After My Flash Marriage with the Movie Queen - Chapter 72

Shi Nanbei was stunned. She honestly hadn’t expected Boss Qi to be that kind of person. This was completely off-script from the domineering CEO romances she’d read on Jinjiang!

“Wait, it can happen like that? Her dad agreed to it?” Shi Nanbei asked.

The moment the words left her mouth, she regretted it. Logically speaking, there was no way Boss Qi’s father would have agreed. After all, in every rich-family story ever, when a powerful conglomerate heiress falls in love with a third-rate actress, the father would always show up with a cold expression and a one-billion-yuan check in hand, saying: “Here’s a billion. Leave my daughter.”

And faced with such immense power, the poor starlet would have no choice but to accept. Tearfully clutching the check, she’d walk away into the rain.

Years would pass.

Boss Qi, heartbroken beyond repair, would rebel against her family, sever all ties, and fight through countless hardships to find the woman she loved. The two would reunite, clear up their misunderstandings, and—after enduring many trials—finally win the family’s approval and walk hand in hand into marriage.

A perfect, beautiful love story.

However, reality was—

“Why wouldn’t he agree?” Zhao Xunyin said. “Boss Qi’s father had her in his forties—he’s been eager for her to settle down! Qi Yu’s always been surrounded by admirers but never got involved with anyone. Now that she’s finally willing to risk everything for love, her father’s thrilled. Why would he oppose it? Oh—and actually, I think he was the one who set them up.”

Shi Nanbei: “…”

Shi Nanbei: “???”

What was wrong with today’s rich families?

Why weren’t they following the proper script anymore? Why was nobody pulling out checks to drive away their children’s lovers?

Unacceptable!

This was nothing like the lavish dramas Shi Nanbei used to read. She was deeply disappointed. “Well, that’s actually kind of nice of them,” she muttered.

But Zhao Xunyin only gave her a strange little smile and said vaguely, “Can’t really say it’s good or bad. It’s still a wealthy family—there’s always some tangled mess behind the scenes. But Boss Qi herself is a really decent person. She looks intimidating, but she’s actually easy to get along with.”

Zhao Xunyin spoke from experience.

And indeed, when Shi Nanbei later met Boss Qi, she found her just as described. Though Qi Yu’s expression made her seem difficult to approach, she was, in truth, remarkably kind and approachable.

Especially when Boss Qi took the initiative to offer her help—promising to introduce her to Yang Qiyue. In that instant, Shi Nanbei decided that Boss Qi was the best boss in the world. She was ready to pledge her loyalty and devotion on the spot.

Boss Qi, you’re the most beautiful among all good bosses—and the best among all beautiful bosses!

Mwah!

“Thank you so much!” Shi Nanbei gushed after hearing Qi Yu’s offer. Her admiration grew even deeper. Though she was still a bit nervous, the thought of finally meeting her beloved idol Yang Qiyue drove away all fear.

Her expression practically screamed let me hug your thigh, Boss Qi!

Zhao Xunyin: “…”

She was seething.

Qi Yu, however, remained composed. When she spoke, she met Shi Nanbei’s eyes with such focused sincerity that it came across as affectionate intensity. The look alone made the inexperienced Shi Nanbei’s face burn red.

In truth, Qi Yu really was as Zhao Xunyin had said—she only looked unapproachable. In conversation, her tone was calm and gentle, her manners impeccable—like the well-educated daughter of an ancient noble house who knew exactly when to advance or retreat.

It made people feel at ease just listening to her. No wonder she had such incredible luck in love.

After all, who wouldn’t want a tall, cool, elegant, wealthy woman who’s cold to the world but soft and tender with you?

Shi Nanbei dared not imagine.

“You helped me once. This is my way of returning the favor,” Qi Yu said softly.

“Huh? I helped you?” Shi Nanbei blinked. “How could I possibly have helped you, Boss Qi?”

“This variety show,” Qi Yu explained evenly. “My wife joined it thanks to your invitation.”

Her tone was rational and polite, not at all condescending—just matter-of-fact. It put Shi Nanbei slightly more at ease.

Oh right, she remembered. Because she’d agreed to join the variety show, Zhao Xunyin had been roped into it by Boss Qi, which had, in turn, allowed An He to make her comeback. But still, was that really worth Boss Qi personally thanking her?

“You’re too kind.” Shi Nanbei said, embarrassed. Then her eyes lit up again. “So—when can I meet Yang Qiyue?”

Her gaze sparkled with excitement, her tone brimming with hope.

Zhao Xunyin: “…”

That’s it. I can’t take this anymore!

At this rate, her head was going to turn completely green!

She cleared her throat twice in protest, hoping her wife would finally remember that she was a married woman—and that swooning over another female celebrity right in front of her spouse was not okay.

But to her horror, her sweet, oblivious wife misread the signal entirely. Hearing Zhao Xunyin cough, Shi Nanbei quickly poured her a glass of water and said with genuine concern, “Drink slowly, don’t choke.”

“Chewing slowly also helps with digestion,” added Shi Doctor-to-be Nanbei earnestly.

Zhao Xunyin: “…”

Choke you, my ass.

As Zhao Xunyin silently fumed, Shi Nanbei turned back to Boss Qi with bright, eager eyes, still fixated on the topic of meeting her idol.

An He, who had witnessed the entire scene, burst into uncontrollable laughter.

“Hahahahahahaha! Zhao Xunyin, aren’t you embarrassed? You’re way too old to be jealous like this! Getting mad because your wife’s fangirling over another woman—hahaha!”

Zhao Xunyin: “…”

Would you just shut up? Who’s jealous? Your whole family’s jealous!

Shi Nanbei froze for a moment at An He’s words, then realization finally dawned on her. She turned to her wife and asked seriously, “You don’t like me chasing idols?”

