For a moment, the atmosphere turned awkward. Even the gauze wrapped around Qiao Qingman’s right hand became inexplicably glaring.
The main point was that she had never expected an accident to occur at the stage where the male lead threw the loving bento into the trash.
And not just any accident, but the kind that made one so embarrassed they wanted to immediately turn around and run away.
For a moment, Qiao Qingman felt as though the airflow around her had slowed down.
She looked at the male lead Gu Qianshi, whose face had turned livid, then at the female lead Su Xia, who looked stunned. She suddenly felt that she, who had caused this scene, was like a fool.
At that very moment, the system kept reminding her: [Host, your eyes need to redden; there should be a misty glaze.]
[Host, Host, we have to pay attention to details. If the plot evaluation fails, it’ll be troublesome…]
Qiao Qingman, feeling stifled: “……”
Details? The system had the nerve to mention “details”?
She had paid close attention to details. But what was going on with the steamed buns rolling out?
Qiao Qingman secretly let out a breath and asked the system with a forced smile, [……First, tell me how the contents of the lunchbox ended up spilling out. If I remember correctly, the “details” in the book’s plot did not include this.]
System: [……Th-this indeed is not part of the book’s plot. I-I’m not sure either. Host, allow me to report this to my superiors.]
Report to the superiors?
Again, report to the superiors?
One person and one system fell into silence.
Qiao Qingman’s head began to ache.
After a while, she finally remembered to confirm in a complicated mood, [So, the earlier part of the plot counts as completed, right?]
System: [……Yes, the earlier part is completed. And according to the handbook, since this small incident was not caused by the Host, it does not count toward the Host’s plot evaluation.]
Hmm? It did not count toward her plot evaluation?
Then it was fine. A little embarrassment was nothing.
As for the steamed buns or whatever, not important.
Meeting the male lead Gu Qianshi’s deep gaze, Qiao Qingman raised her hand and wiped away the thin layer of sweat that had formed on her forehead from embarrassment. With a perfunctory, awkward smile, she said, “Sorry, I took the wrong lunchbox.”
Then she immediately turned around. First, she rubbed her eyes hard with her hand. Then she aimed the eye drops she had opened in advance at the corners of her eyes and squeezed out two drops. Feeling the coolness trickle down her cheeks, Qiao Qingman endured the discomfort from the eye drops, took a deep breath, and put on an injured expression before turning back around.
She sniffed, looking pitiful. “Gu Qianshi, y-you… don’t be angry.”
Her voice carried a sobbing tone, so soft it was almost unreal.
Gu Qianshi, who had just sneered at the steamed buns: “?”
Qiao Qingman was crying? She was crying?
Outside, the heavy rain continued to pour. Inside the cafe, the lighting was made to seem even more hazy and enchanting by the rain.
That hazy enchantment cast a faint, soft blur over Qiao Qingman’s delicate features.
The girl’s long, thick eyelashes were damp with tears. Hot tears still hung on her fair cheeks. Her rosy lips were pressed tightly together, and her wet eyes looked helplessly at the man before her…
At a glance, she looked like someone who had done something wrong and was now pitifully asking for forgiveness.
Gu Qianshi’s brows knit slightly at the sight.
Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at the few steamed buns still lying by his feet, as well as the gauze wrapped around Qiao Qingman’s right hand. His prominent Adam’s apple shifted subtly.
For a fleeting moment, he even wondered whether he had been too harsh?
After all, grabbing the wrong lunchbox in a rush was not impossible.
The moment this thought surfaced, Gu Qianshi instantly realized that he had once again been influenced by Qiao Qingman.
At the same time, that invisible barrier forced him to suppress the surging emotions.
An inexplicable fire burst forth within him. Gu Qianshi closed his eyes tightly.
When he opened them again, his deep gaze was icy and severe.
After a moment, Gu Qianshi stopped looking at Qiao Qingman and instead unconsciously locked his gaze onto Su Xia, who was sitting opposite him, frowning slightly as she watched Qiao Qingman.
