Chapter 311: Fu Yujun & Guan Han [8]

"I see you—the one in the white down jacket. Stop now and come over here."

Guan Han's footsteps didn't falter in the slightest.

If she went over now, it would be a guaranteed trending topic, with money pouring down the drain. As long as she ran fast enough, Fu Yujun's megaphone couldn't catch up with her.

But she was moving against the flow, and with Fu Yujun pointing her out like this, she instantly became highly conspicuous in the crowd, forcing her pace to slow considerably.

Just then, that little drama queen Fu Yujun continued leisurely, "Not coming over, huh? Then I'll come to you."

A wave of shocked exclamations rose from behind.

Unable to see what was happening behind her, Guan Han thought Fu Yujun had climbed over the railing and quickly turned around.

Fu Yujun was standing perfectly fine in the distance, holding the megaphone as she said, "Come here."

It turned out she had just pretended to climb over, causing everyone to scream.

Guan Han stopped amidst the crowd, and the fans instinctively stepped back, leaving her in a small, empty circle.

Fu Yujun beamed, "Hurry up and come!"

Guan Han: "..."

Her first instinct was to pull up the hood of her down jacket, covering herself completely. But then it occurred to her—if the face in tomorrow's trending topic was blurred, wouldn't that just confirm the romance rumors? Debunking the rumors and clarifying that she was actually the agent would cost even more money!

Guan Han simply took off the hood, revealing her clearly defined features.

The crowd: "Wow!!!" Who is she? Is she the girlfriend?

Fu Yujun's fans on the scene: "D@mn!!!"

Why is it you again!!!

In her mind, Guan Han hung Fu Yujun up and whipped her a hundred and eighty times with a small leather whip. Outwardly, she walked calmly and confidently toward the railing. The crowd naturally parted to make way, gazing in awe at this "lucky audience member."

As Guan Han approached, Fu Yujun broke into a wide grin.

"Dar..."

Afraid she would blurt out "darling," Guan Han cut her off in a low voice, "Had enough fun?"

At that moment, she didn't realize that an abruptly cut-off "dar" was even more suggestive. Fu Yujun, seeing the coldness in her eyes, wisely restrained herself and nodded.

Guan Han: "Let's go home."

"Okay." Fu Yujun obediently linked arms with her.

Guan Han frowned.

Fu Yujun looked at her with pitiful eyes, "You won't even let me hold your arm now?"

Guan Han kept one hand in her down jacket pocket, "...Fine, go ahead." She hadn't done anything, yet Fu Yujun acted as if she'd suffered some great injustice.

The two walked side by side toward the parked van, surrounded by enthusiastic onlookers recording with their phones. Fu Yujun turned back, smiling and waving at the crowd.

The spectators: "Holy cow!"

It's real! We ship it!

Guan Han got Fu Yujun into the van and was about to step out herself when Fu Yujun, having anticipated this, wrapped her arms around Guan Han's waist from behind.

Watching from nearby, Ai Ya: "..."

...She's progressing.

Before, it was just holding hands. Now she's learned to hug waists.

Guan Han said coldly, "Let go."

Fu Yujun pressed her face tightly against Guan Han's back, "No."

Guan Han: "Don't think I won't—"

Fu Yujun: "Tie me up? I've already prepared the rope. Go ahead and try if you dare!"

Guan Han snapped, "You think I won't test that?"

Fu Yujun didn't reply, instead letting out soft, choked sobs.

Guan Han: "..."

She pried open Fu Yujun's hand, easily breaking free from what had been a firm grip. With her back turned to Fu Yujun, the faint sobs of the young woman echoed behind her. Though Guan Han could have walked away without a second thought, her feet felt rooted to the spot.

Through tear-blurred eyes, Fu Yujun watched Guan Han's every move. The moment she saw Guan Han turn back, her tears fell like broken strings of pearls.

Guan Han felt an inexplicable guilt. "...I didn't do anything. Why are you crying like this?"

Fu Yujun wiped her tears with one hand, stubbornly refusing to let out another sob, and pointed at her accusingly. "You hate me now."