Right in front of Qi Yu and An He, Zhao Xunyin—too proud to show weakness—kept her expression cool and said stiffly, “Of course not. You’re free to do what you like.”

“See? I knew it!” Shi Nanbei said cheerfully, and immediately turned back to chatting with Qi Yu.

Zhao Xunyin, swallowing her pride and irritation: “…”

Swallow the anger. Swallow the heartbreak. Just swallow it all.

I’m Not Jealous!

All in all, aside from Zhao Xunyin, who didn’t enjoy her meal much, the other three seemed to have a great time. Especially Shi Nanbei—once she found out she’d get to meet her idol on the variety show, her cheeks stayed flushed pink for the entire evening. Zhao Xunyin had to watch her glowing like that all the way home, feeling an inexplicable twinge in her chest.

Pfft. She wasn’t jealous.

Not jealous!

She, a dignified Best Actress, had no reason to be jealous!

After seeing Zhao Xunyin and Shi Nanbei off, An He linked arms with Boss Qi and took a walk around the estate. As they chatted, An He couldn’t help but say that Shi Nanbei was honestly one of the most interesting people she’d ever met.

“When Zhao Xunyin used to talk about how wonderful her wife was, I thought she was exaggerating. I figured, isn’t she just a bit of a scatterbrained kid? But now that I’ve met her, I get it. That child isn’t scatterbrained—she just never grew a brain in the first place.”

Qi Yu gave a quiet “mm,” saying nothing more.

An He fiddled with her wife’s hand, then sighed. “Honestly, I don’t think she should go on a variety show. That kid’s too pure for this industry. The entertainment world’s one big cesspool—it’ll ruin her.”

“It won’t,” Qi Yu said. With An He, she was never her usual tight-lipped self. “She’s got a strong mind. She knows what she wants.”

“I hope you’re right about that.” An He sighed, her tone turning pensive. “Zhao Xunyin really does deserve to spend her life with someone like that. Shu Yu, you were right back then. They really weren’t suited for each other.”

She must’ve been reminded of those hard early days—when she and Zhao Xunyin were struggling nobodies in the industry, mocked by the public and scraping by. A faint melancholy came over her. “Do you think, if back then Zhao Xunyin had met Shi Nan Bei instead of Shu Yu, her life would’ve been better?”

“No.” Qi Yu bent down and kissed her wife lightly on the corner of her lips. “Timing is everything between people.”

“You’re right.” Comforted by Boss Qi’s words, An He smiled. “It’s like you, Boss Qi. You know what people online say? Oh yes—‘Why did she have to go and ruin a perfectly good life by marrying young?’ So tell me, Boss Qi—after all these years of marriage, do you regret it?”

“It’s fine,” Qi Yu said, tilting her head slightly, making An He’s heart itch with affection. “And you, Miss An?”

“Also fine.”

“Good. Then my money wasn’t wasted.” Boss Qi said it with perfect seriousness.

“Do I look like the type to marry you for money?” An He demanded, mock-offended.

Qi Yu replied evenly, “Be more confident: you are.”

“HAHAHAHAHA shut up!”

News that Zhao Xunyin would be appearing on a variety show with her wife quickly spread across Weibo. Fans were ecstatic, throwing online raffles and tagging the production team, demanding to know when the show would premiere.

The show was a big-budget project—Boss Qi had spent a fortune to buy the rights from Japan. It was titled The Story of Wives, and would run for only three episodes. Besides Zhao Xunyin and Shi Nanbei, it would also feature the rarely-seen-in-public couple Qi Yu and An He, plus two older married pairs.

Anticipation online was sky-high. Some netizens even began writing CP fanfics about the four of them—Qi Yu, An He, Zhao Xunyin, and Shi Nanbei.

“Boss Qi is seriously the best. Talk about spoiling her fans—people say ‘bring your wife and employee on a show,’ and she literally bankrolls an entire production!”

“You can’t imagine rich people’s happiness. Today I cry again for the rich.”

“??? Are we just going to ignore the fact that Boss Qi probably did this to give her wife a comeback opportunity? Y’all didn’t even mention An He once—she’d probably murder you all if she saw this.”

“HAHAHAHA oh my god, I did forget Boss Qi’s wife is An He.”

“LOL same, I totally forgot about her.”

“An He is so tragic hahahaha!”

“An He: the miraculous woman who can’t get famous even when her wife throws money at her 【doge】.”

“Boss Qi spoils her wife so much 【lemon】. Why is someone that rich and that gorgeous also such a devoted spouse?”

“Crying again today for beautiful love.”

“I’m weeping—what did An He do in her past life to deserve this? A rich, beautiful wife who adores her??”

“Okay but don’t say that—An He was an actress, remember? You guys forgot Letters Alive?”

“Wait, An He was in Letters Alive??? Who did she play???”

“Same question! She was in that show?? Was she like extra #17 or something?”

“HAHAHAHA stop it, she’ll jump off a building if she sees this! She played Xia Wenxi!【pics】【pics】【pics】 None of you recognized her?”

“WHAT?! Xia Wenxi was An He?!【laughing/crying】I never connected the dots!”

“No way—that was her?!【facepalm】 Xia Wenxi was so good! Even after all these years, the graceful, gentle Ms. Xia still ranks top ten among Bilibili’s favorite GL icons. Every queer girl loved that quiet, devoted character! How is An He still not famous??”

“An He not being famous: one of entertainment’s ten greatest unsolved mysteries.”

“An He: I may not be popular, but I’m loaded.”

“HAHAHAHA true, her wife is famous enough for the both of them.”

“An He: ‘Just you wait—you’ll all die from how hot I am!’”

“HAHAHAHA poor An He, even her non-celebrity wife has more fans than she does.”

“An He: the lowest of the low.”