Jiang Wanting was photographed by a paparazzo without even realizing it.
As Jiang Wanting was about to swipe her card to enter, the door across the hallway suddenly opened. Jiang Wanting turned to look at the sound.
It was a male celebrity.
Jiang Wanting found him familiar but couldn’t recall who he was.
Upon seeing Jiang Wanting’s face, the man was momentarily stunned. Who was she? And why did she have Shen Zui’s room key?
Jiang Wanting wasn’t in the habit of talking to strangers. She entered the room and closed the door directly.
The girl was no less beautiful than a female celebrity, with almond-shaped eyes as bright as stars, a delicate and exquisite nose, pale pink lips, and flawless fair skin tinged with a faint blush.
A flicker of surprise flashed in the man’s eyes. It seemed he had stumbled upon a secret—could this be Shen Zui’s officially announced fiancée?
…
After Shen Zui finished filming, his agent Wang Shan habitually checked the trending topics. Scrolling through, she was shocked to find her own artist trending.
#Shen Zui’s Fiancée Suspected to Have Appeared at Hengdian Hotel#
#Shen Zui’s Fiancée Delivers Food to Him Late at Night#
“A Zui, your fiancée seems to be trending.”
Shen Zui frowned and took the agent’s phone. It was a video showing a girl carrying a bag, wearing a TODS coat, and carrying an LV crossbody bag. She was slender and tall.
In the short video, her face was blurred, which inexplicably relieved Shen Zui.
He returned the phone to his agent and took out his own.
Seeing his actions, Wang Shan exclaimed, “My dear, what are you planning to do?”
Ignoring her, Shen Zui quickly typed a message, checked it for errors, and clicked send.
【Shen Zui v: I do not wish for my private life to be magnified online. I hope there won’t be a next time!】
After posting the tweet, Shen Zui logged out, leaned back in his seat, and closed his eyes to rest.
Wang Shan carefully reviewed Shen Zui’s new tweet, confirming there was nothing inappropriate, and sighed softly. In truth, he didn’t need to post this.
He wasn’t the only one staying at this hotel, and the trending topic included the word “suspected.” The person who posted it was likely just chasing clout.
#Shen Zui Responds# became a trending topic on Weibo within minutes.
Under the topic’s real-time updates, many netizens were posting their thoughts.
【Zhen Mouren v: I smell a domineering CEO vibe, so handsome! But the fiancée must be gorgeous, and her fashion sense is impeccable!】
【An Ran Di Yu v: A real man @Shen Zui v】
【Zui Zui Jia Xiao Ye v: What to do? Sister-in-law seems so beautiful! I really want to know what my brother is like when he’s in love.】
【You Zi Cha Bao v: This statement is so sweet! Sister-in-law has such great fashion sense! She even has a limited-edition LV bag, I’m so jealous [crying].】
【Ai He Jiu De Xiu Xiu v: I’m heartbroken. It feels like true love. Brother didn’t need to post this at all [pitiful].】
【Zui Le You Hao Xiang Mei Zui v: Let’s focus more on the artist’s work and less on his private life. As fans, we just want him to be happy.】
Meanwhile, the person at the center of it all, Jiang Wanting, remained completely unaware that she was trending.
Jiang Wanting was currently taking a bath. After a full day of classes, she was quite exhausted.
By late November, City H had already entered the depths of winter—dry and cold. It felt like snow would fall soon.
Thinking about Shen Zui having to film summer scenes in such cold weather, Jiang Wanting couldn’t help but feel a pang of heartache for him.
Shen Zui returned to the hotel, where over a dozen paparazzi were fully equipped and waiting at the entrance. Expressionless, he put on his hat and mask, got out of the car, and strode into the hotel on his long legs.
He swiped his card to enter the elevator. Just as the doors were about to close, Zhao Xizi’s high heels made hurried clicking sounds.
Hearing the footsteps, Shen Zui casually pressed the elevator button.
Zhao Xizi stepped into the elevator and, seeing it was Shen Zui, paused for a moment. “Thank you!”
Recognizing her, Shen Zui nodded politely.
“Shen Zui, my assistant bought some snacks. Would you like some?” Zhao Xizi smiled at him, her every gesture exuding elegance. “If you’d like, I can have my assistant bring some to you.”
“No need, thank you!”
The elevator chimed with a “ding.” Shen Zui glanced at Zhao Xizi. “We’re here. See you later.”
Zhao Xizi nodded and also said, “See you later.” She lowered her head, staring absentmindedly at her high heels.
Truthfully, she hadn’t known Shen Zui before—they only met because of their upcoming movie collaboration. This was her first film since becoming famous. She had acted before, but audiences often said her face wasn’t suited for the big screen.
After interacting with Shen Zui, she didn’t find him as described online. His personality seemed more aloof, like an unattainable flower on a high peak.
Back in his hotel room, Shen Zui didn’t see Jiang Wanting. Noticing her coat and bag on the sofa and a food container on the coffee table, he realized she hadn’t been joking when she said she’d come to Hengdian—she’d actually arrived.
Jiang Wanting had been soaking in the bath for nearly half an hour. She walked out of the bathroom while drying her hair.
Seeing the person in the room, her eyes lit up, her voice carrying an unconscious cheerfulness. “You’re back!”
The girl gazed at him with starry black eyes. Shen Zui felt slightly uneasy under her stare but nodded in response.
She wore a white bathrobe and disposable slippers, the robe just covering her knees and revealing slender, pale calves. Her hair was slightly damp.
Jiang Wanting quickly wrapped her hair in a towel and sat on the sofa. “I learned how to make sushi from Nanny Rong. Try some and see if it’s good.”
“Okay.”
“How is it? Is it good?” Jiang Wanting tilted her head, looking at him expectantly.
Shen Zui swallowed the sushi and said calmly, “It’s alright.”
Hearing this, a flicker of disappointment crossed Jiang Wanting’s eyes. She reached for a piece herself—it was indeed just alright, not particularly delicious but not bad either.
“What happened to your face?” Jiang Wanting noticed a thin, fresh-looking scratch on Shen Zui’s left cheek, seemingly untreated.
Shen Zui paused, the sushi in his hand, and replied calmly, “It’s nothing. I got it accidentally during a fight scene.”
Jiang Wanting muttered under her breath, “How could you be so careless? Such a handsome face shouldn’t get scarred.”
Shen Zui: “…”
Jiang Wanting was quite close to him, and even though her voice was soft, he still heard her.
“Let me disinfect it for you so it heals faster.” Without waiting for a response, Jiang Wanting went to find the first aid kit.
A five-star hotel like this should have one ready.
He had wanted to say it wasn’t necessary, but before he could speak, the girl was already searching for the kit. Whether it was treated or not didn’t matter much—in tomorrow’s scene, Gu Yao’s cheek was supposed to be injured anyway.
Jiang Wanting returned with the first aid kit, finding cotton swabs and disinfectant. “This might sting a little. Bear with it.”
The girl suddenly leaned in, causing Shen Zui’s breath to hitch inexplicably. A faint, delicate fragrance drifted into his senses—the scent of gardenia.
“It’ll be over soon.”
For the first time in two lifetimes, Jiang Wanting was this close to a man. Her fingertips trembled slightly as she held the cotton swab.
“Done.” After disinfecting the wound, Jiang Wanting even blew on it gently. She tossed the cotton swab into the trash and turned to enter the bathroom.