Chapter 335: Fu Yujun & Guan Han [32]

Pushing the door open without encountering the expected resistance, Guan Han smoothly entered the hotel suite.

She glanced back at the security chain hanging by the door, which now hung loosely. The fact that she could enter meant Fu Yujun hadn't even locked the main door before going to sleep. Guan Han frowned deeply.

Fu Yujun, lying on the bed in the bedroom, keenly heard a soft "beep" from outside—the sound of a magnetic card unlocking the door. Instinctively, she held her breath, trying to determine if the noise came from the neighboring room.

Then she heard footsteps.

Through the bedroom door, the sound was clear enough to rule out the possibility of it being next door.

Someone had broken into her room!

Fu Yujun's hair stood on end.

Had she forgotten to lock the door before going to bed?

In less than half a second, she gave up trying to recall. Lately, she hadn't been sleeping well, and her memory had noticeably deteriorated. When alone, she often spaced out, so it wasn't impossible that she'd forgotten to lock the door.

Fu Yujun forced herself to stay calm. Silently, she sat up, slipped out of bed, and crept along the wall to the door. She twisted the doorknob to confirm it was locked.

Quickly returning to the bedside, she pressed the speed dial for the front desk.

Footsteps echoed in the living room. The intruder was moving slowly, with occasional pauses—perhaps observing something in the room?

In this "endless" torment, the darkness and eerie silence fueled her fear. As she anxiously waited for the call to connect, she listened to the footsteps drawing nearer.

In just two seconds, Fu Yujun's vivid imagination conjured the worst-case scenarios: What if the intruder was a vicious criminal? What if the front desk was busy and didn't answer her call—even though the probability of that happening in a high-end hotel was practically zero? What if security arrived too late, just like in those cop shows on TV? What if...

She might die tonight.

Fu Yujun thought.

The front desk answered the call. A trained, sweet female voice said, "Hello, how may I assist you?"

In the grip of extreme fear, Fu Yujun found an unexpected calm. She spoke coolly to the front desk, "Hello, I'm a guest in room 1608. Someone has broken into my room, even though I'm certain I didn't give my key card to anyone. Please send security immediately. If it's one of your staff, have them leave at once!"

The front desk voice noticeably tensed. "Understood, I'll send someone to check right away. Security will be up shortly, ma'am. Please make sure your door is locked."

With her other hand, Fu Yujun picked up her phone, found Guan Han's number, and dialed.

If something were to happen to her tonight, she at least wanted to say goodbye.

She had never dialed Guan Han's number so decisively before. Not just in recent days, when she'd repeatedly thought of calling but forced herself not to—even during their passionate days as a couple, she would hesitate for a couple of seconds. Deep down, she knew Guan Han would never mind, yet she still hesitated, troubled by inexplicable concerns.

It had nothing to do with Guan Han herself. Fu Yujun had been stuck in this state for too long, unable to immerse herself freely and comfortably like ordinary couples. In that regard, Guan Han was far better at it than she was.

Thinking it over carefully, I've exposed far too many issues in this relationship. My initial efforts and constant anxiety can't justify my lack of trust in Guan Han or in our relationship. From Guan Han's reaction when I confessed, it's clear that what bothered her was the deception—the fact that I was caught lying to her face.

We're already lovers. Lies will only create cracks in our relationship—the first, the second, and eventually more. What's the point of holding onto a relationship filled with constant worry and discomfort?

Fu Yujun doesn't want that kind of love.

Guan Han yearns for simple, sincere affection. She prefers straightforward communication, enjoys sharing life's moments with her, and loves her... for being beautiful, gentle, and adorable.

Suddenly, Fu Yujun's face was streaked with tears.

If only she had realized this sooner, things wouldn't have come to this. But time can't be turned back.

And now, there was an unwelcome visitor outside.

Lost in her thoughts, Fu Yujun mistook the faint ringing sound coming through the door as her own hallucination. Why, at the brink of despair, was she hearing the TV theme song she had sung? Was she really that narcissistic deep down?

Just as Guan Han reached the door, she sighed softly and answered the call, "Hello."

Could this count as calling her? Did that mean she was someone Guan Han trusted?

Fu Yujun sniffled and replied, "Hello."

