After My Flash Marriage with the Movie Queen - Chapter 33

When faced with Shi Nanbei’s questioning, Wu Lili appeared perfectly calm.

“I only slipped up because I was worried, okay? I accidentally called Zhao Xunyin ‘wife’ again in front of you,” she said matter-of-factly, hands spread in a gesture of helpless righteousness.

Before Shi Nanbei could respond, Yang Shan, sitting below them, immediately caught on to the key word.

“‘Again’?” she exclaimed.

She raised her head, glancing between Shi Nanbei and Wu Lili with narrowed eyes. “You two met Zhao Xunyin already, didn’t you?”

Shi Nanbei: “…”

Wu Lili: “…”

Seeing their silence, Yang Shan let out a cold laugh. “So, you actually met the Movie Queen behind my back?”

Wu Lili tried to smooth things over. “It’s the end of the semester! You’ve been swamped with that ‘Crispy Duck Literature’ of yours and finals. We thought you wouldn’t have time—and didn’t you say you don’t even like Zhao Xunyin?”

Yang Shan scoffed. “That’s beside the point. A gorgeous woman like that standing right in front of me—why would I ever miss the chance?”

That one sentence pierced right into the souls of her roommates. The other three immediately put on expressions of heartbreak and spoke in perfect unison, as if they’d rehearsed it:

“Shi Nanbei, Wu Lili, you two are so disloyal! Meeting Zhao Xunyin behind our backs—how could you? We’re devastated!”

“After all the trust we gave you,” one wailed dramatically, “you went and stole someone behind our backs!”

Shi Nanbei: “…”

Seriously? Scolding Wu Lili she could understand, but why drag her into this too? Besides, Zhao Xunyin was her wife! How was that “stealing someone”?

Just as the situation was about to turn into a mock mob assault, Wu Lili wisely changed the subject.

“Shanshan, you’re missing the point here—it’s about Shu Yu! You saw the posts on Weibo, right? Shu Yu divorced because of Zhao Xunyin! What’s our little Nanbei supposed to do now?”

That got Yang Shan’s attention immediately. She looked at Shi Nanbei’s dazed, innocent face and sighed.

“Nanbei, honestly, compared to Shu Yu, you’re just not on the same level.”

Another roommate joined in. “Yeah. Zhao Xunyin’s exes were all those icy, elegant types—or the curvy, sexy ones. Nanbei, you’re neither.”

“And every one of her girlfriends was in the entertainment circle. You’re the first outsider, right?”

“Now that you mention it,” someone added, “compared to Zhao Xunyin’s exes, Nanbei really doesn’t look very mature.”

“Really?” Shi Nanbei blinked, touching her own face uncertainly. No one had ever told her she didn’t look mature before. They’d always called her cute!

What was going on here? Even putting her roommates aside—did that old woman Zhao Xunyin, after having Shu Yu back in her life, not want her adorable little self anymore?

Hmph. How infuriating.

The debate among her roommates continued. As Zhao Xunyin’s long-time superfan, Wu Lili finally rubbed her chin and said earnestly,

“Nanbei, can you stop looking at us with those pure, innocent puppy eyes for one second? Be honest—do you really think you can compete with Shu Yu?”

Shi Nanbei looked puzzled. “Why would I compete with Shu Yu? She’s a CEO.”

Wu Lili was practically speechless at her hopelessness. She was starting to suspect Zhao Xunyin had only married Shi Nanbei for her face. Because apart from her pretty, delicate looks and her soft, fluffy personality, there really wasn’t much else. Especially that brain—naïve, careless, and full of holes.

“Can you at least show a little backbone?” Wu Lili scolded passionately. “Don’t start giving up before the battle’s even begun, okay? So what if she’s a CEO? You’re going to be a doctor someday, remember? Even CEOs get sick!”

Shi Nanbei blinked, confused. “What does that have to do with anything? We’re supposed to be compassionate doctors, aren’t we? And what battle are you talking about?”

Wu Lili was so exasperated she was momentarily lost for words. Thankfully, Yang Shan, who’d seen her share of chaos, calmly stepped in.

“It’s fine,” she told Shi Nanbei. “As long as you feel confident.”

Shi Nanbei: “Confident about what?”

Wu Lili nearly fainted. “…”

Yang Shan sighed. “Never mind. It’s fine, really. You’re pure and untouched by worldly trouble. It’s admirable.”

Shi Nanbei blinked again. “Is that supposed to be a compliment?”

“Yes.”

“Oh.”

And with that, Shi Nanbei went to bed, still thoroughly confused.

It wasn’t until the middle of the night, when she got up to use the bathroom, that she finally pieced together what they’d been implying before lights-out. She understood—but she didn’t dwell on it. After all, she and Zhao Xunyin were already married. If there was anyone she should trust, it was her wife.

Why let a few baseless rumors shake that? Even if Shu Yu had divorced because of Zhao Xunyin, as long as Zhao Xunyin didn’t feel that way about her, it didn’t matter. She couldn’t control what others thought.

