By the time Gu Heng came out, Ai Xuan was completely surrounded. She kept backing away as the excited fans talked over one another and pressed closer, paying no attention to what she was saying.
The crowd jostled Ai Xuan so hard that she nearly lost her footing.
Excited shouts rang out one after another. Fortunately, the dinner rush was already over. Otherwise, the crowd would probably have been much bigger.
A notebook someone was holding up accidentally struck her on the head. Ai Xuan’s attempts to get them to stop did no good. Gu Heng’s expression darkened at once, and he shot the staff a piercing look. “Where’s security? Who’s going to take responsibility if someone gets hurt?!” His voice was ice-cold.
Before anyone could answer, he was already moving forward to pull Ai Xuan out.
“What are you doing? What are you doing?”
“Don’t push me!”
“Who are you?”
…
Afraid someone might get hurt, the restaurant hurriedly called over its servers and food runners. They squeezed into the crowd to clear a path, forcing the fans apart. Complaints broke out, and the crowd grew even more agitated.
Ai Xuan breathed a huge sigh of relief when she saw Gu Heng. She instinctively took shelter in his arms, grabbed his collar, ducked her head, and buried her face against his chest. She kept calling out to the crowd. “Please stop pushing. The people in front could get stepped on. I don’t want anyone getting hurt.”
With the fans pressing in around her, she could hardly move. All she could do was tuck herself farther into Gu Heng’s arms. His warmth enveloped her, giving her a sense of safety she couldn’t quite explain. She leaned a little closer without thinking, and his scent grew stronger.
It smelled cool and pleasant. Ai Xuan began to feel warm all over. She couldn’t tell whether it was from being squeezed in the crowd or from the sudden nervousness that came with some other feeling she couldn’t name.
Gu Heng held her loosely with one arm and used his other hand to block the notebooks the fans were thrusting toward her. They kept taking pictures of Ai Xuan, some holding their phones so close they were practically in her face.
At the sight of this, Gu Heng’s face darkened with fury.
Ai Xuan looked at the fans who kept following her. The restaurant staff had stopped some of them and were telling them off harshly. Feeling bad for them, she looked up at Gu Heng.
“Those photos won’t get out, and none of them are leaving.” Gu Heng’s voice was flat. He kept his anger in check, the fierceness in his dark eyes barely showing.
She hesitated, then said softly, “There aren’t that many of them. How about I sign a few autographs?”
Otherwise, she’d come across as cold. Some of those fans had come all the way here just for her.
“We’re leaving,” Gu Heng said coldly. With a light arm around her, he kept guiding her toward the exit.
He looked a little like he had the night she’d walked in on him in the study. There was that same menacing air about him.
Others might have been trembling around him, but Ai Xuan wasn’t afraid. She stopped and gave his collar a gentle tug. Looking into his eyes with her own clear, bright ones, she softened her voice. “Will you wait for me a little while? Then we can go back together, okay?”
Gu Heng looked down at her, then at the hand holding his collar. Her wrist was slender, and her fair fingers were so delicate and soft.
The crowd had pressed them together just moments ago. Her scent seemed to linger where he’d held her, and his temperature rose until he felt hot all over.
The fans watched Ai Xuan leave just like that. The servers still had them surrounded and wouldn’t let them go. Anxious and disappointed, several of them grew teary-eyed and stamped their feet in frustration.
Before long, Ai Xuan came back. Her almond-shaped eyes held a smile as she spoke to them gently. “Could you keep your voices down and be good so we don’t disturb the restaurant? We can sign autographs and take pictures quietly, okay?”
That nearly made the fans cry for real. They reached up to wipe away their tears.
They didn’t want to cry either, but Xuanxuan was coaxing them! Of course she was. Nobody spoiled her fans like Xuanxuan did. They’d love her forever!
A young girl at the front asked through her tears, “Xuanxuan, how’s your forehead after you bumped it?”
She’d just been watching the livestream and had worried herself sick when Ai Xuan hit her forehead. The next thing she knew, Ai Xuan was right here. At first, she hadn’t thought it could possibly be her.
“It’s fine.” Ai Xuan smiled as if it were nothing and handed her the autograph with both hands.