Guan Han had never faced a situation like this in her life. Softening her tone, she replied, "No, I don't."

Fu Yujun pressed, "Then do you like me?"

Guan Han: "..."

'Why is she acting like a three-year-old, seeing everything in black and white? As if emotions are only about hate or like, with no room for neutrality?'

Fu Yujun continued to cry. Her fair skin made the tears even more noticeable—her eyes and the tip of her nose flushed red, her tearful gaze pitiful and heart-wrenching. Especially with a face that easily stirred others' protective instincts.

'Fine. I don't want to see her cry anymore.'

Guan Han conceded, "Yes, I like you."

Fu Yujun's tears instantly turned into a smile.

She grabbed Guan Han's hand, her voice soft and pleading. "Then come home with me."

Guan Han replied, "My car is still parked outside. You take the company van back, and I'll follow behind you."

"I won't." Those two words were becoming Fu Yujun's catchphrase. She turned and called out, "Ai Ya."

Ai Ya immediately volunteered, "If you trust me, Manager Guan, give me your car keys. I'll drive it over for you."

Guan Han sighed, "...Fine."

Having gotten her way, Fu Yujun happily linked arms with Guan Han and settled into the back seat. Her deep tea-colored eyes, washed clean by tears, seemed even brighter and clearer.

Guan Han grew increasingly uncomfortable under her gaze and made an excuse. "My arm's gone numb."

Fu Yujun released her hand and began massaging her arm gently.

"Feeling better now?"

"..."

Guan Han had only pretended her arm was numb, but now, under Fu Yujun's touch, it really did start to tingle—a strange mix of numbness and itchiness that seemed to seep from deep within her. Unconsciously, she swallowed and reached for a bottle of mineral water from the case at her feet.

Fu Yujun eagerly took it from her. "Let me open it for you."

With a quick twist, she handed back the opened bottle.

Guan Han stared at the water, her emotions tangled.

Noticing her inexplicable silence, Fu Yujun asked with hidden delight, "Has no one ever opened a bottle for you before?"

Guan Han shot her a glance.

'Is she mocking me for being too 'manly' to have someone open bottles for me?' Though Guan Han usually didn't care about such things, today she felt a bit irritated and didn't want to let this little troublemaker gloat.

She took a sip of water and replied calmly, "Someone has."

"Who? Your dad?"

"No."

"Then who?" Fu Yujun narrowed her eyes, a hint of danger flickering in them.

Guan Han recapped the bottle, her tone still even. "My ex-boyfriend."

"You have an ex-boyfriend?" Fu Yujun cursed inwardly. 'So she really is straight!'

Guan Han raised an eyebrow. "Is it so strange that I have an ex-boyfriend?"

"No." Fu Yujun pouted.

"Do you have an ex-boyfriend?" Guan Han asked casually.

"Nope." Fu Yujun grinned, revealing a row of small white teeth, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Guan Han.

"Why are you so happy about that?" Guan Han asked, puzzled.

"Because this is the first time you've taken the initiative to ask about my personal life."

Fu Yujun said softly, "I'm just happy." When her voice softened, it carried a local accent—the gentle, soft Wu dialect tone from the Jiangnan region.

Guan Han felt the urge to swallow again. Before she could start, she opened the bottle of mineral water on the table with one hand and took another sip. The ice-cold water flowed down her throat into her stomach, dissipating the faint, lingering restlessness.

Fu Yujun probed, "Are you happy that I don't have an ex-boyfriend?"

Guan Han: "???" Her face clearly read, "What does that have to do with me?"

Fu Yujun thought, 'Fine,' and changed the subject: "So why did you break up with your ex-boyfriend?"

When Guan Han was in her teens, she dated a junior. He probably fell for her looks, and Guan Han, curious at the time, agreed to give it a try. But when he discovered her true nature—genuinely cold and ruthless, with no idea what tenderness meant—he secretly cheated on her. Afraid of getting beaten up if he broke up with her, he kept it hidden. Eventually, Guan Han found out, gave him a brutal beating that left him bedridden for three months, and they broke up.

