Chapter 329: Fu Yujun & Guan Han [26]

Guan Han switched positions with her, pinning Fu Yujun's hands against the door above her head.

Fu Yujun willingly nestled into her embrace like a little bird, tilting her face up to gaze at her with wide, blinking eyes, looking utterly delighted by the situation.

Guan Han: "..."

She released Fu Yujun's hands and urged softly, "Shouldn't you go change your clothes now?"

Fu Yujun pouted at her, "You're always telling me to take my clothes off."

Guan Han placed both hands on her waist.

Fu Yujun immediately surrendered, "Don't lift me, don't lift me. I'll change."

Guan Han: "I'll wait for you outside."

Fu Yujun pursed her lips in a pout.

Seeing her expression that looked like it could hang an oil bottle, Guan Han leaned down and quickly kissed her, then swiftly pulled the door open and stepped out before Fu Yujun could react.

Fu Yujun stared at the closed door, a slight smile curling her lips.

Outside, Guan Han straightened her collar and brushed off her blazer before walking toward Director Shen who was still waiting.

Director Shen watched her approach, a playful expression appearing only when Guan Han stood before her. She pointed to her own lips.

Guan Han: "???"

Director Shen smiled meaningfully, "Your lipstick is smudged."

Guan Han: "!!!"

Guan Han: "I need to visit the restroom. Please excuse me."

Director Shen laughed generously, "Not at all. Would you mind if I joined you?"

Guan Han couldn't very well refuse, so she smiled and nodded.

In the restroom, Guan Han took out a small mirror from her bag to reapply her lipstick. Director Shen turned off the faucet, took a tissue and leisurely dried her hands, saying, "Forgive me for just learning the good news. Is it too late to offer congratulations?"

In their circle, everyone was as cunning as a thousand-year-old fox. Denying would be useless, so Guan Han gave a polite smile, "Of course not."

Director Shen: "You two make a lovely couple."

Guan Han: "Thank you."

Fu Yujun, now wearing the light white dress she had arrived in, saw the two walking shoulder-to-shoulder outside the changing room. Her brows furrowed slightly before quickly smoothing out as she approached with a gentle smile, teasing, "When did you two become so close? I had no idea."

Director Shen exclaimed, "Oh my," and said, "Let me flatter myself for a moment—you must be jealous of her."

Fu Yujun naturally linked arms with Guan Han and joked, "You're right about flattering yourself. Of course I'm jealous of you—what makes you worthy of going to the restroom with Manager Guan?"

Director Shen replied with mock seriousness, "Because we're both women."

Fu Yujun laughed heartily and said, "It's not too late for congratulations. You're treating us to lunch."

Director Shen made a gesture as if removing a non-existent top hat and bowed slightly, "It would be my honor."

The three of them booked a private room at a restaurant near Xinglan. Guan Han maintained her silence throughout the meal, listening to the two women gossip and occasionally burst into clear laughter—the subject of their gossip being none other than Guan Han herself.

Guan Han: "..." They really weren't treating her like a person.

Maintaining a polite smile, Guan Han quietly served Fu Yujun—removing fish bones, peeling shrimp, and filling her bowl with soup. She was practically ready to feed her directly. As long as no one forced her to join the conversation or share opinions, these tasks came naturally to her.

Director Shen saw them off to their van. Once the door closed, Fu Yujun wrapped her arms around Guan Han's neck, her voice slightly tipsy from the wine she'd enjoyed during the meal, "Did... you hear?"

The question came out of nowhere. Guan Han waited but heard no follow-up, so she replied, "I heard."

Fu Yujun complained, "I haven't even said it yet!"

Guan Han straightened her tilting body and said patiently, "Then go ahead."

Fu Yujun leaned close to her ear, speaking softly as if afraid of being overheard, and whispered breathily, "I like you."

Guan Han's ear tingled from her breath, and the softest part of her heart felt as if it had been gently scratched by a tiny hand, making it itch intensely. She responded in a low voice, "Mm."

Fu Yujun chuckled and continued whispering, "I like you."

The corners of Guan Han's lips lifted.

"I know," she said, holding Fu Yujun close in her embrace and gently kissing her forehead.

