Chapter 324: Fu Yujun & Guan Han [21]
Fu Yujun and Guan Han had lied about staying home for two more days, but secretly returned to Beijing on schedule. Dressed in a trench coat, trousers, high-heeled boots, and a black baseball cap, she swept through the company hallway like a gust of wind, dragging her suitcase behind her. The receptionist nearly called security.
A fair, slender knuckle rapped on the desk. Guan Han's assistant looked up to see Fu Yujun, travel-worn but still stunningly beautiful.
"Is Guan Han in her office?"
The assistant nodded.
"Thank you." Fu Yujun placed a piece of candy on the desk and pushed the door open, suitcase in tow.
Guan Han had guessed it was her from the sound of heels clicking in the hallway and had mentally prepared herself, barely managing not to break into a smile the moment she saw Fu Yujun.
Fu Yujun released her suitcase and spread her arms. "Surprise~"
Guan Han remained seated in her office chair.
Fu Yujun's already faint hope vanished, but she wasn't upset. Smiling, she walked over, circled behind the desk, and stood before Guan Han.
The corners of Guan Han's eyes curved upward briefly before returning to normal.
Fu Yujun, ever observant, thought to herself: As stubborn as ever.
She reached out, boldly removing Guan Han's glasses.
A pair of gentle, innocent almond-shaped eyes were fully exposed before her.
Fu Yujun remembered how the corners of those eyes would blush faintly in moments of passion.
Guan Han squinted slightly, her eyes adjusting, and raised a hand to retrieve her glasses. "Don't mess around."
Instead of the glasses, her hand was caught by Fu Yujun's cool, smooth fingers.
Fu Yujun's body temperature was normal, but Guan Han's ran warmer, making the contrast stark. The memory of that night surfaced—heat and coolness, rubbing and merging, the cool growing warm, the warm growing hotter, until an invisible blaze nearly consumed them both.
Guan Han was moderately nearsighted. At this distance, she could clearly see the other's face, yet she kept her gaze slightly lowered, as if afraid to meet Fu Yujun's eyes.
Having spent over two years with her, Fu Yujun understood Guan Han's temperament perfectly—especially since Guan Han had begun to open up. She often avoided Fu Yujun's gaze, not out of rejection, but rather, if one had to interpret it, out of shyness.
Fu Yujun lifted Guan Han's chin with her index finger.
Guan Han's eyelids lifted slightly, casting a faint, sidelong glance at her.
Fu Yujun smiled.
If she didn't know Guan Han better, she might have mistaken it for resistance. If Guan Han were truly resisting, she would have directly swatted Fu Yujun's hand away. This? At most, it was bluster.
Fu Yujun leaned in and captured the other woman's lips.
There was no preamble—just a deep, urgent kiss.
As the saying goes, absence makes the heart grow fonder. Having just shared a night of indulgence, they skipped past tenderness and went straight to passion, as if thunder had ignited fire, instantly rekindling the memories of that night.
After only a few kisses, Guan Han's arms, which had been hanging at her sides, rose and wrapped around Fu Yujun's slender waist through her trench coat, gripping the thin fabric of her shirt.
Fu Yujun leaned further down, one hand cupping Guan Han's cheek, her slender fingers toying with the delicate shell of an ear as she pressed Guan Han into the office chair, kissing her deeply.
Warm breath brushed against lips, cheeks, and ears. Guan Han's face grew increasingly flushed, her breathing ragged as she arched her long, pale neck backward.
The office air conditioning was on, and Guan Han wore only a white shirt beneath.
The top button was undone. Fu Yujun played with it, teasingly, on and off, drawing out the desire to its peak.
The kisses grew slower, more deliberate, and increasingly enticing.
Guan Han truly lived up to her martial arts background—her hand cupped the back of the woman's head and pressed down firmly.
Fu Yujun's chin bumped against a bony surface, catching her off guard. She nearly bit her tongue in surprise.
Fu Yujun: "..."
Guan Han tilted her head and lightly nibbled on the woman's ear.
A shiver ran through Fu Yujun's entire body. She let out a low, muffled moan and nearly melted into Guan Han's embrace.
