Chapter 62
Back at the hotel, the guests couldn’t wait to rush back to their rooms to shower and rest.
Wen Shuyan: “Same as yesterday, I’ll cook dinner. When it’s ready, everyone come down to eat.”
The guests cheered happily: “Thank you, Sister Yan!”
“Sister Yan, you’re working so hard!”
“We appreciate it, Qingqi!”
Back in their room, Song Tingxue asked, “Do you want to shower first? Take a bath, change, and rest a bit. I’ll go down and make dinner with you.”
Both were sweating, and their hair was dusty.
“No need. I can manage dinner by myself. You go shower first, sleep well, and I’ll call you for dinner.”
Wen Shuyan knew Songsong was a clean freak and had already endured a lot just waiting to get back to the hotel. She nudged Songsong toward the bathroom. “Be good. You shower first. Once you’re done, be a good girl and go straight to sleep for a while.”
Song Tingxue shook her head. “No. I want to help you. Didn’t I help you thread lamb skewers yesterday?”
“Tonight, your reward is two extra skewers.”
Song Tingxue pulled her closer, a blush rising in her eyes. “Then let’s shower together?”
Shower together?
Wen Shuyan was uncertain. Every time they showered together, they ended up kissing and hugging and wouldn’t come out for a long time. If they showered together now, would Songsong get any rest today? Would Wen Shuyan be able to go down early to make dinner?
“How about you shower first, and I’ll shower after?”
“Hmph!” Song Tingxue gave her a mournful look. “I knew it! Now that you’ve met other beautiful Omegas, you don’t want to shower with me anymore.”
Wen Shuyan: “…”
“Songsong, where did you get that idea? All of them combined aren’t half as beautiful as you.”
“Really?”
“Really. Wife, stop overthinking things. It’s ridiculous.” Wen Shuyan suddenly recalled something. “Be honest, what novels have you been reading lately?”
“The Arrogant CEO Fell in Love with Me, The CEO Said She Regretted It, She Got Pregnant with the CEO’s Child and Ran Away with the Bump.”
Wen Shuyan covered her face.
“Where did you find those?”
“Sister Ji gave them to me. She said they’re very popular online and asked if I’d be interested in filming one. A-Yan, should I do it?”
Wen Shuyan was speechless. “Film what? Isn’t the real CEO right here next to you?”
Song Tingxue bit her lip, her eyes burning as she asked, “Then will you shower with me?”
“Yes. We’ll shower together.”
As expected, it took a long time before they emerged from the bathroom.
By the time they went downstairs, it was less than an hour before the planned dinner time. A feast was out of the question.
Wen Shuyan looked at the ingredients the program team had purchased—seafood, beef, chicken, and vegetables.
The variety was quite rich. She planned to make a large pot of seafood soup and five or six small stir-fries, paired with coarse grain rice. It would have to do.
Song Tingxue insisted on helping. Wen Shuyan handed her a peeled potato. “Cut it into small cubes.”
Song Tingxue readily accepted, moving the cutting board to an outside table to chop. The program cameras followed her.
Wen Shuyan sighed in relief. She had managed to occupy both Songsong and the camera crew. She closed the sliding door, put on an apron, and began effortlessly chopping and prepping the ingredients.
Once the seafood soup was simmering, Wen Shuyan cracked the sliding door open slightly to check on her wife.
Songsong was diligently chopping potatoes on the table outside. The potato cubes were oddly shaped but very small, yet Songsong was still chopping them, seeming determined to cut them even smaller.
With a pile of cameras pointed at her, Songsong, ever the Movie Queen, showed no signs of awkwardness or discomfort.
Host: “Movie Queen Song, what do you usually do in your leisure time at home?”
“Drink tea, work out, run, swim if the weather is nice, but I mostly read.”
“Oh, what kind of books do you read, Movie Queen Song?”
