After My Flash Marriage with the Movie Queen - Chapter 4

At that very moment, Zhao Xunyin had a swirl of thoughts running through her mind—none of which Shi Nanbei could possibly guess.

In fact, Shi Nanbei was still sitting there thinking she’d just said something thoughtful and considerate—until she heard Zhao Xunyin let out a soft sigh.

Instantly, the air in the car seemed to freeze.

Zhao Xunyin turned to her and asked quietly, “So, you think I’m too old?”

Looking at Zhao Xunyin’s flawless face, even an idiot would know this was the moment to coax one’s wife.

Shi Nanbei immediately shook her head with conviction. “No!” she said, firm and decisive.

Zhao Xunyin’s lips curved faintly, but her eyes were filled with disbelief.

Well, she was an award-winning actress after all—her presence was downright intimidating.

Shi Nanbei: “…”

Under that piercing gaze, Shi Nanbei instinctively shrank back a little, her voice weakening. “I just didn’t want you to overthink.”

“Overthink what?” Zhao Xunyin’s smile was polite, professional—like she was handling a press interview.

Shi Nanbei hesitated, utterly unaware that she was digging her own grave. Thinking she was being honest, she blurted,

“I just thought you might worry that, you know, you’re getting older, your stamina might not be what it used to be. But I don’t care about that stuff, really! So don’t overthink anything.”

After all, she thought innocently, I only married you because Grandma would’ve broken my legs if I didn’t—not because I wanted your looks or money.

The moment she finished, she heard a muffled laugh from the assistant sitting in the front seat.

Then she glanced sideways at Zhao Xunyin’s unreadable expression—and suddenly, her sleepy brain caught up with what she’d just said.

Her eyes widened in horror.

“I—I didn’t mean you’re bad in bed! I just meant”

A vein popped visibly on Zhao Xunying’s forehead. “…”

She couldn’t listen anymore. Years of cultivated grace and composure were shattered by this one clueless girl.

Finally, unable to bear it, Zhao Xunyin snapped, “Enough. Be quiet.”

Shi Nanbei instantly wilted. “Oh.”

She looked so aggrieved. First her roommate yelled at her this morning, now her wife was scolding her too.

She wasn’t even a chatterbox—why did everyone want her to shut up?

Hmph.

Zhao Xunyin could feel a headache coming on. No wonder Shi Nanbei’s grandmother had said the girl was troublesome. “Troublesome” didn’t even begin to cover it—she was clearly sent by heaven to test her patience.

How did this once sweet, obedient girl from their first meeting turn into this after just a week?

Rubbing her temples, Zhao Xunyin forced herself to calm down.

After all, she was the older one here—there was no point stooping to argue. They were married now; they’d just have to work through it slowly.

That thought helped her regain some composure. She finally asked, “You don’t have classes this weekend, do you?”

Shi Nanbei shook her head pitifully, eyes wide and glistening. She looked like a bullied little wife, and Zhao Xunyin’s heart gave an involuntary twitch.

Anyone looking at us right now would think I’m the one bullying her.

Pinching the bridge of her nose, Zhao Xunyin sighed. “You can talk now.”

“Didn’t you just tell me to shut up?” Shi Nanbei asked in a tiny, wounded voice.

Zhao Xunying: “…”

Where on earth did this creature come from?

The assistant in the front seat was practically shaking from laughter.

In all her years working with Zhao Xunyin—who had dared to argue with directors, producers, even executives—she had never seen anyone leave her speechless.

And the funniest part? Shi Nanbei wasn’t even trying to talk back; she was just being blissfully unaware.

A natural-born talent.

For a moment, Zhao Xunyin was genuinely at a loss. She hadn’t realized just how innocently clueless Shi Nanbei could be.

After a long silence, she finally managed to recover her composure and said, “I’ll take you out for lunch later.”

Shi Nanbei’s eyes instantly lit up. “Hotpot?”

Children, Zhao Xunyin thought, are so easy to please—a meal and all is forgiven.

Recalling the grandmother’s instructions to “take care of her,” Zhao Xunyin smiled faintly. “No.”

“Oh” Shi Nanbei’s excitement deflated immediately. She looked serious as she said, “Actually, I’m kind of busy today. It’s my turn to clean the dorm. And I just woke up.”

Mid-sentence, she suddenly froze and looked down at herself.

Wait.

Why am I meeting Zhao Xunyin wearing Pikachu pajamas?

She stared in horror. If Wu Lili finds out, she’ll murder me!