Lowering his voice, he issued a warning to Qiao Qingman. “Qiao Qingman, you can leave now.”
Qiao Qingman: “……”
She wanted to leave too. But the plot was not finished yet.
Then she saw Gu Qianshi stop paying attention to her and turn to look at the female lead, Su Xia.
System: [Yes! This is the moment! Host, quickly, “so angry you nearly spat blood, and without hesitation, push the female lead.”]
Qiao Qingman secretly took a deep breath and suddenly shifted her gaze to Su Xia beside her.
She thought about having to get drenched in the rain later and tried to stir up anger within herself.
Then, frowning tightly, she glared at the female lead, thinking she looked fierce.
“It’s because of this woman, right?” Qiao Qingman choked out the line in a somewhat cold and stiff voice.
She even clenched her fists openly.
Su Xia froze.
She knew that Qiao Qingman had misunderstood her relationship with Gu Qianshi and was therefore hostile toward her.
Out of the corner of her eye, she glanced at the visibly irritated Gu Qianshi. A barely perceptible trace of a smile flashed through Su Xia’s eyes before quickly disappearing. She then said apologetically, “Miss, you’ve misunderstood. Mr. Gu and I are just ordinary friends. Today we simply happened to run into each other…”
However, the girl who had brought steamed buns as a loving bento did not listen to her explanation at all. With a cry of, “It’s all your fault—”
She directly reached out and pushed toward her.
Su Xia’s breathing tightened.
At the same time, she paid close attention to Gu Qianshi’s reaction.
When she saw him rush toward her in alarm, Su Xia let out a soft “Ah—” and twisted her foot. Even though Qiao Qingman had not actually touched her, she leaned backward with confidence.
“Su Xia—”
In the next instant, Su Xia was caught in Gu Qianshi’s arms.
Her back pressed against the man’s chest.
The firm, warm sensation gave rise to an inexplicable sense of security in Su Xia’s heart.
Ignoring the fact that Qiao Qingman’s outstretched hand was still suspended in midair and that a fleeting trace of tension had flashed through her eyes, Su Xia turned her head and met Gu Qianshi’s gaze.
Some kind of subtle emotion began circulating unexpectedly in the air between them.
Gu Qianshi’s heart pounded faster and faster. Su Xia’s cheeks flushed, and even the tips of her ears grew warm.
Meanwhile, having completed this portion of the plot, Qiao Qingman, under the system’s reminder, covered her mouth “in heartbreak” and turned to run toward the door.
At this point, the plot was complete.
All that remained was: [Standing in the rain, gazing at the male lead inside the cafe with grievance and bitterness.]
So Qiao Qingman did not open an umbrella. She ran straight out of the cafe.
The torrential rain beat down on her. Within moments of standing in the downpour, she was soaked from head to toe.
Even though it was late summer and the temperature was not particularly low, the wild wind whipping around her made her shiver uncontrollably.
She instinctively wrapped her arms around her shoulders, trying to draw some warmth, while urging the system in her mind, [H-how much longer? Why hasn’t the male lead looked over yet?]
Damn it, was the male lead even capable?
Honestly, if he did not turn his head soon, she was going to start cursing.
The system was anxious as well. Seeing that they were only one step away from completing today’s entire plot, it quickly reassured her. [Almost, almost there. Host, just be patient a little longer. Ah, the male lead is looking over. Host, quickly lower your arms.]
Qiao Qingman immediately lowered her arms, putting on the appearance of someone utterly devastated, as if she felt nothing from the wind and rain battering her.
Inside the cafe, Gu Qianshi seemed to sense something and turned his head.
The next second, he saw that Qiao Qingman, who had run out covering her mouth in heartbreak just a minute ago, had not left at all. Instead, she stood outside the cafe, drenched, staring at him with burning intensity.
The girl’s face was breathtakingly beautiful. Her black hair, soaked by rain, clung to her temples. Droplets continuously slid down her delicate cheeks. Rainwater traced the line of her fair neck and elegant collarbones before seeping into her bamboo-moon–colored casual dress.
Qiao Qingman wore light makeup today, and her natural aura was noble and refined.
