The Movie Queen’s Charming Little Wife: Feigning Amnesia Online - Chapter 32

Chapter 32

Xue Luhe stared at the counter; Qing Jing stared at Xue Luhe. Over there, there was playful banter and laughter; over here, the air was stagnant, awkward, and dangerous.

Behind the counter, the petite figure held a small dessert plate, used a tiny fork to pop a piece into her mouth, squinted her eyes, and let out a soft “Wow~,” looking exceptionally pleased.

Like a sated kitten, she radiated an innate, sunny cuteness. Even the few scattered customers smiled as they watched her. Someone waved a waiter over:

“What is that dessert? It looks delicious. I’ll have one of those!”

The waiter nimbly took the order, walked to the counter, and ruffled the petite girl’s hair with casual, affectionate familiarity, as if petting a beloved pet.

“Our little trendsetter, Momo! The boss should reward you with something extra tasty!”

“Ah! Then I want fried fresh milk! Where’s Sister Qing?”

Lin Mo’s eyes scanned the room looking for Qing Jing, soon finding her in a corner of the shop.

Qing Jing was standing in front of a table, smiling at her and waving:

“Alright, I’ll make fried fresh milk tonight. Head inside for now and prepare for the activity report later.”

Lin Mo answered brightly:

“Yes, ma’am! Thanks, Boss! Muah, Boss!”

She turned to walk toward the office, but something felt slightly off. She looked back and noticed a patch of black fabric peeking out from behind Qing Jing.

Probably just a customer… It’s a coffee shop, customers are normal. What am I thinking? Why do I feel a bit creeped out?

Qing Jing’s smile was warm and gentle, possessing a natural power to reassure. Lin Mo smiled back. The two shared a gaze and a smile for a moment before Lin Mo disappeared into the back room.

Qing Jing’s smile vanished instantly. She shifted her body, revealing Xue Luhe, whom she had been shielding.

Just a moment ago, the second Lin Mo looked over, Qing Jing had stood up to block Xue Luhe completely, specifically to prevent Lin Mo from seeing her.

Surprisingly, Xue Luhe hadn’t moved. She had been quite cooperative. Even though Lin Mo was right there, she had allowed herself to be hidden.

From Lin Mo’s various descriptions, Qing Jing knew that Xue Luhe was far from as simple as she appeared. She sat down in the opposite chair, her expression serious, waiting for the other woman to speak first.

Xue Luhe’s stunning face was expressionless, her lips pressed into a tight line. A vein pulsed at her temple, and her impossibly delicate skin was flushed with a faint red. She looked as though she was exerting extreme effort to suppress an impulse.

Qing Jing was patient. If the other didn’t speak, she wouldn’t either. She picked up the cold water pitcher on the table, refilled both their cups with lemon water, and took slow sips.

Finally, a voice as rich and resonant as a cello spoke:

“She works for you. Doing what?”

So, she already did her research… Qing Jing wasn’t surprised. Given Xue Luhe’s status, the fact that it took her a month to find Lin Mo was actually quite slow.

She curled her lips into a smile:

“She’s a regular employee. A planner. The pay is good, and her life is happy. As her boss, I admire her and am willing to give her the best opportunities.”

The subtext was clear: And you? What did you give her?

Xue Luhe fell silent. Her gaze suddenly became sharp, as if her eyes alone could turn into blades to pierce through Qing Jing. But a gaze isn’t a physical object. Qing Jing accepted the stare calmly, the smile on her face widening. It held a hint of provocation, but also steadfast protection.

Xue Luhe suddenly lowered her eyes, appearing defeated.

“I saw… she is very happy here.”

Xue Luhe was not a delusional egomaniac. She saw clearly how joyful and radiant Lin Mo was here. This version of Lin Mo was like a small, dazzling sun, exuding her full charm—so brilliant and wonderful.

It was like a piece of raw jade. When it was in Xue Luhe’s hands, though it hinted at its inner beauty, it was still just a stone. But now, free from Xue Luhe’s control, the jade had been polished into a gemstone, glowing with a brilliance unshielded by shadows, actively and passionately radiating light.

