The Movie Queen Always Wants to Kiss Me - Chapter 49 - The Spoiled Child’s Audacity

“I’m hungry. I’m going to have some breakfast,” she announced, marching toward the dining room. But after only two steps, she noticed Cheng Muye had not moved. She turned back, frowned, and wheeled her chair closer. “Aren’t you hungry? Let me take you to breakfast.”

Cheng Muye gave her a faint smile but offered no reply. Instead, she turned to Liu Wei. “Has Miss Liu eaten? Would you care to join us?”

Liu Wei had left home early and hadn’t yet eaten. But even if she had, how could she possibly turn down such an opportunity? She smiled graciously. “It would be my pleasure.”

The three of them proceeded to the dining hall together.

At the long table, Cheng Muye sat beside Tang Anhe, while Liu Wei chose the seat directly opposite.

Breakfast was modest but refined: red rice porridge, steamed buns, milk, and a bright fruit salad.

Tang Anhe usually wasn’t picky about food, but when she saw Liu Wei enjoying the fruit salad, she immediately began piling it onto her own plate, one forkful after another. The hostility in her movements was unmistakable.

Liu Wei, catching the challenge, refused to yield. Forks clashed as they took turns emptying the dish with exaggerated relish. Within minutes, the bowl was picked clean.

Cheng Muye merely watched the childish contest with an amused smile, then gestured for Uncle Xiang to bring another platter.

But Tang Anhe, brimming with open defiance, dragged the fresh fruit salad toward herself the moment it arrived. She dug in with theatrical indulgence, chuckling, “Being a celebrity has its disadvantages. You can’t touch meat or greasy food. Miss Liu, I hope you don’t mind.”

The words dripped with mockery, half flaunting, half staking a claim.

Would she even use her status to intimidate others?

The thought caught Cheng Muye off guard. Her dark eyes flicked toward Tang Anhe, amusement glinting in her raised brows. Then she looked at Liu Wei, who remained composed, her voice calm yet cutting.

“here are plenty of downsides to being a celebrity. Like being rumored to date a top actor or having your sexual orientation exposed. Sigh… sometimes, the rumors can drown you alive. And if you ever did fall in love, would you even dare go public? Few secret romances ever make it to the altar. After all, who wants to be a hidden lover? Miss Cheng, wouldn’t you agree?”

Cheng Muye felt a flicker of irritation.

Liu Wei’s words were precise, incisive, dissecting the situation with the subtle sharpness of a scalpel.

“Such matters are subjective,” Cheng Muye replied, her tone carefully measured. “Several celebrities in the industry maintain hidden marriages and seem perfectly content.”

Tang Anhe, eager to defend her territory, quickly chimed in. “Of course! There are plenty of examples. Didn’t the Emperor of Acting and Gu Zixiao have a secret relationship? They’re public now, and fans seem to approve!”

The example was clumsy, but Tang Anhe’s insistence made the statement all the more desperate.

Liu Wei only smiled, offering no further retort.

The air at the breakfast table grew noticeably heavier, tension lingering like a thick fog.

Tang Anhe lowered her gaze, finishing her meal in near silence, cheeks tinged with both embarrassment and lingering resentment.

After breakfast, Cheng Muye honored her promise and guided Liu Wei on a tour of the villa. She maneuvered the wheelchair herself, pointing out the layout as they went. In sections where steps required descending, two tall, imposing figures, bodyguard types, followed closely behind, lifting the wheelchair whenever necessary.

The bodyguards were striking—broad-shouldered, dark-featured, exuding an undeniable aura of masculine strength. Yet Tang Anhe found herself completely indifferent. In the past, she would have eagerly approached them, peppering them with questions, trying to get close. Now… she felt nothing. What had changed?

Her gaze remained fixed on Cheng Muye, who spoke with natural ease to Liu Wei. Their conversation flowed effortlessly as they discussed the villa’s structure, materials, and architecture, before moving on to the interior décor and furnishings. Occasionally, a shared smile passed between them, warm and genuine, highlighting a rapport Tang Anhe couldn’t claim.

Her chest tightened painfully. She drew in a shallow breath, listening as Liu Wei continued. “The grand layout, the unique construction, exquisite décor, plus its seaside location with such stunning views… this villa must be one of a kind in Changqing City. I wouldn’t be surprised if its market value doubles in two years.”

Cheng Muye replied evenly, “Its current price is already astronomical. Across China, very few could afford a property like this.”

“Indeed,” Liu Wei said with a soft smile, “only the Cheng family’s ancestral home could rival it.”

The Cheng family’s ancestral estate was the grandest villa complex in all of Changqing City.

As the residence of the city’s wealthiest family, it fused Chinese and Western architectural elements into a breathtaking masterpiece. Yet what truly set it apart was the ten-mile expanse of peonies sprawling across the grounds.

Liu Wei couldn’t hide her admiration. “I’ve heard that Old Master Cheng adores peonies, considering them the flower of wealth and honor. That’s why he planted ten miles of them across the estate. Every blooming season, the sea of peonies dazzles with brilliant splendor. Mr. Cheng, ever the gracious host, holds peony festivals to invite dignitaries and elites from all over to admire them. Yet… I’ve never had the chance to witness such a marvel myself.”

Was she subtly hinting that she hoped to attend next year’s festival through her connections?

Cheng Muye snorted coldly, offering no comment. She had to admit that this Liu Wei certainly knew her family well.

Tang Anhe shared the thought, a pang of envy twisting in her chest. She muttered under her breath, “Pfft… just pretending to be cultured.”

Liu Wei’s sharp ears caught the remark. Her eyes widened in alarm. “Miss Tang! How dare you speak so? Old Master Cheng is a respected figure of immense standing. Your words are utterly disrespectful!”

