Fortunately, the spacious interior of the Maybach was large enough for an adult to lie down comfortably, so Ying Yin’s enormous train didn’t have to be awkwardly bunched up in one heap.
The champagne-colored upholstery complemented the rose-pink sweep of her gown perfectly. The bare expanse of her upper back, gleaming with a pearly sheen like fine silk, rested beneath Shang Shao’s palm.
Shang Shao found it genuinely hard to imagine how a woman’s figure could be shaped like this. The places that had curves were exquisitely soft and full, while the slender parts – her back, for instance – were so lean that when she arched it, the knobs of her spine were almost visible.
“Tell Uncle Kang to raise the partition,” Ying Yin whispered into his ear. When she lifted a hand to shield her mouth, a waft of perfume accompanied the movement.
“Why…”
Ying Yin immediately covered his lips with her hand, her expression lively and playful. “Shh.”
After a brief pause, Shang Shao leaned close, his lips brushing her ear. Warm breath swept over its delicate curve as he lowered his voice and asked, “Why?”
Looping her arms around his neck, Ying Yin replied, “I’m embarrassed.”
A soft chuckle escaped Shang Shao. “Uncle Kang, raise the partition. Miss Ying feels embarrassed.”
Ying Yin: “!”
What kind of person was he?!
Lin Cunkang cleared his throat, amusement evident in his eyes as he nodded. “Certainly, Young Master. Miss Ying.”
As the partition slowly rose, Ying Yin felt her face growing hot enough to catch fire.
“You did that on purpose…” she said weakly.
“Uncle Kang is one of our own.”
“He’s your one of your own, not my one of my own,” Ying Yin blurted out, the words escaping before she could stop them.
Shang Shao paused.
The expression on his face cooled slightly, returning to that detached, indifferent look he sometimes wore. He gave her waist a light pat. “Don’t spoil the mood.”
Ying Yin smiled quietly.
Getting into character was what she did best.
Every director and co-star who had worked with her said the same thing: Ying Yin slipped into a role faster than anyone. She could infect, enchant, and deceive those around her, drawing them along until they, too, became immersed in that convincing illusion where fiction felt real.
What she had just said really had been ill-timed. It was like suddenly breaking the fourth wall in the middle of a play.
But why?
Why, at such a happy moment, had she deliberately said something so discordant?
The bubbles were too beautiful, too dreamy, too intoxicating. If she didn’t puncture the fantasy a little, what was she supposed to do? Fall headfirst into those shimmering illusions?
“Did you win an award tonight?”
When she remained silent for a long while, Shang Shao stroked her smooth shoulder and took the initiative to ask.
“Some popularity-and-performance award or something.” Ying Yin had already forgotten the details completely. “It’s not important.”
“Shouldn’t we celebrate?”
“Hm?”
Ying Yin’s first instinct was to refuse. But then she remembered she had already spoiled the mood once and couldn’t very well do it again.
So she nodded. “Sure. Good things should be celebrated right away. That way, good luck keeps accumulating and stays with you. That’s the Law of Attraction my mom taught me.”
Shang Shao couldn’t help smiling at the innocent sincerity with which she said it.
As she spoke, Ying Yin suddenly remembered something. Sitting up a little straighter, she studied him seriously for several moments before leaning in and pressing a careful, earnest kiss to his lips, as though cherishing something precious.
The kiss caught Shang Shao by surprise. After a brief moment of astonishment, he wrapped his arms around her more tightly.
The Maybach glided through the city center. Outside, in the shopping plaza, a gigantic Christmas tree had already completed its lighting ceremony and now sparkled beneath the night sky with countless colorful lights.
After they had kissed for a while, Shang Shao stroked the back of her neck and said softly, “I prepared some champagne for you.”
The rear center console was covered with knobs and buttons. Shang Shao turned one of them, and a damped lid rose silently upward. Only then did Ying Yin realize that it concealed a small refrigerator, inside which a bottle of champagne rested at an angle.
“Wow,” she murmured in admiration.
The next second, there was a soft click from somewhere. A hidden cup holder slid out, revealing a pair of spotless wine glasses hanging upside down.
