Qiao Shu carried the little sweet cake lantern and was protected by Gu Chenyan as they walked through the crowd. His other hand discreetly reached behind, gripping Gu Chenyan’s hand.
The small hand was enveloped by the large one.
Qiao Shu’s heart overflowed with joy. His steps on the ground were light as if he could fly, taking one step, then hopping, then another step.
The two of them picked out interesting prizes after guessing riddles at the lantern riddle event. Some they guessed right, some they didn’t. In the end, besides his favorite little sweet cake lantern, Qiao Shu also held several other items.
A blue notebook, a bag of potato chips, and a cute little succulent.
Qiao Shu: “Tired.”
He hooked his finger around Gu Chenyan’s: “Can we find a place to rest?”
Gu Chenyan: “Okay.”
Qiao Shu: “How about over there?”
Gu Chenyan glanced over. It was a bubble tea shop. “Okay.”
Due to many people guessing riddles on this street tonight, the bubble tea shop was particularly lively. The shop owners brought out many chairs from their homes, placing them either inside or outside the shop, allowing customers buying bubble tea to sit and rest.
By now, there were no more seats inside the shop. Qiao Shu ordered two cups of bubble tea and took a number tag, then found a chair outside to sit and wait.
He looked at Gu Chenyan.
Just now in the crowd, Qiao Shu could only look up at Gu Chenyan’s face. But now as they sat down, Qiao Shu could see Gu Chenyan’s entire person.
At this sight, Qiao Shu: “…”
Before leaving the house, Gu Chenyan’s clothes were neatly arranged, but now, Gu Chenyan’s clothes seemed a bit disheveled with some wrinkles in places.
Qiao Shu furrowed his brows.
His gaze lowered. He pouted unhappily.
Qiao Shu: “Gu Chenyan.”
After placing the prizes won from guessing lantern riddles, Gu Chenyan took out a packet of tissues from his pocket and pulled out a piece of paper, “Hmm?”
He held out the paper to wipe Qiao Shu’s forehead. In the crowded place, Qiao Shu was wearing multiple layers, and his forehead was sweaty from the jostling. Gu Chenyan paused his wiping motion upon seeing Qiao Shu’s expression.
“What’s wrong?”
His expression seemed so aggrieved.
Gu Chenyan: “Did you get bumped just now?”
Qiao Shu shook his head.
Gu Chenyan: “Qiao Shu?”
Qiao Shu stared at Gu Chenyan’s shoes, speaking unhappily, “You’ve been stepped on so many times. Why didn’t you tell me?”
Gu Chenyan had protected him so well, never letting him get bumped by anyone, keeping himself clean and his clothes neatly arranged. But Gu Chenyan himself wasn’t like that.
Gu Chenyan glanced down at his own feet, then said lightly, “It’s nothing.”
Qiao Shu: “Does it hurt?”
Gu Chenyan: “No, it doesn’t.”
Qiao Shu took the tissue from Gu Chenyan’s hand. He placed the small sweet cake lantern he had been holding on the chair, then squatted down and earnestly wiped the shoe prints off Gu Chenyan’s shoes. “You’re such a fool, getting stepped on and not making a sound.”
Gu Chenyan chuckled softly, “I’m not.”
Qiao Shu: “Yes, you are!”
Gu Chenyan: “Alright, I am.”
He reached out and touched Qiao Shu’s cheek. “Try to have a happier festival today?”
Qiao Shu glared up at him.
Gu Chenyan: “It really doesn’t hurt.”
“Happier?” he said with a slight pout.
Qiao Shu rolled his eyes. “Next time, you better speak up.”
Gu Chenyan: “Okay, this time it’s my fault.”
Qiao Shu cleaned Gu Chenyan’s shoes, then stood up and straightened out Gu Chenyan’s clothes. Gu Chenyan remained still, allowing Qiao Shu to fuss over him.
Once the clothes were sorted, Qiao Shu looked down at Gu Chenyan sitting on the chair. After a few seconds, he leaned down. He swiftly pulled down his own mask and planted a kiss on Gu Chenyan’s forehead.