Fu Yujun tilted her face up and closed her eyes.

Guan Han lifted her onto her lap and kissed her lips with utmost tenderness, the faint scent of alcohol lingering in their shared breaths and mingling lips.

Fu Yujun's ears and cheeks burned hot as she hooked her arms around Guan Han's neck, pressing her face into the crook of her neck.

The scent that filled Guan Han's nostrils made her momentarily lose control.

It wasn't until Fu Yujun began to whimper and cling to her, her voice as sweet as if she had eaten a whole spoonful of honey, that Guan Han snapped back to reality. She adjusted Fu Yujun's disheveled collar and pulled her skirt back down to cover her calves below the knees. Turning her head to look out the car window at the passing streets, the violent pounding in her chest gradually subsided as the car moved.

Fu Yujun buried her face in Guan Han's chest, and from an angle Guan Han couldn't see, she pouted slightly, let out an imperceptible sigh, and quietly closed her eyes.

Fu Yujun had no schedule that afternoon, so Guan Han took her home to rest before heading to the company.

After reporting her work to Qin Yinong, Qin Yinong signed the last page of the document and handed it back to her, half-seriously and half-teasingly telling her to keep her wife in check and not let her call Qin Yinong's wife in the middle of the night after having nightmares.

It took Guan Han a moment to process this before she asked, "Was that the night before last?"

Qin Yinong shrugged.

Guan Han was silent for a few seconds before saying, "I understand."

Concerned about Guan Han's reserved nature, Qin Yinong called out to her just before she left the office, "If you have any questions, feel free to ask me, whether they're work-related or personal."

"Thank you, Qin Jie."

Guan Han left.

"You're welcome," Qin Yinong said, twirling her pen.

Guan Han made a note of the matter on her computer's desktop sticky notes, then focused her attention on work—reviewing scripts and making phone calls. The afternoon slipped by unnoticed.

As summer approached, the days grew longer, and the sunlight outside the window was exceptionally bright. When Guan Han received a message from Fu Yujun asking if she was off work yet, she was surprised to find it was already past five.

Guan Han tidied her desk and replied, [Getting ready to leave.]

Fu Yujun: [Did you lose track of time working again?]

Guan Han: [I had a lot to do this afternoon and didn't notice the time.]

Fu Yujun: [Didn't you miss me at all? Hmph.]

Once again, Guan Han marveled inwardly at Fu Yujun's girlishness and replied, [All my work is about you. How much more could I miss you?]

Fu Yujun: [Missing me because of work is different from truly missing me. Didn't you want to hold me or kiss me? I've been thinking about you all afternoon, waiting eagerly until you were off work to message you.]

Guan Han thought to herself, if I were like you, I wouldn't get any work done.

She chose to change the subject: [I'm heading home now.]

Fu Yujun, sitting in a chair in her study with a half-read book open in front of her, let her pretty face fall in disappointment.

While other newly-in-love couples can't bear to be apart for even a second, this person remains rational enough to go home as usual. Is it because I lack charm? It's like the emperor attending morning court every day without fail.

Guan Han didn't overthink it. After work, she headed home, though her mood had improved slightly.

Fu Yujun was someone who could bring her joy.

As she approached the elevator, the doors were just closing. An employee inside spotted her through the gap and quickly pressed the open button.

The closed elevator doors slid open before Guan Han. Adjusting the strap of her shoulder bag with one hand, she politely said, "Thank you," a faint, spring-breeze-like smile gracing her lips.

The employees: "!!!" It must be a dagger hidden behind that smile!

Within the radius centered around Guan Han, the employees pressed closer to each other, eyes fixed on the ground, not daring to look directly at her, not even stealing a glance from the corner of their eyes.

Guan Han: "..."

'Am I really that terrifying?'

Basking in the employees' fear, Guan Han reached the underground parking level. As she walked toward her parking spot, she texted Fu Yujun about the incident. Last night, during their late-night chat, Fu Yujun had encouraged her to be herself, not bound by rigid rules, and to share with her all the things she couldn't say to others.

In short, to learn to share.

Guan Han remembered every word she said.

Fu Yujun: That's great. No one will compete with me for you then.

