Chapter 17: Keep Fu Lingnan Away From Her Wife...

Ji Wushan was deeply suspicious of what Xue Erbai had come on the show to do.

She had read the contract word for word.

It had been signed before marriage. During filming, they were forbidden from exposing any romantic gossip that could affect the show’s performance, including, but not limited to, cooperating with the program’s CP marketing.

The contract emphasized that CP pairings weren’t fixed; daily interactions would require affectionate gestures, and there would also be promotional videos after the show aired.

But she had never seen anyone else’s contract, and she didn’t know what Xue Erbai’s looked like.

Either way, sharing a room would naturally invite wild speculation.

That was also why, today, when Ji Wushan saw Xue Erbai dining with Zhong Dai, something felt off.

She knew exactly what kind of person she was.

But with Xue Erbai, she only understood her in pieces.

From the stubborn rebellion of childhood, to the lively cuteness of her girlhood, and now—Xue Erbai as her wife.

After growing familiar over the course of seven years, Ji Wushan had already begun to shake off that initial fear and unease. She was no longer so dependent; instead, she stepped back and looked at Xue Erbai from the perspective of an observer.

She still couldn’t see through her.

At least not yet.

One moment she was flirting with her on the show, saying things that sounded almost like complaints; the next, she was chatting and laughing with Zhong Dai at lunch.

And now, she had come to question her.

“For the sake of the show’s effect, if you have any requests, President Xue, you can bring them up with the production team as well.”

“It’s very late. I’m going back to rest.”

Ji Wushan turned and left at once, vaguely hearing Xue Erbai call after her, but she didn’t look back.

Because she realized very clearly that the emotions she had hidden so well were starting to show cracks in front of Xue Erbai.

Who knew Xue Erbai would keep chasing after her, drag her into the shadows, lean slightly forward, and ask in a hushed voice, “Do you want blueberry egg tarts?”

“?”

Ji Wushan tilted her head, confusion plain on her face. Xue Erbai, however, shook her hand back and forth. “I just asked the staff at Wonder House to buy them for me; they’re at Wonder House!”

“Come with me, okay?”

Xue Erbai looked like she wouldn’t give up unless Ji Wushan ate them. Ji Wushan couldn’t help wanting to laugh.

And then she really did laugh.

When Xue Erbai saw her smile, her eyes lit up. But Ji Wushan still pulled her hand free and said, “I don’t want any.”

“Why?!” Xue Erbai sounded a little hurt.

Her bewilderment was so sincere it was almost baffling.

Ji Wushan also started to feel like maybe she was overreacting.

They were both being pushed around by others; why was she taking it out on Xue Erbai?

So she adjusted her tone and said flatly, “It’s too late. I shouldn’t eat sweets.”

This time, Xue Erbai didn’t stop her anymore. Instead, she went back to the villa with her.

Their rooms were diagonally opposite. With the cameras there, Ji Wushan only glanced at her once before opening the door to her room.

As soon as she went in, she saw that both single beds were empty, and the camera had been covered. It was obvious that Fu Lingnan had done that.

Her suitcase was open in the middle, and there were faint sounds coming from the bathroom.

Ji Wushan waited quietly for a while. Not long after, Fu Lingnan came out, wrapped in a black robe. Seeing Ji Wushan, she said calmly, “I didn’t know which side you wanted to sleep on, so I didn’t choose a bed first.”

“I’m fine with either. Sister Lingnan, pick the one you like.”

Fu Lingnan was no less polite. She pointed at the nearer single bed. “Then I’ll take the outside one; it’s more convenient to go to the bathroom.”

“Okay.”

Their exchange was brief and efficient. Before bed, neither of them said much; both, worn down by fatigue, fell asleep quickly.

By contrast, Xue Erbai had a little insomnia.

Sleeping with someone unfamiliar was one thing; the only time she had ever done that was with Ji Wushan.

But Ji Wushan was different to her.

Ji Wushan was her wife!

Yet every time she thought about how a little cold Ji Wushan had seemed tonight, and how she hadn’t wanted the blueberry egg tart, Xue Erbai couldn’t help sighing into the covers, tossing and turning without being able to sleep.

She shouldn’t be eating sweets this late; that made sense, but she still felt like something was off.

Thinking it over was useless, so she started doing what she could within her own means.

In the end, she opened her phone and sent Qiao You several WeChat messages.

The reason she had asked about Ji Wushan living with Fu Lingnan tonight was that she was worried Yi Fan’s team might make some sort of move when the episode aired later.

Ji Wushan had joined the show in the identity of a TV host; more or less, she would be the one getting wronged.

The most important thing in her contract was confidentiality; everything else was subject to the production team’s arrangements.

In simple terms, she couldn’t interfere with other people’s CP marketing.

Of course, a lot of things couldn’t be said either; there was no absolute freedom.

It was easy to imagine how strict Ji Wushan’s contract would be.

