Love Contract with the Queen Actress - Chapter 40

The sea of flowers was warm and misty, the glass greenhouse with its half-domed design maintaining a temperature five or six degrees higher than outside.

These extra degrees above ground level felt like a gentle embrace, cradling the lush, fragrant blooms as they released their intoxicating scents.

Soft and tender, like the sensation of Shen Wu’s thick, seaweed-like hair brushing against the sensitive skin of her neck.

At this very moment, Shen Wu’s arms were firmly wrapped around Su Yuchen’s slender waist, pinning her against a glass pillar in the greenhouse.

Su Yuchen’s shoulder blades pressed against the pillar, her skirt fluttering slightly from the sudden movement.

Like the delicate wings of a white butterfly, it shimmered faintly in the light.

Amidst the sea of fragrance, two breathtakingly beautiful figures embraced.

Shen Wu narrowed her enchanting peach-blossom eyes, her gaze sweeping over Su Yuchen’s body and her fair, lovely face before she chuckled softly. “Baby, I heard you’re willing to marry me?”

“Shouldn’t we celebrate with a kiss and a roll in the sheets?”

As she spoke, her crimson lips drew closer. Shen Wu’s peach-blossom eyes shimmered with allure, as exquisite and captivating as a blooming rose.

Her lips parted slightly. “Since our engagement was announced by others, shouldn’t you be punished for that-”

Su Yuchen, pinned against the pillar, considered this and nodded. “That’s fair. So… how should I be punished?”

“Hmm…”

Shen Wu pressed closer, her red lips inching nearer.

“Haven’t decided yet. I just wanted to ask, it’s been so long since I last saw you. Did you miss me?”

“It hasn’t been that long,” Su Yuchen murmured, unable to meet Shen Wu’s mesmerizing gaze, her long lashes lowering slightly. “I made you breakfast just yesterday…”

“Exactly! yesterday. Over twenty-four hours have passed, and you didn’t miss me at all?”

“…”

Su Yuchen pressed her lips together, her heart pounding so fiercely it threatened to leap out of her throat. Words couldn’t capture the emotions surging inside her.

She had missed Shen Wu. So, so much.

“I did.”

Su Yuchen met those peach-blossom eyes, her voice earnest. “I missed you.”

“…”

Perhaps it was the first time Su Yuchen had been so openly vulnerable, but Shen Wu was momentarily taken aback before a smile curled at the corners of her lips.

“Baby, I missed you too.”

Every time she called her “baby,” it felt like the sweetest confession, stirring emotions in Su Yuchen’s heart that she couldn’t even comprehend.

She could only barely restrain them from spilling over.

Around them, the sea of flowers bloomed in abundance, their fragrance saturating the air.

A gentle breeze stirred, causing the waves of Shen Wu’s curls and Su Yuchen’s chestnut-brown locks to tangle together.

One moment, Shen Wu had Su Yuchen pinned against the pillar, but the next, Su Yuchen suddenly reversed their positions, pressing Shen Wu beneath her.

Against the glass pillar, the curly-haired beauty blinked in surprise.

Su Yuchen gazed deeply at the woman in her arms, her lips pressed together in silence. Yet, for once, she didn’t shy away from meeting her eyes.

Shen Wu was startled, then amused. “What’s gotten into you? Did you drink just now?”

Su Yuchen swallowed, her throat dry. “No.”

“Then why the sudden boldness? Is it because we’re getting married?”

“Shouldn’t you start calling me something else now, my dear fiancée?”

The teasing remark fell upon Su Yuchen’s ears, and those seemingly harmless almond eyes, which had long concealed a fiery turbulence beneath a calm, dust-covered surface, now surged even more violently, threatening to break through the fragile restraint, hot enough to scald one’s skin.

Upon hearing those words, the fire in her eyes burned even brighter.

Su Yuchen tightened her embrace around Shen Wu, the arm around her waist growing stronger.

It was a force that seemed impossible for those slender, delicate arms to possess. No one but Shen Wu knew that Su Yuchen actually trained her arms regularly.

