The Paranoid Film Queen Doesn’t Want to Remarry - Chapter 40

Chapter 40

 

Xu Weishuang used to close herself off completely, even during her marriage with Yan Muyu, she shut herself away entirely.

 

Their relationship was merely a transaction, and she truly treated it as such. Yan Muyu indulged in the desire to control her, and Xu Weishuang would sometimes try to please him during those moments. Occasionally, she would find brief moments of peace with Yan Muyu.

 

They lived like this for six years.

 

Xu Weishuang thought their relationship was simply that shallow, but after she spoke about divorce, she realized Yan Muyu was different.

 

Now, she had changed too.

 

Xu Weishuang went to the police station to give a statement, explaining what had happened. The police quickly uncovered the cause and the whole story.

 

Xiao Gao’s real name was Gao Ran. He was a die-hard fan of Yan Muyu. His home was filled with Yan Muyu merchandise. He had entered the entertainment industry to chase his idol and had moved between various film crews just to get closer to him.

 

This time, by accident, he joined Director Tao’s crew and learned that Yan Muyu would appear in the production. Several times, he tried to get close to Yan Muyu.

 

At first, he didn’t dislike Xu Weishuang. Being a blind fan, he believed that if his idol liked someone, he should like that person too.

 

Therefore, if his idol disliked someone, naturally he would dislike that person as well.

 

He certainly wouldn’t believe any rumors about Yan Muyu’s moral character; those online comments were definitely slander. But Yan Muyu’s studio never denied the divorce, and many people on the crew noticed something was wrong between Xu Weishuang and Yan Muyu.

 

Xiao Gao often hid in dark, deserted corners, always witnessing Yan Muyu deliberately ignoring Xu Weishuang. He could tell Yan Muyu was unhappy. He racked his brain trying to guess why and finally concluded that Xu Weishuang must have betrayed Yan Muyu, causing the divorce.

 

Once he came up with this reason, he sank deeper and deeper into it, believing it more and more.

 

He searched for evidence to support this idea: Xu Weishuang and Yan Muyu initially lived together but later lived apart; Xu Weishuang was close with Luo Qin on the set; Xu Weishuang always acted coldly toward Yan Muyu.

 

The more he spied on Xu Weishuang, the more he felt indignant on behalf of his idol.

 

Eventually, his baseless suspicions and emotions turned into weapons to harm others, and he secretly obtained a keycard to Xu Weishuang’s room.

 

Since they were on the same crew, and he knew someone from logistics, he tricked that person into giving him the card and planned to sneak in to find more evidence.

 

He found the online curses against Yan Muyu absurd — it was all Xu Weishuang’s fault!

 

He deliberately went into Xu Weishuang’s room earlier that day to find evidence, but unexpectedly, Xu Weishuang came back earlier than usual.

 

He had no choice but to hide under the bed but was still discovered by Xu Weishuang.

 

He snarled at her viciously, shouting that everything was her fault — that she had caused Yan Muyu to be scolded, that Yan Muyu was innocent, and he was going to tell everyone that it was all Xu Weishuang’s fault.

 

Both Xu Weishuang and Yan Muyu understood what was going on. The case was not complicated — Xiao Gao was just an obsessive fan who went too far for his idol.

 

The problem was that Xiao Gao was still unconscious from a serious head injury.

 

When the police car and ambulance arrived at the hotel, paparazzi took photos. There were still many paparazzi camped outside the hospital, making the situation even more complicated.

 

Xu Weishuang listened to the police ask her how she wanted to handle the matter and was somewhat stunned. Seeing Xiao Gao was only 20 years old and realizing he was once an orphan like her, but unlike her, he had never been fortunate enough to be adopted and had stayed in the orphanage until he left at 15 to work.

 

Her mind blurred, and she barely remembered how Xiao Gao looked normally.

 

After a long pause, Xu Weishuang replied, “Handle it according to procedure.”

 

She was not a kind person and could not show goodwill after such a dangerous incident. While treating her elbow injury at the hospital, Yan Muyu stood quietly behind her, and she could feel Yan Muyu’s restrained anger.

 

Xu Weishuang sensed that Yan Muyu’s anger was not directed at her.

 

There were so many things Xu Weishuang had to do and think about lately that her mind was a mess.

