A lingering kiss.
The air gradually heated up.
Qiao Shu’s mind was in chaos, mixed with a sense of pleasure.
Time passed.
Gu Chenyan restrainedly released Qiao Shu’s lips, lowered his head, and touched foreheads with Qiao Shu.
Gu Chenyan: “Qiao Shu.”
“Time is not enough.”
A low, hoarse voice entered Qiao Shu’s ears. His cheeks blushed slightly, and the hand on the man’s lower back tightened, causing wrinkles in the neatly pressed suit.
“Mmm.”
His voice was like a mosquito’s buzz.
“Sorry.”
Gu Chenyan raised his hand, and his thumb gently brushed over Qiao Shu’s moist lips, wiping away the traces.
They hugged for a while.
Qiao Shu: “What time is it?”
Gu Chenyan lifted his wrist to check the time on his watch: “It’s twelve twenty.” He let go of Qiao Shu. “Get ready; I’ll take you to the set.”
Qiao Shu didn’t let go: “Just five more minutes.”
Gu Chenyan: “Okay.”
Five minutes later.
Qiao Shu reluctantly let go of Gu Chenyan and went to the bathroom to wash his face.
In the mirror, the young man’s cheeks were rosy, his eyes misty, and the corners of his eyes were tinted like a touch of rouge. What stood out the most was his plump, rosy lips.
Qiao Shu: “…”
It was evident that something had happened!
Cold water splashed on his face, wiping away the traces and extinguishing the remaining flames in his heart.
Qiao Shu dried his face, assessed his appearance in the mirror, confirmed that he looked normal, and walked out.
Smooth tiles lay under his feet, scattered with droplets from the face wash earlier.
As Qiao Shu stepped on them, he suddenly felt a slip under his foot, causing him to lose balance and fall backward.
“Ugh.”
With a muffled groan, Qiao Shu’s face wrinkled, and he leaned against the sink.
In the nick of time, he grabbed the edge of the sink, but his lower back also knocked against it. In the past, it might not have been a big deal, but recently, Qiao Shu had been doing a lot of aerial silks, especially targeting his lower back, which was now covered in bruises.
With the wound receiving a second blow, Qiao Shu winced in pain.
“What happened?”
Gu Chenyan heard the sound and walked over, furrowing his brows at the sight of Qiao Shu.
However, Qiao Shu quickly restrained the expression on his face and shook his head gently. “It’s nothing.”
He quietly rubbed his lower back and stood up straight.
Gu Chenyan noticed this movement, his brows furrowing even more. He walked over, forcefully half-embracing Qiao Shu and lifting the clothing at the small of his back.
Qiao Shu’s skin was fair, like sheep fat and white jade. Because of this, the dark bruise on his lower back was particularly conspicuous.
Gu Chenyan’s lips tightened instantly, his voice lowering a few degrees. “What happened?”
This bruise couldn’t have been caused by hitting the sink.
“It’s nothing,” Qiao Shu dismissed, “It’s normal from too much aerial silk practice.” He pulled down his shirt, smiling. “Let’s go.”
Gu Chenyan remained motionless.
After a while, he lowered his gaze and asked, “Did you apply any ointment?”
Qiao Shu: “Yeah.”
Gu Chenyan: “Does it hurt?”
Qiao Shu: “Not really.”
Gu Chenyan continued to scrutinize him.
His eyes were very dark, often emitting a cold light, but this time, Qiao Shu could see that he was unhappy.
Gu Chenyan is unhappy.
Because of his injury.
Realizing this, Qiao Shu felt a bit sweet. He hugged Gu Chenyan’s arm and coaxed, “It really doesn’t hurt. As long as I don’t bump into things like just now, I don’t feel a thing. It just looks scary. I diligently apply ointment every day; the marks will disappear in a while.”
Gu Chenyan pursed his lips, and his lowered eyelashes covered his eyes: “Hmm.”
There was nothing he could do now.
This was Qiao Shu’s job.
“Don’t worry,” Qiao Shu smiled. “Let’s go; time is running out.”
He pushed Gu Chenyan out from behind.
Qiao Shu: “Oh, wait.”
Gu Chenyan: “Hmm?”
Qiao Shu’s cheeks were slightly red: “Your clothes.” He pointed to the clothing at the small of Gu Chenyan’s back, which was now wrinkled from his earlier grasp.