Song Tingxue answered smoothly, without batting an eye, “A Life of Win-Win, Deep Thinking, History of XX People.”
Wen Shuyan: “…”
Wasn’t it “The Arrogant CEO Fell in Love with Me?”
It was almost dinner time. Song Tingxue went upstairs to call the guests, starting with Xia Ziyu and Guan Yuexin on the second floor, then going up to the third floor for Bei Yumeng and Zhang Ningning, and finally Lin Xianglin and Ren Yu.
To her surprise, Lin Xianglin and Ren Yu’s door was open. Neither was resting. The curtains were drawn back, letting in the twilight of the setting sun. Lin Xianglin stood on the balcony, leaning on the railing, watching the sunset. Ren Yu, who had been at the desk, got up and walked over to stand next to her, watching the sunset together.
Song Tingxue smiled softly and quietly went back downstairs.
Xia Ziyu, Guan Yuexin, Bei Yumeng, and Zhang Ningning came down one after another. Seeing the seafood soup, roast chicken, and five or six delicate stir-fries on the dining table, Bei Yumeng’s eyes shone. “Sister Yan, you are such a great cook!”
Guan Yuexin: “Qingqi, with you here, we don’t have to worry about eating.”
Zhang Ningning: “No wonder Movie Queen Song looks so radiant. She has a top-tier chef at home.”
Song Tingxue smiled faintly, thinking, We do have a chef at home, but it’s not A-Yan.
Wen Shuyan secretly thought, My wife’s complexion is good not just because her stomach is full. It’s also because of what we did this afternoon… hehe.
Xia Ziyu: “Xianglin and Professor Ren haven’t come down yet. I’ll go call them.”
Zhang Ningning said, “I’ll go.”
She reached the staircase landing on the second floor and just called out, “Xianglin, Ren…” when she saw the two descending the stairs, one after the other.
Zhang Ningning: “Sister Yan has finished cooking! There’s a huge pot of seafood soup!”
Ren Yu smiled. “Is that so?” She turned to Lin Xianglin. “I remember you love seafood soup the most. Let’s hurry down.”
Lin Xianglin smiled. “Yes. Sister Yan’s cooking is never disappointing. We’re really benefiting from this show.”
Her mother had praised Wen Shuyan’s excellent cooking skills, though she rarely cooked.
The guests were all present and ate happily. Even Zhang Ningning, who usually didn’t eat after 5 PM, was infected by the lively atmosphere and made an exception, eating two small pieces of stir-fried mustard greens.
Lin Xianglin and Bei Yumeng were good drinkers, each finishing a bottle of red wine. Song Tingxue and Xia Ziyu occasionally joined them. The Alphas, ironically, had much lower tolerance.
Wen Shuyan: “Ladies, easy on the wine. We still have beer and grilled lamb skewers later tonight.”
“Yay! I love grilled skewers the most!” Bei Yumeng finished another glass.
Lin Xianglin, seeing her, finished hers too.
Ren Yu, seeing her drink quickly, couldn’t help but remind her. “Be careful not to get drunk.”
“It’s fine. I won’t get drunk. I’m happy today.” Lin Xianglin’s cheeks were flushed pink from the wine. “Besides, if I get drunk, don’t I have you?”
Ren Yu paused slightly, remembering a similar occasion when they first got married at a gathering with her friends. Linlin, happy from the drinks, had also told her, If I get drunk, don’t I have you?
But gradually, she hadn’t seen Linlin drink too much again. Perhaps she hadn’t been able to drink happily and openly since then.
Ren Yu curved her lips, her eyes smiling gently and brightly. “Drink more if you’re happy. You have me.”
Lin Xianglin smiled and reached for another bottle, but a hand stopped her. She looked up and saw it was Wen Shuyan.
Wen Shuyan: “Xianglin, we’ll have beer later. We can continue drinking with the barbecue.”
“Alright. Then I want to drink with Sister Song.”