Though they remained slender and fair, they held surprising strength.

When she exerted herself, the muscle lines along her graceful arms were strikingly beautiful.

“Ba… baby…”

As if struggling against the pounding in her chest, Su Yuchen slowly forced the term of endearment out.

This time, she didn’t avert her gaze, locking eyes with Shen Wu’s peach-blossom eyes instead.

She called out again, clearly and deliberately: “Baby.”

“…”

Unprecedented!

This time, it was Shen Wu whose ears flushed faintly red. She never expected that hearing this nickname from Su Yuchen’s lips would pack such a devastating punch.

Her heart was violently stirred, skipping several beats in rapid succession.

“Ah, you…”

Pinned against the wall, Shen Wu slowly lifted her fair, slender fingers to rest against Su Yuchen’s cheek.

“We really should celebrate this properly.”

The allure in her peach-blossom eyes was impossible to hide, even behind long lashes. She leaned in slightly, her gaze hooking into Su Yuchen’s soul, utterly intoxicating.

As if bewitched, Su Yuchen met her halfway, pressing her lips forward.

Her voice was rough. “Then let’s celebrate.”

The greenhouse was misty with humidity, flowers swaying in a fragrant dance.

Branches brushed against one another, leaves rustling, until a sudden gust of wind bent one stem low, pressing it beneath another.

The two blossoms pressed tightly together, their petals growing even more vibrant, their sweet nectar mingling as it trickled deep into each other’s cores.

They kissed for a long while before finally pulling apart, breathless.

Their exhales turned to white mist in the winter air, betraying their unsteady heartbeats.

Su Yuchen’s grip around Shen Wu’s slender waist was so tight that it made her breathing even more erratic.

Dazed, her eyes glazed with moisture, Shen Wu could barely stand.

“I told you… you’re… you’re too much.”

With that innocent, harmless appearance like a little white rabbit, easy to push around, no one would guess the stubborn, unyielding core beneath. Her temper seemed gentle, but it was resilient, especially in matters like this. Fierce and insatiable, as if she had transformed from a docile rabbit into a starving beast.

Yet this side of her was reserved solely for Shen Wu. For no one else.

Su Yuchen’s chest still heaved violently. She lifted a hand to press against the one on her cheek, turning her head slightly to place a soft kiss on the pale palm.

“I admit, all that calm restraint before was an act. I’ve imagined this moment countless times.”

No one else knew, only Su Yuchen herself was aware of just how turbulent the thoughts in her mind had been.

She had longed for Shen Wu, yearned to possess her, to claim both her body and heart.

And to leave her unable to leave the bed.

Still held tightly by the waist, Shen Wu melted weakly into Su Yuchen’s embrace.

Fortunately, that slender and delicate frame possessed surprising strength when embracing her.

“Can I take this to mean…” Shen Wu instinctively swallowed, moistening her throat that had grown slightly hoarse from earlier teasing. “Can I take this to mean that you’ve been playing dumb all along, pretending to be a little white rabbit?”

“Mmm…” Su Yuchen held her tightly, with no intention of letting go, her arms subtly tightening. “Probably not. But it’s true that I get nervous around you.”

“Huh?”

Shen Wu couldn’t suppress a soft laugh that escaped her lips.

“I always called you a little fool, but turns out you’re not. You’re actually the fishing type, always reeling me in, aren’t you?”

“Baby sister, I haven’t.”

Su Yuchen’s sudden use of the term “baby sister” left Shen Wu momentarily stunned.

Baby sister, the combination was novel, yet it stirred something deep within her, more potent than any sweet nothings.

Su Yuchen had uttered the words with sincerity, but her actions and words were clearly at odds. Before the words had even fully faded, those rosy lips chased after Shen Wu’s crimson ones again, as if addicted to their taste. This time, the kiss was even more relentless.

