The next day, Bai Yin woke up with her whole body aching and reached for her phone on the cabinet.
To her surprise, all the online gossip about her and Li Chunfeng had completely vanished overnight without a trace.
Bai Yin searched the trending topics, but there was not even a mention of it anymore.
The only one capable of doing this was Chen Huaixiao.
Bai Yin shuffled out of her room in slippers and saw Chen Huaixiao having breakfast at the dining table.
He sat at the far end of the long table. Sunlight streamed in through the floor-to-ceiling windows and fell on him. His white shirt was crisp and neat without a hint of the mad, messy state from last night.
Bai Yin felt like this man had two completely different personas during the day and night.
She sauntered over slowly and picked up the silver cutlery to spear a small, fresh slice of cantaloupe from his salad plate.
Chen Huaixiao didn't seem to mind her stealing food from his plate. He was already used to this woman liking his food the most.
Bai Yin curled up ladylike on the chair, spearing his fruit salad. She asked, "Chen Huaixiao, you made the gossip disappear from the trending topics, right?"
Chen Huaixiao's voice was flat. "Having scandals with anyone is bad for celebrities."
"Does that include you too?"
"You and I are not a scandal. We are a fact."
Bai Yin drew out her words meaningfully. "Chen Huaixiao, don't tell me you're jealous?"
Recalling his abnormal behavior last night, the almost cathartic torment, and the disappeared gossip this morning... Bai Yin found it hard not to think that way.
Chen Huaixiao put down his cutlery and glanced at her. "Is that possible?"
"You seem quite bothered."
"And you seem quite bothered by whether I'm bothered or not."
Bai Yin was too lazy to bicker with him about who was more bothered. She busied herself with the hot milk and toasted bread Tang Ka brought over, eating with relish.
Seeing her oily claws, Chen Huaixiao couldn't help but remind her, "Use your cutlery."
"Don't tell me what to do."
He didn't insist and continued eating elegantly. A few minutes later, he said slowly, "Bai Yin, remember not to cause too much trouble. I won't always help you clean up your messes."
"Was this time considered over the line?"
"Having scandals with other men trending was over the line, yes."
"But there was nothing at all between me and Li Chunfeng. Just fans fantasizing."
"So you want something to happen with him?"
"..."
Bai Yin felt wrongfully accused and disgruntled.
Even if she did have a scandal with Li Chunfeng, it wasn't a complete mess. At the very least it could boost album sales!
"As long as we don't actually have a substantial relationship, it doesn't go against our unwritten rules."
"You are my Chen Huaixiao's wife, in name and in essence. Remember that status."
"In name and essence but no love." As Bai Yin walked to the black grand piano in the glass garden room, she airily said, "You can't think we're some normal married couple."
Hearing the bickering between his boss and madam, Tang Ka had been listening in amusement. But he noticed Mr. Chen's expression clearly darken.
In name and essence, but no love.
These words stabbed precisely at Chen Huaixiao's sore spot like a knife.
He looked up to see the woman sitting gracefully at the piano, the black strap dress and Steinway piano a perfect match. Her arm lines were smooth and elegant as she lightly played the melody to "Meeting You in the Summer Wind".
He could possess her anytime, yet could never truly obtain her.
Chen Huaixiao's gaze was ravenous.
Every minute he loved her deeply felt like hell.
...
Soon, Bai Yin's first album "Meeting You in the Summer Wind" went on sale. Sales soared, becoming the hottest album of the year.
Every song was hyped by netizens, topping music platform charts again and again. The hot comments were endless—
"How is every song so good?!"
"Li Chunfeng is truly a musical genius!"
"Bai Yin's voice, I'm in love. So pure!"
"And she carries each different style wonderfully."
"This is the first time I paid for a music service membership, just for this album! Love it so much."
Bai Yin deliberately released her album the same day as Su Anning to stage a showdown. The results were predictable. Su Anning's sales didn't even reach a fraction of Bai Yin's.