Her auditory hallucinations were getting worse—she could almost swear Guan Han's voice was nearby.

Guan Han said, "I'm outside your door. Open up."

Fu Yujun: "!!!"

Guan Han added, "I knocked."

Knock, knock, knock—

Fu Yujun was utterly stunned. She froze for three seconds, then wiped her face haphazardly with her pajamas. Deciding that wasn't enough, she hurried to the bathroom to wash her face, trying to make the slight redness around her eyes as unnoticeable as possible. After drying her face with a tissue, she smoothed her long hair, took a soft breath at the door, and reached for the handle.

Guan Han stood outside, phone pressed to her ear, her gaze calm and tender as she looked over.

She naturally wrapped an arm around Fu Yujun's shoulder, just as she always did during their time together, and walked with her back into the bedroom. Gently, she asked, "Why didn't you lock the door?"

"I... did lock it," Fu Yujun murmured, her mind still in a fog.

Why had Guan Han appeared so suddenly?

Guan Han clarified, "I meant the living room door. You're living alone and didn't even double-lock it. What if someone dangerous had come in?"

Fu Yujun: "!!!"

Snapping back to reality, she guided Guan Han to sit on the edge of the bed and went to call the front desk.

A misunderstanding!

But it was too late. A soft beep sounded, and the main door opened again. An unfamiliar voice called out, "Ma'am? Are you all right?"

Guan Han: "???"

Fu Yujun said, "Let me handle this."

Guan Han held her back and asked, "Where's your robe?"

Glancing down at her pajamas, Fu Yujun went to the closet and pulled out a hanging robe. As she slipped it on, she briefly explained, "Earlier, I heard noises and thought an intruder had broken in, so I asked the front desk to send security."

So that phone call she made was...

Guan Han set the question aside for now and nodded to show she understood.

At the bedroom doorway, they encountered two uniformed security guards, followed by the hotel manager.

Everyone stared at each other in awkward silence.

Guan Han took half a step forward, subtly shielding Fu Yujun behind her, and explained, "It's a misunderstanding..."

After seeing the hotel staff off, Guan Han locked the door, fastened the chain, and returned to sit on the sofa.

Fu Yujun unscrewed the cap of a mineral water bottle, poured her a glass, her eyes brimming with unconcealed joy. "Why did you come on your own initiative?"

Guan Han thought of the call she had made to Tang Ruoyao, and then of the earlier call that likely didn't align with her expectations. She sighed softly and said, "If I didn't take the initiative, would you have come to me?"

Fu Yujun felt a bit guilty.

She vaguely sensed something in her mind but didn't dare confirm it.

Fu Yujun murmured, "I was wrong."

"Wrong about what?"

Fu Yujun, with her emotional intelligence kicking in, replied, "I was at fault to begin with, and I didn't even call you proactively. I acted like a resentful woman, wallowing in self-pity and dwelling on my own sorrows, without truly understanding the purpose behind you asking me to calm down."

Guan Han: "..." She couldn't help but defend Fu Yujun, "Don't be so hard on yourself."

Fu Yujun chuckled, "Are you feeling sorry for me? Just one sentence from me, and your heart aches? Has your heart turned as soft as tofu now?"

Guan Han tried to put on a stern face but failed within a second, turning her head to look out the window.

Fu Yujun: "Why look at the window? Look at me. Haven't you missed me after all this time apart?"

Guan Han gave her a helpless look that said, "Don't be mischievous," and opened her arms to her.

Fu Yujun rose from the single-seat sofa, went over, and hugged her tightly.

Guan Han's arms tightened even more, almost to the point of hurting Fu Yujun's bones.

Fu Yujun whispered in her ear once more, "I was wrong. There won't be a next time. I will cherish you properly."

Suddenly, Fu Yujun felt a drop of warmth against her neck.

She instantly froze like a block of wood.

A long time later, Guan Han released her arms from around Fu Yujun, though only a faint, almost imperceptible redness lingered around her eyes.

Fu Yujun bit her lower lip, her thoughts—both formed and unformed—tangling into a chaotic mess in her mind. It was too disordered to sort out, and the only thing that kept replaying was Guan Han's silent tear.