Like a flower lover who had long fantasized about complete destruction, she finally put it into practice, mercilessly crushing the delicate petals, even as they trembled helplessly, showing no further pity. She played with them to her heart’s content.

Shen Wu was kissed so thoroughly by Su Yuchen that she could barely stand.

Her legs were weak.

Her heart was weak.

Her entire body had melted into a pool of spring water, relying solely on the strength of the arm around her waist and the support of the glass greenhouse wall against her shoulder blades to remain upright.

“…Mmm, you’re really… I never would’ve guessed you could be this wicked.”

All of Shen Wu’s usual skills in teasing and seducing others had vanished. Now, she could only yield and comply, her words fragmented as the “flower lover” continued her relentless plundering of her crimson lips.

The greenhouse was filled with a rich floral fragrance, the poor flower beneath her trembling helplessly, unable to resist.

The blossoms in the sea of flowers seemed even sweeter now, as if their mingled scents had fermented into nectar.

Sweet on the lips, lingering endlessly between teeth and tongue.

At first, they were simply kissing, their breaths already ragged, when footsteps suddenly sounded not far away.

“She was definitely here just now. Are you sure you didn’t mishear?”

Fu Mozheng strode over, her face full of displeasure.

Fu Jiaqi chased after her, tugging at her arm. “There’s no need for this, Mozheng. Ms. Shen has already acknowledged that Su Yuchen is-”

Before she could finish, Fu Mozheng shook her off and turned to glare at her fiercely.

“What did I say? I don’t like people pouring cold water on me.”

With that, she strode forward again, closing in on Su Yuchen and Shen Wu.

Amid the clusters of flowers, the two rolled into the knee-high blossoms. The lush petals trembled briefly before settling back into their verdant state, concealing their entwined figures.

Su Yuchen’s tall, slender frame pressed down on Shen Wu’s equally lean body, rendering her immobile. One hand covered Shen Wu’s mouth while the other pressed a finger to her own lips, shaking her head at the woman beneath her.

“Shh. don’t make a sound.”

No sooner had she spoken than Fu Mozheng and Fu Jiaqi arrived right before them.

Hidden among the blossoms lay not only intoxicating fragrance but also secrets too intimate to share with outsiders.

Shen Wu had already been wronged earlier, and now she found herself being pushed into the flowerbed.

Her strength was no match for Su Yuchen’s, and just as she was feeling a bit indignant, she was forced to lie back, with a fragrant beauty pressing down on her.

She couldn’t help but feel both annoyed and amused, how absurd was it to be teased and bullied in her own home?

But her irritation was fleeting, leaving no trace of anger on her face. Instead, her peach-blossom eyes, rimmed with red and shimmering with unshed tears, gazed affectionately at the face before her.

Their proximity, dictated by their entangled posture, was so close that Su Yuchen’s breath fanned warmly over Shen Wu’s skin.

Nearby, on the path beside the sea of flowers, Fu Jiaqi, afraid the person she had just caught up to would slip away again, tugged at Fu Mozheng’s sleeve.

The latter, clad in a delicate floral tweed dress that revealed a pair of slender, snow-white legs, teetered unsteadily in her ankle-strap stiletto boots, hardly the most stable footwear for such terrain, with the added risk of twisting an ankle at any moment.

“Mozheng, stop walking. Aunt is looking for you. Let’s go back.”

Fu Mozheng stumbled from the pull, stopping just a few steps away, her displeasure unmistakable.

“I don’t need you to tell me what to do!”

Her anger was palpable, her cheeks flushed red.

“I know you’ll laugh at me behind my back later, but don’t celebrate too soon. Even if things between me and Shen Wu are impossible, it’ll be because I rejected her! I turned her down once when I was a teenager, and I can do it again now!”

“Huh?”

The two of them were right there in the flowerbed. Shen Wu heard every word but resisted the urge to roll her eyes, mostly because the weight on top of her was impossible to ignore.

Su Yuchen’s gaze also lingered on Shen Wu’s eyes, her confusion evident.

But they were too close for her to voice her questions, so she tightened her grip on that slender waist in mild frustration.

