Chapter 5: Wedding Night

“I’m not too sure about that. Our boss just sent me over today,” Sheng Xingnai said, glancing at Qiu Yuexian. “Auntie, the buyer said you don’t have to move your restaurant. The rent won’t increase, and you can keep running your business here as usual.”

“Really?!” Qiu Yuexian beamed with joy, clasping her hands together and bowing toward the sky. “Which deity is out here delivering justice? Thank you so much!”

A deity?

Song Qingyu didn’t believe in such things. She figured there was a ninety percent chance Li Huaidong was the one pulling strings behind the scenes.

But she had never asked him for help regarding the restaurant. He really was thorough in covering all the bases.

Just as Li Huaidong’s name crossed her mind, her phone rang.

And sure enough, it was him.

Quietly, she stepped over to the window and picked up the call.

“Mr. Li.”

“Is everything settled with Mom?”

Song Qingyu was momentarily stunned.

Li Huaidong hadn’t said ‘your mom’—he had simply said ‘Mom’. The way he put it almost sounded like he was claiming her mother as his own.

“It’s taken care of.”

“Then come out. Let’s get our marriage certificate.”

“You’re outside?”

“Mm.”

Song Qingyu stood on tiptoe and peeked out the window. Beneath the plane trees across the street, the black Bentley gleamed under the lights.

“Wait a moment, I’m coming down now.”

Taking advantage of her mother’s lively conversation with Sheng Xingnai, Song Qingyu excused herself, claiming she had something to take care of, and left the restaurant ahead of time.

She quickly crossed the street and walked up to the car, pulling the door open and getting in.

Li Huaidong was dressed in a crisp white dress shirt today, his hair neatly styled in a classic side part. His features were sharp and striking, exuding a cold, commanding presence, yet there was something about him that still carried the clean, refined aura of a senior student in a prestigious university.

Song Qingyu prided herself on having seen countless handsome men in the entertainment industry, but every time she looked at Li Huaidong, she couldn’t help but marvel at the craftsmanship of the divine.

“Mr. Li, thank you for saving my mother. The person who bought this entire commercial street… that was you, wasn’t it?”

“Mm.”

“Thank you.”

“We’re about to get our marriage certificate. You don’t have to keep thanking me.”

At the mention of the marriage certificate, hesitation flickered across Song Qingyu’s face.

“Mr. Li, there are some things I want to make clear before we get our marriage certificate.”

“Go ahead.”

“First, after we get married, I won’t be a full-time housewife. I want to continue my career in the entertainment industry.”

Song Qingyu had been married into the Lu family for three years. Because Lu Yanchuan disliked seeing her in the public eye, she had given up her acting career and devoted herself to being a full-time wife. For those three years, she had been like a bird with its wings clipped—trapped within the Lu household, slowly losing her spirit, her freedom.

And without work, there was no income. Without income, there was no confidence, no voice. In name, she had been the esteemed Mrs. Lu, but in reality, even the servants of the Lu family had lived with more dignity than she did.

This time, stepping into marriage again, she would never make the same mistake.

“Of course.” Li Huaidong agreed without hesitation. “You’re free to do whatever you want.”

“Really?”

“Mm. I don’t need my wife to earn a lot of money, but I support her in realizing her own worth.”

Song Qingyu felt a sting in her eyes.

Li Huaidong was six years older than Lu Yanchuan, and the difference in mindset and perspective was stark. There was simply no comparison.

“Thank you, Mr. Li. There’s one more thing I hope you can agree to… Can we keep our marriage a secret for now?”

“A hidden marriage?”

“Yes.”

“Reason.”

“First, because of my profession. I prefer to keep my personal life out of the public eye. Second, I just divorced Lu Yanchuan, and now I’m marrying you right away. If we make it public, there will definitely be gossip, which wouldn’t be good for either of us.”

Li Huaidong was silent for only a few seconds before nodding. “As you wish.”

Song Qingyu hadn’t expected someone as aloof and distant as Li Huaidong to be so easy to talk to.

