After My Flash Marriage with the Movie Queen - Chapter 44

“You mean that wilderness survival show?”

Probably because she never imagined her own wife could be so utterly insane, Zhao Xunyin couldn’t help asking Shi Nanbei again, just to make sure she’d heard right.

“Mm-hmm!” came the firm, enthusiastic reply, along with her wife’s energetic nodding.

Zhao Xunyin lowered her gaze, looking at the woman in front of her—hair damp and clinging to her pale, delicate face—and for a fleeting moment, the thirty-four actress really wanted to just throw the towel in her hand straight at her.

Shi Nanbei was driving her up the wall.

“Sometimes I really wonder what on earth goes on in that head of yours.” Zhao Xunyin sighed softly, fingers brushing her wife’s cheek. “That show—even male celebrities barely dare to take it on. But you, of course, are dying to sign me up.”

Hearing the complaint in her wife’s tone, Shi Nanbei mumbled in a small voice, “But that show’s so good.”

It really was! Watching all those exotic animals and strange plants—it was exciting!

“How about we change the subject?” Zhao Xunyin decided there was no point reasoning with her airheaded wife and shifted the topic herself. “Summer break’s coming up soon. Got any plans?”

That question actually stumped Shi Nanbei.

If this was before she’d married Zhao Xunyin, she’d definitely have arranged her own “plans” for the summer—though most of those consisted of playing video games nonstop. Back then she’d never seen an issue with it.

But now that she was married, and with Zhao Xunyin constantly flying between Shanghai and Chengdu for work, would it really be right for her to spend all day gaming at home?

No, that would feel way too ungrateful. After all, Zhao Xunyin was a film queen, always working herself to exhaustion for their future. Shi Nanbei might be a little slow sometimes, but she wasn’t heartless.

So, she replied obediently, “I don’t think I’ve got any big plans. What about you? Are you busy?”

“Me? I shouldn’t be too busy during your break. I have a film shoot scheduled for August, but July should be pretty free.” Zhao Xunyin thought for a moment, then suddenly remembered her friend An He’s honeymoon trip with Boss Qi after their wedding.

At the time, Zhao Xunyin had teased her: You’ve been a celebrity for years—domestic, international—where haven’t you been? Do you really need a honeymoon trip?

“You know nothing,” An He had retorted. “Traveling with someone tells you more about them than anything else—especially before and after marriage.”

An He had always been quite the expert when it came to marriage. After hearing Zhao Xunyin got married, she even called specifically to nag her about the honeymoon.

“She’s young and gorgeous,” An He had said. “You’re reliable, sure, but your wife’s still at that age where ritual and romance matter. Don’t be careless.”

And honestly, it did make sense.

So, Zhao Xunyin asked now, “Where do you think would be a good place to go?”

“I don’t know—just don’t go to the Maldives.”

An He’s honeymoon had been there because Boss Qi wanted to “inspect” one of her company’s hotels under the Qitian Group. She spent the whole trip working. To this day, An He still had zero affection for the place.

“Don’t make all the decisions by yourself,” she’d warned. “Ask your young wife what she wants. Just because she’s younger doesn’t mean you shouldn’t listen to her.”

Remembering those words, Zhao Xunyin looked at her wife and asked naturally, “Is there anywhere you want to go? How about a honeymoon trip in July? I’ll take some time off and bring you.”

“Yes!” Shi Nanbei lit up instantly, eyes shining. “There’s one place I’ve always wanted to go!”

“Oh? Where?” Seeing her wife so happy made Zhao Xunyin smile too. Shi Nanbei’s smile was devastatingly sweet—dimples on both cheeks, soft pink lips, the kind of sweetness that could melt anyone’s heart. The older woman’s voice softened unconsciously.

“Semporna!” Shi Nanbei said, waving her hands animatedly. She grabbed Zhao Xunyin’s arm, voice full of excitement and girlish charm. “I heard the seawater there is crystal clear, and the sky’s so blue. When you dive, you can see the deep, deep seabed—it’s supposed to be cleansing for the soul! I’ve never been to the seaside before. If I could go anywhere, I’d pick Semporna first!”

Looking at her wife’s sparkling eyes, Zhao Xunyin smiled tenderly and pulled the little fool into her arms. “Alright,” she said softly, “then we’ll go to Semporna. I’ll take you to see the ocean and go diving.”

“Really?” Shi Nanbei’s eyes gleamed even brighter.

“Mm. I’ll take care of all the arrangements, okay?”

“Mm-hm~ mwa!” Shi Nanbei pouted playfully and planted a sugary kiss at the corner of Zhao Xunyin’s lips. Zhao Xunyin froze for a beat, then her smile deepened. She wrapped her arms around the younger woman, their lips meeting fully before they tumbled together onto the soft bed.

A sweet night followed.

When Zhao Xunyin woke the next morning, the space beside her was already empty.

