Early evening.
It wasn’t until then that the yacht headed back, and Ai Xuan got to watch the sunset out at sea.
The sun hung on the horizon like a great ball of fire, tinting the surrounding clouds red and lending the sky a mysterious, brilliant glow.
Ai Xuan had heard there was a Hui Muslim Quarter nearby that was popular online, so she suggested going there for a look around.
Gu Heng never turned down a request from her. He got a jacket and a face mask ready for her, then took her there.
A lively street like this was best explored on foot. Crowds bustled everywhere. With her hat and mask on and the rest of her well covered, Ai Xuan managed to go unrecognized for the time being.
Gu Heng, on the other hand, was so handsome that people glanced his way every now and then.
Ever since she’d become a public figure, Ai Xuan’s greatest wish had been to live like an ordinary person, free to go out without being gawked at like an animal on display.
The Hui Muslim Quarter was full of long-established shops and eateries. With no manager to rein her in, she was like a horse that had broken loose, boldly trying whatever caught her eye.
Gu Heng didn’t seem used to places like this. He didn’t let on, but Ai Xuan noticed that his brows stayed tightly knit. She glanced around out of the corner of her eye, then said softly, “I feel like having some ice cream. Could you get me one? I’d like chocolate.”
He glanced at a shop nearby and headed over.
Standing midway down the line, Ai Xuan turned sideways toward the camera a short distance away, letting it catch a glimpse of her highly recognizable face. Then she quickly lowered her head and went back to waiting in line among the crowd.
By the time Gu Heng had bought the ice cream, she’d bought some shaobing flatbreads and several other snacks. They decided to head back instead of looking around any longer.
A few people in the crowd thought she looked familiar, but before they could place her, she was already gone.
At the far end of the street, a slightly heavyset man crouched in a corner. He pulled his black baseball cap low, checked the sharp, clear photos on his camera, then turned and left as well.
Ai Xuan looked through the photos the man sent her and transferred him some money. Then she switched to an alternate account and sent the photos to several prominent verified accounts.
She deleted the chat history and opened her browser to look herself up, only to find that the search wouldn’t bring up anything about her.
Doctor Zhang had told her to avoid using electronic devices as much as possible while she recovered. Her phone was so slow that she’d barely touched it anyway. Now, though, something seemed off.
Gu Heng must have done something to her phone.
She looked down at the phone in her hand and thought for a moment. Then she turned, walked out of her room, and headed straight for his.
Her steps grew faster, and her eyes took on an anxious look. She had the expression down perfectly. She put her hand on the handle, opened the door, and asked in a puzzled voice, “Gu Heng, is the signal bad here, or is there something wrong with my phone? Why can’t I…”
Before she could finish, she saw what was in front of her. Her brain stalled, and her mind went completely blank.
Oh, good grief.
She took it all back. She shouldn’t have barged in.
Gu Heng was changing. He’d just put on a black shirt and hadn’t buttoned it yet, giving her a glimpse of his abs and bronze skin. He really was one of those men who looked slim in clothes but turned out to be well-built underneath.
Her sudden entrance caught him off guard, too. When she whipped around to face the other way, he turned slightly aside to finish buttoning his shirt and picked up his suit jacket. “What’s wrong?”
“The reception on this brand of phone is awful. I can’t open Weibo or the browser, and it’s so slow. I want a new phone.” She kept her back to him. A blush crept across her fair cheeks, and her face grew hot.
She was giving him a way to save face. Replacing the phone was the simplest solution, and she’d given him a perfectly reasonable excuse.
“What kind of phone do you want?” Gu Heng was as patient as ever. He put on his jacket and walked over to her.
“The same one you have,” Ai Xuan said offhandedly.
“I’m heading out to negotiate a contract. I’ll bring one back for you.”
“Mm.”
That evening, Gu Heng brought her the latest phone model in white, along with a tablet. Both were brand-new and still sealed. After dinner, he helped her transfer her data to the new phone.
She sat beside him and watched, unable to get the scene from that afternoon out of her head.
She’d met all sorts of men in her years in the entertainment industry, and none of them looked as good as he did. That black shirt showed off his tall, lean build, and with his naturally refined bearing and elegance, he really did have that restrained, untouchable air about him.
Best of all, he was gentle and kind, and she felt safe with him.
Gu Heng turned his head and handed her the phone. “All done. Try it out. If you don’t like it, we’ll get a different one.”
