Appearing on a Marriage Show Before Getting Divorced - Chapter 14

“—Will you meet her?”

Chu Nian’s voice trembled with a hint of panic. In the past, if she had spoken to Ruan Youran in such a tone, looking at her with those tearful eyes, Youran wouldn’t just have agreed to skip meeting a stranger—she would have died for her on the spot.

But now, Youran didn’t know if her heart had truly hardened or if it was the result of three years of agonizing longing and resentment, but at this moment, she actually felt a thrill of vengeful pleasure.

Youran turned her head, met Chu Nian’s eyes, and gave a heartless, mocking smile. “I probably will. You know me—I’m irresistibly charming and completely selfish. Heh, besides, the three-month filming period will pass in the blink of an eye. I have to start making plans for my future.”

That single “Heh” felt like a direct stab to Chu Nian’s heart. She lowered her head, struggling to maintain her composure.

The future…

Youran’s gaze was icy. Oh, so now she cares? Where was she before? During those three years away, did Chu Nian never consider how many suitors a woman as beautiful as her would have? Did she have the heart to stay away? To never contact her? And now she was putting on this act of being “cared”—who was it for?

It should have been like this from the start. She shouldn’t have gone soft!

The moment Youran stepped out of the room with her suitcase, she looked up at the dazzling sun. She was still young, beautiful, kind, dignified, cute, and alluring. Her life was just beginning.

“Jianjian.” Lin Yiyi suddenly hooked an arm around her neck from behind. She leaned in close and sighed dramatically, “Us ‘mature’ female artists are really different from those fresh young girls. That kid Song Ci didn’t even put on skincare after her shower, and her skin is still like water.”

Ruan Youran: “…”

After a pause, Youran looked at Yiyi. “I’m also a ‘young girl,’ okay?”

Yiyi laughed immediately. “Oh, I know. Every old woman has a ‘girl dream’ in her heart. I understand, I understand.”

A girl dream.

Yes… she was already thirty. In the entertainment industry jungle filled with “fresh meat” saplings, she was indeed a sprouted old garlic bulb. She was no longer fresh. Her youth had been wasted on a dog.

The first phase of filming ended. Unlike other artists, Youran lived by the code of “Work happily, live blessedly”—essentially the “Salted Fish” rule. If she felt tired, she refused to take on extra work. When people asked why she lacked ambition, she would answer sincerely: “Because I’m a trust-fund kid.”

A reason so infuriating it was impossible to counter!

Waiting at the gate was Youran’s driver-slash-bodyguard, An Nian. Wearing white gloves and a suit, her expression was stern and majestic. Youran handed over her luggage, which An Nian placed in the trunk. Youran asked casually, “How are my two moms? They must really miss me, right?”

An Nian’s body stiffened. How should she answer? Miss her? Ever since Youran left, President Ruan (Mom #1) had been living a life of “short nights and late mornings.” Once, when An Nian went to deliver something, the room smelled of a distinct, “indescribable” fragrance.

Fortunately, Youran didn’t press for details. She exhaled. “I’m exhausted. I just want to go home and eat my mom’s cooking. Hey, Sis, why aren’t you saying anything? Didn’t you miss me?”

An Nian gave a slight smile, then suddenly snapped to attention like she was at a military inspection. She lowered her voice: “Madam!”

Ruan Youran: “…Damn.”

Unnoticed, Chu Nian had walked over. She wore a white trench coat and sunglasses, her long hair fluttering in the wind. She looked cool and sharp. An Nian’s attitude toward her was clearly different from how she treated Youran—back straight, face serious.

Youran was fuming. “What are you calling her?!”

An Nian ignored her and looked at Chu Nian solemnly.

Chu Nian took off her sunglasses and smiled at An Nian. “Sis, long time no see. Drive safely. Here, take this.” she handed An Nian a box of chocolates.

Youran suffered from motion sickness and had a habit of needing something sweet to settle her stomach; otherwise, she would get nauseous.

Without lingering, Chu Nian turned and left without so much as a glance at Youran. The vulnerability she showed during the conversation earlier had vanished, as if that person had never existed.

As soon as she was gone, Youran glared at An Nian. An Nian coughed and opened the car door. “Get in. Madam is gone.”

Usually, that title didn’t bother her, but now Youran felt uncomfortable all over. She sat in the back and raised an eyebrow. “Sis, I’m divorcing her.”

An Nian nodded, speaking the blunt truth: “I heard. But you haven’t divorced yet.”

Ruan Youran: “…”

Wow, Sis, I didn’t see that coming. Usually so quiet, but you’ve become quite eloquent in defending Chu Nian?

Youran put on her “boss” aura. “It’s a matter of time. I’ll have nothing to do with her soon. Stop calling her ‘Madam’ and don’t accept things from Film Queen Chu so easily.”

An Nian nodded, opened the window, and threw the chocolates out.

Ruan Youran: “…!!!”

A dead, heavy silence filled the car. After a while, An Nian looked through the rearview mirror at Youran’s “ugly” face and said, “I only threw away the wrapper.” she handed the unwrapped chocolate to Youran.

Ruan Youran: “…………………………”

AAAAAHHHHH!!!! Do I have no status left?! Why is everyone bullying me?!

“Stop the car,” Youran said coldly, channeling her inner mogul.

An Nian hit the brakes.

“Turn around,” Youran ordered. Her sharp gaze met An Nian’s in the mirror. “Is there a problem?”

Naturally, there were many problems, but An Nian didn’t dare say them. She turned the car around. “Stop!” Youran yelled.

Opening the door, Youran looked around like a thief, leaned down, and picked up the colorful chocolate wrapper An Nian had tossed. She scurried back into the car.

