Yu Wan’s heart skipped a beat.
She was doomed. She had completely forgotten that today was Friday.
She had forgotten that Gu Chiyuan said he was coming to pick her up, and she had also forgotten that she had promised to go home for dinner.
She quickly stood up and stepped outside the private room to return Gu Chiyuan’s call.
The phone was answered after only one ring.
“…Brother,” Yu Wan said softly.
There was a two second silence on the other end before Gu Chiyuan’s voice came through. His tone was unreadable.
“Where are you?”
Yu Wan braced herself and answered, “I’m at the hot spring resort on the east side of the city.”
Another stretch of silence followed, long enough to make her panic.
Then she heard Gu Chiyuan say, “Come downstairs, I’ll be waiting for you in twenty minutes.”
With that, he hung up.
Yu Wan stared at her phone screen, feeling as though her entire world had fallen apart.
Gu Chiyuan was coming to pick her up?
Taking a deep breath, Yu Wan forced herself to calm down.
When she returned to the private room, she found everyone getting ready to head to dinner.
“Sister Yu Wan, let’s go!” Liang Ming called enthusiastically. “People online say the buffet here is amazing!”
Yu Wan forced a smile. “Um… I’m not going after all. I have something to take care of.”
“Huh?” Liang Ming looked disappointed. “You’re leaving already? You’re not even staying for dinner?”
“Maybe next time. I’ll treat everyone then,” Yu Wan said.
Li Yi was sitting on the outermost beanbag chair, looking down at his phone.
Hearing that Yu Wan was leaving, he looked up and met her gaze.
Their eyes locked.
For a brief moment, Yu Wan caught a trace of disappointment in his eyes before it disappeared.
“I’ll walk you out,” Li Yi said as he stood.
“No, really, there’s no need. You all should go eat,” Yu Wan waved him off. “I can head downstairs by myself.”
If Li Yi went downstairs and happened to see Gu Chiyuan, then realized Gu Chiyuan was her stepbrother, he would figure out that she wasn’t the heroine.
Then wouldn’t her monthly salary of fifty thousand disappear?
Li Yi said nothing, but he had already walked over.
Left with no choice, Yu Wan could only let him accompany her.
The two of them walked side by side toward the exit while Liang Ming and Chen Siwei exchanged knowing looks behind them.
“Oh! Walking her out, huh?”
“Come on, Boss!”
Li Yi turned back and shot them a glare, though it carried little intimidation.
The private room was on the top floor of the hot spring resort, with a winding spiral staircase leading downstairs.
Li Yi walked ahead while Yu Wan followed behind.
As she descended, she heard Li Yi sighing to the System.
System: 【Host, the heroine’s affection level still hasn’t improved at all today.】
Li Yi sighed along with it.
【When I get back, I’ll look through my books. I took psychology as an elective in college. I’m sure I can find some theories I can apply.】
He needed to study books just to pursue a girl?
Yu Wan almost laughed.
The moment she smiled, she completely failed to notice the step beneath her feet.
Her foot slipped.
“Ah!”
The instant she lost her balance, Yu Wan instinctively reached for the handrail beside her.
But she grabbed nothing, and her body pitched forward uncontrollably.
At the critical moment, Li Yi spun around and caught her in his arms.
Yu Wan: ???
Li Yi: !!!
Time seemed to freeze.
The impact made Li Yi stagger backward.
One hand instinctively wrapped around her waist while the other gripped the handrail tightly, barely keeping them both from falling.
Yu Wan ended up pressed against Li Yi, her face buried against his chest.
She could clearly smell the faint scent of his body wash, mixed with the warm freshness of clothes dried under the sun.
“Are… are you okay?” Li Yi asked from above her, his voice slightly hoarse.
Still leaning against him, Yu Wan’s mind was completely blank.
She could feel his hand resting on her waist, warm and strong. Even through the thin fabric of her casual clothes, the heat almost seemed to burn her.
She could also feel his heartbeat.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
It was racing. Even faster than her own.
“I’m fine,” Yu Wan said.
Just as she was about to pull herself out of Li Yi’s arms, the corner of her eye caught sight of two familiar figures emerging from the far end of the hallway behind him.
It was Su Nanzhi and her roommate.
The two girls were wearing bathrobes and carrying drinks as they walked in this direction.
Yu Wan’s mind buzzed.
No way. It couldn’t be this much of a coincidence!
She had only just gotten her raise!
Wait… why was she running into the heroine here too?!
“What’s wrong?” Li Yi noticed where she was looking and started to turn around.
Almost instinctively, Yu Wan reached out, cupped Li Yi’s face with both hands, and turned his head back, stopping him from looking behind him.
Li Yi froze completely.
“W Wanwan?” His muffled voice came from behind her palms, filled with confusion and fluster.
Yu Wan’s fingers were long and cool, yet her fingertips carried a faint warmth that seemed to burn.
Li Yi didn’t dare move.
He could even catch the light fragrance lingering on her, not perfume, but something fresh, mixed with the lingering moisture from soaking in the hot spring.
She was standing far too close.
So close that Li Yi could clearly see the curve of her eyelashes and the tiny mole on her earlobe.
His ears gradually grew hot.
Then his neck, then his entire face.
Yu Wan wasn’t looking at him.
Her gaze remained fixed past his shoulder, staring toward the end of the corridor.