“…”

A soft gasp escaped Shen Wu’s lips, though it was muffled behind clenched teeth. Her eyes, however, sparkled with mischief as they flicked back to Su Yuchen’s face.

The next second, the tip of her wicked little tongue traced a teasing line across the palm pressed against her.

Having just been wronged, she was determined to exact her revenge.

And indeed, she succeeded, right then and there.

!!!

The indecent thoughts that had just begun to settle in Su Yuchen’s mind now roared back to life like wildfire, consuming every last shred of restraint.

If not for the inopportune setting, who knew what might have happened?

“…”

Su Yuchen gritted her teeth, struggling to hold back. Her arms trembled slightly, unable to support her weight any longer, and she sank more fully against the soft warmth beneath her.

A stifled moan caught in Shen Wu’s throat.

Then came Fu Mozheng’s tearful shout: “Don’t think I can’t live without her!”

“I, Fu Mozheng, have countless admirers! What does it matter if I lose Shen Wu? I’m still the prized daughter of the Fu family, the untouchable Fu Mozheng!”

“I’ll make Shen Wu regret not choosing me! Because I’m better than all the other options, far better!!”

With that, Fu Mozheng slapped Fu Jiaqi’s hand away and stormed off without a backward glance.

Fu Jiaqi hesitated for a moment before hurrying after her.

The two had come and gone like a sudden gust of wind, leaving no lasting impact in their wake.

Su Yuchen exhaled heavily. “Finally, they’re gone.”

Beneath her, Shen Wu blinked her peach blossom eyes, their depths glistening with moisture.

She raised an eyebrow and then flicked out the tip of her tongue, giving a teasing lick to the slightly sweet palm in front of her.

As expected, the owner of that hand jerked it back as if shocked.

“Stop fooling around.”

“Who’s fooling around?” Shen Wu tilted her head, lifting a hand to stroke the snow-white thigh beside her. “Didn’t you offer yourself up willingly?”

Su Yuchen was startled, only now noticing their current state. She was wearing a long, thin knit dress today, and because she had been lying down, the side slit had fallen open, revealing her long, fair legs in all their glory.

The moment Shen Wu touched her, a fine shiver rippled across her pale skin.

“Don’t tease me,” Su Yuchen murmured, the tips of her ears turning red as she avoided Shen Wu’s gaze. “I’m afraid I won’t be able to hold back.”

And she had every reason to be afraid. Shen Wu lay amidst a sea of flowers, her thick, seaweed-like hair cascading loosely over her shoulders and framing her face.

The way her hair fell was enchanting, and every line of her face, every delicate feature, was breathtaking. Nestled in the intoxicating fragrance of the blossoms, the delicate chain around her slender neck slipped out from her collar, resting against her stunning collarbones. Her breath was sweet, her beauty overwhelming.

“Who, me?” Shen Wu smirked mischievously, raising her hands to loop around the swan-like neck of the woman above her.

“Who said anything about holding back?”

Su Yuchen swallowed hard, her voice strained. “Me.”

“Me too.”

With that, Shen Wu tightened her arms, bringing those soft, rosy lips back to hers.

After a long, breathless moment that seemed to blush the very flowers around them, the two finally parted.

They gazed into each other’s eyes for a while before bursting into laughter, rolling around in the flowerbed, indulging in their playful abandon. Only reluctantly did they finally release each other from their warm embrace and head back inside.

…

The dining room of the Shen family’s ancestral home had a touch of old Shanghai charm, wooden accents with delicate lace trimmings, pale green wainscoting, and matching pale green dining tables and sideboards.

It was clear that the house had undergone renovations over generations, each new owner adding their own stylistic touches, creating an intriguing blend of eras.

As soon as they stepped inside, they saw the others already seated and chatting at the table.

Apart from the two of them, all the other guests invited to the family banquet had already taken their places.

Even Fu Mozheng, who had just finished throwing a tantrum and still had red-rimmed eyes, was seated beside her mother, Ruan Mengqing.

