Wimpy Movie Queen Is Divorcing Me Again

Jun Youyue has not been home for a week.

Lu Xici sat on a red chair, her posture dignified.

Her facial expression was calm like water, and the slight curl of her lips didn't create ripples. It was merely a muscle memory developed from being under the spotlight for so long.

Even though her smile lacked sincerity, the camera still couldn't capture any flaws. It only magnified her youthful yet captivating appearance, highlighting her charm.

The award presentation was about to begin, and the faces of Lu Xici and the other four candidates appeared on the big screen.

The lights remained dazzling, and the music faded as the host made an entrance. Lu Xici noticed the camera and deepened her smile, looking towards the distance.

In front of the camera, she always seemed poised and confident, hiding all her emotions within her dark pupils, not revealing a single trace.

Even though she was burdened with heavy thoughts at the moment, her attention wasn't focused on the award ceremony. With a slight turn of her eyes, her peach blossom-like gaze, as clear as autumn water, revealed a smile as enchanting as melting ice and snow, capable of captivating everyone around her.

Even among the entertainment industry professionals who were present, accustomed to seeing beauties, there were few who remained unaffected.

The young girl by Lu Xici's side blushed suddenly.

Her name was Zhang Qi, who had just debuted a year ago and was from the same company as Lu Xici. This time, she had the opportunity to attend the award ceremony thanks to Lu Xici's influence.

Zhang Qi's manager repeatedly reminded her to build a good relationship with Lu Xici, but when asked for the reason, the manager evaded the question. It scared Zhang Qi, making her think that Senior Lu was some kind of a monster.

Only after getting to know her did Zhang Qi realize that Lu Xici was indeed more like a fairy descended to earth, living up to the nickname her fans had given her - Fairy Qingxi.

"Qing" refers to clear skies and sunny days. Lu Xici was kind and friendly to everyone, like the warm light of a spring day, gently taking care of others without causing any embarrassment.

She also had a pair of captivating and affectionate eyes. Even a glance without emotions contained a full measure of tenderness. If she smiled, a honeyed sweetness overflowed, capturing people's hearts and making it impossible to look away.

"Xi" refers to tides, as well as the "Xi" in her name.

With her lively brows and eyes, being charming and alluring should have been one of her labels. However, despite being in the industry for five years, she had no scandals or gossip surrounding her emotional life.

Zhang Qi glanced at the ring on Lu Xici's left hand and silently sighed at the differences between people.

These days, most celebrities prefer to keep their relationship status hidden from the public. But Lu Xici is a breath of fresh air, proudly displaying the words "I am married" wherever she goes.

In the eyes of many, Lu Xici protects her loved one very well. No personal information has been leaked, except for the fact that her partner is a woman. Same-sex marriage has been widely accepted in China for a long time, so people don't see it as something unusual.

"Teacher Lu, aren't you nervous?" Zhang Qi looked at the five faces flickering on the big screen, with the flowing lights in the background, making her gulp nervously.

She was swept up by the tense atmosphere, leaning back and pressing against her red chair, covering her name and seat number.

Fortunately, her position shielded her from the camera, so her slight loss of composure went unnoticed.

Lu Xici paused for a second, then quickly snapped herself out of her wandering thoughts.

She turned her head and glanced at the girl from the same company who had greeted her upon entering.

Softening her expression and assuming a senior's posture, she made a subtle sound through her nostrils.

"Mmm, I'm nervous," she whispered, giving a quick wink to Zhang Qi. "But we can't let them see it."

Their interaction was captured by the camera.

Inexperienced Zhang Qi immediately adjusted her posture, becoming rigid all over.

On the other hand, Lu Xici, without the self-consciousness of being in front of the camera, still had the presence of mind to tease her.

"Relax, young girl. Be careful not to get scolded by Liao-jie* later."

*Elder Sister Liao

Liao-jie was Zhang Qi's agent. Hearing this, she tensed up even more.

Seeing her silence, Lu Xici turned her attention back to the host.

She truly wasn't nervous. Acting was merely a hobby to her.

She wanted to do well, but she didn't have to. If one day she grew tired of the spotlight, her mother would probably celebrate with joy and pass on all the matters of the company to her.

Compared to worrying about the insignificant Best Actress award, Lu Xici was more concerned about her wife who had been "missing" for a week.

Even if her experiments were busy, she should find time to come home, right? Could her lab, filled with equipment and difficult to move around, provide rest? Even if it could, how could it compare to the comfort of their home and the big bed?

Lu Xici unconsciously touched the ring on her left ring finger and turned it halfway.

In reality, she knew very well that Jun Youyue didn't want to return to their home.

Their marriage was based on an agreement, on unexpected circumstances. It was the result of interests and pressures that led to that marriage certificate. Love was never the bond that held them together.

At least, Jun Youyue didn't love her.

"The winner of the Best Actress award at the x6th Huaxia Movie Golden Monkey Awards is... Lu Xici for 'Mountain People'! Congratulations to Teacher Lu Xici!" The energetic voice of the female host interrupted Lu Xici's train of thought.

She took a deep breath, timely revealing a slightly nervous expression, her eyes fixed on the red card in the host's hand.

"Lu Xici, for 'Mountain People'! Congratulations to Teacher Lu Xici!"

Lu Xici put on a surprised expression, stood up, and responded to the colleagues around her who were gesturing for hugs and handshakes, then made her way up to the stage.

The red carpet seemed long.

The host's enthusiastic voice merged with the background music, buzzing in Lu Xici's ears.

She walked with composure, yet her steps under the fishtail skirt were light and agile, showing both contentment and excitement.

