To catch the freshest gossip, the Qin family lingered backstage, delaying their departure.

*Zong Chun handed Mrs. Zong the divorce papers and officially filed for divorce. Mrs. Zong was so furious she ended up in the hospital, which is why she didn’t show up tonight. But Zong Chun, seriously? Your wife is still bedridden, and you’re already proposing to someone else? You always act so upright, but who knew you’d be this wild?*

Qin family: This is absurd!

*What a disaster! It turns out that yesterday Yu Rouyin gathered her courage to explain the situation to Mrs. Zong. Although Mrs. Zong didn’t outwardly believe her, she had a fleeting moment of doubt when she got home. But then she saw the divorce papers, and after a few words were exchanged, Yu Rouyin was dragged back into the fray.*

*Old Zong, meeting you must have been a punishment for too many sins in Yu Rouyin’s past life!*

Ji Fei’s lips twitched.

The Qin family listened in stunned silence. Indeed, this seemed more like picking a fight than forming an alliance.

*Ah! So, the sudden proposal was because Mrs. Zong’s words provoked him...*

Qin family: What did she say?

*Apparently, Mrs. Zong had realized that Yu Rouyin didn’t love Zong Chun at all, but he refused to believe it. He thought that deep down she must have feelings for him. He claimed he could see it in her eyes during their acting scenes—seriously, Uncle?*

Qin Zhao: *...She’s an actress. Isn’t playing the part of someone who likes you just part of her job?*

*Zong Chun sincerely believed that Yu Rouyin, a woman in her twenties, admired him for being refined, well-kept, capable, and gracious—a man in his fifties. He thought her proactive approach and the genuine look in her eyes when asking him about acting, unlike her interactions with other men, showed that she wasn’t stringing him along but truly liked him!*

*I’ve seen it too. Yu Rouyin has always been sincere when approaching mentors who weren’t interested in her beauty. Maybe you were so good at pretending that Teacher Yu mistook you for an actual gentleman?*

Qin Father: *So, you assumed she admired you just because she asked you questions during rehearsals? If I thought that way before I retired, how many admirers would I have had?*

*It was obvious he was secretly admiring her beauty while denying it! Yet Zong Chun claimed it wasn’t infidelity, just that he and Mrs. Zong had long lost any romantic feelings, and their lack of intimacy over the past few years was proof. He even said that Mrs. Zong didn’t excite him as a man.*

Qin Mother: *...That’s the biggest insult to a long-married couple. Or maybe, just maybe, it’s your problem?*

*The appearance of Yu Rouyin had supposedly filled the void in his heart, making him feel alive and in love again. Since he had genuine feelings, he was willing to face any criticism just to be with the woman he loved.*

Qin Yan: *Goodness! Did you even ask Yu Rouyin if she wanted that?*

*Mrs. Zong must have been driven mad with rage, but still, that doesn’t justify insulting Yu Rouyin so harshly. She should have directed her anger at her husband.*

Qin family: Exactly! You’re mad at the wrong person, lady!

*What a vicious cycle. The harsher Mrs. Zong’s insults, the more Zong Chun defended Yu Rouyin, which only made Mrs. Zong hate Yu Rouyin even more. This endless cycle of resentment... Please, stop dragging other people into your twisted drama!*

Qin family: *Ugh. What bad luck!*

*In the end, Mrs. Zong told Zong Chun everything Yu Rouyin had said to her about distancing herself, emphasizing that Yu Rouyin was just using his reputation and status for her goals. She acted one way in front of Mrs. Zong and another in front of him, and as soon as she reached her goals, she’d discard him, just like the old rumors. There was no way she’d ever marry him.*

*Zong Chun stubbornly insisted that even if she was using him, he didn’t care because his love for Yu Rouyin was real, unlike those men who only wanted her for her body. But deep down, his self-assured facade had cracked, and that’s why he rushed to propose.*

Qin family: *Ha! Prepare for rejection, old man!*

*Oh, she turned him down.*

Qin family: *Sweet!*

*But it wasn’t that easy to break the spirit of an older, determined man. He even gave a heartfelt promise?*

Qin family: *What promise?*

*“I don’t care about your past, and I won’t hold it against you. From now on, I’ll protect you. I know you’ve longed for a stable home. If you marry me, you can leave the entertainment industry and become a devoted wife and mother. You’re still in your twenties, just a young girl, and I’m willing to save you. I won’t let other men drag you into the abyss again. I know you didn’t want those things that happened before; I understand your struggle. With me, you’ll have a clean, secure future.”*

Qin family: ...

*Why does that sound so off? Something’s weird about it... Wait, isn’t this like a scene we cut from rehearsal? The one where the man tries to persuade the courtesan to give up her life for a better future? In that plot, the man portrays himself as noble and selfless, but in reality, he just enjoys the power trip of changing someone’s life.*

Qin Zhao and Qin Rong both remembered that scene, where the man, despite his façade, only desired the woman’s beauty and her gaze of reverence. Once he married her, he would grow tired and resentful of her past.

As everyone thought about it, their expressions became increasingly difficult to describe.

“What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell? What’s with those expressions? You’re about to go on stage, don’t mess up now!” Pei Mingxuan suddenly noticed Ji Fei’s odd expression. Qin Zhao also seemed weird, but she didn’t glance at the rest of the Qin family; otherwise, she would have thought the whole family was acting strange.

*Should I tell Sister Pei about the proposal just in case?*

Ji Fei pondered for a moment before saying, “I’m just curious.”

“Curious about what?” Pei Mingxuan asked.

“Mrs. Zong isn’t here. Could it be that the divorce is real? If so, could Teacher Zong propose to Yu Rouyin soon? That might affect our signing with her…” Ji Fei said nonchalantly.

“It doesn’t matter as long as she doesn’t agree to a proposal. Unless he suddenly goes wild and proposes right now, there’s no interference,” Pei Mingxuan replied.

“Huh? Just not now?” Ji Fei didn’t immediately catch on.

Pei Mingxuan explained, “Exactly. If he proposes now, it would be coercion or an unspoken rule for Yu Rouyin, especially since… she’s about to go on stage. Without our signing, this performance is crucial for her—it will determine her future.”

Ji Fei: *!*

Qin family: *!!*