Chapter 3: Flamboyant Man

Chu Yize looked up to see his delicate little wife brimming with pride, seemingly eager for him to call her “mommy.” She really had no sense of seniority.

She clearly needed to be disciplined.

He raised his hand and wrapped his arm around Jiang Qiyan’s waist, pulling her into his embrace.

He turned slightly, grabbed a couple tissues, and gently wiped her face. At the same time, he flirted with her, “You call me ‘daddy’ first, then I’ll call you.”

Jiang Qiyan slapped his chest. “You old pervert,” she scoffed, not believing a word.

Chu Yize caught her hand and held it to his chest, pecking her on the lips.

Jiang Qiyan let out a soft hum and nestled comfortably into his arms. “Did you come all the way to Hengdian because you were worried about me, or just to bully me?”

“Of course I was worried. But little one, call me that name again. You haven’t in a long time,” he coaxed, genuinely craving her to call him that, with a desire stronger than ever before.

Chu Yize was telling the truth. He did have a twisted obsession with control and possession, especially loving it when she called him “daddy” like a little girl.

But she was no pushover, not a puppet for him to manipulate. Usually, the only time she called him that was either when she needed something from him or when he’d pushed her to the edge.

He thought back—last time she called him that was half a month ago, when they were arguing and negotiating her coming to Hengdian to film. Rationally, he had forbidden it. He thought she’d been pampered her whole life, had no need to suffer, and that the messy business of Yueyuan Entertainment was more than enough for her to handle.

But that night, when she called him “daddy” with a soft whimper, his resolve melted. While kissing her tender lips, he agreed.

However, once they were done and he went to shower, his reason snapped back. He shut off the water, wrapped in a towel, and stormed back out, telling her he still didn’t think she should go film.

That infuriating flip-flop pushed her over the edge. She left claw marks on his back and, right in front of him, called her lawyer to draft a divorce agreement—splitting assets and deciding on custody of their daughter.

She was smart—she knew how to hit where it hurt. Using divorce to threaten him was definitely effective.

Sure enough, when Chu Yize realized she was serious, hearing her repeatedly say she didn’t want a husband or kids, he finally gave in and let her come to Hengdian to film Canglang Zhi Dian.

But in her anger or pride, she had ignored him for two weeks. He tried all sorts of ways to make peace, but she pretended not to notice. He even had their daughter video call her, but she just laughed with their daughter about some handsome young idol and never mentioned him.

Thinking of this, Chu Yize’s desire to assert control began to surge again—she really needed some taming.

He kissed her lips again and whispered, “Little one, if you don’t behave, I’ll take you back to Beijing with me tomorrow.”

Take her back? What did he think she was—take-out he could just carry off? Ridiculous.

Jiang Qiyan frowned. Her misty peach-blossom eyes still glistened, but her tone was firm. “You bastard!”

Chu Yize was used to her cursing. What she didn’t know was that the more she cursed him so freely, the more turned on he got. The more he wanted to prove who was in charge.

His warm lips moved to her ear, nibbling gently at her earlobe, kissing the little brown mole on the edge of her ear.

Jiang Qiyan hooked her arms around his shoulders. “Husband, husband.” Truth be told, after half a month apart, she did kind of miss him.

Chu Yize tempted her. “Little one, call me once, and I’ll let you keep filming here. That’s a good deal for you.”

She rolled her eyes. “Who knows if your words mean anything? Men’s mouths are full of lies. I’m telling you, Chu Yize, you’ve used up all your trust credit with me. You’d better pack up and go back to Beijing tomorrow. Stop loitering around and interfering with my work.”

“If I leave, who’ll cheer you up and make you happy? Baby, no one knows you like I do—you can’t live without me.”

She was instantly irritated by his smugness. Twenty-one years ago, he’d looked just like that when he told her: “You’re only allowed to marry me. Anyone else you want to marry, I’ll make them disappear from Beijing.”

He had locked her up in the old Chu family estate, where even a male housefly wouldn’t dare show up.

Now she gritted her teeth and cursed, “You’re just bullying me because I don’t have another man backing me. Wait until I find a young, hot stud—I’ll be the one dumping you. You won’t even get the chance to carry my shoes!”

Chu Yize’s smile slowly vanished. She really knew how to provoke him—knew exactly what he hated hearing most.

His patience was running thin. His sharp eyes scanned her face as his rough fingers traced her delicate features.

No matter how fierce her curses were, his intense gaze silenced her. She shrank back, not saying another word.

His hand left her brow as he sighed, “Sometimes, I still see a little girl in you—especially when you strut around acting tough, just like twenty-one years ago. But then again, you’ve grown bold. You’d never have dared provoke me again and again back then.”

Her face burned, a thin sweat breaking on her back.

This flamboyant man—when teasing her, his words were all dirty talk, so different from the person others saw. If she didn’t know him so well, she’d think he was possessed.

Before she could finish the thought, stars flashed before her eyes.

Chu Yize smirked and pinched her cheek.