Guan Han narrowed her eyes and repeated the experiment several times.
Fu Yujun felt tingling all over. Unable to bear it any longer, she pushed Guan Han's head away and retreated to a safe distance.
Guan Han picked up the glasses left on the desk and put them on. A faint, ambiguous smile played on her lips.
She rarely smiled like this. Paired with her newly acquired gold-rimmed glasses, she exuded an air of refined elegance—the kind that made one's heart race and cheeks flush, irresistibly drawing others to fall at her feet.
Fu Yujun: "..."
Little Guan Han was learning to be mischievous faster than she had expected—but she liked it.
Fu Yujun responded with an even brighter smile and warmly invited, "Want to come to my place tonight?"
Guan Han smiled as she delivered a ruthless reply: "No."
Fu Yujun blinked. "Why not?"
Guan Han: "Work."
"You can work at my place too. I'll let you use the study."
"No."
"Then... shall we have dinner together tonight?"
"We'll see in the evening."
"It's settled then."
Fu Yujun unilaterally made the decision, and Guan Han raised no objection.
Fu Yujun tossed her suitcase into a corner and boldly claimed the sofa in Guan Han's office. She propped her long, straight legs up and declared, "I'm going to take a nap here. Wake me up when you finish work."
"Don't."
Fu Yujun tilted her head. "Hmm?"
Guan Han explained, "I have to go out soon. It'll take about two or three hours, and I won't be coming back to the office."
"Where are you going?"
Guan Han mentioned the name of a producer from a television station and said, "You should go home first. I'm not sure if I can wrap up on time. If not, we'll have to cancel dinner."
Fu Yujun agreed without fuss or coquettish protests, obediently sitting up.
A talent manager's job is no less demanding than an artist's. A skilled manager must accumulate ample business connections, brand resources, and media networks to bring exposure and value to their artists. These resources don't appear out of thin air—they require the manager to socialize, expand their network, and maintain relationships to build their own web of connections.
Guan Han appreciated Fu Yujun's clear-headed nature in all matters. It never made her feel burdened.
Though describing one's beloved as "burdensome" might sound harsh, people are complex, and Guan Han was someone who disliked complications. If Fu Yujun hadn't been this kind of person, she would never have been able to get close to her.
The more Guan Han looked at her, the more fond she felt. She walked over and ruffled Fu Yujun's hair, saying, "If I can't make it back, let's postpone dinner to tomorrow. My treat."
Fu Yujun closed her eyes and puckered her lips, asking for a kiss.
Guan Han glanced down at the woman's red lips, then leaned over and gently kissed her cheek.
Fu Yujun opened her eyes, pulled Guan Han—who was about to pull away—back toward her, and thoroughly savored the taste of her lips.
When the kiss ended, Fu Yujun continued to hold her tightly, breathing unevenly as she whispered by her ear, "Are you really not coming to my place?"
"No."
"Then what if I go to yours?"
"No good."
"How about a hotel?"
"You..." Guan Han adjusted her askew glasses and paused for a few seconds before saying in an unreadable tone, "You've never been this impatient before."
Fu Yujun declared with righteous indignation, "You never gave me the chance."
Guan Han responded incredulously, "Did I give you one now?"
"You did."
Desire is another form of Pandora's box. Once opened and unleashed, it cannot be contained again.
This is not something to be ashamed of; it's as ordinary as eating and drinking. Fu Yujun, at an age of vigorous needs and having suppressed them for so long, now found the floodgates wide open. Having tasted the sweetness, it was only natural for her to cling to Guan Han, wanting to indulge a few more times to her heart's content.
Guan Han, however, remained extremely aloof.
If Fu Yujun hadn't learned during their dirty talk that night that Guan Han also took care of her own needs, she would have truly believed her to be as unruffled as she appeared on the surface.
Fu Yujun sighed dramatically, "I'm going to wither away."
Guan Han: "..." What kind of metaphor is that?
Fu Yujun shot her a sidelong glance and sighed again, "Don't you know delicate flowers need to be watered regularly? You can't just give me a sip, whet my appetite, and then leave me hanging."
Guan Han: "..."
The delicate flower herself gazed at her pitifully.