It was a crushing defeat on all fronts. Su Anning had clearly become her underling.
But this wasn't enough. Bai Yin only waited for the final "fatal blow".
She never bothered thoroughly beating a fallen dog, but for this wretched cur Su Anning, she was determined.
...
After the album's explosive success, Bai Yin and Li Chunfeng were invited to the nation's biggest music festival.
The festival had fans numbering tens of thousands and was quite grand, held at a lakeside forest park in Limu City.
Chen Huaixiao was unhappy that Bai Yin and Li Chunfeng were going alone to Limu City. So he brought the entire album production team to the music festival.
Of course, the CEO himself also attended.
So the news that the CEO of Xingxing Media personally accompanied his artist to a music festival was unprecedented and groundbreaking in the company's history.
Assistant Shen Bin busied himself helping the CEO plan the schedule. They booked accommodations at the internal forest hotel by the lakeside park.
The hotel environment was secluded and sparsely populated, with surveillance cameras visible throughout the forest. They wouldn't be disturbed by fans or paparazzi, making it ideal for celebrity vacations.
The professional workplace sycophant Shen Bin volunteered to handle all the logistics for this trip. When booking rooms, he deliberately arranged for Bai Yin and Chen Huaixiao's rooms to be alone on the top floor.
He even considered evading everyone's notice and booking them a suite, but thought the exposure risk was too great. He could only settle for having their two rooms connected.
That afternoon, with nothing to do, Chen Huaixiao played tennis at the hotel's courts.
Soon, Li Chunfeng also came with a tennis racket.
Although Chen Huaixiao and Li Chunfeng were likely similar in age, Chen Huaixiao exuded a more mature air compared to Li Chunfeng's lighter aura.
Li Chunfeng was more like the summer wind and sunlight, always wearing a breezy smile.
He walked to the net opposite Chen Huaixiao and grinned, "Mr. Chen, care to rally?"
Chen Huaixiao served, the green ball flying powerfully toward Li Chunfeng.
Although Li Chunfeng enjoyed tennis, his skills were quite poor. He barely managed to return the first serve with all his might. Chen Huaixiao easily received his weak return and struck back to take the point.
"You're no match for me. Call Bai Yin over to play with me."
Hearing Bai Yin's name, Li Chunfeng reacted sensitively. "Do you and Bai Yin play together often, Mr. Chen?"
"Why, does it bother you?" Chen Huaixiao waved his racket leisurely, sending out swooshing sounds.
"She's pretty good at tennis, I hear." Li Chunfeng assessed Chen Huaixiao meaningfully. "Mr. Chen seems to enjoy tennis too. I imagine you ask her to play often?"
"She's mine. What's it to you if I ask her to play?"
Although Li Chunfeng still smiled, his smile was much colder. "You forgot a word, Mr. Chen. She's your artist, not your possession."
Chen Huaixiao served, striking the ball with great force toward Li Chunfeng. "Are you sure?"
Li Chunfeng returned the difficult shot and directly said, "Mr. Chen, I like Bai Yin. Even if she's your artist and signed restrictive clauses like no dating, I won't give up."
Chen Huaixiao listened silently without responding.
"Of course, I won't affect her career. Fans are more lenient towards female artists dating than male artists. It's not that big a deal, and I can even help her gain a foothold in the industry."
The ball... Chen Huaixiao didn't return it, letting it fly out of bounds.
Li Chunfeng also noticed Chen Huaixiao's unease about him and Bai Yin going to the music festival alone, hence bringing the whole team at great effort.
Rather than sneaking around, he might as well lay it all frankly before him.
Chen Huaixiao glanced coldly at him. "Does she know how you feel?"
Li Chunfeng hesitated briefly before smiling. "Of course she knows. Otherwise, why would she ask me to accompany her to the festival?"
Before he even finished speaking, Chen Huaixiao fiercely served a ball straight at Li Chunfeng.
