She wasn't jealous

Joining a man for food at a roadside stall was the highest honor she could offer.

Yun Xiaoran followed Zhou Yanqi with a stiff expression and awkward movements, holding a heavy box containing an expensive gold bracelet and a greeting card.

The greeting card had been a gift from the shop assistant. He had to choose a slip with a blessing to put inside, so Yun Xiaoran could only pick one that read, "Wishing my wife success in her career and happiness every day." He had been nervous even as he wrote that blessing.

All his tasks were done. He only had to accompany this girl around the entire night market before he could go home.

It wasn't that he was overthinking things. This girl simply had far too much energy, bouncing around the night market like a little dynamo. One moment, she said the chicken drumsticks were delicious and wanted to buy him one; the next, she was praising the shrimp.

In short, Yun Xiaoran followed her around without spending much money at all. Zhou Yanqi kept buying two portions: a small one for herself and a large one for him.

Since she had asked him for a favor today, she had to spend some time keeping him company, even if she had other things to do. Otherwise, who would she turn to if she needed to record another song like this?

"It looks like you two have been getting along pretty well these past few days." Sister Hua held Shen Jin's slender, delicately boned hand and studied her with interest.

"Although he's an obsessive fan, he's actually a pretty good cook."

After nodding thoughtfully,

Shen Jin also began mentally counting the enjoyable moments she had shared with Yun Xiaoran.

"Sounds like you're making good progress. Just a week ago, you were sworn enemies, and now you talk about everything."

As Sister Hua teased Shen Jin, she leaned close to her ear and whispered, "You seem to have become friends already. What do you want to become next?"

"..."

Dressed in pajamas, Shen Jin curled up on the sofa and stared at her feet, her gaze painfully awkward. She thought again of the love letters Yun Xiaoran had written and still couldn't decide how to face him.

Shen Jin's pale, pink-tinged feet curled up as well. Right now, she didn't want to answer Sister Hua's question.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk..." Seeing how preoccupied Shen Jin looked, Sister Hua turned serious and began reporting to her:

"Mainland actors are branching out now, and the media have quietly started labeling you a pretty face and a traffic-driven idol. For someone with your diva status, you've landed very few major roles or nominations for your work this year..."

Shen Jin had been staring blankly at her feet. Hearing Sister Hua start discussing work while she was lost in thought, she flopped petulantly into Sister Hua's lap and said:

"Does that mean you want me to act?"

"Of course. We also still need to get in touch with Great God Lone Cloud. Who would've guessed that such an unassuming lyricist and composer lived right here in Linshun City?"

Shen Jin's words gave Sister Hua a headache too. Great God Lone Cloud remained aloof and refused to reply to her messages. As long as he hadn't signed with one of domestic entertainment's Three Stars and One Radiance, she would keep worrying.

"No, we have to get Lone Cloud signed with China Star Entertainment, even if I have to negotiate the terms with him myself." Lying sideways in Sister Hua's lap, Shen Jin bit her thin lips.

Great God Lone Cloud certainly had a knack for traditional-style songs. If he accepted commissions, Shen Jin really hoped he could write one for her—a song she could listen to endlessly without getting tired of it.

Shen Jin had barely managed to rest. This day off seemed even more exhausting than going to the company to handle her usual business. Besides, she had spent the entire morning on edge, afraid Yun Xiaoran would hand her a love letter.

With Yun Xiaoran still out, she wasn't quite so nervous, but her heart continued to pound...

Love letters + meeting a friend + coming home late. Once those three phrases came together in Shen Jin's mind, she inexplicably began to feel agitated.

Could the love letters have been meant for someone else?

Once that thought sprang into her mind, Shen Jin grew even more restless. She kept glancing toward Yun Xiaoran's room until she finally decided to take a look inside:

"I'll go check Yun Xiaoran's room. I think I left something in there yesterday."

"Okay." Sister Hua was watching television. Besides, this was between husband and wife, so it wasn't her place to say anything.

Shen Jin walked slowly to Yun Xiaoran's room. When she opened the door, she saw exactly what she hadn't wanted to see: his love letters were already nowhere to be found.

Within a few breaths, Shen Jin understood what had happened...

Her husband had taken love letters to another girl, and the two of them were going out for a candlelit dinner.

Shen Jin stood on the balcony with her face taut for several minutes before she calmed down.