An Nian stared at her unblinkingly. Youran explained calmly: “I am a person of principle. Either I don’t accept gifts, or once I do, I don’t litter.”

An Nian nodded. “I remember when you were eighteen, I gave you a stuffed toy. You lost it the very next day.”

The “cold” bodyguard actually sounded a bit resentful. Youran nearly bit her tongue. She glared at An Nian. “Have you received this month’s salary yet?”

An Nian immediately shut up and focused on driving.

Across the road, a white car slowly drove past. The window rolled down to reveal Chu Nian’s exquisite, palm-sized face. Her manager, Su Mi, asked cautiously from the front seat, “Nian Nian, what’s wrong?”

When she first picked up Chu Nian, the star had been in a visibly foul mood, her voice cold as winter and her eyes red. Su Mi had been afraid to breathe. But now, in just a few minutes, she saw… a smile in Chu Nian’s eyes?

Chu Nian lowered her head and gave a shallow laugh. “Let’s go.”

When Youran reached home and pressed the doorbell, her eyes were already red. Home was always the warmest harbor. Filming hadn’t been as physically draining as acting, but she felt mentally exhausted. Her two mothers were waiting for her; surely they couldn’t wait to embrace her.

She pressed the bell for several minutes. No one opened the door.

Ruan Youran: “…” They must be so excited cooking for me that they didn’t hear it.

Using her own key, Youran opened the door. Sure enough, the aroma of food wafted through the house. Youran’s eyes misted over. This is the taste of home!

She prepared to surprise them, tiptoeing toward the kitchen. Soft, elegant music was playing. Her moms, Ruan Qiu and Chu Qing, were indeed cooking.

Physically, Youran took after Chu Qing (Mom #2), but her personality was all Ruan Qiu (Mom #1). Ruan Qiu, the CEO of Yifeng Group, was a titan in the industry but a total “wife-controlled wimp” at home. Chu Qing was a brilliant surgeon—gentle with patients, but a “possessive wife-maniac” in Youran’s eyes.

Ruan Qiu wasn’t even cooking properly. Her hands were around Chu Qing’s waist as she nuzzled her neck. “Sigh, time flies too fast. Our ‘Jianjian’ is coming back already.”

Chu Qing smiled at the grumbling tone. “You don’t miss her?”

Ruan Qiu raised an eyebrow, her voice going high and whiny. “I miss her a little, I guess. But I want to be with you every day more. Every single day~”

Chu Qing blushed and pushed her. “Stop it. What if the child sees when she gets back?”

…

Standing in the corner, Youran had already seen. She clutched her chest, feeling her heart shatter.

Ruan Qiu, ever the boss, said with authority, “What does me being with my wife have to do with that brat? Besides, if we weren’t this in love, she wouldn’t even exist.”

Chu Qing gave a doting smile, then sighed softly. “Nian Nian is back.”

Youran’s heart skipped a beat. She was used to her moms’ shameless PDA, but she believed that when it came to choosing sides, family was the warmest.

Ruan Qiu sighed as well. “That kid is even more stubborn than Jianjian. It’s her upbringing—she grew up like an orphan because her only mother was a workaholic. She’s used to keeping everything inside.”

Chu Qing: “Very much like we were back then.”

Ruan Qiu: “Exactly. But Jianjian hasn’t had it easy either. For Nian Nian to just disappear for three years… anyone would break.”

Chu Qing: “If it were you, what would you do?”

Ruan Qiu gave a wicked grin and kissed Chu Qing’s cheek. “If you came back, I’d act tough and say I don’t want you. I’d make you chase me in a panic, eventually making you beg me in bed. Then I’d tie you up and never let you go, day or night, until you cried and begged for mercy.”

Chu Qing pinched her. Ruan Qiu cackled. “Our daughter would be angry if she heard that,” Chu Qing laughed.

“Angry?” Ruan Qiu looked at her. “I know our Jianjian. If she really wanted a clean break, why would she go on a marriage show? She’s just holding a grudge and looking for a graceful way to back down. The show lasts three months; anything can happen. Maybe by the end, we’ll be holding a granddaughter. Hahaha.”

Chu Qing covered Ruan Qiu’s mouth. “Hush! What if she hears?”

Ruan Qiu kissed her hand, her eyes looking flirtatious. “What’s to fear? I’d say it to her face. I like Nian Nian; that kid makes my heart ache. Besides, they’ve been together ten years. They were each other’s first and only love. They won’t split. Nian Nian just needs to explain what happened, let Jianjian vent, and they’ll be back to being shameless together soon.”

Ruan Qiu smiled. “Wife, let me remind you: we need to be smart. Nian Nian is the head of the household in the long run. Don’t get caught in the crossfire while they’re playing ‘crematorium’ games.”

Chu Qing (with a half-smile): “Caught in the crossfire?”

The look in her eyes made Ruan Qiu’s legs go weak. “Of course not. Whatever happens, I will always protect you, Madam.”

The words had barely left her mouth when the door was kicked open. Youran stood there, fists clenched and teeth gnashing, as a wave of murderous intent filled the room.

Ruan Qiu jumped as if electrocuted, leaping away from Chu Qing.

She instantly put on a stern face, grabbed a kitchen knife, and began chopping vegetables vigorously. She shouted at Chu Qing: “Wife! What nonsense are you talking about?! Jianjian is my heart and soul! I won’t allow anyone to bully her—not even you! Chu Nian? Who? Heh, I don’t know her! If she dares step into this house, I’ll break her legs!”

Chu Qing: “…………”

Ruan Youran: “…………”