Chapter 627: Queen Zhong's acting skills are off the charts, and Zhang Yaqian is not to be outdone!
Heavenly Queen Zhong Lingyin had just returned from the film set, clearly having shot a period drama, as she was still wearing a light blue cheongsam that beautifully accentuated her figure, and her makeup was exquisitely delicate and peerlessly stunning. Zhong Lingyin, hailed as the National Heavenly Queen with countless fans, didn't even need to discuss her acting; with just her face and figure, she could captivate and enamor countless people, making it no exaggeration to call her a beauty capable of toppling nations. At this moment, a mischievous glint in her exquisite brows made her appear even more vibrant, lively, and captivatingly beautiful.
"Zhong Lingyin?" Zhang Yaqian, the deceptively innocent First Young Miss of Hangzhou, was also startled upon seeing Zhong Lingyin. The delicate qingtuan she was holding for Shen Anyu nearly slipped from her chopsticks and tumbled to the ground. The sudden arrival of the superstar felt like a scene from a movie, a jarring cut that ripped through the already tense atmosphere of the dining room.
She never expected to see the National Heavenly Queen, Zhong Lingyin, here in the legendary Jinxiu Mountain Villa No. 1, acting with such casual and unnerving familiarity. It was one thing to see her on screen or on a billboard, an untouchable icon of glamour and grace. It was another thing entirely to see her walk into what was rapidly becoming a battlefield of affections, her presence instantly escalating the conflict to a whole new level.
"Mm, I am Zhong Lingyin." Her voice was a silken whisper, gentle and sweet, carrying the practiced modulation of a seasoned actress. She offered Zhang Yaqian a smile that was both dazzling and disarming, a weaponized charm that left no room for hostility.
Without waiting for another response, Zhong Lingyin moved. The click of her high heels on the polished floor was sharp and deliberate, each step a declaration. She moved like an elegant Persian cat, a creature of pure grace and predatory confidence. She reached the table, hung her pristine white Chanel handbag over the back of an empty chair, and then leaned down. The movement was fluid, practiced, and utterly devastating. She pressed a light, lingering peck on Shen Anyu's cheek, a gesture of intimate ownership performed for the entire audience. Then, with a subtle, sinuous twist of her waist, she settled into the seat right beside him, her light blue cheongsam a stark, elegant contrast to the simmering tension in the room.
Her eyes, sparkling with a playful light, found his. "Husband, did you miss me?"
The word 'Husband' struck the room like a thunderclap.
"Of course," Shen Anyu replied with an easy smile, utterly unfazed, as if this were the most natural exchange in the world.
Zhang Yaqian's starry eyes widened until they felt like they would pop from their sockets. Her small, palm-sized face, usually a mask of composed sweetness, was now a canvas of pure, unadulterated shock. The chopsticks in her hand, still clutching the green dumpling, lost their battle with gravity. With a sharp clatter, they fell from her trembling fingers and scattered across the dining table.
'What's going on?' The question screamed through her mind, drowning out all other thoughts.
Zhong Lingyin… the National Heavenly Queen… called him husband?
'No… it can't be. Is Zhong Lingyin also one of Shen Anyu's women?' The implication was staggering, almost too much to process.
Given Zhang Yaqian's status as the jewel of Hangzhou's high society, she was privy to the inner workings of the elite. She knew that Zhong Lingyin was far more than just a celebrity. Her background was extraordinary, her influence immense, and she had meticulously maintained an image of pristine purity. Countless scions from the most prominent families had thrown themselves at her feet, offering fortunes and power, only to be rebuffed and return in utter defeat.
The whispers in their circles were legendary. There was once a particularly arrogant rich heir who, blinded by desire, had attempted to use underhanded tactics, to force Zhong Lingyin into a corner. The man didn't just fail; he vanished. His name, his face, his entire existence was wiped from the public record. The colossal family business that had propped up his arrogance went bankrupt overnight, imploding with a speed that sent shockwaves through the entire financial world. That incident alone spoke volumes about the terrifying power lurking behind the superstar's dazzling smile. She wasn't just a big star in the entertainment industry; she was a queen on a throne of invisible power.
And not long ago, the entire nation had been shaken when Zhong Lingyin officially announced she had a boyfriend, a mysterious figure known only as the Jade Prince. The two had even co-composed a song, "Sakura Night," a release so monumental it had instantly crashed Weibo's servers and dominated every trending topic across Yanxia for weeks.
