Chapter 316: Fu Yujun & Guan Han [13]

The master bedroom door was gently closed, and a figure silently retreated from the room.

Then came the sound of the front door shutting, followed by the click of the lock.

A breeze lifted a corner of the curtain, and Fu Yujun, deep in sleep, fluttered her eyelashes restlessly before turning over to face the wall. In her dream, she smacked her lips and unconsciously murmured something, a sweet smile spreading across her face.

Guan Han stood inside the elevator, fists clenched at her sides, palms sweating as she breathed heavily and unevenly. The elevator walls reflected her panicked and bewildered face.

It took a while before Guan Han realized she hadn't pressed any buttons. Swallowing to moisten her dry throat, she pressed the button for the basement level.

Fu Yujun had bought an apartment on a very high floor, and the descent took a long time. Guan Han's legs felt weak and sore. She leaned back against the elevator wall, tilting her head up and closing her eyes as her breathing gradually slowed and steadied.

With a soft beep, the elevator reached its destination. Guan Han stepped out calmly, walked three laps around the familiar parking lot before finding her car, and drove home.

She had gone to pick up Fu Yujun at 1 p.m., and after a meal and some back-and-forth errands, it was already evening by the time she got home.

Guan's parents were watching TV, the volume turned up deafeningly loud—a common habit among the elderly as their hearing declined. Guan He was curled up in a single-seater sofa, cracking sunflower seeds while playing on her phone.

A glass panel in the entryway partially concealed Guan Han's figure as she drifted in like a ghost, making no sound at all.

Guan He, sitting closest to the door, caught a flicker of movement out of the corner of her eye. She looked up abruptly, her heart nearly stopping from the fright.

A full-grown person, standing there silently without a word!

Guan He clutched her chest and exclaimed, "Sis, what are you doing?!"

Guan Han, like a machine that had just been switched back on, paused for several dozen seconds after entering before leisurely changing into her other slipper. She replied flatly, "Nothing."

Guan's mother turned down the TV volume and asked, "Did your artist keep you this late again?"

Guan Han let out an almost inaudible "Mm."

Xiao Guiyun had called that afternoon looking for Guan Han, but she wasn't home. Guan's mother was now extremely pleased with this "prospective daughter-in-law" and saw anyone standing between Guan Han and Xiao Guiyun as an obstacle—even if it was a pretty young woman.

Frowning, Guan's mother said, "Is this how it is in your line of work? When they call, you have to drop everything and go?"

A faint unease flickered across Guan Han's expression, but none of the family noticed. Anyone who could read emotions on Guan Han's face was no ordinary person.

Guan He raised her hand and chimed in, "I can answer that! Yeah, that's how it is. The entertainment industry is full of unexpected emergencies."

Guan's mother grumbled, "I get that you're a personal assistant, but isn't your sister a manager? I read online that managers have a lot of authority. I've never heard of an artist needing their manager to follow them around everywhere."

Guan He chuckled, "You read stuff like that?"

Guan Han sat distractedly on another sofa.

Guan's mother and Guan He chatted about something else before the topic suddenly shifted to relationships. Guan's mother asked, "Hey, how old is that artist you manage this year?"

Guan Han calculated based on actual age and said, "Twenty-seven."

"Twenty-seven is getting up there. Does she have a partner?" Guan's mother inquired with concern.

Guan Han's expression suddenly turned cold. A wave of abrupt irritability, mixed with anger, swept through her, shattering her reason like a wildfire. A sentence laden with gunpowder burst from her lips.

"What does that have to do with you?"

She had never spoken so sharply before, leaving her mother speechless.

Guan's father slammed the remote control on the table and barked, "How dare you speak to your mother like that?"

Guan's mother pressed down on her husband's shoulder as he was about to stand up and shook her head.

Guan Han slowly pieced together her scattered composure, bowed her head, and muttered an "I'm sorry" to her mother before excusing herself to her room.

The three people left in the living room exchanged bewildered glances.

It was only then that Guan He timidly spoke up, "I think something's off with Sis today. Her face looked awful—completely drained of color."

