Love Contract with the Queen Actress - Chapter 43

The private elevator ensured no outsiders could intrude. At this moment, only the sound of their breathing and the nearly imperceptible hum of the elevator’s machinery filled the space.

The cold white lighting inside the cabin made Shen Wu’s cheeks and neck appear even paler. Against her fair skin, her captivating peach-blossom eyes stood out beautifully. Her lips, perfectly shaped, neither too thick nor too thin, glistened with a dewy fullness whenever they parted slightly, exuding just the right amount of allure.

“Still not willing to tell me what’s happening tomorrow?”

The faint blush at the corners of Shen Wu’s eyes had yet to fade, a lingering trace of last night’s passion visible only up close.

And only Su Yuchen could see it.

Su Yuchen’s bright almond-shaped eyes reflected Shen Wu as she leaned in closer. The sight of those tempting red lips made her want to bite them, but she restrained herself, pressing her own lips together, this was an elevator, after all.

“Tomorrow… there really is something.”

Hearing her insistence, Shen Wu narrowed her long lashes. “What exactly is it that you still need to keep from me?”

“It’s not that I’m keeping it from you…” Su Yuchen struggled to find the right words before finally saying, “It’s just that I can’t tell you yet.”

“…”

Shen Wu’s petty, grudge-holding nature flared up instantly. “You can’t tell me yet?”

She tilted her head slightly. “Oh, so not only won’t you let me visit your home, but you’re also keeping tomorrow’s plans a secret from me. Is this really the attitude of someone who wants to marry me?”

It seemed she had an unusual fixation on not being allowed into Su Yuchen’s home.

Su Yuchen’s eyes sparkled, her dewy almond eyes misting over with anxiety.

“Baby sister, I really do want to register our marriage with you. As long as you want to… get married.”

Her voice grew softer toward the end, as if she were suddenly embarrassed.

Shen Wu hadn’t actually been upset to begin with. Seeing Su Yuchen looking so soft and vulnerable now, any lingering frustration had already dissipated. Instead, a mischievous urge to tease rose within her.

Her fingers deliberately lingered on Su Yuchen’s earlobe, giving it a light pinch. Satisfied when the fair skin beneath her fingertips flushed pink, she let her fingers trail downward, brushing over smooth cheeks before pausing on those faintly rosy lips. She played with them lightly, like a dragonfly skimming water, then slid further down to tap gently on that small, delicate chin.

Everywhere her fingertips touched, she could feel the faint tremors rising to the surface of Su Yuchen’s skin.

This only delighted Shen Wu further. Her peach-blossom eyes curved into crescents as she tilted her head, her breath warm and sweet. “Baby, if you really want to marry me, you should be honest with me.”

“Honest…?”

Su Yuchen swallowed hard. “Honest about what? It’s just… I can tell you tomorrow night.”

“But if personal matters delay you, wouldn’t that mean we can’t register our marriage?”

The question caught Su Yuchen off guard. Without thinking, she blurted out, “But I already made plans with them.”

“Made plans?” Shen Wu let out a meaningful hum.

Her fingers glided back up Su Yuchen’s face, this time tracing the plush red lips with her thumb. “You made plans with someone? With who?”

“…”

Realizing her slip-up, Su Yuchen immediately clamped her mouth shut.

Her large, clear eyes shimmered with unshed tears.

“…”

Shen Wu repeatedly caressed her lips, making Su Yuchen unbearably ticklish, her entire body trembling with goosebumps as she tightly wrapped her arms around Shen Wu’s slender waist once more.

That waist was so thin, effortlessly encircled by Su Yuchen’s delicate yet strong arms, causing Shen Wu’s tall, slender figure to collide forcefully against Su Yuchen, fitting together even more perfectly.

“Baby sister, what… what are you doing…”

Su Yuchen silenced Shen Wu’s questioning with action, turning it into a soft gasp of surprise.

Even after committing a minor mischief, the shy and fair little rabbit still didn’t dare look at that breathtakingly beautiful face.

Seeing Su Yuchen slowly turn her face away, looking pitiful and helpless, Shen Wu was so exasperated she almost laughed.

“What am I doing?” Shen Wu, who had just failed at pinning Su Yuchen against the wall and was now the one being held, raised an eyebrow. “Oh, you’re asking me what I’m doing? I should be asking you that. Are you trying to break my waist?”