Ying Yin followed his movements with her eyes as he lightly pinched the stem of one crystal glass between two fingers. With a turn of his wrist, he lifted it free.
The thin glass walls lightly touched one another, producing a delicate chiming sound like wind bells.
Ying Yin couldn’t understand how anyone could make something as ordinary as taking out a wine glass look so pleasing to watch – so effortlessly elegant.
“Hold these.”
Obediently, Ying Yin took them, one in each hand.
With a soft pop, Shang Shao pulled out the cork. The sweet aroma of champagne spread through the air along with the rising bubbles.
“Didn’t you say this was the kind of alcohol little girls drink?” Ying Yin teased, dredging up an old remark of his.
She couldn’t speak Cantonese, but she pronounced the three words mui mui jai (“little girl”) well enough.
A smile flickered across Shang Shao’s face as he cast her a deep glance.
“And are you one?”
Ying Yin lowered her eyes slightly and gave a tiny hum of assent, as faint as a mosquito’s buzz.
“Are you like this in front of other people too?”
She shook her head.
Her voice became even softer. “Only in front of you.”
The moment the words left her mouth, they sounded suspiciously like she was trying to act cute and win favor. But she was telling the truth.
Shang Shao didn’t bother asking whether she meant it or not. His dark gaze rested on her face for a long moment before he raised his crystal glass and lightly clinked it against hers.
The champagne shimmered and swayed, bubbles streaming upward.
“Cheers.”
The fragrance of champagne accompanied them all the way home.
At one turn in the road, Ying Yin lost her balance and stumbled against Shang Shao’s lap. Champagne splashed out of her glass.
“My couture gown!” she cried.
Shang Shao’s solution was simple. “Buy another one.”
Then Chu Anni called. In a state of utter panic, she demanded to know why Ying Yin hadn’t removed the necklace, earrings, bracelet, and rings.
“Thirty million!”
Before Shang Shao could utter the word buy again, Ying Yin answered firmly, “I’ll definitely return them to your studio tonight!”
“If you like them…”
“I don’t like them!”
The reply came so fast and decisively that it didn’t leave him a chance to finish his sentence.
Shang Shao shook his head with a quiet laugh.
“Don’t you like jewelry? The pink diamond looked quite nice. It suited you.”
Ying Yin was alarmed by the speed at which he spent money.
“All the jewelry in the world would suit me. Is Mr. Shang planning to buy all of it?”
Shang Shao seemed to consider this seriously for a moment before raising an eyebrow. “So the person sitting in my lap is actually a fairy?”
Ying Yin bit her lower lip and laughed. Unable to withstand the teasing amusement in his eyes, she buried herself in his arms to hide.
Shang Shao could tell she was a little drunk. Curling a finger, he lightly brushed the side of her cheek.
There was something intoxicating about the scent that lingered on his fingertips.
Closing her eyes, slightly tipsy, Ying Yin murmured, “Then am I a fairy?”
The question was far too embarrassing to answer directly. There was no way Shang Shao would actually say it aloud.
He didn’t respond, but a soft laugh escaped through his nose. Then he lowered his head and pressed a kiss to her forehead.
The car drove into the Oceanarium Estate and came to a stop in front of the house.
Ying Yin stepped out barefoot. The pale pink ombre train of her gown trailed and gathered around her. Beneath the deep blue moonlight, layers of silk tulle billowed behind her like the petals of a flower dissolving into waves.
Shang Shao was carrying her high heels in one hand.
The sight left Lin Cunkang stunned.
Even the household staff froze for a moment before a maid hurried forward and extended her hands. “Young Master, let me take those.”
A cigarette rested between Shang Shao’s fingers as he replied calmly, “It’s fine.”
After entering the house, Ying Yin sat down on the creamy-white marble steps of the foyer, propping her chin on both hands as she waited for Shang Shao.
She still wasn’t familiar with the layout of the mansion and was afraid she might get lost.
A maid brought over a pair of soft leather slippers. “Miss Ying, these are the ones you wore last time. The floor is cold.”
