Lin Ruoyan paced anxiously back and forth in her apartment.
This so-called studio was nothing more than a token arrangement Shen Yunmian had given her. Resources were pitifully scarce—she couldn't even assemble a decent management team, let alone secure any good scripts.
Compared to the star treatment she once enjoyed at Qiyun Film and Television, it was like night and day.
And all of this… was because of Yu Sheng!
If Yu Sheng hadn't taken over Qiyun Film and Television and stirred things up in front of Yunmian, how could she have fallen to this state?
Looking at the scattered online reports about Qiyun's new short drama launch event, even though Yu Sheng had kept a low profile, Lin Ruoyan could still imagine how triumphant she must look right now.
Jealousy gnawed at her heart like a venomous snake.
She couldn't just sit and wait any longer!
She carefully dressed up, putting on a simple white dress, but with slightly pale makeup and reddened eyes, looking pitiful and delicate.
Then she dialed Shen Yunmian's number.
The phone rang for a long time before it was answered, Shen Yunmian's tired voice coming through. "What is it?"
Lin Ruoyan's voice immediately took on a sobbing tone. "Yunmian… are you free right now? I… I feel so awful…"
Shen Yunmian was already overwhelmed by Yu Sheng's situation and had no energy to deal with her. But hearing the tears in her voice and thinking of her father's past kindness, she still patiently asked, "What's wrong? What happened?"
"N-nothing major…" Lin Ruoyan sniffled. "It's just… seeing all my old friends busy and thriving on set, while I can only stay at home doing nothing every day… Yunmian, I'm not trying to trouble you, I just feel… feel so useless. I've let my dad down…"
She deliberately brought up her late father—her greatest leverage.
Shen Yunmian rubbed her temples and sighed.
She knew what Lin Ruoyan wanted, but right now she neither had the energy nor the will to support her fully.
"Ruoyan, your studio has just been established. These things take time. Opportunities will come."
"But when will that be?" Lin Ruoyan's sobs grew louder. "Yunmian, I know I can't compare to Miss Yu, she's so capable… I… I'm just a burden…"
She deliberately mentioned Yu Sheng, her tone full of self-pity and inferiority.
Hearing Yu Sheng's name only made Shen Yunmian more irritated.
"This has nothing to do with her!" she cut in sharply. "How about this—I'll have Secretary Li transfer you another sum. See if there are any small-budget web dramas or variety shows you're interested in. Start there, gain some experience."
Another dismissal.
Lin Ruoyan cursed inwardly, but on the surface, she sounded deeply grateful. "Really? Thank you, Yunmian! I knew you wouldn't ignore me! You sound so tired… you've been working too hard lately, haven't you? You need to take care of yourself, don't push yourself too much…"
After hanging up, Lin Ruoyan's pitiful expression vanished instantly, replaced by gloom and calculation.
This little bit of charity couldn't satisfy her appetite at all. What she wanted was to return to the top—to crush Yu Sheng under her feet.
Since she couldn't find a breakthrough with Yunmian for now, she would start somewhere else!
She refused to believe Yu Sheng had no weaknesses at all.
Meanwhile, Shen Yunmian's mood only worsened after that call.
As if possessed, she took out her phone and flipped to the few photos in her gallery.
One of them was from their wedding. Yu Sheng was wearing a white wedding dress, looking at her with bright eyes full of obvious admiration and shy affection.
Back then, Yu Sheng's entire world revolved around her.
Thinking of how cold her wife had become now, she irritably shut her phone.
After work, she didn't return to the cold, empty marital home in Jiuxi Bay, nor did she go to Jingshui to make a fool of herself.
Instead, she had the driver take her to a high-end bar she frequented.
The lighting was dim, the music soft.
Shen Yunmian sat alone in a corner booth, downing glass after glass of strong liquor.
Finding it all meaningless, she eventually dialed Qiao Wei's number.
The background on Qiao Wei's side was noisy. She sounded surprised when she picked up. "Oh? Did the sun rise in the west? President Shen is actually calling me out for drinks?"
"Cut the crap." Shen Yunmian's voice already carried obvious drunkenness. "Come drink with me."
Qiao Wei immediately sensed something was wrong and agreed at once. "Send me the address. I'll be there."
Half an hour later, Qiao Wei rushed over.
Seeing several empty glasses already on the table, she raised an eyebrow in surprise. "What happened? Not many things can make you drink like this."
Shen Yunmian gave a bitter smile and spoke with difficulty. "Qiao Wei… I think I… messed things up…"
Qiao Wei sat down across from her, intrigued. "What happened? Tell me."
Shen Yunmian was silent for a long time—so long Qiao Wei thought she wouldn't speak.
Then, with great difficulty, she muttered, "Yu Sheng… she said she wants a divorce…"
"What?" Qiao Wei almost jumped up, her voice shooting up. "Divorce? Yu Sheng asked you for a divorce? Are you serious?"