The story was too long, and Fu Yujun was the type to dig for every detail, so Guan Han lazily replied, "We weren't compatible."

Fu Yujun asked again, "So what kind of personality do you like?"

Guan Han said indifferently, "I don't like any type. What's so interesting about dating? Making money is way better."

Fu Yujun thought, 'That won't do—you still have to date me.'

"How about dating while making money? Wouldn't that be even more interesting?"

Guan Han glanced at her and said, "Who has that much time?"

Fu Yujun just smiled.

'If you want to, you can date during work hours every day.'

Guan Han was tired of talking and didn't want to engage further with this whimsical, seemingly mysterious little troublemaker. She said, "I'm going to rest for a bit. Tomorrow's going to be busy."

"Okay."

Guan Han closed her eyes, feigning sleep.

She felt a slight weight on her and opened her eyes a slit to see Fu Yujun unfolding the thin blanket from the car and gently draping it over her. Fu Yujun gazed at her intently for a moment before returning to her seat.

A strange feeling flickered in Guan Han's heart. The warm air in the car and the comfortable blanket made her mind drift into drowsiness.

She actually fell asleep without realizing it.

When the car stopped, Guan Han woke up, still stunned that she had fallen asleep with someone else present.

Fu Yujun, noticing Guan Han's slightly widened eyes, asked, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." Guan Han lowered her gaze to hide her fluctuating emotions and said, "I'll walk you upstairs."

Having worked with her for nearly half a year, Guan Han was no stranger to her home. The apartment was spacious and empty, clearly designed for a single occupant. Daily necessities, like slippers, were originally for one person, but after Guan Han's first visit, they became for two.

Fu Yujun went in first and brought out both pairs of slippers—pink for Guan Han and blue for herself, a carefully chosen couple set.

She even wanted to prepare toothbrushes and spare underwear all at once but held back, afraid of arousing Guan Han's suspicion if she moved too fast.

Guan Han stood at the entrance without changing her shoes and said, "Get some rest early."

Fu Yujun hugged her again.

"You're not allowed to leave."

Guan Han pinched the bridge of her nose and said patiently, "Young lady, haven't you caused enough trouble tonight? I need to prepare the PR plan for tomorrow in advance."

'It's the New Year—if it weren't for her, I wouldn't have to work overtime.'

Fu Yujun felt a bit guilty but stubbornly insisted with feigned confidence, "You can prepare it here too."

Guan Han took a deep breath.

Although Guan Han appeared fierce, she was actually very even-tempered—otherwise, she wouldn't have tolerated Fu Yujun's constant antics. Her rare displays of anger didn't mean she never got angry, and right now was a clear precursor.

Fu Yujun immediately changed tactics, releasing her hold on Guan Han's waist to instead tug at the hem of her clothes. She glanced up timidly, softening her voice in a show of vulnerability: "I'm scared..."

"Scared of what?"

"Living alone... the apartment is too big."

"..."

The two stood in a standoff at the entrance.

Guan Han sighed, changed into slippers, and stepped inside.

Genuine delight welled up in Fu Yujun's eyes, though she tried to hide it, mumbling somewhat awkwardly, "Thank you."

Guan Han's heart softened instantly, her anger completely dissipating.

So she really was just a tsundere little brat—all that daily fuss was just to get her attention, wasn't it? Although the records said she came from a good family, a scholarly household, only Fu Yujun herself knew the truth. Most likely, she was a love-starved child who saw Guan Han as a mother figure.

Guan Han urged gently, "Go change and take a shower, then get to bed early."

"Okay." Fu Yujun nodded obediently, still clutching the hem of Guan Han's clothes, double-checking anxiously, "You won't sneak away, right?"

"I promise."

Guan Han's word was her bond.

Fu Yujun tugged at her clothes, leading her toward the bedroom.

Guan Han: "What are you doing?"

Without a word, Fu Yujun brought her into the bedroom, pressed her shoulders to sit on the sofa, and bit her lip nervously: "Can you wait here for me?"

