It’s Okay to Divorce - Chapter 04

Chapter 04

“Is that child yours?” Xu Lin took a deep breath, trying to steady his surging emotions. “You’ve already taken in so many orphans—isn’t that enough? Now you’re planning to raise someone else’s kid? Are you insane?”

“Yeah,” Zou Tingshen said, standing up and looking down at him. “This is my business.”

“You—” Xu Lin’s forehead veins bulged in anger. He finally inhaled deeply and asked, “Then about the marriage—can you cool off a bit? Wait until this drama’s done filming, then tie the knot?”

“Dragging this out would only make Miss Mu think I lack responsibility, and it serves no other purpose.” Zou Tingshen patted his shoulder reassuringly. “I’ve got it under control.”

“Under control, my ass!” Xu Lin yanked off his glasses, glaring at him. “If you had any sense, you wouldn’t do something this brainless. Mu Mian’s got fans who’d call her fart perfume if she let one rip. If she wants a father for the kid, it’s just a word from her—why the hell does it have to be you?”

“The kid’s mine. Why should she look for anyone else?”

“Have you fucking slept with her?!” Xu Lin’s refined exterior hid a fiery temper; without his glasses, arguing with him seemed even more intimidating.

Zou Tingshen didn’t hesitate, nodding. “Yes, more than once.”

“Damn it—” Xu Lin felt like he was spitting bl00d.

When had they slept together?

So all that water-and-fire incompatibility between them was fake?

Xu Lin couldn’t hide the shock on his face. He took a deep breath, his lips twitching. “When did this happen?”

Zou Tingshen replied, “During the last production.”

Xu Lin was speechless, his gaze blank as he sat there for a long moment. Finally, he nodded. “You two are something else, huh? Keeping this from even me and Ming Wei? Heh heh heh… Impressive.”

He gave a thumbs-up. “Really fucking impressive!”

—

Mu Mian and Zou Tingshen arrived at the Civil Affairs Bureau, accompanied by their respective agents.

Xu Lin had pulled some strings with the staff to avoid prying eyes, so they’d specially disguised Mu Mian and Zou Tingshen.

In the car, Mu Mian adjusted her hair in the mirror, then turned to ask Zou Tingshen, “Zou Tingshen? Do you think this outfit makes me look too frumpy?”

She sized him up.

The award-winning actor had curly hair nearly covering his eyes, black-framed glasses perched on his nose, and a standard white shirt. His expression was a bit dazed, and through the lenses, he exuded a total bookworm vibe.

Mu Mian was genuinely impressed by Zou Tingshen’s acting skills.

Right now, without a word, just from his gaze, Mu Mian could tell the role he was about to play: a total nerd.

Mu Mian’s disguise was even more contrasting to his: two playful pigtails, peachy and lively makeup, a pink dress, and versatile white sneakers.

She smiled with curved brows and eyes, radiating youthful energy, every inch the bubbly girl, nothing like her actual thirty years. It was a huge departure from her usual queenly, mature image, which even caught Zou Tingshen off guard.

Especially when she smiled, those two dimples appearing and fading, exuding a sweet charm from deep within that was utterly refreshing.

For a split second, it made him feel like today, he was really here to get a marriage certificate with his beloved.

After collaborating for so long, Zou Tingshen knew Mu Mian’s acting talent well. Without bias, he admired her innate gift as a performer.

His respect for her deepened even more in this moment.

Today, Mu Mian truly embodied a happy, sweet little princess. If not for the prominent belly, the character would have been flawless.

They both wore masks as they entered the bureau.

The photographer was a woman in her fifties. When they removed their masks, she froze for a second, excited. “Y-you… you’re celebrities, right?”

“Please hurry—we’re on a tight schedule,” Ming Wei urged her.

While waiting for the ID photos, the woman glanced at Mu Mian’s belly. “Oh my, the belly’s so big, and you’re just now getting the certificate? Is that how all you stars do it?”

Neither party responded, and Ming Wei interjected sharply, “Personal privacy—please don’t pry, thank you.”

The woman handed the photos to Ming Wei. After they left, she huffed indignantly. “What’s with the attitude? Stars think they’re better than everyone?”

By the time they finished the procedures, it was already three in the afternoon.