 

Yan Muyu’s anger was not toward her — then what else or who could possibly deserve such fury from him?

 

After leaving the police station, many paparazzi waited outside on the street. As soon as Xu Weishuang appeared, they swarmed her, cameras and voice recorders pushed right in front of her face.

 

Xu Weishuang was not used to this yet. She tried to avoid them with a tense expression, but the paparazzi would never let her go.

 

Fortunately, Xiao Shi Yi reacted quickly, rushing over with several bodyguards and firmly protecting Xu Weishuang before escorting her into a car. Only then did she finally breathe a sigh of relief.

 

Xu Weishuang’s face was pale. Too much had happened tonight, and even though she tried to stay calm, she was utterly exhausted.

 

“Drive around the city a few times to shake off the paparazzi, then head to a new hotel,” Xiao Shi Yi said while on the phone, instructing the driver on the route.

 

Xu Weishuang heard a loud voice on the other end of the call — it was Shi Yan.

 

Shi Yan was no longer in charge of her affairs. After finishing the divorce procedures with Yan Muyu, Xu Weishuang did not respond to Shi Yan’s previous cooperation proposal, so naturally, Shi Yan no longer handled her matters.

 

But when Xu Weishuang looked up and saw Xiao Shi Yi naturally reporting the situation to Shi Yan, and noticed the familiar faces among the bodyguards — clearly Yan Muyu’s female bodyguards — she immediately knew whose idea all this was.

 

After hanging up with Shi Yan, Xiao Shi Yi made another call and glanced slyly at Xu Weishuang, who immediately guessed whom she was calling.

 

The call was connected, and because no one spoke inside the car, Xu Weishuang clearly heard the familiar voice.

 

She took a deep breath. After forcing herself to stay calm all night and handle everything correctly, the tense nerves suddenly relaxed.

 

She really wanted to ask Yan Muyu: why?

 

Why, after six years of living without interfering with each other, taking only what they needed and leaving no attachments…

 

Why, after parting, was her mind still full of him?

 

Why did he care about her at such a time, making her feel an intense dependence again?

 

She did not want this.

 

She had been trying so hard to adapt to a life without Yan Muyu, working hard to completely separate him from her body and mind.

 

“Give me the phone.” Xu Weishuang stretched out her hand, coldly demanding the phone from Xiao Shi Yi.

 

At this moment, Xu Weishuang’s expression was icy cold, like a frozen statue, with terrifying coldness in her eyes.

 

Xiao Shi Yi was startled, thinking Xu Weishuang was angry at her for secretly reporting to Yan Muyu.

 

It was the first time she saw Xu Weishuang with such an expression.

 

Swallowing nervously, she cautiously handed over the phone.

 

Xu Weishuang held it to her right ear. There was no sound on the other end. Yan Muyu must have heard what Xu Weishuang said just now and naturally knew who was answering the call.

 

Xu Weishuang said nothing. They remained silent for a long time.

 

She gripped the phone tightly, her breath involuntarily halted.

 

From the corner of her eye, she caught the flashing lights passing by the roadside, reflecting into her eyes through the car window. It felt dazzling, so she closed her eyelids.

 

Yan Muyu was the first to break the silence.

 

Xu Weishuang heard a soft sigh from the other end, full of tenderness.

 

After the sigh came Yan Muyu’s long, slow breathing.

 

She did not understand how she could hear it so clearly, as the sound was distorted by electronic equipment, yet she distinctly caught that faint sigh.

 

Yan Muyu.

 

Xu Weishuang suddenly called out to her in her heart.

 

“Xu Weishuang.” Yan Muyu’s voice came then, infinitely gentle, with his usual trailing tone — like warm water.

 

It was like calling her name underwater.

 

Clear spring water without form, the softest thing in the world, completely wrapping her, washing away all the dirt on her body.

 

Embracing her, accepting everything.

 

Yan Muyu.

 

A strong emotion surged in Xu Weishuang’s throat, feeling like something was stuck there, unbearably painful.

 

“Is the wound okay?” Yan Muyu asked after waiting a long time without any response. His voice had sunk a few notes lower.

 

This question was just small talk; when Xu Weishuang was being bandaged, Yan Muyu stood behind her and clearly heard the doctor say it was only a superficial scrape, bleeding looked scary but it was not serious.