Now that she’d remembered, there was no need to restrict her anymore. Secretary Pei had asked him that day if he wanted her phone monitored. Gu Heng had hesitated for a long time before deciding against it.
If she found out, they probably couldn’t even stay friends. He didn’t want her to despise him.
His own phone was black, so he’d bought her the white version.
Ai Xuan took it, lowered her eyes in a sudden fit of shyness, and began fiddling with it.
The phone ran smoothly and had all the apps she needed. She kept playing with it, her thoughts wandering every which way. Gu Heng sat quietly beside her, his gaze warm and intent as he watched her.
“I want to learn how to surf.”
She’d finally gotten a chance to take a vacation, and she wanted to make the most of it. Before, she’d had neither the time nor anyone to go with. Now she had Gu Heng for company, and she thought it would be fun.
“I’ll take you tomorrow,” Gu Heng agreed at once.
“Can I ride a jet ski?” Her interest perked up again, and her eyes sparkled.
“I’ll arrange it.”
Her eyes lit up. “Can we go diving? I want to see what it’s like underwater.”
Gu Heng smiled. “Mm. You can take your time learning and looking around.”
…
Over the next couple of weeks, Ai Xuan had a wonderful time. She was happier and more relaxed than she’d ever been.
There were no work engagements and no manager hurrying her along. There was only Gu Heng, who indulged her without limit. He was always gentle and thoughtful, paying close attention to how she felt and what she needed.
Before they left the island, she looked so reluctant to go that Gu Heng asked, “How about staying a few more days?”
At that, Secretary Pei kept turning to look at them. He looked anxious and seemed about to say something several times, but held back.
The Third Young Master abandoned all his principles where Ai Xuan was concerned.
“No. If I stay out in the sun any longer, I’ll be as dark as charcoal.” Ai Xuan looked down at her arms, thoroughly glum.
Gu Heng’s lips curved into a smile. “You’re still very fair.”
Hearing this exchange, Secretary Pei felt a wave of relief. He hurriedly told the staff to pack the luggage, afraid Ai Xuan might change her mind.
As night fell, a plane took off from the island and headed for City A.
By then, Ai Xuan was trending on Weibo, taking up three spots all by herself. She even pushed down a couple who’d carefully timed their official divorce announcement.
#AiXuanSpottedInHaicheng#
#AiXuanQueuesForShaobing#
#AiXuanOnVacation#
…
In the photos that had surfaced, Ai Xuan was dressed inconspicuously and well covered. Even so, her fans could recognize her at a glance from the glimpse of her profile.
Her fans hadn’t seen her appear at any scheduled events lately. As time went on, several supposed industry insiders began leaking all sorts of information.
Some claimed Ai Xuan had hooked up with a company executive, been found out by his wife, and had her career put on ice. Others said she was terminally ill and didn’t have long to live. Still others claimed she was hiding away to have Jin Yan’s baby, hoping that bearing his child would raise her status enough to marry into the Jin family…
Rumors flew in every direction, and her fans kept clashing with her haters. The rumors would mysteriously get suppressed, but the fans still heard nothing from Ai Xuan, and no one offered an explanation. As time wore on, even they began to have doubts and grew increasingly uneasy.
The comments below the posts came flooding in.
“Xuanxuan went on vacation? Get plenty of rest, okay? And keep up the good work filming this year!”
“Whoever gets to stand next to her is so lucky. I’m dying of envy, you guys.”
“The haters have been out of control lately. Xuanxuan, please come back and let us know you’re okay. We can’t hold out much longer.”
“A friend told me she apparently left with a man.”
…
A new topic quickly began trending. Ai Xuan was vacationing with a mystery man and had been spotted in the Hui Muslim Quarter.
It was only speculation from the comments, with no photos to back it up, but fans and other netizens were having a great time discussing it and guessing who the man might be.
Some even dug up an interview Ai Xuan had given a few months earlier. When asked about her relationship status, she’d given an ambiguous answer, leading people to suspect she might be seeing someone new.
Jin Yan stared at the photos on his phone, his gaze snapping into focus. His emotions surged, and his breathing grew rapid and wouldn’t slow down.
He picked up his phone again and dialed Ai Xuan’s number.
The call didn’t go through.
His gaze returned to the photos. He’d recognized her at a glance.
“Take me to the airport,” he told the driver.
The driver was puzzled but didn’t question him. “Yes, President Jin.” Before he’d finished speaking, he saw a truck barreling toward them, and his expression changed abruptly.
“BANG!”