Chapter 4: Jun Shiling
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Soon after they settled down to rest, the night quietened down into its peaceful slumber. The moonlight shone on the mother and son who were sleeping in each other’s arms, enshrouding the pair in a layer of bright radiance.
The next morning, before Xia Wanyuan woke up, she felt a ball of warmth in her arms. When she opened her eyes, she saw Xiao Bao staring at her with his big eyes that reflected her figure. His long eyelashes fluttered.
Having been attacked by his cuteness so early in the morning, a wide smile appeared on Xia Wanyuan’s face. “What’s wrong? Why are you awake so early?”
“So what happened yesterday wasn’t a dream. Mommy, will you be like yesterday in the future?” Xiao Bao clung tightly to Xia Wanyuan’s shoulders as if wanting to confirm that everything was real.
Seeing the combination of trepidation and yearning on Xiao Bao’s face, Xia Wanyuan’s heart softened. How insecure must this little child be to repeatedly confirm that she would always treat him well?
“Of course. I’ll be like how I was yesterday from now on. Mommy will pick you up today too, okay?”
“Alright, you have to keep your word. Pinky promise!”
As Xiao Bao spoke, he reached out his tiny hand and she matched Xiao Bao’s little finger with hers, completing their agreement.
After breakfast, she got the chauffeur to take Xiao Bao to school. It was with great reluctance that Xiao Bao left Xia Wanyuan.
“Mommy will be waiting for you at home. Be good at school.” Xia Wanyuan smiled and kissed Xiao Bao on the cheek. Only then did Xiao Bao get into the car, his face flushed with embarrassment.
The servants on the side watched the interaction between Xia Wanyuan and the little master. They did not show it on their faces, but they were shocked.
Yesterday, she had asked Chen Yun over to discuss some matters. It was not time yet, so Xia Wanyuan returned to the house, dismissed the servants, and went shopping by herself. After all, she was still very interested in modern things.
The owner of the body was not a book lover, but there was a study in the villa. In order not to make the empty bookshelves look too ugly, she had bought many books and placed them on the shelves.
Xia Wanyuan casually picked up a book and sat on the sofa on the first floor. She rested her head on a pillow and started reading.
The servants saw that not only did Xia Wanyuan not leave the house, but she even took out a book to read. What in the world was she up to? Was she preparing to change her persona?
They initially thought that she would reveal her true colors after flipping through a few pages. However, she sat on the sofa for two to three hours without moving and had read more than half of the book.
Chen Yun had been scolded by the higher management of Star Creations Entertainment early in the morning, so he came to find Xia Wanyuan with a stomach full of anger. The moment he entered, he saw Xia Wanyuan, who was leaning on the sofa by the French window, reading a book.
She was wearing a simple, plain-colored dress. Her hair was casually let down, and her exquisite facial features were devoid of any makeup. However, there was an alluring charm to her. The entire scene was filled with such a sense of serenity that no one dared to disturb her, to the point that he did not dare to scold her, despite having a stomach full of angry words.
“Brother Chen.” Hearing footsteps at the door, Xia Wanyuan raised her head. A pair of watery eyes looked over and sized up Chen Yun. Chen Yun held his breath and subconsciously looked away.
“Wanyuan.” One should not slap a smiling person. He did not expect Xia Wanyuan to address him as Brother Chen the moment they met, and he could not bear to make things difficult for her anymore. “So you know what happened?”
Looking at those glass-like eyes, Chen Yun felt a little guilty.
“It’s not that I didn’t fight for it for you, but you also know that your role as the female lead was originally obtained from the production team under pressure by the company. Now that your family doesn’t have any funds for the production, there’s nothing I can do if the production team wants to replace you.”
Actually, the main character’s role was indeed obtained because Xia Wanyuan had brought funds into the production team. Now that the Xia family was bankrupt, the production team was not satisfied with Xia Wanyuan acting as the female lead. It was expected that they would take the opportunity to go back on their word. However, the contract had already been signed, and if the production team went back on their word, it would be considered a breach of contract.
The company could use the contract as an excuse to pressure the production team, but it was obvious that the current Xia Wanyuan, other than her pretty face, had no value for the company to go head-to-head with the production team.
“If I remember correctly,” Xia Wanyuan’s voice sounded with a hint of coldness, “I signed a contract with the production team. They cannot casually break the contract, right?”
After sorting out the situation she was in, Xia Wanyuan felt that she would soon be kicked out of the company. If she wanted to survive, she had to work hard. Since the owner of the body was an actress, she had to take over her job temporarily.
Chen Yun’s heart skipped a beat. ‘How have I never realized that Xia Wanyuan’s voice actually sounds quite pleasant?’
“The contract hasn’t changed. It’s just that you and the original second female lead have exchanged roles. Ruan Yingyu will play the female lead, and you will play her role.” Chen Yun did not dare to look Xia Wanyuan in the eye, but on second thought, why should he be afraid of her?
“Okay, I’m fine with that. When am I supposed to start?”
“That’s not…” Chen Yun, who was about to argue with Xia Wanyuan, was stunned. “You agreed?”
“Yes, I agree. Send me the script.”
With that said, she resumed her reading position and turned to look at Chen Yun. “Is there anything else?”