Guan's mother turned and scolded her husband, "It's all your fault! Why did you have to yell at her? Can't you see she's in a bad mood?"

Guan's father wanted to retort that it was her who brought up the topic of relationships and set Guan Han off, but faced with his wife's firm accusation, what could he do? He had no choice but to take it.

Sometimes, parents' intuition is frighteningly accurate. After a moment of contemplation, Guan's father said, "She's been acting strange since she got home today. The moment you mentioned whether Fu Yujun has a partner, she exploded. And honestly, they spend way too much time together. Apart from sleeping at home, they're practically inseparable."

He glanced toward Guan Han's closed door and lowered his voice, "Nowadays, she comes home later and later. Who knows, maybe they're even sleeping together."

Guan's mother and Guan He both stared at him with subtle expressions.

Realizing the implication of his words, Guan's father coughed into his hand and clarified, "I meant just sleeping, not... that kind of sleeping."

The more he explained, the worse it sounded.

Both Guan's mother and Guan He agreed that he had a point—their eldest daughter had likely fallen for her own artist.

Although Guan Han worked in the entertainment industry, her parents still couldn't shake their ingrained perception of it as a chaotic melting pot where male and female celebrities mingled promiscuously, with very few remaining "clean."

What were they to do now?

......

Fu Yujun, exhausted from her flight and subsequent car rides, had eaten her fill, taken a bath, and, with her beloved by her side, quickly fell into a deep sleep. She woke up at 11 p.m., her fingers tracing the upward curve of her lips—she was still smiling.

She vaguely remembered having a pleasant dream but had forgotten the details.

The first thing she did upon waking was grab her phone and open WeChat to check for messages from Guan Han.

An hour earlier, Guan Han had sent: [Good night]

Squinting at the time stamp, Fu Yujun noted it was barely 10 p.m. Little Guan Han was going to bed earlier and earlier. At this thought, Fu Yujun suddenly remembered she hadn't asked why Guan Han had been so tired lately.

[I'm awake], Fu Yujun replied.

Guan Han muted her notifications while sleeping, so Fu Yujun lay on her bed, cradling her phone, and typed away without restraint, chattering incessantly.

[I just had hotpot this afternoon, but I'm already hungry again?]

[No way I'm eating a proper meal. Guess I'll just munch on some fruit.]

[Apple or mango? Which one?]

[Hmm, mango it is. I'll make juice. Should I add some milk?]

Her phone vibrated repeatedly. Guan Han stared indifferently at the stream of messages flooding her screen. After three full pages, the little troublemaker finally quieted down and sent a photo of freshly blended mango milk, along with a selfie holding the cup—most of the frame was filled with her face.

It was hard to tell whether the focus was supposed to be her or the juice.

With delicate brows and clear eyes, her long, raven-black hair casually tucked behind one ear, her eyes curved into crescent moons when she smiled, and shallow dimples graced her cheeks, lending her a touch of childlike charm.

Guan Han long-pressed the image, selected "Delete," then scrolled up, deleting one message after another, erasing the source of her inner restlessness. She set her notifications to silent, lay on her side, and drifted off to sleep.

The sixth day of the lunar new year was still a statutory holiday.

Guan Han rose early and practiced a set of martial arts in the home training room. Guan He happened to enter to train as well, so Guan Han grabbed her for a sparring session. Fists flew back and forth between them, their movements sharp and fierce. Guan Han went for a throat lock, but Guan He sidestepped, countering with a reverse grip aimed at her wrist.

Guan Han's eyes flashed like lightning. Instead of retreating, she advanced, shifting her hook into a punch.

Midway, Guan's father joined in, and the three of them sparred vigorously in the training room.

When Guan's mother entered to call them for breakfast, Guan Han and Guan He had pinned Guan's father on the mat, each restraining one of his arms, leaving him immobilized.

Guan Han and Guan He released him. Guan's father stood up, dusting himself off, and chuckled, "The student has surpassed the master. I can't beat you two anymore."

Guan's mother scolded him, "At your age, aren't you afraid of breaking a bone?"