She could hardly believe her ears.
That Yu Sheng—the one who used to accommodate Shen Yunmian in everything, who loved her almost humbly—actually initiated a divorce?
Shen Yunmian closed her eyes in pain. "She said she doesn't love me anymore… said I'm cold… said I…"
The rest—about being bad in bed, stiff like wood—she was too ashamed to say out loud, so she glossed over it. "…said I've completely disappointed her…"
After the initial shock, Qiao Wei gradually calmed down as she looked at her friend's devastated state.
She recalled everything she'd heard—Shen Xingyao causing trouble, Zhou Yaqin making things difficult, Yu Sheng's miscarriage, plus Shen Yunmian's unbearable personality…
She couldn't help but sigh. "Yunmian, not to be harsh, but Yu Sheng is such a good person. If you pushed her to the point of asking for a divorce, you must've seriously screwed up. Did you use your business logic again to handle your relationship? Did you think money could solve everything?"
Shen Yunmian was rendered speechless by the string of accusations—because Qiao Wei was almost entirely right.
Seeing her reaction, Qiao Wei knew she'd hit the mark.
She felt both sympathy and frustration. "You… what am I even supposed to say about you? You're great at work, amazing at making money, but when it comes to relationships, you're an idiot. Yu Sheng loved you, that's why she tolerated you for so long. Anyone else would've divorced you hundreds of times already!"
"Then… what should I do now?"
Like someone grasping at a lifeline, Shen Yunmian's voice carried rare helplessness and confusion.
Alcohol had lowered her defenses, revealing a vulnerability she never showed.
Seeing her like this, Qiao Wei softened and stopped scolding.
She thought for a moment, then leaned closer, lowering her voice with a half-joking, half-serious tone. "What else can you do? Apologize, chase her, put even a fraction of the effort you use in billion-dollar deals into figuring out how to win your wife back."
Her expression turned teasing as she added, "Especially that part of your married life… it's kind of a lubricant for relationships. Are you… maybe too rigid? Not exactly… fun?"
Shen Yunmian's face instantly turned pale, though the dim lighting hid it.
Qiao Wei's words were like a key unlocking a box full of humiliation. Yu Sheng's words—"terrible technique," "no passion"—echoed loudly in her ears again.
She gulped down a large mouthful of alcohol to hide her embarrassment, but ended up choking and coughing, tears almost forming—an unprecedented display of disarray.
Seeing her strong reaction, Qiao Wei froze for a moment, then seemed to realize something. Her eyes widened, and she burst into uncontrollable laughter. "Pfft—HAHAHA! No way, Shen Yunmian? Did I actually hit the mark? Is that why Yu Sheng wants to divorce you—HAHAHA—this is killing me—HAHAHA…"
She laughed so hard she clutched her chest, completely losing composure.
She had never imagined that Shen Yunmian, so dominant in business, would be disliked by her wife for something like that. It was the funniest thing she'd heard all year.
Shen Yunmian's face shifted from red to green, then to pale white. Qiao Wei's laughter cut into her pride like knives. She deeply regretted calling her out, regretted saying any of this.
"Shut up!" she snapped in embarrassment and anger.
Qiao Wei finally managed to stop laughing, wiping tears from her eyes. Looking at her friend's murderous expression, she held back her laughter and pulled out her phone. "Hey, don't be mad. It's not a big deal… If you don't know, you can learn! I've got plenty of 'study materials.' Guaranteed results. Come on, I'll send them to you—study hard, and Yu Sheng will definitely see you in a new light!"
She was about to send the files.
Shen Yunmian's face darkened like the bottom of a pot, feeling deeply humiliated.
"Qiao Wei, that's enough! Take it away, I don't need it!" she said through gritted teeth.
"Really don't want it?" Qiao Wei raised an eyebrow, waving her phone. "Maybe Yu Sheng just finds you too 'boring'?"
Shen Yunmian's chest rose and fell with anger. She abruptly stood up. "I've paid. Enjoy your drink."
With that, she practically fled the bar.
Watching her retreating figure, Qiao Wei couldn't help bursting into laughter again.
"Shen Yunmian, oh Shen Yunmian… you actually have a day like this!"
Outside, the cool night breeze sobered Shen Yunmian somewhat.
But the heat on her face refused to fade. Qiao Wei's words and laughter, along with those indecent "study material" covers, replayed over and over in her mind.
Shame, anger, humiliation—and a faint curiosity she forcefully suppressed…
All of it tangled together, leaving her utterly restless.
She got into the car and told the driver to go home.
Watching the dazzling city lights streak past outside the window, she felt nothing but coldness and confusion.
Since childhood, her grandmother had taught her never to be like her mother—never to rely on appearance to please others.
So instinctively, she had always been resistant to such things.
If she wanted to save her marriage, did she really have to rely on that kind of method?
—
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