Back in the car, Mu Mian opened the marriage certificate, holding it overhead with a sigh. “I actually got married? It still feels so unreal…” She lowered her head to look at her belly, reaching out to touch it.

Compared to the marriage, this belly felt even more surreal.

—

Even with her big belly, Mu Mian couldn’t delay filming.

The next morning’s scene had the female lead, Ren Li, experiencing fetal movement and heading to the hospital. Mr. Mo was in a meeting at the company, and the second female lead, Qin Fei, answered his phone for him.

Qin Fei had a crush on Mr. Mo and knew about the rift between him and Ren Li. She aimed to widen it, so she went alone to the hospital to visit Miss Ren, leading to a tense confrontation between the two women.

Acting opposite Yun Pei, Mu Mian felt a real thrill.

Yun Pei might be unlikable personally, but her skills were solid—she nailed the villain role. During the scene, Mu Mian’s emotions surged, making her truly feel like her character, hating Yun Pei to the core.

And then… the fetus really moved.

“Cut—” Feng Weijian called a halt. “Mu Mian, what’s going on?”

Mu Mian’s face twisted in discomfort as she clutched her abdomen. “I… I think it’s real fetal movement.”

Feng Weijian was about to blow a fuse. “What the hell is happening?”

The scene was interrupted midway. Yun Pei rolled her eyes, arms crossed, and said to Feng Weijian, “Director Feng, does Senior not want to act with me? Did I offend her somehow? Is this her way of brushing me off?”

Feng Weijian wasn’t sure what was up with Mu Mian today either—she walked gingerly, acted gingerly, like she was actually pregnant…

Now that Mu Mian had broken character, Feng Weijian’s temper flared, and he was about to snap when Zou Tingshen, who’d been sitting nearby reviewing the script, stood up, patted the director’s shoulder, and whispered a couple of words.

Feng Weijian exhaled. “Everyone, take a two-hour break.”

In a production, wasting time meant wasting serious money.

Yun Pei had just gotten into the groove, and now, because of Mu Mian, she’d have to start over—her state might not be as good. Her frustration boiled over, but since she was the boss’s daughter, Feng Weijian could only placate her.

He roughly explained Mu Mian’s situation to her, asking for understanding.

Yun Pei returned to the lounge for touch-ups and teased Mu Mian, who was resting nearby. “Senior, at your age, do you still get period cramps?”

Who said anything about cramps?? And who said she was old??

Mu Mian lay on the chair, turning sideways to look at her. “No need to call me senior—your acting’s solid too, very talented.”

Pleased with the compliment, Yun Pei pursed her lips at the mirror.

Her assistant handed her a thermos. She opened it, sniffed, then closed it and passed it back, instructing, “Take this to Teacher Zou—say it’s specially made for him by me.”

Mu Mian added, “Miss Yun, with your fierce features, you’re perfect for villains. Xu Xiao’s got a women’s palace intrigue drama coming up, still missing a villainous second female lead. They’re desperate for someone with your natural antagonist look—want me to recommend you?”

“You calling me fierce?!” Yun Pei shoved the makeup artist’s arm aside and whipped around to face her.

Mu Mian pressed her lips together, feigning apology. “Oops, my bad with the wording… No offense meant. Miss Yun has real villain potential. As a veteran, I suggest leaning into that—you might jump to third-tier status quickly.”

Yun Pei’s rage ignited, but she quickly doused it, forcing a smile. “Senior, you’re so blunt—people who don’t get it might think you lack emotional intelligence. No wonder you and Teacher Zou, after multiple collaborations, are at odds enough for incompatibility rumors. Senior, take my advice: at your age, think before you speak. Don’t act like us young girls, shooting off at the mouth. Who knows, it might win back a bit of Teacher Zou’s favor.”

Mu Mian kept smiling as she reclined.

Zou Tingshen’s assistant knocked and entered, holding the thermos Yun Pei had sent.

Yun Pei assumed it was being returned and was about to speak when the assistant walked straight to Mu Mian, handing it over. “Teacher Mu, this is from Mr. Zou—he asked me to bring it to you and said to rest well.”

Mu Mian took the thermos.

Once Zou Tingshen’s assistant left, she slowly opened it, inhaling the porridge aroma, then looked up at Yun Pei. “Little girl, you believe tabloid news?” She took a sip, her face lighting up with delight. “Thanks for the porridge, Miss Yun—great cooking.”