It’s Okay to Divorce - Chapter 09

Chapter 09

“I don’t know, but who cares? We’ve got midnight snacks and chicken soup—just open wide and dig in. Why bother digging into where it came from?” Li Wen picked up the two food boxes and noticed labels stuck to them.

One bore Mu Mian’s name, the other hers.

As a lowly assistant, this small gesture unexpectedly touched her heart.

It made her feel that on set, everyone was equal—everyone deserved to be remembered and respected.

But when she opened the boxes, that warm feeling chilled instantly.

Why was Mu Mian’s chicken soup loaded with all sorts of nutritious goodies, while hers was just… broth?

Yeah, the gap between people really is massive.

Whimper…

Inside the tent, Yun Haodong crouched in front of Mu Mian, coaxing her in a soft, gentle voice for what felt like ages.

Mu Mian kept her head down, glued to her game, not sparing him a single glance.

Yun Haodong said, “Mianmian, say something to me—just one word would do. What’s with this silent treatment…?”

Old guys have their pride, you know. Acting cute takes a Herculean effort…

“You’re ignoring me? What’re you gonna do about it?” Mu Mian clutched her phone, shifting sideways with a huff. “Go check on your daughter instead of playing cute with me here. Don’t let tomorrow spawn another stepmom rumor—I really can’t deal with that.”

Yun Haodong sighed helplessly but kept up the gentle coaxing. “The media spouts nonsense. Why let that bother you?”

“I’m just that petty—it bothers me to death.” Mu Mian shot him a sideways glare.

Yun Haodong exhaled deeply, dropping the goofy grin. He stood up and looked at her seriously. “So, Mianmian, you’re really not going to take my advice? Fade out of the entertainment world at the right time and live like a normal person?”

“Like what, exactly?”

“Get married, for one.”

Mu Mian hadn’t had any morning sickness since getting pregnant, but her temper had flared up big time. At his words, she nearly roared, “Yun Haodong, aren’t you overstepping? Your daughter’s climbing the ladder by stepping on me, and here you are, trying to talk me into bowing out of showbiz?”

Yun Haodong said, “I’m just looking out for you. Why sweat the small stuff with a kid like her? Back when you debuted, didn’t the company pull the same trick—having you ride seniors’ coattails to get ahead? Your career’s hit its stride, but another peak? Not likely. Mianmian, after all these years as friends, hear me out: bow out while you’re at your most stunning. That way, you’ll stay eternally beautiful in the fans’ eyes. What’s not to love?”

“So, Old Yun, you’re just like the rest—thinking Mu Mian’s past her prime? No room for big breakthroughs anymore, huh?” Of course, Mu Mian got what Yun Haodong was driving at.

Once a female star hits thirty, her career starts sliding downhill.

She wasn’t like Zou Tingshen—he was a bona fide film star, a true Best Actor. Last year’s blockbuster “Marriage Doesn’t Matter” owed part of its success to him.

Mu Mian, on the other hand, had fewer films under her belt. She’d snagged the Qianhua Best Actress award with “Princess Taiping,” but award-winners don’t always rake in the box office bucks, so she didn’t carry enough clout in film circles yet.

In today’s cutthroat entertainment world, where new talent floods in endlessly, if she didn’t make a breakthrough soon, she’d hit a dead end in a few years.

Her top-tier gigs would slowly downgrade to second-string, then third… until she became a punchline.

Bowing out now really was the smart move. Just like those iconic TVB Hong Kong stars from back in the day, they retired at the height of their glamour, and even decades later, they remained timeless beauties in the public’s memory.

That’s exactly what Yun Haodong had in mind.

The industry’s too dirty, too messy. Mu Mian wasn’t hurting for cash anymore; no point in keep wading through the muck.

The real boss at Donghua Media wasn’t Yun Haodong—it was his older brother, Yun Haowen.

Yun Haodong just had a title there; he didn’t handle the day-to-day.

When Mu Mian first met him, he was a middle-aged bachelor with his finances locked down by his family—broke as hell, scraping together a hundred grand to start a business and make his mark.