The heavy weight on her chest lifted, and her tone lightened. “Mr. Li, I’ve finished stating my conditions. Now it’s your turn—do you have any requests?”

Li Huaidong looked at her. “First, stop calling me ‘Mr. Li.’”

“Then what should I call you?”

“My name. Or ‘husband.’”

Husband…

Song Qingyu suddenly recalled when she first married Lu Yanchuan. Back then, she had eagerly wanted them to call each other husband and wife, but Lu Yanchuan had flat-out refused, even saying she was too clingy.

“Second,” Li Huaidong leaned in closer, his gaze taking on a domineering edge. “Now that you’re married to me, forget everything about your past marriage. From now on, I’m your husband. Your mind should only have room for me.”

Song Qingyu lightly licked her lips, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. Instead, she simply asked, “Is there a third condition?”

“Third, move in with me. And fulfill all the duties of a wife—no exceptions.”

“Huh?”

“Huh, what?” Li Huaidong’s hand gently brushed against her cheek. His voice deepened. “Qingqing, this is a real marriage. We’re not playing house, and we’re certainly not acting. Got it?”

Song Qingyu felt a shiver run through her body at the way he called her Qingqing.

Her family and friends had always called her that, yet somehow, when the words came from Li Huaidong’s lips, they felt electrified.

Seeing her dazed expression, Li Huaidong frowned slightly. “What? Do you have an objection?”

“No, I was just thinking… what exactly do you mean by marital duties?” In her last marriage, her so-called duties had revolved entirely around serving the Lu family elders, while her husband had done nothing but enjoy the privileges of being one.

“Everything else is secondary,” Li Huaidong said casually. “What matters most is that whatever you did to me that night when you were drunk—that can’t be left out.”

That night when she was drunk?

Wasn’t that… a bedroom matter between a man and a woman?

Song Qingyu’s face instantly turned scarlet. She stammered, desperately trying to change the subject. “Uh… is there a fourth condition?”

“No.” Li Huaidong hooked a finger under her chin, making her look at him. “But remember, that last condition? It’s important. There will be frequent… tests.”

Frequent?

Alright, alright. She could already foresee that this marriage might be even more intense than her last one—only this time, in ways she had never experienced before.

**

Li Huaidong drove straight to the Civil Affairs Bureau. After getting out of the car, just as Song Qingyu was about to head inside, he suddenly stopped her.

“I prepared a white shirt for you. It’s in the trunk. Go get it.”

“Okay.”

Song Qingyu walked around to the back of the car. She was just wondering how to open the trunk of a Bentley when, suddenly, the trunk lid slowly lifted on its own.

What came into view was a trunk full of fresh flowers.

The vibrant blooms spilled over the edges, each petal carrying a touch of romance.

Song Qingyu instinctively covered her mouth, turning back to look at Li Huaidong.

Dressed in a crisp white shirt and tailored black trousers, Li Huaidong leaned casually against the car door, his long legs crossed, watching her with a calm expression.

“You… this is…”

Song Qingyu had been married for three years, yet she had never once received flowers. Every anniversary, every supposed special occasion, it had always been her preparing surprises for Lu Yanchuan—only for him to scoff at her efforts.

“Just a little something,” Li Huaidong said casually as he walked over. He took her hand, then reached into the sea of flowers and retrieved a delicate velvet box. Inside was an enormous diamond ring, which he smoothly slipped onto her ring finger.

“Whatever others have, Mrs. Li must have too.”

Song Qingyu felt the weight on her finger immediately.

Her first thought: This diamond is ridiculously huge.

Her second: How does it fit so perfectly? It’s as if… it was custom-made just for me.

Before she could fully process it, Li Huaidong pulled out another item—a property deed.

“This is your wedding gift. Open it and see if you like it.”

Song Qingyu flipped through the property deed and was stunned to find that it contained ownership rights to all the shops on Haifeng Street.

“Mr. Li, this is too valuable. I can’t accept it.” She tried to hand it back.

“If you don’t take it, should I return the entire commercial street to the Lu family?”

Returning it would mean giving Lu Yanchuan another chance to make things difficult for her mother. Song Qingyu wasn’t that foolish.