Guan Han got into her car, fastened her seatbelt, and smiled at the reply: Only you think I'm good. Everyone else is terrified of me, let alone getting close.

Fu Yujun: They just don't know how to appreciate you.

Guan Han didn't start the engine yet, staying in the driver's seat to chat: What do you like about me?

She had seen a saying online: "True love needs no reason." Curious, she wondered if Fu Yujun could articulate reasons for liking her. As a rationalist, Guan Han believed: liking someone requires reasons.

Fu Yujun sent a long voice message in reply.

Guan Han connected her Bluetooth earphones and pressed play.

"I think there was an element of love at first sight for me. Initially, it was your looks—you have no idea how popular your type is among lesbians. The cool, reserved, and seemingly unapproachable vibe is top-tier. I like that you're older than me, that you always dress impeccably in formal wear, that you keep a straight face and rarely smile, that you indulge me in ways you don't others, that you have this contrast of cuteness when you take off your glasses, like a big bad wolf shedding its skin to reveal a harmless little lamb inside. And I like that you're straight."

As a proper and serious person, Guan Han had to think for a moment to understand several terms in that message—words like "lesbian," "reserved/unapproachable," and "top-tier" were things she'd encountered in fanfiction. But the last point left her genuinely puzzled.

Guan Han: Straight?

What kind of strange preference is that?

Fu Yujun held down the voice message button and laughed, "Oh, you wouldn't get it. What lesbian isn't fascinated by straight women? Anyway, every part of you perfectly hits my G-spot. The moment I see you, I can't even walk straight." Every day, I think about when I can sleep with her or be slept by her.

Guan Han accurately zeroed in on the key point and asked, "What spot?"

Fu Yujun couldn't retract the voice message, so she glossed over it: "It just means you match my aesthetic preferences."

Guan Han was half-convinced, half-doubtful: "Oh."

She watched the "typing..." indicator on the screen. A minute later, Fu Yujun's next voice message finally came through.

Fu Yujun's voice was low and earnest: "But that was all a long time ago. Now if you ask me what exactly I like about you, I would say I like everything about you. No matter how you change, I will always like you."

Guan Han: [So liking someone doesn't need a reason?]

Fu Yujun: [No, liking requires reasons, but love doesn't]

Guan Han was taken aback.

[You love me?] Guan Han had already typed these three words in the input box, but deleted them one by one.

Fu Yujun interlocked her fingers and rested her chin on them, watching as Guan Han's reply appeared in the chat box.

[I'll work hard]

Work hard to slowly fall in love with her, just like Fu Yujun had.

Guan Han started the car and drove out of the underground garage.

Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed her phone screen lighting up on the console. She checked it at the next red light.

Fu Yujun: [You need to work hard at that? If I just crook my finger, you'll fall in love with me immediately, believe me?]

Guan Han couldn't help but laugh, replying with a voice message: "I'm driving."

Fu Yujun: "I'll read. Message me when you get home."

As the saying goes, it's easy to go from frugality to luxury, but hard to go back. Having just spent one night at Fu Yujun's luxurious home, Guan Han found herself somewhat unaccustomed to her own modest apartment now. Her parents' home was quite spacious too, so why did she feel this way only after staying at Fu Yujun's place?

Was she subconsciously thinking about going back to stay there again?

Guan Han draped her coat over the sofa, went to the bedroom to water the small succulent on the windowsill, wiped the dust off the table with a tissue, and arranged her computer and mouse. She stood before the desk, studying it for a moment.

Hmm... Fu Yujun's desk was probably three times the size of her entire room—you could practically lie on it and roll around twice.

As for the bed, there was no comparison. Her own bedroom was crammed full with just the bed and wardrobe, with storage boxes filling every small space. Fu Yujun's room was so spacious you could practice a complete martial arts routine in it.

Damn capitalism.

Guan Han clicked her tongue softly, slowly adjusting her mindset. When she had money in the future, she would buy a big house like Fu Yujun's too. Just another ten or twenty years of saving and she'd have enough for the down payment.

Having been away for two days, Guan Han found her refrigerator nearly empty. She dug out a small piece of beef from the freezer, thawed and sliced it, then paired it with greens and an egg to make a simple homemade version of beef noodles.