Shen Wu’s waist was both slender and soft, her bones and muscles pliant beyond belief. Whenever Su Yuchen held her, she would instinctively tighten her grip, causing Shen Wu to let out a soft gasp between her pearly teeth, a sound Su Yuchen loved most.

She blinked her watery almond eyes, looking like an innocent little rabbit who had just bullied a vixen. “No, baby sister, I didn’t mean to.”

Taking advantage of her youth and stamina to act so recklessly, huh?

Without hesitation, Shen Wu pinched Su Yuchen’s cheeks, kneading them like dough.

“Playing innocent again, I see. I’ve figured it out, you’ve been playing me all along. A true fishing-type little rabbit, a little beast in lamb’s clothing.”

Su Yuchen’s face was alternately squeezed into a round shape and stretched sideways, making it hard for her to speak.

Just as she was considering whether to defend herself, the elevator emitted a soft “ding.”

The doors slowly slid open with a mechanical hum.

Standing at the entrance, Fu Nan seemed momentarily blinded, slapping a hand over her face.

“…”

It turned out the elevator had timed out and opened on its own.

The two inside and the one outside fell into an awkward silence.

“…”

Fortunately, they were only embracing, with one kneading the other’s fair cheeks until they flushed a faint rosy hue, saving on blush, at least.

Upon noticing Fu Nan, both women stiffened momentarily. However, while Su Yuchen felt a bit embarrassed, Shen Wu tossed her hair back, chin raised, and walked past Fu Nan without a second glance.

Su Yuchen wasn’t as composed. Feeling guilty, as if caught doing something wrong, she kept her head low as she stepped out of the elevator. Passing Fu Nan, she nodded politely without meeting her eyes.

Fu Nan watched their retreating figures heading toward the office, sighing and shaking her head.

Su Yuchen, the little bottom, really has it rough.

Getting pinned and having her cheeks squeezed in the elevator, who knows how much worse Shen Wu bullies her in bed.

Ah, so pitiful.

Unaware of Fu Nan’s musings, Su Yuchen and Shen Wu entered her office.

On the massive black wooden desk lay two contracts.

“Six copies in total, one for each party, and the rest will be kept on file by our various departments. If there are no issues, you can sign now. I’ve checked all the terms myself. If you’re still unsure, I can call in a legal advisor to address any concerns.”

Su Yuchen stared at the two stacks of contracts, which looked incredibly thick, though that might just be because there were so many copies.

The more she looked at them, the faster her heart raced. For no particular reason, she suddenly felt the reality of her impending marriage to Shen Wu.

In truth, over the past few years, she hadn’t just lacked a partner to discuss marriage with, she hadn’t even had a girlfriend. It wasn’t that no one had approached her, but it was as if a beautiful shadow had always resided in her heart, making it impossible for her to casually take such a significant emotional step in life.

But now, it seemed that shadow had been replaced by Shen Wu’s image. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Shen Wu standing on the long staircase of that “Starry Night” event, turning back to smile at her.

A red dress trailing to the floor, its hem cascading like a waterfall of satin over the marble steps.

Fu Nan noticed Su Yuchen’s distracted expression and cleared her throat softly.

“Ahem, Yuchen, if you’re unsure, I can still call in our legal advisor. It’s no trouble, they’ve all signed NDAs, so you don’t need to worry about confidentiality.”

Su Yuchen snapped back to reality at Fu Nan’s voice. Hearing this, she paused for a moment before quickly waving her hand. “No, no, it’s not that I’m unsure. I just feel a little…”

“A little unreal?” Fu Nan finished for her, smiling reassuringly. “Don’t worry. I’ve gone over every clause and fought for them. While the current terms do impose some restrictions on you, they’re ultimately fair and reasonable for both of you.”

Fu Nan wasn’t wrong. For a family like the Shens, signing a marriage agreement like this carried significant risks.

But the implication in Fu Nan’s words was that these terms hadn’t even been drafted by Gaole Entertainment’s own legal team.

And… it sounded like the other side hadn’t been represented by just one legal team either.

Su Yuchen cast a probing glance at Fu Nan, but before she could speak, Shen Wu interjected, “She’s right. She did her best. Great-Grandmother’s legal advisor is a top-tier lawyer who brought in their golden team for negotiations. Let’s just say this is the best arrangement we could get.”

Su Yuchen’s lips parted slightly. “Shen Wu’s… great-grandmother?”

