Yay for 100th chapter!!!
The air stilled for a moment.
Gu Tingshen’s gaze suddenly deepened. If not for the inappropriate setting, he would have loved to pull Jing Li into his embrace and savor that delicate rosy tongue.
“I’m sorry, so sorry. I was buying things over there, and my kid ran off with the cart without me noticing.” The parent of the naughty child who had caused the trouble came running, apologizing profusely to the two men. “Are you gentlemen alright? Did you get hurt?”
Grabbing the dazed child, the man forced the kid’s head down, making him apologize. “Apologize to these uncles now! How many times have I told you not to run around? See, you bumped into people! You’re getting a beating when we get home!”
“…Sorry, I’m sorry.” Probably frightened by his father’s tone, the boy mumbled an apology, staring helplessly at the floor.
When the man barged in, Gu Tingshen had pulled Jing Li’s cap down and put his mask back on, covering his face securely. Then he stepped forward slightly to shield Jing Li behind him.
Hearing the child’s words, he calmly said, “The supermarket is a public place with a large flow of people. You should keep a better eye on your kid and stop them from running around. It was us this time, but if it had been an elderly person or a child, the consequences wouldn’t have been so light.”
“Yes, yes, I’ll be more careful next time.” The man’s face burned with embarrassment, but he was in the wrong, so he could only apologize awkwardly while asking, “Are you two hurt? Should we go to the hospital for a checkup?”
Jing Li also looked up slightly at Gu Tingshen upon hearing this.
“It’s nothing serious,” Gu Tingshen reassured Jing Li with a glance, then scanned the surroundings. Seeing that people had started to gather around after hearing the commotion, and worried Jing Li might be recognized and attract unnecessary trouble, he nodded briefly at the man and swiftly led Jing Li away from the crowd.
Gu Tingshen kept holding Jing Li’s hand until they reached a secluded aisle. After ensuring their privacy, he said, “The supermarket is too crowded. Why don’t you wait in the car while I finish the shopping and come back to you?”
Jing Li’s lips moved, clearly reluctant.
“Or we could have the driver do the shopping while we wait in the car,” Gu Tingshen immediately amended, understanding Jing Li’s hesitation. “I’ve never bought groceries before, so I might not do a good job.”
This time, Jing Li didn’t hesitate and nodded in agreement.
He wasn’t really there to shop for groceries anyway; spending time alone with Gu Tingshen was the real intention.
So, they left the supermarket and returned to the car, sending the driver to shop instead.
After the driver left, only Gu Tingshen and Jing Li remained in the car, and the atmosphere suddenly grew quiet.
Jing Li hadn’t thought much of it before, but now that they were alone, his mind couldn’t help but replay the earlier scene.
Gu Tingshen’s dark eyes, handsome features, and those warm, soft lips…
Even now, Jing Li seemed to feel their lingering warmth on his own lips.
The more he thought about it, the more flustered he became, his gaze unconsciously drawn to the man’s lips until their eyes met.
Jing Li: “……”
Jing Li’s face heated up, his heart racing uncontrollably.
Feeling awkward, he cleared his throat, intending to change the subject, but his mind was a jumbled mess, filled with memories of their kiss in the supermarket. Without thinking, he blurted out, “Earlier in the supermarket… just treat it as an accident.”
The words had barely left his mouth when he realized they were somewhat inappropriate, making him sound like a scumbag trying to shrug off responsibility after taking advantage of someone.
He paused, intending to say something to make amends, but before he could speak, Gu Tingshen raised his brow and said, “Is that so?”
“But that was my first kiss.” Gu Tingshen looked at him with an amused expression. “Although it was indeed an accident, for you to take my first kiss and then say that, isn’t that a bit unfair?”
Jing Li froze, unconsciously glancing at Gu Tingshen’s lips. His mind went blank, and he blurted out irrelevantly, “It was my first kiss too.”
Whether in the past on the Spiritual Realm or now, even when the original owner had dated that scumbag, he had never had the chance to kiss anyone.
Hearing Jing Li’s naive and slightly aggrieved words, Gu Tingshen was momentarily stunned before his gaze darkened, as if he hadn’t expected such a pleasant surprise.
He stared intently at the young man beside him. After a moment, he let out a soft chuckle, his deep voice rippling with layers of amusement that sounded even more sensual in the enclosed space. “How fortunate for me. It seems I must take responsibility for my Xiao Jing.”
“Take a good look at me, Xiao Jing? If you’re satisfied, why not suffer a little and try being with me?”
Could there really be such a wonderful thing?
Jing Li’s heart stirred. He felt that this was a good opportunity to confess. He parted his lips to speak, but his phone inconveniently rang at that moment.