Her phone vibrated in her pocket.

Lu Xici didn't hesitate for a moment in her stride, as if she didn't feel the faint vibration at all.

But on the awards night, she had already set her phone to a mode where it would only alert her for keywords or emergency contacts.

At this moment, there were only two possibilities for a new message to remind her.

After shaking hands with the hosts, Lu Xici mentally dismissed the possibility of her mother sending a congratulatory message.

It could only be something related to Jun Youyue.

Suppressing the urge to check the message, Lu Xici accepted the monkey-shaped trophy and a thick certificate.

She still had to deliver her acceptance speech.

No trace of dissatisfaction appeared on Lu Xici's face. She instinctively turned the ring on her ring finger as if by doing so, her marriage with Jun Youyue could become more secure.

Her phone vibrated again. Lu Xici took a deep breath, suppressing all distractions to the bottom of her heart. She curved her lips and eyes, revealing the most radiant smile of the night.

* * *

Her acceptance speech was nothing out of the ordinary—thanking the judges, the production team, and her family and friends.

After delivering her speech, Lu Xici took advantage of the next award presentation, when the atmosphere was at its most lively, and slipped away to the backstage.

She entered the restroom, leaving behind the noisy ambiance of the stage, finally finding a moment of tranquility.

The first message was from her mother, offering a somewhat condescending congratulations on Lu Xici's achievement. Lu Xici's lips twitched, and she chose not to reply.

The second message was indeed related to Jun Youyue. It was sent by Lu Xici's friend, who mentioned seeing Jun Youyue at a bar.

This friend was aware that Lu Xici's marriage with Jun Youyue was far from blissful.

She couldn't understand what drew Lu Xici to Jun Youyue, an ice shard*. Upon hearing that Jun Youyue had entered a restaurant with a group of people, disregarding Lu Xici's presence at the Golden Monkey Awards, the friend spoke in a protective tone, recounting the incident.

*used to describe a cold-hearted/unfeeling person

Lu Xici remained composed.

Perhaps she had become numb. She rubbed her forehead but didn't feel the bump she expected.

It had been three years since they got married, and the phrase "familiarity breeds affection" seemed forced when applied to her and Jun Youyue.

However, there was still a piercing pain in her heart.

Jun Youyue, would you rather socialize with your colleagues than come home to rest?

There were no cameras or outsiders in the cubicle, allowing Lu Xici to let go of her control over her expressions.

Her eyes dimmed, and with fingers that felt weak, she typed and edited, finally sending out a message.

The friend's response came quickly.

[Tao Sheng is also at Jinzhao Hotel]

Lu Xici could no longer maintain her composure.

The phone slipped from her hand and fell to the ground with a resounding thud.

The sound, unusually quiet in the restroom, sent a shiver down Lu Xici's spine. Startled, she took a step back and bumped into the partition.

She felt a piercing pain in her back, causing numbness. It took a while for Lu Xici to recover, and she bent down to pick up her phone.

She couldn't pretend to be indifferent anymore and couldn't bring herself to respond with a casual "I know" or say thank you to her friend. Thank them for what? Thank them for informing her about her wife's suspected infidelity?

Lu Xici only felt embarrassed. The interview process was a blur, and she couldn't remember how many questions she mechanically answered or how long she anxiously sat through the event, waiting for it to end.

"Go to Jinzhao Hotel, quickly!" Lu Xici gave the order as she got into the car.

The driver could sense her bad mood and didn't dare to disturb her. The journey was quiet and peaceful.

They were almost reaching their destination. Lu Xici looked at the passing street view when a memory from the interview flashed through her mind.

"Teacher Lu, you're showing us your ring again. You and your wife are truly affectionate. Your wife is probably sitting in front of the TV, watching our award ceremony. Do you have anything you'd like to say to her?"

How did she answer? Lu Xici furrowed her brow.

Like a well-rehearsed response that had been practiced countless times, words of praise and gratitude for her wife effortlessly slipped from her lips.

"Of course, I want to thank her for her support and understanding. I also appreciate her long-standing trust in me and her unwavering choice. I couldn't have won this trophy without her. When I get home, she'll definitely compete with me for this trophy."

Lu Xici's words were flawless, and she could already predict the flood of posts tonight, boasting about her blissful marriage.

The media wanted attention-grabbing content for more views, the public wanted to see her stumble through scandals, and netizens want to ship on CP and indulge in candies and melons*.

*candies = sweetness brought about by romantic stories/happenings. melons = gossip

Lu Xici couldn't help but give a self-deprecating smile.

The description of Jun Youyue that she portrayed in public settings contained not a single word of truth.

Support and understanding? Jun Youyue was busy with her research, even more so than Lu Xici. Even if they were both in the same city, it was normal for them not to see each other for three to five months. If it weren't for the aunt who came to clean regularly, their marital home would have accumulated layers of dust.

Trust and choice? The rumors about Jun Youyue and Tao Sheng were rampant among insiders, and everyone knew that Jun Youyue and Lu Xici's marriage was nothing more than a contractual agreement kept secret.

Competing for the trophy? Wasn't that something Jun Youyue, whose parallel world persona had collapsed, would do? With her perennial cold and icy attitude, she probably wouldn't spare a second glance at this trophy.

The bright signage of the hotel illuminated the night, standing out among the darkness.

Lu Xici closed her eyes as if resigning herself and endured the wrenching pain in her heart.

Jun Youyue had never loved her, that was a fact.

But Lu Xici had loved Jun Youyue for eight years, and that was also a fact.