“Mm.” Shen Wu took a sip of water from her glass. “Let Fu Nan explain it to you.”

Fu Nan had previously given Su Yuchen a broad overview of the situation, but Su Yuchen hadn’t expected Shen Wu’s great-grandmother to be involved in the details of their marriage.

This prenuptial agreement seemed to have been the subject of quite a tug-of-war.

Fu Nan handed Su Yuchen a fountain pen. “I can fill you in on the specifics later. Essentially, the other team, along with other branches of the Shen family, were closely scrutinizing this agreement. All we could do was protect your and Shen Wu’s vested interests to the greatest extent possible.”

No wonder the contract required six copies. There was a reason every department needed to keep a record.

Su Yuchen took the pen, took a deep breath to steady her racing heart, and solemnly signed her name to the right of Shen Wu’s.

After signing the contract, Funan carefully reviewed it to ensure everything was correct, then stamped each page with a confidentiality seal before straightening up with a smile and clapping her hands. “Congratulations! Legally speaking, the two of you will soon be wives.”

Shen Wu seemed to recall something unpleasant again, crossing her arms. “Not yet. We haven’t even registered the marriage.”

“We were supposed to go tomorrow, but apparently, someone already has plans with someone else. I don’t even know who it is, it’s so secretive. To think they’d prioritize that over registering our marriage.”

Her words were meant as a subtle reminder to someone that they weren’t off the hook yet, but Fu Nan interjected in surprise, “Isn’t tomorrow the interview for Xinqiao?”

“…”

Su Yuchen’s carefully guarded secret was exposed on the spot. She opened her mouth but couldn’t find the words to respond.

Perhaps because the expressions on both Shen Wu and Su Yuchen’s faces were so telling, Fu Nan realized she might have misspoken. She rubbed her nose awkwardly and chuckled, “Oh, she asked me to help arrange it. She said she wanted to get the interview on her own merit. I didn’t realize she hadn’t told anyone else.”

Shen Wu raised an eyebrow. “On her own merit?” Then, her voice rose slightly. “Am I ‘anyone else’?”

Su Yuchen: “…”

Too afraid to speak. Absolutely too afraid to speak.

Shen Wu set down the fountain pen in her hand, propping her chin on her palm as she gazed at Su Yuchen with amusement, as if admiring some adorable little creature that could only face her with the top of its head.

“Sweetheart, are you really skipping our marriage registration for something like this?”

“…”

Fu Nan still seemed unaccustomed to Shen Wu’s unabashed use of affectionate nicknames in public, awkwardly wiping nonexistent sweat from her temple.

Under that scorching gaze, Su Yuchen kept her head lowered and answered in a tiny voice, “Well… it’s not exactly a small thing. I want to stand on that big screen with you. I-I don’t want anyone else standing beside you.”

“…”

With those words, the room fell into a brief silence.

Su Yuchen was referring to the endorsement for Xinqiao’s Red Rose and White Rose chocolates. That day, after exiting the subway, she had stood amidst the bustling crowd, looking up at the enormous billboard.

On it, Shen Wu wore a stunning red dress, her smile enchanting and captivating, while the spot for the White Rose remained empty.

Even now, Su Yuchen could still remember the burning rhythm of her heartbeat as she gazed up at Shen Wu.

Thump-thump-thump

Thump-thump-thump

Her heart raced, because the person she was looking up at was Shen Wu.

Shen Wu, smiling down at her from that massive billboard.

When she learned that after the White Rose was finalized, the Red and White Roses would film a joint commercial, Su Yuchen had already made up her mind to try for it.

After the brief silence, Shen Wu couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh.

She lowered her head slightly before raising her eyes again, her gaze shimmering with emotion.

“Sweetheart, if you wanted this endorsement, why didn’t you just tell me? I could have helped you secure it. Wouldn’t that have been more effective than running around for interviews yourself?”

Everyone present understood the logic of that.

Yet Su Yuchen shook her head, finally lifting her lowered gaze. “I know my way of thinking might seem foolish, rigid and not very smart. But I really, truly wanted to see if I could stand beside you through my own efforts.”

She swallowed hard, adjusted her breathing, and continued, “There’s clearly an easier way, I could just ask you to open the door for me. But I still can’t do that. I want to stand by your side on my own merit. Even if I can’t this time, it just means I haven’t worked hard enough. I’ll strive for the chance to stand beside you properly next time.”

