Chapter 32: Happiness in Captivity

You destroyed my happiness, yet you smile and ask me to witness yours.

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“Why didn’t you say you were bullied?”
Her lips moved, amusement flickering in her eyes. Before the pitiful performance of the other, when had he ever given her a chance to defend herself? Besides, the one who had inflicted the deepest humiliation was him.
Yet she knew better than to provoke him further. She spoke lightly, “It won’t happen again. The speed at which romance plots update is faster than a rocket—you dare not believe it?”
He turned and went into the bathroom, returning with a hot towel. “Take off your clothes.”
She bit her lip and obeyed. He sat beside her, gently wiping the cold sweat from her skin. The towel passed over her back, releasing a faint aroma of dried liquor. He paused, lifted the towel to his nose, and looked up, signaling her to explain.
“She poured wine on me first, so…”
“No need to say more.” His gaze grew ever deeper. After drying her cold sweat, he helped her lie down. She clutched the pillow, trembling slightly. After a while, he lay close beside her, his arm wrapping around her waist. She wanted to flee but could only stiffen, puppet-like.
Just when she thought the torment of tonight would begin, she heard his deep voice, tinged with the faint scent of tobacco, “Rest. Don’t think about things you shouldn’t.”

The filming schedule did not change because of her injury, nor did those who envied her for attaining such “honor” upon entering the entertainment world have any inkling of what had happened to her.

This was Xue Zuin’s second time meeting Mu Chenxi—the woman who radiated confidence and brightness, like a rose blooming under the blazing sun. She still remembered Liang Feili’s cryptic words at the party; perhaps his insinuation had been pointing to Mu Chenxi before her.
The cold smile in her eyes faded as the confident figure drew near. Xue Zuin looked at the radiant, smiling face in the mirror and suddenly felt a chill.
That look—it was as if the legitimate wife was appraising the mistress.

“Miss Xue, you seem nervous?” Mu Chenxi smiled with gentle charm, every angle of her eyes and brows carrying an undeniable allure. “Makeup artist, her eyeshadow isn’t deep enough. Touch it up.”
Xue Zuin smiled without speaking, docilely allowing the makeup artist to work on her face, inwardly mocking her own sensitivity. Lu Huaining was the true source of all evil—why should she bow and scrape before Mu Chenxi?
The first day’s shoot went smoothly; the last scene ended in the warm glow of sunset. On screen, a green lawn, a girl with arms outstretched, eyes closed, shouting to the sky, “Mu Yang, I want you to live forever in my shadow!” The boy beneath her shadow merely smiled indulgently, accepting her every action.
“Cut!” Mu Chenxi put down her script. “That’s a wrap.”
After removing her makeup, Xue Zuin pondered how to leave when she heard a gentle voice behind her.
“O-O, it seems Cinderella’s pumpkin carriage got stuck in traffic?”
She turned and saw Aron’s captivating face before her, his fox-like eyes sweeping over every expression, thick brows raised lightly. “You seem accustomed to the cold.”
“Perhaps.” Xue Zuin took out two coins. “Would you like to take the bus?”
Aron looked at her implicit rejection, smiling warmly, his light blue pupils flickering with complexity. Just as Xue Zuin expected him to turn away with pride, he picked up one of the coins from her palm, raising his handsome brow. “Let me show you a magic trick.”
Before she could grasp his meaning, he clasped his hands, flipped them, and opened them again—revealing a lollipop in his broad palm.
Xue Zuin couldn’t help but laugh. “If your fans knew their idol carried lollipops, what new nickname would they give you? Little boy?”
“Impolite…” Perhaps it was the repeated gesture from their scenes together, but Aron habitually reached out to lightly tap her head. Then, catching sight of a black Maybach parked steadily under the avenue’s shade, he smiled knowingly. “Your tardy prince seems to have finally arrived.”
“I’m not Cinderella, so why would there be any childish prince?” Xue Zuin shrugged, watching Mu Chenxi climb proudly into the car amid adoring gazes, the vehicle soon vanishing from sight. Three seconds later, a message appeared.
Glancing at the brief words on her screen, Xue Zuin looked up and gave him an apologetic smile. “I must go.”

But the man raised his hand, taking the last coin from her palm. “You probably won’t need it.” He placed the red lollipop in her hand. “Remember, I am Xu Ze. And remember to smile.”
Xue Zuin watched his dashing figure as he left, confusedly rubbing the spot where his grip had hurt her lips. She turned toward the corner, knowing a car would be waiting to take her back to that cold space.
“Miss Xue, please get in.” The driver, as usual, got out to open the door for her.
Without any superfluous words, Xue Zuin docilely entered the silent space the man had arranged for her.
The car weaved through the bustling traffic. Xue Zuin curled up lazily in a corner. Tonight marked the seventieth birthday of the Lu family’s matriarch—a grand occasion for Shengtian. No wonder that man was bringing Mu Chenxi to attend. The woman’s victorious smile before boarding must have been meant to remind her of the vast gulf between them.
She saw Lu Huaining again, but only on a televised replay. On screen, Mu Chenxi clung adorably to his arm, her pale lilac dress matching his silver-gray suit—striking and harmonious, yet stabbing her eyes with pain.
“Ning Ning, did you know Director Mu’s boyfriend is actually President Lu of Shengtian?” Her assistant, Xiaomi, distractedly touched up her makeup, eyes never leaving the screen, muttering, “No wonder ‘Falling Flowers’ had such a high budget. The logic finally makes sense…”
Xue Zuin’s thoughtful gaze swept over Mu Chenxi’s neck, where a silk scarf concealed more than it revealed. Rumors had long circulated through the crew. She smiled inwardly—did this mean her own sentence was nearly over?
With no announcements that afternoon, Xue Zuin removed her makeup and left the set early, casting aside the speculative mockery of those behind her. Who was her sponsor? If one day they learned it was Lu Huaining, that drama would be even more exciting than any plot!
She had just pushed open the villa door when a burst of delicious aroma greeted her. She knew it must be Xiaoyu’s handiwork, and while changing her shoes, she called out, “Xiaoyu, do you need me to help…”
The word “help” stuck in her throat as her startled gaze caught the imposing figure stepping out of the study.