Volume One, Chapter Nine: What Are You Imagining?

In the darkness, Zhuo An’s hand clenched tightly at the corner of her dress, her nails digging deep into her palm.

Shen Zhien returned backstage and changed into a sleek, vintage-style crimson qipao that hugged her curves exquisitely.

Li Shen sat behind Shen Zhien, watching the makeup artist apply her makeup little by little. Suddenly, he understood why some people watched beauty vlogger videos.

By the time her hair and makeup were done, the banquet was nearing its end. Shen Zhien linked arms with Li Shen, preparing to step out again and toast the guests.

“Finally done. Thank you just now, Mr. Li.”

“Just one last thing. Keep it up, Mrs. Li.”

Throughout the toasting, Shen Zhien maintained a perfect smile, her mouth nearly stiffening. She glanced up at Li Shen; his expression was calm and elegant, as if permanently fixed in place. Amid the clinking of glasses, many busybodies tried to pose difficult questions to them, but he handled each with ease. Even the hand resting on her waist applied just the right amount of pressure—any more would be greasy, any less would seem distant.

[He’s even better at acting than I am,] Shen Zhien thought.

When they reached a table of Li Shen’s close friends, the atmosphere grew tense. Shen Zhien looked at Zhuo An, who forced a congratulatory smile, and recalled the sound of her sobbing that day, feeling an overwhelming guilt.

Lin Xingchen, seated next to Zhuo An, was Li Shen’s most loyal subordinate and revered Zhuo An like a goddess. He instinctively harbored some resentment toward the uninvited Shen Zhien.

“I heard Miss Shen is also an actress. How come I’ve never seen your work?” Lin Xingchen raised his glass and spoke loudly enough for everyone to hear, his tone teasing.

Shen Zhien detected the provocation in his words and forced a smile under the scrutiny of the crowd.

“You must watch too few films. I’ve at least played the female lead’s best friend.”

She responded with calm self-mockery, then glanced at Zhuo An, who showed no reaction. Her eyes were icy, even slightly amused, clearly harboring more hostility than when they first met.

From the call between Zhuo An and Li Shen that day, it was clear Zhuo An liked Li Shen but wasn’t ready to accept it then. By some twist of fate, they missed their chance.

“Now that you have connections, you don’t have to worry about landing good roles,” Lin Xingchen sneered.

Shen Zhien returned to reality. Knowing what had already happened, she resolved to face it bravely and said, “Then I’ll fight for Best Actress.”

Hitting a cotton ball with a fist, Lin Xingchen found himself at a loss for words, downing his drink in one gulp before sitting back.

“I’ll work hard to let our crazy queen of the screen be crowned soon,” Li Shen said with the demeanor of a devoted husband.

“Crazy queen!” Shen Zhien lightly elbowed him. Li Shen laughed and pulled her close, resembling a newlywed couple teasing each other.

Zhuo An watched Li Shen’s indulgent gaze toward Shen Zhien, her knuckles turning white from gripping her own hands.

After seeing off the last guests, Shen Zhien and Li Shen dragged their weary bodies into the car, which drove into Dongshan Huashu—the Li family estate.

Late at night, with the three elders already asleep, Jin Bida and Xiao Tao remained energetic. Shen Zhien suspected they might have taken stimulants.

Li Shen walked straight toward the private elevator without looking around. Jin Bida and Xiao Tao immediately followed, opening the doors and inviting the newlyweds in. The elevator stopped on the third floor. Jin Bida and Xiao Tao stepped out first, leading the couple to their new room.

“Master Shen, Madam Shen, congratulations on your wedding,” Jin Bida said with a smile.

“Thank you, Uncle Jin. It’s late; you should rest,” Shen Zhien replied, stifling a yawn.

“Madam, let me help you remove your makeup,” Xiao Tao whispered nearby.

“Thank you, Xiao Tao. I’m really too tired,” Shen Zhien responded softly and headed toward the bedroom.

The bedroom was spacious and decorated entirely in white—a testament to the master’s love for the color.

Xiao Tao had already brought over Shen Zhien’s personal items and arranged them neatly.

Sitting at the vanity, Shen Zhien fought to keep her heavy eyes open while Xiao Tao began removing her makeup.

Li Shen paid them no mind. He strode into the room, took off his suit jacket, grabbed his pajamas, and entered the bathroom.

When he came out, he saw Shen Zhien asleep at the vanity, her head tilted, resting on her arm. Xiao Tao stood nearby, gently wiping her cheeks with makeup remover pads, her brows furrowed with a hint of difficulty.

Li Shen approached, and Xiao Tao whispered, “Madam is very sleepy, but half her face is still not done…”

Her eye makeup was already removed; her long, dense lashes quivered slightly with her breathing. Her cherry lips parted—exhausted.

Li Shen gently cupped her face with one hand and supported her head with the other, turning it to the other side.

Still, she didn’t wake.

Xiao Tao sighed in relief and quickly resumed wiping the other side.

When finished, Li Shen waved Xiao Tao away. He sat opposite Shen Zhien, gazing at her bare-faced sleeping expression.