Guan Han: "..." What could she say? The little artist was on the verge of tears.

Guan Han glanced at her watch. "Try to be quick. I need to get home."

Fu Yujun hummed in agreement, grabbed her change of clothes, and went into the bathroom.

Guan Han opened her phone and searched for Fu Yujun online. Sure enough, she found videos uploaded by onlookers outside the CCTV building earlier that night. It was late now, and most people were asleep—or still complaining about the Spring Festival Gala and sharing memes. But by tomorrow, once everyone was awake, it would definitely blow up by noon at the latest.

Guan Han first sent a message in the team's work group chat, telling everyone to prepare early and that she'd call them one by one at 6 a.m.

She was in for an all-nighter tonight.

An unusual sound caught her ear. Guan Han listened carefully, her lips twitching—the culprit was humming cheerfully in the shower, utterly pleased with herself.

Big stars were indeed big stars—they really didn't treat their overworked staff like human beings.

Fu Yujun turned off the shower, dried herself with a towel, and deliberately applied body lotion. Testing the smoothness with her own hand, she then changed into a red silk nightgown that best highlighted her fair skin. She walked out of the bathroom with graceful, lingering steps.

This nightgown was different from her usual ones—shorter, revealing her jade-like skin and slender shoulders. Her long, pale legs were exposed to the air, so glaringly obvious that Guan Han couldn't bring herself to look directly.

Glancing around, Guan Han picked up a robe Fu Yujun had tossed out of the closet earlier and wrapped her up from neck to toe, tying the belt tightly. With a serious expression, she said, "Don't catch a cold."

Fu Yujun: "..."

Seizing the chance while Guan Han was tying the belt, Fu Yujun leaned halfway into her embrace, wriggling slightly. "I'm hot."

Guan Han frowned.

She briskly stripped off the robe again and tucked her firmly into the bed. "Go to sleep."

Fu Yujun: "..."

She looked at her with pleading eyes and asked, "Are you leaving?"

Guan Han swallowed the words she was about to say and replied, "I'll wait until you fall asleep before I go."

A small dimple appeared on Fu Yujun's cheek. After a moment, she pursed her lips and said, "I'm scared. Can I hold your hand?"

Guan Han's hand had almost been worn out by her, so she naturally offered it.

Fu Yujun grabbed her hand, pulled it under the covers, and pressed it against her waist.

The warmth of her fingertips through the thin fabric made Guan Han's fingers curl uncomfortably. Fu Yujun closed her eyes and laughed softly, "Don't move, it tickles."

When she closed her eyes and smiled, she looked gentle and serene, even more adorable than when she was awake.

Guan Han couldn't help but want to make her smile like that again, but reason stopped her in time. Her gaze lingered on the young woman's sleeping face—her long, thick, and curled eyelashes, her straight nose bridge, her delicate nose tip, and her rosy lips.

Guan Han studied her repeatedly, unable to understand how someone who looked so peaceful and gentle while asleep could turn into a little devil the moment she woke up.

Was this a case of "never judge a book by its cover"?

Suddenly, Guan Han felt pressure on the back of her hand. She focused her gaze.

Fu Yujun had turned over, inadvertently trapping Guan Han's hand beneath her. Her chest rose and fell gently with her shallow breaths, as if she had already fallen into a deep sleep.

Guan Han: "..."

She gently nudged Fu Yujun's shoulder but couldn't free her hand.

Guan Han had no choice but to lean closer, hoping to quietly retrieve her hand without waking Fu Yujun. But Fu Yujun held it firmly in place. Unconsciously, Guan Han leaned closer and closer until her breath brushed against the young woman's face.

Perhaps feeling uncomfortable, Fu Yujun mumbled a few incoherent words and shifted slightly. Guan Han felt the pressure lessen and was about to seize the opportunity to pull her hand back when Fu Yujun suddenly extended both arms from under the covers and wrapped them around Guan Han's neck.

Face to face, the warmth of her arms seared into Guan Han's skin, burning hot.

Guan Han froze, not daring to move.

