The Paranoid Film Queen Doesn’t Want to Remarry - Chapter 16
Chapter 16
Yan Muyu had never spoken in detail about the Yan family to Xu Weishuang, only mentioning that their family was conservative and that Xu Weishuang shouldn’t have much contact with them.
In public, Yan Muyu rarely mentioned her family, and she hardly contacted them even during holidays or festivals.
Xu Weishuang had always assumed it was because she was busy, and large families had many rules. Besides, since they weren’t in a traditional romantic marriage, not having contact with the Yan family actually suited her just fine.
When they got married, the old lady had appeared at the wedding, dressed in a cheongsam, seated regally at the head of the ceremony. Her bearing was elegant and noble, her presence commanding, making it difficult for others to approach.
But Xu Weishuang hadn’t expected today’s situation.
The cane landed on Yan Muyu’s body. Xu Weishuang was close enough to hear the loud sound of each strike and saw how Yan Muyu’s body weakened after taking three blows.
“A daughter of the Yan family would never abandon her marriage! You unfilial girl!”
Combining this with what Aunt Hua said at the door, it was clear Yan Muyu had informed her family about the divorce, which had enraged the old lady.
Xu Weishuang didn’t know exactly how she had explained things, but she couldn’t just stand by and watch Yan Muyu being beaten. She quickly stepped forward and said, “We’re divorcing peacefully. No one is at fault.”
While trying to stop the old lady, Xu Weishuang instantly understood the reason behind the incident — it must have been related to Yan Muyu and Xu Xia.
Although Yan Muyu had already clarified things and controlled public opinion, bringing up divorce at this sensitive time would inevitably link the two events together in outsiders’ minds.
Xu Weishuang couldn’t reveal that their marriage had never been normal, so she could only say they were parting amicably, that it was a matter of personal feelings, and had nothing to do with anyone else.
Her explanation made the old lady pause, but she still didn’t allow Yan Muyu to get up. Instead, she turned to look at Xu Weishuang.
The old lady wore a dark green short-sleeved cheongsam with a white pearl necklace around her neck, looking modest at first glance. But her bearing was stately, her presence overwhelming. Xu Weishuang recognized the white jade bracelet on her wrist — priceless.
The old lady’s gaze swept over Xu Weishuang, but she didn’t say a word.
It was Aunt Hua who broke the silence between the three of them. “The child’s come all the way home and hasn’t even had a sip of water. What’s so serious? Don’t get too worked up. You’re not as strong as you used to be.”
Aunt Hua spoke with a smile, trying to mediate for Yan Muyu. Yet Xu Weishuang noticed that even while speaking up, Aunt Hua remained standing beside the old lady — her loyalty was clear.
Still, her words had some effect. The old lady calmed down and sat back on the sofa.
“You admit your mistake?” she asked after coughing a couple of times, likely not in good health.
She directed the question at Yan Muyu, ignoring Xu Weishuang altogether. Even though Xu Weishuang had just explained the reason for the divorce, it was as if the old lady had never heard it — she still demanded that Yan Muyu confess her fault.
Such an attitude — treating Xu Weishuang as if she didn’t even exist — was a clear message: she had no right to speak here.
Xu Weishuang lowered her gaze and looked at Yan Muyu kneeling on the floor. The pain must have been severe — she could clearly see Yan Muyu’s arms trembling slightly.
Yet she still refused to admit fault. Her posture remained ramrod straight, more rigid than the old lady’s ebony cane.
Her long silence darkened the old lady’s expression further.
“I don’t care what you two agreed on — what matters is what outsiders will say about the Yan family.” No matter the actual reason for the divorce, people would assume it was because of some affair between Yan Muyu and Xu Xia that she was so eager to leave Xu Weishuang.
They could explain all they wanted, but to others, it would seem like the powerful Yan family was bullying powerless Xu Weishuang.
Especially since the public believed Xu Weishuang had left the entertainment industry for Yan Muyu. Six years wasted, and now with Xu Xia in the picture and a sudden divorce — few would believe it was truly amicable.
Yan Muyu might not care, and time could fade rumors, but the old lady would not allow the Yan family name to be tarnished.
“If you won’t restrain yourself and you disgrace the Yan family, I’ll disown you in front of our ancestors,” she threatened. “I should never have let you into the entertainment industry back then.”
“You’re over thirty now. It’s time to settle down. Live properly with your wife. Leave the entertainment world and help your sister.”
Only now did the old lady mention Xu Weishuang — but her words sent a chill through her.
Yan Muyu was famously devoted to acting, once even referred to as an “acting fanatic.” She had repeatedly stated in interviews that acting was her lifelong passion.
Hearing the old lady try to coerce her out of her career, Xu Weishuang instinctively wanted to speak up in her defense.
But the old lady looked over first — her gaze searing. Those eyes, sunken under wrinkled lids, were full of coldness and threat.
The words caught in Xu Weishuang’s throat. She couldn’t speak.
She had never encountered someone like this before — it completely threw her off balance.
“Grandmother, you’re being unreasonable,” Yan Muyu suddenly spoke.
“We came today to tell you about the divorce.”
She raised her head. From behind, Xu Weishuang couldn’t see her expression — only heard her gentle voice.
Xu Weishuang knew that voice well — deliberately soft, masking her true feelings.
And those true feelings, in that moment, no one could see — not even Xu Weishuang, who observed her carefully, could detect a hint of emotion.
The old lady laughed in fury. “You can try.”
Then she ordered Aunt Hua to throw them out.
Yan Muyu took Xu Weishuang to the garage. Once inside the car, with no one else around, they were finally alone.
“Hungry? It’s about time for dinner. Let’s go eat,” she asked softly, her tone even gentler than usual.
Xu Weishuang moved her lips, then placed her hand on the back of Yan Muyu’s.
Her fingers were clenched tightly, knuckles pale, hands still trembling as she gripped the steering wheel.
She was clearly trying to control herself — but even that couldn’t overcome the physical pain.
“Let’s go to the hospital,” Xu Weishuang said. The way those three strikes landed — Xu Weishuang genuinely believed the old lady had meant to cripple her granddaughter.
Even if she no longer had feelings for Yan Muyu, that scene disturbed her. Not to mention they had shared six years of intimacy — surely there was some sentiment there.
“I’ll take care of everything. You don’t need to worry,” Yan Muyu shook her head, pulling her hand away and offering a soothing smile.
She was responding to the threat of the old lady — telling Xu Weishuang not to worry about the divorce.
She spoke lightly, smiled naturally — but Xu Weishuang suddenly felt like she couldn’t breathe.
She didn’t understand why she felt this way — she just didn’t want to see Yan Muyu like this anymore.
After all, what did the Yan family have to do with her? Yan Muyu hadn’t explained things clearly before marriage, and theirs had always been a relationship of convenience — either side could end it at any time.
The old lady’s threats meant nothing to her.
As for Yan Muyu, to Xu Weishuang…
She couldn’t come up with an answer.
But seeing Yan Muyu’s increasingly pale face, her own chest felt tight — like something was blocking it.
She turned her head away, gaze cold, unwilling to meet Yan Muyu’s eyes or see her bloodless lips still curved in a smile.
She had seen that smile for six years — she should be used to it. Yet now, a wave of inexplicable disgust welled up inside her.
That look — injured, but pretending to be fine.
So fake.