Tang Anhe’s patience snapped. “Whether I respect him or not is none of your business! Will you ever stop your constant nagging?” She had long grown tired of Liu Wei’s relentless chatter, her calculated attempts to win Cheng Muye’s attention, and her insufferable air of superiority. Without another word, she turned to leave, abandoning the villa tour entirely.

Cheng Muye noticed immediately and hurried after her. “Where are you going?”

“Home.”

“Not allowed.”

The command was firm, leaving no room for argument.

Tang Anhe paused, a faint smile tugging at her lips as she stood with her back to Cheng Muye, letting the wheelchair catch up behind her.

Cheng Muye soon reached her, taking her hand gently. “Why are you upset?”

Tang Anhe shook her head stubbornly. “I’m not upset. Definitely not upset.”

Her words betrayed her true feelings.

Cheng Muye chuckled softly, a teasing glint in her eyes. “If you’re not upset, then why did you walk away?”

“I don’t feel like sightseeing anymore.”

“You really don’t? The Cheng residence boasts ten miles of peonies, and this villa has ten miles of roses. Don’t you want to see them?”

Tang Anhe turned, her gaze sharp as it fell on Liu Wei. “Of course I want to see them. It’s just… there’s someone here I’d rather not encounter, which greatly diminishes my interest in the roses.”

Those who are favored are fearless.

Cheng Muye knew full well the insolence in Tang Anhe’s tone, yet she could only yield. She pondered how to intervene, but before she could speak, Uncle Xiang hurried over, followed closely by Song Qiluo.

Even before Song Qiluo reached them, her voice rang out. “Anhe, I’ve come to take you home.”

Tang Anhe’s heart sank at the familiar voice. She hurried forward, masking her unease with a warm smile. “Sis, what brings you here? Is Auntie all right? My phone died yesterday, so I forgot to call you.”

By the time she finished speaking, Song Qiluo had arrived at her side. She ignored Tang Anhe entirely, directing her attention toward Cheng Muye instead. “Miss Cheng, how are your injuries? Are you all right?”

Cheng Muye’s brow furrowed. “You came to take Anhe home?”

Song Qiluo nodded, glancing briefly at Liu Wei with a faint smile. “Manager Liu is here as well.”

Liu Wei, having worked with Song Qiluo on the diamond ring commercial, returned the smile politely. “What a coincidence. Miss Song is here too.”

Song Qiluo’s friendly demeanor masked an edge of calculation. She greeted everyone with the same practiced smile, but as she turned to Cheng Muye, a faintly sarcastic tone crept into her words. “If I hadn’t come to take her home, she’d be so happy she might forget all about returning.” Her gaze shifted to Tang Anhe, and her expression hardened. “My mother just fainted. You need to go back immediately.”

Tang Anhe froze. “What? Auntie fainted? What happened?” Her face paled, and she tugged at her sleeve with urgency. “Quick, let’s go back.”

Cheng Muye’s eyes narrowed. Something felt off. If Tang Anhe’s aunt had truly fainted, how could she have arrived here so promptly? And yet her expression betrayed none of the panic or worry one would expect in such a moment.

Every detail confirmed what Cheng Muye had suspected.

Song Qiluo was lying.

She opened her mouth to speak, to warn Tang Anhe, but the girl, consumed with concern for her aunt, waved her off and hurried after Song Qiluo.

Cheng Muye’s chest tightened. She understood Tang Anhe’s love for her family, but she couldn’t fathom such complete lack of vigilance.

Had Tang Anhe simply been too naive?

Or was she, as always, choosing to indulge those around her, even when the signs were glaringly obvious?

Cheng Muye smiled faintly, a trace of bitterness lingering in her expression.

With Tang Anhe gone, Liu Wei stepped forward, positioning herself before Cheng Muye with a gentle, disarming smile. “May I accompany you to admire the roses, Miss Cheng?”

Cheng Muye’s patience thinned. She shook her head firmly. “No. I’m tired.”

A flicker of shadow crossed Liu Wei’s eyes before the radiance returned. Kneeling gracefully, her voice softened with apparent devotion. “Miss Cheng, I’ve always admired you deeply.”

If human hearts were completely honest, perhaps two parts of this love would be real.

An icy glint flashed in Cheng Muye’s eyes, fading quickly as she responded in a languid tone. “Thank you. My heart already belongs to someone else.”

Unperturbed, Liu Wei’s smile widened. “Shall I accompany you to the roses, then?”

“I’m afraid there aren’t any roses here.”

Her refusal was as sharp and cold as steel.

Yet it was the season when roses bloomed in their full glory, and Liu Wei could already catch their sweet fragrance. She rose gracefully, her eyes sweeping over the villa, a grand estate fit for royalty, with a mix of envy and desire flickering in her gaze. Taking it all in, she lowered her eyes, her voice smooth and subtly seductive.

“Miss Cheng, why bother? With your status, what woman could possibly refuse you?”

She crouched once more, every movement deliberate. Her crisp white blouse and black A-line skirt accentuated her curves with a subtle, seductive elegance. Confident in her allure, she parted the blouse slightly, revealing the cleavage she took pride in. The display was as mesmerizing as Tang Anhe’s youthful charm, yet carried the weight of a mature, self-assured woman.

She was a serpent coiled in beauty.

Her hand slid up Cheng Muye’s leg, tracing slowly toward the space between her thighs. Her lips glistened red as she whispered, more a siren’s call than words. “I understand you better than Tang Anhe. I love you more than Tang Anhe. I suit you better than Tang Anhe. I know how to serve you better than Tang Anhe. Miss Cheng, will you give me a chance?”