The Paranoid Film Queen Doesn’t Want to Remarry - Chapter 15
Chapter 15
This was the first time Yan Muyu had ever brought up divorce.
When Xu Weishuang heard this, she looked at her, unsure if the “not obedient” Yan Muyu mentioned referred to the divorce or something from the past.
But Xu Weishuang didn’t care too much. For her and Yan Muyu to discuss the issue of being obedient or not—such a thing was already far from normal.
Whether it was being forced by Yan Muyu to beg for mercy or being pinned in front of the mirror and made to watch herself being punished…
Yan Muyu would always say she was disobedient, not obedient enough.
Xu Weishuang had always taken it as flirting and simply ignored her, walking straight into the house. She shrugged off her coat, dust-covered from travel, and planned to shower first to freshen herself up.
As she pushed her suitcase toward the bedroom, she asked casually, “Have the arrangements for the divorce been made?”
Yan Muyu paused at the question. Xu Weishuang noticed the flutter of her lashes, then watched them slowly lower—
Like a butterfly falling gently, beautiful, yet fading.
Xu Weishuang’s throat tightened, and her breathing became slightly shallower.
But then, she heard Yan Muyu’s soft laughter—gentle and clear—and it immediately smoothed out Xu Weishuang’s doubts.
“Grandma wants us to return to the old estate tomorrow,” Yan Muyu said, not directly answering the question but simply stating that she had informed the Yan family.
Xu Weishuang assumed that since Yan Muyu had mentioned it to the family, the arrangements must already be in place. The visit tomorrow would likely be for formalities.
After their marriage, Yan Muyu rarely brought her to meet the rest of the family. Apart from meeting the parents and the wedding itself, Xu Weishuang had only visited the Yan estate three times. She wasn’t good at socializing and usually just acted as a quiet ornament by Yan Muyu’s side.
She had little impression of the Yan family, so she didn’t think too much about it.
“Do I need to cooperate in any way?” Xu Weishuang asked.
Yan Muyu’s eyes lingered on her face, watching her deeply for a moment, then gently shook her head and replied, “No need. Go take a bath and get some rest.”
Seeing Yan Muyu’s expression, Xu Weishuang said no more and turned to go upstairs.
She undressed and stepped into the bathroom. On the way, she heard the sound of the door opening and guessed Yan Muyu had come in. Sure enough, a moment later, the bathroom door was pulled open.
Standing beneath the shower, Xu Weishuang looked toward the doorway and saw Yan Muyu fully dressed—still wearing that ivory long-sleeved blouse, a pink diamond brooch pinned to her chest, and the collar embroidered with golden freesia patterns, elegant yet understated.
Yan Muyu stepped in, approaching Xu Weishuang. She didn’t care that the shower spray soaked her clothes. Her long fingers gently pressed against Xu Weishuang’s wet shoulder.
“Let me wash you,” she said softly.
Her eyes remained lowered, never meeting Xu Weishuang’s.
Xu Weishuang stayed silent. She’d been exhausted from filming lately and honestly didn’t want anything to happen between them—she just wanted to rest.
But she never rejected such things.
She didn’t dislike being close to Yan Muyu. Her body was already used to her touch. Regardless of her will, it always responded in ways that pleased Yan Muyu.
But this time, the intimacy Xu Weishuang expected never came.
Yan Muyu simply and carefully helped her wash her body and long hair, then pushed her out.
Though her own clothes were now thoroughly soaked, she insisted on blow-drying Xu Weishuang’s hair first.
Sitting before the dressing table, Xu Weishuang looked at Yan Muyu through the mirror, feeling a strange sense of unfamiliarity.
The warm orange glow of the crystal light shone down on Yan Muyu’s head. Her blouse and hair were soaked, clinging to her body. She still looked beautiful—perhaps even more alluring than usual—but Xu Weishuang rarely saw her so disheveled.
The room’s yellow lighting cast a gentle glow on her face as her fingertips delicately lifted strands of Xu Weishuang’s hair.
They rarely shared moments like this. They didn’t speak of love, and naturally, there was no tenderness.
Through the mirror, Xu Weishuang saw Yan Muyu’s actions—so careful, as if afraid of hurting her.
But the moment the thought crossed her mind, Xu Weishuang pushed it away. Yan Muyu was too good at pretending. No one could tell when she was being real or fake. Even after six years of living together, Xu Weishuang couldn’t always read her.
In all her years in the entertainment industry, Yan Muyu’s private image had never been exposed. Even the housekeeper believed she was simply gentle and too busy to be home often.
