring her in to pick an outfit.”

Several assistants hurried to comply, and Su Yuchen was promptly ushered into a room crammed with metal clothing racks on wheels.

The space was brightly lit by spotlights, with a massive floor-to-ceiling mirror partially encircling a circular platform. Surrounding it were racks upon racks of clothing and accessories, mostly evening gowns, sorted by color and length. The display stands and hangers were a dazzling array of sequins, beads, and shimmering fabrics.

Handbags, gowns, and diamond-encrusted high heels vied for attention, overwhelming the senses.

Standing there, it felt like stepping into the backstage of a high-fashion runway show straight out of a glossy magazine.

Yet, despite the breathtaking spectacle, Su Yuchen remained stiff, a single thought looping in her mind,

Pumpkin Lord, is that you?

Are you the one weaving this dream for me?

Did I not sleep well last night from overthinking, and now I’m still not actually awake?

Thank you, Pumpkin Lord, but I’m really sorry for chopping you down.

Fu Nan moved between the racks, selecting outfits one by one, each immediately taken over by an assistant.

As she browsed without turning back, she asked, “Why did it take so long to get here?”

An assistant quickly explained the earlier phone issues, but Fu Nan waved her hand, uninterested in the details.

“Has the new collection from George arrived? Bring that over too.”

“This set isn’t great. His designs this year skew too mature, just leave it behind.”

“Where’s that light pink L-brand gown Shen Wu specifically requested?”

The assistant was equally efficient, keeping pace with Funan and responding promptly to each instruction.

“It’s been delivered, in Section F.”

“Got it, already noted.”

“That gown, Miss Shen Wu specially sent someone to L’s headquarters to fetch it last night. Although this morning’s flight was slightly delayed, it was rushed here as quickly as possible. It’ll be steamed and ready in a moment.”

Soon, several gowns were laid out before Su Yuchen.

She stood there as Funan swiftly held up a few outfits against her.

“Let’s go with this one.”

The pink gown that had just arrived remained in Fu Nan’s hands, earning her nod of approval.

“Yuchen, go change into this. You all, help her, quickly. We might still need alterations later, and time is tight.”

For the third time, Su Yuchen was swept up by the crowd and ushered into a small changing booth. When she emerged, she was clad in a pale pink knee-length gown.

The dress was exquisitely tailored, with a strapless design that accentuated her figure. The waist was cinched tightly, highlighting her graceful curves before flaring out into a voluminous skirt, like a blooming rose, its hem boldly showcasing a lush, delicate silhouette.

The skirt ended just two fingers’ width above her knees, perfectly framing her fair, slender legs.

Su Yuchen’s legs were long and slender, her knees faintly pink, and her ankles elegantly tapered, with bone structure so striking it bordered on artistic. The delicate skin of her feet revealed the faint outline of tendons beneath, lending an ethereal, sculptural beauty.

Now, those feet were slipped into a pair of satin peep-toe heels in the same shade, their slender stiletto heels and lack of platform further enhancing the stunning lines of her legs and feet.

As if to complement these beautiful proportions, the gown, though technically a half-skirt, featured a slightly elongated train that trailed just above the floor, further elongating her legs and accentuating their flawless sheen.

The moment she stepped out in this ensemble, hushed praises filled the room.

“Wow, she’s gorgeous!”

“What did I tell you? Her bone structure and skin are flawless, she’s practically made to be a star.”

“I can already tell this look is going to be all over fashion blogs and public accounts after the event. It’s divine.”

Even Fu Nan crossed her arms and nodded repeatedly, admiration unmistakable in her tone.

“Absolutely stunning. Shen Wu really has an eye for this.”

For a moment, it was hard to tell whether she was complimenting Su Yuchen or Shen Wu.

But in Fu Nan’s eyes, the two were practically one and the same.

“Quit spacing out, take a look at yourself.” Still dazed, Su Yuchen was nudged toward the mirror, her poised yet slightly stiff shoulders betraying her unease.

Only when she saw her reflection did the full impact hit her.

The person in the full-length mirror was refined, dazzling, radiant so much so that Su Yuchen wondered if it was really her.

Had-had some fairy godmother actually heard her wish?

