Chapter 2: The Little Wife

“Erha? Farming? Are we sure it won’t just tear the house apart?”

But this particular Husky didn’t wreck the place like usual. Otherwise, Meng Yuqi would have kicked it out long ago.

After all, he was busy most of the time and didn’t have much energy to play with the dog. The main reason he got it was to have a cute pet at home, thinking that the person he cared about would like it.

He’d heard that having pets at home could make Tong Yue happier when she gets home.

Meng Yuqi silently did these things to make his love happy.

“Have the butler teach it,” Meng Yuqi said, thinking it was a small matter. If the Husky didn’t know how to farm, it could just learn.

He spent so much money on Erha, so it had to contribute somehow—like making his wife happy.

Meanwhile, the wolf lounging in the yard had no idea what Meng Yuqi and Tong Yue were planning. It was lying on the ground, content with tonight’s big, juicy bone.

If you’re going to be a pet, you might as well be a rich family’s pet—especially one from a top-tier family like the Mengs.

Just look at the size of that bone! And all the meat! On top of that, there’s always plenty of food like beef and lamb. No need to work hard, no sunburn, no rain, and the living conditions aren’t bad. Eat, sleep, and train whenever you want.

As a spirit wolf, this life was too comfortable, perfectly suited for a wolf like him. But becoming a pet in a wealthy family isn’t easy—you’ve got to swallow your pride and compete for the spot.

What’s the point of being a display animal in a zoo? Trapped in a small space, the yard of a wealthy family is much larger.

After dinner, Meng Yuqi walked with Tong Yue around the yard.

“Don’t you have work to do?” Tong Yue glanced at him. As the big boss, Meng Yuqi was never this free. He was always busy handling business and flying everywhere.

Thankfully, there hadn’t been any news about him meeting up with young models. Otherwise, she would have to consider how to act as a proper contract wife.

Should she make a scene, or publicly declare her trust in Meng Yuqi?

But since Meng Yuqi had zero scandals, Tong Yue didn’t have to worry about it.

In the past, she had been involved in a few rumors. After all, in this entertainment industry, if you don’t have any gossip, your exposure is limited. Even if there’s no romantic relationship, sometimes drama series stir up CP pairings—onscreen couples, but just friends in real life.

Tong Yue wasn’t petty enough to stop people from promoting her characters’ CPs on shows. It was just another form of publicity.

“Just taking a walk to digest,” Meng Yuqi replied. He had a lot of work, but he still needed time to spend with the one he cared about. How else could he build a relationship?

They approached the so-called Erha, which barked excitedly at them, circling them twice before trying to rub against Tong Yue’s leg.

Tong Yue quickly stepped away. Ever since she learned this wolf was a spirit creature, she didn’t want it rubbing against her anymore.

Tong Yue thought: A spirit wolf, pretending to be a dog? How shameless.

Meng Yuqi’s heart skipped a beat. Did Tong Yue know he had a crush on her and had arranged this contract marriage on purpose? Was she thinking of him as a sneaky wolf pretending to be a loyal dog?

That had to be it! Why else would she have such thoughts?

It must be! Even if she didn’t, maybe she was hinting that she wanted more communication with him. Meng Yuqi got nervous. He could totally be a wolf in a loyal dog’s disguise.

“Let’s have the butler set up a livestream,” Tong Yue said with a smile. “We’ll stream this wolf—um, dog—digging and farming every day.”

“Sure,” Meng Yuqi agreed, feeling a little guilty. Was Tong Yue using the Erha as a way to mock him?

Maybe this was a hint? Like, she wanted him to video call her every day?

Suddenly, Meng Yuqi had a lot of thoughts. Video chatting with her every day? No problem at all.

Meanwhile, the wolf on the ground was confused. Wasn’t his only job to wander around the yard and bark a few times? Why was he now expected to dig and farm?

And if they streamed it, what if other spirit creatures saw him? He was supposed to be a majestic wolf!

“Really?” Tong Yue was surprised that Meng Yuqi agreed so easily, considering this ‘Erha’ was his pet.

“You’re my wife,” Meng Yuqi emphasized. “It’s just a small decision.”

Whatever she wanted, she could have. To him, Erha was just a dog.

“Do you have any upcoming movie shoots?” Meng Yuqi already knew her schedule but pretended not to.

“I was planning to audition for a film, but now I think it’s not worth it,” Tong Yue said. She had been considering a role in an artsy film by a famous director, whose films were always well-received.

Although Tong Yue had won several Best Actress awards, maintaining her reputation meant choosing the right projects.

With her current level of fame, directors and producers approached her often, but she still sought out good roles to audition for.

She didn’t mind auditioning alongside unknown actors; it was all part of the process.

After Tong Yue read the novel, she found out that the famous director planned to cast an unknown actress as the lead and give her a minor, insignificant role. She immediately lost interest.