It seemed only in front of Xu Weishuang did she ever show another side. Such a master of disguise—how could anyone see through her real thoughts or intentions?
So she regarded it all as false. This moment of tenderness, too, was nothing more than a whim.
She simply accepted it passively, without resistance or questions—otherwise, she might again face some unprovoked punishment.
Only the hum of the hairdryer filled her ears. Yan Muyu’s soft touch was comforting, and her exhausted body quickly began to relax, no longer able to hold itself up.
Sleep crept in.
“Sleep,” came a voice alongside the hairdryer’s hum—Yan Muyu’s voice, soft to the extreme, as gentle as the breeze, whispering into Xu Weishuang’s ears.
Too tired, and lulled by the comforting motions, Xu Weishuang soon slumped into Yan Muyu’s arms and fell into a deep sleep.
Seeing this, Yan Muyu wrapped her arms around her and switched off the hairdryer. She gazed at Xu Weishuang’s pale, almost sickly face and the fatigue beneath her eyes. Her fingers gently brushed her cheek, ever so carefully—not daring to wake her.
Only in moments like this could Yan Muyu look at her with love. Hold her. Leave a kiss on her lips that held no desire, only adoration.
A kiss so light it was almost imperceptible—because Yan Muyu feared the sleeping one might sense it.
“…I’m sorry. I can’t let you go,” she whispered, barely audible.
It was spoken as though to Xu Weishuang—or maybe only to herself.
….
The next morning, Xu Weishuang dressed herself carefully. After all, they were meeting elders. No matter how indifferent her temperament, she understood the importance of etiquette.
She didn’t know much about the Yan family, only that they were an influential name in Yucheng. In the past, they had produced high-ranking officials. These days, not even Yan Muyu’s fame could dig up specific details about the family. Perhaps the information had already been found and suppressed.
She only knew that Yan Muyu had an older sister, the head of the Yan Corporation, who had appeared briefly when Yan Muyu won her Best Actress award.
The old Yan estate wasn’t in the bustling city, but nestled in a secluded forest on the outskirts—with only one road leading in.
Backed by mountains, the entire area belonged to the Yan family. There were no other residences nearby.
The old-style residence was void of any modern luxury, but the intricate dragon and phoenix carvings under the eaves hinted at the estate’s long and prestigious history.
Yan Xingyue, the current matriarch, had lived there all her life. She was used to the peace of the mountains and refused to move to the bustling city.
Yan Muyu drove into the estate, where the old housekeeper was already waiting at the entrance.
“Aunt Hua,” both Yan Muyu and Xu Weishuang greeted her respectfully.
Aunt Hua had been the matriarch’s childhood study companion. Initially just sponsored in name, they had become fast friends, and she was eventually brought into the Yan household.
She and the old lady were as close as sisters. To repay this bond, she stayed by her side ever since.
Though just a housekeeper, Aunt Hua had long stopped managing household affairs and chose instead to remain in service, keeping the old lady company.
Everyone in the Yan family knew this and treated Aunt Hua with the same respect as they did the matriarch.
“So willful. You insisted on marrying her back then, and now after just a few years, you’re clamoring for divorce,” Aunt Hua said coldly, not letting them enter. Her posture was upright, and she looked at Yan Muyu with displeasure—though there was still a trace of concern in her tone. “The old lady is furious right now. If you go in now, you’ll only suffer.”
But Yan Muyu shook her head. “Suffering is unavoidable.”
With that, she took Xu Weishuang’s hand. Her expression was gentle, but her eyes were ice cold.
Aunt Hua sighed and let them in.
Inside, the old matriarch sat sternly in the drawing room.
As soon as Yan Muyu and Xu Weishuang stepped forward to greet her, the old lady shouted, “Kneel!”
Xu Weishuang was shocked. She hadn’t expected things to unfold like this.
She instinctively looked toward Yan Muyu, only to find her expression even colder now. Letting go of Xu Weishuang’s hand, she knelt before the old lady.
From the moment they entered the estate, Yan Muyu hadn’t looked at her once. Now, kneeling, she was completely distant, as if Xu Weishuang didn’t exist.
Xu Weishuang didn’t have time to make sense of what was happening—because a rosewood cane suddenly flashed before her eyes and struck Yan Muyu.
With a stifled cry of pain from Yan Muyu, the old matriarch’s second strike came down even harder.
Xu Weishuang’s heart clenched instantly, and her face turned pale.