The cheek he had just touched was soft and delicate—like a boneless kitten.

A rumble came from Shen Zhien’s stomach. She hadn’t eaten properly all day.

“No dishes I like… I want hot pot, barbecue, spicy soup… tripe, tofu skin, duck intestines… one sesame oil dip, one sesame paste dip… thank you…”

Hearing her dreamlike recitation of dishes, Li Shen chuckled. Falling asleep midway through makeup removal and dreaming of food—she truly was eccentric. He went to the side, took a box of cupcakes from a bag by the wall, placed it beside Shen Zhien, then returned to his seat.

Awakened by the movement, Shen Zhien frowned and shifted, suddenly jolting awake.

Meeting Li Shen’s eyes, she sat up awkwardly, then noticed the exquisite cupcakes on the table—four in total, each shaped like a different kitten.

“Wow!” Her delight was unmistakable.

“Xiao Tao prepared them,” Li Shen said. “Have some. I don’t want to be woken up by your stomach growling again.”

“Did I just make noise?” Shen Zhien instinctively rubbed her belly—she was really hungry.

Li Shen lowered his head to read, offering no reply.

“Want to eat together?” Shen Zhien invited, noticing the four cakes.

“Eat quickly and turn off the lights. You have to accompany the old master for breakfast early tomorrow,” Li Shen said impatiently.

Shen Zhien pouted but finished quickly. Then she got up and hurriedly took her pajamas into the bathroom.

After showering, she found Li Shen still leaning against the headboard, wrapped in a blanket, reading.

The atmosphere grew a little awkward. She silently approached, lifted the covers, and lay down.

Seeing her settle, Li Shen put down his book, switched off the light, and slipped under the covers.

In the darkness, their breathing was clear.

Shen Zhien couldn’t sleep, tossing and turning.

From the left came a sigh of impatience, and suddenly a figure pressed close. Li Shen rolled over, straddling her, propping himself above her beneath the covers.

“Li… Li Zong,” she whispered.

“Why are you moving so much?”

His face was close to hers. In the darkness, his expression was indistinct, only the pale outline visible. The faint scent of his body wash lingered—subtle yet assertive.

Shen Zhien held her breath, afraid to make a sound. She felt as if he was frowning.

“What are you imagining?”

Li Shen’s voice was casual, teasing.

So close, he could hear her heartbeat pounding beneath him. Her hair smelled faintly of fruity shampoo—a scent he had never smelled in his bedroom before.

It seemed she was slowly encroaching on his territory. The unfamiliar feeling made him restless and unsure, so he resorted to the most familiar way to resist.

“If you’re fantasizing about tonight, I advise you to stop immediately.”

“I’m not.”

On their wedding night, Shen Zhien understood his implication and blushed with embarrassment.

“I just can’t sleep. Maybe because I ate four cupcakes.”

“You ate them all?”

Li Shen was shocked by her appetite and speed. From when she started eating to clearing the table, it seemed like only five minutes had passed.

“Weren’t they all for me?”

Shen Zhien felt a little wronged. She had invited him, but he chose not to eat. She had truly been hungry all day.

Li Shen turned over.

“If you can’t sleep, go to the gym on the fifth floor and walk on the treadmill. Don’t toss and turn in bed.”

“No need. I won’t move,” Shen Zhien clutched the blanket and stayed still.

Then Li Shen began to toss and turn.

Ten minutes later—

“Li Zong, aren’t you asleep yet?” Her voice was soft, like dense foam. Li Shen faced away from her and responded,

“Hmm.”

“Thank you for getting my backup dress and warming up the stage during the wedding.”

“Hmm. I’ve already had someone check on the dress. There’s no surveillance in the storage room, but there is one at the corridor’s end. Too many people passed by; we have to check them one by one.”

“Thank you. I really don’t know who could be so despicable,” Shen Zhien said, still shaken by the day’s frightening moments.

“It will come to light. To dare cause trouble on the Li family’s big day, they must have had enough,” Li Shen’s words were cold and sharp.

“I’m sorry too, for you and Sister Zhuo An. Lovers who cannot be together.”

“You’re overthinking.”

“Sister Zhuo An came to the wedding today. She must have felt awful. I really don’t know how to face her.”

“Don’t trouble yourself over others’ matters.”

Li Shen’s tone was indifferent with a hint of irritation, clearly unwilling to discuss the topic.

“Maybe I take myself too seriously. After all, it’s only been three years. After that, everything will return to its rightful place.”

Shen Zhien murmured self-mockingly. Their relationship was a performance of a married couple in public and, at most, roommates in private.

“She’s her, and you’re you. Be a good madam and don’t think too much. Go to sleep now,” Li Shen said flatly, without a trace of emotion.

Shen Zhien, uneasy and aggrieved, gradually drifted to sleep.

Listening to the steady rhythm of breathing beside her, Li Shen grew sleepy as well.

Suddenly, a heavy weight pressed down on him. Shen Zhien turned over and placed her foot on Li Shen’s waist. He shifted, taking the upper hand, and firmly wrapped her in his arms.

“Hm?” Shen Zhien murmured groggily, sensing the restraint.

“Don’t move.”