Chapter 135: My Wife?

Shen Yijue held her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze, a silent gesture of comfort.

Guan Min approached, pretending not to notice Mo Qi’s awkwardness. “I’ve already arranged for a hospital room. The doctor will come by for a check-up shortly. If everything looks stable, we’ll move you there to rest for the night, and tomorrow morning we’ll head back to City B for a full-body examination.”

“I’m already fine,” Shen Yijue said, gesturing toward the chair beside the bed. “Sit down.”

Guan Min remained standing. “Whether you’re fine or not is something we can only be certain of after the examination.”

Mo Qi nodded, adding, “The facilities at the Changle County Hospital aren’t as advanced or comprehensive as those in City B. Everyone will feel much better once you go back for a full check-up.”

Shen Yijue frowned slightly at her words. Did this mean Mo Qi had no intention of returning to City B with him?

“You aren’t coming back to City B?” Shen Yijue asked. They had already opened their hearts to each other; could it be that she still didn’t want to be with him?

“I signed a contract with Tang Bin. Naturally, I have to stay and finish filming the movie.”

“The breach of contract fee…” Seeing the disapproval in Mo Qi’s eyes, Shen Yijue left the words unspoken, though his expression darkened.

Guan Min observed the two of them locked in a quiet struggle and changed the subject. “Yijue, you were truly reckless this time. The mountain isn’t just home to venomous insects and snakes; there are wolves there, too. You went up in the middle of the night—I don’t believe you didn’t know how dangerous that was.”

When neither of them responded, Guan Min continued, “And the news of your injury has already been leaked online. Your fans are going crazy, searching high and low for any information about you.”

At the time, their only concern had been Shen Yijue’s safety; they hadn’t thought about cover-ups or secrecy, so the leak was entirely expected. Neither of them looked surprised; their expressions remained calm.

Annoyed by their composure, Guan Min let out a scoff and dropped his final bombshell. “Furthermore, insiders have revealed that Mo Qi claimed to be your wife, stating that you two are secretly married—with pictures and evidence to back it up.”

“What?” Mo Qi frowned slightly. “That was just a tactical lie at the time. What is all this nonsense!”

Guan Min sneered. “You call it a tactical lie, but will the media believe that? Will your fans?”

Mo Qi’s frown deepened.

Shen Yijue, whose mood had soured when Mo Qi decided to stay behind, now miraculously brightened. “My wife?”

Mo Qi was left speechless. “I said that because…” She caught the amusement in Shen Yijue’s eyes and swallowed her words, her cheeks beginning to burn.

“Do me a favor and save the flirting for when I’m not around!” Guan Min said, exasperated. “Shouldn’t we be figuring out how to resolve this situation?”

“No need to resolve it,” Shen Yijue said, in an unexpectedly good mood.

Guan Min felt like hitting his head against a wall. “Yijue, did the snake bite affect your brain? If we don’t clarify this, how is Mo Qi supposed to survive in the industry? Will she be forever branded with your label? Will people only think of her when they think of you? And worse, will they associate her with the reputation of climbing the ladder through illicit favors?”

Shen Yijue’s newly lifted corners of his mouth flattened again. He braced himself on the bed to sit up. Mo Qi hurried over to support him, tucking a soft pillow behind his back.

Guan Min knew Shen Yijue wasn't oblivious to these issues; he had only ignored them because he was so overwhelmed by the joy of having her back. Now that he was calm, he would certainly be thinking of much more.

Shen Yijue leaned against the headboard, silent for a moment, before saying, “No need to clarify it so quickly.”

Guan Min nodded, waiting for him to continue. But after waiting for a long time, Shen Yijue remained silent.

“And then?” Guan Min asked.

Shen Yijue, deeply reluctant to distance himself from Mo Qi in the eyes of the media and the public, gave Guan Min a flat look. “There is no ‘and then.’”

Guan Min felt like flipping the table. Was he being toyed with? Just as he was about to lose his temper, Shen Yijue finally added, “Call Tang Bin. I have something to discuss with him.”

Guan Min opened his mouth to say something, but finding it futile, he sighed and resignedly went out to make the call.

Once Guan Min left, Shen Yijue asked Mo Qi, “Are you truly not returning to City B?”

Mo Qi nodded. “Although this shoot is a bit grueling, I’m very interested in it.”

Shen Yijue watched her for a moment, then said, “Give me your phone.”

Mo Qi didn’t move. “Why?”

“To tell Tang Bin that I’m willing to play the male lead.”

Mo Qi was speechless. “You need to go back to City B for a full check-up, and I’m sure your schedule is already packed. Where would you find the time to film a wilderness documentary movie out here?”

Shen Yijue just looked at her without a word.

Though he had promised to change, his innate possessiveness and domineering nature were not things that could be shed overnight.

When Guan Min returned from his call, he found Mo Qi and Shen Yijue sitting on the hospital bed, staring at each other in silence.

“It’s all settled with Tang Bin,” Guan Min reported.

Shen Yijue shifted his gaze. “Push the current news to the top of the trending topics and search lists. Tomorrow afternoon, post a message on Weibo saying that we will respond to this issue in two days.”

This way, Mo Qi would remain in the spotlight for four or five days. It would be impossible for people not to notice her.

The old Shen Yijue had detested other actresses using him for publicity, yet now, he was planning how to use himself to boost Mo Qi.

Guan Min couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. People living on pedestals are always seen as unattainable, followed only from afar. Yet, people forget that if he chooses, he can step down from his pedestal just to guard someone completely ordinary.

A sappy thought crossed Guan Min’s mind: *Just for you, I am willing to fall into the cycle of reincarnation.*

“Ew.” Guan Min shuddered, getting goosebumps. Mo Qi and Shen Yijue looked at him strangely.

“Guan-ge,” Mo Qi said, “the restroom is right there.” Surely he didn’t need to hold his bladder so badly that he was shivering?

Judging by the look in her eyes, Guan Min realized she had misunderstood. He wanted to explain, but realized any explanation would sound weak. He couldn't exactly say he was mocking them in his head, could he?

Guan Min gave up. “I’m going to the restroom.”

Xiao Zhang, who had followed the doctor in, asked Mo Qi curiously, “I ran into Guan-ge by the restroom. Why did he look like he’d swallowed a fly he couldn’t spit out?”

“Shouldn’t you men understand that kind of problem better?”

Xiao Zhang’s eyes widened. A man’s problem? He had a sudden epiphany and understood.

He never would have expected that even an industry elite like Guan-ge would suffer from such an unspeakable ailment. Truly, when God opens a door, he closes a window.

In the restroom, as Guan Min washed his hands, he suddenly felt a chill down his spine.

After the doctor finished examining Shen Yijue, he smiled. “It’s fortunate he exercises regularly; his physical condition is excellent, otherwise we might not have saved him. Alright, clear this room out; he can be moved to a standard ward.”

“Thank you, Doctor.”

The doctor filled out the medical chart, left instructions for two nurses, and walked away with a smile.

The nurses helped move Shen Yijue onto a gurney to transfer him to a private room. Mo Qi helped as well, and one of the nurses cast several lingering glances at her.

*So this is the Emperor’s wife?* the nurse thought. *She doesn’t look like much!*