Ying Yin nodded and slipped them on.
When Shang Shao finally reached her, she tilted her head up and asked, “Mr. Shang, where’s my present?”
“Out back.”
Taking her hand, Shang Shao led her through the center of the house and pushed open the door to the rear garden.
The grounds behind the mansion were just as expansive as the front. The landscaping transitioned through a series of distinct environments – from alpine meadows to gravel gardens to tropical jungle scenery. A broad river wound its way through the property, and evening mist had begun to rise from the water.
Floating upon the pale blue, mist-shrouded surface was a single-person kayak.
Under the moonlight, a miniature pony came galloping over with lively, eager steps, its hooves making a crisp da-da-da sound.
Its coat was a rich, glossy brown, but from the top of its head down to the nape of its neck flowed a dense mane of pale gold. The mane was incredibly soft and fluffy, streaming backward like a waterfall in motion as it ran and the night wind lifted it. In the moonlight, it almost seemed to glow.
Ying Yin sucked in a breath at its beauty. She couldn’t even make a sound at first – her right hand flew to cover her mouth tightly, eyes wide and fixed on it without blinking.
The pony reached them. Its slender legs looked as graceful as if stepping on fresh snow. It stopped with two clear hoofbeats, exhaled softly, and lifted its large, long-lashed eyes to look at them – curious, innocent, and intelligent at the same time.
It was very small, only about 1.2–1.3 meters tall, reaching roughly Ying Yin’s chest.
“It doesn’t have a name yet. What do you want to call it? It’s a colt,” Shang Shao said, taking hold of its reins.
“Pony?”
Shang Shao let out a quiet laugh.
“In international terms, that’s exactly what it is called. If you name it ‘Pony,’ it’s like naming a dog ‘Dog.’”
Ying Yin: “…”
She scratched her head with a finger, thinking for a moment.
“Then… Rich!”
Shang Shao didn’t seem particularly surprised. He sighed helplessly. “Alright.”
“I want to touch it… will it kick me?”
“No. Its bloodline is stable. It has a very good temperament.”
He had commissioned a friend in the UK to select it for him – a purebred from a royal stud farm. It was then flown into the country on a private jet. Customs clearance took time, so in order to make it arrive in time for her birthday, he had to call in favors.
The pony had been kept in his estate for several days, getting through the initial period of adjustment to the environment. By now, it had fully recovered its energy and liveliness.
Ying Yin reached out and stroked its glossy mane.
“It looks like it’s in a rock band,” she said.
Shang Shao couldn’t help laughing. “Then you might as well rename it Rock.”
“No, Rich is good. It has to be Rich.”
Ying Yin bent down and wrapped her slender arms around the pony’s neck.
“Rich, Rich… I hope you grow up quickly.”
“It won’t grow any taller. It’ll always be this size,” Shang Shao said, mercilessly shattering her unrealistic hopes.
“Huh?”
Ying Yin let go and studied the tiny pony from top to bottom.
“So cute…”
Then she hugged it again tightly. She hugged it too hard, and the pony struggled with little stamping steps.
“Do you like it?” Shang Shao asked.
“Mm.” Ying Yin nodded with her eyes closed.
The horse was not even as big as the hem of her dress.
“But I don’t have such a big yard, and I don’t have anyone to take care of it,” she said, thinking practically.
“You can board it here with me,” Shang Shao replied calmly.
“Huh?” Ying Yin opened her eyes, a little confused. “Isn’t it supposed to be my gift?”
“It is your gift. I’m just keeping it for you. Whenever you miss it, you can come over and play with it anytime.”
Ying Yin looked at Shang Shao, then at the pony, then back at Shang Shao, then at the pony again.
Her half-drunk mind wasn’t working very clearly. She felt like she had somehow fallen into a trap, but couldn’t quite figure out what was wrong.
“Of course, you could also choose to take it back. I’ll arrange for a professional to take care of it for you. Your house is… what, only about 300 square meters? It’s probably never lived in a space that small before, so it’ll need to adjust. There won’t be much room for it to run, but it can still go for a few laps downstairs.”