Guan Han stood up and poured her a glass of plain water, urging, "Finish it and go home. I'll message you if anything comes up."
Fu Yujun: "That's not the kind of water I meant!"
Guan Han stared at her expressionlessly, feigning ignorance with a "I don't know what you're talking about" look.
Fu Yujun met her gaze until Guan Han's ears and cheeks flushed with a vivid crimson, unable to control it. Satisfied, Fu Yujun took a sip of the plain water.
She clearly understood!
Under Fu Yujun's persistent influence, Little Guan Han was no longer the clueless Little Guan Han of before—she had become Niohuru Little Guan Han. [A noble or aristocratic identity, likely reflecting a change in her status or persona under Fu Yujun's influence.]
Guan Han's face was red, but it didn't diminish the deterrent power in her eyes.
"Go home."
"Okay." Fu Yujun obediently took the suitcase Guan Han handed her and made a "call me" gesture at the door. "Don't text me, call me. I want to hear your voice."
Guan Han waved her off dismissively.
She seemed impatient, yet after Fu Yujun turned away, she stared at the hem of her clothes until it disappeared from the doorway.
Guan Han took off her glasses and pressed her hands against her slightly warm cheeks.
That evening, as expected, Guan Han didn't have dinner with Fu Yujun. She had gathered with the producer and others for drinks and socializing. Fu Yujun was in the study reading scripts, with her message notifications and vibrations turned on. Around 10 p.m., her screen lit up.
Guan Han: [Home]
Fu Yujun sent a video call request, which was declined. A voice call came through instead, and Fu Yujun accepted.
Guan Han placed her phone on the dining table, put it on speaker, and began unbuttoning her shirt as she asked, "What is it?"
"Nothing, just wanted to hear how much you've had to drink."
"You can tell from that? Then how much do you think I drank?"
"You're talking more than usual. About eight liang of baijiu?" [One liang is approximately 50 grams, so eight liang would be about 400 grams (or roughly 0.88 pounds) of baijiu.]
Guan Han sat down, massaging her temples, and said, "More or less. Less than a jin." [1 jin is equivalent to 500 grams or approximately 1.1 pounds.]
"Feeling dizzy?"
"Sort of."
If she weren't dizzy, she would have said no. "Sort of" meant she was a bit dizzy.
Fu Yujun released the script page she was holding, closed her eyes for a moment, and said, "Can I come take care of you?"
Guan Han picked up the cold water pitcher on the table, poured herself a glass, and gulped down half of it in one go. Without hesitation, she replied, "No need. I'll take a shower and sleep it off."
Fu Yujun sighed inwardly.
"Then... get some rest early."
"Mm." Guan Han said, "Good night."
"You can say good night when you're actually going to sleep. I'm going to take a shower too."
"Do you want to call?"
"A voice message is fine."
"Mm."
Fu Yujun couldn't see Guan Han's expression, but she could sense the other's apparent relief.
Was talking on the phone with her a burden for Guan Han?
Someone with such strong boundaries—when living in her own home, video calls were always rejected, never letting Fu Yujun see the room's layout. If she felt unwell, she wouldn't mention it, and she clearly refused any offers of care.
They were mutually attracted, but it wasn't enough. Guan Han liked her and was willing to spend time with her, but she didn't want Fu Yujun intruding into her solitary life. She didn't have the instinctive dependence on a partner that most people in relationships did.
Yes, Fu Yujun had one-sidedly defined their relationship as romantic. Although Guan Han hadn't explicitly said it, her actions had tacitly acknowledged it. The reason she hadn't spoken it aloud was probably because she still couldn't accept the idea of sharing a life.
For a soul accustomed to freedom, to be shackled in the name of love and confined to a limited space—how could that happen overnight?
Guan Han took everything seriously, including relationships. Only after she was certain that Fu Yujun was the one she wanted to spend her life with would she choose to confess and formally commit.
Guan Han washed off the smell of alcohol, changed into fresh cotton pajamas, and slipped into bed, but sleep eluded her.