When her gaze landed on them, her eyes grew even redder, as if she couldn’t control her emotions.

Ruan Mengqing, noticing Su Yuchen’s cheerful demeanor, instinctively started to rise but only straightened halfway before remembering her emotionally unstable daughter beside her. She settled back into her seat, patting Fu Mozheng’s arm and shaking her head slightly.

Fu Mozheng lifted her chin high, straightening her posture to show off her custom-made Chanel-style suit, tailored specifically for the occasion.

The outfit was exorbitantly expensive, worth three months of an average family’s living expenses.

Yet, despite its dazzling appearance, it couldn’t hide the weariness in her eyes.

Su Yuchen, in her simple white knit dress from an online store, exuded an understated elegance that effortlessly outshone the rest.

Even now, fresh from rolling around in the flowerbed with Shen Wu, her dress bore traces of dirt at the knees and shoulders.

But none of it could diminish her radiance, she remained flawless, breathtakingly beautiful.

As the hostess, Shen Qiang exchanged a few words in French with the foreign woman beside her, who had deep-set eyes and a high nose bridge. Then, she placed the snow-white napkin she had been using to rest her legs next to her plate and stepped forward with a smile.

“You’re here. Come on, kids, let’s eat.”

Shen Qiang approached as she spoke, but as she got closer, her expression shifted from a smile to surprise.

“My dear little ancestors, where on earth have you two been rolling around?”

The word “rolling” was once again used with exquisite precision.

Inviting endless speculation.

And as if that weren’t enough, Shen Qiang added another layer,

“Two little dirty monkeys, did you roll around hugging each other?”

“Over by the flower beds? How filthy! Go on, go upstairs and change before coming down to eat. Don’t end up with a mouthful of sand.”

With that, she ushered the two of them upstairs to change.

Everyone present heard Shen Qiang’s words. Fu Mozheng’s expression suddenly changed. She gritted her teeth and exchanged a glance with Fu Jiaqi across the table.

Fu Jiaqi hesitated for a long moment before finally mustering the courage to raise her wine glass. “Auntie, about the Xinqiao project, I heard you’re friends with the manufacturers…”

Her voice was soft, and she didn’t meet Shen Qiang’s gaze.

So, it was easy to overlook her.

Coincidentally, Shen Qiang had just returned to Michelle’s side and sat down, her eyes still following Su Yuchen and Shen Wu as they went to change.

“Ah, these two kids should be back soon, right?”

Michelle, seated at the table, naturally heard someone making a request but remained unmoved. She simply looked at her beloved and said in perfect Beijing dialect, “Can’t say for sure, huh. These two lovebirds, changing clothes together, who knows what might happen.”

“…”

Fu Jiaqi’s wine glass suddenly felt as heavy as a thousand pounds. Unable to hold it up any longer, she finally set it down.

And as fate would have it, this was also the last sentence Su Yuchen heard.

Hearing those words, Su Yuchen’s back stiffened, and her foot, poised to step onto the wooden semi-circular staircase, froze in place.

Not hearing footsteps following behind, Shen Wu turned to look back. “What are you doing? Not going to change?”

Su Yuchen thought for a moment, then lowered her head and brushed the dirt off her clothes.

Fortunately, the clothes from a certain online store were mysteriously durable. The sand that had just clung to her disappeared without a trace after a light pat. Even the heaviest mud stain on her knee revealed its pristine white color after a few gentle taps.

“Looks like I don’t need to change with you,” Su Yuchen straightened up, tossing the long hair that had slipped forward back behind her. Her almond-shaped eyes flickered with unreadable emotions. “Maybe I’ll wait for you in the dining room.”

“…”

Shen Wu had been standing sideways on the stairs, a few steps ahead of Su Yuchen. Now, she turned fully around, looking down at her with an unconsciously haughty tilt of her chin, her eyelids slightly lowered, exuding an air of natural arrogance.

“Why won’t you come up with me?”