Melted into the silent sea.

Guan Han regained her composure before Fu Yujun did and asked, "Shall we go home?"

Fu Yujun answered instinctively, "Yes."

Guan Han stood up and said, "I'll pack your things for you."

Fu Yujun didn't follow. Instead, she stayed in the living room and couldn't resist calling Tang Ruoyao again to bother her.

She had questions and needed answers right away.

Tang Ruoyao muted her phone and carefully left the room without disturbing Qin Yinong, heading to the study.

She had a feeling this call would last longer than the previous one.

Tang Ruoyao: "Did you see Guan Han?"

Fu Yujun: "So it was you."

Tang Ruoyao laughed, "I was acting on someone's behalf, fulfilling a duty. Don't blame me."

Fu Yujun: "Huh?" She had thought Tang Ruoyao had contacted Guan Han to help mend their relationship, but it didn't sound like that was the case.

Tang Ruoyao explained, "About ten or twenty days ago, Guan Han called me and said that if you had a nightmare and contacted me, I should let her know..." Tang Ruoyao relayed Guan Han's exact words, "...Of course, it would be best if you didn't call me at all."

As a seasoned expert in matters of the heart, Tang Ruoyao analyzed for her, "I think what she meant was that she hoped you would think of her first if you had another nightmare. Since you ended up calling me instead, she must have been disappointed."

Fu Yujun's fingers tightened slightly on the windowsill as she murmured to herself, "So that's how it is..."

Another thought occurred to her: "Then how did she get here so quickly?" It hadn't even been five minutes since she called Tang Ruoyao.

Tang Ruoyao replied, "I'm not sure about that. Maybe she happened to be passing by?"

Fu Yujun suddenly fell silent.

The moonlight was particularly bright tonight.

Across the street, beneath the dappled shadows of trees, Fu Yujun spotted a parked car. Due to the angle, she could only make out its silhouette and color—a black sedan. She had seen this same car a few nights before when she couldn't sleep and had gotten up to lean against the windowsill with a drink. At the time, she had merely glanced at it and thought nothing of it.

Tang Ruoyao's voice came through the phone: "Hello?"

Collecting herself, Fu Yujun said, "It's nothing. Keep going." Whether it was Guan Han's car or not, she would find out once she went downstairs.

Tang Ruoyao thought to herself, You stopped asking questions—what else is there to say? But after a moment's consideration, she remembered something worth mentioning: "Qin Yinong mentioned that Guan Han changed her ringtone to a song you sang."

Fu Yujun tilted her face upward. "What else?"

Tang Ruoyao continued, "She got distracted during a meeting and was scolded by Qin Yinong."

Fu Yujun laughed, but as she did, tears welled up in her eyes. She forced them back, widening her eyes to keep them from falling, and took a deep breath before asking, "You said she called you ten or twenty days ago—do you remember the exact date?"

Tang Ruoyao replied, "I remember I was backstage at some event that day. Let me check my schedule." A minute later, she provided the precise date.

"And the time?"

"Let me check my call log..." After a moment, Tang Ruoyao told her, "10:34 in the morning."

......

Fu Yujun's belongings were scattered everywhere. Guan Han spent a considerable amount of time reorganizing them and placing them back into the suitcase. Suddenly, she sensed someone watching her and looked up to find Fu Yujun standing in the doorway.

Guan Han asked, "What's wrong?"

Fu Yujun's gaze fell on the brand-new suitcase, and the strange feeling she had briefly felt earlier suddenly made sense. She asked, "What happened to the suitcase I used to bring to your place?"

Guan Han lowered her head and continued packing, trying to keep her tone steady. "It's at home."

"What about my clothes and skincare products?"

"Those too." Guan Han paused for a couple of seconds, steadying the tremor in her voice. "I didn't touch them."

"At our home?" Fu Yujun forced a smile, though it looked more pained than joyful.

Guan Han's movements stilled for a moment before she softly replied, "Mm."

Fu Yujun didn't say anything else, quietly sniffing once.

Guan Han quickened her pace, leaving out a set of clothes for Fu Yujun to change into. Finally, she folded the pajamas, closed the suitcase, and, as usual, carefully checked the room to ensure nothing was left behind. Gripping the suitcase handle, she asked, "Shall we go?"