Ying Yin: “…”
“How about it?” Shang Shao asked with a faint smile, glancing at her. “Still not okay? Or… should I just buy you a new house?”
Buying a whole villa just for a horse – what was the difference between that and wrapping dumplings just for the sake of vinegar…
But the analogy was too down-to-earth. Ying Yin was certain this man wouldn’t understand it.
Dazed from the alcohol, she stopped overthinking for the moment and rubbed her cheek against the pony’s face.
“Can I ride it?”
“If you were only ten years old right now, yes.”
“Then what can I do with it?”
“Play with it. Watch it grow up carefree.”
“How long can it live?”
The smile on Shang Shao’s face faded slightly, his expression softening.
“If things go well, forty years. If not, it could be just a few years.”
Ying Yin wasn’t sure if it was just her imagination, but in that instant, she seemed to glimpse a hint of sadness in this man who never showed his emotions.
She stood there blankly for a moment, then slowly got up.
“Mr. Shang, you once had a pony of your own too.”
Shang Shao curled his lips slightly. “His name was Black. He was entirely black, except for a white, spindle-shaped mark on his forehead. It was a birthday gift when I was six.”
There was no need to ask anything further after that.
Ying Yin clutched the hem of her dress, standing with her back to the pony.
The horse was carefree, seemingly delighted by the sea breeze, the grass, and the moonlight here. It was so similar to its homeland on the island of England.
Shang Shao stepped forward and pulled Ying Yin into his arms.
“Giving someone a birthday gift – how did it end up making you sad instead?” he said.
Her ear was cold. Shang Shao gently rubbed it, his warm palm enclosing it.
“Go home, or stay here?”
How was a woman supposed to answer a question like that?
“Go home.”
“I’m afraid there’s no car left, and no driver either,” Shang Shao said calmly.
Ying Yin was startled and looked up at him.
A kiss landed on her eyelashes.
“Then stay.”
Lin Cunkang had already arranged for a guest room on the second floor.
Shang Shao politely escorted her into the room.
“Rest early.”
He said that – but he didn’t leave. Instead, he held her hand, gently rubbing her cool fingertips.
Then he sat down on the bench at the foot of the bed as if he owned the place, pulling Ying Yin into his arms.
Ying Yin knelt with one knee on the bed, her body soft, sinking into his deep gaze.
Shang Shao reached out, circling her neck as he lightly lifted the elaborate pink diamond necklace. The heavy diamonds fell downward, sinking into the folds of her pink tulle dress.
He looked into her eyes as his fingers moved down toward the hidden clasp at the back of the dress.
To achieve a close, sculpted fit, the gown’s back closure was a row of extremely fine hooks and fastenings – dozens of them, tiny, tight, and almost invisible, forming a seamless finish to the eye.
He was clearly very familiar with women’s clothing.
His fingers were truly deft and strong.
When the first and second hooks were undone, the tightness that had bound her chest all evening finally eased as well. Ying Yin took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and softened into his arms, seeking his kiss. Her bare arms brushed against the side of Shang Shao’s neck as they held each other closely, their skin grazing in the intimacy of the embrace.
Shang Shao continued kissing her while working with both hands.
The couture gown was unfastened from top to bottom. Freed from its constraints, it, along with the heavy pink diamond necklace, slid off Ying Yin’s body. It was as if she were a pearl being peeled away from its pink shell.
For a moment, she didn’t dare sit up. She lay there against the dress, her bare back exposed, like a mermaid resting on a reef in the night.
Shang Shao noticed her low spirits. After a pause, he pulled a blanket from the foot of the bed and wrapped her up completely.
“Don’t force yourself,” he said.
“I’m not…” Ying Yin swallowed.
“It’s alright,” Shang Shao cut her off. “You have something on your mind, your mood isn’t right. We can talk about it another time.”
Ying Yin folded her hands over the blanket and got up from his lap. Watching him stand as well, she sensed a certain coolness in his demeanor.
“Mr. Shang…”
“Rest early,” Shang Shao said as he walked toward the door. “You can give the necklace to Uncle Kang. He’ll arrange for it to be delivered to you safely.”
