Yan Shu gently removed Mu Yang's hand from her waist, picked up the pajamas she had left on the bedside last night, and got out of bed. She went into the bathroom and saw the two toothbrushes in the blue toothbrush cup. Yan Shu smiled.
She had been married to Mu Yang for two months, and she never imagined they would become this intimate. When Xiao Wei first heard she was getting married, she said, "Ah, you're finally settling down with Mu Yang. But I'm surprised, so soon." Xiao Wei then gave a mischievous smile, "Could it be that the baby in your belly can't wait any longer?"
"What?!" She blushed. A child? She instinctively touched her stomach; it couldn't be. She sighed, opened the medicine cabinet behind the mirror, took a strip of pills from a small box at the very back, took one, and swallowed it. Yes, it couldn't be.
After Yan Shu finished brushing her teeth, Mu Yang walked in, still half asleep, with messy hair and a dazed expression, completely different from his usual elite appearance.
He strained to open his eyes, trying to reach for his toothbrush cup, but accidentally bumped into the mirror. Yan Shu, who was washing her face, couldn't help but laugh.
"What are you laughing at?" The voice was particularly deep as he had just woken up, and Yan Shu blushed.
"It's nothing," she explained with a smile. If they hadn't gotten married, she really wouldn't have known that Mu Yang had low blood pressure, making it particularly difficult for him to get up in the morning. Even after waking up, he would feel groggy and unable to fully wake up for a long time.
"Definitely." Mu Yang said with certainty. He had just gotten out of bed and was most unprepared when he saw his wife, and for a moment he felt a surge of happiness. He smiled and put an arm around Yan Shu's waist. "Look, you're mocking your husband, you deserve to be punished." Then he lowered his head and kissed her.
"No." Yan Shu laughed and tried to dodge, but Mu Yang still managed to steal a kiss. When Mu Yang's tongue withdrew, Yan Shu could only lean against him, panting. After a while, she pushed him away, "Go wash up quickly. I'll go cook."
Yan Shu was cooking porridge in the kitchen when she heard Mu Yang washing up in the bathroom. She realized that happiness could be so simple.
"Hey, you've been grinning like an idiot all morning." Yang Sen plopped down in his chair after finishing a scene and waved to Yan Shu across from him. "Staring blankly again, you silly woman."
"Mind your own business." Having been around Yang Sen for so long, she had even picked up his catchphrase. Yan Shu handed Yang Sen a glass of water. "Have some water first. You still have scenes to film after she finishes this one."
"When do you think that woman will finish filming?" Yang Sen took a sip of water and pointed at the newly debuted actress. "Such a simple line requires so many takes."
Yan Shu rolled her eyes without giving a thought. "You didn't grow up step by step either, although your acting talent and growth rate are amazing." "Yes. Anyway, she's not the female lead." If she's not the female lead, people's expectations won't be so high.
"His role is quite substantial." Yang Sen frowned, looking at Yan Shu who was intently reading the script. "Why are you always so focused on it?"
"Studying, huh?" Yan Shu put the script away and picked up a notebook. "After you finish filming this scene today, you have to do an interview on TV tonight—that host is quite difficult, so be careful—remember to be polite. This afternoon, the clothing brand you endorse wants you to attend their winter collection launch. Oh, and Xiao Yi called earlier; he wants you to call him during lunch. He's coming to see you; he has something to show you. Also, could you please take a look at the script now? OK?"
"Annoying." Yang Sen took the book and looked at a few pages. He watched Yan Shu busy recording her work schedule and occasionally greeting the staff who came over. "You're so busy now, it seems like you don't even have time for your honeymoon."
Upon hearing this, Yan Shu shook her head: "It's okay. He's in the startup phase anyway, everyone's busy."
"Really?" Yang Sen narrowed his eyes upon hearing this. "Girls really do change after they get married; they start to speak up for their husbands."
"Ah Sen—" Yan Shu called out, "Why are you gossiping so much? It's damaging to your image. If Xiao Yi finds out, he'll start talking again."
"Hmph—I'm scared?" As soon as he finished speaking, Yang Sen turned his head, winked at the fans outside the venue, and blew them a kiss, which drew screams and flashes of light. He glanced at Yan Shu and said, "That's real skill."
Yan Shu smiled weakly: "Fine, I won't bother with you anymore, I have things to do." Then she stood up.
"Hey." Yang Sen called out to her. She turned around and saw Yang Sen smiling smugly. "Look who's here?" He pointed behind her. Yan Shu turned around and her heart skipped a beat: Mu Yang was walking over.
"Hey, it's been a long time since we ate together," Yang Sen said with a smile. "Let's go. Time to call it a day." This time, he was in charge.