Guan's father replied, "It's fine, they know what they're doing. They're both holding back."

Guan's mother said, "I don't care how you do it. If anyone gets hurt, I'll hold them accountable. Getting be@ten and then scolded—think carefully."

The three of them obediently heeded her decree.

After breakfast, the family dispersed—some watching TV, others doing chores, and some playing on their phones. When sounds echoed from the training room again, Guan's mother scanned the house and noticed Guan Han was missing.

Guan Han spent the entire day in the training room. She took a photo of the wooden dummy she'd been practicing on and posted it to her social media.

Fu Yujun noticed that Guan Han had become elusive again. After replying to a "good morning" message in the morning, she'd vanished. In the evening, Fu Yujun came across Guan Han's post.

[Trained all day. Nothing beats the comfort of home. [Photo of the training room]]

Fu Yujun liked the post and commented: [Impressive!]

Other comments below expressed awe, noting that the wooden dummy had been worn down to the point its original color was unrecognizable.

Fu Yujun privately messaged Guan Han: [Are you practicing Wing Chun? I've seen similar dummies on TV.]

After dinner, Guan Han replied: [It's not Wing Chun. It's a family-style martial art. Many Southern Chinese martial arts use wooden dummies to train hand speed, fluidity of movements, explosive power, and short-range force. You don't have to hold back when sparring with a dummy.]

Fu Yujun's gaze lingered on the words "hand speed." She licked her lips and, as if possessed, typed: [So, you must have fast hands?]

Guan Han didn't catch any hidden meaning: [Pretty decent. Fast enough for typing, at least.]

Fu Yujun laughed silently to herself for a while, then said: [My hand speed is pretty fast too.]

Guan Han wondered inwardly: 'So what?'

Whenever she sensed deeper implications but couldn't decipher them, she'd reply with a simple "Mm."

Fu Yujun: [Work starts tomorrow. Looking forward to seeing you again. So happy!]

Guan Han: [Mm]

Fu Yujun: [Why aren't you more enthusiastic?]

Guan Han: [Enthusiastic]

Fu Yujun: [Hahahaha]

[System Notification: Fu Yujun has sent you a video call request.]

Guan Han instantly declined.

Knowing that Guan Han disliked intrusions into her personal space, Fu Yujun tactfully didn't try again. Since she hadn't finished the book she'd been reading during the day and they'd be meeting tomorrow anyway, she simply said: [I'm going to read now.]

[Mm]

[See you tomorrow.]

On the seventh day of the Lunar New Year, Guan Han tried her best to avoid Fu Yujun, but she still ended up running into her at the office.

Fu Yujun, as usual, hugged and nuzzled her. Guan Han took a deep breath to relax, trying her hardest not to stiffen like a wooden board. Fu Yujun lifted her head from Guan Han's neck and asked, "What's wrong with you?"

The more she said, the more she'd reveal, so Guan Han kept it brief: "Nothing."

Fu Yujun pinched Guan Han's tense arm, skeptical. "Nothing?"

Guan Han withdrew her hand and gestured for Fu Yujun to sit across from her desk. She handed over a freshly printed stack of documents. Fu Yujun glanced at them—commercial endorsement offers—but set them aside for now, her gaze fixed intently on Guan Han's eyes.

Guan Han's dark eyes remained calm and unreadable as they met hers.

Even with Fu Yujun's sharp intuition, she couldn't immediately deduce the truth of the matter.

For the time being, she retreated. Digging into her coat pocket, she pulled out a small trinket and handed it to Guan Han. "Here, a back-to-work gift for you."

Fu Yujun loved giving gifts. For holidays and special occasions, aside from the more lavish presents for New Year's and birthdays, she usually gave delicate little trinkets, each one perfectly tailored to Guan Han's girlish heart.

She even made a point of giving Guan Han a book on International Literacy Day, surprising her with new little delights every so often.

Guan Han was used to it by now, accepting the gifts as a matter of course and occasionally returning the favor.

But this time, Fu Yujun noticed Guan Han hesitated for a few seconds before reaching out to take it, her voice soft as she murmured, "Thank you."