“I spoiled your mood,” Ying Yin said quickly. When he stopped walking, she lowered her voice and asked, “Didn’t I?”
“No.” Shang Shao took out his last cigarette, tapping it lightly against his palm. He lowered his gaze.
“I told you before – this kind of thing requires some natural ease if you want it to be enjoyable. And of course, it has to be consensual. We’ll talk again when you’re willing.”
“I am willing,” she said softly, “just not today.”
Shang Shao lit a cigarette, exhaled slowly, and as was his habit, tapped the cigarette lightly between his fingers.
“Why? Is something wrong with your body?” he asked, narrowing his eyes.
“No.” Ying Yin shook her head.
“I… I want to borrow money from you. I don’t know whether it’s better to sleep with you first and then borrow the money, or borrow the money first and then sleep with you.”
She pressed her lips together in difficulty and muttered, “…It feels like neither option is right.”
Shang Shao froze for a moment. The coldness from earlier in his expression softened slightly.
The fact that she was willing to ask him for money at all was beyond what he had expected.
“How much?”
Ying Yin moved her fingers slightly, calculating. “130 million, plus 21 million in incremental compensation… that’s 150 million. I already have 42 million…”
Shang Shao interrupted her. “Just say the final amount.”
“One hundred million. I want to prepay the remaining 70 million, then borrow another 30 million.”
A hundred million in cash was no small sum – it was enough to bring a medium-sized company back from the brink of collapse.
Shang Shao walked toward her. “What do you need that much money for?”
“To buy my freedom.”
Lin Cunkang had just finished assigning tasks to the household staff for the next morning in the estate.
This was Ying Yin’s first night staying here, so he had specifically emphasized how to take care of her habits – such as preferring silk clothing and items, liking sweet wine and mulled wine, and dietary adjustments focused on light meals, reducing water retention, low carbohydrates, and higher-quality protein and fats. He also instructed that some of the gym equipment be recalibrated in advance according to her height and weight, in case she wanted to work out first thing in the morning.
After finishing, he went up to the second floor – only to abruptly see Shang Shao coming out of the guest room carrying someone in his arms.
“…What’s going on?” he asked, confused.
Staying in the master bedroom on the very first night didn’t match his understanding of Shang Shao – or the upbringing he had instilled in him.
“I smoked a cigarette inside. The air wasn’t great,” Shang Shao said calmly, without a hint of guilt.
Lin Cunkang: “…”
There was a central air purification system, not to mention a balcony door that could be opened at any time and strong cross-ventilation…
And he was saying that.
Shang Shao was still holding Ying Yin, a cigarette between the fingers of the hand that supported her waist.
“To avoid polluting your bedroom air, I suggest you finish your cigarette before going in,” Lin Cunkang said politely.
That hint of teasing didn’t escape Shang Shao’s notice.
He glanced at him. “Too talkative.”
The cream-white marble spiral staircase was seamless, bright, and elegant.
Shang Shao walked down a couple of steady steps, then seemed to remember something and turned back to say to Lin Cunkang, “The pajamas you picked were good.”
The pajamas were made of avocado-green mulberry silk, with thin straps – especially flattering on Ying Yin. He liked her in green; it made her look calm and almost… appetizing.
Once they entered the master bedroom, Ying Yin truly felt it was excessive.
The space was the size of a presidential suite in a top hotel, yet it contained only a bed and a few sculptural columns. An L-shaped floor-to-ceiling window opened the entire view to the outside landscape. Facing the window was a three-meter-long sofa upholstered in creamy white Nappa leather, which looked almost small in such a vast room.
Shang Shao carried her in and sat down on the sofa.
Worried he might get leg cramps from holding her, Ying Yin awkwardly tried to wriggle away, but he pulled her back by the waist.
“Did I tell you to leave?” he said calmly, holding her in place.
“There are people outside… they might see,” she whispered.
“No one’s there.”
Ying Yin tried to turn so her back faced the window, but Shang Shao didn’t allow it.
He held her legs and made her sit facing the window, her back pressed tightly against his chest.