Fu Yujun: [What are you eating?]

Guan Han put down her chopsticks and took a photo for her.

Fu Yujun: [Looks really delicious]

Guan Han self-deprecatingly replied: [It really only looks good]

Fu Yujun: [Hahahaha]

She also sent a photo—a marble dining table with several takeout containers, their complex and exquisite appearance clearly not her own handiwork.

[Ordering takeout again?]

[Yeah]

Guan Han typed with one hand: [Why don't you cook yourself? Aren't you a good cook?]

Fu Yujun: [Lazy] She thoughtfully saved Guan Han from typing more by answering herself: [I cooked before because it was for you. When it's just me, I can't be bothered to turn on the stove]

Guan Han deleted her half-typed question and asked: [Why don't you hire a cook?]

Fu Yujun: [I don't like having people in my home]

There was no solution to this problem.

Either Guan Han would go to her place and Fu Yujun would cook, or Guan Han would go to her place and cook for her. Otherwise, she would just continue eating takeout as usual.

[Be careful about food safety] Guan Han advised helplessly.

[I know. I order from this restaurant often—the chef is excellent]

After finishing her meal, Guan Han rested for a while to let the food settle. Fu Yujun sent her another message: [What are you planning to do tonight?]

Guan Han replied: [Work, read or watch TV, play games, sleep.]

Fu Yujun invited her to a voice call.

Guan Han answered: "What's up?"

Fu Yujun said, "Nothing, I just want you to keep the voice call on. Is that okay?"

Guan Han gave a fair warning: "It might be boring, even more boring than being at home during the New Year." At least her parents and Guan He would make some noise at home, but she herself could go an entire night without saying a word.

"That's fine, I want to listen."

"...Alright."

Guan Han took her phone to the rooftop terrace to practice boxing, placing the phone on the ground against the wall. The summer night was quiet, with no wind—only the sound of Guan Han's punches and the sharp exhalations accompanying her movements.

Midway through, an auntie came by, collecting her laundry while watching with interest. She struck up a conversation: "What kind of boxing are you practicing, young lady?"

Even through her headphones, Fu Yujun could sense Guan Han's despair at that moment.

She must be thinking: Why do I still run into people this late? And on top of that, they want to chat with me.

Fu Yujun laughed.

Sure enough, she heard Guan Han reply curtly: "Just practicing casually."

The auntie asked enthusiastically, "Do you come here to practice every night?"

"Occasionally," Guan Han said, cutting off any potential questions about her marital status or love life. "Auntie, I'm going to continue now."

The dull sound of her punches resumed.

Fu Yujun narrowed her eyes, tapping the table rhythmically with two slender fingers.

Guan Han, drenched in sweat, picked up her phone and reported as if giving a work update: "I'm done practicing. I'm heading downstairs now."

Fu Yujun licked her lips.

She could already picture it in her mind.

Guan Han, wearing a loose-sleeved white martial arts outfit—both elegant and modern—her face flushed from the exercise, sweat trickling down from her temples along the graceful curve of her cheek to her smooth jawline. Her slender neck glistened with fine beads of sweat, and her collarbones shimmered with a dewy sheen.

And then there were those firm, well-defined abs she had felt with her own hands during the day, now damp and slick with sweat. Just the thought of it made her feel incredibly ar0used, her feminine hormones surging.

A true temptress.

Too bad she couldn't see it in person just yet.

Fu Yujun jotted down a line in her phone's memo.

Guan Han wrapped a dry towel around her steaming neck, unlocked her front door with her keys, and said matter-of-factly, "I'm going to take a shower."

Fu Yujun teased, "Live stream?"

Guan Han's lips twitched.

Fu Yujun laughed heartily, "Hahaha, go ahead. I'm going to take a shower too. We can do it together."

Even though they were dozens of kilometers apart, she made it sound like they were taking a romantic bath together. Guan Han shook her head, went to her room to grab her pajamas, and placed them in the bathroom.

Fu Yujun asked, "Are you ready?"

Just as Guan Han was about to take the phone away from her ear, she heard this question. She considered replying but decided against it since she was about to shower. She walked into the bathroom, then turned back to put her phone in a waterproof case, set it to silent, and turned on the speakerphone. That way, Fu Yujun wouldn't hear her movements, but she could still hear Fu Yujun's voice as clearly as possible.