Then he put his mask back on.
Qiao Shu snorted lightly, “You’re not wrong at all.”
“My husband can never be wrong.”
Gu Chenyan chuckled.
Qiao Shu laughed, too.
Qiao Shu picked up the small sweet cake lantern again and sat down.
The two held hands, quietly waiting for their order at the bubble tea shop. After a while, Gu Chenyan heard their number being called and went to get the bubble tea.
Gu Chenyan: “Do you still want to go play?”
Qiao Shu: “No, not anymore.”
“Tired.”
He tilted his head, leaning it on Gu Chenyan’s shoulder. “Let’s just sit here and drink bubble tea.”
Gu Chenyan: “Okay.”
Qiao Shu took a sip of bubble tea, shook the small sweet cake lantern in his hand, and raised his eyebrows.
At ten o’clock, the five of them gathered. Except for Fang Zhouyou, everyone had won quite a few prizes. Zhou Yanqing even won a bunch of toothbrushes and toothpaste.
Zhou Yanqing: “I’ll do a Weibo lottery when we get back.”
Fu Ding: “Just that?”
“Embarrassing. You still have the nerve to give it to the fans.”
Zhou Yanqing proudly lifted his chin, “Just that, this is something I won with my extraordinary wisdom. It’s extraordinary in significance, something you cold-blooded businessmen wouldn’t understand.”
Fu Ding: “Ha.”
Fang Zhouyou: “You still have wisdom?”
The three of them started bickering.
Qiao Shu held Gu Chenyan’s hand, tiptoed to his ear, and chuckled, “I won’t do any lottery.”
“All my prizes are for you.”
Gu Chenyan smiled, “Okay.”
After the Lantern Festival, each of them resumed their busy adult lives.
The day after Qiao Shu finished filming the advertisement, “Daybreak” also happened to air its finale.
“Daybreak” was originally scheduled for only twenty episodes, airing during primetime on Apple TV, with one episode per day. It was supposed to end before the Lantern Festival. However, since its premiere, “Daybreak” has been steadily increasing in ratings, breaking Apple TV’s records from the previous year. As a result, Apple TV extended the airing of “Daybreak” for a few more days.
On the day of the finale, “Daybreak” trended on multiple hot searches, and countless viewers were hoping for a sequel.
Chu Chisheng and Jiang Jiayu were also trending on hot searches, just like they were portrayed in the book. Jiang Jiayu even gained a wave of new fans because of this drama, which surprised Qiao Shu. Furthermore, during the finale, he unexpectedly trended on hot searches as well due to his role as the young police officer.
His number of fans skyrocketed.
Qiao Shu glanced at the comments, seeing many people feeling sad about his portrayal of the young police officer’s sacrifice, while others were discussing his acting skills.
In the early stages, there was a greenness due to just joining the job. In the middle stages, there was diligent growth. And in the later stages, there was both unwillingness and relief as he could save his captain. Every performance had its highlights.
Qiao Shu looked at the comments and smiled happily. Being recognized and liked for the role he portrayed was the most joyful thing for any actor, especially since he gained more fans because of this role.
After finishing the advertisement, Qiao Shu threw himself wholeheartedly into the audition for “The White Bone Record.”
However, what Qiao Shu didn’t expect was that on the day before the audition, the production team of “The White Bone Record”, which was in preparation, was suddenly announced to be suspended, and the audition was canceled.
Sitting in Yu Qiong’s office, Qiao Shu’s face was full of confusion. “Sister Qiong, why was the audition suddenly canceled? Even the preparation of the production team has been suspended. Did something happen?”
Yu Qiong’s expression was grim. “It’s because of the management.”
Qiao Shu: “Huh?”
Yu Qiong: “The management denied the value of this drama, considering it to be costly with little value in cultivating popularity.”
Qiao Shu: “Popularity?”
Yu Qiong: “Yes.”
“Well, you don’t need to worry too much about it. I’ll take care of these matters. Just focus on your acting. Without ‘The White Bone Record’, we still have other roles. ‘Daybreak’ is airing, and your royalties are good. This time, I’ve received several script audition invitations. Take them back and have a look.”