She blinked drowsily, reaching for her phone on the bedside table—9 a.m.

She had slept in, which wasn’t surprising. After all, they’d been up late last night, fooling around longer than she realized.

Sitting up and glancing around the bedroom, she didn’t see any sign of Shi Nanbei.

Where could that girl have gone so early in the morning?

Puzzled, she slipped on her bathrobe and stepped out of the bedroom.

As she reached the top of the stairs, she heard a voice drifting up from the living room below—reciting something.

Listening closely, Zhao Xunyin realized it was full of medical terminology she couldn’t make heads or tails of.

She tiptoed downstairs into the living room and immediately caught sight of her little wife—already neatly dressed, her hair tied up in a ponytail—standing out on the balcony softly reciting from a book toward the small garden outside.

What a diligent child. She had to admit, even someone as notoriously picky as Zhao Xunyin couldn’t help but be drawn to such earnestness.

It wasn’t the first time she’d been captivated by Shi Nanbei. In the time they’d spent together, Zhao Xunyin often found herself noticing new sides to her—each one more endearing than the last. Shi Nanbei was like a hidden treasure; the more she got to know her, the more she discovered to love.

At first, she had assumed Shi Nanbei was just an ordinary, cute college girl. To marry such a sweet, harmless-looking girl didn’t seem like such a terrible thing.

But after marriage—perhaps because she now felt a sense of responsibility—Zhao Xunyin began to pull back from her work and make time for her new wife. And as they spent more time together, she slowly realized that this little girl

wasn’t as innocent and gentle as she appeared. To call her a mischievous brat wouldn’t be an exaggeration.

And yet, it was precisely that sharp contrast that made Zhao Xunyin want to know her even more. The deeper she looked, the more she found that Shi Nanbei was actually quite mature—poised, self-assured, and sometimes even more composed than Zhao herself, who was already in her thirties.

She could more or less guess that Shi Nanbei had overheard her phone call with Shu Yu the previous night. If it had been any other girl, there would’ve been questions, sulking, maybe even a fight. To be fair, even Zhao Xunyin herself probably wouldn’t have taken it so calmly if her spouse had been talking privately with an ex—especially one who had divorced because of that very spouse.

But Shi Nanbei hadn’t said a word. She wasn’t pretending to be indifferent; she genuinely didn’t care. To her, Shu Yu might as well have been a stranger—someone incapable of threatening what they had.

That quiet, unwavering trust was enough to make Zhao Xunyin feel like she’d struck gold.

Tell me, how could anyone not fall in love with a girl like that?

Lost in thought, Zhao Xunyin didn’t notice that Shi Nanbei had already finished reciting her passage. Hearing footsteps, the girl turned, and when she saw Zhao standing there, her clear, bright eyes curved into a smile.

“Good morning, my beloved concubine,” she greeted playfully.

There had been a time when Zhao Xunyin would’ve never imagined herself being this childish—actually indulging Shi Nanbei in her nonsense. But somehow, it felt perfectly natural. One teases, the other laughs—such was life.

She adjusted the lapels of her robe and returned the act with a courtly bow, smiling warmly.

“Your Majesty, this humble concubine greets you and wishes you peace.”

Shi Nanbei’s eyes crinkled with laughter, clearly delighted by their little game. And really—who could blame her? If anyone else had married a film queen, they’d probably be pulling her into roleplay every night too.

“Rise, my beloved,” Shi Nanbei said, a teasing glint in her eye. “Last night was truly exhausting for you.”

Since the “young one” had started the innuendo, Zhao Xunyin wasn’t about to lose ground. “Whether or not I’m tired isn’t the point,” she replied smoothly. “I’m just wondering—how’s Your Majesty’s waist? Or perhaps your throat?”

Shi Nanbei stared at her in disbelief, eyes wide. She hadn’t expected the ever-composed Zhao Xunyin to flirt so shamelessly in broad daylight.

“W-what are you saying, my beloved, in such plain daylight.”

Zhao Xunyin crossed the distance between them, resting her hands on Shi Nanbei’s shoulders and drawing her close. Lifting her eyes with a hint of dangerous charm, she whispered,

“I’m speaking words of love, Your Majesty.”

Even someone with the coldest temperament would’ve had a nosebleed under a gaze like that—let alone Shi Nanbei, who’d long been secretly bewitched by Zhao Xunyin’s beauty.

In that instant, her heart pounded wildly in her chest.

She wanted to retreat, but her pride wouldn’t let her lose face. So, she forced herself to act calm and muttered stiffly,

“Beloved, why are you wearing Pinru’s clothes?”

“Why, for the thrill of it, of course,” Zhao replied with a wicked smile, leaning in close. “Since I’ve already put them on, I might as well make sure she has nothing left to wear.”

Shi Nanbei: “…”

Excuse me. I surrender. I’m terrified.

You celebrities really do know how to play.