Fu Yujun's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

That afternoon, Fu Yujun, who had stubbornly planted herself in Guan Han's office, received a gift in return. The speed was unusual.

Fu Yujun's frown deepened.

Guan Han thought she was hiding it well, but her body betrayed her. She didn't push Fu Yujun away or deliberately create distance, but every time Fu Yujun drew near, she had to exert tremendous effort to act as she always had. The more she forced it, the more obvious her unease became.

Fu Yujun observed her for a full week before finally concluding that something was definitely wrong—and that it was almost certainly related to her.

Had Guan Han figured out her feelings? But what had tipped her off? Had some switch suddenly flipped in her mind?

Recalling Guan Han's unusual behavior on the fourth and fifth days of the New Year, it seemed more likely that something had shifted within Guan Han herself. Last time, she had even seemed like she wanted to kiss her.

Fu Yujun narrowed her eyes, her thoughtful gaze shifting from behind her book to Guan Han at her desk.

Guan Han's fingers paused over the keyboard. She pressed her pale lips together and continued typing.

Her mind was wandering badly. Even though Fu Yujun was just quietly reading in her office, Guan Han couldn't help stealing glances at her out of the corner of her eye—watching as the sunlight tinged her hair with a soft gold, as her slender, pale fingers slowly turned the pages, her expression focused. Every lift of her eyes, every lowering of her gaze, every movement was like a painting.

When Guan Han snapped back to attention, she found she had typed Fu Yujun's name three full lines in a row in the document before her.

Her heart skipped a beat. The sharp sound of her hitting the delete key startled Fu Yujun, who looked over at her, puzzled.

Guan Han felt as if she'd been caught red-handed. Her heart raced, and her face slowly flushed red.

"I'm going to the restroom." Guan Han announced abruptly, rising to her feet before her cheeks could turn completely crimson.

Fu Yujun closed her book and stood. "I'll go with you."

"No need!" Guan Han's reaction was surprisingly intense.

Fu Yujun slowly raised both hands, looking utterly innocent as she said, "I really need to use the restroom."

Guan Han blurted out, "Hold it in."

"..." Fu Yujun suppressed a laugh. "Alright then, I'll wait here for you. Come back quickly."

Guan Han returned soon after, her lightly made-up face glistening with water droplets, and the collar of her blouse dampened in one spot. The physical cooling method had been quite effective—her thin lips were pressed together, her expression cool and detached.

Fu Yujun played cute and asked, "Can I go now?"

Guan Han waved her hand dismissively.

In high spirits, Fu Yujun strolled down the hallway, smiling and greeting every company employee she passed. When she reached the reception area, she noticed a flower delivery guy holding a large bouquet of vibrant red roses, standing outside the glass door and knocking.

The receptionist opened the door, and Fu Yujun, standing at the entrance, smiled at the delivery guy. Mistaking her for a regular employee, he asked, "Hello, could you tell me how to get to the Artist Management Department?"

Fu Yujun pointed in the direction.

The delivery guy said, "Thank you." He glanced back at Fu Yujun, perhaps finally recognizing her as familiar.

Fu Yujun walked a few steps in the direction she had pointed, then suddenly turned back, frowning, and said, "Wait a minute, who are these flowers for?"

The delivery guy looked down at the bouquet. "Oh, the recipient at the Artist Management Department is Miss Guan Han."

Fu Yujun stepped forward, her expression unchanged, and said, "Give them to me. I am Guan Han."

The delivery guy looked confusedly at the receptionist, seeking confirmation.

The receptionist didn't dare to speak.

Smooth and tactful, the delivery guy's eyes shifted, and he smiled. "Miss Guan Han, let me deliver these to your office for you."

Fu Yujun's face turned cold. "No need." Her eyes fixed on the bouquet of roses, she spoke to the receptionist, "Xiaoling, tell him, am I Guan Han or not?"

Fu Yujun and Guan Han were famously inseparable at the company. Although everyone could tell it was Fu Yujun actively clinging to Manager Guan, hadn't Guan Han never refused? It was a case of one willingly accepting what the other dished out—who had ever seen Guan Han treat anyone else so kindly?