Song Tingxue smiled and agreed. “Okay. Since everyone is happy today, let’s drink until we drop?”
She sensed a subtle shift in Lin Xianglin and Ren Yu’s relationship, moving in a positive direction.
Since both were clearly people who cared deeply for each other, Song Tingxue was happy to see them reconcile.
Lin Xianglin: “Great! Let’s drink till we drop!”
After dinner, everyone helped set up tables, chairs, and the barbecue grill outside.
Wen Shuyan took the lamb skewers out of the fridge. “Beauties, after 24 hours of marinating, the lamb skewers are even more flavorful tonight.”
“Wow! Then I definitely have to eat more!”
“Aren’t you afraid of gaining weight?”
“Hahaha, my manager isn’t here! I’ll just lose it later!”
“Exactly! No one is stopping me from eating skewers and drinking beer tonight!”
Zhang Ningning and Guan Yuexin carried out two cases of beer. Ren Yu prepared washed fruits.
Bei Yumeng happily zipped around. “I haven’t had an outdoor barbecue like this in ages! I’m so happy today!”
Xia Ziyu: “We’re by the sea. Look at the stars in the sky.”
Everyone looked up. They could indeed see many more stars here than in the city.
“I haven’t seen this many stars in so long!”
“I’m so happy! It feels like a vacation!”
“Me too!”
“I wish we could vacation like this all the time!” “Hahaha, the program crew wouldn’t agree. We’d eat them out of house and home.”
“My manager would fly here in a rocket, drag me back, and throw me into rehearsal. They’d never let me out again!”
“Hahaha, that’s rough!”
Soon, the first batch of grilled skewers was ready. Wen Shuyan handed them out. “Try them. How do they taste? Drink water if they’re too salty.”
“They must be good, General Manager Wen.”
Wen Shuyan: “Why am I General Manager Wen now?”
“You’re the Executive Head Chef of our Eight Daughters of Wealth!”
Wen Shuyan paused, then burst into laughter. She never imagined she would one day be crowned “General Manager” for her cooking skills.
Under the stars, everyone drank beer and ate skewers. Except for poor Zhang Ningning, who could only look on longingly.
Bei Yumeng: “Tonight, none of us Omegas are allowed to manage our bodies! We gain weight together!”
The other three Omegas smiled. “Deal! Anyone who manages their body tonight is a traitor to our Eight Daughters of Wealth!”
Compared to the Omegas in the entertainment industry, the Alphas outside of it had less pressure. Wen Shuyan, Guan Yuexin, and Ren Yu clinked beer bottles and finished half a bottle of beer with their skewers. Everyone ate, drank, and chatted, feeling very relaxed. At some point, the conversation turned to why they became actors or singers.
Bei Yumeng: “My becoming a celebrity was totally random. One year, I was traveling with my family, and a man slipped me a business card while I was taking a selfie. I was terrified, thinking he was trying to abduct me. Then my parents rushed over. The man said he was a talent scout and wanted me as a trainee. That’s how I became a trainee and later formed a group.”
Lin Xianglin gently touched her head. Bei Yumeng was sweet and lovely, with fair, delicate skin.
Lin Xianglin treated her like a cat.
Lin Xianglin: “I grew up watching TV. Seeing singers on stage at concerts, I thought they were incredibly charming and confident, truly like the most dazzling stars, commanding attention. The crowd below would be roaring, going crazy for the person on stage. That feeling must be incredible and fulfilling. “I decided I wanted to be a celebrity, a superstar! “Fortunately, I have some talent. My parents, pushed by me, finally agreed. I started professional training, and now, I am who I am today!”
Everyone agreed that Xianglin had a goal and worked hard to achieve it. It was very inspiring and passionate.
Lin Xianglin: “I didn’t have a talent scout like Beibei, so I had to work hard myself.”