Jade Prince… Shen Anyu…
The pieces slammed together in Zhang Yaqian's mind with the force of a physical blow. 'Could Shen Anyu… could he be the Jade Prince?'
She gently bit her lower lip, the slight sting grounding her in the horrifying new reality. A crushing pressure began to build in her chest. Competing for a man was one thing. Competing with a woman like Zhong Lingyin—a captivating, powerful, and utterly adored National Heavenly Queen—was an entirely different war, one she felt terrifyingly unprepared for.
Bai Bing and Wu Shenyun were undeniably beautiful, each possessing a peerless grace that could captivate any man. But Zhang Yaqian had assessed them, analyzed them. She could tell that while they both harbored deep feelings for Shen Anyu, their personalities were awkward, their pride a cage. They wouldn't—or couldn't—speak up, couldn't be as direct and proactive as she was. In the brutal game of love, they belonged to the 'defeated dog' category, pining from the sidelines.
But Zhong Lingyin… a presence like hers was a force of nature. Zhang Yaqian couldn't imagine a single man on earth who could resist her calculated charm and overwhelming charisma.
The pressure was immense, suffocating.
'Husband, why do you have so many women?' The thought was a silent, desperate cry. Even with her famously good temper, she couldn't stop herself from casting a resentful glare at Shen Anyu.
However, Zhang Yaqian was not one to surrender. The delicate, timid exterior was a carefully constructed facade. Beneath it lay a will of forged steel. Otherwise, she never would have dared to so openly monopolize Shen Anyu right in front of the formidable Bai Bing and Wu Shenyun, knowing full well their terrifying strength, even going so far as to subtly frame them as jealous onlookers.
Seeing the masterclass in charm Zhong Lingyin had just displayed, Zhang Yaqian's fighting spirit didn't just flicker; it erupted into a blazing inferno. A sweet, captivating smile, even more brilliant than before, bloomed on her pretty face. She leaned forward, her voice dripping with honeyed innocence.
"What a coincidence, Sister Zhong Lingyin. Zhang Yaqian's husband is also your husband."
Her words were a perfectly aimed volley, a declaration of war disguised as a pleasantry. She then gestured gracefully towards the other two women, who were radiating evident hostility.
"And these two, Sister Bai Bing and Sister Wu Shenyun, they also like Husband."
She paused, her wide, innocent eyes fixed on the Heavenly Queen. "Sister Zhong Lingyin, don't you mind?"
The challenge was laid bare. The sweet girl had just thrown a grenade into the center of the room.
Bai Bing and Wu Shenyun both snorted coldly in unison, their gazes converging on Shen Anyu like twin daggers, sharp enough to flay skin from bone.
'Indeed, indeed. I should still break the stinky master's legs,' Bai Bing's inner monologue began, her thoughts taking a dark, obsessive turn. 'Break them and shackle him. Confine him in a secret room where no one else can see him. Then… then he would be mine alone.' A morbid, rosy hue bloomed across her beautiful face, a feverish blush that made her expression grow increasingly dangerous.
'Hehehe… hehehe… To think I actually lost to this dog of a man,' Wu Shenyun's mind seethed, the humiliation of her defeat reigniting into a furious blaze. 'I don't want to be his Yun Nu! I want to be the master! I want to trample Shen Anyu under my foot and make him beg!' Her heart felt like it would explode, consumed by a raging, venomous jealousy.
It hadn't even been a full day since her capture, and the list of his women was already growing at an alarming rate. Bai Bing. Zhang Yaqian. That maid, Ji Xiaolin. And now, the National Heavenly Queen, Zhong Lingyin. The sheer audacity of it was staggering.
Zhong Lingyin's gaze settled on Zhang Yaqian, a faint, amused smile playing on her lips. 'Where did this little green tea come from?' she thought, a flicker of professional appreciation in her eyes. 'She's got some skill. Let's see how I handle her.'
[Akarin's Note: "Tea-like" (茶里茶气, chá lǐ chá qì) is a modern Chinese internet slang for a "green tea bitch" (绿茶婊). It describes someone, usually a woman, who presents a pure, innocent, and harmless facade while being manipulative, calculating, and passive-aggressive, especially when competing for male attention.]
"It's fine, I don't mind," Zhong Lingyin's voice was light and airy, effortlessly deflecting the attack. "Husband is so capable, I don't mind how many women he has."