She and Yun Xiaoran were only temporarily married after a whirlwind wedding. There was no reason to be angry because he liked another girl. She ought to be happy instead. At that thought, Shen Jin couldn't help forcing a stiff smile as she sat rigidly on the bed.

Now that Yun Xiaoran liked someone else, she wouldn't have to worry about him falling for her and pestering her.

Even if she felt upset now, it was only because she felt he had lied to her.

Behind her back, he had already given the other girl his address and stayed up writing love letters the night before their meeting.

If he liked her so much, why hide it?

She might indeed have minded a little that Yun Xiaoran was dating another woman while their marriage was still in effect.

But she wasn't jealous!

It was simply humiliating to be "cheated on." Shen Jin was a good girl who had never been in a relationship.

That was why she was especially invested in her first relationship. Even though her marriage to Yun Xiaoran was only for appearances, she couldn't help developing some affection for him.

Besides, she was still his wife in name. The thought that Yun Xiaoran would bring her cold squid and chicken drumsticks after enjoying a candlelit dinner with that woman made her feel especially miserable once she fully slipped into the role of his wife.

Her thoughts in disarray, she opened the door, then sat on the sofa without a word.

She stubbornly insisted that she had no feelings for Yun Xiaoran. One could also describe her as being so immersed in her role's sorrow that she couldn't pull herself out.

While watching television, Sister Hua happened to glance at Shen Jin and noticed that something was wrong with her mood. She leaned closer and asked, "Jin'er, you've had another disagreement with Yun Xiaoran, haven't you?"

Not long after getting married, Shen Jin had become somewhat moody. Sister Hua felt that Shen Jin, who had vowed to be a career powerhouse, really had fallen for him.

"No. What disagreement? We've always been like this."

Sitting on the sofa, Shen Jin began explaining herself to Sister Hua as earnestly as she could. But rather than explaining things to Sister Hua, she seemed to be reassuring herself.

Sister Hua: "..."

You're already being obvious enough, you know?

Shen Jin had wanted a drink, but drinking would only harm her health. She might as well sit here and try to clear her head.

Yet she kept growing angrier inside, even though she didn't want to feel this way.

As they walked along the snack street, Yun Xiaoran checked his phone. Apart from ninety-nine unread messages on VA Station, his writer's assistant app was also maxed out at ninety-nine notifications, most of them readers urging him to update.

He checked the time too. It was already around seven in the evening. If he got back much later, he probably wouldn't even be allowed through the door.

Had Shen Jin eaten yet?

Yun Xiaoran sent Shen Jin a message. Feeling it was about time to leave, he quietly told Zhou Yanqi, who still hadn't had her fill of the market, "Let's call it a day. I still have to bring some chicken drumsticks home for my wife..."

"This guy..."

A flicker of disappointment crossed Zhou Yanqi's eyes, but she quickly concealed it. Yun Xiaoran's attitude was more or less what she had expected:

"All right. If you're heading back now, let me give you a ride. My home is in the same direction."

"No, it's fine." Yun Xiaoran waved off her offer. "I can enjoy the summer evening breeze. Besides, I was planning to walk home anyway."

"Well, this place is even farther away than the café. If you came from the east, it'll take you at least half an hour just to walk back to the café. Getting home could easily take an hour." Zhou Yanqi lowered her head, blinking her beautiful eyes slyly as she gently parted her lips:

"You wouldn't want your whole chicken legs and griddle-fried squid to go cold on the way, would you?"

At that, Yun Xiaoran immediately hesitated. "Well..."

"When they're hot, those chicken legs are tender, delicious, and juicy. One bite makes you want another. But once they're cold, they're just tough, with a faint bloody taste..." Zhou Yanqi continued using the difference between hot and cold food to chip away at Yun Xiaoran's resolve.

"Well, then I'd better take your car. Won't all this food leave a strong smell, though?" Yun Xiaoran asked tentatively, doubt filling his eyes.

"No. Just tie the bags tightly. We'll get there in no time." Zhou Yanqi began downplaying every concern he had, all for one purpose: to lure him into her car.

An almost imperceptible smile tugged at her lips. Once she was driving and Yun Xiaoran was in the car, wouldn't she get to decide where they went?

You want me to drop you off near your home? No way! I'm taking you right to your front door!

"All right." In the end, Yun Xiaoran got into Zhou Yanqi's car.