But that was the stuff of fairy tales, something that could never happen to someone like her.

Her mind reeled in panic, echoing just four words: Am I still dreaming?!

In her daze, a thought surfaced: Maybe a pinch will wake me up?

Right.

The next second, Yuchen pinched her own cheek without mercy.

“Ow!”

The pained gasp wasn’t just from her, the Tonys nearby joined in too.

A group of delicate, handsome men with meticulously styled medium-length hair visibly winced in greater distress. “Oh dear! Young mistress, we just finished your makeup!”

“Be gentle!”

“If it gets smudged, we’ll have to redo everything!”

Fu Nan glanced at her watch. “Alright, time’s almost up. We should head to the hotel now, there are still photos to take for promotion.”

At her words, all the staff immediately sprang into action, moving with tense efficiency.

Fu Nan walked over and lightly draped an arm around Su Yuchen’s shoulders, speaking in a fairy godmother-like tone of affection. “Don’t be nervous. Tonight’s event has a detailed schedule. We’ll go over it in the car.”

Su Yuchen had been lost in a mental storm, “Does wishing on a pumpkin actually work?”

After conducting an imaginary funeral rite in her mind for the pumpkin that had been sacrificed to the kitchen knife, she snapped back to reality at Fu Nan’s touch and instinctively asked, “Where’s Shen Wu?”

She knew, all of this had been arranged by Shen Wu.

No one else had ever treated her this well.

Fu Nan shrugged helplessly. “Her schedule was packed. She couldn’t wait any longer and went ahead to the venue.”

Of course. As the main attraction of the event, Shen Wu’s itinerary was undoubtedly far more packed than anyone else’s.

“Originally, she insisted on waiting for you,” Fu Nan added, leaving the rest unsaid.

But Su Yuchen understood, sharing a car together would have been highly inappropriate.

“This outfit was picked out by Shen Wu in advance. That means she planned to attend the event with you a long time ago, it wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision. But you know how she is. Today’s event is under the spotlight, so it’d be best if you reminded her to tone it down a little.”

Fu Nan had already fully embraced Su Yuchen as the future sister-in-law. After all, she couldn’t control Shen Wu, but Su Yuchen surely had a way.

Yet Su Yuchen had no such method. She could only murmur softly, “Got it.”

“Alright, Photography Team B will shoot your photos right after they finish Shen Wu’s. Let’s hurry, it won’t look good if we’re late.”

“Okay, thank you, Sister Nan.”

Su Yuchen was ushered back into the car and sent to the hotel where the event was being held. Even as she stepped out, she was still analyzing herself, was there really some mystical power in wishing on a pumpkin?

Shen Wu had eaten her milk pumpkin, surely there had to be some magic in that!

There just had to be.

…

The car carrying Su Yuchen circled the fountain at the venue’s entrance for a long time before slowly making its way toward the underground parking garage, surrounded by fans lining the path.

A fan holding up a light stick tilted her head in confusion and whispered to another, “Huh? Isn’t this Gaole Entertainment’s car? I recognize the license plate, it’s always been used for our Shen Wu.”

The banners in their hands bore images of Shen Wu smiling with her arms crossed.

As the car inched forward through the crowd of cheering fans, the sea of light sticks and banners formed a blooming floral path, each one emblazoned with eye-catching slogans.

At a glance, the most dominant were the wine-red banners edged in gold, Shen Wu’s fan signs.

“From the South Pole northward, Shen Wu reigns supreme in beauty.”

“Destined for Shen Wu, forever walking the flower path, wifey.”

“Willing to be imprisoned by Wu, our Wu Wu is the most enchanting.”

And other such declarations, enough to make anyone’s cheeks burn and scalp tingle with just one glance.

The fan club leaders and top fans craned their necks, their eyes following the slowly passing vehicle, their murmurs of confusion never ceasing.

“I got close just now, peeked through the glass, and even took a photo, it wasn’t Shen Wu inside.”

“Of course it wasn’t Shen Wu. Shen Wu’s car arrived ages ago, I already took pictures of it.”

“Then who is it? Another artist from the same company? But didn’t they all arrive earlier too?”

“No way. When has our queen’s car ever been lent to someone else?”

“So who the hell is sitting in that car?”

