Yu Yuan started practicing on the spot because he was worried that his casual suit was too stiff and would restrict his stride when he ran, affecting his performance.
That’s why I thought I’d open my hips and stretch my legs beforehand, and try out all the movements properly. I didn’t expect that even though the clothes were fine, I couldn’t keep up.
Yu Yuan took a long time to recover, his legs went numb from squatting, before he slowly stood up, supporting his waist, taking small breaths throughout.
Gu Shaocheng supported Yu Yuan’s slightly cool wrist for a bit.
Yu Yuan twisted his right side, so he could only shift his weight to his left side. Unfortunately, his left leg was also numb from squatting, so when he stood up, he couldn’t maintain his balance and stumbled into Gu Shaocheng’s arms.
In the blink of an eye, Yu Yuan regained his footing. Gu Shaocheng watched silently as the young man’s thick hair receded into the distance, a faint scent of fruit and wood lingering in his nostrils.
Like the setting sun outside the window, casting its warm, crimson glow into the floor-to-ceiling windows, bringing a room full of warmth and beauty.
Gu Shaocheng’s nostrils twitched. Yu Yuan naturally used the same toiletries as him in the villa, but he always felt that the young man’s fragrance was stronger, with a subtle sweetness that could only be smelled by getting very close.
In the blink of an eye, Yu Yuan had already gently struggled and escaped his control.
Yu Yuan sniffed: “Okay, thank you. What time do we leave? I’ll go put my contact lenses in first.”
Gu Shaocheng looked down at Yu Yuan’s amusingly grimacing expression and couldn’t help but sigh that he had been sick for far too long.
When he is lucid and free from pain, even an ordinary sunset can please him.
Gu Shaocheng pursed his thin lips slightly: “Okay, go ahead.”
*
Although Yu Yuan had never worn contact lenses before, he tried them on after watching an online video once.
However, although he put them on smoothly, his eyes were not used to them and he felt uncomfortable. Yu Yuan had to blink frequently to help the lenses find the right angle as soon as possible.
He followed Gu Shaocheng to sit in the back of the passenger seat. He didn’t feel anything when he was standing because of the sprained waist and hip, but it hurt when he moved.
Once he got into the car, he didn’t even notice that the partition hadn’t been raised yet, and he hissed and gasped for breath a few times.
When Gu Shaocheng looked at him, he was pitifully complaining with his almond-shaped eyes red and wet, “It hurts even more when I sit down.”
Before he could finish speaking, the bodyguard sitting in front of him suddenly coughed.
Gu Shaocheng glanced at the passenger seat upon hearing the sound. The voice in front of him stopped abruptly, sounding rather guilty. The bodyguard’s dark face had visibly turned reddish-brown, clearly indicating that he was trying his best to suppress something.
Gu Shaocheng pressed the metal button next to him to raise the partition, then patted the armrest box between the two people and said in a low voice: “Come closer and hug this, make room for the one that hurts.”
Yu Yuan obediently leaned over, even slightly raising his buttocks to put as much weight as possible on his left side, so that the sprained area on his right side would not be stressed. After adjusting, he did feel much better, but this meant that the two of them were almost touching.
Gu Shaocheng always sat with an imposing posture, one hand resting on the armrest and occasionally tapping his fingers lightly, exuding the aura of a superior.
Now Yu Yuan leaned against him from the other end of the armrest box. He only responded lightly when Yu Yuan thanked him and then closed his eyes to rest, leaving Yu Yuan alone feeling uncomfortable.
Fortunately, Yu Yuan had gotten to know him better over the past few days, and after leaning against him for a while, he got used to it. He then started thinking about the plot of the charity gala.
In this scene, the male protagonist has just lost his status as a member of a wealthy family. He used to be a VIP at various banquets, but this time he has been reduced to a minor celebrity on stage to be ridiculed. Those wealthy scions who already had a grudge against him naturally wouldn’t miss this opportunity to humiliate him.
But for Yu Yuan, the problem lies in the fact that those spoiled brats repeatedly use him as a tool to drag the male protagonist down into the mud. Originally, the male protagonist might not have had any feelings for him, but after being provoked a few times, he might start to hate him.
He was present at the scene this time, and he was really worried that those spoiled brats would drag him into it as well. You know, although the male protagonist is often bullied and suppressed by cannon fodder, it’s as if he has the protection of luck in the book. Not only is he not the one who suffers the most misfortune each time, but the male protagonist can also benefit from it.
For example, not long after he was put in a difficult position, the kind-hearted female lead came to his rescue. She drank the last three cups for the male lead who was about to pass out and took him away. However, the drinks were drugged, and the two ended up having sex in a daze.
The pervert who drugged the woman was furious that his prize had slipped through his fingers, so he turned around and released CCTV footage of the male and female protagonists kissing as they entered a hotel room.