Being drenched by the rain did not make her look the slightest bit disheveled. On the contrary, it made her seem cold and alluring in a way that sent a tremor through the heart.
Combined with that indescribable sense of fragility, Gu Qianshi nearly let go of the person in his arms and ran toward her.
Unfortunately, at the exact moment he looked over, Qiao Qingman turned around in profound desolation and ran off.
Gu Qianshi watched her slender figure sway precariously in the storm, growing farther and farther away.
His brows furrowed tightly.
At this moment, he was still holding in his arms the person he had wanted to break free of all restraints to approach. Yet in his mind, what replayed uncontrollably was Qiao Qingman’s wounded and aggrieved face, and the resolute look she had before turning away.
It was as though she had confessed to him in this silent way.
Confessed?
A sudden ache pierced Gu Qianshi’s chest.
And that force suppressing his emotions grew even stronger…
The dual impacts collided within him. Gu Qianshi felt restless, his head throbbing painfully.
A literal headache.
He released the girl in his arms and raised a hand to pinch the bridge of his nose, trying to ease the discomfort.
He did not understand what Qiao Qingman had intended by coming today. Had she really just taken the wrong lunchbox as she claimed?
Was her true purpose simply to deliver him a nutritious and plentiful lunch?
“Mr. Gu, are you alright?”
The soft and anxious voice of the girl beside him reached Gu Qianshi’s ears, interrupting his chaotic thoughts.
Gu Qianshi paused, only then realizing that he had once again been emotionally affected because of Qiao Qingman.
Remembering that he did not like her, and even disliked her greatly, his expression darkened before he quickly concealed it.
Just as his headache gradually eased, he lowered his hand from his brow and said, “I’m fine.”
But at that moment, through the cafe’s wide floor-to-ceiling glass windows, Gu Qianshi saw Qiao Qingman again. She was completely drenched, yet she had returned holding an umbrella.
When their eyes met, she awkwardly wedged the umbrella under one arm and used both hands to form a large… heart gesture toward him.
Qiao Qingman was making a heart at him?
The emotions that had been forcibly suppressed surged up once more. Gu Qianshi’s head began to ache again.
And the pain grew stronger and stronger.
As for Qiao Qingman, after making the heart gesture, she immediately turned around and ran back to her car.
Even though she had turned on the air conditioning in advance, she was still shivering from the cold.
She quickly changed into a dry set of clothes, and the tension she had been holding finally eased.
It was all because she had been too cold just now that she almost forgot to make the heart gesture. Otherwise, she would not have had to make a second trip.
Fortunately, the male lead had seen it immediately.
If she had been forced to stand outside any longer, she would definitely have rushed back into the cafe to find Gu Qianshi.
Not far away, compared to Qiao Qingman, who drove away from the cafe in a relaxed mood after completing the plot, the two men under Secretary Jiang who were assigned to monitor Gu Qianshi were troubled.
The boss and Secretary Jiang had already left early due to important business. So should they report to Secretary Jiang that Miss Qiao Qingman had made a heart gesture toward Gu Qianshi?
Thinking about the suffocating atmosphere not long ago, the person in charge considered it and decided not to report it.
After all, the boss had already come once and had seen Miss Qiao deliver the loving bento to Gu Qianshi. As for that heart gesture, perhaps he had seen it wrong?
Yes, he must have seen it wrong.
He had seen it wrong.
*
After Qiao Qingman returned home, it was just in time for lunch.
She first soaked in a warm hot spring bath, then drank a bowl of ginger tea prepared by Aunt Zhuang.
After eating and drinking her fill, she measured her temperature to confirm she did not have a fever, then took a pleasant afternoon nap.
When she woke up, the rain outside was still falling.
Rarely having such free time, Qiao Qingman curled up at home and painted.
This was one of her few hobbies.
Previously, in order to pursue Gu Qianshi, not only had she stopped painting, but she had even neglected her meals.
Now that she had finally completed an important plot and had also settled the kissing location with the male lead, within a two-kilometer radius of her home, Qiao Qingman felt that life was bright again.