“…”

Such a stubborn personality.

She looked soft and delicate, but the resilience in her heart was extraordinary.

She would rather secretly go for the interview herself than use Shen Wu’s influence to climb up.

Clever people who know how to take shortcuts might call her foolish, but this spirit of hers is truly admirable.

That inexplicable feeling in Shen Wu’s heart surged again. Her heartbeat inexplicably quickened, but she forced it down, a smile curling at the corners of her lips. “Such a stubborn temper, wonder who she takes after?”

She cracked a joke, then propped her chin on her hand and leaned slightly closer. “Baby, are you really sure you don’t need my help?”

“N-no, I don’t.”

Su Yuchen quickly waved her hands.

“I can do it myself.”

“Really don’t want my help?”

As Shen Wu spoke, she inched even closer.

She was almost pressing against Su Yuchen now.

Su Yuchen, flustered, leaned her shoulders back, her center of gravity tilting backward as she continued waving her hands obediently. “Really, I don’t need it. Really, I don’t.”

Shen Wu closed the distance again. “Really?”

Su Yuchen kept leaning back. “Really, really.”

Fu Nan couldn’t take it anymore and slammed the table, forcefully intervening. “To prevent myself from choking to death on all this sweetness, I think there’s one thing I can help with.”

…

The next day, before the recording of the dating show’s preliminary interviews.

The morning sun was dazzling.

Su Yuchen stealthily slipped out of Shen Wu’s bright red sports car.

Before she could even close the door, she tried to hide behind it, but the sports car’s upward-swinging door design left her with nowhere to conceal herself.

So, Su Yuchen could only crouch in the shadow of the door, looking small and helpless. “Is this too close?”

Because she could feel countless eyes turning toward her.

Both Fu Nan and Shen Wu were wearing oversized black sunglasses. At her words, they turned their heads in unison.

Shen Wu frowned slightly, displeased. “This is close? We’re still a whole intersection away from Xinqiao Tower.”

Fu Nan, however, looked concerned. “Yuchen, are you sure you don’t want me to go up with you?”

“No, no,” Su Yuchen, unusually, was also wearing sunglasses. She adjusted them. “I can go by myself. I’ve got sunglasses and a hat, no one should recognize me. I’m already embarrassed enough that you guys drove me here today.”

Shen Wu was speechless. Fu Nan smiled. “Good luck!”

Su Yuchen made a fist-pumping gesture with both hands. “Yeah, good luck!”

With that, she hunched over and slipped away along the row of holly bushes.

After running about ten meters, she finally straightened up, clutching her resume in her hands. She turned back toward the car’s windshield and formed a heart shape with her hands.

Then, with a bright smile, she turned and ran off.

In the car, Fu Nan remarked, “Yuchen is so adorable.”

Shen Wu raised an eyebrow. “What did you say?”

“Ahem, don’t be nervous. Just making an observation.” Fu Nan cleared her throat. “By the way, if you’re not getting the license today, when do you two plan to go?”

After all, this was part of the job, Fu Nan would still need to arrange the specifics later.

Although, even the emperor himself would have to walk to the civil affairs bureau to pay the fee and get the marriage certificate, the confidentiality and coordination work still needed to be planned in advance.

Who knew this remark would somehow provoke Shen Wu?

Shen Wu’s expression darkened for a moment before he finally said, “No time today, but she didn’t say when we’d get the certificate.”

That trailing tone actually carried a hint of grievance.

Fu Nan rarely saw this side of him and was inwardly laughing his head off, but he kindly twisted the knife with a smile.

“Just a reminder… no certificate yet. Better watch out or Yuchen might get snatched away.”

Shen Wu: “…”

“Shut up.”

Shen Wu’s face was visibly stormy now, so Fu Nan didn’t push further, though he couldn’t help but muse, “After all these years, we’re crossing paths with Xinqiao again. Back when you signed on as the Red Rose ambassador, she wasn’t the chairwoman yet, was she?”

The car was silent, not a sound to be heard.

After a long pause, Shen Wu sighed. “Yeah. If I’d known earlier, I wouldn’t have taken that Red Rose deal.”

“…”

…

Xinqiao’s headquarters stood in the heart of the CBD district in the capital’s most bustling area.

Vast glass curtain walls sliced the city’s daylight into geometric patterns.

