My Wife's Ears Are Fuzzy - Chapter 1

Chapter 1

The scenery on the outskirts of S-City was breathtaking. Perched upon Mount Rong, which overlooked the entire cityscape, sat S-City’s most elite luxury residential area Imperial Palace.

Imperial Palace consisted of only eighteen villas; those capable of purchasing a home here were either unimaginably wealthy or held immense social status.

At one o’clock in the morning, while most residents in the district had long since extinguished their lights and drifted into sleep, one particular villa remained brilliantly lit. The sounds of revelry drifted out from expansive floor-to-ceiling windows, surging out in every direction.

Inside, people were laughing heartily, singing, drinking, dancing, and jeering in high spirits.

Gu Xiaofeng held a glass of red wine, leaning against the railing of the terrace. She gazed out from her vantage point, quietly watching the night view of the city below the mountain.

In stark contrast to the liveliness of the house, her beautiful eyes were dark and heavy, devoid of any visible emotion. They were like a vast, deep ocean, seemingly absorbing even the starlight from above without a trace.

Gu Xiaofeng was stunningly beautiful with porcelain skin. The bright lights from inside spilled through the windows onto the floor, the stray light reflecting off her slender, delicate neck and casting a snowy, lustrous glow.

Her features were exquisite and perfect. Her lips were neither too thin nor too thick—full and three-dimensional—yet the way they were currently pressed into a tight line gave her an air of cold indifference and detachment.

“Xiaofeng, so you’re out here?”

The newcomer was a young woman named Fang Yueshi. She was glamorous and sexy, her charming long waves swaying gently with every step she took.

“Go back inside and have some fun. Why play the part of the aloof ice queen?”

Gu Xiaofeng coldly uttered three words: “I don’t like it.”

“You don’t like it?” Fang Yueshi reacted as if she’d heard an impossible joke, reaching up to toss her wavy hair. “This is all to celebrate you, and yet you say you don’t like it.”

Gu Xiaofeng was twenty-seven years old. A formally trained actress who graduated from the Film Academy five years ago, she had relied on her exceptional looks and god-given acting talent to skyrocket to fame with her debut film back in her sophomore year. For seven years, film offers and endorsements had been non-stop, and she had won so many awards her hands grew weary from holding them.

Today was the day she had claimed the highest honor in the domestic film industry: the Lark Award.

She was still wearing her award ceremony gown—a sky-blue evening dress that was noble, elegant, and perfectly tailored. It accentuated her long, slender figure and that “swan neck” which made others salivate with envy.

Over the long dress, she had draped a black coat.

“Come on, go inside and drink. Stop acting all deep and brooding out here. Prime youth should be spent in a stupor of luxury and indulgence!” Fang Yueshi placed a hand against Gu Xiaofeng’s back, nudging her forward.

Fang Yueshi was a woman whose name belied her nature; she couldn’t recite more than a few lines of Tang or Song poetry and possessed not a shred of scholarly temperament. However, she had two “specialties” that left a deep impression on Gu Xiaofeng: she could laugh incessantly, and she could drink without ever putting her glass down.

Everyone knew that among the female artists under Tang Huan Entertainment, she was the most carefree and the heaviest drinker.

Gu Xiaofeng leaned her body slightly forward, dodging the hand about to press against her back.

“Fine, no touching, no touching,” Fang Yueshi quickly raised her hands.  I almost forgot, our Great Best Actress Gu doesn’t like being touched by others.

Indeed, Gu Xiaofeng disliked physical contact. Forget about holding hands or hugging—even a simple pat on the back or shoulder was something she found unbearable.

Years ago, Fang Yueshi had dared to ask her, “Then how do you film kiss scenes?”

Gu Xiaofeng had merely raised an eyebrow as if looking at an idiot. “Look up ‘camera angles’ and ‘body doubles.'”

Gu Xiaofeng turned and walked back into the house, with Fang Yueshi instinctively maintaining a one-meter social distance behind her.

