“Holy shit! This… this…”
Ignoring the gasps around her, Lin Jianxi walked expressionlessly across the bluestone path, her steps graceful as she entered the qipao shop.
Today, she wore a moon-white silk qipao, its exquisite tailoring accentuating her perfect figure. Her smooth, long hair was pinned up with a jade hairpin, and her delicate, beautiful face carried an air of elegance tinged with a hint of coolness.
“Who the hell is that?”
“Is she a stand-in hired by the crew?”
“Oh my god! That qipao looks stunning on her! It’s like it was tailor-made for her. I need to know everything about her within a minute!”
“She’s not a stand-in. I know her—she’s the owner of this qipao shop. Rumor has it she opened this place right after graduating and can make all kinds of qipaos.”
As Lin Jianxi appeared in the shop, all eyes turned to her. The expressions of the onlookers shifted—some bewildered, some stunned, but most were captivated by her beauty.
The first thing Lin Jianxi noticed upon entering was the man standing by the cash register.
His features were sharp and defined, a pair of gold-rimmed glasses perched on his tall, straight nose. His crisp, white shirt added a touch of restrained elegance to his appearance.
Lin Yujing and Ye Chen were rehearsing their scene, while Jiang Xu stood nearby, watching and offering guidance.
Lin Jianxi gave a slight nod to the crowd, then made her way through the filming equipment and people into the inner studio.
The crew had notified everyone that the qipao shop owner might come to work and instructed them to carry on with the shoot as planned.
The crew members guessed that Lin Jianxi was indeed the shop owner. Their eyes followed her as she walked deeper inside.
Lin Yujing stared at Lin Jianxi’s retreating figure, her grip tightening slightly on the folding fan in her hand. Since childhood, wherever Lin Jianxi went, she always became the center of attention.
Jiang Xu’s gaze followed Lin Jianxi as well. Her back was slender and lovely, the half-collar qipao revealing a stretch of pale, dazzling nape. Her posture was poised and graceful.
A flicker of jealousy passed through Lin Yujing’s eyes. In the past, she would have sworn Jiang Xu had no feelings for Lin Jianxi, but now she wasn’t so sure. From the moment Lin Jianxi entered, Jiang Xu’s eyes had been fixed on her.
Jiang Xu withdrew his gaze, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose with his slender, well-defined fingers. He picked up the script from the cash register and said, “Let’s run through the scene one more time.”
Ye Chen nodded. “Sure.”
“Okay.” Lin Yujing began to immerse herself in the role. She absolutely could not afford to make a mistake in front of Jiang Xu.
As the two actors rehearsed, the stylist wandered around the qipao shop. She paused to admire the dazzling array of qipaos, her eyes finally settling on one displayed in the showcase.
It was a modernized new Chinese-style qipao, designed with white lace trim. Delicate lace vines adorned the entire dress, and the backless design added a layer of pure yet sensual allure.
Lin Jianxi had a slight case of perfectionism when it came to embroidery—she wouldn’t stop until the sample piece was fully completed. At half past noon, she finally set down her needle and stretched her arms backward.
Jiang Xu entered just as Lin Jianxi was stretching. Her fair, slender arms reached into the air as she leaned lazily against the chairback, her slender figure beautifully outlined by the qipao.
Hearing the door open, Lin Jianxi turned toward the sound. When she saw Jiang Xu’s cool, handsome face, she paused, her long eyelashes fluttering slightly.
“Come and eat.” Jiang Xu closed the door behind him and walked toward the table diagonally across the room, carrying a food delivery bag.
Lin Jianxi stared blankly at the doorway. After a few seconds, she snapped out of it and looked toward Jiang Xu, who was standing beside the table.
Jiang Xu unfastened his shirt cufflinks, rolling up the sleeves. The veins on his arms faintly showed through, and his white shirt was clean and tidy, exuding a cool, restrained aura.
Seeing her still frozen in place, Jiang Xu furrowed his brows slightly and asked with a puzzled tone, “Lin Jianxi?”
Lin Jianxi came back to her senses, stood up, smoothed the wrinkles on her cheongsam, and walked slowly toward the restroom.
After washing her hands, Lin Jianxi returned to find Jiang Xu pulling out a chair for her. He then sat down opposite her and placed a bowl of white rice in front of her.
Lin Jianxi glanced at the bowl of rice with half-closed eyes before looking up at him. “You haven’t eaten either?”
Jiang Xu hummed in agreement, picked up a ladle, and served a bowl of chicken soup, placing it before her.
Lin Jianxi’s gaze was drawn to the bowl of richly colored soup, and she couldn’t help asking, “What kind of soup is this?”
Jiang Xu glanced at her. “Chicken soup.”
Lin Jianxi: “…”
The two ate their meal unhurriedly. From time to time, Lin Jianxi stole glances at the man across from her. He ate with elegant manners, his hand holding the chopsticks pale and slender with distinct knuckles. A minimalist watch adorned his wrist, adding to his restrained aura.
“Lin Jianxi, can staring at me fill you up?”
The man across from her spoke abruptly, and Lin Jianxi felt a bit awkward but didn’t want to admit she had been watching him. “Who’s staring at you? Don’t flatter yourself.”
“…” Jiang Xu’s lips twitched slightly.
After the meal.
Jiang Xu took the initiative to clear the dishes, washed his hands in the inner restroom, and came out to find Lin Jianxi leaning lazily against her chair, her slender hand resting on her stomach.
Lin Jianxi lowered her head. Probably from eating too much, her once-flat stomach now had a slight bulge. She frowned slightly, thinking she needed to control her appetite.
“That’s normal.”
A deep, magnetic voice drifted down from above her. Lin Jianxi was momentarily stunned before replying in a calm tone, “It’s getting late. I need to take a nap.”
Jiang Xu stood behind her with his eyes half-closed. Her soft hair was casually tied up at the back of her head, revealing a round and pleasing shape. Her nape was delicate and pale, almost dazzling.
A few seconds later.
Hearing no movement behind her, Lin Jianxi tilted her head slightly and met a pair of peach-blossom-shaped eyes. “Didn’t you hear what I said?”
“I need to sleep too.” Jiang Xu bent down, picked her up, and strode into the lounge behind the beaded curtain.
Lin Jianxi’s eyes widened slightly as she clenched her slender hands into fists and pounded his chest. “Jiang Xu!”
Jiang Xu carried her to the bedside, gently laid her down, and then pressed himself against her.
“You…” Lin Jianxi’s face grew warm. The familiar, cool scent of sandalwood drifted toward her, making her momentarily dazed. Her throat suddenly felt dry.
Jiang Xu brushed aside a few strands of hair from her cheek. His deep eyes reflected her delicate and beautiful face as he slowly lowered his head until the tips of their noses touched.
Lin Jianxi instinctively held her breath, her thick eyelashes trembling. “Jiang Xu! What are you doing?”
Jiang Xu turned his head slightly to look at the gently swaying beaded curtain. “Don’t be so loud. I can hear you.”
Lin Jianxi: “…”
Taking advantage of her distraction, Jiang Xu lowered his head and lightly pecked her red lips. He then unhurriedly moved off her, lay down beside her, and pulled the blanket over them.
Lin Jianxi’s heart pounded like a drum. The lingering warmth on her lips told her that Jiang Xu had kissed her.
Jiang Xu placed his palm on her waist, his thumb gently stroking her side. His gaze fixed upward for a moment before he turned his head and leaned close to her ear.
“Lin Jianxi, I don’t want a divorce.”