Naturally, she thought of her hobby.
She painted for several hours. Stretching lazily, she looked at the sky outside, which had completely darkened, and could not help but wonder: When exactly would the male lead come over?
She had not completed today’s kissing task yet.
Wait. It seemed she had only set the distance?
The time—the time had not been settled?
But it did not matter. She had made a heart gesture at the male lead. He would definitely come over… right?
Yet after she finished dinner, there was still no movement outside the villa.
Qiao Qingman could not help but begin to worry.
Could it be that her heart gesture had been too subtle and the male lead had not seen it clearly?
Or did he have something important to do today?
Qiao Qingman quickly asked the system, [After the male lead met the female lead at the cafe, is there any other plot for today?]
The system searched and replied, [No, but there is some involving the female lead. Host, would you like to hear it?]
Qiao Qingman: [……]
Not interested.
Qiao Qingman sat absentmindedly on the living room sofa, watching a television drama to pass the time while glancing outside every now and then.
Seeing that it was almost ten-thirty, Qiao Qingman’s originally calm heart grew anxious.
No way?
Was she really going to have to drive in the middle of the night to Gu Qianshi’s villa to kiss him?
But what if that man locked the balcony door again?
On top of that, with this torrential rain, Qiao Qingman’s entire being radiated reluctance.
No, just in case, she should send Gu Qianshi a WeChat message.
However, one minute later, Qiao Qingman stared at the red exclamation mark on the chat interface in shock.
Gu Qianshi had blocked her?
Just because she had delivered steamed buns as a bento today? And nearly pushed the female lead?
Or…
Because of that heart gesture?
It could not be that serious, right? Was he that petty?
Could he at least have some cooperative spirit?
Was he forcing her to drive out in heavy rain?
And the absurd part was that even if the balcony door was not locked, after the male lead deeply kissed her, she would still have to drive home while overwhelmingly sleepy, risking danger?
Qiao Qingman’s temper flared.
Thinking of something, she went upstairs and rummaged through her things. From a corner of the walk-in closet, she found a small electric stun baton.
She slipped the stun baton into the pocket of her overalls and, still fuming, drove out of the villa.
At the same time.
Located in the most affluent area of Sucheng, the Gu family’s old residence.
The old residence was steeped in an ancient, austere atmosphere. The torrential rain, mixed with the dim lighting within the villa, cast everything in a deep, heavy gloom.
Inside the pavilion in the back garden, a tall, upright middle-aged man stood with his hands clasped behind his back, gazing at the rain-soaked night before him.
His features were sharp and severe. Aside from whitening his hair and carving a few more lines into his face, time seemed to have left few other traces on him.
Yet it was precisely such a cold, restrained man with a powerful presence whose somber gaze now brimmed with thick, aching sorrow.
He lifted his head and looked up at the pitch-black sky. The corners of his mouth tugged slightly, revealing a bitter smile.
In a low, heavy murmur to himself, he said, “You haven’t come into my dreams for a long time. Tonight is the kind of rainy night you liked. Come back and see me, alright?”
“Ning Yan, I miss you so much.”
As his words fell, a hot tear slid from the corner of the old man’s eye.
Not far away, in a concealed spot, Gu Qingshan watched the man in the pavilion with a blank expression.
This was his father, the very person who had personally abandoned him and pushed him into the abyss of darkness.
The foster father’s whip that cut into his bones, the foster mother’s eyes full of disgust and hatred, the vagrant life of drifting from place to place and being bullied by anyone and everyone…
All of the past replayed in Gu Qingshan’s mind in a tangled loop. His gaze was cold and heavy, without the slightest trace of warmth.
No one knew how much time passed until a bolt of lightning split the sky, instantly illuminating the entire villa estate.
In that instant, Gu Qingshan’s eyes met those of Gu Zhizhong, who was mourning his deceased wife in the pavilion.
With just that single glance, Gu Qingshan withdrew his gaze and turned away indifferently, leaving.
Perhaps, deep down, he had already become completely numb to this father of his.