If Fu Yujun intercepted Guan Han's flowers, that was their business. But if she weren't allowed to take them now, the one to suffer would be herself.

After quickly weighing the pros and cons, the receptionist immediately lied without batting an eye, "Yes, she is Guan Han."

The delivery guy smiled cheerfully. "Alright then, please sign for the delivery, Miss Guan."

Fu Yujun signed a name, sent the delivery guy on his way, resisted the urge to pull out the card, her face darkening as she carried the flowers toward Guan Han's office.

Fu Yujun pushed the door open and entered.

Guan Han looked up from behind her desk. The person entering was completely obscured by the large bouquet of flowers, yet Guan Han recognized her instantly.

Flowers... and roses at that...

Three words swirled in Guan Han's mind: What to do...

So much so that she completely missed the low-pressure aura emanating from Fu Yujun.

Fu Yujun walked over step by heavy step, placed the flowers on her desk with a rustling sound, water splashing from the blooms, even causing a petal to fall.

Guan Han: "..."

Was it necessary to be so rough with the flowers?

Guan Han cleared her throat and said calmly, "I don't like flowers."

Fu Yujun curled her lip coldly. "I don't like them either. Let's just throw them away."

Guan Han: "???"

She pulled out the card with two fingers and unfolded it. Fu Yujun immediately leaned in as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Guan Han saw her resting her head on her shoulder, that fluffy hair, and couldn't help but sigh inwardly in resignation.

The card carried a pleasant fragrance. Fu Yujun didn't read the words, only glanced at the signature, her eyes suddenly widening: "Who is Xiao Guiyun?!" She immediately bristled.

Guan Han folded the card and tucked it back in, explaining unhurriedly, "The daughter of my mom's good friend."

"Why is she sending you flowers?"

"She said she likes me."

"Aren't you straight?"

Guan Han thought to herself: 'I used to be, now I'm not sure.'

She lowered her head to fiddle with the petals, answering carelessly, "Yeah."

"Then why is she still sending you flowers?"

"I don't know." Guan Han said lightly.

Fu Yujun smiled and probed, "Now even women are sending you flowers. Could there be a day when you switch teams?"

Guan Han still replied calmly, "Don't know."

Fu Yujun: "If you did switch teams, who would you choose to date?"

Guan Han looked at her, gaze heavy.

Fu Yujun maintained her unchanged smile, carrying just the right amount of innocence and curiosity.

After a long while, Guan Han lowered her eyelids: "I wouldn't choose anyone."

Fu Yujun's smile stiffened slightly, forcing a laugh: "That's good. I don't think anyone is worthy of you."

Guan Han glanced up at her, seeming to have something to ask, her lips moving slightly before swallowing the words.

"Help me throw these flowers away." Guan Han said.

"Okay."

Fu Yujun walked to the doorway, then turned back to ask, "What if these flowers were from me?"

Guan Han's tone turned cold and hard, enunciating each word: "I don't like flowers."

Fu Yujun's expression froze for an instant before naturally flowing again. She smiled and left.

Guan Han watched her back disappear behind the door, her gaze dark and unreadable.

Some people claim love at first sight and immediately send flowers to express their feelings. Others say nothing yet carefully scheme, step by step laying gentle traps, waiting for the bait to take.

Past events intertwined like threads weaving together—just pull the leading thread and the rest would unravel.

When did it begin?

Was it when Fu Yujun voluntarily gave up a promising future to sign with QinTang Entertainment, only to be assigned to a newcomer like her? Coincidence or deliberate arrangement?

Was it when she completely changed her personality around her, gradually testing her boundaries until reaching this brazen proximity?

How much was genuine and how much was feigned during her moments of innocent charm or tsundere outbursts?

Her gloomy expression when holding Xiao Guiyun's flowers, the hidden meanings in her words over the past year, the couple slippers placed at home, her flushed face when being head-patted—were these because she liked her? Starting from very, very early on.

Guan Han wished all her suspicions were wrong.