It wasn’t that she was unwilling to play a supporting role—she would, as long as it was a compelling one.

The problem was that, in the story, her character was trampled on by the lead actress. It confirmed her belief that women of similar age often become rivals instead of friends. The closer they are in age, the more likely jealousy arises when one of them becomes more successful, rather than mutual respect.

“Why?” Meng Yuqi asked.

“Some directors like to cast newcomers as leads and use well-known actors for supporting roles,” Tong Yue explained. “They leverage your fame, then boast about discovering new talent and their ability to make stars.”

In Tong Yue’s view, if the director wanted to prove their star-making skills, they should use an entirely new cast. Or, if they use famous actors, they shouldn’t downplay their contributions.

Tong Yue thought to herself: Why would I work with a self-centered director who doesn’t respect others? Keep dreaming.

Meng Yuqi overheard her inner thoughts and smiled. “Are you complaining to me?”

“No, just talking,” Tong Yue shook her head. “What’s the point of complaining? I’ll just ask for resources directly.”

She wasn’t foolish. Since she had entered into a contract marriage with Meng Yuqi, she would definitely ask for resources. After all, the marriage certificate was real, and after they divorced, she would be labeled as a second-marriage woman. Requesting resources was part of the contract.

Meng Yuqi chuckled. “Alright.”

Meanwhile, the wolf watched Meng Yuqi and Tong Yue chatting happily, wondering if they were just talking. Glancing at his own paws, he had no desire to dig and farm.

In order to become a pet, he had already retracted his sharp claws, and yet, every month the butler still came to trim them.

Life as a wolf wasn’t easy. Now, he was expected to become a live-stream star. Whose account would those tips go to? Were they trying to force him to earn his own living and leave the luxury of this rich family?

When Tong Yue went to rest in her bedroom, Meng Yuqi could only stare at the closed door—they slept in separate rooms.

At the same time, Director Qin of Moonlight was reviewing the resumes of the auditionees, still intent on casting an unknown actress as the lead. If he cast a big star, people would say he was out of fresh ideas and couldn’t attract an audience without relying on celebrities.

No, he refused to let anyone claim he had run out of idea.

He had to stick to his usual approach: casting unknowns as leads and relying on famous actors for supporting roles or screenwriting. That was the best way to promote the film and boost ticket sales.

This particular movie was an adaptation of a well-known novel by a famous author, not just some random online novel, but a published work.

Director Qin thought that, with his fame as a screenwriter, the novel, and his own reputation as a director, it still wasn’t enough. They needed well-known supporting actors to draw attention. Conveniently, these award-winning actresses were auditioning—perfect for a bit of publicity.

Even famous actors would be willing to take supporting roles in his films.

“Director Qin,” his assistant came running over, “Tong Yue’s agent called. He said he forgot your casting style, and Tong Yue won’t be attending the audition, so as not to put you in a difficult position.”

“…” Director Qin stared at his assistant. “Say that again! Are you sure I didn’t hear wrong?”

“Tong Yue is not coming to the audition,” the assistant repeated.

Tong Yue, wife of Meng Group’s CEO, an award-winning actress, and certainly not lacking in resources.

“Her agent also said they weren’t trying to threaten you; she just isn’t participating in the audition,” the assistant added, knowing that Director Qin rarely took calls from agents himself and usually left that to him.

As a highly respected director, many people wanted to act in his films, so this was par for the course. But Tong Yue was different, and the assistant admired Director Qin for not bowing to capitalistic pressure.

“Then let’s just cancel the audition,” Director Qin said, though inwardly, he was disappointed. Why wasn’t she coming? If she had, he could have given her a supporting role. Not only would that have boosted the film’s visibility, but it might have even attracted some investment.

However, as a principled director, Director Qin couldn’t say such things aloud. He was a man of talent and integrity, and thoughts like these could only stay hidden.

Tong Yue’s agent, respecting Director Qin’s position, had called in advance to withdraw her resume. Otherwise, they would have just waited for her audition slot.

Neither the award-winning Tong Yue nor the famous Director Qin could afford any misunderstandings. If Tong Yue didn’t show up for the audition, people might think she lacked confidence or was afraid she wouldn’t be chosen. On the other hand, if Director Qin had allowed her to skip the audition, he could be accused of using her fame without her actually being involved.

It was better to clear things up early, benefiting both parties.

Meanwhile, Lin Qian, who was preparing to audition for the lead role in Moonlight, was determined to get the part. In her previous life, she had acted for years but had never won an award. This time, she was certain she could do it.

“Does this pill really work?” Lin Qian asked, staring into the large mirror.

In the reflection, a faint fox spirit appeared. “Of course. This special elixir from my fox clan will ensure your skin is flawless, better than any of those award-winning actresses.”

“It better be.” Lin Qian swallowed the pill. They were in this together now, like ants tied to the same string.