Xia Ziyu: “I’m a bit like Beibei; it was kind of a lucky accident. I went with a friend to an audition, and the director picked me instead. I felt very awkward, since my friend didn’t get the part, and I did. I felt like I stole something from her.”
“Did you and your friend fall out over it?”
“No. We’re still very close. She switched careers and did something else, and I ended up acting. My friend actually encouraged me to try for the role. I didn’t think I did too badly, and that’s how I entered the industry.”
Bei Yumeng’s eyes shone. “Sister Xia, you’re so lucky! You’re a lucky star!”
Xia Ziyu smiled shyly. “It was okay.” She turned to Song Tingxue. “Sister Song, we’re peers in the industry. I admire you the most. I look up to you as my role model.”
Song Tingxue humbly waved her hand. “No, no. Being a role model puts too much pressure on me. You should pick someone else.”
Lin Xianglin curved her lips. “Sister Song, don’t be so modest. You are undoubtedly No. 1.”
Song Tingxue looked even more flustered. “No, no. I’m not No. 1. There are many more people better than me.”
Bei Yumeng: “Goddess Song, stop being humble. Ningning and I love watching your movies.”
Xia Ziyu said excitedly, “Guan Guan and I do too. I’ve watched your General’s Order at least ten times. I’m one of your loyal fans.”
Ren Yu: “I’ve seen General’s Order, too. It’s great. I also like Mountain, Sea, and River. Sister Song, you’re an amazing actress!”
Lin Xianglin: “I saw people watching Sister Song’s dramas when I was performing abroad. Sister Song is popular among Chinese people all over the world!”
Everyone urged Song Tingxue to tell them why she entered the industry.
Song Tingxue lowered her head, tucking the loose hair away from her face and behind her ear. Her ear tips were already red, and her heart was uncontrollably pounding.
“I became an actress… because… I wanted someone to see me. I hoped that one day, when someone turned on the TV, they would accidentally see me. Maybe she would recognize me and remember me.”
Wen Shuyan’s eyes widened. She turned her gaze, looking at the person next to her with surprise.
In her view, that exposed white ear was getting redder and redder, soft pink, just like the shy figure she saw ten years ago.
“I heard you want to be a celebrity when you grow up. Why don’t you try the art academy entrance exams? You don’t have to worry about tuition and living expenses.”
She gave her a card. “There’s 1 million yuan in here. I wish you success in achieving your dream. Go for it!”
“No! No! I can’t take it. Miss Yan, you’ve already helped us so much.”
“Take it. Art exams are expensive. Buying clothes, attending workshops, hiring teachers. All that costs money.”
“B-but, it’s too much.”
“Then just eat well. Don’t be too frugal, and don’t feel any pressure. Having a dream is a good thing. Work hard, and I wish you success!”
“Wow…” A chorus of surprised, gossipy gasps erupted from the group, as if they had just received incredible information.
“Sister Song, who did you want to see you?”
“Was it Sister Song’s first love?”
“You’re a top-tier star now. That person must have seen you and recognized you.”
Guan Yuexin clapped Wen Shuyan on the shoulder. “Qingqi, why are you so quiet? Are you jealous?”
Hearing this, Song Tingxue was jolted, a trace of panic flashing in her eyes. She quickly looked at Wen Shuyan, wanting to explain, but she couldn’t speak freely with so many people present.
“It’s fine. Why would I be jealous over something like that?” Wen Shuyan smiled. “I’m the one standing next to Songsong now. I see her every day. What else could I be unsatisfied with?”
“Good! That’s the spirit! That’s our Alpha!”
Guan Yuexin raised her bottle, and the two clinked bottles, downing the contents.
Ren Yu, also worried that Yan Qingqi might feel uneasy, handed her a bottle of beer. “Come, come, Sister Yan, we haven’t clinked bottles yet. Your skewers are delicious. Teach me how to make them sometime.”
“No problem. It’s easy. You grill later, and I’ll watch. You’ll definitely learn it right away.”
The two finished another bottle.