Fu Yujun let out a soft murmur, tilted her head, and her thin lips brushed against Guan Han's delicate earlobe. Her warm breath ghosted over it, teasingly close.

Guan Han held her breath, her heartbeat growing somewhat uncontrollable.

Suddenly, a soft, warm sensation touched her earlobe.

Guan Han's eyes widened in shock. Just as she was about to react, Fu Yujun hugged her tighter, nuzzled her cheek, and murmured as if talking in her sleep, "Stop it, Maomao. I won't give you dog food tomorrow." Then she pushed Guan Han away slightly.

Did she mistake her for the family dog?

Guan Han's expression shifted slightly, and the veins on the back of her hand slowly relaxed.

After that, it was easy to put Fu Yujun's arms back under the covers. Guan Han tucked the blankets around her, thought for a moment, dimmed the nightlight in the room without turning it off completely, and quietly slipped out.

The bedroom door closed, followed shortly by the sound of the front door shutting.

Beneath her eyelids, Fu Yujun's eyes moved slightly. Slowly, she opened them and licked her lips.

She reached out and turned off the light.

......

By the time Guan Han returned home, it was nearly 4 a.m. She brewed herself a cup of instant coffee, sat down at her desk, opened her laptop, and began typing rapidly.

On the first day of the new year, gossip-loving netizens were treated to a fresh piece of news.

"Fu Yujun's High-Profile Declaration of Love for Her Manager" unsurprisingly claimed the top spot on the trending list.

In the video, Fu Yujun boldly called out to her agent, "I see you—the one in the white down jacket. Stop now and come over here." This was followed by a series of bold moves, and by the end of the clip, the two were sweetly and affectionately boarding the van together.

The Coquettish Woman Has the Best Fate: [I was there last night—it's real!] (8,942 likes)

White Robe, Holy Sword: [Ahhhhhh Fu Yujun is so alpha!!! Is this a CP? I'm dying from sweetness!] (like)

Midona: [Confirmed they're dating. Did you see how Fu Yujun's image completely collapsed? The gentle, jade-like noble turned into a tsundere queen. I'm hooked.] (like)

A Cup of Longevity: [Am I the only one who thinks Fu Yujun is just hyping this? Can't she just focus on acting? Now she's into CP hype too.] (7,777 likes)

Marry Me, Young Master Fu: [Is the agent trying to debut herself? I've never seen an agent leech off an artist like this. If there's no scandal, she's persistent in creating one.] (9,898 likes)

Fu Yujun's Wife: [Don't ask, just know the agent is de@d to me.]

Young Master Fu is Unparalleled: [Can someone please rein in this agent who's tying herself to the artist for CP hype? Our Fu signed with her out of sisterly affection, and this is how she's treated? Too much @QinTang Entertainment @QinYinong @Tang Ruoyao]

QinTang Number One: [Why drag Qin and Tang into this? Do you think Fu Yujun is a clueless three-year-old? Anyone can see she and her agent are close. You're fighting for her now, but don't end up with egg on your face.]

Fu Yujun savored that brief kiss for hours. The next day, she slept until noon and opened WeChat.

First, she dealt with the pile of New Year's greetings from the night before, then clicked into the dorm group chat with 99+ messages.

Tang Ruoyao: [﹁_﹁]

Cui Jiaran: [﹁_﹁]

Wen Shuxian: [Never thought I'd get to eat a melon about Lao Fu's kiss. The entertainment media is so sensational—they can spin two women into a romance. By that logic, our dorm could pair up into several couples.]

Cui Jiaran: [I'm straight.]

Wen Shuxian: [Lao Fu is straight too, but that doesn't stop CP shipping.]

Tang Ruoyao: [﹁_﹁]

Wen Shuxian: [Alright, we know you're gay. You're the only little gay sprout in our 405 dorm.]

Fu Yujun popped in: [Hahaha]

Wen Shuxian: [You think it's funny too, right? How about we form a CP now? I've even thought of a name: the Yu-Shu CP. It'll definitely be hotter than you and Assistant Guan. Wanna ride my hype?]

