By the stairs.
Someone called out to Zhang Xiaoru. She turned to see the secretary who’d been with that man walking toward her. “Assistant Zhang,” he greeted her politely.
“Hello.” She immediately straightened up and returned the greeting.
“Hello.” Secretary Pei nodded and offered her his card with both hands. “I’m Pei Nan. Here’s my card.”
Zhang Xiaoru hurried to take it. Caught off guard, she scratched her head awkwardly. “I’m Zhang Xiaoru. I don’t have a card. I’m just Sister Xuan’s assistant.”
“I know,” Secretary Pei said with a smile. “If anything comes up, feel free to call me. I might be able to help.”
After he left, Zhang Xiaoru still felt a little dazed. She looked down at the card.
It seemed to be a personal card. There was only a name and a phone number on it.
Pei Nan?
Then who was the man she’d just seen?
Should she tell Sister Ping? But this was her idol’s private business. The man seemed important, and his secretary was incredibly polite and respectful.
After pouring the water, Ai Xuan saw that Gu Heng was still standing. She glanced at the sofa. “Sit down. Aren’t you tired of standing?”
They were alone in the room, but she didn’t feel awkward. She was used to being under the same roof with him. She’d often gone to his study at night to chat with him.
“I’m fine.” Gu Heng shook his head, his gaze settling on her forehead and growing darker the longer he looked.
Ai Xuan noticed where he was looking. She rubbed her forehead and mumbled, “I did something stupid on the livestream just now. I bumped my head, and it hurt like crazy.”
Some viewers had felt sorry for her, and some had laughed. She figured more people had laughed at her, since what she’d done really was stupid.
How embarrassing.
“I’ll take you to the hospital to get it checked.” Gu Heng looked worried, his eyes searching hers to see if she’d agree.
“It’s just a little bump. I don’t need to go to the hospital.” No sooner had Ai Xuan said it than she caught sight of her forehead in the mirror. She leaned closer, her fair face scrunching up. “How did it bruise?!”
There hadn’t been a mark when she checked earlier. She was an actress. Her face was how she made a living, and she still had to put on makeup for filming tomorrow.
Gu Heng had been looking more closely than she had, so he’d already noticed. The bruise stood out all the more against her smooth, fair skin. Keeping his feelings in check, he suggested, “If you don’t want to go to the hospital, at least put some medicine on it.”
“I still have to film tomorrow.” Frustrated, Ai Xuan called herself an idiot several more times in her head. She took a cotton swab and went over to the full-length mirror to apply the liniment. “Give me another minute. I’ll take you out for dinner.”
He’d made the trip to see her. Of course she wanted to play host.
Dinner was the last thing on Gu Heng’s mind. He took a couple of steps toward her. “Just dabbing it on won’t make the bruise go away by tomorrow.”
She was applying it so lightly that it would be even less effective.
“I know it works better if I rub it in, but it hurts.” Ai Xuan drew out the last word. When she looked at him, her red lips pursed into a little pout before she knew it.
She could endure hardship, but physical pain was another matter. After the car accident, she’d hurt all over and cried so often that her almond-shaped eyes were red and swollen. Day after day, Gu Heng had coaxed and comforted her, always finding another way to make her feel better.
He really was patient with her.
“Make sure you’re more careful next time.” Gu Heng walked over and coaxed her as he used to. “The bruise isn’t bad. Bear with it for a bit, and it’ll be better tomorrow.”
Ai Xuan’s face fell, and she quickly lowered her head.
Gu Heng knew she couldn’t bring herself to rub it in. After thinking it over for a moment, he said, “I’ll put it on for you. It won’t take long.”
He’d applied medicine for her before. Whenever the doctor hurt her, Gu Heng would take over and apply it himself to soothe her.
Since her injuries had healed, though, a little distance had grown between them.
Gu Heng looked more tense as he made the offer, but Ai Xuan barely hesitated. She pressed her soft pink lips together and handed him the cotton swab.
He took it, dipped it in the liniment, and lifted his hand to her forehead.
They were so close that his scent suddenly washed over her. Ai Xuan felt her pulse quicken and her heart beat faster. She was getting a little warm.
She couldn’t quite explain how she felt about Gu Heng. All she knew was that she didn’t mind him being close. She rather wanted to get closer herself.
It was addictive.
She’d never been the shy, reserved type. Deep down, she couldn’t deny that part of her wanted to do something about it.
She’d thrown herself into her career over the past few years and met all kinds of men, but she’d never felt much like dating. She spent every day trying to get by in an industry that left her little room to maneuver. She’d only taken an interest in Jin Yan because he’d once stood up for her without giving it much thought.
But the closer she got to Gu Heng, the more she realized that he’d do anything she asked. The little Jin Yan had done for her began to seem worthless in comparison, and the balance in her heart tipped accordingly.