Qiao Shu: “Okay.”
He took the scripts handed to him by Yu Qiong. They discussed some work matters before Qiao Shu left the company.
After Qiao Shu left, Yu Qiong rubbed her forehead wearily.
Since the old boss fell ill, Tang Chen had become increasingly unscrupulous in the company. The dissolution of the “The White Bone Record” production team was because of Tang Chen.
Apart from the obvious changes in the company, Yu Qiong also felt that her work was being obstructed at every turn.
She was clearly being suppressed.
Without much thought, Yu Qiong knew who was behind these actions. It was all because she was considered a “conservative”. When Tang Chen took over the company, she opposed his policies.
As the saying goes, “When the emperor has a new policy, the subjects follow suit”. Yu Qiong leaned back in her chair, feeling lost. Should she persist?
Qiao Shu walked out of the company.
He walked towards the parking area, keys in hand. As he walked, Qiao Shu turned a corner, and suddenly, he was bumped by someone who ran past him swiftly.
Qiao Shu’s body swayed, nearly falling down.
He steadied himself, furrowing his brow as he turned around to see who had bumped into him.
It was a man.
The back of his figure seemed somewhat familiar.
Before Qiao Shu could figure it out, he noticed someone he knew walking out of the company gate not far away — Ran Jiming.
Then, Qiao Shu saw the man who had bumped into him rushing towards Ran Jiming and grabbing him directly.
The two seemed to be arguing.
Familiar?
Qiao Shu couldn’t make up his mind.
Before he could dwell on it further, Ran Jiming seemed to quiet down, then obediently followed the man away.
It was only then that Qiao Shu could see the face of the man who had bumped into him and seemed vaguely familiar.
… Xie Yuxi?
Xie Yuxi pulled Ran Jiming along, looking disgruntled, and hailed a car directly at the company gate, with Ran Jiming obediently following, his expression somewhat pitiful.
Qiao Shu: “???”
He hadn’t expected these two to know each other.
Without thinking much about it, Qiao Shu turned around and walked past the corner to the nearby open-air parking lot to retrieve his car.
As he walked, Qiao Shu suddenly halted in his steps.
He recalled why Ran Jiming felt familiar.
It wasn’t his memory; it belonged to the original owner. The original owner had a crush on Xie Yuxi during middle school, collected information about him, and orchestrated chance encounters.
In those few chance encounters, the original owner had seen Xie Yuxi twice with a well-behaved boy playing basketball, supposedly Xie Yuxi’s neighbor’s younger brother.
Qiao Shu pressed the car lock.
He opened the car door, sat inside, closed it, and started the car.
“Qiao Shu.”
His name was called out, and Qiao Shu looked over.
Then he saw a face he had met briefly before, a man he had seen once in the company, seemingly Ran Jiming’s boyfriend? At that time, when the two came out of the elevator, Ran Jiming was being held by this man.
Tang Chen revealed a self-assured smile, leaning over with both hands on the open car window next to Qiao Shu’s driver’s seat. His gaze swept over Qiao Shu’s face, then gradually moved downward.
Qiao Shu: “…”
He furrowed his brow; this person’s gaze made him very uncomfortable.
Just as Qiao Shu was about to speak, Tang Chen’s gaze shifted away. He looked at Qiao Shu’s car and spoke lightly, “Nice car, huh? Oh, is it the limited edition Lamborghini?”
Qiao Shu’s brow furrowed even tighter. Who was this person? What did he have to do with him? Why did he care about what car he drove?
Nonsense!
Qiao Shu never bothered with such people. He immediately pressed the accelerator to reverse out of the parking spot and rolled down the window.
“What are you in a hurry for?”
Tang Chen reached out and directly pressed on Qiao Shu’s steering wheel, pulling Qiao Shu’s car key out.
The car stalled.
Qiao Shu was a bit angry now. He questioned, “Who are you? Why did you take my car key? Give it back to me quickly, or I’ll call the police.”
Tang Chen: “You don’t know me?”
Qiao Shu: “Who are you? Why should I know you?”
