Chapter Twenty-Five: Ouyang Junyan Wants to Take Her Away?

"Ouyang..." Fang Zhiyin called out to him feebly.

"Fang Zhiyin! Get down here this instant!"

His voice was stern and cold, laced with a domineering and menacing tone...

Was this really Ouyang Junyan at thirty-five?

Fang Zhiyin was dangling upside down from the tree, her blood rushing in the wrong direction, throbbing in her head until her entire face was flushed bright red. She had been dizzy before, but this sudden shock snapped her wide awake.

"Why are you here?!" she asked hoarsely.

"That's a question I should be asking you," Ouyang Junyan retorted, nearly trembling with rage, his eyes blazing. "Do you even know what you’re doing? Why did you come to this place? Why are you recording a show? Since when does Ouyang Junyan’s wife need to parade herself in public?"

Exactly the words Fang Zhiyin had expected to hear.

At that moment, the director’s voice crackled through all the guests’ earpieces: "Who is this man who just showed up? Everyone, pause the recording!"

Finally, the recording was paused.

A staff member helped Fang Zhiyin down from the tree. Ouyang Junyan, though cold and domineering, still took a few steps forward and caught her securely as she landed. Fang Zhiyin tried to struggle, but he held her tightly. "You’re coming with me!"

"What did you say?!" she demanded, her face burning as she was cradled in his arms. "I’ve already signed a contract with the production team! I didn’t come here on my own!"

"So what?" Ouyang Junyan sneered. "How much is the penalty for breaking the contract? I’ll pay it for you!"

"Is this about money?!" Fang Zhiyin was fuming, pounding his chest with her fists. "Since I agreed to do this, I’m going to see it through!"

"Why didn’t you tell me?"

"I did tell you..." Just not this particular version of you!

The two of them stood there under the blazing sun, arguing back and forth. Oddly, Fang Zhiyin found her strength returning; the dizziness and weakness faded away, and the more she quarreled with him, the livelier she became.

Yet Ouyang Junyan still carried her to the rest area and started arguing with the director, insisting on taking his wife home.

"What?" At that moment, Chen Chen returned to the rest area. Seeing how much Ouyang Junyan had changed, he too grew angry. "Mr. Ouyang, why did you suddenly show up here?"

"If I hadn’t heard that Fang Zhiyin had come to record some show, I wouldn’t have followed her to the island," Ouyang Junyan snorted. "And you—who are you?!"

"What..." Chen Chen was stunned. "You don’t recognize me?"

Fang Zhiyin could tell things were getting more complicated. She had to stop these two from talking further, so she quickly interrupted, "Ouyang, come with me—we need to talk."

There was no way she would go back with Ouyang Junyan, so she had to make things clear to him.

However...

He hadn’t come alone.

He’d brought five or six young men from the company with him as well.

He’d anticipated that Fang Zhiyin wouldn’t obediently leave with him, so he’d brought several strong men along—if necessary, he’d drag her back by force!

"Come back with me," Ouyang Junyan said with absolute certainty. "You know what happens if you refuse."

"And what happens?" Fang Zhiyin asked in disbelief.

"Haven’t I told you? Or have you forgotten?" He snorted again.

Fang Zhiyin despised his arrogant, rude attitude. "What are you talking about?"

"During our marriage, if you ever do something that displeases me or makes me unhappy, I can divorce you at any time."

Damn him!

"I must have forgotten, or maybe I never took your words seriously!" Fang Zhiyin shot back.

"You’re being outrageous!" Ouyang Junyan could hardly believe it.

"If you want a divorce, go right ahead! But I’m staying here to finish filming, no matter what!" Fang Zhiyin replied coldly.

Ouyang Junyan was stunned.

Perhaps, in his mind, Fang Zhiyin was always the obedient little wife who did everything he said. How had she changed so much in such a short time?

"All right then," Ouyang Junyan finally gave her an out, "I’ll give you a day to think about it..."

"No need! Go home yourself! If you want a divorce, then divorce me!" With those words, Fang Zhiyin turned gracefully away, apologized to the director, and resumed filming.

Ouyang Junyan had been rebuffed, but he didn’t leave right away. Instead, he booked a room at the hotel where the crew was staying.

The shoot lasted until after eleven that night.

With Ouyang Junyan here, Fang Zhiyin didn’t need to go back, so she simply stayed in the room arranged by the show for the guests. Chen Chen had returned a bit earlier and had picked up plenty of delicious snacks and drinks on his way. When he dropped by, his arms were full.

"Zhiyin, are you all right today?"

She was utterly exhausted and didn’t care about anything anymore, flopping straight onto the bed. A whole day of filming had nearly done her in...

"Chen Chen! I never imagined recording a show would be this exhausting!" Fang Zhiyin was so tired she could barely speak.

"Zhiyin, hang in there! There’s still one more day," Chen Chen encouraged her.

"Isn’t the episode finished?"

"Tomorrow we’re filming the second episode."

Heavens, spare her!

"Oh, right—Mr. Ouyang..." Chen Chen finally voiced the question that had been bothering him all day. "Why did he say he doesn’t know me?"

"He gets a bit muddled when he’s angry. Don’t take it to heart," Fang Zhiyin replied, feeling a little guilty.

Just then, the doorbell rang. Chen Chen went to open it, only to find Ouyang Qingqing standing outside.

"What?!" Ouyang Qingqing could hardly believe her eyes. "What are you two doing in the room together?"

"We’re just chatting," Chen Chen replied, bewildered.

Neither he nor Fang Zhiyin realized that, although he and Ouyang Qingqing had only met today, they’d interacted quite a lot during the show. Since Chen Chen was handsome and a novelist, Ouyang Qingqing had developed an unusually strong liking for him.

"Fang Zhiyin, I came to see you!" Ouyang Qingqing shouted.

Fang Zhiyin had nearly drifted off to sleep, but at Ouyang Qingqing’s yell, she jolted awake and tumbled off the bed in fright.

Without waiting for a response, Ouyang Qingqing barged into the room. Chen Chen tried to stop her, but she snapped, "I’m just looking for something!"

"What’s going on?" Chen Chen asked.

"Fang Zhiyin, did you take my necklace?" Ouyang Qingqing demanded fiercely.

"What are you talking about?" Fang Zhiyin was utterly confused by her accusation.

"I lost a very important necklace in the lounge! I asked everyone, and you were the last to leave. Did you take it?" Ouyang Qingqing lashed out, not bothering to distinguish between right and wrong.

"I have no idea what you’re talking about!" Fang Zhiyin protested, exasperated.