Caught unawares, the ball struck Li Chunfeng's head. He grunted in pain and staggered back two steps, clutching his head.
In the moment Chen Huaixiao followed through his swing, a figure in pale green raced toward Li Chunfeng. "Little assistant, are you okay? Should we go to the hospital?"
Li Chunfeng waved his hand to indicate he was fine, though his forehead clearly bruised.
Bai Yin frowned and looked back at Chen Huaixiao.
Chen Huaixiao's expression was terrifyingly dark. He waved his racket meaningfully...
That was clearly intentional!
Bai Yin didn't know what conflict the two had, but Chen Huaixiao went too far.
"Chen Huaixiao, did you hit him on purpose?"
Just as Bai Yin was about to confront Chen Huaixiao, Li Chunfeng immediately grabbed her wrist and pressed it. "The hotel seems to have a medical office. Help me put on some ointment."
"Okay."
Bai Yin supported Li Chunfeng to the medical office.
When she brushed past Chen Huaixiao, he seized her wrist but didn't say anything.
Bai Yin jerked free of him.
Shen Bin had stood to the side holding a tray for a long time, watching this shocking scene unfold before him. He awkwardly tried to pretend he saw nothing and silently slipped away.
Chen Huaixiao walked over and took the water glass from the tray. After drinking it in one gulp, he weighed the empty glass in his hand, then smashed it with his racket.
The glass spun through the air and shattered against the wall.
Next, Chen Huaixiao's tennis racket went flying out too.
Shen Bin was so frightened that his soul almost left his body. He turned around to leave immediately.
Chen Huaixiao's low voice came over, "Shen Bin, come play tennis with me."
Bai Yin looked at Chen Huaixiao's eyes that were vaguely showing anger, and felt like crying, "I'm not worthy."
QAQ
...
In the medical room, Bai Yin very carefully spread the medicine for bruises and sprains on the bruise on Li Chunfeng's forehead.
"Ouch, it hurts, it hurts! Miss, be gentler please!"
"You know it hurts yet you still provoked Chen Huaixiao." Bai Yin mercilessly pressed his wound with a cotton swab, "Now you're getting what you deserve, aren't you."
"Yes, he is a capitalist, an entertainment mogul, you are all afraid of him, but I am not." In front of Bai Yin, Li Chunfeng was like a child, "At worst he can blacklist me, I don't care."
"He won't blacklist you."
"How do you know?"
"I just know."
Li Chunfeng was truly angry now, "Bai Yin, you admire him too much! It's as if you have a crush on him."
Bai Yin slapped the opened ointment directly on his forehead, "I have a crush on you? What nonsense! You deserve the beating for your foul mouth!"
After saying that, she angrily walked away.
Li Chunfeng wanted to call her back, but on second thought, he did feel guilty about today's matter, so he let it go.
...
That night, Bai Yin knocked on Chen Huaixiao's door.
The door opened. The man had just finished showering, his upper body was bare, the muscles on his body were smooth and sexy.
With one hand he dried his hair with a white towel, and the other hand held his phone as he talked to someone.
Bai Yin raised the brand new tennis racket in her hand, and said softly, "Shen Bin said your racket was broken, so he bought a new one and asked me to deliver it to you."
Chen Huaixiao was still on his phone call. He gestured her to come in with his eyes, then turned around and sat down at his desk.
"For next season's talent show at Wind Entertainment, send over some of the new artists, and make sure their image training is thorough."
Bai Yin hung the tennis racket on the rack, then sat down hugging her knees on the edge of the sofa, bowing her head to play on her phone.
Seeing that she didn't seem to be in a hurry to leave, Chen Huaixiao ended his call swiftly and asked, "Did you come to confront me for your music producer?"
Bai Yin looked at him in surprise, "I just came to sit for a while, why are you so sensitive?"
"Sit for a while?"
"I don't like being alone." Bai Yin fidgeted with her new light pink nails nonchalantly, "Wasn't this how it used to be?"
