The Paranoid Film Queen Doesn’t Want to Remarry - Chapter 20
Chapter 20
This time, Yan Muyu’s punishment was especially ruthless. She didn’t allow Xu Weishuang to close her eyes, nor let her stop.
She said nothing — only stared at the drenched Xu Weishuang with a gaze more obsessed than ever before.
Even when Xu Weishuang could no longer bear it, Yan Muyu still didn’t stop. She made Xu Weishuang look at her reflection in the mirror, made her cry out in despair.
And still, she didn’t stop.
Her heart churned like the steam in the bathroom — scalding hot — yet also as cold as the drizzling rain outside.
She gasped just like Xu Weishuang — and yet her moans carried a different kind of anguish.
Xu Weishuang didn’t care about her — let herself be seduced, controlled — but never loved her.
Divorce. Departure.
There wasn’t even a need for property division between them.
Yan Muyu kissed her gently, still restraining herself, still mindful — even in the midst of her obsession — not to leave any visible marks on Xu Weishuang’s skin, knowing she had to go to the theater tomorrow.
It wasn’t until Xu Weishuang finally fainted from exhaustion that Yan Muyu looked up at herself in the mirror.
Wet. Dark. Even timid and weak.
She held the sleeping Xu Weishuang tightly in her arms, mocking her own pathetic self.
But Yan Muyu was used to pretending — pretending in front of everyone.
Every version of herself that she showed to the world was one she carefully crafted.
After gently cleaning the marks off Xu Weishuang’s body, Yan Muyu carried her to bed, gazed at her longingly for a while, and then quietly left once she was sure she was sound asleep.
That night, Xu Weishuang slept well.
Ever since she’d left the villa, her sleep had been restless. But tonight, she finally got some peace.
When she woke, it was already morning.
She didn’t see any trace of Yan Muyu in the room. If not for the soreness in her body, she might have thought everything that happened the night before was just a dream.
But even if it had been a dream, Xu Weishuang wouldn’t have been surprised.
Her body and heart had long been trained by Yan Muyu — she craved that feeling. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have allowed herself to be seduced by Yan Muyu so easily every single time.
Xu Weishuang glanced at the time, then washed up and got ready to go to the theater.
She didn’t ask where Yan Muyu had gone — just like always.
When Yan Muyu came home or left, she never interfered.
That was how it had always been between them.
Everything from last night — she would treat it as nothing but an accident.
Perhaps Yan Muyu had left early with that exact thought in mind.
Xu Weishuang brushed it aside and headed out quickly, arriving at Xianning Theater.
Xianning Theater was well known nationwide. Many renowned stage actors had once performed there. The previous lead actress had left due to health issues, so the theater was now focused on grooming a new star.
Teacher Lin had been one of the theater’s leading performers when she was young. Later, she went into the entertainment industry, and after retiring, she became a professor — and also the head artistic director of the Xianning Theater.
Xu Weishuang was the only student she had ever accepted. She had trained at the theater before, and still remembered some of the older staff.
But six years ago, she was inexperienced. Now, she was aloof and reserved.
She’d been at the theater for a few weeks already and still hadn’t gotten close to anyone — especially not the current lead actress, who clearly didn’t like her. Every time they crossed paths, the woman would intentionally avoid her.
Xu Weishuang was never one for socializing, and since the other woman avoided her, she never made any effort either.
Since she arrived, the two had never exchanged a single word.
Even the others at the theater noticed the tension between them.
But Xu Weishuang didn’t care. After arriving, she found an empty rehearsal room and stood in front of the mirror to begin her daily foundational training.
Though this was usually only done by beginner actors, she knew Teacher Lin was deliberately trying to temper her attitude.
Still, Xu Weishuang never slacked off. She didn’t find it boring.
Others wondered why Teacher Lin had her come every day without giving her a role, not even a chance to act — just having her waste time. She even said openly that Xu Weishuang would need to train like this for a whole year before they’d even talk about a role.
Some asked Xu Weishuang if she was resentful.
But she always shook her head and denied it.
No one could tell what she was thinking — they either thought she was pretending or just plain foolish.
But none of it affected Xu Weishuang. Her time had stopped six years ago, and she wasn’t in a rush to soar again.
In truth, she was grateful to Yan Muyu.
Neither of them were “normal” people, but Xu Weishuang had completely withdrawn from the world — buried herself in silence and isolation.
Whereas Yan Muyu learned to hide her true self and moved through the world with ease.
She was always the one standing in the light — adored by many.
Xu Weishuang had learned a few things from her — learned to wear a mask.
Over the years, she had become increasingly cold on the surface — harder and harder to read.
So when the theater’s lead actress, Chen Xin, walked over to her side, Xu Weishuang remained unfazed, continuing her training.
Chen Xin had long, slightly wavy hair and distinct, deep-set features — a striking, almost exotic beauty. She was about the same age as Xu Weishuang, and the lead actress being groomed by the theater.
She didn’t greet Xu Weishuang — just held a script and began her own practice, pretending the other woman didn’t exist.
Soon, more cast members arrived, and Teacher Lin entered.
With one glance, she sensed the awkward tension between the two and frowned slightly before calling out loudly, “Ah Xin, Xiaoshuang, come here.”
The two stopped what they were doing and walked over.
Xu Weishuang was a bit surprised. Although Teacher Lin required her to show up like everyone else, she rarely paid her any attention outside of giving assignments.
“Pair up for a scene. I want to see you two act together.” Teacher Lin casually took a seat and looked at them.
Xu Weishuang blinked, but didn’t object.
Chen Xin, however, looked at her in disbelief — though she didn’t question the request.
“Improvise as a couple. Ah Xin wants to break up, Xiaoshuang tries to win her back. You have 20 minutes to prepare.”
Improvised acting was common training for new actors. Chen Xin had done plenty of it before, and the prompt wasn’t too difficult.
But…
She glanced at Xu Weishuang beside her — the woman’s expression remained unchanged, as though none of it concerned her.
Chen Xin frowned slightly, but said nothing.
She knew Teacher Lin wouldn’t accept any objections anyway.
Everyone else at the theater already knew the two women didn’t get along — so now, seeing them asked to perform as lovers, curiosity spread like wildfire.
Chen Xin and Xu Weishuang moved to the side. Since Teacher Lin gave them time to prepare, it was clearly a deliberate attempt to force them to work through their differences.
Truthfully, there wasn’t much conflict — Chen Xin just couldn’t stand Xu Weishuang. The latter likely knew this well, which was why she never approached or responded.
But now that they had to act together, Chen Xin didn’t want to lose face in front of Teacher Lin.
“How do you want to play it? I’ll go along with anything.” Chen Xin looked at Xu Weishuang’s cool, detached face and spoke first.
It wasn’t a suggestion — it was a clear statement of condescension.
“I’ll go along with anything.”
Only someone who believed themselves superior would say that.
A blatant challenge.
Xu Weishuang’s expression didn’t change. She simply shifted her gaze to Chen Xin and replied flatly, “Alright.”
For some reason, Chen Xin felt a sudden jolt of irritation from that calm reply.
She stepped forward and took Xu Weishuang’s hand — their palms pressed tightly together.
“Get used to my touch first.”
She crossed a line, breaking the unspoken rule of personal space. Xu Weishuang shot her a glance but didn’t pull away — though her face turned even colder.
And colder still was the figure now standing at the door of the rehearsal room.
Yan Muyu, accompanied by the Xianning Theater’s manager, had arrived unannounced.
From where she stood, she had a clear view of Xu Weishuang and Chen Xin’s interlocked hands.