Inside, the crowd was having the time of their lives. Gu Xiaofeng cast a cold eye over her home, which had been turned into a chaotic mess, and her gaze grew even chillier.

The CEO of Tang Huan Entertainment, Sarah Tang, was also present in person to celebrate the company’s most precious artist—and currently its most powerful cash cow.

Currently drinking with several “little fresh meat” idols, Sarah’s eyes were hazy with intoxication. Her narrow phoenix eyes were crinkled so far in laughter that they barely seemed open.

This was her talent; when she squinted and laughed, no one could tell if it was genuine or fake.

No one, of course, except Gu Xiaofeng, whose own superb acting skills allowed her to spot the performance in others instantly.

“Doesn’t it get tiring, squinting and fake-laughing like that all the time?”

In all of Tang Huan, only Gu Xiaofeng dared to speak to the boss this way.

“It is a bit tiring. I’m not a professional like you all.”

Sarah stood up, this time with a genuine smile. “Come, let us celebrate Best Actress Gu winning the Lark Award. Cheers!”

“Cheers!!! Whoo-hoo!”

The room erupted in cheers. The sound was so thunderous that the British countryside-style villa seemed to tremble along with it.

Internally, Gu Xiaofeng found the noise obnoxious, yet her face wore a gentle and appropriate smile. Her aura was dignified and noble, elegant and poised resembling the most sacred snow of the Tianshan Mountains.

“Thank you! Please, enjoy yourselves!”

Standing to the side, Fang Yueshi couldn’t help but want to applaud in admiration. If she didn’t know that Gu Xiaofeng was naturally cold and preferred quiet over noise, she would truly believe Gu Xiaofeng was enjoying herself from the bottom of her heart.

A Best Actress is a Best Actress for a reason; that acting skill is no joke!

Just as the group was united in celebration, collectively draining a glass of wine…

Ding-dong, ding-dong, ding-dong…

The doorbell rang violently, as if someone were trying to smash the button.

Several people blinked, looking toward the main door in confusion.

Who would it be this late?

Gu Xiaofeng was closest to the door, and as the owner of the villa, she walked over to open it.

The moment the door swung open, everyone froze.

Even the usually expressionless Best Actress Gu felt a crack appear on her icy facade.

She uttered a hesitant bit of nonsense: “Are you… looking for us?”

Standing outside the door was a very young girl.

She was dressed in a pink, exquisitely crafted classical robe with flowing sleeves and a fluttering skirt. Her jet-black hair was adorned with golden hairpins and swaying ornaments. Her skin was fair and supple, looking as if it might break at a mere breath, and her eyes were exceptionally large and bright.

Gu Xiaofeng had seen many beauties in the beauty-saturated entertainment industry, but she had never seen a girl as beautiful as the one before her. To say she was “as beautiful as a celestial being” was not an exaggeration; yet, no one was quite as strange as her either—to say she looked “monstrously enchanting” (yao-li-yao-qi) was also no overstatement.

Seeing the other party look at her, the young girl immediately broke into a sweet, adorable smile.

The group behind Gu Xiaofeng saw it, and in an instant, their hearts were struck by that smile.

What a soft and cute girl! Who could refuse an angelic smile like that?!

With those looks, she didn’t pale even standing next to Gu Xiaofeng!

Even Gu Xiaofeng, the moment she saw the girl’s smile, felt a strange sensation rise in her heart—this girl felt familiar to her.

However, Gu Xiaofeng quickly dismissed the thought. This was their first meeting; how could she feel familiar?

“I am—ahem—I am your neighbor from next door. The hour is late; it is already past the hour of the Rat (Zishi). In the dead of night, when everyone should be resting and recuperating, you are all shouting and screaming. You aren’t orioles, after all, and your voices aren’t particularly melodious or pleasing to the ear. This truly affects the rest of the neighbors. It is a very selfish and impolite act. Please, stop this at once.”

Everyone: “…”

If you think it’s noisy, just say it’s noisy. You didn’t have to add that our voices aren’t “melodious” enough.