But that light stung Xue Luhe’s eyes. She didn’t want to imagine why Lin Mo had changed so much, and she dared not dig deeper into whether Lin Mo had a new life and had completely forgotten her. Just thinking about these possibilities made her heart ache. This unfamiliar pain was something she rarely experienced before, yet lately, it had been a daily occurrence.

Opposite her, Qing Jing’s voice remained gentle:

“She tells me everything; she has a very simple heart. I know a bit about what happened between you two. Perhaps to you, I am a nobody, but I want to offer a piece of fair advice: let go. You and she are truly not a good fit.”

The veins on the back of Xue Luhe’s hand bulged. She gripped the glass tightly, then suddenly raised her hand and smashed it onto the floor!

Crash!

A loud explosion of glass shards and lemon water soaked the ground. Everyone in the coffee shop looked over. Soon, someone gasped:

“Ah! Isn’t that Xue Luhe?! Why is she here?”

“What’s wrong with her? Why is she breaking things? Her public image is crumbling!”

Qing Jing stood up, her tone cold:

“If you’re unwilling to cooperate, I’ll have to call security.”

Xue Luhe remained in her seat. The judgmental stares and whispers around her made her extremely agitated. She forced herself to stand up and hurried out of the coffee shop without a word.

It was a gloomy day, with heavy clouds threatening rain. Xue Luhe, dressed in black like a thin shadow, quickly merged into the street corner and vanished.

Qing Jing soothed the customers and instructed the staff not to mention Xue Luhe’s visit. They were to act as if nothing happened and continue working. Once settled, she went into the office and noticed Lin Mo’s seat was empty.

Her brow twitched as she asked a colleague: “Where did Lin Mo go?”

The colleague gestured toward the restroom, eyes filled with worry and gossip: “Someone came in saying Xue Luhe was in the shop. As soon as Lin Mo heard that, she went into the restroom and hasn’t come out.”

Qing Jing gave a bitter smile and went to knock on the door. “Momo? Are you in there? Are you okay?”

There was no answer. The small room was silent.

Inside, Lin Mo stood before the sink, staring at herself in the mirror. Her hands, gripping the edge of the basin, were trembling uncontrollably. It had been so long since she’d seen Xue Luhe that she thought she could face her calmly. But the mere news of her arrival sent her into a shivering fit.

Cold sweat broke out on her forehead. Lin Mo wiped it away, but more appeared. Her mind was a mess—one moment picturing Xue Luhe’s beautiful face smiling at her, the next picturing her furious, dragging her back to Suzhou and locking her in a dark basement.

Xue Luhe had finally arrived, shattering her peaceful paradise. What now? What would happen next? Where could she go?

Lin Mo’s gaze was hollow. It wasn’t until she heard Qing Jing’s voice that she realized her eyes were filled with tears. Qing Jing was so good, the colleagues so harmonious, life so peaceful… but now Xue Luhe had found her. Like a dragon finding a treasure, the one guarding the treasure was no longer safe.

Lin Mo suddenly realized that staying here was irresponsible to Qing Jing and her colleagues. No one knew what a person like Xue Luhe would do next. With her background, crushing a small coffee shop would take no more than a flick of her finger.

Lin Mo splashed water on her face, made a decision, and walked out.

Qing Jing, in her white shirt and trousers, was leaning against the wall. Seeing her come out, she looked her over anxiously. “You were in there a long time. Are you okay?”

Lin Mo said weakly: “I’m fine… can we find a quiet place to talk?”

In a private booth, Qing Jing brewed a pot of tea and handed a cup to Lin Mo. “This is calming tea. Drink some.”

Lin Mo drained the cup. The sweetness of the tea mixed with its unique bitterness, providing a steadying power. She licked her lips and started from the beginning:

“Sister Qing, Xue Luhe came for me. I’m sorry. I didn’t tell you… she’s my wife. She… is a terrifying psycho. She already smashed a glass in your shop; who knows what she’ll do next. I have to apologize for her. I’m sorry!”

Qing Jing’s gaze was focused and tender, showing no shock. “It’s okay. I’ve known for a while. From the clues you gave when you talked to me, I figured it out. Xue Luhe’s mistakes have nothing to do with you. You don’t need to apologize.”

Lin Mo looked up in shock. “You already knew? Then… you didn’t mind? You still hired me…”

“It doesn’t matter. You are you, and she is she. I think you are wonderful.”