“What should we do?”
“I’ll iron it for you.”
Gu Chenyan casually glanced and said, “No need.”
Qiao Shu insisted, “But…”
Gu Chenyan interrupted, “I have spare clothes.”
The two arrived downstairs.
The car was parked next to the hotel.
Qiao Shu stopped, raising his eyebrows, “Gu Chenyan, I’ll watch you leave.”
Gu Chenyan turned around, “I’ll take you to the set.”
Qiao Shu shook his head, “It’s very close; I can walk there. I want to see you off.”
He didn’t have time to escort Gu Chenyan to the airport, so he could only watch him leave here.
A sense of parting invaded his heart.
Qiao Shu suppressed the sadness and reluctance, waving his hand, “Gu Chenyan, until next time.”
Gu Chenyan looked at him.
Then he nodded gently, “Okay.”
Gu Chenyan got into the car, and Qiao Shu watched as the car door slowly closed. Just as it was about to shut completely, it was pushed open again.
Qiao Shu: “???”
Gu Chenyan stepped out with long strides, handing a food box containing strawberries to Qiao Shu, “Forgot.”
Qiao Shu hesitated for a moment and then took it.
Gu Chenyan said, “Qiao Shu.”
Qiao Shu: “Hmm.”
Gu Chenyan opened his arms and embraced Qiao Shu, “The promised hug.”
(Piggy hug)
Qiao Shu flashed a bright smile.
The black car gradually moved away. Qiao Shu, holding the box of strawberries, watched the car carrying Gu Chenyan turn a corner and then disappear.
Qiao Shu sighed softly, lowering his head to look at the box in his arms. As he stared at it, a smile suddenly appeared on his face.
Then, he turned around and went back into the hotel, still holding the box.
In the past, Qiao Shu would have taken the strawberries to the set and shared them with Lu Yue and others. But now…
He had to keep them to himself.
In the car.
After the car had driven for a while, Gu Chenyan took out his phone and directly dialed Fang Zhouyou’s number.
Fang Zhouyou: “Hello?”
Gu Chenyan: “It’s me.”
He went straight to the point, “I remember your second uncle has a type of ointment for injuries that works well.”
Fang Zhouyou’s second uncle was a well-known traditional Chinese medicine doctor in Haicheng.
Fang Zhouyou: “Yes, do you need it?”
Gu Chenyan: “Hmm.” After a pause, he asked, “Is this ointment effective for bruises caused by aerial silks on Qiao Shu?”
Fang Zhouyou: “It’s said to be good. Many actors who often do action scenes have reserved it with my second uncle.”
That ointment was specially formulated by his second uncle.
Gu Chenyan: “I’ll give you the address later, and you can send it over.”
Fang Zhouyou: “Alright.”
Fang Zhouyou: “I’ll ask my sister-in-law for his WeChat later and inquire about the specifics of his injuries.”
Gu Chenyan: “Hmm, thank you.”
Fang Zhouyou teased, “Indeed, getting married changes everything. You’ve become more considerate…”
Gu Chenyan hung up the phone without saying anything.
Hearing the busy tone from the phone, Fang Zhouyou widened his eyes, “I just praised you!”
Gu Chenyan looked up at Chen Wenyuan after ending the call, “Assistant Chen.”
Chen Wenyuan: “Yes, sir.”
Gu Chenyan: “Arrange for someone to discuss the investment with the ‘Sword of the Martial World’ drama crew.” He paused, “Money is not an issue. I have only one request: improve the catering for the crew.”
“The Sword of the Martial World” is the web series in which Qiao Shu plays the second male lead.
Chen Wenyuan: “Yes, sir.”
Gu Chenyan: “Additionally, find a male assistant with better skills.”
Chen Wenyuan: “Understood.”
Gu Chenyan: “As soon as possible.”
Chen Wenyuan: “Yes.”
Having given instructions for the tasks at hand, Gu Chenyan closed his eyes to rest.
His business trip to Qingcheng was in the opposite direction of Yancheng, with no convenient detours. Coming here was entirely a spur-of-the-moment decision.
This didn’t align with his usual way of doing things, but Gu Chenyan didn’t mind at all.
Suddenly, he murmured, “Jealous?”
After a few seconds.
“A little.”
⌈Weekend chapters: 2⌉ ⌊Progress: 1/2 ⌋