Fu Yujun: [No, no]

Speaking of Guan Han, Fu Yujun noticed that among the flood of unread messages today, there was none from Guan Han. She touched her fingertip to her lips, as if the delicate softness still lingered there.

Guan He walked up to Guan Han's door, knocked, and called out, "Time to eat."

Guan Han: "You go ahead. I'm working."

Guan He returned to the dining room, sat down, and said to her parents, "Sis says she's working and told us to eat first."

Guan Han's mother frowned slightly. "Why does she have to work on the first day of the New Year?"

Guan He, as a new-gen youth who loves surfing the web, chuckled and explained, "Sis is caught up in a dating rumor with her artist. She's busy making calls to pull the hot search down."

"That girl from last night's Spring Festival Gala?"

"Yep."

"What kind of rumor?"

"Just that they're dating."

"Huh?" Guan Han's mother's eyes widened.

No sooner had she spoken than Guan Han emerged from her room, impeccably dressed with a laptop tucked under her arm. She strode purposefully toward the entrance, announcing, "Mom, Dad, I'm heading back to the office."

With swift efficiency, she was gone.

Guan Han's mother slowly closed her gaping mouth and asked, "Then why did you say they were dating?"

Guan He shared the video with the elderly couple.

Guan Han, who had been running around cleaning up after the artists at the company, was still unaware that once she finished her overtime and returned home, she would face the earnest inquiries of her parents.

......

At three in the afternoon, Guan Han sat in her office chair and let out a long sigh.

As if timing it perfectly, Fu Yujun called.

Guan Han answered but remained silent.

Fu Yujun's voice was as leisurely as if she were on a summer vacation. "Are you done, Manager Guan? Do you have time to have a meal with me?"

The thought of the money flowing out like water filled Guan Han with frustration. She replied darkly, "No time for a meal, but I have time to eat you."

Fu Yujun laughed delightedly. "Then come quickly. I'd be more than willing."

Guan Han: "..." How could this person be so shameless?

Fu Yujun: "Or I could eat you instead."

Guan Han closed her eyes and said, "Stop talking. I don't want to deal with you right now."

Fu Yujun: "Alright, then open the door for me."

Guan Han was taken aback: What door?

Just then, her office door was knocked on.

Guan Han opened the door to find Fu Yujun standing there, holding a thermal lunchbox in both hands. With a cheerful sound effect, she announced, "Ta-da!" She smiled and asked, "Surprised? Happy?"

The corner of Guan Han's mouth twitched unnaturally, as if she wanted to smile but held it back.

She put on a stern face and said expressionlessly, "What are you doing here?"

Fu Yujun raised the thermal lunchbox in her hand and replied with a bright smile, "I came to bring you food. You've worked hard. Didn't you have time for lunch at noon?"

Guan Han didn't respond but stepped aside to let her in.

Fu Yujun was a frequent visitor to her office. She skillfully cleared the magazines and other items from the coffee table, placing them on a nearby cabinet. Then she opened the thermal lunchbox and neatly arranged the dishes one by one.

She had brought an extra set of bowls and chopsticks. Scooping out a bowl of rice from the tightly packed container, she sat down opposite Guan Han.

The office filled with the aroma of the meal.

Guan Han asked, "Haven't you eaten either?"

Fu Yujun said, "I woke up late, so I thought I'd just eat with you."

"How did you know I was at the company?"

"I guessed."

"What if you guessed wrong?"

"Then I'd squat by the door and eat it all by myself."

Guan Han's lips curved slightly.

Fu Yujun picked up some minced pork with eggplant and placed it in Guan Han's bowl, eagerly saying, "Try it and see how it tastes."

Guan Han glanced at the appearance. It wasn't unattractive, but it didn't compare to the takeout Fu Yujun usually ordered. A thought crossed her mind, and she asked, "Did you make this?"

Fu Yujun's eyes flickered, and she seemed slightly embarrassed as she denied it. "No."

Guan Han already had her answer—it was indeed made by her.