Fu Yujun took her hand.

They checked out at the front desk on the first floor.

At the entrance, Guan Han pulled up the hood of Fu Yujun's down jacket, then took hold of the suitcase with one hand and Fu Yujun's hand with the other, leading her across the street.

As they drew closer, Fu Yujun could clearly see the license plate of the car. Even though she had braced herself for it, her eyes still stung with emotion.

Guan Han stored the suitcase, settled into the driver's seat, inserted the key, started the engine, and set the car in motion.

Fu Yujun turned her head to look out the driver's side window, her gaze lifting just enough to see the window of her suite.

"Have you been here every night?"

"...Mm."

"Why didn't I realize it sooner..." Fu Yujun's voice choked as she covered her face with both hands.

Guan Han turned off the car engine, unfastened the seatbelt she had just secured, and leaned over to gently pull the woman into her embrace.

Night flowed like quicksilver, the pale moonlight streaming into the car's interior.

Guan Han's hand, reaching for the tissue box, paused mid-air. Instead, she cupped Fu Yujun's face, tenderly kissing away the crystalline tears before finally pressing her lips against Fu Yujun's. Her eyelashes fluttered faintly, mirroring the trembling tenderness of her kiss.

Fu Yujun returned the kiss, deepening it with her own initiative.

During the ride back, Fu Yujun recalled her conversation with Guan Han from that day, carefully examining the subtle hints she had missed—hints Guan Han had actually given her.

—"I won't be accompanying you to your upcoming schedules. Everything's arranged. If there's official business, have your assistant relay it to me."

Fu Yujun repeatedly pondered the phrase "have your assistant relay it to me," until suddenly she clapped her hands, struck by an epiphany: "So the reverse meaning is that private matters should be brought directly to you."

Guan Han smiled faintly, tacitly confirming the interpretation.

She had thought Fu Yujun would understand—if only she had retained a shred of her usual cleverness in "scheming" against her and thought calmly. But it hadn't happened, though it didn't really matter. After all...

Fu Yujun slapped her own forehead, overwhelmed with regret. "I was so foolish, truly."

Guan Han replied cheerfully, "Hello, Sister Xianglin-Fu." [A play on a famous literary character known for complaining]

Fu Yujun laughed. "You're so annoying." She added, "You've even learned to drop hints now. Impressive."

Guan Han corrected her, "They're Easter eggs."

Fu Yujun asked curiously, "Then what's the main feature?"

Guan Han only smiled without answering.

Fu Yujun complained playfully, "Why are you being so mysterious? Who did you learn this from?"

Guan Han said, "You."

After a moment of serious reflection, Fu Yujun found she couldn't argue.

"The new suitcase, new clothes, and skincare products?"

"Also Easter eggs."

Fu Yujun grew increasingly curious about the main feature. "Then what about you waiting downstairs at the hotel every day—is that part of the main feature or an Easter egg?"

"Part of the main feature?" Guan Han thought for a moment before answering. Originally, it had been an Easter egg, but now it had become part of the main story.

Just as Fu Yujun was about to ask more, Guan Han turned on the car's music.

Amid the soothing melodies, Fu Yujun felt a long-lost sense of comfort and relaxation. She leaned back in her seat and slowly closed her eyes.

Somewhere along the way, she woke groggily and saw the red light ahead through the windshield. A blurry figure leaned toward her, spreading a thin blanket over her.

......

"You're awake."

A gentle, calm voice sounded beside her ear. Fu Yujun turned her head to see Guan Han sitting in the driver's seat, without her seatbelt fastened. Outside the window, the dim yellow light of the underground garage cast a soft glow.

Fu Yujun covered a yawn. "When did we arrive? Why didn't you wake me?"

"Just now." Guan Han pressed the release on her seatbelt.

After confirming the parking lot was empty, Guan Han opened the passenger door from the outside. Emerging from the warm car into the chilly air, Fu Yujun shivered slightly.

Guan Han zipped her jacket all the way up, pulling the hood down until only a pair of clear, deer-like eyes were visible.

"We'll be there soon." Guan Han tucked Fu Yujun's hand into her own pocket and strode forward.