Mu Mian back then was a star grad from a top business school. Youngest in her class, with the shiniest resume.

Fresh out of school and brimming with ideas, she and Yun Haodong clicked instantly.

But their venture tanked after just six months, leaving them buried in debt.

Yun Haodong had no choice but to take a job at his brother’s company, and he talked Mu Mian into joining showbiz—to rake in the dough.

She’d told him she’d only stick around for ten years, earn her pile, and bail. But the more she dove in, the more she fell in love with acting.

Mu Mian hustled on sets, Yun Haodong toed the line at work, and within a year, they’d paid off every cent together.

With what was left, they kicked off another business.

Years later, she’d struck gold in entertainment, and their joint venture was thriving too—the chain of restaurants they’d founded was nationwide now, running smoothly with hefty annual profits.

She’d grown passionate about the craft, chafing at her current level. While she still had her looks, she wanted to craft more iconic roles, maybe even go global.

As her friend, Yun Haodong just wanted her to ease up. A female star’s golden era was behind her; better to retire early and enjoy some quiet years.

“Mianmian, you’re not getting any younger—time to settle down and tie the knot,” Yun Haodong said, pulling out his phone and opening a photo for her. “Check this out: my classmate’s little brother, thirty-five, good-looking, a solid match for you. Worth considering?”

“Here we go again. Old Yun, what’s with you fretting over me staying single all the time?” Mu Mian pinched the bridge of her nose, headache intensifying.

When she’d met Yun Haodong, he was still a handsome, fit single guy—no wife, no kids.

Five years back, his teenage sweetheart from when he was eighteen showed up with their teen daughter in tow. Boom—he was a dad.

Not long after, the ex passed from cancer, leaving him with a rebellious teen girl.

Fatherhood must’ve been brutal; in a few years, Yun Haodong had ballooned into a pudgy middle-aged dude.

Mu Mian, meanwhile, had only grown more poised with age.

Their bond was rock-solid—revolutionary comrades through thick and thin. With her beauty and brains, it was impossible for a guy like Yun Haodong not to catch feelings.

But knowing he wasn’t in her league, he’d settled into the role of male bestie, lately taking it upon himself to orchestrate her love life.

Mu Mian’s head was pounding. She’d dodged her family’s marriage nagging, only to get it from Old Yun instead…

Yun Haodong jabbed at the single guy’s pic on his phone. “Mianmian, don’t brush this one off. If not for you, think about me. I bust my ass setting up these dates—is it for my own benefit?”

“…” Mu Mian drew in a deep breath. “I hate blind dates.”

Yun Haodong gave her a look of exasperated disappointment. “If you hate them, then make your own moves. Look at other actresses—they’re out there living it up, dating like pros. If you’d loosen up a bit, you wouldn’t still be single.”

“Listen, Yun Haodong, has fatherhood fried your brain? You gotta meddle in everybody’s business now?”

“I don’t wanna meddle, but my daughter’s old enough to get hitched, and here you are, still flying solo. Aren’t you worried?” Yun Haodong sighed, then asked, “Hey, I remember you had that friend in med school. What happened—no contact?”

“We’re in touch all the time; he’s off in the States for advanced training.” Mu Mian’s fingers drummed lightly on her belly as she looked up at him. “Old Yun, if I married Zou Tingshen one day, would that shock you?”

“…You and him?” Yun Haodong chuckled. “As if he’d go for you. If he marries you, I’ll chop off my head and let you kick it around like a soccer ball.”

“Oh.” Mu Mian let out a cold snort. “See? You never spot my good qualities. If you’d noticed them more back when you were still in shape, who knows—I might’ve fallen for you and actually become Yun Pei’s stepmom.”

Yun Haodong shot her a glance. “Yeah, yeah, quit screwing with me. Zou Tingshen? Don’t get any ideas—he’s gay. Zero interest in women.”

“Oh?” Mu Mian’s interest piqued; she wanted to hear more.

She’d wondered about Zou Tingshen’s orientation herself but never confirmed it.

“My big bro told me,” Yun Haodong said. “Otherwise, how do you think an orphan with no connections scored such prime opportunities?”