Tang Chen became interested. “Are you playing hard to get? It doesn’t matter. I quite like your face. Let’s have some fun.”
“I’m Tang Chen.”
Qiao Shu: “I don’t know you. Give back the key.”
Tang Chen sneered, “It’s no fun if you keep pretending. You don’t even know your own company’s boss?”
Qiao Shu paused.
He glanced at Tang Chen, remembering Tang Chen’s self-introduction just now. Wasn’t he the new Vice-President of their company, named Tang Chen?
But so what if he was the boss? Could the boss just randomly snatch someone’s car keys?
Tang Chen smirked, “Recognize me now?”
What a lunatic!
Qiao Shu cursed inwardly but he controlled his expression on his face, trying to appear gentle. “Mr. Tang, could you please return my key?”
“I have something urgent to attend to.”
Tang Chen acted as if he hadn’t heard: “I heard you wanted to audition for ‘White Bone Record’? And you want to play the male lead in ‘White Bone Record’?”
Qiao Shu: “My key…”
Tang Chen: “The production of ‘White Bone Record’ isn’t good. It won’t help you. It’s announced as a suspension now, but actually, it’s going to be disbanded. The company won’t proceed with this project.”
Qiao Shu: “!!!”
Tang Chen: “Are you interested? I can offer you better resources.” He said, raising Qiao Shu’s chin lightly with his finger.
Qiao Shu: “???”
“…”
Oh no!
Did he just encounter a case of the boss’s unwritten rules?
Tang Chen continued: “How about it? Sleep with me tonight? I can give you anything you want.”
Feeling disgusted, Qiao Shu slapped Tang Chen’s hand away, his face dark with anger as he opened the door and got out of the car.
Thinking that Qiao Shu was about to get out of the car to embrace him, Tang Chen stepped aside with anticipation.
Qiao Shu got out of the car.
He walked up to Tang Chen.
With a standard smile on his face, showing all eight teeth.
Seeing this, Tang Chen couldn’t help but feel triumphant, a smug smile appearing on his face as well.
“Ah!”
The smile on Tang Chen’s face suddenly turned into a grimace of pain, as he bent over in agony, clutching his stomach.
Qiao Shu retracted his foot from the kick, stepping forward to snatch the car keys back from Tang Chen’s hand. “Boss? So what if you’re the boss? Your mind’s filled with garbage!”
“Screw off!”
“Disgusting!”
“Trash!”
Qiao Shu rolled his eyes and returned to the car, coolly shutting the door and stepping on the gas pedal, reversing, and then swiftly driving away.
In the rearview mirror, Qiao Shu saw Tang Chen finally recovering from the pain of that kick. His face contorted in displeasure and he even took a few steps forward as if to chase after him.
Qiao Shu panicked and pressed down on the gas pedal a bit more.
The car quickly entered the neighborhood, with Tang Chen nowhere in sight, seamlessly blending into the traffic flow. Qiao Shu finally breathed a sigh of relief.
God knows he felt cool and satisfying scolding and hitting the boss just now, but afterward, he was scared to death, fearing that the boss would come after him.
Qiao Shu patted his chest, “Thank goodness for running fast and not getting hit.”
But still, he was very angry!
What a trashy boss, trying to take advantage of people as soon as he sees them, absolutely disgusting.
Ah!
He just hit someone, would there be retaliation later? This new boss doesn’t seem like a good person at all!
Forget it!
Since he already hit him, what’s there to be afraid of!
This kind of trashy boss deserves to be hit, hit hard! Qiao Shu thought angrily, he should have kicked him a bit harder just now, kicked him hard! Such a person!
Disgusting!
Qiao Shu fumed all the way until he reached Lanting, where he finally calmed down a bit, rubbing his face.
Uncle Zhou was outside directing the workers to clean the fountain. When he saw Qiao Shu’s car coming in, he greeted Qiao Shu.
Uncle Zhou: “Madam, you’re back. Lan just stewed some pig stomach soup. Come in and have some.”
Qiao Shu: “Okay.”