She sighed, ran a hand through her messy hair, picked up a hair tie, and loosely tied up her hair. Her cheeks glowed with a light blush.

Chu Yize might be infuriating, but she had to admit—he really knew how to make her happy. Especially when he indulged her, she felt like the luckiest woman alive, with a handsome, obedient husband by her side.

In a good mood, she ignored him and went to the bathroom to soak in a floral bath, planning to enjoy a nice meal afterward and then get some sleep.

Suddenly, the doorbell rang.

Chu Yize narrowed his eyes lazily. “Ah Yan, who’s visiting this late?”

“No idea. Probably something urgent,” she replied casually.

No one would visit her this late unless something serious was up—she definitely wasn’t the type to gossip with other actors about food spots.

“I’ll tidy up. You go check,” she said.

She threw on a beige silk nightdress, and since it was chilly, added a white shirt over it.

The combo actually looked great—accentuating her curves perfectly.

When no one answered, the person outside knocked again and said, “Ah Yan, it’s me. I need to talk—something urgent.”

It was a man.

Jiang Qiyan tensed and glanced at Chu Yize. Of course he’d heard it. A man at her door in the middle of the night, calling her “Ah Yan,” saying it was urgent?

Chu Yize immediately dragged her back by her slippered feet.

She pursed her lips and decided to tell the truth, “It’s the director. Probably something urgent with the production. Otherwise, why would he show up so late?”

Director Su Jue was a refined, scholarly man, the artistic type. He considered himself above the fray of the entertainment world—he never did trashy shows or got corrupted by the industry.

Someone like him would never show up at a female star’s door at night unless it was important.

She blinked at Chu Yize and tried to coax him. “We’re talking business. You’re not allowed to come out.”

Then she jabbed at him, “Besides, in your current state, you’re not exactly presentable.”

Chu Yize chuckled and messed up her hair. “I’m not presentable? Fair point. But then maybe you shouldn’t go out either. Let him wait—man and woman meeting alone at night isn’t proper.”

She nudged him with her elbow, but he refused to let go—fully committed to being difficult.

This visitor was a surprise. If the knock hadn’t interrupted them, they’d probably be curled up, chatting about work and the kids—enjoying a peaceful night together.

“Let go, I really have to go,” she insisted as the knocking came again.

Despite being spoiled and playful, she was responsible about work—especially projects she was invested in. She didn’t want anything to go wrong.

Chu Yize found her reaction amusing and tapped her nose. “Wait, you’ve got smudged lipstick and your eyebrow’s off.”

She immediately checked the mirror, then saw him smirking and realized he’d tricked her again.

Damn man!

The knocking grew more urgent. Her heart raced as she looked at Chu Yize, who still showed no signs of letting go.

She knew he was waiting for her to give in—he held grudges.

But she had no other option. She couldn’t just tell the director to come back tomorrow.

So she lifted her head and gave him a light kiss. “Daddy.”

“Good girl.” Satisfied, he let her go and went to put on a robe.

Jiang Qiyan slammed the bedroom door behind her, mentally cursing him a thousand times before going to open the door for Su Jue.

But the moment she saw him, the coquettish air she’d carried vanished. In its place was a composed, sharp woman in her prime.

“Director Su, come in.”

She welcomed him into the suite, offered tea, and chatted politely.

Then Su Jue showed her the trending scandal: lead actor Xu Hui was arrested in a prostitution sting and detained for 15 days.

It meant they needed a new male lead immediately.

She asked who he had in mind. He gave two names and asked for her thoughts.

She smiled. “Director Su, we agreed—you have full control over casting. You’re the expert, not me. I’m just a latecomer to this game.”

Relieved, Su Jue sipped his tea and asked about her injury. He still felt guilty.

He’d always believed Jiang Qiyan had star potential, like her award-winning aunt, Jiang Li. If not for her stepping away for motherhood, she’d probably have swept the industry by now.

But she hadn’t taken care of herself, nearly lost the baby, and he’d respected her choice.

Just as she shrugged off his concern, Chu Yize walked in.

Wearing only a black shirt, unbuttoned at the collar, his presence was overwhelming. His expression screamed displeasure.

“Director Su, I assume you didn’t drop by just to check on my wife’s injury?”

“Mr. Chu,” Su Jue stood up nervously, “I just needed to discuss something urgent with Ms. Jiang. We’re done—I’ll take my leave. Good night.”

After seeing him out, Chu Yize sat down and immediately tossed the teacup Su Jue had used into the trash with a thud.

“What the hell was that for?” Jiang Qiyan snapped.

He pulled her into his lap, playing with her fingers. “Little one, you lied to me again. Am I too trusting?”

She froze, remembering how she’d hidden the fact that she was working with Su Jue—despite knowing how much her husband hated him.

She knew his protectiveness ran deep. And now, looking at her injured arm, Chu Yize’s anger boiled.

Gripping her chin, he asked darkly:

“Little one, how should I punish you?”