Otherwise, how could he feel nothing at all, even after seeing him?
As for Gu Zhizhong in the pavilion, he had turned around because he sensed someone watching him.
And what he saw was his son—Gu Qianshi?
Gu Zhizhong frowned deeply. After just one second, he withdrew his gaze.
When he looked back up at the sky, the tightly knit frown slowly eased.
Moments later, Gu Zhizhong suddenly remembered that he had not told his son about his return today.
Why would Gu Qianshi be here?
But when he turned to look again, where was Gu Qianshi to be seen?
Had he seen wrong?
Gu Zhizhong no longer bothered to worry about whether his son had really come. He stepped into the storm, raised both arms as if embracing a dance partner, recalled the romantic scenes of dancing with his wife in the rain, closed his eyes, and began to dance with graceful movements.
Meanwhile, Gu Qingshan left the Gu family’s old residence. After getting into the car, it quickly drove away.
“President Gu, President Fu from Yuhan Technology would like to schedule a video conference with you in half an hour. That project is progressing very smoothly, but there are still some specific details that need your review,” Secretary Jiang reported respectfully from the front passenger seat.
“Mm.”
Seeing that Gu Qingshan’s expression remained unchanged and his presence was the same as usual, cold, yet not oppressive, Secretary Jiang continued, “President You from Yousheng Group would like to invite you to dinner tomorrow evening.”
“President Gu, this is the fifth time President You has invited you.”
“Not meeting him,” Gu Qingshan said flatly.
“Yes, President Gu.”
Secretary Jiang then began reporting other matters. “President Gu, about Yuguang Hotel—”
Before he could finish, Secretary Jiang saw his boss raise a hand, signaling him to stop.
Secretary Jiang wisely fell silent.
Gu Qingshan raised his wrist and glanced at his watch, only then realizing that it was already close to midnight.
Recalling the past few days, Qiao Qingman had kissed this “Gu Qianshi” once every day, regardless of morning or night. Even though he had only told her his real name yesterday, today she had gone and delivered a loving bento to Gu Qianshi.
This could only mean that even if she knew his name was Gu Qingshan, she still believed that he was Gu Qianshi.
The man’s gaze darkened slightly.
“You… if you want to kiss me in the future, you can only, only kiss me at my house entrance.”
“Forget it, this is your problem. Anyway, from now on you’re not allowed to kiss me more than two kilometers away from my house.”
The words Qiao Qingman had said yesterday once again surfaced in Gu Qingshan’s mind.
“Go to the Qiao family villa,” Gu Qingshan ordered coldly.
The car sped through the torrential rain.
In the next moment, a dark, grim look gathered in the man’s eyes. He changed his order flatly. “Go to Rongjing Villa.”
On the other side.
Qiao Qingman, very familiar with the route, drove her car to a concealed spot outside Rongjing Villa.
After parking, she confirmed that Gu Qianshi’s room was dark and apparently empty. Feeling reassured, she boldly jumped over the wall, climbed onto the balcony, casually set the dripping umbrella by the door, thanked her luck that the male lead had not locked the balcony, and tiptoed into the room.
The thunderous rain outside continued. Inside, the room was dim.
Just then, a bolt of lightning flashed, illuminating the entire room.
After adjusting for a moment, Qiao Qingman looked at the man sleeping on the bed with his eyes closed and earphones on. That refined, cool face looked more and more displeasing the longer she stared at it.
She had already made a heart gesture to send him a signal, and she had waited at home for him for so long, yet this man was actually sleeping peacefully here?
Sleeping comfortably with earphones on, listening to music?
Even though his handsome brows were slightly furrowed, he was still sleeping?
Outrageous. Absolutely outrageous.
A surge of anger rose within her.
Without hesitation, Qiao Qingman pulled the electric stun baton out of her pants pocket and waved it irritably by the bedside.
Gu Qianshi, you dare to deeply kiss me tonight?
You’ll regret it.
Then, frowning deeply, Qiao Qingman reluctantly puckered her lips and slowly moved closer, inch by inch, toward the man lying on the bed.