“I… I feel like I’m affecting you all. I want to resign.”

Qing Jing looked genuinely surprised. After a pause, she said:

“You love this job; I can see it. If you resign just because of Xue Luhe, isn’t that just surrendering to her? That will only make her bolder in persecuting you.”

Lin Mo blinked, looking lost. she hadn’t thought of it that way; she had only thought of escaping to lead the “psycho” away from her friends.

“You have a point…”

Qing Jing leaned forward and held the back of Lin Mo’s hand. Her palm was warm and soft, the heat transferring into Lin Mo’s heart.

“Don’t be afraid of her. Escaping isn’t the answer. I’ll face her with you. When you grow stronger, you’ll find she isn’t as scary as you imagine.”

Lin Mo hesitated, then nodded.

When they stepped out, the office colleagues surrounded them. Several waiters were peeking in as well, asking if Lin Mo was feeling unwell. Lin Mo forced a smile: “I’m fine, just some personal business. I’m healthy.”

Everyone relaxed. The chef even made a special dessert to comfort her. Seeing their cheerful smiles, Lin Mo felt the weight of Qing Jing’s words. Why should she give up such a warm environment for someone like Xue Luhe?

Still, her biggest fear was Xue Luhe putting pressure on the shop. But Qing Jing told her she could wait to see if Xue Luhe actually did anything before deciding to leave. There was no need to run at the first sight of her.

Lin Mo spent the day in a state of trepidation. After dinner, she lingered, reluctant to leave the safety of the shop.

Qing Jing offered: “Let me drive you home!”

Lin Mo’s rental was just two streets away. Qing Jing drove her to the gate, walked her into the complex, and said goodbye at the bottom of the building.

Lost in thought, Lin Mo took the elevator to the 30th floor. As she looked down, searching for her keys, she saw a figure step out from the shadows of the hallway.

The person was tall and dressed entirely in black, looking like a monster peeling itself away from the shadows of the wall. She stopped right next to Lin Mo.

Lin Mo was frozen with fear, her neck too stiff to turn. Her mind was blank, submerged in a tide of panic. Then, that familiar, low voice that often haunted her nightmares drifted over:

“Lin Mo…”

At the mention of her name, Lin Mo’s skin broke into goosebumps. She whipped her head around and saw Xue Luhe’s stunning face.

However, Lin Mo was then struck by confusion. Xue Luhe? It was her, but why did she look so haggard? There were dark circles under her eyes, she wore no makeup, her lips were pale, and her cheeks had thinned considerably.

“Don’t be afraid. I just came to see you.”

Lin Mo was trembling so hard her voice wavered: “I… how could I not be afraid? Appearing like this… what do you want?”

Xue Luhe lowered her eyelids and said softly: “I just wanted to hear your voice and see your face.”

She looked up, her eyes glistening. Despite her haggard appearance, she still possessed a suffocating, decadent beauty. Lin Mo’s “visual-loving” genes stirred, and she felt a pang of pity.

Xue Luhe scanned Lin Mo’s face, looking at her intently, then let out a soft laugh: “You’ve gained weight.”

Lin Mo: “…”

Forget pity! Throw it to the dogs! This woman is just here to annoy me!

Lin Mo turned away huffily. “Now that you’ve seen me, can you go? I want to go home, but I don’t want to open my door in front of you.”

Xue Luhe gave another low laugh. “Back at the villa, with the best food and a chef cooking for you every day, you never gained weight.”

Lin Mo retorted: “When I’m in a good mood and not living in fear, I naturally gain weight.”

Xue Luhe was silenced by the jab. They stood quietly in the hallway. The motion-sensor light went out; Lin Mo stomped her foot, and it lit up again.

After a while, just as Lin Mo was losing all patience, Xue Luhe asked: “Are you very happy now?”

Lin Mo nodded as if it were obvious. “Very happy.”

Xue Luhe lowered her head again, her expression hidden in the dark. Lin Mo couldn’t see it and didn’t care to. She chose her words carefully and said sincerely:

“Honestly, I don’t understand why you’re in West City. Are you filming? Or here for work? Whatever the reason, I have nothing to do with you anymore. I’m happy with my job. Please consider me and my colleagues and leave us alone, okay?”