Fu Yujun hadn't expected her to be so bold—saying no with her words but acting otherwise in reality. When the sound from Guan Han's side cut off, she assumed Guan Han had left the phone in the bedroom or living room, just like before, and let herself go wild.

And so, the two of them took their showers separately.

Guan Han listened to Fu Yujun singing from the other side. With the excellent acoustics of the bathroom, her already remarkable voice reached the level of a professional singer. Guan Han was captivated, unconsciously slowing down her own movements.

Fu Yujun paused her singing for a moment, rinsing away the shampoo foam from her hair before starting to apply body wash. She detached the smaller showerhead below to clean herself more thoroughly. The fine streams of water traced over her skin, splashing onto the bathroom tiles.

Fu Yujun's mind began to wander into strange and whimsical thoughts, the shower water fixed in one direction. Gradually, her breathing grew heavier and more urgent, her face flushing redder in the rising steam.

Guan Han, hearing the unusual sounds coming through the phone, turned off her own water and listened intently for a moment. She was speechless.

Unsure whether she should speak up and let Fu Yujun know she had heard everything, Guan Han hesitated. In that brief moment of indecision, Fu Yujun had already finished. Blushing furiously, Guan Han turned the water temperature down and rinsed herself with cold water, eyes closed.

Fu Yujun gripped the handle of the bathroom glass door, taking a quiet moment to steady herself before stepping out. After drying off, she slipped into a comfortable silk pajama set, wrapped her hair in a towel, minimized the voice chat window, and typed: [I'm done showering.]

Guan Han waited a few extra minutes before emerging and turned on mute. In the quiet of her headphones, she could hear the sound of footsteps. Fu Yujun asked, "Are you done?"

Still embarrassed by what had just happened, Guan Han replied softly, "Mm."

Fu Yujun asked, "Working or watching something?"

Guan Han said, "Just relaxing, scrolling through Weibo."

"Alright, I'm going to blow-dry my hair. If you find it noisy, feel free to mute the sound. I don't mind." Fu Yujun glanced at the "mute" icon on the left side of the screen, a fleeting thought about some possible action crossing her mind, but she dismissed it without further consideration.

Guan Han sat by the head of the bed, hugging the pink unicorn plushie she hadn't seen in two days. The plushie was the same as ever, but its texture felt different in comparison—soft and boneless, filled with stuffing, nothing like the real person.

Shaking off the sudden sense of disappointment, Guan Han browsed through the trending topics on her alternate account, clicked into a few social news posts, then exited. She searched for Fu Yujun and found several nameless, low-tier accounts trying to ride on her coattails for clout. She then wandered into Fu Yujun's super topic, casually browsing through the stunning photos in the featured posts and saving a couple of street-style shots.

Xinglan's magazine issue would likely be released next month, and it was sure to attract another wave of admirers fawning over her looks. The team could seize the opportunity to fuel the hype.

Guan Han closed Weibo and opened Lofter.

Lately, something strange had been happening—For_Love_lf, a fanfiction writer, had stopped updating. Since the year Fu Yujun signed her contract, this fan writer had been consistently posting weekly for three years without interruption.

Three months ago, around the time Guan Han agreed to be with Fu Yujun, For_Love_lf missed an update for the first time, resuming the following week. When Guan Han asked why, For_Love_lf said there were family matters.

After that, For_Love_lf began updating every other week, once even skipping two weeks before returning to the regular schedule. Today was supposed to be an update day, but when Guan Han checked, she found the writer had missed another update.

Not only that, but the Lamborghini emojis For_Love_lf usually sent every Saturday via a secondary account were also missing.

For_Love_lf replied to her on QQ: [Sorry, work has been too busy. I might not be able to do private commissions anymore.]

QintangisReal: "It's alright, it was never a strict requirement anyway. I'll keep supporting you."

Guan Han wants to support too, but the other party actually needs to release content first. How can she cheer for thin air?

The second week of the author's hiatus for "writing for love," Guan Han sighed and left a comment on the latest updated chapter: "Hang in there, author!" Then she closed the backend of Lofter.

