Finding Yao Chiyue, Qiao Mengdi couldn’t help but slow her hurried pace.
By the swimming pool, many people noticed her. Today, she was like a walking red peony; it was no exaggeration to call her a “national beauty.”
There was another reason she slowed down: she didn’t know what to say to Yao Chiyue. Just a moment ago, Yao Chiyue had told her not to follow; now that she had tracked her down, what exactly was she doing?
Even though she walked as slowly as possible, the distance between her and Yao Chiyue inevitably shortened.
Just as she reduced her pace to something slower than a snail’s crawl, Yao Chiyue suddenly turned around. She stood with her arms folded, the slight irritation that had been on her face back in the banquet hall now gone.
Qiao Mengdi stopped completely. On her way over, it wasn’t that she hadn’t seen the man standing beside Yao Chiyue; she had simply ignored him automatically.
At this moment, even if she didn’t want to notice him, his presence forced its way into her line of sight.
The man wore sunglasses. He was very tall, with a straight, perfect physique that could put any male model to shame.
Could it be… is this Yao Chiyue’s ‘little white face’ kept man? Qiao Mengdi was startled. Because Yao Chiyue was getting married, had her secret lover come here to harass her? Yes, that must be it! Why else would Yao Chiyue refuse to answer his calls? And why would she frown just looking at a message from him?!
Ha! Qiao Mengdi gave a cold laugh. They weren’t even married yet, and a third party was already showing up to cause a scene? This wouldn’t do!
Thinking this, she suddenly accelerated. The distance that should have taken two or three minutes at her previous pace was covered in less than ten seconds.
As Qiao Mengdi approached, even before the man took off his sunglasses, her heart turned into a “screaming chicken”—
Oh my god! I’m dying, I’m dying! Ahhh!
It’s him! It’s the man who once made me think that if the person were him, maybe I could be heterosexual! Ahhhh!
At this moment, without Yao Chiyue needing to remind her, she knew her face must be beet red because the burning sensation was overwhelming.
Before walking over, she thought she was coming to confront a homewrecker. Instead, she found Yi Hongzhou—the top-tier superstar and the only male celebrity she had ever liked. Now, she finally understood why she had heard so many screams coming from downstairs earlier.
The novel hadn’t mentioned Yi Hongzhou. Why was he here? And he clearly held significant weight in front of Yao Chiyue.
In this moment, Qiao Mengdi couldn’t bother with those questions.
If it weren’t for the last shred of logic warning her that Yao Chiyue was watching her, she would have screamed out loud to release her suppressed excitement.
Having come to find Yao Chiyue, her eyes were now filled only with Yi Hongzhou, the star she had adored for years.
She could bet that Yi Hongzhou in person was thousands of times more handsome than in photos or posters; no camera in the world could capture his full glory.
“What are you doing here?” Yao Chiyue’s voice sounded somewhat heartless.
“I—” Qiao Mengdi finally realized she was losing her composure and hurriedly withdrew her gaze. “I was worried about you, Sister.”
Just then, Yi Hongzhou took off his sunglasses.
Ah, those “peach blossom eyes” that could make someone lose their soul with a single glance!
Qiao Mengdi accidentally made eye contact with him, and instantly, her mind went blank. The existence of someone this beautiful was simply a violation of the laws of nature!
“Qiao Mengdi?”
A heavenly voice! His voice was truly divine!
Before she collapsed, that was Qiao Mengdi’s final thought.
As her vision went black and her body began to fall, her remaining consciousness told her that she was caught just in time by a pair of strong arms.
When Qiao Mengdi woke up, she found herself lying on a lounge chair by the pool, covered with a dry bath towel. No one was around.
It was an autumn afternoon; the sunlight was warm and comfortable. The water and sky reflected each other, and clouds drifted lazily. Everything felt peaceful.
Qiao Mengdi stared at the sky for a moment. When she sat up, she remembered she had fainted because Yi Hongzhou called her name, and her face began to burn again.
She wondered if Yao Chiyue would tell anyone about this embarrassing incident.
Well, since the time I got a nosebleed from looking at her wasn’t spread around, she probably won’t talk about this either. Qiao Mengdi felt that Yao Chiyue wasn’t the type of person who enjoyed gossip.