Below the building, well-dressed office ladies clutching coffee cups walked briskly past Su Yuchen, their high heels tapping out a rhythmic beat.

Su Yu Chen was still in her white knit dress, wearing a white baseball cap and holding her resume, looking like any other young dreamer stepping into this building for an interview.

Well, not too far off, she was indeed here for an interview, just not for an office job. She was auditioning for the role of Xinqiao’s White Chocolate ambassador.

By the time she stepped into Xinqiao’s lobby with her resume, the line of interviewees had already snaked into a long queue.

Behind the sign marked Xinqiao Interview Queue, Designated Waiting Area, each candidate held their resume.

Among them were even a few fair-faced men with light makeup.

Su Yuchen froze for a second. After confirming the details, she took her place at the very end of the line.

Watching as someone came out and called the first few candidates forward, she estimated she wouldn’t get her turn until the afternoon.

Would this delay her afternoon shoot…?

Just as she was starting to worry, her phone pinged with a notification.

Before she could even pull it out of her pocket, a sweet voice called out, “Miss Su? Our CEO would like to see you.”

Everyone around her turned to look, and a wave of hushed whispers erupted.

“Holy! it’s Su Yuchen!”

“Who? Who? The Princess Minglu, Su Yuchen?”

“She’s here for the role too? Then what’s even the point of us competing?”

“No way, a star this big actually came to queue up with us? That time people said they saw her on the subway wasn’t just PR, it was real! She’s even waiting in line with us for an audition!”

“C-can I go ask for an autograph?”

“I loved her as Princess Minglu too!”

“Not just Princess Minglu, but I was also totally charmed by her personality in ‘Love or Marriage.’ She’s so adorable. Seeing her in person today, even with sunglasses and a hat, she looked stunning. It’s just unfair if she doesn’t become famous.”

Just as another small wave of excitement was about to stir, before the commotion could fully form, Su Yuchen was ushered into the interview room by the receptionist.

Upon entering the meeting room, a woman sat facing her, smiling warmly.

She hadn’t met this person before, but the one opposite her, she recognized.

The girl with the bob cut slowly turned her head, it was none other than Fu Monan.

…

“How did the interview go?”

Fu Nan drove Shen Wu’s car while asking the question.

This time, Su Yuchen didn’t make any mistakes, avoiding the awkward mishap from last time when she accidentally chilled Fu Nan’s neck.

After hesitating for a moment, she spoke somewhat uncertainly, “I’m not sure how it went. As soon as I entered, I met the CEO of Xinqiao. Then I went next door to introduce myself and perform some scenes as requested. Did Sister Fu Nan arrange something in advance with them? Someone specifically came to escort me upstairs.”

Fu Nan raised an eyebrow. “No, when I submitted your name and audition video earlier, I only mentioned a few things. I didn’t make any arrangements for today.”

Behind them, Shen Wu put down her phone and let out a puzzled “Hmm?” “The CEO of Xinqiao arranged for someone to take you upstairs?”

“I… don’t really know either.”

Su Yuchen looked utterly confused. “But in the meeting room, I also saw Fu Monan.”

“Fu Monan is also auditioning for the role of the white chocolate spokesperson for Xinqiao?”

This time, it was Fu Nan’s turn to be surprised.

Su Yuchen shook her head again. “No, Fu Monan seems to be the actuary for Xinqiao’s project. They have business dealings, that’s what she told me.”

“That’s really strange,” Fu Nan flicked the gearshift paddle with her finger, keeping her eyes on the road but directing her words at Su Yuchen. “If it was just a business meeting, why would they also watch the audition?”

All these oddities piled up, making the situation inexplicably bizarre.

Shen Wu, meanwhile, hesitated for a moment, squeezing her phone before setting it down again.

“Fu Nan, when you have time, reach out and ask what’s going on.”

Fu Nan gave a quiet “Mm.” “Don’t worry, I’ll handle it.”

Su Yuchen instinctively felt there might be something she wasn’t privy to, which was why Shen Wu hadn’t immediately taken charge with her usual fervor. But this sense of strangeness was fleeting, leaving no trace of emotion for her to grasp, so she didn’t dwell on it further.

The group returned to the Shen family’s old residence, with little time left before the scheduled home interview.

Shen Qiang and Michelle were chatting and laughing in the flower garden, appearing exceptionally affectionate. When they saw Su Yuchen and the others approaching, they stood up to greet them. “Oh, honey, you’re back.”