After asking this, Shen Wu’s lips curled into a smile, her haughty demeanor vanishing instantly. In a voice much softer than before, she added, “Afraid I’ll eat you up?”

Their position was on the staircase, not far from the dining room. Though ascending the stairs would take them completely out of sight, they were still close enough that even slightly raised voices could be overheard.

Su Yuchen found it hard to imagine whether Shen Wu would dare to misbehave in front of so many people. After all, both of them had clearly heard Michelle’s remark earlier. If anything were to happen with so many elders present below, causing a scene would be no laughing matter.

At this thought, Su Yuchen hurried forward a few steps, grabbed Shen Wu’s hand, and gave it a playful shake, whispering softly, “Baby sister, I… I’m hungry and want to grab a bite to eat.”

“Is that okay?”

“Baby sister”, she called her that again. What kind of ridiculous nickname was that?

Yet, inexplicably, Shen Wu’s heart swelled with sweetness.

“Big sister knows. Sooner or later, I’ll settle this score with you.”

As she spoke, Shen Wu hooked a finger under Su Yuchen’s delicate chin and pecked those rosy, pretty lips once more.

No sound was made, only the mingling of their breaths and heartbeats, so close they were nearly one.

Hidden from the view of the gathered crowd in the living room, just beyond a wall on the curved staircase, one leaned down while the other tilted her head up, a red rose kissing a white rose.

Quiet and secretive, like a forbidden secret.

Stirring restless yet joyous heartbeats.

…

When Su Yuchen returned to her seat, Shen Qiang turned her gaze toward her with interest. “Oh, sweetie, why didn’t you go change with her?”

“Oh… I-I can just change when I get home.”

Shen Qiang waved a hand dismissively. “What’s the big deal? Don’t be shy. Her closet is practically bursting with clothes, what’s the harm in borrowing a couple?”

“Honestly, it’s such a bad habit. She buys piles of them but can only wear one outfit a day. Isn’t that just terrible? You should scold her for me.”

Su Yuchen felt a little embarrassed but answered respectfully to the elder, “It’s really not a big deal. She buys them because she likes them. I’ll work hard in the future to buy her the clothes she loves.”

Michelle, her golden hair casually swept to one side, sipped from a glass of brandy with ice cubes, even in broad daylight, and narrowed her eyes slightly. “That girl your Shen Wu has taken a liking to is quite something.”

Shen Qiang grinned, brimming with pride. “Well, of course she is.”

As they spoke, the two clinked their heavy square glasses of brandy. Shen Qiang added, “I won’t be babysitting for them in the future, though.”

Michelle chuckled. “Perfect. Neither will I.”

The thick glassware clinked with a crisp “clack,” the ice spheres inside chiming against the sides.

The amber liquor swirled before flowing into their mouths.

Su Yuchen was speechless for a long moment.

The elders were all amused, covering their mouths with laughter, though not everyone looked pleased.

“…”

Fu Mozheng also downed a mouthful of strong liquor, her eyes reddening further.

As the scattered laughter died down, she slammed her glass onto the table with a sharp “thud,” swaying slightly as she braced herself against the surface. Without preamble, she demanded, “You say you’ll buy Shen Wu the clothes she likes, do you even know how much a single outfit of hers costs?”

“…”

Her abrupt question came before Ruan Mengqing could stop her.

“What are you saying?” Ruan Mengqing frowned, her voice low and displeased.

But Fu Mozheng merely glanced at her mother before lifting her chin defiantly at Su Yuchen, raising her voice even louder. “I said, do you know how much Shen Wu’s clothes cost before you go promising to buy them for her?”

“…”

Her voice was so loud that no one could pretend not to hear.

Awkwardness hung on everyone’s faces, Ruan Mengqing, Fu Zhengliang, and Fu Jiaqi, each more uncomfortable than the last.

But Fu Mozheng was clearly a little drunk, her expression aggressive, her upper body swaying involuntarily even as she sat on the stool.