 

Xu Weishuang remembered this, and her emotions surged even more.

 

She wanted to ask Yan Muyu where he was at this moment; why he left early; whether he was worrying about her now.

 

There were so many things she wanted to ask but couldn’t say a word.

 

She pressed her lips tightly, forcing herself to suppress what she really thought. That thought had been growing ever since she found Yan Muyu had left early — expanding and making her restless.

 

She couldn’t say it out loud — not at a time like this, not to Yan Muyu.

 

They were already over.

 

Their paths ahead would surely be parallel lines that never crossed. If she stayed with Yan Muyu, they would only torment each other until both completely collapsed, turning into what she and Liu Yuebai had become.

 

She had already made that mistake once.

 

Xu Weishuang squeezed her eyes shut tightly.

 

She could not say:

 

“Yan Muyu, come to me.”

 

Still receiving no response from Xu Weishuang, Yan Muyu sighed again, this time more deeply. Not wanting to wait any longer, he said goodbye to Xu Weishuang and then hung up.

 

Xu Weishuang listened to the busy signal buzzing in her ear, mechanically handed the phone back to Xiao Shiyi, then closed her eyes again, unwilling to let anyone see her emotions.

 

The car circled several times before finally arriving at a new hotel. Xiao Shiyi helped Xu Weishuang check in and reminded her to rest well and not pay attention to the online news.

 

But this time, Xu Weishuang didn’t obey. She opened social media, where the trending searches were flooded with terms related to her and Yan Muyu.

 

“I’ve long known Yan Muyu isn’t some perfect goddess; she’s just pretending.”

 

“Obviously a kept relationship! They rushed into a sudden marriage, and Xu Weishuang immediately quit the industry. Doesn’t that look suspicious?”

 

“How can a kept relationship last six years? They just had incompatibility and divorced. Some haters just want to spread rumors now.”

 

“Isn’t it true that kept relationships lead to quick divorces once someone new appears?”

 

“But Siyu wasn’t even Yan Muyu’s girlfriend! The only publicly known relationship was with Xu Weishuang. Just because they look a bit alike doesn’t mean substitute.”

 

“Here comes the rewriting of history. Didn’t such rumors appear when they first went public? Maybe it’s true if it’s been passed around for years.”

 

“True or not, neither of them denied the divorce, so it’s probably real. They even showed affection on TV after divorcing — deceiving the audience.”

 

“So what now? Doesn’t their PR team have to show up?”

 

“Two disgusting people faking love to make money. Fans still defend them — pathetic.”

 

There were even worse comments and heated fights between fans, but Xu Weishuang just glanced briefly and didn’t read further.

 

She was just somewhat puzzled. Yan Muyu’s image online had always been so clean, partly because of her skills and crafted persona.

 

And partly because of her sister, Yan Qingxue, the only Yan family member the media could dig up related to Yan Muyu.

 

Yan Qingxue was the public face of the Yan family’s CEO, though the matriarch didn’t favor her — or rather, didn’t favor any of her daughters. Still, Yan Qingxue was officially the heir.

 

Yan Muyu had no support from the matriarch entering the entertainment industry. Instead, she faced many obstacles, but Yan Qingxue guarded her behind the scenes. Though the Yan family didn’t expand into entertainment initially, Yan Qingxue helped Yan Muyu in other ways.

 

Later, when Yan Muyu firmly established herself in the industry, few dared to openly oppose her because of Yan Qingxue backing her.

 

Many wealthy people in that circle didn’t think highly of the Yan family daughters entering entertainment, but since the official heir supported her, naturally they made accommodations for Yan Muyu.

 

But this time, Yan Muyu’s scandal exploded uncontrollably. Even Shi Yan couldn’t suppress it. After futile efforts, they realized someone was deliberately targeting her — someone who was not afraid of Yan Qingxue.

 

Shi Yan immediately contacted Yan Muyu. After thinking it over, Yan Muyu guessed it probably wasn’t the matriarch. For the sake of the Yan family’s reputation, even if the matriarch wanted Yan Muyu out of the industry, she’d just cut off her resources or ruin her projects — she wouldn’t smear her and drag the family’s name through the mud.

 

Yan Muyu told Shi Yan to stop investigating; she would handle it herself. She then held a press conference to publicly announce her divorce from Xu Weishuang.

