WBSGVS Chapter 85 V1

Qing Li smiled faintly, her expression cold, and deliberately showed a hint of surprise. “Is that so? But I already said I would participate. Sister Zheng, you haven’t told the production team yet, have you?”

“Not yet, I was about to call you to ask,” Zheng Yue replied.

Qing Li felt slightly relieved and smiled. “Alright then, just go ahead as normal. From now on, no one but me can make decisions about my affairs.”

Zheng Yue, keenly aware of the subtle tension, knew how big a family Qing Li had married into. In such a family, there were always numerous issues. Though they had worked together for many years, they were not close enough to be best friends. Since Qing Li had not mentioned it, Zheng Yue didn’t ask further. “Okay, I’ll check with the production team about the situation.”

“Good.” Qing Li smiled and added, “If they don’t want me, you can negotiate the penalty with them.”

Zheng Yue was momentarily stunned but then nodded in agreement. “Of course, I’ll take care of it.”

After hanging up the phone, Qing Li glanced at the several missed calls from Ye Minheng, giving a sarcastic smile.

The marriage between the original host and Ye Minheng had gone from love to ruin, and Su Tang had always been involved in the process. However, without Ye Minheng’s cooperation, they would never have reached this point.

From the beginning, the original host had been the one making compromises.

Including this matter.

If the original host hadn’t given him the courage, how could he have made a call to her agent without her permission?

Fortunately, Qing Li had made a call to test things out.

As expected, the variety show was something Su Tang had wanted the original host to participate in because she knew the original host was terrified of the dark. In a program where one had to remain clear-headed in a terrifying environment to pass, the original host’s weakness would be a perfect target for backlash.

That’s why the penalty for breaking the contract was so high.

Whether the original host or the Ye family paid the penalty, or perhaps just a reduced amount due to personal favors, it would not cause any loss for the people they were dealing with.

But now, that penalty was Qing Li’s safeguard.

Soon after, Zheng Yue called again. “Fortunately, I asked. Your husband contacted them and told them not to let you participate tomorrow. Even if you go, they won’t let you film. But when I mentioned the penalty, they changed their tune. The filming will be at noon. I’ll come to pick you up in the morning.”

“Alright, come early. We can even have breakfast together,” Qing Li replied warmly.

Zheng Yue laughed. “Okay.”

Just as they finished talking, the door handle turned twice, and when it didn’t open, the person outside knocked forcefully on the door. “Arli, open the door!”

Qing Li opened the door and saw Ye Minheng standing at the doorway with a dark expression. He was about to knock again but lowered his hand in displeasure. “Why did you walk out like that just now? Don’t you know how angry Grandpa, Grandma, and Mom and Dad are?”

Qing Li didn’t say a word. She stepped forward and slapped him across the face. “Smack!”

Ye Minheng, stunned by the slap, froze for several seconds, then cupped his burning face and growled, “Are you crazy?!”

Qing Li replied coldly, “You made decisions for me without consulting me. Shouldn’t I hit you?”

Ye Minheng was momentarily silenced, his voice lowering as he rubbed his nose. “You already know?”

Qing Li continued to look at him coldly.

Feeling uncomfortable under her gaze, Ye Minheng bit his lip and explained, “They were really angry at the time and insisted I do this. You know, my family is different. They’ve never supported you continuing to work…”

Qing Li spoke coldly, “I thought you knew when I married you that I work, and I work in the entertainment industry!”

“Yes, yes,” Ye Minheng said gently, realizing he had made a mistake. He hadn’t expected her to still want to participate in the show. Seeing his wife looking this serious for the first time, he grew even more gentle and reached to embrace her shoulder, saying, “Can’t you just do it for my sake? My cousin is always eyeing my position, and if I upset them again, I’m afraid he’ll take over the company.”

Indeed, Ye Minheng had been raised by his grandparents and trained to be the next heir, but the Ye family had more than one male heir.

Qing Li shook off his hand and walked toward the living room, speaking faintly, “Sorry, I don’t want to keep compromising. You should have known what kind of person I was when we got married. I can’t give up my career, so why don’t we give up our marriage instead? Ye Minheng, let’s get a divorce.”