“She’s had too much to drink,” Ruan Mengqing quickly steadied her daughter, gripping her shoulders to signal her not to speak. “Please don’t mind her, she’s drunk.”

Shen Qiang maintained her composure with a graceful smile. “That much is obvious.”

Michelle shook her head and took another sip of her chilled liquor, smacking her lips for good measure.

“I’m not drunk!” Fu Mozheng shook off her mother’s hand and continued her tirade at Su Yuchen. “Who do you think you are? Can you even afford her? Do you know how much her clothes cost?”

Seeing that she couldn’t be controlled, Ruan Mengqing flushed red with anger and raised her hand to strike her daughter. But her wrist was caught mid-air by Fu Zhengliang, who gave his wife a slight shake of the head.

Ruan Mengqing: “…”

With no one left to restrain her, Fu Mozheng downed the rest of her drink in one gulp. Clad in her exorbitantly expensive designer dress, she leaned on the table and stood up unsteadily.

She pointed at herself. “Me, Fu Mozheng.” Then she tugged at the tweed fabric on her shoulders. “Do you have any idea how much this outfit costs?”

It went without saying, this was a high-end Chanel custom piece, a runway design, limited edition by the designer, priced beyond ordinary comprehension. But flaunting it so brazenly in front of so many people left even these affluent guests speechless.

Yet, riding the wave of intoxication, Fu Mozheng was determined to vent her emotions, propriety be damned. All that mattered was her own satisfaction.

“Shen Wu’s clothes are even more expensive than mine. I’ve seen her silk nightgowns, 50,000 for the outer robe, 35,000 for the inner set. Go ahead, buy them! Let’s see how many nightgowns you can afford!”

But her moment of triumph was short-lived. Her rant came to an abrupt halt as Shen Wu descended the curved staircase with effortless grace.

Shen Wu’s wavy hair cascaded lazily over her shoulders, swaying gently with each step. She was wearing the “buy one, get one free” strawberry-print pajama set she’d snagged for 99 yuan, shipping included. Yet she carried herself like a Victoria’s Secret angel strutting down the runway, radiant and commanding, as if she only lacked a pair of wings to complete the look. But her sheer presence was as striking as any grand plumage.

The strawberry pajamas even had loose threads dangling, fluttering conspicuously with her movements.

Arriving before Su Yuchen, she casually pulled out a chair and sat down, feigning surprise as she looked up at Fu Mozheng. “Oh my, already drunk in broad daylight?”

An award-winning actress never delivers a bad performance, unless she’s deliberately hamming it up.

Fu Mozheng swayed unsteadily, barely able to stand. “What the hell are you wearing?”

Shen Wu mimicked her gesture, tugging at the fabric on her shoulder, adopting an exaggeratedly saccharine tone. “Oh, can’t you tell? Pajamas, of course.”

“My wife bought these for me, 99 yuan, buy one get one free, shipping included.” Why did she sound so proud saying that?

Fu Mozheng: “…”

Her lips trembled before she finally managed to stammer out, “Wife?!”

…

The thoroughly intoxicated Fu Mozheng was dragged out by her parents. Even as she was being hauled away, she continued to shout:

“Fuck you, Shen Wu! I was the one who dumped you, remember? It was me who dumped you!”

“You think I can’t live without you? Who do you think I am? I’m Fu Mozheng! Everyone envies me, everyone wants me, only you had to humiliate me!”

“Fuck you! Fuck you, Shen Wu!”

As Shen Wu’s mother, Shen Qiang had been innocently dragged into the mess and scolded, yet she merely crossed her arms and shook her head with a graceful smile. “Da Qing is right. That child is beyond control.”

Fu Zhengliang kept apologizing as he dragged his daughter toward the car.

Ruan Mengqing initially followed a few steps but then stopped and turned back to apologize.

“I’m sorry, Da Qiang. I ruined your family dinner today. I owe you an apology.”

Shen Qiang waved it off. “It’s no big deal. Don’t take it to heart.”

