NOVEL NEXT
Chapter 76
But she didn't say a word.
I still want you to take the initiative to pursue me, just like every time before.
The production crew was cleaning up the aftermath, and the guests had all returned to their rooms to pack up.
This season had come to an end.
When Jiang Yan got into the manager's car, she received a message from Gu Xilin: "Do you want to eat some chestnut cakes?"
She could imagine him, frowning and muttering to himself as he typed the message.
Jiang Yan slightly curled the corners of her mouth.
The manager had been quite busy these days too, receiving too many invitations, and she was busy selecting them, dropping Jiang Yan off downstairs before leaving.
The security at the artist's apartment was good, and the privacy was strong.
Jiang Yan's house was on the third floor, and she slowly climbed the stairs.
She hadn't replied to Gu Xilin's previous message, so she was fiddling with her phone as she climbed the stairs.
Gu Xilin: "Do you want red bean cakes? I bought some."
Gu Xilin: "Well, these cakes don't taste good when they get cold, so I'll come over and bring them to you."
Gu Xilin: "I'm here, I'll be waiting for you."
Jiang Yan was about to type a reply when another message popped up: "Don't look at your phone while walking, it's not good for your eyes."
Jiang Yan puffed out her cheeks, guessing that he might have seen her getting out of the car from the window in the hallway. Looking up, Gu Xilin was standing at the end of the stairs, smiling at her.
Jiang Yan opened the door, and Gu Xilin, pretending to be restrained, scrutinized every corner of the room.
The chocolate gift box on the table, the soft little bear on the sofa, and the strawberry candy fridge magnet... all revealed her private girlish side.
It gave Gu Xilin a strange feeling, as if he could blend into it too.
Jiang Yan didn't bother putting on an act in front of Gu Xilin, since he knew everything anyway. If she wanted to laugh, she would laugh; if she didn't want to talk, she would respond with just a glance.
Logically speaking, her behavior was vastly different from the obedient and cute image she portrayed in front of the camera, and even seemed a little willful and capricious.
But Gu Xilin had already made up his mind, and he still fell for it!
Jiang Yan only acted like this towards him.
She was treating him as one of her own!
A certain someone sat on the sofa with a restrained look, feeling delighted.
Jiang Yan ate half of the soft and sweet chestnut cake, pitter-pattering in her slippers as she went to the fridge to find something to drink.
"Do you want some?" Jiang Yan brought out a can of sweet milk, remembering that this person was technically a guest, and asked him.
Gu Xilin didn't want her to trouble herself, feeling that he should be the one doing such things, so he said, "No need, I'll get it myself."
Jiang Yan: ...
Gu Xilin came here to test Jiang Yan's attitude, but as soon as he saw her, he completely forgot what he had planned.
His heart was pounding, as if he were sick. All he could think about was: how cute she looked when she got food on her mouth; how slender and small her fingers looked as she held the bottle; how smooth and fair her legs looked as she tucked them under herself while watching TV...
Jiang Yan didn't pay him any mind, absorbed in watching her show.
It wasn't until night fell and the room grew dim, and her stomach started growling, that Jiang Yan reluctantly got up and turned on the lights.
And unbeknownst to her, Gu Xilin had been sitting there the whole time, doing nothing, but not feeling bored at all. Every little movement of Jiang Yan's, her slightly widened eyes, her pursed little mouth... all seemed so adorable to him.
With the lights on, Gu Xilin seemed to wake up from another world. He eagerly rolled up the sleeves of his snow-white shirt and said, "Hungry? Let me cook for you."
Jiang Yan regretfully replied, "No ingredients."
So they ended up ordering pizza instead.
A meat lover's pizza with double cheese crust, the sauce was incredibly rich, and the cheese could be pulled into long strings; a roast duck pizza with sausage crust, the duck leg meat was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, the pizza was a perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors with a soft and juicy bite.
Paired with slightly chilled milk, it was a sumptuous dinner.
Jiang Yan took a bite of the pizza, glanced at the sky outside, and seeing that Gu Xilin showed no signs of leaving, casually asked, "Staying over tonight?"
Her snow-white cheeks and bright, glistening eyes betrayed no emotion. But it was precisely because of her indifferent demeanor that she seemed like an enchanting spirit from an ancient tale, capable of ensnaring souls.
Gu Xilin was instantly flustered.
Is it what I'm thinking? Is this progressing too fast! But then again, it's not impossible, he would definitely take responsibility... A certain Mr. Gu let his imagination run wild, and his ear tips felt hot.
Jiang Yan pointed towards the guest room, "No one's stayed there before, you can tidy it up yourself."
Gu Xilin's soaring heart plummeted, silently berating himself for being shameless, only able to muster a dry "oh" in response.
Jiang Yan's main consideration was that this person was not really an outsider, and moreover, if he went out at this hour and got spotted by the paparazzi, it would cause another spectacle, which wouldn't be good for either of their careers.
The system gave a hesitant "oh" in reply, the trailing tone almost floating up to the heavens.
But Gu Xilin didn't know what Jiang Yan was thinking. He furtively rolled around on the bed, fully aware that Jiang Yan had never slept in this room, but still feeling inexplicably excited.
Oh, he calmed down again. He felt that Jiang Yan lacked a sense of security, letting a grown man stay here! And she was all alone in the house, how dangerous!
It was fortunate that he was a well-behaved, upstanding person.
But it was still too worrisome. He should pursue Jiang Yan sooner rather than later, so he could protect her.
Gu Xilin buried his face in the pillow, his messy black bangs framing his sparkling eyes, the corners of his mouth curled up involuntarily, making him look a bit silly.