"How did you end up here?" Yan Shu asked Mu Yang as they sat in a nearby buffet restaurant.
After taking a sip of black tea, Mu Yang smiled and said, "There just happened to be a case nearby. I remembered you said you were filming here today, so I came to check it out."
"Okay." Yan Shu nodded. "Don't overwork yourself."
Mu Yang smiled and said, "You too."
"Hey, hey, hey." Yang Sen tapped the table. "Don't be so mushy, there are outsiders here." Seriously, putting on a love scene in front of him, a lonely man, is that morally wrong?
"Jealous?" Mu Yang asked with a smile. Unlike Yan Shu's shyness.
"Go away, this young master..." Yang Sen snorted disdainfully.
Yan Shu laughed: "Alright, I know you can do it." She turned to Mu Yang and said, "I'm full, I'm going to wash my hands." Then she stood up.
Mu Yang watched her disappear around the corner before turning around and meeting Yang Sen's gossipy eyes.
"What's up?"
"Feeling good now, huh?" Yang Sen grinned wickedly. "Hey, I did a great job carrying out your mission, didn't I?"
"Yes." Mu Yang nodded. "You deserve praise. Thank you, Asen."
"It's nothing. We're friends, after all. Besides, even that silly woman, Xiao Shu, isn't bad." He couldn't be bothered with her being too silly. "You two are happy now."
“There are still problems between her and me…” A shadow fell over Mu Yang’s face as he said this. “I don’t know why, but it’s not that simple.” Especially after he discovered that thing, he always felt that his happiness was somewhat fragile. He was a person who knew very well what he wanted, but this matter always felt beyond his control because too many of his emotions were tied to Xiao Shu.
"What else could have happened? We've overcome so many challenges, haven't we?" Yang Sen sighed. "I'm actually a little envious of you guys. To be honest."
“Xiao Wei is very smart. She just needs more time.” He smiled and comforted her, but his gaze fell on Yan Shu, who was walking towards him. “Unlike this woman, she’s a bit slow.” He smiled and looked at her with affection.
"What did you say? Why are you so happy?"
"It's nothing, we just talked about things from the past." Mu Yang pulled out a chair for her. "I'll pick you up tonight."
Yan Shu paused for a moment, then quickly smiled happily, "Okay."
Yan Shu dragged Yang Sen out of the TV station and shoved him into Mu Yang's car parked downstairs, shouting, "Hurry up! Mu Yang, drive!"
This is what Mu Yang, who had been waiting below the TV station, saw. Without suspecting anything, he immediately stepped on the gas and sped away.
Once on the road, Yan Shu looked around and breathed a sigh of relief: "Let's find a hotel that's nearby."
Yang Sen, his face grim, suddenly burst into a tirade: "Damn it! Why did you drag me out like this? I haven't even beaten that guy to death yet!" He then yelled at Mu Yang, "Mu Yang, go back!"
"What are you doing!" Yan Shu's head was throbbing with pain. "We finally escaped. Now you want to go back and die? Xiao Yi's sacrifice wouldn't be worth it!"
Heaven knows how to answer the question about appearing on this show, and heaven knows where that host got Xiao Wei's information. Yes, the media in this world is getting crazier and crazier, but why are they so unlucky? When the host asked, "I heard that our heartthrob hasn't won the heart of a single girl yet," Yang Sen's face already turned pale. Who knew that the host would be so reckless as to continue asking, "Is she trying to play the long game?" Yang Sen jumped up and punched the host. The scene was chaotic. The TV station hurriedly interrupted with commercials, Xiao Yi rushed forward to calm things down, and she quickly pulled Yang Sen off the set.
Fortunately, she ran into Mu Yang. Yan Shu sighed, but something flashed through her mind: Right, Xiao Wei.
She quickly took out her phone and dialed Xiao Wei's number. After a couple of rings, Xiao Wei answered the phone.
"Hello? Xiao Wei," Yan Shu said anxiously, "Have you been watching TV?"
"No, what is it?"
"Listen carefully, Xiaowei, whatever you do, don't look out the window." The words had barely left her lips when a "whoosh" sound came from Xiaowei's end. Oh no, Xiaowei had pulled back the curtains.
A moment later, Xiao Wei asked, "Excuse me, has there been a murder near my house?" There were so many people here.
"No, it's you and Yang Sen... who might be making the entertainment headlines."
There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone, then Xiao Wei's calm voice came through again: "Tell Yang Sen..."
Yan Shu held the phone to Yang Sen's ear...
"Go to hell!" The loud shout almost ruptured his eardrums.
"I can't help you," Yan Shu said sadly. "Good luck to you."