Ruan Mengqing looked especially embarrassed as she turned to Shen Wu and Su Yuchen. “Xiao Wu, Nannan, I’m sorry about what happened today. Auntie apologizes to you both. I’ll make sure to discipline her properly when we get back.”

Both Su Yuchen and Shen Wu said it was fine.

Shen Qiang smiled and chimed in, “No need to go through all that trouble. If she can’t be taught, you should just take my advice and get her that… thing.”

With so many people around, Shen Qiang spared Ruan Mengqing’s dignity by not spelling it out.

After all, such remarks were fine as jokes between close girlfriends in private, but saying them in front of a crowd would only humiliate her. Though Shen Qiang seemed carefree, she actually had a keen sense of propriety.

Ruan Mengqing’s expression darkened further. She waved at Shen Qiang and said as she walked away, “You’re not leaving soon, right? Bring the kids over to my place sometime.”

“No problem. Drive safely.”

Shen Qiang agreed and, along with the others, watched Ruan Mengqing’s retreating figure.

Fu Mozheng’s fragmented curses had already faded into the dimming twilight.

Shen Qiang tightened her shawl and shivered. “It’s so cold. Let’s head back.”

Michelle wrapped an arm around her lover as they stepped inside, but Shen Qiang didn’t forget to call out, “You two, come back in too. It’s freezing out there.”

“Stay the night. Keep us old folks company with a round of four-player peg solitaire. This Shen Wu is so mean, she never lets me win. You’ll have to go easy on me.” As she spoke, Shen Qiang pointed at Su Yuchen. “This one’s good. She looks honest.”

…

Twenty minutes later, the “honest” Su Yuchen, as described by the elders, pinned Shen Wu onto the soft bed.

“Explain. Why did Fu Mozheng say she dumped you first?”

She was genuinely bothered, her grip firm as she held Shen Wu down, refusing to let her up, a far cry from the elders’ impression of her.

Su Yuchen’s eyes darkened as she gripped Shen Wu’s slender waist, her body unconsciously pressing against those perfect curves.

Shen Wu shifted slightly, adjusting to a more comfortable position, and replied nonchalantly, “She was lying.”

“Impossible.” Su Yuchen wasn’t so easily fooled this time, even giving Shen Wu a firm nudge with her body.

A faint blush spread across Shen Wu’s cheeks. “I told you you’d be the death of me. You really know how to bully me.”

She exhaled deeply and pressed her face close to Su Yuchen’s. “What if I told you, it never happened? Would you believe me?”

Her warm breath tickled Su Yuchen’s skin.

“Really?”

Su Yuchen’s long lashes fluttered as she voiced her doubt, but Shen Wu answered immediately.

“Really!”

If she hadn’t been pinned down, she might’ve raised three fingers to swear an oath.

Shen Wu struggled briefly before giving up, relying instead on her charm as she lifted her eyelids, her gaze languid and alluring. “It’s the truth. Do you trust me?”

It sounded like a blatant excuse, but Su Yuchen, swayed by appearances, couldn’t resist Shen Wu’s act.

“…Hmph. Fine.”

“If you say it’s true, then I’ll believe it.” Su Yuchen gazed at the lips so close to her own, narrowed her eyes slightly, and leaned in.

The next second.

Shen Wu: “Ouch!”

“Su Yuchen, are you a dog? Why did you bite me?”

Su Yuchen straightened up, her face flushed, her slender neck already crimson as she stubbornly looked away. “Punishment.”

Punishment?

So, the little silly cat has learned to punish now.

She was unbearably adorable, and being bullied by her was actually quite delightful.

Shen Wu laughed and turned the tables, pouncing on her. “Speaking of punishment, I just remembered I have some to dish out too.”

“We still haven’t settled the score for how you bullied me in the flowerbed earlier.”

Shen Wu’s fingers trailed upward, loosening the delicate scarf tied around Su Yuchen’s neck, revealing a stretch of snow-white collarbone.

“Baby, when are we going to become a real married couple?”