Fu Yujun's last words before hanging up kept echoing in her mind. Guan Han was straightforward, not stupid. She knew Fu Yujun wanted to take their relationship further, but she wasn't ready. Perhaps she needed more time, or perhaps she would never be ready.
This indefinite waiting wasn't fair to Fu Yujun.
Tossing and turning, Guan Han propped herself up on her elbow, sat up, and sent Fu Yujun a message: [Are you asleep?]
[No]
The words Guan Han had prepared suddenly stuck in her throat.
Fu Yujun: [Can't sleep? What did you want to tell me?]
Guan Han's eyes widened slightly.
Was this person a mind reader? How did she always know what Guan Han was thinking?
Guan Han said: [I've thought about it. I really do like you.]
Fu Yujun: [Mm]
Guan Han continued: [Before meeting you, I never thought about spending my life with someone, nor did I ever imagine I might fall in love one day. Since you already know I like you, it's not fair for me to keep you hanging like this. It weighs on my conscience too.]
Fu Yujun: [Mm]
Guan Han: [Can I ask you a question?]
Fu Yujun: [Go ahead]
Guan Han: [How much do you like me?]
Fu Yujun's reply came quickly, as if she had rehearsed it countless times in her mind: [I want to marry you.]
Guan Han pressed her lips together, her fingers slowly withdrawing from the virtual keyboard.
She had considered possible responses from Fu Yujun—"a lot," "I love you"—but she hadn't expected an answer that would leave her feeling so... indescribable, her throat inexplicably tight.
This kind of liking was exactly what Guan Han feared most.
Her fingers slowly returned to the keyboard, but she hesitated, unable to type.
Merely drafting her thoughts in her mind wasn't enough. Guan Han got up, went to her desk, and wrote a few lines in a notebook, revising and editing like a primary school student correcting flawed sentences.
Ten minutes later, Fu Yujun received a long message.
[I am truly grateful for your persistent affection, chasing after someone as uninteresting as me for so long. Hearing your response has made me realize the depth of your feelings, which is why what I'm about to say might hurt you.
I still cannot allow you to enter or interfere with my life outside of work hours, and this may remain the case for a very long time—perhaps even forever. This contradicts your intention of "marriage."
Therefore, I am giving you three options. First, I can assign you a new agent, and we will no longer have any contact. Time and distance will fade everything, including your affection. Second, we can start a relationship, but aside from the duties and obligations of being a girlfriend, I cannot offer you more. You may kiss me, and we can be int!mate. However, if I ever doubt the relationship or feel it is affecting my life, I will end it at any time. Of course, you may also choose to break up. Once we part ways, we go our separate lives, and you must not cling to me. Third, we keep things as they are—you as the artist, me as the agent... Well, actually, there is no third option. We cannot maintain the status quo, things have already changed.]
Just as Fu Yujun finished reading, Guan Han sent another message.
[I suggest you choose the first option. Don't waste your time on someone who isn't worth it.]
Fu Yujun smiled and typed: [Only those who are worth it would say they aren't.]
A flicker of determination shone in her eyes, her lips pressed into a firm line as she replied: [I choose the second option.]
Burn the boats and break the woks—how would she know without trying?
Fu Yujun: [Hello, girlfriend.]
Guan Han: [If we break up, I hope you'll keep your promise and not use Qin Jie to set me up again.]
Feeling both bittersweet and amused, Fu Yujun replied: [It's the first day of our relationship. Could you at least try to be a little romantic?]
Guan Han: [[Image]]
She sent a screenshot of her chat with Fu Yujun. The key detail wasn't the conversation itself, but the note displayed at the top of the screen: "gf."
GirlFriend.
Girlfriend
Fu Yujun stared at it for a long while, her lips uncontrollably curling into a wide smile. She stuffed her wrist into her mouth to keep herself from giggling out loud in the middle of the night.
Guan Han: [See you tomorrow. Good night.]
Fu Yujun hugged her phone, grinning foolishly, and replied with a voice message: "Good night."
After sending it, she listened to her own message and found it embarrassingly silly. She quickly withdrew it and typed instead: [Good night, girlfriend.]