Fu Yujun—the author herself—was sprawled over her desk, wearing Bluetooth wireless earbuds, listening to Guan Han's every move. She felt utterly content and completely forgot about the serialized story she had left unfinished.

......

Guan Han had been independent since childhood, with a strong, self-reliant personality. She preferred taking care of others over being taken care of. Fu Yujun, having accurately grasped her temperament, acted obedient and sensible most of the time, but occasionally threw in a bit of playful mischief or clingy affection. In those moments, Guan Han's heart would melt entirely, ready to fetch the stars or the moon for her. Though Guan Han knew Fu Yujun was mostly acting, she couldn't bring herself to refuse.

That was how her boundaries were gradually worn down.

Guan Han accompanied Fu Yujun to a variety show to promote her new TV drama. One segment of the show, though cliché, was a classic: the host asked the guest to call the most recent contact on their WeChat.

Guan Han's phone buzzed from her seat in the audience.

Guan Han: "..."

The host on stage laughed. "What a coincidence."

Guan Han cursed inwardly.

The host turned to Fu Yujun. "I've long heard that Yujun and her manager are 'as close as sisters.' It seems the rumors are true." The host winked, wearing a mischievous expression. "Should we invite her on stage?"

The audience, except for Fu Yujun's solo fans, erupted in cheers: "Ohhhhhh~"

Fu Yujun made a calming gesture and smiled. "No, no."

She couldn't handle Guan Han's wrath afterward.

The host moved on to another guest to make a call. This off-site guest was impressive—the most talented young actress of the new generation, Tang Ruoyao. The moment Tang Ruoyao's voice came through, the audience went wild, especially when Qin Yinong chimed in briefly beside her.

The voices of the Qin-Tang couple sent the atmosphere into a frenzy. Even the host turned into an adoring fan, and the screams nearly lifted the roof of the recording studio.

The show's producers grinned from ear to ear.

This episode was bound to skyrocket in ratings and shoot straight to the top of the hot search list, staying there for a full day without dropping.

Qin Yinong and Tang Ruoyao prioritized their family life. Apart from filming, promotions, and major award ceremonies, they rarely appeared in public, let alone together. Fans had to make do with occasional leaked photos online to satisfy their cravings. So, when they heard their voices together, it was pure madness.

Who would have thought that recording a show would yield such a huge bonus? Sure enough, after the episode aired, viewers who missed the live recording were kicking themselves in regret.

Tang Ruoyao, hearing the screams on the other end, understood immediately. "You're recording a show? 'Happy Summer Camp'?"

Fu Yujun laughed. "Yeah, who knew your voice would steal my spotlight?"

Tang Ruoyao chuckled softly.

The audience: "Ahhhhhh!!!"

The host quieted the crowd and greeted them cheerfully. "Hello, Teacher Qin! Hello, Ruoyao! I'm Little C."

Tang Ruoyao replied, "Hello, Teacher C! Long time no see. Hello to all the friends in the audience!"

The audience seemed to only know one word: "Ahhhhhh!!!"

Because the audience and hosts' enthusiastic and wild screams had prematurely revealed that they were recording the show, the pre-set questions were all scrapped. But that didn't matter—what mattered was Tang Ruoyao herself.

Host: "This just proves the everlasting friendship among the 405 crew. To be honest, I'm also a fan of the 405 group."

Fu Yujun: "Thank you. Remember to go easy on me during the games later."

The host laughed heartily before refusing: "Oh, no can do. We have to be fair and just."

Tang Ruoyao: "Don't listen to Lao Fu's nonsense. She's just playing dumb to catch others off guard—she's really skilled. Usually, none of us can beat her. She—"

Fu Yujun quickly interrupted her: "Tang Tang, with such a deep friendship between us, are you really going to sell me out like this?"

The entire audience burst into laughter.

Tang Ruoyao: "Just kidding, everyone. Don't bully our soft and adorable Teacher Fu."

The host joked back: "We wouldn't dare! The remaining member of your dorm isn't someone to mess with either. What if she comes back for revenge?"

Tang Ruoyao casually replied: "She won't need to—we still have Guan Han."

The host and audience froze for a moment, then: "!!!"

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