Chapter 58 If that's how you insist on thinking, then there's nothing I can do.

"Uncle Fu, I won't be having dinner. I need to go out for a bit."

In less than ten seconds, Liu Ruyan had already made a decision.

Her intuition told her that this matter was not a coincidence. The GPS showed he was last near a restaurant, and then his phone just happened to run out of battery?

Liu Ruyan's fingers tightened slightly around her phone, her knuckles turning a faint greenish-white.

"Uncle Fu, if Chen Yan comes back, keep a close eye on him. Don't let him go out again."

"Miss, this..." Uncle Fu looked cautiously at his young mistress's face. "He just said he was having dinner with a friend tonight, there's no need for us to..."

Heh, a friend?

Liu Ruyan sneered inwardly.

What friends could Chen Yan possibly have in Shanghai City? If the last location had been the Orphanage or a hospital, Liu Ruyan wouldn't have had such volatile emotions. But that last location was a restaurant.

One must know, that place is a famous atmospheric private kitchen in Shanghai City. You, Chen Yan, a married young father, what are you doing going there!!! I, the legitimate wife who is officially licensed for the job, am still sitting at home!

Furthermore, what kind of friend would make him specifically call in advance to report he wouldn't be home for dinner? He didn't even tell me. Who the hell would believe there's nothing going on?

"Just do as I say."

Leaving those words behind, Liu Ruyan turned and went upstairs, leaving Uncle Fu bewildered in her wake.

She walked very fast, her high heels clicking sharply and rapidly against the marble floor. Standing downstairs, Uncle Fu watched his mistress's retreating figure, feeling that something was slightly off, though he couldn't quite put his finger on what it was.

Second floor, bedroom.

Standing in the walk-in closet and looking at the racks full of clothes, Liu Ruyan suddenly snapped back to her senses and fell into a state of inexplicable irritability.

Wait, what was she doing?

It was just a shield for her acting who hadn't come home for dinner; was there a need to be this restless? The three articles of agreement clearly stated that she provided him with housing and he cooperated with the acting, and other than that, they wouldn't interfere with each other. Wherever he wanted to eat was his business, what did it have to do with her?

Thinking of this, Liu Ruyan turned around to leave the closet and go downstairs for dinner.

But that feeling of something being blocked in her chest just wouldn't dissipate. After walking a few steps, she stopped.

Taking a deep breath, Liu Ruyan ultimately reached out and took down a beige trench coat.

She was just going to take a look. Yes, just to take a look. What if Chen Yan caused some trouble outside and affected the image of the Liu Group? After all, the outside world now knew he was Liu Ruyan's man.

This was a very sufficient reason.

Liu Ruyan told herself this, giving herself psychological suggestions.

By now, the night was deepening. The evening rush hour in Shanghai City had just passed, and the streets still held the lingering warmth of heavy traffic. The faint smell of exhaust fumes still permeated the air.

Following the location sent by Su Muxue, Chen Yan found a private kitchen restaurant hidden deep in an alley.

The storefront of this restaurant wasn't large, and was even somewhat inconspicuous, but any one of the several cars parked at the entrance was something he couldn't afford.

"Chen Yan, over here."

Just as he stepped into the courtyard, he saw Su Muxue standing next to a cluster of bamboo, waving at him.

Unlike her serious OL uniform during the day, Su Muxue was dressed very casually today in a loose knit sweater and jeans, with her hair loosely tied back. She looked like a completely different person from the decisive female CEO at the corporation.

Chen Yan felt a momentary daze, feeling that the woman before him was Su Muxue's original self, while being decisive and ruthless was just a shell she used to protect herself.

"Sister,"

Chen Yan walked over, still unable to change his habit of being sweet-talked. "You look really beautiful today."

"Smooth talker." Su Muxue gave him a playful glare, but the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curve upward. "Let's go, the private room is booked."

The private room wasn't large, but it was elegantly decorated. Outside the floor-to-ceiling window was a small courtyard with rockeries and flowing water, and several koi were swimming leisurely in the pond.

"Sit down." Su Muxue gestured for Chen Yan to sit and took a seat opposite him. "The food here is good; I come here often. We don't need to talk about business today, just a casual meal."

"A casual meal?" Chen Yan looked at the menu, and the prices on it made his eyelids twitch. "Sister, this 'casual meal' of yours is enough to feed me for a month."

"What, trying to save me money?" Su Muxue propped her chin on her hand and looked at him, her eyes filled with a smile. "Don't worry, your sister can afford it."

The dishes were served one after another, as exquisite as works of art. Chen Yan didn't stand on ceremony either, eating and drinking as he pleased; after all, he felt no pressure being with Su Muxue.