The elevator ascended from the basement level. Fu Yujun looked around as if she'd never seen it before, even the advertisements inside the elevator felt incredibly familiar. She glanced sideways at Guan Han, who happened to be looking back at her.

The two exchanged a smile.

After Fu Yujun moved in, Guan Han had given her a key, which had remained on her keychain ever since. Even during their time apart to cool off, it hadn't been taken back. Stepping out of the elevator, Fu Yujun suddenly grew a little excited, skipping ahead as she said, "I'll open the door!"

Guan Han shook her head with a soft laugh, following leisurely behind.

The key turned in the lock.

With a click, the wall switch was pressed, and the living room lit up as bright as day.

The shoe cabinet at home wasn't large enough to hold all their shoes, so both of their slippers were always kept in the entryway. Fu Yujun's blue slippers were positioned with the toes facing out and the heels in, exactly as she had left them—even the angle hadn't changed. Yet the slippers were clean, as if they hadn't been left untouched for twenty days.

A large suitcase in the corner of the living room took up quite a bit of space, making the already cramped room feel even narrower. Only one person could pass between the table and the suitcase. Draped over the back of the sofa was the coat Fu Yujun had tossed aside in a hurry the last time she went out. A sky-blue throw pillow lay tilted in the corner, and the blanket was half unfolded, as if someone had just been lying there and hadn't had time to tidy up. On the coffee table sat a book with a black cover.

Everything, everything seemed to be telling Fu Yujun: We've been waiting for you to come back.

It was as if those twenty days of separation had never happened. No, not just as if—the person beside her had truly never left.

Fu Yujun looked at Guan Han.

Guan Han uncomfortably averted her gaze.

A mix of emotion and amusement welled up in Fu Yujun's heart. "If you have the nerve to keep everything exactly as it was," she said, "why don't you have the nerve to look me in the eye?"

Guan Han's ears flushed a faint pink.

She bit her lip, mustering the courage to meet Fu Yujun's gaze directly, but quickly faltered. She truly wasn't used to such directness—Fu Yujun's unflappable boldness was something she'd never master in this lifetime.

Guan Han lowered her eyes and mumbled, "Aren't you tired of standing at the door?"

"Not at all." Fu Yujun replied cheerfully.

Even so, she obediently stepped inside, looking around and touching things here and there. She picked up the coat from the back of the sofa and shook it out—no dust. "Did you wash this and then put it back?" she asked.

Guan Han let out a soft "Ah."

Fu Yujun wondered, "How did you manage to make it look exactly the same?" She pointed down at her slippers. "And these, too."

Guan Han kept her eyes on the floor and murmured, "I took photos with my phone and arranged them according to the pictures."

"Do you still have the photos?"

"...Mm." Because she hadn't been sure if Fu Yujun would reach out within the month.

"Perfect timing, then." Fu Yujun reached out her hand. "Your phone."

Guan Han's phone was on the dining table. She picked it up and hid it behind her back. "No."

"Not even to look at the photos?"

"No." Guan Han glanced at her, her voice dropping even lower. "I'm afraid you'll cry."

Fu Yujun: "..."

Though it was true, Fu Yujun stretched out her hand again, determined. "I want to see the photos."

Unable to resist her, Guan Han reluctantly handed over the phone, having already prepared tissues in advance.

Starting from the first photo Guan Han opened, Fu Yujun scrolled through them one by one. From the overall layout of the living room to the direction of a single toothbrush on the bathroom sink—every detail had been captured. She was such a meticulous and thorough person.

The thought of Guan Han, alone in the home they shared, carefully photographing every trace Fu Yujun had left, day after day, painstakingly preserving everything exactly as it was—it made Fu Yujun's nose sting and her eyes redden. She held back, refusing to let the tears fall.

Guan Han looked at the photo displayed on her phone and said, "That's all. There's nothing after this."

Fu Yujun noticed there were clearly more thumbnails below and instinctively swiped forward.

She froze.

The image was of herself.

It was a shot of her back as she returned to the hotel one early dawn, captured right at the hotel entrance.

She glanced at the timestamp on the photo: December x, 2:30 AM.

Guan Han curled her slender fingers slightly, took the phone back from Fu Yujun, and let out a very soft sigh.