If the production team and the television station wouldn’t help her, then she could only handle it herself.

Er Bai: [You, if I set up an entertainment company now, is it still too late?]

Er Bai: [The kind that only does PR?]

Xue Erbai didn’t know much about this sort of thing. The area she knew best was from when she was a kid and used to follow girl groups; things were different now. Even if she occasionally went to concerts, it was purely to relax. She didn’t have time to pay attention to much else.

The world was changing too fast; she couldn’t keep using the standards from ten years ago.

Qiao You: [I’m not sure, but Sister Tian said she has a friend who works in entertainment.]

Er Bai: [Which company?]

Qiao You: [Xinhai Entertainment; it’s Fu Lingnan’s company.]

Snap.

The phone hit Xue Erbai’s face mercilessly, the faint light illuminating her pain-twisted expression...

“Giggle... ”

She was about to keep replying to Qiao You when laughter suddenly came from beside her.

The lights were already off; that laugh was downright eerie.

“...Zhong Dai, you’re not asleep?”

“Giggle giggle giggle...”

The answer was still Zhong Dai’s laughter.

Xue Erbai felt helpless. She sat up with a rustle, sent Qiao You one more message saying they’d talk in the morning, then turned over and sat up straight.

This time Zhong Dai heard the movement. After a pause, she sat up too and took off her headphones.

So it was headphones...

Xue Erbai closed her eyes, then heard Zhong Dai ask, “Er Bai, you’re not asleep either?”

There wasn’t the slightest trace of sleep in her eyes; anyone could tell at a glance. But Zhong Dai not only noticed that, she even leaned closer and said, “I was watching the show, so I laughed out loud. Sorry.”

“If you can’t sleep, do you want to watch it together?”

Zhong Dai was much more talkative than she had been during the day. Xue Erbai didn’t really want to keep chatting with her, but then she glanced at Zhong Dai’s phone and saw several familiar figures.

One of them was Fu Lingnan.

Why was it Fu Lingnan again!

Ji Wushan’s roommate was Fu Lingnan, and the “connections sister” was from Fu Lingnan’s company.

Even her roommate was watching Fu Lingnan in the middle of the night.

Was this world actually a giant Fu Lingnan?!

“Not watching! I’m very sleepy!”

Xue Erbai turned over, pulled the blanket up properly, and gave Zhong Dai her back.

Zhong Dai muttered, “If you don’t want to watch, then don’t. Why so fierce... ”

-

The next day on Yunzhi Island, the weather was clear, and the temperature was clearly much higher than it had been the day before. Xue Erbai arrived a little late; the sea breeze still tugged her long dress out of shape, and beneath her sunhat she was all smiles. Cong Yuan followed behind her.

“Teacher Xue, let me carry your backpack... ”

Xue Erbai froze at the title and looked Cong Yuan up and down. With her fluffy curled hair and easygoing energy, she looked very young.

“Just call me Sister. Calling me teacher makes me feel stiff inside.”

Xue Erbai said it seriously. Cong Yuan blinked, then called out, “Sister Er Bai.”

“Then give me the backpack.”

“No need. It’s not far; I’ll just carry it.”

After saying that, Xue Erbai strode ahead, and Cong Yuan looked at her before obediently following behind.

Once they reached the beach, the FPD followed too. Xue Erbai’s smile faded a little; she became somewhat cooler. But when she saw Ji Wushan come out of the changing room, the corners of her mouth started lifting again before she even noticed.

From the moment they had been separated, she had been looking forward to seeing Ji Wushan again.

But that smile didn’t last long.

Xue Erbai knew today’s recording schedule, and she was especially looking forward to it!

She had been looking forward to basking in the sun and sand with Ji Wushan; maybe she could even help her apply sunscreen, and their skin...

“Wushan, your strap...”

A low, warm voice; a hand with distinct knuckles landed on the rounded shoulder that was half-exposed beneath the bath towel.

With a soft pop, Xue Erbai’s greedy thoughts burst.

She was greedy for Ji Wushan to accept her blueberry egg tarts; greedy that the person standing behind Ji Wushan would be her.

But reality was that Ji Wushan tightened the bath towel, turned back, and smiled faintly at Fu Lingnan. “Thank you, Sister Lingnan.”

Fu Lingnan also smiled. “It’s nothing.”

Peaceful as a painted scene; the atmosphere was beautiful.

But the sound of something shattering also rang in Xue Erbai’s heart.

So, so can someone please take this demon Fu Lingnan awayyyy!!!

Someone help, please!

Anyone will do!!!

Keep Fu Lingnan away from her wife, hey!!!

Author’s Note:

--

I’m here, I’m here; everything is very stable, and I’ve already handled the V chapter. It’s really nice to see everyone again!!!

I changed the title and made a few small edits to the synopsis.

A complaint about myself: I’m so lazy, so lazy that I haven’t even bothered with the cover art! But I still need to get it done...