She didn't deserve such persistent, profound affection.

Fu Yujun threw the flowers in the trash and went to the company rooftop.

In the deserted space, she gazed at the sky beyond the terrace and sighed softly.

It seemed... she couldn't hide it anymore.

The extra week of vacation ended, and Fu Yujun began working nonstop. Guan Han sometimes accompanied her to events, sometimes not. Guan Han deliberately maintained distance from her. After realizing Fu Yujun's likely feelings, she couldn't let her get close so freely.

When Fu Yujun hugged and nuzzled against her, only she herself knew what was truly going through her mind.

That night, Guan Han couldn't resist kissing Fu Yujun, and afterward, she became acutely aware that she too was teetering on the edge of danger. If things continued to develop this way, the outcome would certainly not be what she desired.

But reason and emotion often fail to align—the more she restrained herself, the more this budding affection surged fiercely in the shadows. Like a beast lurking in the darkness, it only awaited an opportunity to break free from its restraints, plunging her into an inescapable abyss.

Three months later, early summer.

The filming of Wu Zetian, starring Qin Yinong and featuring Tang Ruoyao, wrapped up. Wen Shuxian, Fu Yujun, Cui Jiaran, Han Yuping, and others all gathered on set to celebrate the completion of the movie.

Fu Yujun stood offstage, watching as Tang Ruoyao presented Qin Yinong with a bouquet of flowers. Amid the cheers and lively atmosphere, she glanced sideways at Guan Han.

Guan Han had her suit jacket draped over her arm, her shirt sleeves rolled up to reveal a small section of her forearm. Her hands were the type Fu Yujun admired—fair-skinned but not delicate. Thanks to years of martial arts training, her arms were toned and strong, with veins more prominent than those of most women, exuding a vibrant sense of strength.

Her gaze traveled upward, taking in the meticulously buttoned collar of Guan Han's shirt. Even so, the exposed skin of her neck was pale and lovely.

Her hair had been trimmed slightly but was still longer than when Fu Yujun first met her, falling just below her shoulders. One side was tucked behind her ear, revealing a small, pearly earlobe and delicate ear.

A pair of silver-rimmed glasses rested on her tall, straight nose. From the side, her eyelashes appeared long, thick, and slightly curled. Her thin, pale pink lips were pressed together.

Though only a week had passed since they last met, Fu Yujun felt as if years had gone by. She stared unblinkingly at Guan Han's profile, unafraid of being caught. In such a public setting, Guan Han wouldn't dare do anything to her.

Guan Han turned to look at her, her gaze as calm as still water.

Fu Yujun curved her lips into a smile, the dimples in her cheeks lending her a childlike charm.

Behind her glasses, Guan Han's eyes flickered for a moment, and a strange, needle-like pang shot through her chest.

Her fingers, resting at her side, twitched and lifted about ten centimeters before stilling again.

Qin Yinong had organized a gathering for friends who had traveled from afar. The atmosphere was lively and chaotic, especially in the latter half, as a few sociable friends stirred up the energy.

Everyone was drunk—completely and utterly intoxicated, stumbling and collapsing in disarray.

People were sprawled haphazardly across sofas, chairs, and the floor.

Fu Yujun, slightly tipsy herself, had chosen a corner to curl up in. Leaning lazily on one hand, a casual smile played on her lips as she feigned sleep.

Before long, the scene descended into utter chaos. Lin Ruohan was kissing Ren Xingyue recklessly, inspiring other drunk guests to grab each other and engage in passionate, audible kisses.

Fu Yujun chuckled softly, opening her eyes just in time to catch a glimpse of a scene nearby.

Guan Han's cheeks were flushed, the last button of her shirt undone, her collar loosened. She sat in a chair, head bowed as if asleep.

Fu Yujun rose unsteadily to her feet and walked directly toward Guan Han.

She stood over her, looking down.

Guan Han remained motionless.

Guan Han was always alert, she would have noticed someone approaching. Fu Yujun counted to three in her head. After three seconds, she cupped Guan Han's face and kissed her without hesitation.

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