The female lead originally had a fiancé. Although it was just a business marriage, their relationship was very stable. However, the marriage fell through after this incident, and the male lead easily won the heart of a wealthy heiress.
From any perspective, Yu Yuan should stay away from the male lead immediately. As the old saying goes, how can a firefly compete with the bright moon? Cannon fodder should quickly get away from the male lead.
His goal was very clear: to send the nanny away, give him a proper send-off, and live a beautiful widow’s life! Naturally, he wanted to actively stay away from all unstable factors.
It’s that useless, big hip… Yu Yuan blinked to relieve the discomfort while letting out a long sigh. He could only hope that Gu Shaocheng’s bad reputation would help him and prevent any foolish brats from jumping in front of the King of Hell.
*
The two arrived at the Linos Hotel at 7:30, where guests were already gathered.
Outside the gate, reporters carrying long lenses and microphones were piled up three or four times, and many celebrities deliberately stopped to take photos, making it look like a small red carpet.
Gu Shaocheng has practically settled in the trending topics lately, with his top-tier status and immense popularity. Before the car had even come to a complete stop, the cameras that were frantically snapping photos of celebrities and socialites just moments before immediately turned away.
Gu Shaocheng told Yu Yuan not to move. The driver walked gracefully to the left rear and opened the car door on Gu Shaocheng’s side. Gu Shaocheng got out of the car, adjusted his diamond cufflinks, and strode over to the other side to personally open the car door for Yu Yuan.
Considering Yu Yuan’s aching hip, Gu Shaocheng bent down and carried him out in a princess carry, considerately supporting Yu Yuan’s back until he was steady before turning around and standing side by side with him, which shocked the media present.
Shocking! Gu Shaocheng makes his first public appearance at a charity gala, flaunting his affection for his younger boyfriend!
Wait, your boyfriend changed?
Holy crap!!
It’s not surprising that Gu Shaocheng beat someone up in the street, and his public displays of affection were already shocking enough, but why the sudden change of partners? Could the rumors of a marriage alliance between the Gu and Wang families be false…? Reporters immediately came up with a hundred sensational headlines in their minds and started snapping photos.
Gu Shaocheng naturally raised his elbow, but this time he didn’t wait for Yu Yuan to take his arm. Instead, he directly grabbed Yu Yuan’s arm and put it in the crook of his arm, not giving him a chance to help him.
From the moment Yu Yuan saw the sea of heads in the distance, he had already entered a state of suspended animation. His body was stiff and he was barely breathing. In his mind, he was constantly reassuring himself that once he pulled off this job, his life would be secure!
As soon as he got out of the car, Yu Yuan felt what a real “sea of people” was. The “waves” were still crashing against him. He was so blinded by the constant flashing of the cameras that he could barely open his eyes and could only reach out to shield them.
At this point, the only familiar man beside him became his lifeline. Yu Yuan lowered his head to cover his face while clinging tightly to Gu Shaocheng. Only when the number of people around him decreased sharply after entering the venue did he finally breathe a sigh of relief.
A moment later, a lady dressed in an elegant cheongsam came to greet them. She was the matriarch of the Qian family, the organizers of the charity gala.
The woman appeared to be of a certain age, but due to her well-maintained appearance, she looked no more than thirty. She knew from the start that Gu Shaocheng was attending on his old-man’s behalf, and showed no unusual expression. She gracefully approached and said with a smile, “It is truly an honor for Mr. Gu to be here.”
After speaking, she glanced at Yu Yuan, who was pale and very reserved. Although the guest list presented included Gu Shaocheng and his newlywed male wife, the face clearly did not match the photo. Madam Qian’s thoughts shifted, and she smiled and nodded at Yu Yuan, skipping the questioning of his identity.
Gu Shaocheng merely nodded slightly to the enthusiastic Madam Qian. When her gaze fell on their intertwined arms, he chuckled and patted Yu Yuan’s little hands that were clinging tightly to his arm, whispering, “He’s being unusually clingy today.”
Mrs. Qian’s smile deepened: “Mr. Gu, please come in.”
*
After Madam Qian left, Yu Yuan shook their intertwined arms, suppressing the urge to rub his eyes, and whispered, “Gu Shaocheng…”
Gu Shaocheng picked up a glass of champagne and handed it to him, a rare gentle smile playing on his lips: “What did you call me?”
Yu Yuan was truly stumped by his question: “…Shao Cheng? Cheng? Cheng Cheng?”
Gu Shaocheng’s face darkened for a moment: “The first one.”
Yu Yuan nodded, slightly raised her chin to look at the man, and spoke again: “Shao Cheng, my eyes hurt so much, can I take out my contact lenses first?”
Gu Shaocheng lowered his eyes and noticed that Yu Yuan’s eyes were red and that he was blinking his eyelashes in pain. His expression immediately turned cold: “Take it off now.”
Yu Yuan had used tools to put the contact lenses in, and he wasn’t confident about removing them with his bare hands. He pointed towards the bathroom and said, “I’ll take them out. You wait here for me.”
