It’s Okay to Divorce - Chapter 14

Chapter 14

The two exchanged a glance, but before they could continue their exchange, the police had already rushed over, subduing them both and pinning them face down on the dining table.

Mu Mian was held down on the table by a female officer, her mouth still latched onto the bottle n1pple, her expression twisted in utter embarrassment…

She turned her head to look at Zou Tingshen. Probably because of his height and build, plus his past role as a gang boss, he was being restrained by two male officers gripping his arms.

Ruined, completely ruined… My image is totally destroyed.

It was a miracle the group of officers didn’t burst out laughing at the sight of her… She could barely hold back a laugh herself!

The police tore through the hotel room like a whirlwind, checking every hidden spot—even the toilet tank—but they found no contraband, just a few cans of prenatal milk powder.

The officers exchanged puzzled looks, then packed up the milk powder and took it back to the station.

They released the pair, and Zou Tingshen straightened up, pulling Mu Mian close with a concerned expression. “Are you okay? Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?”

Mu Mian rolled her shoulders; aside from her arms, she felt fine. She shook her head. “I’m alright.”

An officer interrupted their conversation. “Mr. Zou, Ms. Mu, we’ve received a report that you’re involved in drug trafficking, so please come with us to the station to assist with the investigation.”

“Drugs…?” Mu Mian turned to Zou Tingshen in disbelief, pinching his arm, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

Zou Tingshen, you bastard, how dare you get into this?

Zou Tingshen shot her a look in return.

I’m innocent!

Zou Tingshen frowned at the officer. “Isn’t there some misunderstanding? You saw for yourselves—there’s nothing here but milk powder.”

Mu Mian still clutched the bottle in her hand. Right in front of the officers, she took a big swig from the n1pple. “Yeah, it’s really prenatal milk powder. See? I take a huge gulp, and nothing happens!”

The officers: “…”

The female officer whispered a few words to the captain. His slightly relaxed expression turned stern again. “Ms. Mu, you’re an award-winning actress, and I can’t tell if you’re performing right now or not. So please cooperate and come back to the station for questioning.”

“What if we don’t? We haven’t broken any laws—why should we?” Mu Mian snapped. “I just wanted a drink of milk!”

Zou Tingshen’s expression was equally grave. “I was just trying to buy her some nutritional supplements…”

“You have to come with us,” the captain said firmly. “Citizens are obligated to cooperate with investigations.”

The police escorted the two celebrities out discreetly, but even so, it caused quite a stir.

The reporter who had tipped them off leaked the story to his colleagues, and soon, the internet was ablaze with rumors of the pair dealing and using drugs, sending shockwaves through the entertainment industry.

At the police station.

Halfway through her statement, Mu Mian couldn’t suppress her frustration anymore. She slammed her palm on the table. “Officer, take a good look at the photos—it’s clearly prenatal milk powder that Zou Tingshen was trading with that guy. How does that look like cocaine? Are your eyes okay?”

The officer glanced at her, his face stone-cold. “Then explain why you’d be so sneaky about buying prenatal milk powder. You’re celebrities—why go yourselves for something like that? Couldn’t you just send an assistant?”

“Didn’t you see I’m pregnant? The kid’s dad wanted to show off by buying the milk powder himself—what’s wrong with that?”

The officer watched as Mu Mian spoke with dead seriousness, as if she were actually pregnant. He snapped, “Mu Mian, don’t think just because you’re a star with some money, you can do whatever you want. This is a police station, not your house! Answer my questions seriously—confess and you’ll get leniency; resist and it’ll be worse!”

Seeing the officer’s fierce glare, Mu Mian immediately backed down, rubbing her belly as she explained, “…Whether you believe it or not, I really just wanted some prenatal milk powder, so I asked Zou Tingshen to buy it for me.”

“Your relationship is notoriously bad—if it wasn’t for some shady deal, why would he help you out?” The officer snorted. “Don’t think we cops don’t follow the news. You really think you’re that naive, sweet girl from the fan comics? Quit the acting and the softie act—we treat everyone the same here, no special treatment!”

“…” Mu Mian shrank her shoulders, gazing at the officer with wide, pleading eyes.

Her chest ached so much.

Mu Mian sighed helplessly. “Zou Tingshen and I are married. A husband buying stuff for his wife—that’s normal, right?”

The officer narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing her, then told a colleague to pull up their records.

Their urine tests came back clean, no drug evidence was found at the hotel, and the records confirmed they were indeed married.

The female officer escorting Mu Mian out could barely contain her excitement and glee. She asked timidly, “Goddess, could I get your autograph?”

Mu Mian glanced at the officer and realized she was the one who’d pinned her to the table earlier.

Her gaze turned icy. “My hand hurts. No autograph.”

…

Outside the station, reporters and vehicles swarmed the entrance.

Mu Mian stood on the second floor, looking down at the chaos below. She let out a sigh. “Good grief.” Turning to Zou Tingshen with a helpless expression, she said, “Looks like we’ll be owning the headlines for the next week.”

“My assistant will drive the car in—let’s wait a bit.” Zou Tingshen checked his watch, then looked at Mu Mian. “Pregnant women should rest early. Sorry, tonight was my fault for being careless.”