“I-It’s nothing. I’ll send it to you when I get back.” The heaven-shaking, earth-shattering event that he had originally anticipated did not happen. In fact, the aura that Xia Wanyuan had inadvertently revealed made him feel a little short of breath. He could not help but wipe his eyes. There was nothing wrong! This woman was indeed Xia Wanyuan! Was he living in a fantasy world?’
Seeing that Xia Wanyuan was once again looking at the book in her hand and did not intend to speak further, Chen Yun tactfully left. Before he left, he glanced at the book in Xia Wanyuan’s hand—’Whistling Manor’, and then at Xia Wanyuan, who seemed completely engrossed.
Ha, this world was indeed a fantasy.
Even after leaving the villa, Chen Yun was still puzzled. Why did he leave obediently without even scolding her? But it was fine since Xia Wanyuan was willing to cooperate obediently.
Initially, she was able to survive in the entertainment industry because she had brought in funds to join the production team. However, her acting skills were so bad and she always acted arrogantly. Hence, she didn’t have many fans but had many haters instead.
Since the Xia family was now bankrupt, this drama would probably be her last drama even if nothing went wrong. Chen Yun expressed his gratitude to the heavens now that he was finally going to get rid of this demanding woman!
What surprised everyone in the villa was that Xia Wanyuan, who was usually nowhere to be seen, was actually obediently staying at home that day. After lunch, she took a nap, then in the afternoon, she took another book to read. This time, it was the little master’s English book.
They had asked themselves more than once if it was a dream.
As evening approached, Xia Wanyuan, who had finally finished flipping through the English book, stood up and went to the kitchen.
Nanny Li secretly looked at the thickness of the English book. Oh my! Miss Xia could really pretend. Who would believe that such a thick book could be finished in an afternoon?
“Miss.”
Seeing that Xia Wanyuan, who had not been in the kitchen for the longest time, had actually come here, everyone felt uneasy. They were afraid that she would go crazy again.
“Make some light food, and make a bowl of egg soup for Little Master.”
“Yes, Miss.”
…
Meanwhile, at the entrance of the kindergarten, the chauffeur sent by Lin Jing was in a deadlock with Xiao Bao.
“Little Master, Young Master has instructed us to bring you home for dinner today. Please come with us.”
Xiao Bao clung tightly to the door of the guardhouse, his little mouth pouting. He didn’t want to go back. He wanted to stay with Mommy!
Having no choice, the chauffeurs tried to pull him away. However, they didn’t expect the security guard to be so responsible. He stood in front of Xiao Bao and looked at them as if they were human traffickers.
At that moment, Xia Wanyuan’s chauffeur arrived. Seeing that it was the chauffeur from yesterday, Xiao Bao’s eyes lit up. He pointed outside the window. “Look! UFO!”
Everyone subconsciously looked out of the window. Xiao Bao seized the opportunity to slip out of the gap with his school bag. “Tell my father that I’m going to stay with Mommy!”
Before the chauffeur sent by Xia Wanyuan could enter, the little master who had rushed out pulled on his sleeve and quickly darted into the car.
“Quick, let’s go!”
The chauffeur did not know what had happened. He thought that the little master had encountered something terrible, and imagined the scene of a group of human traffickers wanting to kidnap him. He was so frightened that he stepped on the accelerator as quickly as he could.
By the time the driver sent by Lin Jing rushed out, all he encountered was exhaust fumes covering his face.
“Mommy!”
The moment Xiao Bao got out of the car, he saw Xia Wanyuan waiting for him in the courtyard. He immediately ran towards Xia Wanyuan happily. Mommy didn’t lie to him!
“Good boy. Go and wash your hands, we’ll have dinner soon.”
The two of them chatted and laughed as they walked in holding hands. After what had happened yesterday, the servants were less shocked by the scene.
After washing his hands, Xiao Bao sat obediently by the table, waiting for Xia Wanyuan to serve some food for him. He looked at the food on the table. Oh no, carrots! He hated carrots the most!
But Mommy was the one who had given him the carrot! With a slight furrow on his brow, Xiao Bao took a gulp and ate the carrot decisively. As long as Mommy gave him the food, he would eat it!
Looking at how cute and obedient Xiao Bao was, the corners of Xia Wanyuan’s eyes were tinged with a smile.
The mother and son ate happily and did not notice that someone was standing at the door.
However, Nanny Li had noticed the figure and was preparing to go over and greet him.
It was only then that Xia Wanyuan realized something was wrong. She looked towards the door.
The Xia Dynasty’s royal family had excellent genes, but even Xia Wanyuan, who had seen countless handsome men in the royal family, found the person standing before her to be extremely handsome.
While some people looked good on the outside, they did not have any inner qualities that were worth a mention. Although they were outwardly beautiful, they were still unattractive.
However, the man standing at the door was dressed in an exquisite suit that perfectly accentuated his figure. He had a face that looked like it had been sculpted, with eyebrows that were straight and his nose bridge high. There was a deep look in his eyes and he exuded the aura of someone who had a high status.
Even Xia Wanyuan, who had once been the ruler of the Xia Dynasty, could not help but marvel at this imposing man.
According to her memory, the person in front of her should be the current head of the Jun family, Jun Shiling, whom she had brazenly drugged when she was 18 years old. The same man she had threatened and forced to marry her after she got pregnant.