“You have work tasks this afternoon, right? Michelle and I have already discussed it, we’ll be meeting some old friends this afternoon. Little Yuchen, don’t feel restrained at all. Treat this as your own home and record freely.”

Shen Qiang’s warm hospitality made the smile on Su Yuchen’s lips grow even brighter.

Her small dimples filled with a warm, gentle glow as she said sincerely, “Thank you for letting me record the program here. I’ll be as careful as possible and restore everything to its original state afterward.”

“No need,” Shen Qiang waved her hand dismissively. “There are people who’ll take care of that. Just focus on recording the show. I don’t know much about the details of filming, so feel free to do as you please.”

At this point, Shen Qiang seemed to suddenly remember something. “I just heard from little Fu Nan that you went for an interview at Xinqiao today, right?”

“Mm.” Su Yuchen nodded obediently, but she didn’t expect the next words from Madam Shen to ripple through her heart.

“How did everything go at Xinqiao today? I casually asked little Fu Nan earlier, was it Director Tong who interviewed you? Did she give you a hard time? You weren’t at a disadvantage, were you?”

“Why would Director Tong give me a hard time?”

Su Yuchen found it increasingly strange, as she recalled all the peculiar behavior she had encountered since entering the building.

…

The female chairman, dressed in an exquisite suit, stood up and walked forward to greet her, shaking hands with the person standing at the door.

“You must be Su Yuchen, Shen Wu’s on-screen partner.”

The term made Su Yuchen feel slightly uncomfortable, but the feeling quickly passed.

Su Yuchen reached out and shook Tong Xin’s hand. “Hello, I’m Su Yuchen. I previously submitted my resume and video.”

Tong Xin smiled. “Hello, I’m the new owner of Xinqiao. My name is Tong Xin.”

After a pause, her gaze lingered on Su Yuchen’s fair and pretty face, her smile deepening. “You really are even more beautiful in person than in the video you sent.”

“…”

Being praised so bluntly for her looks made Su Yuchen a little uneasy. She responded with a polite smile.

“What a coincidence. Please, have a seat,” Tong Xin said as she walked forward, not forgetting to gesture for Su Yuchen to sit. She then took a seat beside her, her neatly styled bun as immaculate as her posture, knees together, feet slightly tilted to the side, her long, slender legs even more striking.

She looked at Su Yuchen with a smile and continued, “You really are perfect for this role. Your aura is fresh and suits the image of white chocolate perfectly. By the way, didn’t Shen Wu come with you?”

The sudden shift in topic made Su Yuchen feel increasingly puzzled.

“No, did you need something from her?”

“Just as I thought, you two are close.” Tong Xin’s eyes gleamed. “Maybe even closer.”

“…”

Just as Su Yuchen was struggling to respond, Fu Monan, who had been silent until now, walked over and opened the door, saying something indistinct to someone outside.

Soon, a staff member entered, carrying a work schedule in their arms.

“Good afternoon, Chairman. The studio is ready. Can we proceed with the green screen test shots now?”

It seemed they had been waiting for a while. Tong Xin nodded. “Yes, we can.”

Su Yuchen suddenly felt a wave of relief, as if granted a reprieve. She was about to pick up her resume from the table and stand when a hand adorned with black nail art, featuring skulls and crosses, pressed down on one corner of the document.

Compared to the immaculate bun and wrinkle-free light blue suit, the gothic nail art seemed strikingly out of place.

The hand remained firmly on the resume, showing no intention of moving, while its owner continued to smile at Su Yuchen.

“You can go for the test shots now.”

Tong Xin spoke, but her hand still didn’t release the resume.

Su Yuchen let go and nodded politely before standing up to leave.

As she passed Fu Monan, the latter tugged at her sleeve.

“Yuchen, good luck.”

“Thank you.” The oddness of the situation was indescribable. Su Yuchen smiled and was about to walk away when Fu Monan added, “I’m hosting a family dinner in a few days. Would you honor me by being my plus-one?”

The question was rather ill-timed. Su Yuchen glanced at her but didn’t respond before opening the door and stepping out.

Only Fu Monan remained in the doorway, leaning against the frame in a daze.

…

Snapping back to the present, Su Yuchen noticed Shen Qiang’s increasingly strange expression and tentatively asked, “Auntie, do you also know Chairman Tong Xin?”