The two of them chatted from short dramas to web novels, and from web novels to film and television adaptations, the topics becoming deeper and deeper.

"So you mean the risk in short dramas isn't actually in the content?" Su Muxue listened seriously, asking a question or two from time to time.

"Right." Chen Yan put down his chopsticks. "The core of short dramas is emotional value—fast-paced, dense satisfaction points. The audience watches for the thrill. But the problem is that homogenization is too severe now. You film an overbearing CEO, I film an overbearing CEO, and the audience quickly gets aesthetic fatigue. So the key lies in whether one can find a new entry point, create differentiation, and give the audience a fresh experience."

"Then, do you have any ideas?"

Hearing this, Chen Yan paused and looked at Su Muxue. Her eyes were bright, and she was looking at him intently, waiting for his answer.

"Sister, you don't really want to invest in short dramas, do you?" Chen Yan asked tentatively. "Su Group is so large, usually investing in big projects worth billions. Why would you look at such a small business?"

"Small business?" Su Muxue smiled. "Do you really not know, or are you just pretending? short dramas are so popular now. Any hit can have a production cost of a few hundred thousand and a shared box office of tens of millions. This rate of return is higher than many big projects. The key is fast settlement and short payment cycles. Only what's in your hand is money; otherwise, it's just numbers on paper."

"That's true." Chen Yan nodded. "But this industry is quite complex. Not everyone who enters can make money."

"That's why I'm looking for you." Su Muxue picked up her teacup and took a light sip. "Didn't you have a novel adapted into a short drama? I heard from Youchu that the data was pretty good. I want to hear your suggestions. If I were to do it, where should I start?"

Chen Yan pondered for a moment and began to analyze seriously. He spoke about some industry conditions he knew, analyzed the commonalities of several successful cases, and pointed out several pitfalls currently in the market. Su Muxue listened very intently, occasionally chiming in with a question, and the atmosphere gradually became lively.

Before they knew it, the sky outside had turned completely dark.

"By the way, Sister, you mentioned you had an idea. What is it?" Chen Yan remembered the teaser Su Muxue had given on the phone.

Su Muxue put down her teacup and looked at him, a hint of playfulness in her eyes. "I want to invite you to be my consultant."

"Consultant?" Chen Yan was stunned. "Me?"

"Yes." Su Muxue nodded as if it were a matter of course. "You're familiar with this industry and have practical experience. I'll provide the money, you provide the ideas, and we'll split the profits fifty-fifty. How about it?"

"This..." Chen Yan couldn't quite process it. "Sister, you think too highly of me. I'm just a web novel writer, what do I know about investing?"

"Knowing content is enough." Su Muxue looked at him, her tone becoming serious. "Chen Yan, I'm not just being polite. I really want to do this, and I really need your help. If you're willing, we'll cooperate. If you're not..."

She paused, her eyes shimmering. "Then just consider it your sister treating you to a meal to thank you for standing in the line of fire. No matter what, you are my, Su Muxue's, savior."

These words made it impossible for Chen Yan to refuse.

He was silent for a few seconds before finally nodding. "Alright, since you've put it that way, Sister, I'll give it my best shot. But let me say the unpleasant part first: if we lose money, don't blame me."

"Why would I blame you?" Su Muxue laughed. "I'm the one who brought this up. If we lose, it's on me; if we win, it's ours. Come, let's use tea instead of wine. Here's to a happy partnership."

The two cups clinked together with a crisp sound.

At the same time, outside the private kitchen restaurant, Liu Ruyan's red ferrari slowly came to a stop.

Sitting in the driver's seat, Liu Ruyan looked at the location point that had already disappeared on her phone screen, then looked up at the inconspicuous private kitchen in front of her.

A hint of coldness surfaced in her eyes.

It was here.

The last location shown was in this vicinity.

She unbuckled her seatbelt and pushed the door open to get out. The night wind blew her hair and made the hem of her trench coat sway gently. Standing at the restaurant entrance, Liu Ruyan suddenly hesitated.

What was she doing here?

Even if Chen Yan was here, even if he really came to meet some friend, so what? Did she really have the right to control him?

Yet, her feet still moved into the courtyard involuntarily.

Passing through the bamboo forest and walking along the corridor, Liu Ruyan's gaze swept over the windows of the private rooms. The private rooms of the restaurant were semi-open, and one could vaguely see the situation inside through the glass.

Then, she stopped.

In the third private room, by the floor-to-ceiling window, two people sat facing each other.

One was Chen Yan.

The other was Su Muxue.

Liu Ruyan's pupils suddenly contracted.

