424.
I leaned back against the sofa, regaining my arrogant sovereign posture, and tilted my chin at Gu Yiliang. “Confess, you’ll feel better afterward. Come on, tell me what’s going on.”

Gu Yiliang cleared his throat lightly and sat down beside me. “Well, I was thinking of getting some inspiration and learning—seeing how it’s done.”

It was hard to imagine that he’d actually read novels for the sake of his work, and apparently, he’d been reading pure romance novels.

I felt both admiration and amusement as I smugly exposed his little secret with a lofty air. “So, what have you learned?”

“Well…” His Adam’s apple bobbed. “I learned the important parts, and I was trying to figure out what you like best.”

 

425.
He really had learned the important parts, huh! What a high-level purification ability! I had no idea what articles or techniques he’d been using, but the impact was so powerful!

It wasn’t that my defences were inadequate—still, I wondered, if he were in my place, could he withstand such an attack?

And not only had I withstood it—hehe—I’d even skillfully uncovered the secret behind it.

I smiled proudly… and then smiled even prouder.

 

426.
I lifted my head high with satisfaction. “Oh? Then, can you tell me what I like best?”

He seemed a little surprised, then chuckled softly. “…You seemed to like a bit of everything.”

Me: “You…!”
Me: “…”

It seemed… I couldn’t even answer that.

Not only was he hitting me with sweet words, but he was also making me lose my ability to speak.

My sovereign posture crumbled. I grabbed the soft cushion beside me and threw it at him, embarrassed and angry.

 

427.
The cushion was intercepted along with his smile. I slumped back onto the sofa, frustrated. “I told you, there’s no need to force it—just let things happen naturally.”

He couldn’t help but laugh. “But it seemed like you were enjoying it quite a bit too, right?”

Me: “…You!”

Well, actually, thanks to him, I’d been able to enjoy all this sweetness and candy for free.

I shot him an exasperated look and reluctantly admitted, “Yeah, yeah, it was kind of fun. But there was always something a little off—it’d be better if it felt more natural.”

He blinked. “You mean you prefer me as I am?”

I nodded. “Yes.”

Me: “…Wait, is this a trap?”
Me: “No, but where are you getting all these techniques from? I want to learn them too!”

He suddenly fell silent.

Me: ? What kind of precious article was he hiding?

Him: “…Don’t read them. There are no techniques—I just got inspired by certain characters and relationship styles, but everything else was my own creation.”

He paused, then continued, “So no matter the character, tone, or emotion—whether I’m acting or just speaking naturally—the content I want to express is the same.”

I was speechless.

 

428.
Hmm… so the candy I’d been getting was actually even more authentic and sweet?

Wait… the concept of “giving sugar and eating sugar” refers to CPs, right?
So I’m the shipper?

Had I been confusing “giving sugar” with flirting?

…Hold on a second.

So… he’d really been flirting with me?!

429.
While I was still in a daze, he pulled out a necklace from who-knows-where and fastened it around my neck, smiling with squinted eyes. “So, you’ve accepted it—no take-backs.”

Me: “…”
Me: “…No take-backs, fine, but get rid of all this noisy stuff—my neck’s about to snap!”

 

430.
After removing all the accessories that had been hanging on me, I felt like I’d shed at least five kilos. I was so light, I could practically float away like a helium balloon if I stood on tiptoe.

While massaging my neck, I thought about all the sides of Gu Yiliang I’d discovered today. The only thing missing was for him to go full romantic. I couldn’t help teasing him.

“Good thing you didn’t go as far as to rent out a…”

Gu Yiliang’s hand, which was typing on his phone, paused slightly.

“…fancy restaurant…”

His wrist gave a small twitch.

“…with a live violinist…”

His arm stiffened a little.

“…what an idiot you’d be.”

Gu Yiliang quickly typed something on his phone, put it away in a hurry, and burst out laughing.
“How could that even happen? Anyway, everything’s ready—shall we go? Let’s find somewhere to eat.”

I laughed too and agreed, thinking: Of course, what an idiot.

 

431.
With the help of the two assistants, we found a small nearby restaurant for dinner. I slowly sipped a cup of honey tea under the fan, listening to Xiao Chen telling lively stories as if he were reciting a tale.

“Ah, speaking of which, Yanyan, tomorrow you only have a scene in the late afternoon,” Xiao Chen said, checking the schedule on his phone. He showed me the filming timetable. “It’s practically like a day off! Want to go out somewhere?”

“No, I’m fine,” I replied without much enthusiasm after glancing at it. “The set is so far from everything—just going there and back would take forever. Might as well stay at the hotel and sleep.”

Seeing Xiao Chen looking a little disappointed, I added, “You don’t have to stay with me. You can go have fun on your own, as long as you come back on time.”

In an instant, Xiao Chen perked up again, said an emotional goodbye, and vanished in a record five seconds.

Me: “…”

 

432.
Gu Yiliang patted my shoulder. “Are you sure you don’t want to go out? I’ve got my car—it’d be more convenient.”

The main problem was that I didn’t know this city. All I knew was that there were a few trendy bars, but I wasn’t in the mood for drinking.

After thinking it over, I asked, “Hey, you’re from here, right?”

Gu Yiliang nodded and suggested a few nice places to visit.

Fishing? Too boring. Hiking? Too tiring. A leisure farm? Too many mosquitoes. An amusement park? Too crowded…

Suddenly, a bright idea popped into my head. “How about we go to your place and see your cat?”

 

433.
Gu Yiliang froze for a moment, then nodded very slowly, with an unusual stiffness. The serious expression I’d noticed on his face the night before suddenly reappeared.

Me: “…? Is this awkward for you? Don’t feel like you have to—it’s fine, we don’t have to go…”

He shook his head, cutting me off in a solemn tone. “Not at all, I don’t mind.”

 

434.
Seriously though, why does he always talk like he’s just made some difficult, weighty decision?

 

435.
I looked at him, utterly puzzled, as he dismissed his assistant with a grave expression, then just as seriously stood up to lead me to his car.

On the way, he bumped into four restaurant customers, apologized five times, nearly knocked over two waiters, tripped on perfectly flat ground, and got into the wrong car… twice.

I was stunned.

Where had the charismatic, confident Gu Yiliang gone—the one who’d joked with elegance and effortlessly charmed me just this morning?

It was like he’d lost at least half his soul!

We’re just going to see a cat, not heading to the gallows. Why is he walking like the ground under his feet weighs a ton?

 

436.
Just as I was debating whether to perform an exorcism to bring his spirit back, he suddenly pulled himself together. Looking completely normal, he adjusted the mirrors and reminded me to fasten my seatbelt.

Honestly, his behaviour was making me nervous, and I almost wanted to jump out of the car for my own safety.

A vague, long-unfelt awkwardness crept between us. My back stiffened, and to lighten the mood I said, “Haha, nice car. Uh… shall we go?”

Right then, just as he started the engine, he suddenly hit the brakes, making me jump. In a strange, complicated tone, he asked, “…Are we really going?”

Is he that attached to his car? Why is he asking like it’s some heartbreaking decision?

I waved my hand quickly. “I don’t even know the way to your place, so just drive. The sooner we get there, the sooner we can see the cat.”

He stayed quiet for a moment, rubbed the tip of his nose, and then pulled into traffic.

 

 

Translator : DarNan