And if Zhao Xunyin did have some complicated feelings because of it—well, what could she do? People’s hearts change like the weather; you can’t stop the sky from turning stormy.

With that carefree thought, Shi Nanbei went back to sleep, completely forgetting that her wife was still waiting for her in Longquan.

Ever since An He had told Zhao Xunyin that Shu Yu really had divorced, Zhao’s heart had been in turmoil.

Over the phone, An He laughed and said, “You really are something else. For someone like Shu Yu—at her level—to divorce on impulse? That’s a big deal. But the moment she heard you got married, she just went and filed for divorce. My god, what a show! Truly top-tier drama.”

An He’s voice over the line was full of gleeful schadenfreude.

Zhao Xunyin didn’t really care why Shu Yu wanted a divorce. After all, so many years had passed—whatever obsession she once had had long since been forgotten somewhere in the dusty corners of her mind.

If it had been before, it wouldn’t have mattered either way. Whether Shu Yu divorced or not had nothing to do with her—it was, at most, something she’d gossip about with An He over drinks.

But things were different now.

Now, she was a married woman.

And ever since her wedding, the whole thing had been a hot topic on Weibo—reporters and netizens craning their necks to find out who her mysterious wife was. So, for Shu Yu to suddenly announce her divorce right in the middle of that media frenzy, well, Zhao Xunyin would be lying if she said she wasn’t worried.

Of course, she wasn’t worried about Shu Yu.

She was worried her little wife might get upset over it. Even if she didn’t show it, she might still feel uncomfortable about the whole thing—and that thought alone gave Zhao Xunyin a headache.

After all, they didn’t exactly have a strong emotional foundation. They’d met through a blind date and got married in a flash. In total, they’d probably spent less than a hundred hours together.

Shi Nanbei was only twenty-one. They hadn’t even been married a full month, and now the poor girl had to deal with gossip about Zhao Xunyin’s ex all over the internet.

“Hold up, hold up,” An He interrupted, finally piecing it together. “So, what you’re really worried about is that your precious little wife’s gonna throw a fit because of this?”

Zhao Xunyin saw no reason to deny it. That was exactly what she thought. “What else would it be?”

“I thought you were stressing over whether to choose between Shu Yu and your wife,” An He muttered, half amused, half exasperated. “But hearing this now, I honestly don’t know if I should pity Shu Yu or envy your wife.”

“She’s got finals this week,” Zhao Xunyin said. “I’m just worried it might distract her.”

There was a sharp curse from An He’s end of the line. The woman lying beside her turned her head with a look. An He froze, then obediently said, “Okay, I won’t swear again.”

Qi Yu merely turned back to her book, and An He went on with her call.

“Seriously though, what’s gotten into you? Marriage changed your whole personality, huh? You really that into your little wife? Since when do you worry about someone’s final exams?”

If she hadn’t known Zhao Xunyin for so many years—and been sure no spirit had possessed her—she might have thought the woman had been replaced altogether.

Just listen to her! The once cold, sharp-tongued film queen—that Zhao Xunyin—had somehow stepped down from her pedestal and was now talking about domestic worries.

“Can’t you talk like a normal person?” Zhao Xunyin sighed.

An He was moved for about half a second—then mercilessly refused, “Nope.”

Zhao Xunyin: “…”

“So, what’s the situation with your wife anyway? You two sleeping in separate rooms or what?”

“She’s at school,” Zhao Xunyin replied quietly. “Didn’t even come home. Said she’s got an exam tomorrow morning.”

An He went silent.

Damn. The girl really was diligent. The great Film Queen herself went all the way to her campus, and the kid still chose to study instead of coming home.

Now that was self-discipline—pure, upright, scholarly, and unswayed by beauty.

“She didn’t even call you?” An He asked.

“No.” Zhao Xunyin’s tone grew a little glum.

“Texted you at least?”

“No.”

An He rubbed her chin in thought. “Maybe she’s just brewing something big—planning to completely annihilate you in one move.”

“?” Zhao Xunyin was baffled.

The longer she listened, the less reliable An He sounded. “Can you please be serious for once?”

“How am I not being serious?” An He protested. “Think about it—your ex went on national TV practically oozing regret and nostalgia for you, and then still went to court and filed for divorce right in front of everyone. Tell me! If you were your wife, wouldn’t you be pissed?”

Zhao Xunyin hesitated. “Well, when you put it that way.”

“I’m telling you, if it was me—if any of Qi Yu’s exes so much as namedropped themselves, I’d be furious all night. And if I found out someone divorced because of her? I’d strangle her myself.”

Zhao Xunyin: “…”

Zhao Xunyin had to admit—she kind of had a point. If the situation were reversed, she’d be angry too.

Meanwhile, poor Qi Yu, who’d been innocently dragged into this, could only glance up from her book and sigh.

Seriously? Can’t you two have your little best-friends chat without throwing me under the bus?