C15 That Annoying Face!!

Su Mingyue's response was principled, yet Chu Yun was unconvinced.

"Mingyue, when it comes down to it, we're family. Selling a house is a major decision; why didn't you consult with me?" Chu Yun argued with conviction. "We're newlyweds, the perfect time to deepen our bond. I get that we can't live in a large villa, especially with the Su family's financial troubles. But to sell even this modest home seems a bit extreme, doesn't it? It's as if I'm failing as a spouse."

Had Chu Yun spoken these unfiltered words six months earlier, Su Mingyue might have been emotionally stirred. But now, she remained unruffled.

Noticing Su Mingyue's disinterest in further dialogue, Chu Yun pledged earnestly, "Rest assured, I'll secure a steady job to contribute to our household. From here on out, we'll work together to forge a harmonious and fulfilling home."

Su Mingyue continued to gaze at the LCD screen, wordlessly.

Chu Yun let the matter of the house sale go. As soon as Xue Chaoqing made the call, their risk of homelessness would be averted.

He patted his belly and asked, "Are you hungry? I've been drinking all evening and could go for some late-night food."

Su Mingyue shook her head, sparing with her words.

"Eat something; you've slimmed down these past six months." Chu Yun's voice softened, embodying the tenderness of a devoted husband.

Regardless of Su Mingyue's consent, he headed straight for the kitchen.

Within minutes, he emerged with a bowl in hand, an apron tied around his waist. "For steamed egg custard, do I start with cold or hot water?"

"Warm water," Su Mingyue instructed.

"Ah," Chu Yun nodded, as if a lightbulb had gone off. "And the salt and green onions—do I add them now or after it's steamed?"

The salt was to be added immediately, but the green onions needed to be added post-steaming.

Finding the back-and-forth too taxing, Su Mingyue frowned slightly and stood up. "I'll do it."

Chu Yun didn't object. As a married couple sharing life's journey, there was no need for such formalities.

"I'll chop the green onions for you."

As they entered the kitchen, Chu Yun began chopping while asking, "Mingyue, do you know how to make mixed sauce noodles? Just egg custard isn't very filling."

Su Mingyue placed the seasoned eggs into the steamer and set a pot of water to boil for the other ingredients, paying no mind to Chu Yun.

"That smells amazing."

Chu Yun gave a thumbs-up, inhaling the aroma of the sauce Su Mingyue was frying.

Half an hour later, the mixed sauce noodles were done, and the egg custard had been taken out of the steamer early.

Chu Yun brought the late-night snack to the dining table, inviting Su Mingyue to join him.

"You go ahead, I'm not hungry," Su Mingyue said indifferently, returning to the sofa.

Seeing that she really wasn't in the mood to eat, Chu Yun resigned himself to dining alone.

After a satisfying meal, he lit a cigarette with a sense of contentment and mused, "Marrying a wife like you, who's as adept in the parlor as in the kitchen, not to mention beautiful and sexy... my ancestors must have done a lot of good deeds."

"Go to the balcony," Su Mingyue said with a frown.

Chu Yun got the hint, holding the cigarette in his mouth until he was out on the balcony before exhaling the smoke.

She couldn't stand tobacco or alcohol; even the smell was repulsive to her.

Chu Yun, slightly tipsy from his meal, had momentarily forgotten this.

As he smoked, he admired the nighttime view of the complex. The location was decent, and the house's interior was quite nice. Yet, it paled in comparison to the large villa he lived in just six months prior.

Glancing at Su Mingyue, who sat in silence, Chu Yun felt a subtle shift in his heart. Despite the downgrade from a villa to a modest apartment, from a pampered heir to his current humble state, she hadn't changed at all. Serene, reticent, and unadorned, she continued to live each day with her own composed approach, unshaken by wealth or hardship.

She was indeed a woman of remarkable inner strength.

After finishing his cigarette, Chu Yun awkwardly approached the living room and ventured, "Mingyue, I think the air conditioner in my room is broken. Last night I sweated through my sleep."

"Please have the repair person come tomorrow morning," Su Mingyue said.

Chu Yun peered around and spoke with a hint of caution, "Your room seems quite cool. I can put up with a lot, but I just can't stand the heat..."

"Don't overstep," Su Mingyue replied, her voice light yet laced with firmness.

Chu Yun quickly clarified, "That's not what I meant." After a brief pause, he added, "I just thought I could sleep on the floor in your room to stay cool."

"Good night."

Su Mingyue rose and returned to her room, her expression unwelcoming.

Perhaps feeling her privacy had been breached, she closed the door with a resounding thud.

Chu Yun let out an awkward chuckle and retreated to his room, looking rather disheveled.

He had come to understand the nature of his relationship with Su Mingyue: they were a couple in name only, strangers in essence.

She was indifferent to Chu Yun's actions and unconcerned with who he was. Whether he was talented or inept, successful or a failure, none of it would alter her demeanor towards him.

Su Mingyue had been commanded to marry and had consented at the time. Now, she wouldn't initiate a divorce, but if Chu Yun proposed it, she would agree without hesitation.

Such was the cool and distant relationship between this husband and wife.

The night passed without incident.

At the break of dawn, Su Mingyue left the house.

She was on her way to Unhindered Entertainment to sign the termination papers and then take on the hefty penalty fee by herself. Even after selling her house, she would need to come up with ten million to cover the first year's debt.

She was under pressure and felt exhausted. But since the Su family business had collapsed, she had grown accustomed to a life of stress. She never complained nor saw any value in doing so. Her pride and self-respect made her a woman who didn't shy away from hardship, or so it seemed.

With her agent by her side, she returned to Unhindered Entertainment and headed straight for the executive meeting room. The company's legal team and other relevant personnel were there waiting for her.

Yet, while still in the hallway, she was met with a sharp, mocking voice.

"Su Mingyue, the company gave you an opportunity. But you just couldn't cut it!"

The speaker was a stylishly dressed woman with a striking presence, appearing to be in her late twenties, with a retinue of four or five assistants, exuding the air of a star with her entourage.

Her name was Chiang Yuan, and she was the undisputed leading lady of Unhindered Entertainment. With nearly a decade in the business and roles in dozens of film and television dramas, she was a bona fide A-list celebrity. However, her reputation was marred by incessant scandals, which also hindered Unhindered Entertainment's plans to promote her as the face of a new generation of leading actresses.

Su Mingyue had only recently joined Unhindered Entertainment, but her career skyrocketed with resources that seemed to defy reality, thanks in part to the dedicated mentorship of Xue Chaoqing. Chiang Yuan, perceiving Su Mingyue as a direct threat, was intent on eliminating her rival swiftly.

Despite Chiang Yuan's attempts to kick her while she was down, Su Mingyue remained composed as she made her way to the meeting room. Chiang Yuan blocked her path, taunting her with a sneer.

"Look at you, about to be out of a job and still playing the high and mighty," Chiang Yuan said with a mocking tone. "Do you really think you can play the saint in this cutthroat industry?"

Su Mingyue's manager, who had been following close behind, felt the pressure of Chiang Yuan's influence and discreetly distanced herself.

As an employee of Unhindered Entertainment, she was on their payroll. With Su Mingyue's position seemingly on the line, she dared not cross the company's top star.

"If you've got any integrity, leave the industry," Chiang Yuan scoffed. "If it's money you're after, then drop the act that everyone finds so irritating! Trying to be a saint while playing the sinner?"