“Aaahhh!” Shi Nanbei’s face turned bright red. She covered her eyes, mortified beyond belief.

Zhao Xunyin instantly understood the problem.

As the older party in this relationship, it was time to act composed. She said smoothly, “It’s fine. You look cute.”

“I haven’t even washed my face or brushed my teeth!” Shi Nanbei cried in despair.

Why was it that every time she saw Zhao Xunyin, she was at her worst?

Would her wife start looking down on her like this?

Trying desperately to salvage her dignity, Shi Nanbei stammered, “You have to believe me, I don’t usually look like this—really!”

Zhao Xunyin gave a skeptical little “Oh,” which nearly made Shi Nanbei want to dig a hole and die right there.

Then, suddenly, something seemed to click for Shi Nanbei.

We’re already married. Even if she dislikes me, it’s too late now.

She lowered her hands and asked cautiously, “Can you wait here for a bit?”

Zhao Xunyin looked at her, clearly asking why.

Shi Nanbei bit her lip, blushing. “I want to go upstairs and put on some makeup.”

So you can see just how beautiful your wife really is.

Then she added solemnly, “And maybe, while I’m gone, you can use this time to forget what I look like right now.”

She paused for a moment before adding, “You can take this time to quickly forget who I am now.” Then, with deliberate dramatics, she stretched out her soft little hand and waved it in front of Zhao Xunyin, mumbling, “Forget, forget. Mommy, mommy, comfort me!”

Zhao Xunying: “…”

She must have been mistaken earlier. This wasn’t a docile, well-behaved girl—this was an adorable little chaos gremlin.

A very entertaining one.

“Go on,” Zhao Xunyin said at last.

So Shi Nanbei summoned every ounce of ladylike grace she had, gently opened the car door, and stepped out with deliberate poise.

Through the car window, she even turned back and gave Zhao Xunyin a bright smile before heading upstairs.

Watching her, Zhao Xunyin couldn’t help laughing.

“She’s starting to look kind of cute to me,” she told her assistant.

The assistant nodded so hard it was a miracle her head didn’t fall off.

Adorable, she thought. A total sweetheart—with nerves of steel. And next to Zhao Xunyin’s sultry aura, they’re a perfect match.

Most importantly—she could actually talk back to Zhao Xunyin!

Once Zhao Xunyin was out of sight, she dashed upstairs at full speed.

When she reached her dorm door, she suddenly remembered—she’d forgotten her keys.

Just as she was about to knock, the door opened from the inside.

Yang Shan, her roommate, stood there with a deadpan expression.

“Dating someone?” she asked flatly.

Shi Nanbei froze, caught off guard by the direct hit. She shook her head then nodded.

Well—she wasn’t exactly dating Zhao Xunyin.

But they were married, so how was she supposed to define that?

Following Yang Shan back inside, she shut the door behind her.

Yang Shan pointed toward the mop that Shi Nanbei had abandoned earlier. “Even if you’re dating, you still have to do your chores,” she said sternly.

Of course Shi Nanbei knew that. She obediently picked up the mop again and finished cleaning the floor.

Afterward, she showered and washed up. When she came out, Yang Shan was still at her desk, scribbling furiously.

“What are you writing, Shan-shan?” Shi Nanbei asked, towel-drying her hair.

Without looking up, Yang Shan replied, “Crispy Duck literature.”

Shi Nanbei had no idea what that meant, but she did understand the word literature—and it sounded impressive.

Her eyes widened with admiration. “Wow, you’re amazing!”

Yang Shan: “…”

She turned around and studied Shi Nanbei, who had changed into fresh clothes and clearly looked ready for a date.

“Xiao Bei,” she said in a low voice, “are you going on a date?”

Shi Nanbei blinked, a little dazed. “Uh, I guess so? We’re having lunch together.”

Yang Shan looked at her pretty, innocent face and sighed, unsure what to say next.

Finally, she managed, “You’re already a junior. Just be careful, okay?”

Shi Nanbei nodded obediently. She was the youngest in the dorm, and maybe because she looked so baby-faced, everyone treated her gently.

“How old is the person you’re seeing? How did you meet?” Yang Shan asked, genuinely worried she’d been tricked.

After all, back in freshman year, Shi Nanbei had almost fallen for a scummy senior’s sweet talk. The entire dorm had to intervene to save her from that disaster.

Ever since then, the other five girls had been on high alert, terrified she’d get conned again.

Shi Nanbei paused to think, towel still on her head. “I think thirty-four? My grandma introduced us.”

Yang Shan nearly choked. “…”