Having Gu Heng close made her feel at ease.
Ai Xuan’s mind wandered until a sudden sting in her forehead made her scrunch up her face and hiss, “Ow, that hurts…”
Gu Heng paused and eased the pressure considerably. “Bear with it a little longer.”
For the first time, Ai Xuan noticed how pleasant his voice was, gentle and clear, with a hint of indulgence. He rubbed the spot a couple more times, and she leaned away again, her voice soft and plaintive. “But it hurts. You’re not the one who has to feel it.”
Gu Heng pressed his thin lips together more tightly, his gaze burning. “Almost done.” Then he added in a coaxing tone, “Be more careful next time, okay?”
He’d spoken to her the same way on their video call that day. Now that he was so close, his voice sounded lower, softer, and a little hoarser. She tilted her head up and looked at him with dark, watery eyes. “I didn’t do it on purpose. Who’d want this to happen?”
She pouted a little as she said it, her voice taking on a playful whine.
Gu Heng met her gaze, a faint, helpless smile touching his lips. He kept rubbing the liniment in with the cotton swab. “You’re on your own here, so you have to take good care of yourself. Don’t make people worry.”
Her eyes bright with amusement, Ai Xuan leaned a little closer. She spoke each word deliberately, putting on a sweet, playfully contrite tone. “I’m very sorry I made you worry. It won’t happen again.”
They talked several times a day and let each other know what they were up to. Gu Heng kept up with how she was doing and cared deeply about her.
With all that back-and-forth, things between them had long since changed. The attraction was there, just beneath the surface, but neither of them had said it aloud.
Whenever Ai Xuan took even a small step closer, Gu Heng picked up on it at once and thought carefully about how to respond. His love burned so fiercely that he was always holding it back, afraid he’d scare her away.
“All done.” His eyes were full of tenderness as he lowered his hand. Seeing the faint sheen of sweat that had broken out around her nose from the pain, he could barely hide how much it hurt him to see her like that. “And you can still smile.”
“Let me take you out to dinner.” Ai Xuan didn’t seem particularly bothered. She went to get her bag and told him excitedly, “I found a restaurant that does amazing local specialties. I have to take you there.”
“There’s no rush.” His gaze followed her.
Ai Xuan put on her hat and face mask. It had gotten a little cooler that day, so Gu Heng asked her to put on a coat before they headed out.
As they went downstairs, Lu Yuchen and Secretary Pei were coming up. Lu Yuchen was still pestering him with questions. “Pei Nan, what’s going on?”
When Secretary Pei saw them, he stepped aside to let them pass. “Third Young Master, Miss Ai,” he greeted them respectfully.
Lu Yuchen lost his nerve at once and barely dared to look at Gu Heng.
Ai Xuan appeared perfectly at ease. “Director Lu, do you know Secretary Pei?”
“Yes,” Secretary Pei said with a nod.
“We know each other pretty well, actually.” By the end of the sentence, Lu Yuchen had all but lost his nerve again at the sight of Gu Heng standing beside Ai Xuan. He seemed to shrink into himself, a far cry from his usual high and mighty self.
“Ah Heng hasn’t had dinner yet, so I’m taking him out to eat. Would you two like to join us?” Ai Xuan asked Lu Yuchen gently, neither deferential nor overbearing.
To Lu Yuchen, it was like a bolt of thunder had gone off over his head and struck him, leaving him crisp on the outside and tender on the inside.
Taking Ah Heng out to dinner?
Taking him out? Ah Heng?!
Ai Xuan watched Lu Yuchen’s face go pale, then turn an ugly shade, his mouth hanging open. The more she looked at this paper tiger, the cuter she found him. “It’ll be livelier with more people. Why don’t you come along? We’re going to Xipinfang.”
Before Lu Yuchen could answer, Secretary Pei jumped in. “Young Master Lu and I have already eaten. We’re stuffed. You two go ahead, Miss Ai.”
“Let’s go,” Gu Heng said.
Ai Xuan didn’t insist and continued downstairs with him.
“???” Lu Yuchen watched them leave, then turned on Secretary Pei with a scowl. “How the hell am I stuffed? Stuffed, my ass!”
He hadn’t even eaten yet, let alone treated Third Brother to dinner!
“Are you sure you want to go to dinner with the Third Young Master?” Secretary Pei asked. Then he added unhurriedly, “Young Master Lu, you haven’t exactly been friendly to Miss Ai.”
Lu Yuchen’s scalp tightened. A chill seemed to creep up from the soles of his feet.
Once they were outside the estate, Ai Xuan lowered her head and couldn’t help laughing. She looked back at Gu Heng. “Did you invest in the series? Director Lu’s face changed the second he saw you. You hardly ever see him lose his nerve like that.”