Gu Xiaofeng: “…”

A villa here cost two or three hundred million; everyone living here was wealthy, and the wealthy had many eccentricities.

Take this one before her, for instance: covered in jewelry, dressed with oppressive opulence, and speaking in a way that bridged the gap between the ancient and the modern. It seemed she was a hardcore cosplay enthusiast.

Gu Xiaofeng asked, “You live at Number One?”

Next to Gu Xiaofeng’s villa was Villa Number One, the largest and most luxurious in the entire Imperial Palace complex. Buying it would cost at least five hundred million.

“Precisely. I just moved in tonight.”

Gu Xiaofeng nodded. She spent most of the year away filming; her total time at home for the entire year didn’t even add up to a month. How was she to know who lived next door?

Gu Xiaofeng turned around. “Keep it down. You’re disturbing the neighbors.”

Sarah Tang waved a hand. “Everyone, pipe down! Stop the damn shouting. You’re all acting like you were raised in a barn.”

The group immediately behaved, though they were also puzzled.

Someone actually dared to complain to Gu Xiaofeng?

You had to realize that these days, Gu Xiaofeng was the national goddess. Regardless of age or gender, who wouldn’t be driven wild with excitement upon seeing her, crowding in for photos and autographs?

Fang Yueshi swayed over and pointed at Gu Xiaofeng. “Little sister, do you recognize her? Do you know who she is?”

The girl seriously looked Gu Xiaofeng over once more and shook her head. “I do not recognize her.”

As the girl’s vibrant and luxurious red robe receded into the distance, her gait was unexpectedly graceful, carrying the air of an ancient noble lady. Fang Yueshi blinked. “That neighbor of yours has quite a personality.”

Gu Xiaofeng watched the ornate figure walking across the expansive lawn of the neighboring mansion, then closed the door and turned around.

With the party so abruptly interrupted, the group lost their appetite for revelry.

Led by the boss, Sarah Tang, everyone stumbled out and headed back.

Fang Yueshi tossed her long hair again and blew a kiss. “Baby, your big sister is heading back. I’ll come find you again tomorrow night.”

Gu Xiaofeng ignored the air-kiss from those flaming red lips and pushed the door handle with force to shut the door.

Just as the door was about to close, a fair, jade-like hand braced against the edge.

“Is there something else?”

“Xiaofeng, Xu Yanzhe knows he was wrong. Give him another chance.”

Gu Xiaofeng raised an eyebrow. “He asked you to plead for him?”

“He didn’t find me; he found the Eldest Young Master Tang. I have to at least show my face and pass the message along.” Fang Yueshi, acting like a cold machine without emotions, began to relay: “Xu Yanzhe said he truly likes you. This time was just an accident after getting drunk. That newcomer did it on purpose.”

“I’ll say it one more time: there is absolutely nothing between Xu Yanzhe and me. Who he sleeps with, or how many people he sleeps with, has nothing to do with me.” Gu Xiaofeng crossed her arms and looked at her, her gaze cold and unsettling. “Is there anything else?”

Caught in that gaze, Fang Yueshi felt a bit uncomfortable even speaking. “No… nothing…”

Thud. The door was slammed shut.

Fang Yueshi rubbed her nose. Phew, at least it didn’t get hit.

Otherwise, the five hundred thousand she spent on her nose job would have gone down the drain.

Fang Yueshi: “Gu Xiaofeng, you heartless woman! You almost ruined my nose!”

From inside the house came Gu Xiaofeng’s indifferent voice: “If it breaks, I’ll pay for it.”

Fang Yueshi left in a huff, grumbling as she walked. “So what if you’re rich? Can you do whatever you want just because you have money?”

From inside Villa Number One, a handsome young man poked his head out. “Sorry about that, big sister, but being rich really does mean you can do whatever you want!”

Before his voice could fade, a miserable shriek escaped him. Someone dragged him back into the house and slammed the window shut.

Everything went silent.

Fang Yueshi stood on the lawn, stunned.

Damn it, Villa Number One again!