Night soon arrived, and the performance of Cloud Dream Splendid Years was about to begin.
This act told the story of an amnesiac fairy who accidentally fell into the mortal world and was rescued by a human prince.
From then on, the two were inseparable.
One was aloof and proud, the other pure and naive—a perfect template straight out of a fairy tale.
Outside the theater, the crowd bustled with activity.
Apart from Chi Mu’s loyal fans, many members of the Duan Family had also come to watch the performance tonight.
They were dressed in their everyday clothes—men and women alike, along with young couples in love—which added a warm and cozy atmosphere to the scene.
It had been a long time since the Duan Family had been this happy.
And of course, it had been just as long since Mugui Theater had been this lively.
Since this was the highly anticipated premiere, Chi Mu personally came out to greet every audience member entering the theater.
She wore a simple yet elegant white gown, her long hair loosely cascading down her back. Her makeup was light, and though her features carried an innocent, guileless charm, her eyes held an alluring, captivating beauty.
This prompted every Duan Family member entering the theater to lower their heads and whisper among themselves.
“Sister-in-law is so beautiful. I always said the boss has good taste.”
“Of course! After all these years the boss has been pining for her, how could she be anything less?”
“Hurry up, let’s go in. Don’t let the boss hear this—we were told not to draw too much attention today.”
“Hey, what do you think the boss is playing at? She’s his wife, yet he spends money to support her without letting her know. And on top of that, he’s chasing her in secret. At this rate, when will he ever catch up?”
“Coward! What a coward!”
As they muttered among themselves and headed inside, their words were overheard by the man following behind them.
This man was none other than the second master of the Duan Family, Duan Yanxu, known for his steady and composed demeanor.
“I’m telling you, if the boss finds out you were gossiping behind his back just now, you’ll probably get another beating!” he warned.
Their expressions immediately shifted to ingratiating smiles.
“Hehehe, the boss is busy chasing Sister-in-law. He won’t find out.”
Duan Yanxu nodded and led them inside.
By now, most of the audience had already taken their seats. Chi Mu stood outside the entrance, discussing something with the screenwriter Lin Xi, completely unaware that the ostentatious Koenigsegg had already entered her line of sight.
It wasn’t until the car’s headlights shone onto the steps, casting a glaring, intense light, that she finally looked up.
The moment the car door opened, the man stepped out. Black suit pants hugged his long, straight legs, and above them was his crisp white shirt.
The cuffs of his sleeves revealed half of his cool, pale wrists, faintly showing the intricate tattoo on his ring finger and the expensive watch adorning his wrist.
It was… Duan Yanxing!
Just last night, she had dreamed that shameful dream, and the protagonist was none other than this man standing before her.
The moment this thought surfaced, Chi Mu felt her breath catch.
She quickly averted her gaze and lowered her head, trying to avoid the awkwardness.
Chi Mu wanted to pretend she didn’t recognize him or hadn’t seen him, but out of the corner of her eye, she noticed that those elegant leather shoes seemed to have stopped right beside her feet. Then, an overwhelming sense of pressure swept over her…
“Wanwan… aren’t you going to welcome me?” A deep, magnetic voice came from above her head, carrying the unique authority that belonged only to him.
Chi Mu stiffened all over. That nickname…
Wasn’t that the exclusive term of endearment he used for his deceased wife?It must be the longing that made him sick, mistaking her for that Wanwan.
She slowly raised her head, her innocent gaze meeting the man’s deep, ink-like eyes.
The corners of the man’s lips lifted slightly, but his eyes were sharp, as if he could see right through her, making her tremble all over.
Chi Mu pursed her lips, blinking her large, misty eyes, and looked at the man helplessly. “Mr. Duan, are you here to watch the performance too?”
“I came to see you,” the man replied directly. He reached out and took the bouquet of white lilies and bellflowers that A Jiang had been holding nearby, offering it to Chi Mu with both hands.
This gesture made Chi Mu’s heart race.
“Th-thank you,” Chi Mu hesitated before accepting the bouquet. She lowered her clear eyes, feeling somewhat at a loss.
Just from this simple action, the girl’s face inexplicably flushed red, even the tips of her ears turning a light pink.
Her delicate, alluring appearance made the man’s Adam’s apple bob, wishing he could pull her into his arms right then and there and kiss her until she cried.
Clearly, pursuing her like this was progressing a bit too slowly, and Duan Yanxing was not satisfied with it.
But after all, his little girl was too delicate, so he had to take it slow and not scare her.
“Wanwan, aren’t you going to invite me in?” Duan Yanxing leaned closer, his low, husky voice carrying a bewitching tone.
Chi Mu’s eyelashes fluttered.
This man…
He was so close. The crisp scent of him, mixed with a faint hint of tobacco, wafted over, making Chi Mu swallow hard involuntarily.
At this distance, Chi Mu could even feel the warmth radiating from his chest.
This made her think of the shameful scenes from last night’s dream.
“Tonight, how about teaching baby something new?”
Oh my! So shameful, so shameless…
These words lingered in her mind, driving her crazy.
Now, Chi Mu felt even more flustered, not knowing what to do, her innocent little face flushed red.
This shy, timid look only intensified the man’s urge to tease her.
But there was no rush—they had plenty of time.
Duan Yanxing simply stared at her, quietly admiring her reactions as if appreciating a rare treasure.
“What are you thinking about?” the man’s cool voice sounded again.
Chi Mu snapped back to reality, couldn’t help but lightly tap her own head, and lowered it in frustration. “S-sorry, Mr. Duan, I… I was spacing out just now. Please, come in.”
After saying this, she quickly stepped aside to let him in.
She didn’t mean to! Really, she didn’t!
But who told her that every time she saw Duan Yanxing, she couldn’t help but think of that strange dream?
Meanwhile, Xiao Chiyu, who was following behind Duan Yanxing and being led by A Jiang, wore an expression of utter disappointment.
He shook his head, lifted his little face, and gave A Jiang a meaningful look. “Hey, Uncle Ajiang, want to make a bet? How long will it take him to win over my mom like this?”
A Jiang was taken aback for a moment, then patted the little master’s head. “Don’t worry, little master, I believe in your dad’s abilities. He’ll definitely win the beauty’s heart!”
“No, look at how timid he is. He won’t succeed even if you give him a year.”
Hearing this, A Jiang was stunned for a moment before bursting into laughter.
“You little rascal, talking about your dad like that? Do you even know what status he holds in Country M?”
The little guy frowned and glared at A Jiang. “Don’t call me a little rascal!”A Jiang shrugged. “Then tell Uncle, why can’t your dad catch up?”
“He’s too timid. If he keeps going like this, when will I ever get to reunite with my mom? We have to help him tonight.”
After saying this, the little one pulled A Jiang toward the backyard. The two hid behind a pillar, sneakily peeking toward Chi Mu.
“How do we help?”
“Shh, you’ll find out in a moment.”