“I caught a glimpse, absolutely stunning, but I didn’t recognize them.”

“If they come through the main entrance later, I’m snapping hundreds of photos first.”

Everyone was eager, raising their DSLR cameras in anticipation.

But the car unexpectedly turned into the underground garage, leaving all those puzzled discussions to fade into the noisy clamor.

Su Yuchen didn’t know the protocol either whether she should go through the main entrance or the garage, so she just followed the arrangements without a word.

The car finally came to a slow stop. Su Yuchen clenched her fists, eyes shut, silently chanting to herself: “You can do this. Don’t chicken out.”

“Come on, you’ve got this!”

Just as she was psyching herself up, the electronic car door whirred with mechanical precision, sliding open.

A gust of icy wind rushed in, and the next moment, a beautiful hand appeared before Su Yuchen’s newly opened eyes.

Winter in the capital was dry and biting, the cold seeping deep into the bones.

Su Yuchen shivered instinctively before looking up to see Shen Wu’s breathtakingly gorgeous face.

A high nose bridge, cherry-like lips, peach-blossom eyes with upturned corners, two natural, watery-red crescents at the outer edges that shimmered with allure.

Her wavy long hair cascaded in soft, seductive curls, swept to one side, further elongating the elegant, slender lines of her swan-like neck.

A heavy faux-fur coat draped over her shoulders only accentuated the romantic, flowing silhouette of her wine-red mermaid gown. Her figure was graceful yet striking, like a flame that seared the eyes. Paired with an exorbitantly priced diamond necklace and earrings, she exuded regal elegance and noble refinement.

Shen Wu wore long black velvet gloves, patiently extending a hand toward Su Yuchen.

The gloves were adorned with a diamond bracelet, and on her outstretched finger rested a dazzling, eye-catching pigeon’s-egg ring, its brilliance staggering.

Yet Shen Wu seemed indifferent to all these dazzling accessories, her attention solely on the person before her.

“Come on out.”

After speaking, Shen Wu’s gaze fell on Su Yuchen’s bare shoulders, and she frowned. “Why didn’t they give you something to wear?”

Originally, they had assumed they were heading to the underground parking lot, where they could go straight up to the hotel room without much exposure to the cold. But unexpectedly, the car had twisted and turned through the garage’s internal passages, eventually arriving at the hotel’s back garden.

Before Fu Nan, seated beside her, could even speak, Su Yuchen quickly grabbed her white down jacket and slipped it on.

“I have one, I was just about to put it on.”

“Sister Nan was going over the schedule with me, and it was warm in the car, so I didn’t notice.”

Su Yuchen rambled nervously as Shen Wu took her hand and helped her out of the car.

Once outside, they naturally stood face to face.

They were nearly the same height, and even in their modest heels, their eyes met directly.

Shen Wu was like a full-blooming wine-red rose, while Su Yuchen resembled a tender pink bud glistening with dew. Though their auras diverged, their beauty converged. As they gazed at each other, their eyes reflected each other’s radiance.

Su Yuchen looked absolutely stunning today. Her makeup and hairstyle were exquisitely done, with a light dusting of powder accentuating the delicate features of her youthful face. The dazzling earrings adorning her earlobes made her entire presence even more radiant and striking.

“Indeed, this dress suits you,” Shen Wu’s gaze lingered appreciatively before she gave a slight nod.

It was an acknowledgment of the outfit.

“Thank you.” Su Yuchen lowered her eyes briefly to glance at the hem of her skirt. “It’s beautiful. I really like it.”

Shen Wu seemed to let out a soft, breathy laugh before leaning in slightly, pressing her lips close to Su Yuchen’s ear to whisper, “Not as beautiful as you. I prefer the more beautiful one.”

“Mmm…”

Help, I’m being flirted with so hard again.

Su Yuchen inhaled the intoxicating fragrance clinging to Shen Wu, her thoughts spiraling into wildly inappropriate places at the most inopportune moment.

That night’s events, she really hadn’t forgotten them after all.

Shen Wu had been so beautiful that night, just as breathtaking as she was today.

“Alright, come with me.”

Shen Wu didn’t let go of Su Yuchen’s hand, giving it a gentle tug as she led her forward.

