"He kissed you?" Anya held a glass of red wine, her freshly done red nail polish making the glass look beautiful. With her clearly defined knuckles and flawless white hands, she looked neither gaudy nor vulgar, and instead exuded a bold and alluring beauty.
"Xinyi, trust me, he kissed you not because he likes you."
"If it's not because he likes me, then why did he kiss me?" Xu Xinyi was resolute in her tone, her face filled with disbelief, as if immersed in a beautiful dream.
Anya looked at her, frustrated. "Miss Xu, don't laugh. No matter how much you smile, he won't kiss you because he likes you. They say that a woman's intelligence is zero in love. I didn't believe it at first, but when I see you, I have to. Can you not have some self-respect?"
Seeing Xu Xinyi's absent-minded look, Anya said solemnly, "Let's analyze this. In the two years of your marriage with Yi Yang, I know exactly how many times you've seen him. It's clear that he doesn't like you, and I believe you can see that too. From the time Yi Yang returned to the country until now, how long has it been? A month?"
"A month and a half."
"Okay, a month and a half. Young lady, when I gave you the script and novel just a few days ago, Yi Yang had no expression on his face, and the distance in his eyes when looking at you. Can a person who likes you do such a thing?"
Xu Xinyi considered seriously, shaking her head in defeat.
"So, not to discourage you, but there must be some other reason. In any case, it's not because he likes you." Anya shook her head after thinking for a moment. "This man Yi Yang is unfathomable. If you want him to like you, you'll probably have to suffer a lot. If only you'd listen to me, you wouldn't be in such a deep mess now.
"If he doesn't like me, then I'm really happy." Xu Xinyi murmured to herself.
Since Yi Yang took her first kiss in the morning, Xu Xinyi had been unable to figure out why he, a person who detested her, had become like a different person in such a short time.
He used to have nothing to say to her, and she even had a vague feeling that Yi Yang was somehow against her.
But how was that possible?
Was Yi Yang insane?
Unable to understand, she had come to seek the detached perspective of Anya.
"Nevertheless, it's quite good now. It's stronger than before when Yi Yang was indifferent to you."
"What do you mean?"
"Haven't you always wanted to win Yi Yang's heart? In the past, he ignored you, but this kiss, no matter what his intention is, is still a kiss. This is the first step bringing you closer together. I believe there will be a second and third step. From this perspective, based on my experience, Yi Yang will definitely fall in love with you sooner or later."
Xu Xinyi's expression looked as if she had seen a ghost.
He would fall in love with her sooner or later?
Phew, why would she say such an unlucky thing at this late hour?
Cursing someone, perhaps?
"Congratulations, your wish is about to come true."
"Is it really?"
"Of course it is. Do you think I have worse judgment than you?"
Xu Xinyi's mood sank as if she was attending a funeral, finding it hard to admit Anya's guess.
But thinking about it, it made sense.
They had only been married for two years, and yet Yi Yang had kissed her. If this continued, wouldn't they end up in bed soon?
No, she had to divorce him as soon as possible. Otherwise, as Anya said, if Yi Yang, that dog of a man, really fell in love with her, wouldn't it be big trouble?
Anya's phone on the table lit up, with a WeChat voice message.
A ten-second audio message.
She listened to it by her ear for a while, then laughed and sent back a message: "Alright, I know, darling, I miss you too."
The coquettish tone sent shivers down Xu Xinyi's spine.
Anya sent a voice message and was about to exit WeChat when she looked at Xu Xinyi, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "Xin Yi, do you want to meet some new friends?"
She shook her phone, showing a list of handsome men's profile pictures.
Who wouldn't want to? Xu Xinyi cried again despite herself.
No matter how tumultuous her inner feelings were, she had to keep up appearances.
She resolutely declined, "No, thank you. I'm fine now."
Anya squinted at her, asking suspiciously, "Really?"
"Yes, really."
"Since you don't want to make new friends, can I invite a few friends over for a drink?" Anya raised an eyebrow.
Xu Xinyi wanted to say something, but Anya quickly sent out a group message, a simple 'Are you there', and five seconds later, the WeChat notification sound kept ringing.
How does the saying go again?
A good-looking sister can make me fall with just a 'Are you there'?
This is happening too fast.
This woman is too powerful.
Anya browsed through the message list, carefully selecting three people, chatted a bit with them, then sent an address and closed her phone.
"They'll be here in a while. Don't worry, everyone I know is reliable and won't spread rumors." The entire process took less than a minute, leaving Xu Xinyi amazed.
The owner of the private club they were in was an old flame of Anya's. God knows how she managed to handle the relationships between men so well. After parting ways, not only did she not hold grudges, but she could also make friends. When meeting men at the club, she could get a fifty percent discount.
Xu Xinyi anxiously waited for half an hour before the door to the room was pushed open.
The room was dimly lit, and three handsome boys walked in, their tall, upright figures showing off their youthful, schoolboy faces, filled with a smile of youthful exuberance.
Were these boys? No, this is youth!
"Anya, sister." The three big boys greeted her one after another.
"Let me introduce you to Xu Xinyi, you should all know her."
"Of course, " one of the boys said with excitement, "We've seen every work by Sister Xinyi. Our teacher even used scenes from her dramas to teach us about acting. We've always wanted to meet you, and now we finally have the chance!"
Listen to these boys. They and Yi Yang are both human, but why do they say such different things?
