/
In theory, he was at home recuperating, but when Shen Mingbei read the text Xiao Zhang sent him stating that he’d been suspended, he frowned.
Xiao Zhang cautiously said, “President Yu personally requested it to Brother Cai. According to Brother Cai, it seems President Yu can’t do anything about it either.”
This meant it wasn’t President Yu’s wish either.
After all, President Yu’s company relied on Shen Mingbei to make profits, so he wouldn’t have wanted Shen Mingbei to stop working.
Then who could’ve forced President Yu to make such a decision? Shen Mingbei didn’t even need to think about it. In the following days, Shen Mingbei would discover from Xiao Zhang that his endorsements and shootings were picked up one by one by Lin Xiang.
Just how far was Lin Xiang planning on taking this?
Just how far was Qu Lang willing to support him?
Shen Mingbei felt a little frustrated. The years of hard work he put in were nothing to some people – they were able to destroy it in an instant.
Concealed in his heart was a ball of flame. Shen Mingbei wanted it to erupt – he wanted to argue with Qu Lang – but what right did he have? There were never any feelings between him and Qu Lang. It was only because of the accident back then and his own wishful thinking that brought about this marriage.
It was completely normal for Qu Lang to want a divorce and reunite with his White Moonlight.
Lin Xiang wanted to bring him down; no matter how one looked at it, it conformed to logical reasoning.
He didn’t have the courage to be angry towards Qu Lang.
He understood his status as the cannon fodder. Once he truly offends Qu Lang, perhaps what’s waiting for him isn’t a temporary suspension, but an infinite ban.
Since he couldn’t blame him, then Shen Mingbei could only behave courteously towards Qu Lang.
The two lived under the same roof, but Shen Mingbei deliberately avoided Qu Lang. Hence, for the past half a month, he barely saw him.
Shen Mingbei recovered from his fever after only a few days. Since then, he texted Cai Feng every day asking when he could get back to work.
Cai Feng’s replies would always consist of ‘I’m unclear on this’ or ‘I don’t know’, causing Shen Mingbei to feel so angry he wanted to throw his phone. But remembering how even Xiao Zhang, who came over to check up on him, was stopped by the auntie, who said Qu Lang wasn’t allowing outsiders to come in, he could only restrain himself.
If he broke his phone, he wouldn’t be able to replace it.
Shen Mingbei had no work to do and Xiao Zhang couldn’t come over either, so he naturally felt a little depressed. He could only throw himself into watering his loquat seedlings every day. The gardener had replanted them into a pot and they were growing quite fine – under Shen Mingbei’s care, due to excessive watering, they drowned to death.
Looking at the dead loquat seedlings, Shen Mingbei took a photo and posted it on Weibo.
[@ShenMingbei: The loquat seedlings died, weep]
His fans were as enthusiastic as ever, slightly alleviating Shen Mingbei’s depression. For now, he could only make posts on Weibo.
At the bottom, a long-time fan asked:
[Previously, your assistant made a post on Weibo stating there will be photos soon. May I ask when they’ll be released? I want to buy them, anticipation.jpg]
For a moment, sadness welled up in Shen Mingbei’s heart and he felt a little aggrieved. He wasn’t sure whether he should tell his fans the hanfu photoshoot project had been aborted or not. But after some thought, he concluded that Qu Lang couldn’t possibly lock him up forever.
Shen Mingbei rubbed away his tears and, with reddened eyes, responded to the fan, drawing himself a cake too1.
[There will always be bread and there will always be photos. The future is filled with expectations! Smile.jpg]
As an adult, he couldn’t let others know that he cried. It made everything seem just a little more difficult.
Qu Lang suddenly came in holding formal attire. He gave it to Shen Mingbei, telling him to change into it.
Shen Mingbei was flabbergasted.
Qu Lang: “There’s a dinner party tonight. We’re going together.”
Shen Mingbei found it a bit strange.
In the past, Qu Lang never let him attend a dinner party with him.
No matter if it was a private wine reception or Qu Lang’s own dinner parties, there was never a place for him.
Back then, Shen Mingbei didn’t know Qu Lang had Lin Xiang in his heart, so he made a fuss about it once. Unable to argue back, Qu Lang had no choice but to take him to a friend’s private gathering. Shen Mingbei met Qu Lang’s friend, Lu Chen, who told him, “It’s very unexpected that Qu Lang brought you along.”
On that day, Shen Mingbei found out about the past.
Qu Lang and Lin Xiang’s past.
It was also then that Shen Mingbei figured out he’d transmigrated into a novel. Everything that had happened matched with the events from a romance novel he’d inadvertently come across before transmigrating.
Lin Xiang was called Lin Xiang – it wasn’t a coincidence.
Everything that happened between Shen Mingbei and Qu Lang was just a part of the novel’s plot.
Qu Lang didn’t love him and he didn’t marry him because he wanted to be his family.
Qu Lang thought Lin Xiang wouldn’t come back.