Shen Qiang: “…”

“Oh, haha! Tong Xin…”

For the first time, Shen Qiang seemed hesitant about something, even stumbling over her words.

Her awkward smile was barely contained as she glanced around, spotting her lover. She shot Michelle a pleading look, only to receive a shrug and a helpless gesture in return.

Gritting her teeth, Shen Qiang decided to redirect the trouble: “Go ask Fu Nan, she knows everything.”

“Alright, alright, we’re running out of time here! Our friends have been waiting for us forever! Hahaha!”

Shen Qiang’s laughter echoed through the living room as she grabbed her trench coat, dragging Michelle toward the front door.

“…”

Su Yuchen could only bow respectfully behind her. “Auntie, take care on your way.”

“Good, good! Such a sweet child, you’re my favorite. Don’t worry about the rest, just remember that!”

Shen Qiang’s voice grew fainter, eventually fading away down the tree-lined path outside.

After bidding farewell to Shen Qiang and her inseparable lover Michelle, Su Yuchen stood there for a long while, unable to shake the feeling that something was off.

Suddenly remembering something, she pulled out her phone and saw a red notification dot on the WeChat icon, an unread friend request.

[Xinqiao – Tong Xin has requested to add you as a friend.]

The options to accept or reject were right there, but for the first time, Su Yuchen hesitated.

Before she could decide, she glanced up and saw Fu Nan nearby, discussing wiring issues.

“Sister Nan, can I ask, is the chairman of Xinqiao acquainted with Shen Wu?”

“…”

Even Fu Nan didn’t respond immediately. Instead, her shoulders visibly stiffened.

“Ah, no, not really. They had some dealings years ago, but they don’t interact anymore. So… not exactly old acquaintances.”

Su Yuchen’s instincts prickled. “Sister Nan, why are you being so evasive?”

Fu Nan, holding a shooting log in her hands, tried to pinch her temples but found her hands full. Instead, she rubbed her forehead with her thumb.

“Look, they knew each other before, but I swear on my reputation, when we took on the Red Rose Chocolate endorsement, Tong Xin wasn’t the owner of Xinqiao yet!”

“…Does that really need swearing?” Su Yuchen gave Fu Nan a probing look, one that made her avert her eyes uncomfortably.

Fu Nan forced an unnatural smile. “Well… actually, Shen Wu didn’t volunteer to go up there today either, it was to avoid any awkwardness. So, you don’t have to worry. Even if Tong Xin owns Xinqiao now, it won’t affect your audition for the White Rose role.”

After a pause, Su Yuchen spoke again. “Their relationship is awkward enough to require avoidance?”

“Sister Nan, so… Shen Wu and Tong Xin really did have something between them before, didn’t they?”

…

The usually quiet Shen family estate was bustling with noise and activity.

Staff weaved between equipment while the director coordinated with the camera crew and the butler, finalizing shooting details.

Even Fu Nan had distanced herself from Su Yuchen and Shen Wu, avoiding eye contact and hiding in some far-off corner.

The pre-shoot chaos was always the busiest. The loud calls for crew members sent the recently returned waterfowl in the backyard lake scattering in all directions.

Shen Wu descended from the second floor, her phone still displaying the call interface.

But the other end hadn’t picked up, the name glaring back at her was “Silly Kitten.”

Silly Kitten, Su Yuchen, was clearly nowhere to be found at the moment. Shen Wu had just searched the second-floor bedroom and several guest rooms, politely addressed as “teacher” by the staff, only to return empty-handed.

“Where has this silly kitten run off to?”

Shen Wu had lost count of how many times she’d hung up the call.

Just as she lowered her phone, her wrist was abruptly yanked, pulling her into the shadows between the backyard wall and a shrub.

Su Yuchen’s sweet fragrance enveloped her. Before Shen Wu could react, she was pinned against the hard wall by an embrace.

The soft warmth pressing against her was unmistakably Su Yuchen’s, though the expression on her face was far from its usual shy innocence. Instead, her eyes burned with an unspoken intensity as she stared fixedly at Shen Wu.

Perhaps because she had never done something like this before, the suddenness of pulling someone into a wall-pin left even herself unprepared, her ears flushed crimson.

But that didn’t stop her from coldly demanding, “There are too many people outside. I have a question for you.”

Shen Wu’s body adjusted awkwardly to the curves pressed against her, some parts squeezed so tightly she could barely breathe.