Song Tingxue watched the three of them drink, smiling, but feeling extremely uneasy. She remembered the night Bai Ming invited them to the bar and A-Yan’s unhappiness, which also started with drinking.
Lin Xianglin, seeing Song Tingxue’s worry, quickly changed the subject. “It’s no fun just drinking! Why don’t I sing for everyone? And Beibei and Ningning can do an impromptu performance?”
The suggestion was immediately met with enthusiastic agreement from everyone.
So, the pop diva sang a song for everyone. At the strong insistence of the crowd, she sang two more of her most famous singles. The atmosphere reached a climax. Everyone cheered, focusing on the makeshift stage—two wooden planks placed on the open beach.
Next was Beibei’s energetic dance number, full of youthful vibrancy, singing and dancing simultaneously.
Song Tingxue repeatedly looked at A-Yan beside her, seeing her watching the performance with great interest, seemingly unfazed by the earlier interlude.
Song Tingxue didn’t know if A-Yan truly wasn’t bothered. She only knew she regretted it now. She should have casually dismissed the question.
For example, she could have said she loved watching movies and was curious about acting.
Because if their positions were reversed, she would feel very upset and uncomfortable after hearing that confession.
“A-Yan.” Song Tingxue called out softly, gently holding her hand.
Fortunately, A-Yan didn’t pull away. She squeezed her hand back, her tone light and happy. “Focus on the show. Let’s pretend we’re on vacation and be happy.”
“Mhm…”
Finally, it was Zhang Ningning’s turn for a folk dance. Guan Yuexin: “Oh, we need a pipa (lute)! If she had a pipa, this dance would be stunning.”
“I have one! I have one! I have one!” Bei Yumeng found a long object from somewhere and ran over to hand it to her. “Look, isn’t this the perfect size?”
Zhang Ningning nearly fainted when he saw what his wife had brought him—a dried, salted fish.
“I’ll spank you.” Zhang Ningning spanked her on her curved behind with the salted fish.
Bei Yumeng covered her butt and ran away, giggling. “I kindly found you a prop, and you hit me?”
The music started. Amidst everyone’s laughter, the ethereal, flying goddess embraced the salted fish and gracefully performed her dance.
With everyone’s applause, the day’s filming concluded. Wen Shuyan taught Ren Yu how to grill the remaining lamb skewers, which were then shared with the staff. Everyone happily went back to their rooms to rest.
Bei Yumeng’s happy laughter was heard: “I had so much fun today! This is awesome!”
Zhang Ningning’s resentful voice: “You made me smell like salted fish! You’re starting to get spoiled again!”
Guan Yuexin: “Ningning, why don’t we ask Sister Yan to make salted fish and eggplant stew with that fish tomorrow? Get your revenge.”
Lin Xianglin: “Dancer Ningning, would you really have the heart to eat your prop?”
“Hahaha…”
Click. The door locked.
Wen Shuyan lowered her head and smelled herself. She reeked of alcohol, lamb, and charcoal smoke. “Songsong, I’m going to take a shower first.”
“Mhm, you go first.”
Wen Shuyan took her clothes and went into the bathroom.
In the room, Song Tingxue took a deep breath. She went over to close the curtains and then chose an outfit for A-Yan to wear tomorrow from the closet, just as she did every day in the Wen Family Garden.
Wen Shuyan always asked before bed every night, “Songsong, what should I wear tomorrow?” And the next morning, she would happily put on the outfit Songsong had chosen for her. When asked why she was so happy, she said it saved her the mental effort of deciding what to wear, solving a huge problem for her.
So, Song Tingxue now managed all of A-Yan’s clothing coordination, leaving Wen Shuyan completely at ease.
Song Tingxue held a shirt in her arms, waiting for Wen Shuyan to come out. After a long pause, she finally spoke slowly. “A-Yan, I don’t know if you remember. What I said earlier, that I wanted that person to see me, recognize me, and remember me. That person, she’s no one else. She is…”
Before she could finish, Wen Shuyan’s voice came from behind her. “I know. That person is me. I remember.”