Guan Han cracked open her eyes to glance at the message, then locked her screen and set the phone aside. A smile tugged at the corners of her lips. She pulled the blanket up over her nose, and within seconds, her eyes crinkled with laughter. She ended up pulling the blanket all the way over her head, but soft giggles still escaped from under the covers, carried away by the night breeze brushing past the window.
She slept soundly through the night.
Early the next morning, Fu Yujun sat in front of her dressing mirror, meticulously applying layer after layer of foundation and concealer. She scrutinized her reflection closely, then suddenly frowned. No, no—she still looked a little tired.
She had been so excited the night before that she hadn't slept a wink, and she was sure she was starting to get dark circles under her eyes.
On the first day of their relationship, she had to appear perfect in front of Guan Han.
She spent an hour and a half on her makeup and another two hours picking out an outfit. She left home at 8:30 and arrived at the company promptly at 9:00.
Guan Han's assistant stared in disbelief as Fu Yujun stood outside the Guan Han's office, smoothing down her skirt with a nervous expression. She raised two fingers and gently knocked on the door twice.
Guan Han's cool voice came from inside.
"Come in."
Fu Yujun stepped in quietly.
Outside the door, the assistant's jaw dropped to the floor.
Guan Han was bent over her desk, writing something with a fountain pen. Without looking up, she said, "Good morning."
"Good morning," Fu Yujun replied, her voice tense. She opened her mouth, wanting to say the words "girlfriend," but her tongue felt as if it were sealed in cement—stiff and uncooperative. She pressed her lips together and stood frozen in place.
Guan Han paused slightly, lifting her gaze. A faint light flickered deep in her eyes.
Fu Yujun was wearing a pale blue lace dress, with ruffled sleeves and a hemline that added a touch of youthful sweetness. She looked like a fresh graduate—innocent and pure.
Whether it was the dress constraining her spirit or not, Fu Yujun didn't dare move under Guan Han's assessing gaze. All she could do was blush, her heart racing.
Guan Han thought for a moment, then said calmly, "You look very beautiful today."
Fu Yujun smiled demurely, pleased by the compliment.
But upon reflection, why had Guan Han paused before speaking? Was it a line she had prepared in advance?
Guan Han said, "Why are you just standing there? Have a seat."
Fu Yujun walked over to the sofa and sat down, placing her hands primly in her lap, sitting upright like a proper lady.
Suddenly, it struck her: Why was their first meeting after confirming their relationship like this? It felt more formal than the day they signed their contract. What kind of relationship was this? Hadn't she chosen option two instead of option one?
Fu Yujun pulled out her phone from her bag and checked the chat history. Her flustered heart slowly calmed, and she wiped the fine sweat from her fingers with a tissue.
"Um..." Fu Yujun whispered almost inaudibly, "Girlfriend?"
The moment the word left her lips, Guan Han's voice came from behind the desk, low but gentle: "Are you calling me?"
Fu Yujun's lips curved into a smile, which she quickly suppressed, keeping it at its most gentle arc. "Yes."
Guan Han looked at her. "Is something wrong?"
Fu Yujun shook her head, then nodded.
Guan Han: "Hmm?"
Fu Yujun felt a bit dizzy, as if she were floating on clouds, making her entire being feel light and unsteady.
In truth, Guan Han had always been patient with her, but the change in their relationship made Fu Yujun feel nothing but the tenderness and consideration of a lover. Was this really Guan Han? Her girlfriend, Guan Han?
Guan Han's brows furrowed slightly. "Are you feeling unwell?"
Fu Yujun steadied herself by placing a hand on the edge of the sofa, slowly calming her breathing.
Yet her heart continued to beat wildly, betraying her composure.
She swallowed, her throat dry, and said, "Could you... come over here for a moment?"
"Now?"
"Yes."
Guan Han set down her pen and walked over.
Fu Yujun clenched the sofa fabric tightly, trying not to faint from sheer excitement.
Guan Han sat beside her.
Fu Yujun said, "Could you... kiss me?"
Guan Han asked, "Where?"
Fu Yujun pointed to her own lips.
Guan Han removed her glasses, holding them in her hand, and leaned in to kiss her.
Fu Yujun's mind exploded with countless white fireworks.
It felt like being swept away by a raging wave, like living in a dream.