“Mr. Shang…” she sounded like she might cry.
“I won’t do anything,” he said.
She gave a soft, disapproving “mm…” through her nose.
“You’re not trustworthy,” she muttered.
“Is that so?” Shang Shao paused for two seconds as if considering it. “You’re right. Then should I stop pretending?”
He pressed a finger against the neckline of her nightdress. The straps were already loose; with a slight tug, what was hidden beneath began to be revealed in his hands.
“No, no, no – please no,” Ying Yin whimpered, struggling weakly as she begged. “You’re a gentleman…”
Shang Shao chuckled, withdrew his hand, and turned her chin toward him to kiss her.
Then he brought her legs together and returned her to a sideways position in his arms.
“Tell me why you want to borrow the money,” he said, kissing her lips. His tone sounded like a shrewd investor asking questions, but his actions were far more indulgent – like a ruler who had already decided the outcome, making it feel as though that hundred million was already hers to lose.
Since she had already spoken, Ying Yin no longer had anything to hide.
“My agency’s plans for me are different from what I want,” she said. “I never really thought about it before, because the penalty for breaking the contract is 130 million, plus an additional annual compensation of three million yuan. For example, my contract lasts ten years, and I’m in my third year now, so that’s seven years of 3 million – 21 million in total. This amount is basically astronomical for any celebrity. Especially now, with the film and TV industry in decline, it would be very difficult to save up that kind of money on my own.”
A hundred and fifty-one million to buy her freedom.
That condition was enough to pin a person in place completely.
“In this industry, my position has instead made things harder for me. Even if a company is willing to take me on, they have to consider two things. First, my popularity is already saturated, my commercial value is saturated – it’s very difficult to break through to a higher level. But the termination fee of over a hundred million is very real cash they would have to pay. It’s like a transfer fee for a star athlete in a top league: the mismatch between cost and earning potential makes many companies hesitate. One company did make me an offer, but they required me to shoot two idol dramas a year. I didn’t want that.
“Second, a company’s resources can’t easily support two top-tier stars at the same time. The marketing budgets, PR costs for awards, the manpower revolving around me – all of that is expense. My joining would be a threat to any company’s existing top actress. Once, another company approached me, but their leading actress went on strike and boycotted all schedules, and in the end nothing came of it.”
“And you yourself?”
“As for me… I’ve actually been supported and grown alongside my current agent all the way. He’s helped me a lot. Even though he’s very business-minded and realistic, I don’t want to fall out with him because of our history. The second reason is more practical: here, I am the undisputed top actress. All resources are tilted toward me; otherwise I wouldn’t have stayed popular for twelve years. So in fact, I originally had no need to leave. As for now…”
She took a deep breath and smiled.
“Mr. Shang, can you foresee your own fate? I can. Every popular star can. We all eventually go downhill. But before the real curtain falls, I don’t want audiences looking back at my later works and realizing they were all just commercial trash.”
Shang Shao nodded. “Second question – have you found your next company after leaving?”
“I want to do it myself. I need a partner, but I haven’t found the right one yet.”
At that moment, Shang Shao suddenly remembered that a couple of days ago, Zhuang Tiwen had also come to borrow money from him.
The girl had a startup fund – just for fun, really – amounting to a few tens of millions. On the phone she had hesitated and said it wasn’t enough.
At the time, he couldn’t understand what kind of business required such a high starting capital.
“Stockpiling oil?” he had guessed quite seriously. “One hundred million isn’t enough. I’ll give you three hundred million to play with first. As long as you can make a profit – even one cent – you can continue to get investment from me.”
Zhuang Tiwen said, “…It’s not that ridiculous!!!”
Now he understood.
What she wanted to stockpile was something far more precious than oil.
The only problem was: once Zhuang Tiwen’s identity was exposed, how was he supposed to calm her down?
![The Sickly Beauty Gives Up Struggling [Rebirth]](https://i2.wp.com/lazygirltranslations.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/4322s.jpg?resize=151,215 "The Sickly Beauty Gives Up Struggling [Rebirth]")