It was true that she always liked to come to his study at night, whether to read or review scripts. Even without talking, just being in the same room felt nice.
Bai Yin was actually very lonely, she just never showed it.
Chen Huaixiao knew he was overthinking, and didn't say any more.
Bai Yin watched him go to the wine cabinet and pour himself a glass of red wine, then stood by the floor-to-ceiling window enjoying the moonlight outside.
"You seem to... really dislike Li Chunfeng?"
Chen Huaixiao didn't reply. She continued asking, "Can I know why?"
Chen Huaixiao turned around, gazed at Bai Yin for a few seconds, then asked back, "Are you very concerned about him?"
"He is my long term collaborator. Of course I should care when my collaborator has a conflict with my boss."
To Bai Yin, anything related to her future was no small matter. She would do her best to eliminate any risk unfavorable to her.
Chen Huaixiao walked to Bai Yin and handed her his wine glass. He asked meaningfully, "I'm only your boss?"
Bai Yin took the glass and gently swirled the wine. She tilted her head back and downed it in one go, "And husband."
The next second, Chen Huaixiao came over her. He kissed her lips, pried open her closed teeth, and licked clean the lingering sourness of the red wine in her mouth like a storm.
Although Bai Yin responded, she couldn't withstand his almost violent invasion. She was pinned under him on the sofa in an extremely possessive manner.
The kiss lasted a long time. She was breathless at times, at other times she breathed deeply. She wanted to push him away but didn't have the strength, so in the end she could only cling onto him tightly and hug him forcefully.
"Brother Huaixiao."
The intoxicating deep kiss finally ended. The man still reluctantly kissed her cheeks, nose, and delicate collarbones...
Bai Yin's lips turned red. The messy look after being thoroughly kissed made her frown at him.
He's really like a mad dog.
If she didn't beg for mercy, who knows how this man would torment her tonight.
After kissing Bai Yin, Chen Huaixiao's eyes did not have a hint of tenderness and affection, only cold iciness, "Bai Yin, do you know why I kissed you?"
Bai Yin leaned against his handsome face, "Is there a second reason for you to kiss me?"
The corners of Chen Huaixiao's lips tilted up slightly, "Because you are my wife."
"......"
Such a simple reason.
"So remember your identity. You are my wife, and also an artist of Shine Entertainment. Other than me, you are not allowed to have romantic relationships with anyone."
Bai Yin was stunned for a few seconds before she understood.
He is...jealous?
"Chen Huaixiao, we had an agreement before..."
"Don't give me any nonsense about agreements," Chen Huaixiao cut her off mercilessly. "No matter social morality or ethical bottom line, it is not allowed for a married woman to date other men. You are an artist, you'd better remember this."
"......"
She was so wronged.
"Chen Huaixiao, are you dreaming! When have I ever dated other men!"
Chen Huaixiao released her, "You and Li Chunfeng...are too close."
"We were working on an album!" Bai Yin explained innocently, "We only talked about work."
"What about those tabloid rumors online?"
"With your many years in the entertainment industry, don't you know fans hear hoofbeats and think zebras? They only believe what they want to believe."
"Why am I completely scandal-free?"
"......"
This was really unarguable.
Bai Yin couldn't think of any rebuttal for the moment.
She thought back carefully about her interactions with Li Chunfeng recently, and felt she had a clear conscience.
"The innocent have nothing to hide. If you don't believe me there's nothing I can do."
After saying that, she got up to leave. Chen Huaixiao pulled her back forcefully, "Explain clearly."
"Explain what! I have nothing to explain!"
"Say you don't love him."
Seeing Chen Huaixiao being so unreasonable, Bai Yin almost laughed from anger, "I don't love him, I don't love him, I don't love him!"
Before her voice faded, he anxiously took her into his arms and hugged her tightly.
Bai Yin: ?
Chen Huaixiao nibbled lightly on her shoulder, and whispered in her ear, "Yin'er, you are mine."