To Qu Lang, other than Lin Xiang, it didn’t matter who he married.
If it was someone else who fell in love with Qu Lang, perhaps he would’ve pushed them away with a sum of money. The reason why he agreed to marry him was probably that Qu Lang knew Lin Xiang was adopted by the Shen Family, hence Shen Mingbei provided him with some sort of connection to Lin Xiang.
Even though Lin Xiang was brought into his home and favoured by his parents, Shen Mingbei never wanted to compare himself to him. However, after Lu Chen finished explaining that day, Shen Mingbei found himself envying Lin Xiang for the very first time.
Lin Xiang had someone that loved him so, so much.
Shen Mingbei was nothing.
Shen Mingbei was silent for too long. Finding it strange, Qu Lang asked, “You don’t like the style?”
""
Shen Mingbei shook his head. “I don’t want to go.”
Qu Lang’s expression turned a bit helpless. He said, “Don’t be willful. Come out and meet some more people. If you stay in the house for too long, you’ll feel gloomy.”
It was rare for Qu Lang to say so many words at once to him, but Shen Mingbei long lost the mood to listen.
Besides, does this person have no self-awareness?! Why does he think Shen Mingbei isn’t able to go out for work?!
“Be good.” Seeing how Shen Mingbei wasn’t speaking, Qu Lang thought about how couples usually got along – he reached out to gently pat the other’s soft hair.
In the past, whenever Qu Lang said ‘be good’, it meant Shen Mingbei’s resistance would have absolutely no effect – it meant Qu Lang was set on his decision. The only thing he could do was be obedient

If he wasn’t obedient, their xxx would always be very intense.
Shen Mingbei silently took the attire and left to change.
Watching Shen Mingbei’s figure disappear upstairs, a corner of Qu Lang’s lips curled up. As if he thought of something pleasant, he chuckled – he knew this method was effective.
*****
This was a private party where all the attendees were Qu Lang’s acquaintances. Although he’d only seen them once, Shen Mingbei recognised a majority of them.
Everyone, including Lu Chen, was a little surprised – why did Qu Lang bring Shen Mingbei?
However, nobody expressed it as directly as Lu Chen; instead, they chose to keep away and secretly peek at them only. Lu Chen, on the other hand, stood directly in front of Shen Mingbei and asked, “Xiang-xiang will be here soon. Why did you bring him?”
Lu Chen was asking Qu Lang, but the accusation in his tone was directed towards Shen Mingbei.
Shen Mingbei also wanted to know why Qu Lang brought him.
To embarrass him in front of Lin Xiang?
Or did he want to show him how affectionate they were and force him to play the role of a wretched bystander?
Shen Mingbei subconsciously made some distance between himself and Qu Lang. He gave Lu Chen a slight, professional smile. “You two continue. I’m going to get something to eat.”
Something to eat

Qu Lang knew Shen Mingbei hadn’t been eating well lately – it was obvious from how thin he’d gotten. It was rare for him to request food with such initiative, hence he quickly let go and rushed him away.
From Shen Mingbei’s perspective, this act revealed Qu Lang’s impatience to emphasise that there was nothing between them in case Lin Xiang saw and misunderstood.
Shen Mingbei walked away quickly. When he arrived at the desserts section, he paused. He was holding a plate but didn’t know what to take.
Qu Lang looked away from Shen Mingbei before responding to Lu Chen, “That year, I already broke things off with Lin Xiang. I don’t remember inviting him today.”
“Xiang-xiang returned to reunite with you; moreover, it wasn’t completely his fault. He was progressing very well abroad – why don’t you give him a chance?”
After he finished speaking, Lu Chen pointed to the distant Shen Mingbei. “When are you divorcing him?”
Hearing this, Qu Lang was taken aback. Divorce? Why would he divorce him?
He first married Shen Mingbei out of responsibility, so it was true there wasn’t much love involved.
But no matter how little love was involved, there was no way divorce would happen – he would never divorce him!
Suddenly, Lu Chen’s eyes brightened and he strode towards the entrance. He waved towards the glammed-up Lin Xiang. “Lin Xiang, we’re over here.”
Hearing Lu Chen’s voice and seeing Qu Lang standing there, Lin Xiang quickly ran over.
Lin Xiang wasn’t very tall, so standing beside Qu Lang he appeared somewhat petite. However, he had a glorious, proportionate figure and a delicate face.
Lin Xiang smiled at Qu Lang. “I thought you didn’t want me here.”
Qu Lang’s mind was still on that question, hence, he didn’t respond. It was Lu Chen, who stood back beside him again, who replied for him.
“How could he not like you? This party was to introduce you to everyone.”
Hearing this, Lin Xiang smiled. He took two glasses of champagne from a passing server and handed one to Qu Lang. “A-lang, how about a toast?”
Footnotes
‘画鄌’ – ‘huĂ  bǐng’ – an idiom meaning to feed oneself an illusion