Guan Han gave her two light kisses before pulling back, her dark pupils reflecting the small figure before her as she gazed deeply at Fu Yujun. "More?"
Fu Yujun nodded.
Guan Han placed her glasses on the coffee table, her slender, pale fingers tucking a strand of Fu Yujun's hair behind her ear. Her thumb gently stroked Fu Yujun's cheek, feeling the skin beneath her touch gradually grow warmer.
......
Fu Yujun gasped for breath and lightly pushed Guan Han's shoulder.
Guan Han stopped. "No more kissing?"
Fu Yujun propped herself up on her elbows, straightened her posture, and sat with her knees pressed together on the sofa. Her fair cheeks were flushed with a rosy hue as she shook her head gently. Biting her lip, she leaned close to Guan Han's ear and whispered something.
Guan Han froze for a moment, her gaze instinctively shifting to Fu Yujun's skirt.
A deep blush instantly spread across Fu Yujun's face, her ears turning red as well. She lowered her head and said quickly, "I need to use the restroom." With that, she hurried out without giving Guan Han a chance to respond.
Guan Han hadn't intended to say anything anyway. She touched her index finger to her lower lip, lost in a daze for a moment, then lowered her hand and returned to her desk.
After freshening up in the restroom stall, Fu Yujun stepped out and turned on the faucet. She squeezed a pump of hand soap, rubbing her hands together to create a lather of white foam before rinsing it off under the running water.
She looked up and saw her reflection in the mirror.
Her face was flushed, her eyes shimmering with a spring-like tenderness that seemed ready to overflow. Her lips were slightly swollen, tinged with an intense, captivating crimson.
Was this what it felt like to be in love? Yes, she was in love—with the person she had always dreamed of.
Fu Yujun lowered her head and laughed softly.
After they started dating, Guan Han became incredibly accommodating and indulgent toward her. In the past, Guan Han would occasionally pretend to scold her, but now, she didn't even do that. No matter what Fu Yujun said or did, Guan Han would simply agree. Fu Yujun would playfully test her limits, and Guan Han would stand by, gazing at her with adoration, smiling as she said, "That's fine."
Except for the fact that Guan Han still refused to video call her at home, wouldn't let her visit her place, didn't allow Fu Yujun to take care of her when she drank too much, and declined Fu Yujun's offer to prepare all her meals—in every other way, Guan Han behaved like the perfect partner.
She would stay over at Fu Yujun's place when the latter looked at her with pitiful, pleading eyes. The large bed, the sofa, the carpet, the bathroom, the floor-to-ceiling windows—all bore traces of their passionate encounters.
But Fu Yujun had never been to her home, never knew what she was like beyond work or their time together.
She was finally no longer satisfied with only having a part of Guan Han.
"Can I go to your place?" Fu Yujun even found an excuse, raising a plastic bag in her hand as she smiled and said, "I bought a lot of groceries. I'll cook for you tonight."
Guan Han's gaze was cold as she replied, "No."
"Why?" Fu Yujun couldn't understand. "We're lovers, aren't we?"
"That has nothing to do with it."
"Do you like me?"
"Yes," Guan Han answered frankly.
"Then why won't you let me go to your home?"
"We made an agreement," Guan Han said. "Apart from the duties and obligations of being a girlfriend, I can't give you more. We kiss, we have s3x—that's part of the duties. You coming to my home isn't included."
"Then all the indulgence and accommodation you've shown me these days—was that all just duty?" Fu Yujun took a step back in disbelief, tears glistening in her eyes.
"Yes." She was always rational and composed, her words brief, yet they turned into the sharpest dagger, piercing straight into Fu Yujun's heart.
Guan Han added, "By the way, we also agreed on one more thing: if I feel this relationship is affecting my life, I will propose a breakup."
Fu Yujun's lips trembled.
Guan Han adjusted her glasses and smiled cruelly. "It's time. Let's break up."
Fu Yujun felt as if her heart were being torn apart. She pressed a hand tightly to her chest, bent over, gasping for breath, as large tears fell one after another.
And then she woke up.
Author's Note:
Don't worry, it was just a dream.
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