“You finally admit it?” Mu Mian exhaled deeply, waving her hand impatiently. “Forget it. Lately, I’ve been so unlucky—even drinking milk gets me in trouble.”

She leaned against the wall beside Zou Tingshen, propping her head on her elbow.

The reporter who’d reported them finished his statement and was still nagging the officers. “How could it be a misunderstanding? Officers, I insist you investigate further. Who buys milk powder in a dark alley in the middle of the night, all sneaky and dressed like a shadow? My tip can’t be wrong—please look into it thoroughly!”

The officer looked exasperated. “Fine, fine—if there’s any development, we’ll contact you first thing, okay?”

The reporter nodded. “Okay!” As he passed Mu Mian and Zou Tingshen, he nearly got skewered by the icy daggers in their eyes.

He shrank back, practically hugging the wall to slip by.

—

By the time the ordeal ended in the dead of night, Mu Mian was practically collapsing from exhaustion when she got back to the hotel.

Ming Wei rushed back nonstop, and seeing Mu Mian sound asleep in bed, she breathed a sigh of relief and started handling the cleanup.

Chen Sheng saw the news and hurried over to check on Mu Mian, but at the door, Ming Wei blocked him. “Dr. Chen, Mianmian isn’t up for seeing anyone right now. Best not to add to the chaos.”

“Not even me?” Chen Sheng countered. “You think I’m an outsider?”

Sure, Chen Sheng had been good to Mu Mian over the years, and he was mild-mannered, but Ming Wei just didn’t like his perpetual Mr. Nice Guy vibe.

As a manager for so many years, Ming Wei had met all types and had a good eye for people, but she couldn’t read this Chen guy at all.

And because she couldn’t read him, she didn’t want Mu Mian dealing with him.

Whenever Ming Wei was around, Chen Sheng could forget about seeing Mu Mian.

Likewise, Chen Sheng didn’t like Ming Wei.

He turned to leave, and the moment his back was to her, his smile vanished, leaving his face blank.

He stepped into the elevator and ran into Yun Pei, instantly flashing his gentle smile again.

Yun Pei paused, struck by his smile, and recalled that night when Chen Sheng had leaned in and whispered, “I’m a doctor.” Her girlish heart exploded into fireworks.

Chen Sheng figured the girl wasn’t the type to back down easily, so he spoke first, giving her an out. “Hello, Ms. Yun. We meet again.”

Yun Pei had been rude to him that night and felt too awkward to greet him first.

Seeing him offer a lifeline, she smiled back. “Hello, Dr. Chen. That day… thank you.”

…

The headline “Film Emperor Zou Suspected of Drug Dealing with Film Empress Mu, Detained by Police” refused to budge from the top spot.

At 6 a.m., Mu Mian posted on Weibo: “Misunderstanding. @Zou Tingshen and I were just getting into character for our roles, experiencing what it’s like to be a ‘pregnant woman’ and a ‘good dad buying milk powder.’ Who knew some reporter would twist it into illegal trading? Heh, anything for clicks—even resorting to false accusations. [Eye roll]”

The post included a photo of the half-consumed bottle of milk powder, with the bottle shape standing out prominently.

Zou Tingshen reposted: “Working with Ms. Mu has been a pleasure. Setting aside personal matters, she’s truly a dedicated actress.”

Fans exploded—this was the first time the two had posted in unison!!

Why did it feel like a scene straight out of fan comics where candy was about to drop??

An illusion, definitely an illusion—their idols as a couple? No way they’d hand out sweetness!

In the comments, fans rallied for their idols.

“These rumor-mongers need to explode! When will it end?? They’ve said a million times it’s just rehearsing lines, nothing more—why keep harping on it? Heh. Calling them a couple would make more sense than drug dealing?? Drug use?? Heh heh heh…”

“Heart aches for our king and queen. Buying props for a role, and they get suspected of drugs? Playing a gang boss means you’re really one? Reporters, tone down the imagination!”

“So the lesson here for celebs… Don’t be too dedicated. Just chill off-set, eat, drink, have fun—no drama that way.”

After trending multiple times, Mu Mian rocketed to the top as the year’s hottest female star.

Filming for It’s Okay To Divorce was nearing its end, with the final scene at a remote mountain temple. The two-hour hike up involved a near-60-degree slope, and the actors had to trek it on foot.

Somehow, online chatter about “Zou Tingshen’s drug use” kept growing, painting Mu Mian as the innocent victim dragged into his mess.

Once tainted by that label, public favor tanks hard.

The crew’s vehicles stopped at the mountain base.

Mu Mian looked up at the almost 60-degree slope, endless at a glance.

Then she looked down at her protruding belly; her legs were already turning to jelly.

Yun Pei mocked her. “Ms. Mu, isn’t lugging that belly up the mountain a hassle? No audience on this path—you don’t need to fake being a dedicated actress. No one’s watching anyway.”

Mu Mian recalled Yun Haodong’s words and swallowed her retort.

Yun Pei climbed a few steps, then paused at a certain height to take a call.

The girl gripped her phone, beaming with joy. “Dr. Chen, I’m at Entrance 1 on the mountain path, standing on the rock—do you see me?”

Yun Pei waved her hand high, trying to catch someone’s eye in the crowd.

Mu Mian glanced back and spotted the impeccably dressed figure almost immediately.

His near-perfect smile was too glaring.