As soon as he entered the house, Qiao Shu smelled the fragrant aroma of the pig stomach soup. Shortly after, he saw Aunt Lan carrying a thermos flask.
Qiao Shu blinked, “Aunt Lan.”
Aunt Lan: “Madam is back. Come and have some pig stomach soup. It’s good for your stomach.”
Qiao Shu: “Hmm.”
He walked over, curious about the thermos flask.
Aunt Lan noticed and explained, “This is for the master. It’s been a while since I stewed these things.”
Qiao Shu: “Is Gu Chenyan’s stomach not feeling well?”
Aunt Lan was taken aback, waving her hand and smiling, “No, no. It’s just that the master has been busy lately, drinking a lot of coffee like it’s a meal. He even drinks it for breakfast. I’m a bit worried.”
Qiao Shu frowned.
These days, Gu Chenyan has indeed been very busy, leaving early and returning late. Sometimes Qiao Shu couldn’t wait for him because he fell asleep waiting, and Gu Chenyan hadn’t returned yet.
The next morning, when Qiao Shu woke up, Gu Chenyan had already gone to the company.
Thinking of this, Qiao Shu said, “Aunt Lan, are you going to take this to the company for Gu Chenyan?”
Aunt Lan: “Yes, it’s best to drink it while it’s hot.”
Qiao Shu: “I’ll go and take it.”
Aunt Lan chuckled, “That’s sweet. Madam, why don’t you go and deliver it? The master will surely finish it in one go.”
Qiao Shu chuckled.
He was led by Aunt Lan to have a bowl of pig stomach soup before being let go.
Driving the Lamborghini he had just driven, Qiao Shu headed towards Gu Chenyan’s company. He hadn’t seen Gu Chenyan for several days. He could only feel Gu Chenyan’s presence when he was half asleep. To be honest, Qiao Shu really missed Gu Chenyan at the moment.
He also felt a bit aggrieved.
The grievance of not being able to see him.
Carrying the thermos flask, Qiao Shu took the elevator to the CEO’s office.
The usually bustling CEO’s office now had only a few people scattered around.
Qiao Shu blinked.
The executive assistants: “Madam.”
Qiao Shu nodded.
He walked over and asked one of the assistants, “Is Mr. Gu in there?”
The assistant shook her head, “Mr. Gu went to the neighboring city.”
“Oh?”
Qiao Shu was taken aback for a moment. “Is he on a business trip? When will he be back?”
Why didn’t he even tell me he was going on a business trip?
Qiao Shu felt aggrieved.
Seeing the disappointed and aggrieved expression on Qiao Shu’s face, the assistant hurriedly explained, “No, no, Madam, you misunderstood.”
Qiao Shu looked at her.
The assistant: “Mr. Gu will be back in the evening.”
Qiao Shu frowned, “So hastily?”
The assistant explained, “There was a problem at the branch office in the neighboring city and Mr. Gu went there personally to solve it. He instructed us that he would be back in the evening, as there is also a meeting to attend here.”
“Madam, if you have something urgent, you can call Mr. Gu.”
Qiao Shu shook his head, “No need.”
Gu Chenyan was already very busy, and Qiao Shu didn’t have any urgent matters. Calling him would only waste Gu Chenyan’s time.
He bit his lip and turned to leave.
After taking only two steps, Qiao Shu turned back.
The assistant: “Madam?”
Qiao Shu: “I’ll wait for him here when he comes back.”
With the thermos flask in hand, Qiao Shu entered Gu Chenyan’s office. He hadn’t seen him for several days and missed him terribly. Since the audition for “White Bone Record” was now canceled, and Qiao Shu had plenty of free time recently, he decided to wait here. Besides, Gu Chenyan’s pig stomach soup had not been drunk yet.
Aunt Lan said that Gu Chenyan had been drinking a lot of coffee lately, even for breakfast, which was bad for his stomach. She insisted that Qiao Shu make sure Gu Chenyan finished the pig stomach soup.
Qiao Shu didn’t often come to Gu Chenyan’s office, but Gu Chenyan thoughtfully prepared a small table and a computer for him. The assistant brought snacks into the office for Qiao Shu as instructed by Gu Chenyan.