The sound was so loud that it was impossible to ignore.
Jing Li paused, reluctantly setting aside the topic for the moment, and took his phone out of his pocket.
It was a call from his brother. Earlier, he informed his brother that he would be returning home and cooking, so Jing Yu had finished his work early to accompany him. However, upon arriving home, Jing Yu learned that his brother had gone out to buy groceries. So, he called again to ask where Jing Li was, offering to come and help.
Jing Li declined his brother’s offer, claiming the shopping was nearly done, and they chatted briefly before hanging up.
No sooner had Jing Li ended the call than Gu Tingshen’s phone rang. It was Secretary Qin calling with an important matter to report and seek Gu Tingshen’s opinion on. The call lasted nearly half an hour.
Timing is everything when it comes to confessions. After the two phone calls, Jing Li’s initial nervousness and anticipation gradually dissipated, leaving no chance for him to confess.
By the time Gu Tingshen hung up, the driver had also returned with the groceries.
Jing Li gave up on the idea completely. When the driver got in the car, they headed straight back to the Jing residence.
Although he missed the opportunity to confess, Jing Li felt a noticeable change in the atmosphere between him and Gu Tingshen. Whether it was occasional eye contact, unconsciously softened gazes while speaking, or numerous unintentional moments…
A subtle connection seemed to have formed between them, each encounter sparking tiny flames that melted into sweetness, coursing through their veins and lingering tantalizingly.
Perhaps it was because his own feelings had changed, causing him to perceive even the most ordinary gestures as sweet.
Jing Li wasn’t sure about Gu Tingshen’s thoughts, and since he had just missed a chance to confess, he decided to observe for a while longer. However, he quite enjoyed their current interactions, which alleviated some of his restlessness.
*
After resting at home for two days, the day of the Feitian Award ceremony arrived.
This year’s awards ceremony was being held in City Q. To have more time, Jing Li and his little assistant set off for City Q the day before.
Since his nominated work was “The Last Remnant,” Director Wen Zheng and most of the crew also came. In the evening, Hu Li and Wang Lele arrived too.
Having not seen each other for half a year, it was a rare opportunity to gather together. They chatted and laughed, and even strolled around the scenic surroundings, making it a lively affair.
Soon it was the day of the awards ceremony, and as per tradition, they walked the red carpet.
According to the arrangements, the male lead Fu Yan would walk with the female lead, the second female lead with the director, while Jing Li would walk with Hu Li.
Since he wasn’t carrying any endorsements, Jing Li wore a simple yet stylish custom-tailored gray suit. The slim-fit design was understated yet elegant, with subtle sparkles under the lights.
Hu Li, on the other hand, wore a new collection from an international luxury brand—a chic combination of deep gray and black that exuded sophistication. Paired with his striking features, he was a dazzling sight.
Both were outstanding in appearance, and together they were even more eye-catching. As soon as they stepped onto the red carpet, fans on both sides screamed excitedly, while media reporters furiously snapped photos, determined not to miss a single moment.
Fans watching the live broadcast online were equally ecstatic, especially some of Jing Li and Hu Li’s CP fans. Seeing the two walking side by side, they began to shout passionately:
“Ahhh, Jing Shao and Xiao Hu look perfect together!!!”
“Looking at these two alone, they are already charming enough, but I didn’t expect that they would be ten times more powerful when put together!”
“Fox and Koi CP, forever inseparable!!!”
……
Jing Li and Hu Li signed the signature board, then turned and smiled for the media’s photos before heading to the interview area.
The host seemed very welcoming of their arrival, exclaiming with an exaggerated smile as soon as they approached, “Wow, Jing Li and Hu Li together are like a living pheromone factory, the kind that could make even the strongest heart faint.”
“Lan-jie is a sight for sore eyes too. I thought a fairy had wandered to the wrong place when I came over earlier,” Hu Li jokingly flattered the host, making her beam even brighter.
Jing Li also smiled and complimented the host.
“You’re both just flattering me,” the host said with a laugh, originally intending to bring up a recent hot search topic but feeling a bit embarrassed after their praise. Instead, she asked a couple of symbolic questions before letting them go.
Once inside the main venue, many guests had already arrived. Jing Li and Hu Li found their crew’s seats and sat down.
Jing Li’s seat was right next to Hu Li’s at the end. After sitting down, he instinctively scanned his surroundings, recognizing many familiar faces often seen on TV. Before the ceremony started, they mingled and chatted in small groups.
He could only see the back of someone’s head in front and couldn’t recognize who it was. The seat behind had been empty when they arrived. Jing Li unconsciously glanced to his left and found the person was looking back at him.
When he saw who it was, he froze in surprise.
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