“Mm.” Gu Heng walked on with one hand in his pocket. “I put in a little.”
Ai Xuan looked as though she’d expected as much. The corners of her mouth lifted as she admitted, “I was being familiar with you on purpose back there. I wanted him to know I have someone backing me so he won’t try to make trouble for me behind my back.”
She’d put up with Lu Yuchen for a long time.
Still, he hadn’t gone too far. He’d shown more restraint this time and generally listened to the crew. As a director in name, he was doing a decent job.
She was an adult. She had no intention of tattling or doing anything that childish and petty.
She’d originally brought up investing to Gu Heng because she was afraid Lu Yuchen would start making reckless decisions again. If the Gu family was involved, Gu Heng would have a say, and Lu Yuchen wouldn’t dare do whatever he pleased.
“I know.” She’d wanted to see Lu Yuchen put in his place. She’d spoken to Gu Heng in a different tone and even called him by a different name. His heart had given a little jolt when he heard it, but he knew she was teasing, so he hadn’t let it show.
“You know everything, don’t you?” Ai Xuan said lightly. Then she asked with a smile, “The Lu family is prominent too. How well do you and Lu Yuchen get along?”
“He’s my younger cousin,” Gu Heng said.
“…” Ai Xuan’s smile froze.
His cousin?
So they were related?
Gu Heng looked toward the intersection ahead. “Which way do we go?”
Ai Xuan quickly recovered. Her eyes flickered, and she pointed to the right. “This way.”
A car passed behind them. Gu Heng gently tugged at the hem of her coat, pulling her farther from the traffic. Ai Xuan moved with him without thinking, already regretting what she’d done. “Oh no. I’ve really done it this time. I just went and made trouble for myself, didn’t I?”
Since they were related, Lu Yuchen was bound to know plenty. He might well turn the tables on her.
Gu Heng saw her fair, delicate face scrunch up in worry, and a faint smile touched his eyes. He slowed his pace and went around behind her so she could walk on the side farther from traffic. “We’re not particularly close,” he reassured her gently. “The Gu family barely has any dealings with the other families anyway.”
That caught Ai Xuan’s attention. “Why?”
“It goes back to the previous generation.” Gu Heng said no more.
The Gu family had kept a low profile since changing the direction of its business. After taking over, Gu Heng had stayed away from major social gatherings and focused on restructuring and growing the family business. He had little interest in the other families’ affairs.
Ai Xuan didn’t ask any more questions. They arrived at Xipinfang and asked for a private room.
A server brought the menu. Ai Xuan opened it and slid it in front of him. “I’ve already had something to eat, so I can’t have much. See what you’d like.”
Gu Heng had no particular preference, but he listened attentively as she went through the dishes one by one. Whenever she said something was good, he ordered it.
They ordered several dishes. Gu Heng poured her a cup of tea, and they chatted while waiting for the food.
“Has filming been hard?” Gu Heng asked.
“It hasn’t.” Ai Xuan held her teacup and told him some funny stories from the set. Then she added, “Don’t worry. I won’t let you lose money. You’re definitely going to make a profit.”
It was a web series, and the cast hadn’t cost much. The money had gone into the sets and post-production instead. It ought to be a series they could be proud of.
Gu Heng nodded and took a sip of tea with a smile.
Watching him, Ai Xuan was momentarily caught off guard. There was something refined about the way he never seemed in a hurry. He looked like a young gentleman from a distinguished family, open and unruffled, gentle and courteous.
The novel had described him as having paranoid personality disorder. The only time she’d happened to see him lose his temper was in the study. He’d seemed a little unfamiliar to her then, but that feeling had faded. What she remembered was how gentle and patient he was, and she still trusted him.
They ate together as they always had. Even when the conversation ran out, there was an easy understanding between them.
Every so often, Gu Heng put more food in her bowl and encouraged her to eat.
“I’ll put on weight,” she kept saying, her red lips forming an ever more pronounced pout even as her eyes stayed fixed on the food in her bowl.
“Just one little bite.”
“Well, all right.”
…
Ai Xuan wanted to pay for once and do her part as host, so she excused herself to go to the restroom.
Before she could settle the bill, a fan recognized her.
“Xuanxuan? Is that you, Xuanxuan?” a woman exclaimed, covering her mouth.
Ai Xuan denied it on instinct. She lowered her head to hide her face and started back toward the room.
But more and more fans crowded around her. Others heard what was happening and began pushing their way over, cutting off her way back.
“Is it really Ai Xuan?”
“Xuanxuan, can we get a photo together?”
“Could I have your autograph? I’m a huge fan!”
“I heard Xuanxuan was filming nearby, so I came here specifically to visit. I can’t believe how lucky I am!!!”
…