The girl looked at that lovely face so close to hers, practically shooting hearts from her eyes as she declared, “Xuanxuan, you’re so pretty. I love you. I’ll always love you.”
“I love you too,” Ai Xuan replied.
At those words, Gu Heng’s expression grew gloomy. He gave off a chill, like someone had discovered a treasure he’d kept all to himself.
The fans had of course noticed Gu Heng shielding Ai Xuan earlier. They quietly tried to find out more. “Xuanxuan, are you dating someone?”
That man really was good-looking. Handsome, well built, and a little cold and aloof.
“No,” Ai Xuan said, continuing to sign autographs. She promised with a smile, “If I ever have good news, you’ll be the first to know. Then you can be happy with me.”
The fans were thrilled that she’d say that. They forgot about Gu Heng in an instant. They still wanted pictures with Ai Xuan!
Although Gu Heng let Ai Xuan take pictures with her fans, in the end, he really didn’t let a single fan leave on their own. Secretary Pei had arrived to handle things. Everyone there had to hand over their electronic devices so that all the footage they’d taken earlier could be deleted.
They gave a convincing reason, of course. They couldn’t let those images cause trouble for Ai Xuan.
After Gu Heng took Ai Xuan away, Secretary Pei told the fans, “Miss Ai had something to attend to, so she’s already left. She has to get up early to film tomorrow, and it’s hard work. Please feel free to stay and have a meal. It’s Miss Ai’s treat, a small gesture to thank you all sincerely for your support.”
That took away what little disappointment the fans still felt. A few of the bolder ones asked, “What’s the relationship between Xuanxuan and that man from earlier?”
Secretary Pei didn’t answer directly. “At present, there’s nothing going on between them.”
“!” The fans’ eyes widened, and they looked a little pleased with themselves. “Does that mean he’s courting our Xuanxuan?”
That made them the bride’s side!
“I never said that,” Secretary Pei replied evasively. “Have some more to eat, everyone. Help yourselves.”
He could think of it as the Third Young Master spending a little money to win over Miss Ai’s fans. Money was the last thing the Third Young Master lacked anyway.
“He definitely is. Who wouldn’t like Xuanxuan? Our Xuanxuan has so many admirers they could line up from here all the way to the capital.” The fans stood up a little straighter, brimming with confidence.
“Yes,” Secretary Pei said, nodding. “Miss Ai is a wonderful and accomplished person.”
No matter how many admirers she had, their Third Young Master was the most devoted of them all.
On Weibo.
The topic about Ai Xuan bumping her head during the livestream was still trending and gaining traction.
In the clip her fans had posted, she held her head lightly. Once she’d composed herself, she’d even smiled and told them not to worry, saying she was fine.
Then she went on to wrap up the livestream.
Fans left comment after comment saying how bad they felt for her and how worried they were about her.
Ai Xuan had been conscientious about her work ever since her debut. She looked delicate and fragile, yet radiant and lovely. In reality, she never put on airs or acted coy. She’d always stuck to her principles and had a spotless record. Even the dating rumors were pure speculation, and none had ever been substantiated.
Just as everyone was worrying, another topic climbed onto the trending list.
Quite a few fans had posted pictures with Ai Xuan as well as signed photos. They said they’d gotten them at a restaurant in Xuzhou that day.
In photo after photo, Ai Xuan looked slender and graceful, her fair face tapering to a delicate chin and her lips curved in a bright smile.
“Did she go get something to eat to make herself feel better after bumping her head?”
“I’m sooo jealous. I’m losing my head over here.”
“Speaking as someone who was there, we got signed photos AND pictures with her, and Xuanxuan even treated us to dinner. Ahahaha!”
“Hey, are those even the important parts? The important part is she coaxed us! She was so sweet and gentle when she told us to be good!!!”
“Sob sob sob, be good~~~”
…
The story of Ai Xuan coaxing her fans began trending too. Fans started tagging the people who’d been there, asking for a fifty-thousand-word account of exactly how Ai Xuan had coaxed them.
Ai Xuan read through her private messages and comments on Weibo, laughing at all the teasing from her fans.
After a moment’s thought, she posted an update.
Ai Xuan ✓: Be good. Good night, everyone~
That did it. The comments and likes came pouring in.