“I’ll take it! I’ll take it!” She immediately hugged the deed tightly against her chest.

Li Huaidong took her hand and led her into the Civil Affairs Bureau.

As they walked, Song Qingyu stole a glance at his sharp, handsome profile.

There had been no dramatic, down-on-one-knee proposal, but for a man of his status and power to thoughtfully prepare all this for her…

That, in itself, was already incredibly moving.

Beforehand, Li Huaidong had made arrangements, allowing the Civil Affairs Bureau to grant them a special expedited service. The two of them received their marriage certificate discreetly.

After leaving the bureau, Li Huaidong drove her to a villa in Taoyuan.

“This will be our home from now on,” he said.

Song Qingyu stepped into the courtyard.

The garden had been meticulously designed by a professional landscaper. Every plant was placed with precision—some round, some flat—each shaped to perfection. However, one pomegranate tree stood out, its branches sprawling freely, lush and untamed, a clear indication of the owner’s fondness for it.

Pomegranates had always been her favorite fruit. When her father was alive, he would peel an entire pomegranate for her every season, carefully placing the ruby-red seeds into a white porcelain bowl—beautiful and delicious.

Later, she had wanted to plant a pomegranate tree in the courtyard of Lan Garden, but Lu Yanchuan had refused. He said that growing a fruit tree in a multi-million-dollar villa would be distasteful.

Li Huaidong led Song Qingyu into the grand hall.

Bright red “double happiness” characters were pasted on the cabinets and windows—a simple decoration, yet it made Song Qingyu suddenly feel the weight of her remarriage.

“Young Madam, welcome. I am the housekeeper of Taoyuan, my surname is Kang,” an older man greeted warmly. Housekeeper Kang appeared to be nearing fifty, and there was an undeniable joy and relief in his eyes as he looked at her. “I’ve watched Young Master grow up. Seeing him get married today, I couldn’t be happier. If you ever need anything in the future, please don’t hesitate to ask me.”

Song Qingyu responded politely, “Thank you, Uncle Kang.”

“Good, good!” Housekeeper Kang’s smile deepened, his happiness unmistakable.

As they spoke, a man dressed in a black suit stepped in from outside—it was Li Huaidong’s personal bodyguard, Chu Yu.

“President Li, President Luo is already waiting,” Chu Yu murmured near Li Huaidong’s ear.

Li Huaidong nodded and turned to Song Qingyu. “I have a flight to New York soon. Chu Yu and Uncle Kang will help you move. If you need anything, just let them know.”

“You’re leaving on a business trip today?”

Song Qingyu had assumed that since they had just gotten their marriage certificate, he would at least stay home a little longer to get familiar with her.

Li Huaidong shot a glance at Chu Yu and Uncle Kang, signaling them to leave.

Once they were gone, he stepped forward and wrapped an arm around Song Qingyu’s waist.

“You… what are you doing?” She panicked.

“Are you disappointed that I’m leaving?”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“Then what was that expression just now?”

“It’s just that I just got here… I’m not very familiar with them yet. And today is our first day as a married couple—being alone here feels a bit strange.”

“You have a point. Leaving you alone on our wedding night isn’t ideal,” Li Huaidong admitted. “But I have an important meeting in New York, scheduled half a month ago. I can’t change it on a whim.”

As he spoke, he lowered his head and brushed a kiss against the shell of her ear. “What I owe you tonight… I’ll make it up to you double when I return.”

Song Qingyu: “…”

That was absolutely unnecessary!

That wasn’t what she meant at all!

**

Li Huaidong left for his business trip, but he left Chu Yu behind to assist her.

Chu Yu followed his master’s example—cold-faced, tight-lipped, and exuding an aura that kept strangers at bay. However, he was incredibly strong, making quick work of hauling luggage up and down the stairs.

After moving all her belongings into Taoyuan, Song Qingyu listed Lan Garden for sale.

