Video Editor

For Lin Yunxiao, who tossed and turned in his hotel room, that night was undoubtedly a long and agonizing ordeal.

Although the soundproofing of luxury homes is excellent, it is not completely airtight.

Even Lin Yunxiao suspected that Su Ning deliberately left the door open as revenge for her deliberate distancing during this period.

After Su Ning and Chen Xiaojun returned to the master bedroom, some subtle yet suggestive noises inevitably drifted through the cracks in the door and the walls, reaching Lin Yunxiao's ears.

It might be a low chuckle, the soft creak of the bed, or a muffled, intimate whisper...

Every sound was like a red-hot branding iron, searing her heart.

She covered her ears tightly and buried her head deep in the soft pillow, trying to block out the heartbreaking sound.

But those intimate and entangled images kept uncontrollably surfacing in my mind, accompanied by the happy and content expression that Chen Xiaojun might have shown...

The venomous snake of jealousy gnawed at her sanity, making it almost impossible for her to breathe.

This was more humiliating to her than any public humiliation.

This was a silent declaration that excluded her.

It reminded her of whatever had happened between her and Su Ning in the past.
At this moment, in that room, he belonged to another woman, a woman he considered a friend.

Meanwhile, in the master bedroom.

After the passion subsided, Chen Xiaojun nestled in Su Ning's arms, her fingers unconsciously tracing circles on her husband's firm chest. Her face was still flushed, but her eyes held a hint of dazedness and loss.

"Ah Ning..." Her voice was languid with the aftermath, and tinged with an unspeakable grievance, "I... am starting to regret it now."

"Hmm?" Su Ning's deep voice came from above her head, and he wrapped his arms around her even tighter.

“I regret giving the role of ‘Qu Xiaoxiao’ to Yun Xiao.” Chen Xiaojun looked up at him with a wistful gaze. “Watching her flirt with you on camera, those intimate interactions… even though it was acting, I couldn’t help but feel a pang of jealousy. Now I finally understand why you insisted on casting me…”

"Qu Xiaoxiao and Zhao Qiping, in the play, it was almost a... an open and aboveboard romance. They could flirt without restraint, and get close to each other legitimately... Unfortunately, I gave up this opportunity myself."

Su Ning lowered his eyes, looking at the slightly agitated face of the person in his arms, and a smug smile flashed in his eyes.

I had long noticed that Chen Xiaojun had occasionally revealed a feigned magnanimity, yet undeniably concerned expression when watching related promotional materials and trailers.

"Fool, 'Ode to Joy' is just a skit. The romance between Qu Xiaoxiao and Zhao Qiping, no matter how sweet, is just a fast-food love story in modern cities. The truly profound dramas, those worth savoring, those that truly immerse us and allow us to experience another kind of life and emotion..."

"It's the next one, 'The Story of Minglan.' Sheng Minglan and Gu Tingye's story spans years, they support each other through thick and thin, and achieve success together. That's the true meaning of weathering storms together and moving forward side by side."

Chen Xiaojun's eyes lit up instantly: "The Story of Minglan? Us...?"

“That’s right,” Su Ning nodded firmly, trying her best to entice Chen Xiaojun, “Shandong Film Studio has already had the team preparing. You, Sheng Minglan. Me, Gu Tingye. From childhood sweethearts to court intrigues, from trivial matters in the household to the honor and disgrace of the family, we’re going to have a truly unforgettable and legitimate love story in the play. It will be a hundred times more profound and a hundred times more exciting than the interactions between 'Qu Xiaoxiao' and 'Dr. Zhao'.”

Upon hearing this, Chen Xiaojun's initial jealousy and regret were instantly replaced by immense anticipation and joy.

She imagined wearing ancient costumes with Su Ning and performing that long-standing love story in the grand narrative of "The Story of Minglan." That was indeed more attractive than the modern romance in "Ode to Joy," and it also better suited her inner longing for "perfect collaboration."

"Really? That's great!" Chen Xiaojun excitedly hugged Su Ning's neck, her previous slight annoyance completely gone. "Then it's a deal! You must portray Gu Tingye as both domineering and deeply affectionate!"

“Of course,” Su Ning said, watching her smile return and a satisfied smile curving his lips. He whispered his promise, “My Minglan deserves the best.”

"Now I'm worried you won't have time..."