"I'm so tired." As soon as she got home, Yan Shu collapsed onto the sofa, not wanting to move at all. The moment she relaxed, all the fatigue washed over her; she felt like she was falling apart.
Mu Yang poured a glass of water and placed it on the table, then sat down next to her. Yan Shu naturally leaned against him.
"So tired?"
"Yeah. But it'll be better once Xiao Yi appears." Feeling comfortable, Yan Shu subconsciously moved closer.
"Why?"
“With Xiao Yi’s methods, he can hold a press conference tomorrow. Ah Sen can play the lovestruck man and win everyone’s sympathy. It’s just that Xiao Wei… won’t have any peace and quiet for a while.” Yan Shu paused. “Even so, there will still be an impact, it just depends on how people make up for it.”
"Then I can rest assured." Mu Yang said with a smile, enjoying the feeling of being embraced by a warm and fragrant body. "Why are you still so tired?"
"I just feel so tired," Yan Shu sighed. "The rest is going to be really troublesome. Maybe I'm just not cut out for this line of work."
"Then stay home and relax."
Huh? At home?
Yan Shu looked up at Mu Yang, who was smiling. "Yes, I'll support you. You can continue writing your script, and..." He paused, placed his hand on Yan Shu's stomach, and looked at her, "Let's have a child."
Child...child?
"Wait a minute!" Yan Shu pushed away Mu Yang's leaning body. "I...I..."
"Don't you want children?" Mu Yang's words were full of understanding. He took a bottle of medicine out of his pocket and threw it on the table. "I found this when I was tidying up the medicine cabinet last night." Heaven knows how shocked and heartbroken he was when he found this bottle of medicine.
"This...this is just Vitamin C." Yan Shu turned her face away, not daring to look at Mu Yang, and hurriedly put the medicine away, but she was flustered and didn't do it well.
"Don't I know?" Mu Yang's voice was low. "Why don't you want a child? Haven't you made up your mind to be with me yet?"
"No...no..." Yan Shu looked up, explaining nervously. Seeing Mu Yang's grave face, her heart tightened. "Really. No." It really wasn't. It was because she loved him too much, afraid that one day he would leave her, because they were so incompatible. If they had a child, then... Yan Shu thought, murmuring, "Really, no, no."
Why is that?
"Because...because..." Yan Shu opened her mouth, then swallowed the words that were about to come out, and put on a forced smile, "Because we are still in the process of building our careers, we don't have the energy to take care of the child, and we can't give the child the best, so..."
Mu Yang stared at her face. Didn't Xiao Shu know? She couldn't lie at all; she'd always been like that. But even though he didn't know what she was thinking, he had to give her time. Mu Yang sighed and pulled Yan Shu into his arms: "You're right. Let's not have children yet." Although he really wanted a child, one like Xiao Shu, and also like himself, "but I'll take care of the work. You don't need to take your medicine anymore. It's bad for your health, you know?"
"Mm." Yan Shu nodded. Mu Yang, you're so good to me, so I really don't deserve you. Listening to Mu Yang's steady heartbeat, Yan Shu couldn't help but hug him tighter. "Thank you."
"No need to say that. Just don't keep me waiting too long," he said, his words carrying a double meaning.
Yan Shu did not answer.
8.2
Everything was calm, the rain had stopped and the sun was shining, including herself and Mu Yang, and Yang Sen's troubles. But only they knew the hardship, just like the subtle atmosphere between herself and Mu Yang. Only they knew, Yan Shu thought, looking out the window.
Sitting in her office, Yan Shu sighed, put down her pen, and set the letter and gift aside. More and more people were supporting Asen, and many were even advising Xiao Wei to marry him directly. Asen was getting a free ride, she thought.
Looking at the clock on the wall, it's almost lunchtime. I've almost finished my work for the day. Their working hours aren't very fixed, so they have a fair amount of flexibility.
I'm so tired. Maybe I can take a break this afternoon, since Ah Sen has Xiao Yi to look after him.
"Hey, Sister Yan, aren't you going to eat?" The younger sister poked half her head in through the door. "We're planning to eat at the Japanese restaurant across the street. Their rice balls are really good. Are you coming?"
"No, thank you," Yan Shu declined with a smile. "I'm going out this afternoon. Call me if you need anything." Rice ball? Maybe I could go see Mu Yang.
Yes, at that very moment, she longed to see Mu Yang.
Holding two lunchboxes, Yan Shu stood downstairs at Mu Yang's studio, blaming herself for her impulsive actions. She glanced at her watch, wondering if Mu Yang had left work yet. She really hadn't thought things through.
I sighed, walked into the building, took the elevator, and watched the lights on the elevator turn on one by one.