While eating, Qiao Shu played games and occasionally glanced at the time. Around four o’clock, Qiao Shu yawned, rubbed his tired eyes, and then stood up and walked into the adjacent resting room.
The beds in the resting room were neatly made. Qiao Shu laid down, hugged the blanket, and rubbed his nose against it before releasing it disappointedly.
There was no scent of Gu Chenyan.
Eventually, Qiao Shu fell asleep.
When he woke up, it was already dark outside. Qiao Shu rubbed his eyes, sat up, and turned on the light.
As the light illuminated the room, Qiao Shu froze.
He was holding something in his arms. He looked down and saw it was Gu Chenyan’s coat.
He blinked, then joyfully jumped out of bed and opened the door of the resting room.
The office outside was empty.
The smile on Qiao Shu’s face vanished, replaced by a sense of loss as he halted his steps.
After a few seconds, he stepped out of the office.
There were more people in the president’s office than when he came in the afternoon. Qiao Shu approached and asked, “Has Mr. Gu returned?”
The assistant: “Madam, you’re awake. Mr. Gu instructed me to remind you to remember to go downstairs for dinner when you wake up.”
Qiao Shu smiled, “Where is he?”
The assistant: “Mr. Gu is in a meeting. It’s estimated to end in about two hours.”
Qiao Shu: “Oh.”
“Thank you.”
Qiao Shu went downstairs to have dinner and then returned to the office to wait. He occasionally checked the time and when it was almost two hours, he took the thermos and went downstairs.
He went to the sixth floor to use the kitchen to heat the pig stomach soup, then returned to the president’s office with the steaming soup.
There were more people in the president’s office now, but Qiao Shu paid no mind. He walked straight to the door and pushed it open.
A man in a suit turned his head at the sound of the door opening.
“Gu Chenyan!” Qiao Shu exclaimed happily.
Gu Chenyan put down his phone, concealing his emotions, and asked, “Where did you just go?”
Qiao Shu lifted the thermos and shook it. “I went to heat this. By the way, do you have time now? If you do, you should drink this pig stomach soup while it’s hot. Aunt Lan said it’s good for your stomach.”
“I have time,” Gu Chenyan replied.
He walked over happily, sounding both cheerful and complaining, “Aunt Lan said you’ve been having coffee for breakfast lately. Why aren’t you eating properly?”
“Hurry up and drink.”
“Remember to take care of yourself even while working,” Qiao Shu said as he carefully opened the thermos and poured out the pig stomach soup.
“Okay,” Gu Chenyan replied. “I’ll pay more attention from now on.”
He looked at Qiao Shu tenderly and then sat down. Taking a sip of the soup under Qiao Shu’s gaze, he looked over and asked, “Why couldn’t I reach you on your phone just now?”
“Huh?” Qiao Shu was taken aback. He took out his phone from his pocket and tapped on the dark screen, which didn’t light up. “Looks like it’s out of battery.”
“Qiao Shu,” Gu Chenyan said.
“Yeah?” Qiao Shu responded.
“Please make sure to charge your phone fully from now on, okay?”
“Uh, why?” Qiao Shu asked, puzzled.
“I thought you were angry and left just now,” Gu Chenyan explained.
Author’s note:
Pitiful Gu Chenyan: “Darling, don’t go!”
Thank you to the angels who voted for me or watered me with nutrients from 2021-02-14 23:58:13 to 2021-02-15 23:57:24~
Thanks to the angel who threw grenades: Fei Xiao 1 grenade;
Thanks to the angel who threw landmines: Yi Jin 1 mine;
Thanks to the angels who watered me with nutrients: Have a pumpkin pie 20 bottles; Meh?!! 17 bottles; You guys are good at naming things 5 bottles; Chu Mu Yun 2 bottles; Xia Chong Buyu, Shen Ming, Zi Zi 1 bottle each;
Thank you all for your support. I will continue to work hard!
⌈Weekend chapters: 0⌉ ⌊Progress: 1/2 ⌋