There was no response. The light went out again. Lin Mo coughed awkwardly just as the elevator opened and a neighbor stepped out, glancing at them. Lin Mo instinctively turned to block Xue Luhe, afraid someone would recognize the big star at her doorstep. She didn’t want any rumors.

Once the neighbor had entered their apartment and closed the door, Xue Luhe spoke softly:

“In your heart, what kind of person am I?”

Lin Mo said without thinking: “When you’re not having an episode, you’re very charming. But when you are, you’re terrifying. The problem is, no one knows when you’ll snap. You’re like a time bomb.”

Xue Luhe looked up, for the first time that night looking directly into Lin Mo’s eyes, asking a question that made Lin Mo blush:

“You said… I’m very charming?”

Lin Mo took a step back, her waist hitting the door handle. There was no escape. Her mind was screaming. Why is her ability to pick out a specific point so weird? Out of that whole speech, she precisely caught the one thing she wanted to hear and ignored everything else.

Lin Mo licked her lips. When Xue Luhe’s dark pupils focused on her, it gave her a momentary illusion of being deeply loved. Wait, can Xue Luhe love? No, impossible!

Lin Mo shook the thought out of her head and said sternly:

“I said when you’re not having an episode. But the problem is, I’ve hardly ever seen you like that! You’re almost always having an episode!”

Xue Luhe blinked, then suddenly raised a hand, her fingers touching Lin Mo’s hair. Lin Mo’s hair had grown to her shoulders—still a simple, unstyled cut, but it was black, shiny, and smooth. She felt Xue Luhe’s fingers trail down from her temple, leaving a spark like static electricity in their wake.

“What constitutes ‘having an episode’? …Like this?”

Xue Luhe’s fingers moved back and forth through Lin Mo’s hair, gently brushing it aside and then back again, like a playful schoolchild. Lin Mo felt her hair becoming frizzy with static. She grabbed Xue Luhe’s wrist to stop her.

“This! This is an episode! Who else would touch my hair like this?” Lin Mo complained while fixing her hair.

Xue Luhe said softly: “I saw you smiling when the waiter touched your hair…”

Lin Mo couldn’t help but roll her eyes. “Well, my waiter colleague didn’t whip me, or lock me up, or follow me like a stalker every day and chase me to another city!”

Getting angrier, she grabbed her key, opened the door, slipped inside, and pulled the door nearly shut, shouting through the crack:

“Please, Big Psycho Xue, have fewer episodes!”

Before Xue Luhe could react, Lin Mo slammed the door shut. Seeing the look of surprise on Xue Luhe’s face as the door closed, Lin Mo leaned against it and burst into laughter.

“Hahahaha…”

The laughter drifted through the crack of the door to Xue Luhe outside. She stood there dazed. Lin Mo’s words and her joyous laughter echoed in her ears. Like knives, they kept stabbing into her heart. The radiant Lin Mo she had seen at the cafe was one big knife; now, more were falling like rain.

Xue Luhe sighed deeply. She remembered a romance movie she had acted in. Her character had been unrequitedly in love with the male lead. The character had told her friend:

“What is love? It’s a poison that numbs your body, manipulates your spirit, and invades your thoughts… Once you fall in love, you’re poisoned. You become unlike yourself. You even find the pain they cause you to be sweet… because only by feeling pain can you feel that you are alive.”

During filming, Xue Luhe hadn’t quite grasped those lines. It took over ten takes—a personal record for her. She hadn’t even been satisfied with the final product.

The hallway light went out again. In the darkness, a square of silvery moonlight from a small window fell onto Lin Mo’s door. Xue Luhe stared at it blankly.

If it were now, she thought, I could deliver those lines perfectly. Because she was now deeply experiencing love, pain, and the feeling of being alive.

Xue Luhe suddenly laughed—a clear, pleasant laugh.

“Hahaha…”

Tears came with the laughter. She wiped them away, looked once more at the silvery square on the door, tapped her phone a few times, then turned decisively and took the elevator down.

Inside, Lin Mo didn’t pay much attention to the person outside. She tidied up and went to shower. Strangely, the anxiety that had plagued her all day had been resolved quite easily—at least for now. Today, Xue Luhe seemed to be “episode-free,” able to communicate, and didn’t even get angry when poked.