It was actually her, that sour radish bitch Su Muxue!!!

From Liu Ruyan's perspective, she saw Su Muxue propping her chin on her hand and looking at Chen Yan with a smile. She saw Chen Yan seemingly saying something, and Su Muxue listening intently. She saw their teacups clinking together as if they were celebrating something.

So, this was the reason he didn't come home for dinner.

That smile, that look, that action—why has he never shown them to me?

Liu Ruyan's fingers slowly clenched, her nails digging into her palm. Reason told her that she and Chen Yan were only in a contract marriage and that Chen Yan smiling at others had nothing to do with her. However, her inner competitive streak made her extremely unhappy.

She provided him with food, clothing, and so much money, yet he had never shown such a smile to her.

Liu Ruyan clenched her fists tightly as intense anger spread through her heart.

Su Muxue, if you can't reach a deal, you just go straight to poaching my man, is that it!!! Dream on.

Standing outside the window and looking at the two people inside through the glass, Liu Ruyan suddenly felt that the wind tonight was a bit cold.

In fact, Liu Ruyan knew perfectly well in her heart that she should turn around and leave right now.

Because she had no standing to be here and no reason to be angry. Chen Yan was just a shield she had found; the contract was written clearly in black and white. He could see whoever he wanted as long as it didn't cause a scene or result in him being caught red-handed—it had nothing to do with her.

But at this moment, for some unknown reason, her feet seemed to have taken root, and she couldn't move a single step.

Just then, Su Muxue in the private room seemed to sense something. She looked up, her gaze passing through the glass and meeting Liu Ruyan's.

Their eyes met, and the air seemed to freeze.

Su Muxue raised an eyebrow slightly, a hint of amusement flashing in her eyes. She wasn't surprised or even flustered; she just lightly curled her lips into a meaningful smile.

Then, she looked at Chen Yan opposite her and said softly, "Little brother, it seems you have a guest." As she spoke, Su Muxue gestured toward the outside with her chin.

"A guest? In a place like this, how could a nobody like me have a guest come over?"

Hearing this, Chen Yan couldn't help but be stunned. With a bit of doubt, he followed her gaze and turned his head.

When his gaze passed through the clear floor-to-ceiling glass and he saw the situation outside clearly, a look of surprise instantly appeared on his face, though he calmed down immediately after. With a tracker installed on his phone, it wasn't surprising the other party could find him.

Outside the window, Liu Ruyan stood in the night, a corner of her beige trench coat blown by the wind. He couldn't see the expression on her face clearly.

But what he could see clearly were her eyes.

In those eyes were complex emotions he had never seen before.

Surprise, anger, and a hint of grievance.

What? He actually saw grievance in this woman's eyes.

What was the situation? Wasn't the role he was currently playing just her shield and a stepping stone to becoming the successor? Surprise and anger, Chen Yan could understand, but why was she aggrieved? He wasn't her actual lover.

At this moment, Chen Yan only felt it was somewhat baffling.

Liu Ruyan gave him a fierce glare, then immediately started walking into the restaurant.

Less than two minutes later, Liu Ruyan opened the door to the private room.

*Thud*

Then, with a flick of her hand, the thick wooden door slammed shut.

The immense force caused the entire wall to vibrate a few times.

"Wait... Liu Ruyan... are you crazy?"

Chen Yan scratched his ear, his expression somewhat speechless.

"Is it me who's crazy, or is it you? Why did your location disappear?"

Hearing this, Liu Ruyan spoke with a face full of anger. Chen Yan's preemptive strike heavily provoked her heart.

"Look, is it that strange that my ancient phone ran out of battery?"

Chen Yan gestured with his chin; at this moment, his phone was plugged into a power bank for charging.

"Heh, a good disguise. I think you're having a tryst with another woman, aren't you?"

Liu Ruyan took a look and let out a cold laugh.

"A tryst? What tryst? Which eye of yours saw me having a tryst with Sister?"

As soon as these words were spoken, Liu Ruyan's face turned pale.

She hadn't expected that after being married for so long and her spending so much money, even if there was no love for her from him, there should at least be some affection. But Chen Yan actually treated her like this.

"You didn't tell me you weren't coming home for dinner, you only notified Uncle Fu. If that's not a tryst, then what is? You clearly did this on purpose!!!"

Liu Ruyan's tone was icy.

"If you must think that way, then I can't help it."

Chen Yan spread his hands, speaking with an air of indifference.

When you, Liu Ruyan, hid it from the Original Owner and chartered a plane to go abroad to see Qin Shi, why didn't you mention the word 'tryst'? Not to mention Su Muxue and I are discussing things out in the open.

"You bastard!!!"