“…”

She took a deep breath, steadying the fluttering in her chest. “What’s gotten into you? I’ve never seen you like this just to ask me a question?”

Su Yuchen kept her pinned in the secluded corner, away from the bustling crowd, narrowing her eyes. “I want to know, what exactly is going on between you and the chairman of Xinqiao?”

“What do you mean, ‘what’s going on’?”

Shen Wu was baffled, her gaze instinctively sweeping over Su Yuchen’s face.

“Why are you suddenly… asking about this?”

“Why wouldn’t I ask?”

Su Yuchen chewed over the question before repeating it, her mind screaming in bold letters, How could I not ask?! What if someone steals my wife?!

Then, without another word, Su Yuchen answered her own question with action.

Her rosy lips sealed over Shen Wu’s, cutting off any response before it could escape.

The sound of sweet friction filled the air as their lips moved, one yielding, the other claiming, fierce and relentless. At times, Su Yuchen even nipped lightly at Shen Wu’s lower lip, savoring the tremors that rippled through the body beneath her.

Only when Shen Wu’s legs weakened and her breathing grew ragged did Su Yuchen finally release her.

Shen Wu’s knees instinctively pressed together as she nearly slid down the wall, saved only by Su Yuchen’s firm hold. The softness between them was crushed like a pitiful squeeze toy.

She swallowed hard, forcing down the lingering sweetness in her mouth before steadying her uneven breaths. Her lips, now bitten red, glistened faintly.

Su Yuchen’s slender arms encircled her tightly, the scent of irises clinging to Shen Wu’s skin.

Leaning close, her lips brushed against Shen Wu’s temple as she whispered, “Tomorrow at 9 a.m., the moment the Civil Affairs Bureau opens, we’re getting our marriage certificate.”

Shen Wu’s chest heaved for a long while before finally calming down. She allowed herself to be pinned against the wall, suddenly bursting into laughter.

“What’s so funny?”

The body beneath her trembled slightly. Shen Wu laughed for a long time before finally lifting her head, her eyes rimmed with a watery, flushed shimmer. She gazed at Su Yuchen’s fair and beautiful face and arched an eyebrow.

“Baby, this is the first time you’ve been so proactive and in such a hurry. Are you jealous?”

Even though she had just committed a minor misdeed, Su Yuchen still blushed when she grew shy.

She lowered her eyes slightly and stubbornly retorted, “I’m not.”

Shen Wu rested her hands on Su Yuchen’s shoulders, laughing so hard she shook like a flower in the wind. After laughing for a while, she lifted her face, her cheeks flushed pink. “Baby, Tong Xin is from the second branch of the Shen family, she’s my cousin, so she doesn’t share our surname.”

This time, it was Su Yuchen’s turn to freeze. She opened her mouth slightly, inadvertently muttering to herself.

“But Fu Nan said… you two still needed to keep your distance?”

Shen Wu leaned against her shoulder, her words still breathy.

“Yeah, back when I was in school, Kuang Gong and I used to beat her up all the time. Later, we stopped interacting, partly because the Shen family branches were eyeing our family’s business, and partly because of… relationship issues.”

Su Yuchen frowned and looked over, only to hear Shen Wu continue with an explanation.

“Because Tong Xin was Kuang Gong’s nominal ex-girlfriend.”

As if amused by Su Yuchen’s expression, Shen Wu chuckled and added, “Tong Xin used to ride motorcycles when she was younger. I’ve wrecked more than one of her bikes. My second aunt came to our house several times to fight with Madam Shen Qiang.”

She shrugged. “Of course, she never won. Madam Shen Qiang is an amateur gold medalist in judo.”

“My aunt, famous for her temper, stormed over with a group of people, only to end up hospitalized several times after getting beaten up by Madam Shen Qiang. It took my great-grandmother stepping in to mediate, so there’s been bad blood between our families.”

“…”

So, this was why Shen Qiang would ask if Tong Xin had caused any trouble or if she had suffered any losses, yet refused to elaborate further.

Su Yuchen stood there, completely petrified, as if she had turned into a monument on the spot.

But Shen Wu’s delicate arms wrapped around Su Yuchen’s neck.

Her face was still flushed with lingering desire, her lips temptingly red.

Leaning close to Su Yuchen’s ear, she murmured, “You’re done for. Tonight, I’m going to get my ‘revenge’ on you.”

“I won’t let you sleep a wink all night.”