Being praised by such good-looking boys in public made Xu Xinyi's heart race, and she was about to say something when...
"Host, please don't destroy your 'deep as the ocean' character."
"...I know! Don't worry, I have professional ethics. Before divorcing Yi Yang, I will respect the marriage."
Xu Xinyi cursed in her heart, a very dirty curse.
"Thank you for your appreciation." With an air of aloofness, Xu Xinyi nodded to the boy.
The boy seemed taken aback, as if he hadn't been treated so coldly before, and passed by for an awkward moment.
Anya paid no attention and asked the others to sit down. The boys' good looks and conversation flowed, made Anya laugh non-stop as they drank, told jokes, and played dice.
"Xinyi, why sit so far away? Come over and join us," Anya said.
Xu Xinyi refused in desolation, "No, thank you, you guys have fun, I'm not interested."
Anya placed the dice down and gave a meaningful look to the two boys who then rose and sat on either side of Xu Xinyi.
Xu Xinyi felt as if she had smelled the breath of sunshine.
"Sister Xinyi, I've heard about you since I was at school and I've seen several TV shows you've starred in. Seeing you in person, you're much prettier than on TV."
"Sister Xinyi, I'm still studying at the Beijing Film Academy. I know you also graduated from the Beijing Film Academy. You are my senior, I wonder if there will be a chance for us to work together in the future."
These two young men were so sunny and good-looking, there were not many in the entertainment circle who could compare. They were so youthful and vibrant, it made Xu Xinyi think that Anya, despite being pestered by so many men every day, would surely be happy, but she couldn't imagine it.
"Sister Xinyi, you've been in the entertainment industry for so long, have there been any interesting things that happened?" one of the boys asked.
"Definitely," another boy spoke up, "Didn't something happen recently?"
Xu Xinyi thought the second boy was referring to Yi Yang and Zuo Rong's affairs.
"What happened?"
"Not long ago, Han Xiao bought a house in the city center."
"What's special about buying a house?"
"Buying a house isn't special, but Han Xiao's house can command the price of an entire building in the city center."
"Where is this place with such expensive houses?" Her amazement was evident in her voice.
"Where else can it be? Looking at the whole city of A, only the One Pavilion developed by Yishi dares to be so expensive."
"Han Xiao actually bought a house there. I heard that the houses there are counted in billions."
"So, that's why there's such a big fuss and it's gone viral. Xinya, you've been in the entertainment industry for so many years, do you know Han Xiao?"
Anya chuckled, "Xinya's next play is a collaboration with Han Xiao, do you think she knows him?"
"Han Xiao is really that rich?"
Anya casually interjected, "Han Xiao has been in the entertainment industry for so many years. He can be called a megastar in the film industry, has won numerous awards, and is the top box office draw. Do you think he doesn't have money?"
"In fact, it's not surprising. Han Xiao has one house, but Yishi is the developer of the One Pavilion. How many buildings are there in the One Pavilion? I don't even dare to think about how rich the Yishi boss is. I heard that the Yishi boss is not even thirty, a true second-generation rich, who has kept a clean reputation for so many years. I wonder who will be the future Mrs. Yishi boss."
Anya looked at Xinya and smiled, "It will definitely be a stunning beauty."
Xinya gave her a stare.
"Did you guys know that the Yishi boss is already married?" the young man sitting next to Anya spoke up.
"Married?"
"After Han Xiao's house-buying incident came out, someone dug up the background of Yiyang, the owner of One Pavilion, and revealed the fact that he is already married."
"Married? To who?"
"It seems to be a celebrity."
"Celebrity? How is it possible, someone at their level marrying a minor celebrity?"
The young man sitting next to Anya directly took out his phone and pulled up the Weibo post that exposed the news, "The post makes sense. Check it out for yourself if you don't believe it."
Anya took the phone and glanced at it, then handed it to Xinya with a smile.
Xinya took it with a mix of belief and doubt.
In fact, the long Weibo post did not mention who Yiyang's married partner was, it just revealed that Yiyang has been secretly married to a star in the entertainment industry for many years.
Of course, the comments below this Weibo post were more interesting than the post itself.
"Do you know how much the owner of One Pavilion is worth? Will he marry a minor celebrity? Is the blogger joking with me?"
"I believe the blogger. What's the problem with a celebrity in the entertainment industry? Beautiful! Nowadays, which man is not lustful."
"I only care about one house equalling one building? One Pavilion is that expensive?"
"A house equating to a building, the entertainment industry really makes good money."
"I calculated, with my current salary, if I want to buy a house in One Pavilion, I would have to start saving from the Stone Age, without eating or drinking."
"The blogger seems to have forgotten the recent incident where Yishi embarrassed Zuo Rong, and still dares to spread such rumors at this time. Aren't they afraid of receiving a lawyer's letter from Yishi?"
"Someone like Yiyang, even if he marries, it will be a match with a famous lady, right? How could he find a wife in the entertainment industry? The blogger is talking nonsense!"
"Please spill the beans!!! Who is this chosen woman who managed to win the heart of Yiyang! Yiyang is my ideal type! Rich, handsome, a clean reputation, such a man is simply heaven-sent! I worship her madly!!!"
"Ah, it's been hidden for so long and has now been discovered. I'll just say it straight, I am the long-time wife of Yiyang."
Xinya: "..."