Lan Garden had been a wedding gift from Old Master Lu to her and Lu Yanchuan. During the divorce, her former mother-in-law, Li Xianglan, had wanted her to leave with nothing. However, because Lu Yanchuan had been the one at fault for cheating, Song Qingyu had barely managed to secure ownership of the house.

She had once loved Lan Garden, but the thought of Lu Yanchuan and Xie Wan’ning secretly having their affair there made her sick. Now that she was married to Li Huaidong, keeping her former marital home didn’t seem appropriate.

Selling it was for the best—a final, clean break from her past marriage.

By the time Song Qingyu finished unpacking, she was drenched in sweat.

She went into the bedroom to take a shower. After washing up, she stepped out, feeling refreshed. Just as she was heading downstairs for a bite to eat, she overheard two maids chatting in the kitchen.

“Don’t you think the Young Madam looks like someone?” one of them asked.

“Who?”

“That actress Shen Mengli, the one from White Serenade.”

“Now that you mention it, she really does! Wasn’t Shen Mengli in a relationship with our Young Master before? My god, no wonder he agreed to get married so suddenly—turns out the Young Madam looks like his first love, his unattainable white moonlight.”

“Shh! Keep your voice down! What if she hears us?”

“…”

Song Qingyu froze in place.

She knew Shen Mengli.

When she had just entered the entertainment industry, Shen Mengli was already somewhat well-known. Because of their similar appearances, the two were often compared, and marketing accounts even dubbed Song Qingyu the “Little Shen Mengli.” This infuriated Shen Mengli’s fans, who believed Song Qingyu was merely riding on Shen Mengli’s fame.

Later, after starring in the film Shadow and winning an award, Song Qingyu’s status skyrocketed, overshadowing Shen Mengli. It was only then that Shen Mengli’s fans finally quieted down.

So Shen Mengli was Li Huaidong’s first love, his untouchable white moonlight.

No wonder he insisted on marrying her just because of a single accidental one-night stand.

It turned out… it was because her face resembled someone else’s.

A wave of bitterness surged through Song Qingyu’s heart.

Her ex-husband, Lu Yanchuan, had a first love—the untouchable “white moonlight.”

Now, Li Huaidong had one too.

How was it that every husband she had ended up having a first love they could never forget?

Her appetite instantly vanished, and she turned around, heading straight back upstairs.

Once inside her bedroom, she couldn’t resist opening a browser and searching for news about Shen Mengli.

After Song Qingyu had quit the entertainment industry to get married, Shen Mengli had taken on many roles, but luck never seemed to be on her side—none of her works achieved any real success.

The highest peak of Shen Mengli’s fame after her debut had come when she was photographed traveling with Li Huaidong in Harbor City. Their rumored romance had caused a huge stir at the time.

But just last week, Shen Mengli had announced her engagement to her foreign boyfriend.

And coincidentally, the day she made the announcement… was the very same day Song Qingyu and Li Huaidong had spent the night together.

Could it be that Li Huaidong had slept with her and insisted on marrying her… just to get back at Shen Mengli?

That was the only explanation that made sense.

Why else would Li Huaidong be so determined to marry her?

Forget it.

Whether she was just a stand-in for someone else or a tool for revenge, it didn’t matter anymore.

She should stop having illusions about marriage.

A woman should focus on her career instead.

Song Qingyu took off the diamond ring Li Huaidong had given her, set it aside, and picked up her phone to call Guan Xinya.

Guan Xinya had been her manager when she first debuted. Back then, they had joined LeYu Entertainment together—one was a rookie actress, the other a rookie agent. Neither had any experience, but with passion and determination, they had managed to secure a role in renowned director Chen Xiao’s film Shadow, where Song Qingyu played the second female lead. That role had even earned her the Jinyu Award for Best Newcomer.

The call rang two or three times before Guan Xinya answered.

“Qingqing?”

“It’s me, Sister Guan.”

“It’s been so long since we last talked. What made you suddenly think of calling me? Planning a comeback?”

“Yes, Sister Guan. Do you have time to meet?”

“Are you really making a comeback?” Guan Xinya sounded excited. “Of course, I have time! How about tomorrow morning?”

“Sounds good.”