At that moment, Yao Chiyue appeared carrying a glass of water.
“Sister Yao, I…”
“Drink some warm water first.” Yao Chiyue handed her the glass and sat down on the opposite lounge chair.
Qiao Mengdi took it obediently and drank half.
“The weather is really nice today!” Qiao Mengdi felt she should say something; the silence made her uneasy.
“Don’t you think today has been ruined?”
Yao Chiyue’s beautiful voice carried a hint of fatigue, and her speaking pace was slower than usual. Qiao Mengdi could tell she was in a bad mood.
Was it because of Yi Hongzhou? How does she know such a big star? And what is their relationship? I hope it’s not what I think… if it is, I can’t compete with Yi Hongzhou.
“It’s okay.” Qiao Mengdi deliberately stretched her left hand into the sunlight. The red ruby engagement ring on her finger still shone brilliantly. “Anyway, we’ve already put the rings on each other. The ceremony was successfully completed, wasn’t it?”
“You certainly look on the bright side.”
Suddenly, Yao Chiyue also extended her left hand. Their hands were held side-by-side in mid-air.
Under the sun, Yao Chiyue’s hand was even paler than Qiao Mengdi’s—or rather, it looked more bloodless, whereas Qiao Mengdi’s skin was white with a healthy rosy tint, full of vitality.
“It’s just the truth.”
“I’ve always been the one buying things for others. I didn’t expect you to buy me a ring,” Yao Chiyue murmured, almost to herself.
“Why? Shouldn’t there be a give-and-take between people? I’ll buy you other things in the future, too.” Unaware of what was on Yao Chiyue’s mind, Qiao Mengdi spoke her thoughts naturally.
“Is that so?” Yao Chiyue withdrew her hand. “Since the year I started university, no one has ever bought me anything.”
“How can that be? That’s so unfair.” Qiao Mengdi was genuinely angry. Someone like Yao Chiyue should have a never-ending supply of gifts.
“I don’t want gifts with ulterior motives.”
“Sister, you have a lot of requirements!” Qiao Mengdi thought for a moment and asked, “Then if I buy you gifts in the future, will you accept them?”
“We’ll talk about the future when it comes.” Yao Chiyue lightly tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “How are you feeling now?”
“I’m fine, I was just too—” Qiao Mengdi felt ashamed. Now that she had calmed down, she knew that an idol was just an idol—someone to admire from afar. The person she truly hoped to win over was the mysterious woman in front of her. “Will you laugh at me?”
“What is there to laugh at?”
“I feel so silly.”
“Let’s go back.”
“Right, we’ve been out here so long, everyone must be worried.”
“Everyone left long ago. They won’t worry; I called A-Xue.”
Is that so? While I was unconscious, she handled everything?
Qiao Mengdi peeked at Yao Chiyue’s face. She looked so calm, as if nothing had happened.
“I’m not afraid of you laughing, but I… I’m a fan,” Qiao Mengdi lowered her head.
The world of this novel was highly consistent with her original world, except for her own history and her family’s surname. Yi Hongzhou was the star who debuted the year she graduated from middle school. With his perfect looks, incredible acting, and excellent projects, he had become a global sensation in just a few years.
Qiao Mengdi knew she only felt attracted to women. Her thought about Yi Hongzhou—”if it were him, maybe I could be straight”—was purely a high level of appreciation for a celebrity.
“I noticed.”
“Don’t you think Yi Hongzhou is a very talented actor?”
“I don’t.” Yao Chiyue stood up and looked down at her. “Let’s go.”
Qiao Mengdi stood up too, but she moved a bit too fast and felt a wave of dizziness.
Yao Chiyue caught her hand just in time. “Are you really okay?”
“Yes, I’m fine.” Qiao Mengdi feigned strength and gently pulled her hand away.
Sigh, my heart beats too fast when she holds me. Otherwise, it would be so nice to let her keep holding on.
While waiting for the elevator, the question Qiao Mengdi had been suppressing resurfaced. She really wanted to ask right now, but she felt that Yao Chiyue definitely didn’t want to talk about it.