In the shower, Lin Mo was in high spirits and began to hum. Afterward, wrapped in a robe and drying her hair with a towel, she picked up her phone. There was a notification for a new WeChat message. It was from Xue Luhe.

Thank you for making me feel alive.

Lin Mo: ???

What on earth? Is this even Chinese? Why can’t I understand it?

Lin Mo often felt there was a generational gap between her and Xue Luhe—the Mariana Trench kind. How did Xue Luhe manage to speak the same language but be on a completely different frequency?

Lin Mo wouldn’t admit she was slow, but no matter how she thought about it, she couldn’t figure it out. She was also a bit afraid. Usually, when a villain says something cryptic in a show or novel, it means they’re about to do something big. Was Xue Luhe planning a terrorist attack? Like wiping out the entire coffee shop?

Lin Mo replied with a question mark.

Xue Luhe replied almost instantly:

I will try my best to have fewer episodes. I won’t touch your job. Please don’t hate me.

Lin Mo stared at the text, full of doubt. Is this woman planning something else? Why ask me not to hate her? Furthermore, Lin Mo had never heard Xue Luhe say “please”!

Therefore, whatever Xue Luhe was planning must be terrifying!

Lin Mo worried that while she wouldn’t touch her job, she might touch her friends. She immediately video-called Qing Jing.

Qing Jing answered quickly. She was wrapped in a bath towel, her wet hair draped over her shoulders, making her look misty, gentle, and ethereal.

“What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

Qing Jing sounded anxious, but Lin Mo was dazed. This was her first time seeing Qing Jing look so sexy… Tsk tsk, what a beauty. Her skin wasn’t exceptionally white, but it was very fine. She was a bit more curvaceous than Xue Luhe—a completely different type.

Stunned by the sight, it took Lin Mo a while to respond:

“Ah? What did you say? I didn’t hear you…”

Qing Jing gave a helpless laugh. “Sigh… I asked if something was wrong. Is that Movie Queen Xue bothering you again?”

Lin Mo nodded and recounted the encounter, then read the WeChat message aloud. Qing Jing smiled gently, brushing her wet hair back.

“Don’t be afraid. I don’t sense any malice. If she promised not to touch your job, she won’t touch me. I believe she has at least that much pride.”

Lin Mo nodded, relieved. She felt that someone as experienced as Qing Jing, and a fellow female boss, would understand Xue Luhe’s psychology.

Qing Jing brushed another strand of hair back and smiled. “We both just showered. You have great skin; your shoulder line is very pretty.”

She spoke casually, but Lin Mo blushed.

“Uh, you’re very beautiful too. Your skin is great. I was stunned when I saw you.”

Qing Jing smiled, and seeing her smile made Lin Mo feel happy. They talked a bit more, arranged for Qing Jing to pick her up the next morning, and hung up.

Lin Mo’s dreams that night were eventful. On the left was Xue Luhe saying “Thank you” with a ferocious face; on the right was Qing Jing smiling and saying “You’re very beautiful.” The plot was quite complex.

When she woke up, Qing Jing was already waiting downstairs. Lin Mo got ready quickly and ran down. The moment she saw Qing Jing, she gave a huge grin.

“Morning!”

“Morning. I brought you breakfast, try it.”

Lin Mo sat in the passenger seat, happily munching on a cucumber and egg sandwich, looking forward to the fresh coffee at the shop. Xue Luhe was right—at this rate, if she didn’t gain weight, she’d be doing a disservice to the food and the chef’s hard work!

Lin Mo was always easygoing. Yesterday’s gloom was long gone. Having breakfast ready the moment she woke up made her mood brilliant. The good mood lasted until the shop opened. After cleaning and having coffee, she went to the office to work.

Less than an hour in, Qing Jing came in looking helpless and whispered in Lin Mo’s ear:

“Xue Luhe is here again. She’s in a different corner, wrapped up tight so no one has recognized her yet. Do you want to go see her?”

Lin Mo was flabbergasted. “Seriously? Does she have so much money she has nothing else to do? Why is she back?”

Qing Jing shrugged helplessly.

Lin Mo didn’t want to go out, but she didn’t want to look cowardly in front of Qing Jing. She slapped the table and stood up heroically.

“Let this ‘Old Monkey’ go and meet that fox spirit!”

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