Yu Yuan blinked frantically the whole way, wishing he could squeeze his contact lenses out of their sockets. Only when he got to the restroom did he realize he had brought his champagne glass with him.
He endured the discomfort and first opened a webpage to search around. After taking it off, the stinging sensation in his eyes immediately disappeared.
The internet says that his condition is caused by the initial discomfort of wearing the cornea, and that soaking the contact lenses in contact lens solution for a while before wearing them next time might help.
Looking at the two pieces of soft film on his fingers, Yu Yuan felt it was such a waste to throw away something he had bought for several hundred yuan…
With a quick glance, Yu Yuan’s gaze fell upon the champagne glass beside him.
*
Not long after Yu Yuan left, Madam Qian led a late-arriving guest over.
The newcomer was a few centimeters shorter than Gu Shaocheng, wearing a black suit similar in style to his. His deep, handsome face bore a striking resemblance to Gu Shaocheng’s, and he was none other than Wen Ping, the professional manager that Old Master Gu had cultivated for the Gu family business.
Wen Ping was originally an illegitimate son. His birth mother had a special identity and had not been recognized by the Gu family to this day. However, due to his outstanding personal abilities, he had stayed by the side of the old master Gu for many years and was more outstanding than all the other Gu family members.
The two look alike, but their temperaments are completely different.
If Gu Shaocheng is a sharp blade gleaming with cold light, then Wen Ping is like a river of spring water warming up in March, with a gentle smile always on his face.
”Shao Cheng, I heard from Chairman Gu that your health has improved a lot since you got married. Aunt Lan will be very happy for you when she finds out.”
Gu Shaocheng glanced at him coldly, knowing that the other party was deliberately testing him. He suppressed the anger surging in his heart and responded lightly, saying indifferently, “Thank you for your concern, Mr. Wen.”
Before Wen Ping could speak again, the classic melody started playing, and Gu Shaocheng picked up his phone and walked straight to the terrace not far away.
Yu Yuan’s vision was even more blurred than usual after taking off his contact lenses, but he was grateful that the pain would stop.
Anyway, his task today was to stick close to Gu Shaocheng, and not being able to see clearly would reduce the anxiety of the crowd.
Yu Yuan walked out of the corridor and saw that the spot where the two had been standing was still occupied by only one person. He was even more satisfied. It was perfect that the audience could watch his performance from afar.
He cleared his throat, determined to “act cute” to please Boss Gu!
Yu Yuan quickened his pace, carrying a champagne glass, a sickeningly sweet smile on his face. He shoved the glass into the man’s hand, then raised his smug face and said in a high-pitched voice, “Shao Cheng~ Quick! Praise me!~”
Wen Ping raised an eyebrow instantly. Others might not recognize Yu Yuan without his glasses, but he had attended their wedding banquet. Even though Yu Yuan was dazed and confused like a puppet at the time, he still remembered that pretty little face vividly…
Unexpectedly, a blind marriage can lead to love at first sight. I wonder what Gu Shaocheng would think if he found out that his sweet and loving young husband mistook him for someone else the first time they met.
Thinking of this, Wen Ping’s smile deepened. He lowered his eyes and swirled the glass. It wasn’t hard to guess that Gu Shaocheng would have to quit drinking to recover his health. The person in front of him had personally found it for him. But unfortunately… Wen Ping didn’t give Yu Yuan time to react and tilted his head back to drink the water in the glass in one gulp.
He finished his drink and smiled as he handed the cup back to Yu Yuan, saying, “Thank you, I was thirsty.” Before he could finish saying, “You seem to have mistaken me for someone else,” Wen Ping paused slightly, his mouth moving as if he were chewing something.
He frowned slightly: “How can there be fruit pulp in purified water?”
Yu Yuan’s mouth gaped open in surprise, and his eyes widened. He shook his head blankly upon hearing this: “No, it’s not fruit pulp.”
Wen Ping, seeing this, assumed the other man had realized he had mistaken him for someone else and didn’t take it to heart. He chewed a couple more times, his smile deepening: “Oh? Did you add the coconut jelly on purpose?” What a thoughtful and good wife.
Yu Yuan did realize he had mistaken someone for someone else, but he couldn’t care less about that right now: “N-no, it’s Co…”
It wasn’t even pure water…
Just then, a sinister voice broke in: “What are you doing?”
Yu Yuan turned around stiffly, and Wen Ping casually put his arm around Yu Yuan’s shoulder, smiling as he spoke first: “Yuan Yuan mistook me for you, you don’t mind if I drink your water, do you?”
Yu Yuan’s social anxiety was instantly activated when Wen Ping reached out his hand. He stepped aside and walked to Gu Shaocheng’s side.
Looking up at the man’s cold, hard face, his hesitant voice betrayed despair: “He…he drank the contact lenses you bought me…”