Xuanxuan’s Little Cutie: “Okay, I’m already lying down. Come on over.”
White Rabbit Milk Candy: “I’m all scrubbed clean and smelling sweet, just waiting for you to take a bite.”
Wangzai Milk: “Okaaay, come on over~~”
Ai Xuan’s cheeks grew hot as she read them. Why were they all so naughty?
Did nobody they knew in real life follow them on social media?
She closed Weibo and video-called Gu Heng. It rang several times, but he didn’t pick up.
Why was he so busy today?
Ai Xuan waited a while. When Gu Heng still hadn’t called her back, she thought it over and called Secretary Pei.
He picked up as soon as it rang. “Miss Ai,” he said respectfully.
“Why isn’t Gu Heng answering my calls?” she asked.
They’d gone to their separate rooms when they got back. She wondered whether he was comfortable. He was particular about his surroundings, and everything at home had to meet exacting standards.
Secretary Pei stood straight outside the door. He took another half step back and leaned in to listen, but he couldn’t hear a thing. “The Third Young Master is busy right now. I’m sure he’ll contact you as soon as he’s finished, Miss Ai.”
As soon as the Third Young Master had returned, Secretary Pei had brought Young Master Lu over. He had no idea how things were going in there. He just hoped Young Master Lu would come out unscathed.
“That’s all right,” Ai Xuan said. “I only wanted to see how you two were settling in. Get some rest early.”
“Of course. I’ll pass that along to the Third Young Master,” Secretary Pei replied in a businesslike tone.
Ai Xuan was about to ask what time their flight was when her phone started vibrating. “Gu Heng’s calling me back. I’ll hang up now.”
“Goodbye, Miss Ai.”
Secretary Pei put his phone away, turned, and stepped a little closer to the door.
A second later, the door opened and Lu Yuchen came out. His head hung low, and he looked utterly dejected, with no energy left in him.
“Young Master Lu.” Secretary Pei clasped his hands in front of him and nodded.
Lu Yuchen gave him a resentful look but didn’t dare say a word. He lowered his head and silently trudged back to his room.
Secretary Pei watched him shuffle off, then glanced back at the door. He had no idea what the Third Young Master had said to him, but it must have been quite a blow.
Watching Young Master Lu walk away, Secretary Pei shook his head again.
Ai Xuan was on a video call with Gu Heng.
“I’ll take you to the airport tomorrow,” she told him.
Gu Heng smiled without answering.
He was booked on an early flight and would have to leave at six thirty. That was far too early for her.
As if she knew exactly what he was thinking, Ai Xuan gave a little huff. “I’ve set an alarm. If you sneak off tomorrow, I won’t see you the next time you come.”
The last time he’d gone on a business trip, she’d said she’d get up early to have breakfast with him and take him to the airport. He’d slipped away, her alarm hadn’t gone off, and she’d slept until ten. She’d even thought she’d woken up early on her own.
“I’ll wait for you tomorrow morning.” Gu Heng lowered his eyes with a small smile. As he spoke, he opened the laptop beside him and clicked a few times. “Tomorrow’s flight has been changed. We’ll leave at seven thirty.”
“Why did you change your flight again?” Ai Xuan frowned.
“I’ll be able to stop by the office on the way back,” Gu Heng said, offering no further explanation.
“So I’m holding you up by taking you to the airport? I get up that early for filming, too.”
“Of course you aren’t.” He was still smiling. “Get some sleep.”
“Good night. You should get some sleep too.” Still a little worried, she reminded him again before hanging up. Only after Gu Heng promised did she feel reassured.
When it came to her, he always kept his word. He wouldn’t lie to her.
After she hung up, Gu Heng kept looking down at his phone. Her photo was the background in their chat, and another photo of her was on his lock screen.
He used to spend whole nights parked outside her building without her knowing. He’d watch the light go out in her room and wonder what she might be doing. One glimpse of her could get him through the next few days. Ever since she’d left this time, though, he’d missed her every minute they were apart. She was always on his mind.
They talked once in the morning, once at noon, and once at night. From the moment he opened his eyes, he looked forward to hearing from her. He went through their chat history again and again and played her voice messages over and over. He still smiled every time he listened to them.