She had told her not to look.

Fu Yujun's tears splashed onto the back of her hand.

Guan Han held the tissue box in her arms and wiped her tears.

Fu Yujun asked, "Do you wait for me that late every day?"

Guan Han replied, "No, you don't finish that late every day. I go home at two because I have to work during the day." Only once did she wait until dawn, and Fu Yujun never noticed.

"I heard from Tangtang that you got distracted during a meeting and were scolded by President Qin."

Guan Han froze.

The paper-doll filter in her heart cracked a little. Was Miss Yao really such a big mouth?

"I also heard from her that you set my song as your ringtone?" So what she heard in the hotel wasn't an illusion?

Guan Han turned to stone.

Fu Yujun smiled. "Let me try calling you now."

Guan Han reached for her phone, but Fu Yujun was faster, snatching it away. She couldn't use force on her, so she could only watch helplessly as she was executed on the spot.

Fu Yujun listened to her own song with satisfaction, then said with a smile, "Actually, compared to this one, I prefer another song. I'll reset it for you later. What do you think?"

Guan Han didn't dare to think anything—whatever Fu Yujun thought was fine.

After a moment of silence, Guan Han asked, "Do you remember what this song is called?"

Fu Yujun's main profession was acting, with singing as a side gig. Most of her songs were for the dramas she starred in. She remembered the drama titles, but the song names often slipped her mind. She asked, "What's it called?"

Guan Han said, "The You from Before."

Fu Yujun's fingertips brushed the edge of the phone. After a long while, she smiled, a glimmer of moisture flashing in her eyes. "I really would have forgotten if you hadn't mentioned it. Is it too late to remember now?"

Guan Han looked at her. "It's not too late. I've been waiting for you to remember."

Fu Yujun fell silent for a long time, then sighed. "I..."

Guan Han finished her sentence. "I'm so foolish, really."

Fu Yujun's emotions were all jumbled up by her interruption, and she burst out laughing. "How can you be like this?"

Guan Han said seriously, "You're not foolish. You just care about me too much, so you lost yourself."

Fu Yujun sighed softly, having nothing more to say. In this relationship, Guan Han's growth had clearly been much faster than hers. What were her little clever tricks compared to Guan Han's wisdom?

She needed to reflect on herself. She had wasted all the time Guan Han had given her, but fortunately, it wasn't too late. Nothing was too late.

She cupped Guan Han's face with both hands, squeezing it toward the center, watching as Guan Han's features scrunched up in helplessness, and revealed an extremely bright smile.

Guan Han flexed her facial muscles, which had been ravaged by her lover, and said, "I'm going to take a shower. Will you wait for me in the bedroom?"

"Okay."

Guan Han went to shower, while Fu Yujun continued to curiously examine the bedroom she hadn't seen in over half a month. Her attention suddenly fell on the desk calendar. One day of the current month was circled in red, and that day had been circled over and over again, with the ink appearing both fresh and faded, as if it had been circled every day.

At the same time, the first few days of the month, which had already passed, were crossed out in black.

What day was it? So important that Guan Han circled it every day.

Fu Yujun furrowed her brows and flipped back a page, noticing that another day was circled in red—the day Guan Han had suggested they take some time apart to cool off. The two circled dates were exactly one month apart.

—I've booked a luxury suite for you at an international hotel, for one month. I've already packed your luggage and sent it over.

Every word Guan Han had said that day must have carried another layer of meaning.

Fu Yujun's eyes widened slightly, her breathing quickened. Could it be...?

Could it be what she was thinking?

Guan Han emerged from the bathroom, a towel wrapped around her hair, her skin still damp with moisture. She found Fu Yujun sitting at the desk, turning to look at her with red-rimmed eyes.

"What does this circled date mean?"

"That?" Guan Han glanced at the calendar where Fu Yujun was pointing and replied casually, "One month later, whether you contacted me or not, I was going to bring you back."

Fu Yujun stared intently at her, the redness around her eyes deepening.

Guan Han sighed softly, strode over quickly, and wrapped her in an embrace.

—I wanted to ask you, how much longer until you fall in love with me?

—You'll know

You'll know that I've already fallen in love with you.

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