No matter how busy I am, I will find a way to spend time with you, the leading lady.

"Humph! Sweet talk."

Inside the master bedroom, the atmosphere became warm and inviting once again.

In the guest room, separated by only a wall, Lin Yunxiao lay awake, lost in endless speculation, jealousy, and self-reproach, until dawn broke.

She was unaware of the conversation next door, only aware of the faint sounds that conveyed intimacy and reconciliation, which plunged her already complex and unspeakable heart into an even deeper abyss.

She seemed like an outsider, glimpsing a corner of someone else's perfect love.

He could only swallow this bitter cup of ambiguity, guilt, and jealousy alone.

……

As night deepened, the faint sounds from the other side of the wall had long since subsided.

Chen Xiaojun, satisfied and with sweet anticipation for "The Story of Minglan" and the weariness from the tenderness just now, curled up next to Su Ning and fell into a deep sleep, her breathing even and long.

After confirming that his wife was fast asleep, Su Ning gently pulled his arm out from under the covers and first tucked the blanket around her.

Then he sat quietly in the darkness for a moment, his deep gaze sweeping across the bedroom door, as if he could penetrate the wall and see what was happening in the guest room next door.

He picked up his phone from the bedside table, the cold light from the screen illuminating his expressionless face in the darkness.

He skillfully located the WeChat profile picture labeled "Lin Yunxiao," hesitated for a moment, then typed a message and sent it:
【have you slept? 】

The three simple words, devoid of much emotion, seemed particularly striking in the quiet of the night.

After waiting for a moment, there was no response from the other side of the screen; the chat interface remained on the lonely question he had sent.

Su Ning raised an eyebrow slightly, tapped the screen lightly with her finger, and sent another message:
If you're still awake, would it be convenient for us to chat?

Time passed second by second, but the WeChat interface remained silent.

There was no "typing..." message, no text reply, and no voice call request.

It was as if the message Suning had just sent had vanished without a trace, completely blocked by that physical and mental wall.

In the darkness, Su Ning's lips curled into an almost imperceptible, faint smile.

It wasn't displeasure, but rather a knowing and amused enjoyment.

He could almost picture Lin Yunxiao's current state in the next room...

She certainly wasn't asleep; perhaps she was gripping her phone, staring at his two messages, her chest heaving with anger and resentment, yet she gritted her teeth, stubbornly refusing to reply with a single word.

She is angry.

She was angry that he deliberately let her stay overnight, forcing her to overhear their loving relationship; she was angry that he and Chen Xiaojun were clearly a perfect match, yet he sent her such ambiguous messages late at night; and perhaps even more angry was herself, angry that she couldn't completely let go, angry that she could still be so easily swayed by him.

This silent, defiant refusal to respond is itself the most direct answer. She is expressing her discontent, her protest, and her restless, chaotic emotions in this way.

Suning did not make a voice call, nor did it send a third message.

I simply turned off the phone screen and put it back on the bedside table.

In the bedroom, only Chen Xiaojun's steady breathing and the deepening darkness of the night outside the window remained.

Suning knows that some emotions need time to ferment, and some stalemates need time to resolve.

Lin Yunxiao's "read but not replied" status at this moment proves that the turmoil in her heart is far from over.

And this is exactly the effect Suning wanted.

This silent contest, fought across the walls, seems to have only just begun.

He wasn't in a hurry; hunters are always the most patient.

……

The next morning, Lin Yunxiao walked out of the room with very obvious dark circles under her eyes.

She tossed and turned all night, barely sleeping, her mind filled with the sounds from next door and the two WeChat messages from Suning, her heart filled with mixed emotions.

She walked into the living room and found that only Chen Xiaojun was wearing an apron and preparing a delicate breakfast at the island in the open kitchen, with the aroma of toast and coffee filling the air.

"Yunxiao, you're awake? Come and have breakfast. I fried some eggs and bacon." Chen Xiaojun turned around, her complexion a stark contrast to Lin Yunxiao's haggard appearance.

Lin Yunxiao glanced around and asked casually, "Xiaojun, President Su... he left so early?"

“Yes!” Chen Xiaojun placed the fried sunny-side-up egg on a plate, her tone natural. “There’s a lot going on at the company, so he went to work early this morning. Being able to stay on set and film without worry like he did recently is a rare vacation for him.”