The red gown blazed like fire, while the pink skirt fluttered like petals in the wind.

Su Yuchen spun lightly in place before following the wine-red rose that burned like a flame.

Under the gaze of everyone around them, they wove through the crowd.

Though the opulent attire made it slightly difficult to move freely, Su Yuchen still followed closely, letting Shen Wu pull her along at a brisk pace.

Just like that day when Shen Wu had parted the crowd to walk toward her, their hands clasped together seemed to blur the air around them, casting the irrelevant onlookers into hazy obscurity.

Su Yuchen’s clear eyes reflected that elegant, tall figure, the voluminous, fragrant waves of hair, the cascading diamond fringe earrings that swayed gently with each step, tinkling softly, sending ripples through her heart.

The glittering diamonds dazzled her eyes, her pulse thundering so loudly she could barely hear herself. Only after a dazed moment did she manage to find her voice again: “You… have you finished your photoshoot?”

It was a miracle her voice sounded so calm, which was why Shen Wu’s reply was equally composed.

Without turning back, Shen Wu answered casually, “Mm. No.”

Only when they reached the warm corridor did Shen Wu finally turn around, gently brushing aside the strands of hair framing Su Yuchen’s face. “I want to shoot the rest with you.”

Suddenly, something bloomed in Su Yuchen’s chest, sending her heartbeat spiraling out of control.

“Ah…” Su Yuchen lowered her eyes, slightly embarrassed. “But this is for promotional purposes. You probably shouldn’t shoot with me.”

“Don’t listen to Fu Nan.”

Shen Wu, as always, seemed to see right through her hesitations and thoughts, cutting straight to the point. “I know Fu Nan must have said something to you, but whatever it was, I don’t care. I want to shoot with you. Do you disagree?”

“It’s not about agreeing or disagreeing. Promotions are important, you should just focus on your own work. I don’t want to affect the results of your campaign.”

Su Yuchen murmured her reply, her heart fluttering nervously, convinced deep down that she had no place appearing in Shen Wu’s frame.

Because she was afraid her eyes wouldn’t lie, after all, her heartbeat had been acting strange all day, and her thoughts kept drifting to all sorts of inappropriate places.

Listening patiently, Shen Wu had only one thought in mind: That’s not for you to decide.

She had long figured out Su Yuchen’s temperament, soft persuasion worked better than coercion. As long as she kept pestering her, it would eventually work.

Taking advantage of the blind spot around the corner, Shen Wu pressed closer and closer to Su Yuchen.

Using the same tactic as before, she whispered seductively in a breathy voice. But this time, emboldened by the lack of onlookers, her gaze and posture grew even more brazen and bold.

“Good Yuchen, pretty sister, just say yes to me.”

“Taking photos together isn’t anything scandalous.”

“Am I not beautiful enough for you?”

The two were already dangerously close.

Close enough to catch each other’s scent.

Shen Wu’s iris and datura perfume had been teasing Su Yuchen’s nerves, while Su Yuchen, who never wore perfume, carried a faint milky fragrance, a natural, intoxicating scent that stirred Shen Wu’s deepest desires.

The luxurious fabrics of their high-end gowns brushed against each other with a soft rustle.

The thick faux-fur coat and the budget-friendly white down jacket from Taobao pressed together, their friction barely audible.

Their lips were just a hair’s breadth apart.

A little closer, and those alluring, perfectly tinted lips would meet.

Just a little more…

Just…

If only this world didn’t have Liu Ruomeng.

“Sister!! Sister Yuchen!! Hahaha! I saw your company’s car! Didn’t expect that, did you? I’m here too! Caught you red-handed! Now you can’t hide from me! Last time you spanked me, but this time, I’m gonna spank you! Hahaha~~”

Liu Ruomeng’s voice blared like an alarm, her shouts barreling closer from a distance.

Only when she rounded the corner did her relentless “hahaha” finally meet its abrupt demise, choking off in her throat.

“You… you two!”

Liu Ruomeng froze in place, still clutching the hem of her evening gown.

“You two… you two…”

She chewed on the words “you two” for a long moment before a wicked grin slowly spread across her face.

“Hurry up and kiss already, I wanna see!”