She took a bite, chewing slowly and deliberately, then followed it with a mouthful of rice. "It's delicious," she said.

Fu Yujun couldn't help but beam with joy. "Thank you."

Guan Han glanced at her, her expression flat: "Didn't you say you didn't make it?"

Fu Yujun grinned. "Can't I take credit for ordering it well?"

"Fine." A faint smile flickered in Guan Han's eyes, which she hid by lowering her gaze. Softly, she said, "Let's eat before it gets cold."

Fu Yujun picked up her chopsticks and ate quietly. Occasionally, their chopsticks would bump into each other while picking up food. For some reason, her cheeks flushed slightly, and she didn't dare to look up at Guan Han during the meal.

Their chopsticks had touched their lips—didn't that count as an indirect kiss?

Just as Fu Yujun was blushing and her heart racing, the woman across from her spoke up. "Let's be a bit more careful next time."

"Careful about what?"

"Don't let what happened last night occur again." Guan Han's tone was gentle.

Fu Yujun pondered for a moment. "Are you worried about money? I remember part of the commission in the contract is for public relations expenses. If it's not enough, I can cover it myself."

"It's not about the money." Guan Han thought to herself: Is your money not money? Just throwing it away like that.

She carefully chose her words. "You've always been free of sc@ndals since your debut. Being associated with me now won't be good for your reputation. You..."

Fu Yujun interrupted her. "I don't care."

Guan Han replied calmly, "But I do."

Fu Yujun looked at her, her eyes shining.

Guan Han said, "You're my artist. Protecting your image is my responsibility."

Misunderstanding her meaning, Fu Yujun grew somewhat annoyed. "If I were dating someone else, would you stop me from going public?"

Guan Han thought for a moment. "No."

Fu Yujun pressed, "Do you have some kind of stain on your record? Are you that ashamed to be seen?"

Guan Han was taken aback.

What did this have to do with her?!

Fu Yujun scoffed coldly. "If dating someone else wouldn't affect my image, then why would being slightly closer to you—when nothing has even happened—harm my personal reputation? Are we not even allowed to be friends now?"

Guan Han was momentarily at a loss for words, tangled in Fu Yujun's reasoning.

Fu Yujun sneered, "Let them say whatever they want. I'm innocent, and you're forthright. Why should we fear gossip?"

After a moment of silence, Guan Han said, "Everything you say is right, but the person standing by your side shouldn't be me."

Fu Yujun slammed her bowl down with a bang.

She was about to lose her temper again.

Seeing the artist's expression darken, Guan Han quickly backtracked, "What I mean is, you shouldn't be so blatant about it."

Fu Yujun's expression softened slightly as she snorted, "You mean, no more shouting into a megaphone?"

Guan Han: "...Yes, but it's not just that." What if she actually shouted it out loud next time? She was perfectly capable of doing so.

Fu Yujun perfectly demonstrated how a star throws a tantrum, saying impatiently, "Then write me a list of rules and show it to me later. Stop nagging now—talking during meals isn't good for digestion."

Guan Han: "...Alright."

Fu Yujun took a bite of braised pork, pouted, and said pitifully, "I worked so hard to cook and bring you food, and as soon as I arrive, you sc0ld me."

Guan Han widened her eyes.

'When did I sc0ld you? Who's sc0lding whom here?'

Fu Yujun looked at her with a pitiful expression.

Guan Han sighed inwardly and said, "I was wrong."

Fu Yujun declared, "Don't let it happen again."

"Mm, I understand."

Fu Yujun happily resumed eating. Guan Han glanced up at her and said, "Hey, you..."

"What?"

Fu Yujun lifted her head, a single grain of white rice clinging perfectly to the corner of her lips.

For some reason, Guan Han didn't speak. Instead, she instinctively reached out, her hand slowly moving toward Fu Yujun's lips.

Fu Yujun's eyes followed her fingertip, then suddenly darted her tongue out, sweeping away the grain of rice.

Guan Han's movement paused.

The pad of her finger resting against the woman's lips felt warm, carrying a faint hint of moisture.

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