"I'm sorry! The role of Qu Xiaoxiao should have been yours."

"Don't say that! Although I haven't been with the troupe for long, I'm willing to help the troupe as much as I can."

"Thank you."

Lin Yunxiao nodded silently and sat down on the high chair next to the island platform.

Watching Chen Xiaojun's busy figure, that indescribable feeling of bitterness welled up in my heart again.

I picked up my fork and unconsciously poked at the fried egg on the plate, hesitating for a long time.

Finally, unable to resist any longer, she tentatively asked in what sounded as casual a tone as possible, "Xiaojun, you and President Su... are you two serious? I mean, your relationship..."

She carefully chose her words, wanting to ascertain the truth but also afraid of revealing her true intentions.

At that moment, Chen Xiaojun walked over with a coffee pot. Upon hearing the question, a happy and shy smile instantly bloomed on her face.

"Yunxiao, I'm telling you something, but you have to keep it a secret for now!" She leaned closer, her tone certain, "We... we've actually already secretly registered our marriage!"

"What?! You've registered for marriage?!" Lin Yunxiao suddenly looked up, and the fork in her hand fell onto the plate with a "clatter".

Her eyes widened, her face filled with disbelief and shock. "When did this happen? How come I had no idea!"

This news was like a bolt from the blue for her.

As Chen Xiaojun's classmate and close friend from her time at the art academy, and having worked together in a theater troupe for a period after graduation, she considers herself one of Chen Xiaojun's closest confidantes, having been involved in almost all the important moments of Chen Xiaojun's life.

But she was completely unaware of such a major event as Chen Xiaojun and Su Ning's secret marriage!
Shocked, those long-buried memories instantly resurfaced in my mind.

She certainly remembered how Chen Xiaojun and Su Ning started their relationship, the dramatic car accident that happened in 2012.

At that time, they were both still young students. Chen Xiaojun had just gotten her driver's license and was both excited and nervous.

On an ordinary September day, she was driving her newly bought secondhand car on a not-at-all road when, due to improper operation, she accidentally hit an unfortunate man walking on the side of the road.

That unlucky guy is Suning.

"Of course I remember..." Lin Yun murmured with a smile, his eyes somewhat unfocused, as if he had returned to that chaotic afternoon. "You were so scared that day that you cried and called me incoherently, saying that you had hit someone... When I rushed over, I saw President Su... At that time, he wasn't President Su yet, he was just a freshman at Zhejiang University."

That car accident was like a script that fate forcibly inserted.

Su Ning suffered amnesia due to a car accident and was forced to temporarily suspend her studies.

Out of guilt and a sense of responsibility, Chen Xiaojun made the compensation and then kept inquiring about Suning's whereabouts.

Unexpectedly, fate took a turn for the better. Su Ning played Jiang Weimin in "Parents' Love" and quickly became a big boss by investing in the film and television industry.

Later, after Su Ning returned to Zhejiang University in 2013, he met Chen Xiaojun again.

And so, the two of them got to know each other.
Then Chen Xiaojun resigned from the theater troupe for Su Ning, and together they ran "Guang Guai Lu Li" and gradually became a couple.

At the time, her colleagues even joked privately that Chen Xiaojun had been in a car accident and would not only have to pay compensation but also have to accompany someone.

Who could have imagined that the seemingly ordinary boy would display such amazing abilities and power in just two or three years, becoming the "President Su" who now dominates the investment and film industries?

"Yes!" Chen Xiaojun also fell into reminiscence, a gentle smile on her face. "Thinking about it now, it feels like a dream. Who could have imagined that the person I stumbled upon back then would become my husband?"

Lin Yun smiled as he looked at Chen Xiaojun's face, which was filled with happiness and free of any gloom. As he listened to her recount the car accident that marked the beginning of their love, his heart was in turmoil.

Unbeknownst to her, their relationship had progressed to an unbreakable level.

Secret registration...this means a double bind, both legally and emotionally.

Lin Yunxiao felt like a complete outsider, a clown with ulterior motives trying to steal her best friend's boyfriend.

Last night's jealousy, today's shock, and the bottomless guilt intertwined, almost threatening to devour her.

She could only manage a smile that looked more like a grimace, lowered her head to hide the complex emotions churning in her eyes, and whispered,

"Really? Well then... congratulations."

...(End of chapter)