Ye Minheng’s face changed drastically. He shook his head without thinking, saying, “Are you joking? Arli, I know you’re upset, but I don’t want to hear this anymore.”

Qing Li looked at him indifferently, her eyes clear and bright, reflecting a cowardly image of him.

Ye Minheng was unsettled under her gaze and forced himself to say, “Arli, you weren’t like this before…”

Qing Li spoke coldly, “Then tell me, what was I like before?”

“You—” Ye Minheng opened his mouth but then remembered her independent and self-sufficient image. Even though she was in the entertainment industry, she didn’t rely on anyone and never revealed anything about her boyfriend while they were dating.

He had once told her she didn’t have to act, but she refused to give it up because she loved it.

She had always been an independent woman who loved her work, which is why he hadn’t paid much attention to Su Tang. He had eyes only for her.

Seeing that he couldn’t answer, Qing Li smiled, her tone mocking, “I’ve always been this way. After marrying you, I reduced my work, I’ve been cautious, and I’ve tried to please your parents, and your siblings. But now, when I no longer want to do that, it’s wrong? What have you done for me?”

Ye Minheng looked frustrated and said, “What do you mean by ‘pleasing’? They’re your in-laws, your siblings. You’re supposed to love and care for them!”

“Love?” Qing Li scoffed, mocking, “Don’t you know how they’ve treated me? I’m so humble that I don’t even dare wear the clothes I like, speaking and acting cautiously like I’m serving my ancestors. And this is not pleasing them? Do you think I enjoy being humiliated like this?”

“Fu Qing Li!” Ye Minheng shouted, warning her not to go too far. Then he added, “And for you, I resisted the opposition from the whole family. I thought at least you would understand me!”

Qing Li smiled bitterly, “But I also resisted my parents and the gossiping media when I married you. Do you think I didn’t feel the pressure? Yet, after all this, your family still treats me this way. Now, when I don’t want to compromise anymore, it’s not allowed? That’s why I said divorce. Let’s stop torturing each other!”

Ye Minheng pursed his lips tightly, silent for a moment. He didn’t think divorce was the answer. They still had feelings for each other, and things hadn’t reached that point.

But everything Qing Li said, he knew deep down, and he had talked about it many times with his younger siblings and parents.

However, they still weren’t satisfied with her as his wife, and he didn’t know what else he could do.

Finally, a sense of guilt surfaced in Ye Minheng. He sighed and said, “Then what do you want? You only filmed one episode of that show and it was already trending three times. Are you going to continue filming? You’re scared of the dark and ghosts. You don’t need to be so stubborn just to go against my parents.”

His tone softened, and Qing Li’s smile returned to normal, though she remained resolute. “I said I’m going to film it. If you’re unhappy, just divorce me.”

“Divorce, divorce! Is that all you ever say?” Ye Minheng was cold now, suppressing his anger. But he knew he was at fault, so he had to hold back. “Fine, do as you wish.”

He turned and left, slamming the door shut with a loud bang, the noise echoing in the quiet evening.

Outside, the early autumn wind blew, and Ye Minheng began to calm down a bit. With a headache, he ran his hand through his hair and dialed a number.

Soon, the phone connected, and a sweet voice answered. “Hi, Ah Xing, why are you calling me suddenly?”

The voice was laced with a hint of laughter, though it didn’t have the warmth of the past.

It was nothing like the way she had desperately chased after him a year ago.

Ye Minheng took a deep breath and let it out, feeling his frustration ease a little. He smiled and asked, “What? You don’t welcome me?”

“No, it’s just that I figured you must have something on your mind, or else you wouldn’t be calling me,” Su Tang said with a playful tone. “Remember, you used to hate me so much that you even thought about blocking my number!”

“Heh…” Ye Minheng chuckled awkwardly, getting in the car. As he drove, he said, “I’ve been dealing with some annoying problems and didn’t know who to call, so I ended up calling you.”

There were other people he could have confided in, but at the moment of dialing, it was Su Tang’s number he had pressed.

Maybe it was because, the last time they parted, the young girl had said so seriously that she would just be his little sister now, obedient and good.