A refined, depraved, abstinent, famous director * A down-on-her-luck heiress and scandal-plagued actress
Meng You was bold and uninhibited, always saying exactly what was on her mind. After more than a decade of struggling in the entertainment industry, she had made countless enemies.
Then, through one careless mistake, she fell from grace.
All she could do was go home and inherit the family fortune.
As the most outstanding young director in Country C, Zhou Yicheng had no shortage of people who wanted to play his leading lady. Yet he chose Meng You, who had all but given up on the entertainment industry.
The first time Meng You saw him, he was sitting in the director's chair with his eyes closed, his features handsome.
The second time left the deepest impression. At the film awards ceremony, she won Best Actress, winning everyone over with her acting.
Zhou Yicheng wore a dark blue suit, cut somewhat loose, yet it accentuated his broad shoulders and long legs. His tie hung loosely around his neck. His eyes looked languid, and he smiled with his lips pressed together.
He looked utterly harmless.
After the film wrapped, Meng You was swamped with social engagements, and one film offer with an astronomical paycheck followed another.
She didn't get home until three in the morning.
She didn't turn on the lights, afraid of waking the person asleep inside.
The next second, she suddenly collided with a warm chest.
A low voice brushed against her ear, its tone dangerous: "You're home too late."
"I had things to do." Meng You seemed used to the man's clingy ways. Even with a koala clinging to her, she could go about her business as usual.
Today, Zhou Yicheng didn't seem willing to let her off the hook.
As he pushed her down onto the bed, Meng You had a brief moment of clarity:
"Does this count as trading favors for a role?"
"If you marry me, it doesn't."
*
A tabloid spread a rumor about Zhou Yicheng. It was his first scandal in the eight years since his debut.
Meng You went drinking with a friend to vent, but the more she thought about it, the angrier she got.
The alcohol went to her head. She couldn't help wanting to get back at Zhou Yicheng. If he could have a scandal, why couldn't she?
So Meng You put on a brave face and accepted the invitation of a cute young guy who'd asked her for a drink.
Zhou Yicheng, who had been sitting in another booth, watched coldly. He shot to his feet, losing his composure for the first time.
In the crowded bar, its lights flickering between bright and dark, Zhou Yicheng gripped her chin. His touch wasn't rough, but she couldn't resist him.
"Don't take this any further."
And so, the underground relationship the two had maintained for more than three years was finally exposed.
*
The exposure of their relationship put a damper on Meng You's acting career.
Seeing Zhou Yicheng's directing career soar, she couldn't take it and said spitefully, "My dad found me someone to marry for the sake of the family. Maybe I should just marry him. I'm not going to make any money anyway, so I might as well let someone keep me."
Thinking Zhou Yicheng would fly into a rage again, Meng You made sure to keep her distance.
Instead, Zhou Yicheng took a bottle of chilled soda from the fridge, popped the tab one-handed, and scoffed. "Sure. I don't mind."
Meng You's eyes widened. She ran away from home that very night.
When Meng You's father learned that she had agreed to the arranged marriage, he was overjoyed. The next day, he arranged for them to meet at a restaurant.
And then...
Meng You saw Zhou Yicheng sitting in the restaurant, waiting early in a formal suit with a solemn expression. She stood frozen, her jaw nearly hitting the floor.
"What, your arranged match is me. Not happy about it?"
Theme: I want to be with you