Song Tingxue: “…”
She spun around abruptly, her bright eyes filled with shock and a hint of delight.
Wen Shuyan looked at her strangely, smiling as she asked, “Wife, why are you holding my clothes?”
“…These are the clothes I picked out for you to wear tomorrow.”
Wen Shuyan was happy. “Thank you, Wife. Without you, I’d really worry myself sick every day.”
Song Tingxue curved her lips. She put the clothes away for her and walked over to sit next to her. “You remember everything?”
“I remembered everything after I woke up that time.” Wen Shuyan saw her still looking a little unsure, so she rubbed her damp hair. “I really remember everything. Do you remember I gave you a 1 million yuan card to apply to the art academy?”
Song Tingxue was stunned. “You really remember everything!”
“I also remember you teaching me to weave ropes. To thank you, I treated you to cake, the strawberry cake from Colann’s.”
Countless lights flickered in Song Tingxue’s eyes. She was excited and surprised. “Yes, yes, Miss Yan. We ate it together under the big sycamore tree in the courtyard.”
The memory, which had belonged only to her, suddenly took on a profound new meaning with Miss Yan’s involvement.
It felt as if everything had happened yesterday, so clear, so vivid.
“Calling me Miss Yan again.”
Song Tingxue blushed, shyly calling out, “A-Yan.”
What she had never dared to dream of had come true. She was truly Miss Yan’s wife, her Omega.
Wen Shuyan hugged her, gently pulling her into her embrace, with deep apology. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know you wanted to go to art school and become a celebrity for me. I… I’m very sorry. I didn’t watch many movies or TV shows back then, and I didn’t follow celebrities. I didn’t see you or recognize you like you hoped… Can you forgive me?”
“It’s okay, A-Yan. It’s okay…” Song Tingxue shook her head, her lips gently curved, but her eyes were getting redder.
“Actually, I never really wanted to be a celebrity. I wasn’t passionate about fame. I never thought about being a dazzling idol. I just wanted to see you again. To look at you one more time.”
Wen Shuyan was incredibly moved. She hugged her tightly and smiled. “Did your dream come true now?”
“Yes! Yes! My dream came true!” Song Tingxue leaned on her shoulder, crying tears of happiness. “I like you. I like you so much. I love you, Miss Yan. A-Yan.”
These were the words she had wanted to say to Miss Yan ten years ago.
“I love you too, Songsong.”
Song Tingxue straightened up from her embrace, staring at her intently. Suddenly, she lunged forward and kissed her passionately.
Thin lips pressed tightly against thin lips.
Her dream, which she had never dared to hope for, had come true! She was so lucky to be A-Yan’s lover. She could not only look at her every day and see her smile at her, but she could also kiss and hug her every day.
They kissed, separated, kissed again, and separated again.
Song Tingxue was so excited and happy she didn’t know what to do.
As she came in for another kiss, Wen Shuyan cupped the back of her head, pulling her away.
After a long, deep kiss, Song Tingxue’s eyes were flushed pink and moist. “I… I haven’t brushed my teeth yet.”
“It’s fine. You can do it later.”
They fell onto the bed. Songsong sighed contentedly, hugging the smooth, soft skin, and held her tighter, clinging to her.
The scent of cedar dominantly invaded everything, their entangled lips, heating up her skin and flesh, impacting her soul from the outside in, fiery and intense.
Before her consciousness faded, Song Tingxue held the person she deeply loved tightly. What could make her happier than being so deeply in love with A-Yan?
“Songsong, what are you thinking about?”
“Thinking about you, thinking about loving you, thinking about being marked by you…”
Author’s Note:
The weather is too hot, having two popsicles…
Comments 0
You must be logged in to comment.
No comments yet. Be the first!