Second Take On Romance - The A-List Actor Wants Me Chapter 232 : The Empress’s Tale

They all went to hospital together soon afterward.

Hua Xueying underwent a thorough dical inspection to record all signs of abuse inflicted by her husband.

Afterward, Lawyer Hui, Yan Renzhong, Shang Ruohai, and the doctor in charge retreated to a separate room to discuss.

They were soon joined by several police officers.

Shen Jingwei was left alone outside for so ti, until Hua Xueying joined him.

"Heya," she greeted him.

"Hi."

Hua Xueying plopped down next to Shen Jingwei.

It was nearing midnight, and the lighting in the hospital corridors had been reduced to a minimum.

They could only see the outlines of each other’s figure.

"I am sorry for intruding on you and Yan Renzhong tonight," Hua Xueying said. "I didn’t have any other person who could help ."

The actress chuckled to herself.

"They called ’Empress Hua’, but I am an empress who lives in the Cold Palace*. Unloved and uncared for."

Shen Jingwei turned to look at her.

"If you don’t mind asking, what happened?"

He knew that Hua Xueying was married to a fellow celebrity, but the couple had been separated for almost two years now.

Which explained why Hua Xueying was so generous with her kisses.

Hua Xueying pulled her lips into a sad smile.

"My husband beats almost every day after we got married," she began. "He always paid attention only to leave bruises in obscure places. After all, my face and body are my assets. Without them, I can’t continue performing on stage."

"I have been asking for a divorce for over a year now, but the process is long and arduous. He has a lot of support behind the curtain, making it very difficult for to assert my rights."

"Why didn’t you report him for dostic violence?"

"Because, ahhh..."

Hua Xueying sighed.

"I was embarrassed to tell the entire world that I, Empress Hua, had chosen the wrong man to spend my life with. I don’t think my family mbers and friends will sympathize with at all."

"So you would rather endure the mistreatnt than destroying your public image?"

"Oh, yes."

"..."

Hua Xueying laughed when Shen Jingwei fell silent.

"In the entertainnt industry, as soon as you beco a celebrity, you have to stick to a certain standard.

Your and your husband have to be successful, your marriage has to be perfect, your children must excel academically, and even your pets need to win competitions."

"Celebrities are but human beings," Shen Jingwei pointed out.

"Of course, but we are the picture of perfect human beings that everyone strive to be."

"..."

Despite the dim lighting, Shen Jingwei could see tears gather in Hua Xueying’s eyes.

"That’s what I learned after staying in this industry for years."

"..."

Hua Xueying sighed to herself.

"Besides, it’s all my fault, anyway."

"... How so?"

"Well, I chose him. After I broke up with Yan Renzhong, I threw myself into ssy relationships with n, not caring about my well-being at all. And that’s how I landed such a toxic husband."

Shen Jingwei could feel his chest tighten when Yan Renzhong’s na was ntioned.

"Yan Renzhong... Did he do anything to you?" He heard himself asking.

Hua Xueying gave Shen Jingwei a curious look.

"What, do you think that he also beat up?"

"..."

Shen Jingwei’s silence made Hua Xueying giggle softly.

"No, silly boy. He didn’t beat up. He was the most attentive, loving boyfriend I ever had. I was head over heels in him. And he was very good in bed too."

"..."

"Oh, co on. You didn’t think that we only went as far as holding hands, right? Besides, I understand that you and Yan Renzhong already separated at that point."

"Wait, you know about ?"

"Hahaha. Of course I do."

Hua Xueying leaned against the wall and sighed.

"You have always been his white moonlight."

"..."

When Shen Jingwei did not give a satisfactory response, Hua Xueying felt compelled to explain further.

"You know, the one who got away. The one he longed for but could never attain."

"I know what white moonlight ans."

"Oh, okay."

"I just don’t know how you found out about ."

"Ahhh."

Hua Xueying clicked with her tongue once.

"I think it was the night of the Qixi Festival**. We traveled abroad together, had wonderful dinner, and went back to the hotel for an intimate evening.

We were both drunk, but Yan Renzhong drank a lot more than .

Anyway, we still managed to have a good ti. And right at the end of it, guess what happened?"

"... I don’t know."

"He called out to you. While he was still holding , naked. He kept calling your na, and he kept saying he’s sorry."

Hua Xueying scoffed.

"I still had ample self-respect at that ti. I didn’t want to stay with a man who was hung up on another person. So I dumped his ass, and here I am."

During the three years they were apart, Shen Jingwei used to think that he was the only one who suffered from the separation. It turned out that he was wrong.

Yan Renzhong too suffered.

Silently.

On his own.

"You should cherish him," Hua Xueying spoke again. "I have t a lot of n in my life, dated a fraction of them, but few can compare with Yan Renzhong. He is soone you can count on for life."

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Author’s note :

*Just in case my readers are not accustod to Palace C-Dramas, unwanted concubines and sotis empress were often thrown into a dilapidated palace called Cold Palace.

**The Qixi Festival, also known as the Chinese Valentine’s Day, is a romantic festival celebrated on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month. It is one of the most important traditional festivals in China.

The festival is based on a Chinese legend about a cowherd nad Niu Lang and a weaver girl nad Zhi Nü. They were separated by the Milky Way and were only allowed to et once a year on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, when magpies would form a bridge across the Milky Way for them to cross.

The Qixi Festival is celebrated in various ways throughout China.