She then delivered the counterstroke, her tone casual, as if she were merely stating a simple fact. "Speaking of which, the Jinxiu Mountain Villa No. 1 that Husband gave me covers ten thousand square meters. The main villa alone has over a hundred rooms. It's perfectly fine to have more sisters come over. There's plenty of space."
Zhang Yaqian's breath caught in her throat. She bit her lower lip, the pressure turning the delicate skin white. Her beautiful eyes shot a wounded, resentful glance at Shen Anyu. So, this legendary villa, the pinnacle of luxury in Hangzhou, wasn't his… it was a gift. From Shen Anyu to Zhong Lingyin.
Her family also lived in Jinxiu Mountain Villa, so she knew the lore. She understood the hierarchy. Any villa in the top ten belonged to a titan of industry or a figure of immense power. And No. 1… No. 1 was a legend, a myth. People whispered that it was a palace. If it were ever put on the market, its price would be in the billions, but even that was a moot point. It was the kind of property money couldn't buy, a symbol of ultimate status.
And Shen Anyu had just… given it to Zhong Lingyin?
It wasn't about the money. As the First Young Miss of Hangzhou, Zhang Yaqian had never wanted for wealth. It was about the gesture. The statement it made. The sheer, overwhelming scale of his devotion to this woman. Her heart churned with a jealousy so potent it was acidic.
Bai Bing and Wu Shenyun were equally unmoved by the monetary value, but the implication was a slap in the face. Realizing that the very house they were currently in, this grand estate, was effectively Zhong Lingyin's territory, made them feel like unwelcome guests. The jealousy that had been simmering within them boiled over, consuming them completely.
The air in the room seemed to crackle with invisible sparks, the silence thick with unspoken animosity.
As if completely oblivious to the suffocating atmosphere she had created, Zhong Lingyin continued, her smiling voice a gentle hammer striking their pride again and again.
"Sister Zhang Yaqian, Sister Wu Shenyun, Sister Bai Bing, thank you for taking such good care of Husband when I was away filming. What do you all like? Husband gave me so many good things, I can't even use them all!"
She waved a dismissive hand, the gesture radiating effortless superiority. "Jewelry and luxury goods are all mundane things, really. Some of the elixirs and vermilion fruits he brings back are the truly good stuff. If you want some, I'll take you to pick a few another day."
Then came the final, devastating blow.
"Oh, and did Husband give you any Dingyan Pills? The ones that can keep your appearance youthful forever? I have several bottles in my room. I'll give each of you one later, as a welcome gift."
A sudden, sharp silence descended.
Three pairs of eyes—Zhang Yaqian's, Wu Shenyun's, and Bai Bing's—snapped towards Shen Anyu simultaneously. The rivalry between them was momentarily forgotten, replaced by a unified front of cold fury directed at one man. Not to mention the vengeful Wu Shenyun and the obsessive Bai Bing, even Zhang Yaqian's gentle gaze turned dangerously sharp.
'Dingyan Pill for eternal youth? The stinky master never gave me one!' Bai Bing's mind screamed. The possessive fury returned, stronger than ever. 'Ha! Break both his legs! Yes, break both his legs and shackle him! He won't be able to give gifts to anyone else then!' The morbid blush on her cheeks deepened, and her stare fixed on Shen Anyu became a evident threat.
'He's so good to Zhong Lingyin… and he made me kneel in submission? He forced that humiliation on me and made me call him Yun Nu?' Wu Shenyun's phoenix eyes lifted, the defeated cloud slave momentarily banished. The proud, ferocious Southern Border Goddess, who could swallow a tiger whole, had returned with a vengeance. 'Shen Anyu… you just wait. Sooner or later, I will be the one to suppress you!'
'He gave Zhong Lingyin so many good things? Husband…' Zhang Yaqian's heart ached with a profound sense of betrayal. 'Zhang Yaqian doesn't want things, she wants an attitude! She wants to know she matters!' She bit her lip so tightly she could taste blood, her eyes so filled with resentment they could have been mistaken for a vengeful spirit from A Chinese Ghost Story.
'Zhong Lingyin is causing trouble~'
Young Master Shen's mouth twitched slightly, the barest hint of a smile. He didn't believe for a second that with Zhong Lingyin's intelligence, she was unaware of the consequences of her actions. This grand performance, this flawless portrayal of the magnanimous main wife showering gifts upon the lesser concubines, was a deliberate and calculated act of provocation.
Zhong Lingyin wasn't someone who loved to show off in the past; although extremely famous, she had always been low-key.
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