 

Fortunately, the divorce was finalized after the variety show. Yan Muyu could say she had not yet given up and was desperately trying to hold on to Xu Weishuang, which explained their deliberate closeness on camera. Xu Weishuang always looked cold and barely responded on the show.

 

Their relationship was easy to explain: after six years together, they realized they were incompatible and divorced amicably. There were no substitutes or betrayals.

 

They even joined Director Tao’s crew after the divorce, acting as lovers — proof of their cooperation.

 

Yan Muyu faced all the reporters alone during the explanation, answering those probing for explosive news with composure and a gentle tone, showing no panic.

 

She clarified recent rumors and said to everyone, “Siyu and I are just friends. We’ve known each other since childhood and never had any special relationship. I’m close to her because she helped me a lot when I debuted. She passed away a long time ago, so please stop defaming her. From start to finish, I have only ever loved Xu Weishuang.”

 

“I fell in love with Xu Weishuang at first sight. We married in front of our elders and made vows — it was a witnessed marriage. But in these six years, I didn’t do well enough, and naturally, our feelings faded.”

 

“Xu Weishuang didn’t do anything wrong to me. We parted on good terms and will continue to collaborate.”

 

“The online rumors about us are all untrue. Xu Weishuang isn’t anyone’s substitute — she is the one I loved.”

 

As Yan Muyu finished, a trace of loneliness showed at her eyes’ corners, convincing everyone of her sincerity and sadness.

 

Watching this interview video on the screen — it was not live but uploaded after the interview — Xu Weishuang knew this was the standard process and couldn’t tell how much of Yan Muyu’s words were true.

 

But Xu Weishuang felt pain. Hearing Yan Muyu say “love” hurt, hearing her say “our feelings faded” hurt too.

 

Yan Muyu clearly lied — they had never truly loved each other.

 

Yet Xu Weishuang’s mind recalled the night Yan Muyu’s eyes were red as she said “I love her.” That image seemed to overlap with the Yan Muyu on the screen now.

 

Unable to control her tears, Xu Weishuang wiped them away, not understanding why she was crying.

 

But wiping didn’t help — more tears flowed. She hugged her tablet tightly, her tears falling harder.

 

She didn’t want to cry, but her emotions were like a broken dam, flooding out uncontrollably.

 

Alone in the hotel room, she couldn’t hold back the emotional breakdown.

 

She wanted to dry her tears — she didn’t want to admit she was weak — but her hands shook so much she couldn’t even hold the tissue.

 

Finally, Xu Weishuang broke down.

 

She hadn’t had a single peaceful day since the divorce.

 

She thought she could endure it — that it was just the traces Yan Muyu left behind.

 

She blamed those feelings on the withdrawal symptoms caused by her dependence on Yan Muyu after his sudden departure.

 

It was just her body instinctively controlling her thoughts, and it would soon pass.

 

When she didn’t see Yan Muyu, she could endure. But the more time they spent together, the harder it was to control herself.

 

These emotions piled up, piled up, piled up.

 

At this moment, hiding in the dim room alone, she finally cried helplessly and painfully.

 

She didn’t even know what she was crying for, only venting the pain she had accumulated to the limit.

 

She kept crying, hugging herself tightly.

 

Lowering her head, her blurred eyes could no longer see Yan Muyu’s face on the screen. Tears soaked the screen, but she could still hear Yan Muyu’s gentle voice.

 

Yan Muyu wouldn’t hear her now, so wouldn’t be affected by her.

 

“Yan Muyu, come to me.”

 

Squatting in front of the screen, Xu Weishuang choked out those words.

 

She knew clearly Yan Muyu wouldn’t hear them.

 

She didn’t want Yan Muyu to hear.

 

But then, suddenly, the doorbell rang, shattering the calm like a violent splash on a still lake, startling Xu Weishuang.

 

She abruptly looked up toward the door, a strong surge of longing bursting uncontrollably from inside her.

 

She could no longer hold it back; her sobs and breaths tangled in confusion and overwhelm.

 

She scrambled and crawled to the door, trembling and eager as she opened it.

 

Standing there was someone she knew all too well. That person seemed surprised she opened so quickly, then looked at her with eyes full of concern.