Chapter 137: Leaving on a Whim
During the filming period, for an outsider like Gu Wanrong, it was interesting only while the initial curiosity lasted. Once that curiosity faded, it became dull and boring.
Gu Wanrong was not one to force herself. After Bai Xiaosi finished her scene, Gu Wanrong spoke to her and left the set.
After leaving the set, she didn’t go straight home.
It was still early. She found a cafe, ordered a coffee, and sat in a quiet corner to enjoy the winter afternoon sun of the big city.
ā WeChat Group: The Chosen Daughters of Hotpot ā
[Don’t Call Me Ai: (Face of despair.jpg) I still have one more exam tomorrow.]
[Don’t Call Me Ai: I heard from Yu Yingying that you left school as soon as you finished your exams yesterday. Did you go back to C-City?]
[4444: I finished today. Are we going home together?]
[Gu Wanrong: Iām playing in Shencheng. Do you guys want to come?]
[4444: My mom is nagging me to go home as soon as exams are over…]
[Don’t Call Me Ai: Same here. I haven’t been home for over two months. I miss my mom’s twice-cooked pork.]
[Gu Wanrong: Alright then.]
A full semester had passed since she left C-City. Time flew by like a white pony passing a crack. Yet, what surprised Gu Wanrong was that she hadn’t felt even a hint of homesickness for that city.
When she glimpsed the words “go home” in the chat group, her first reaction wasn’t C-City, but that ancient and elegant courtyard house far away in the Capital.
In the group, Wu Aiai and Zhou Siyin were still talking incessantly about missing home. By this time, Gu Wanrong had already exited the chat.
She slowly stretched her slender arm out the window, trying to feel the breath of winter. The golden sunlight poured down, reflecting on her exposed skin, but it failed to bring a hint of warmth.
The cold wind was still piercingly chilly, as if it could penetrate layers of clothing to reach the marrow of her bones.
Winter is still too cold. Better to go to Sanya!
Gu Wanrong thought to herself.
Feeling her fingers were about to freeze, she quickly pulled her hand back. In an instant, the ample indoor heating quickly wrapped around her cold fingers, giving them comfort.
Sitting to the side, Tong Shenba thoughtfully closed the window to prevent the cold wind from bothering Gu Wanrong.
While her mind was wandering, her phone screen on the table suddenly lit up, and a news push notification popped up:
The hottest boy group of this winter appears at the second rehearsal for the Lunar New Year’s Eve Gala. Paris Fashion Week is not far off!
“Today is Endless-9’s rehearsal for the New Year’s Eve Gala,” Gu Wanrong murmured, clicking on the news.
The page displayed a series of “on-the-way-to-work” photos taken by entertainment reporters of the nine members heading to the rehearsal site. The article also listed the resources promised on the debut night that had been realized and those yet to be fulfilled.
When Gu Wanrong’s gaze swept over the words “Paris Fashion Week,” her heart skipped a beat.
She turned slightly, leaned toward Tong Shenba beside her, and asked in a low voice, “Did Butler Liu receive an invitation to Fashion Week as well?”
Tong Shenba nodded upon hearing this.
So, after the trip to Sanya, Gu Wanrong added a Fashion Week itinerary.
A direct flight from Shencheng to Sanya took about three hours.
Inside the spacious and comfortable first-class cabin, Gu Wanrong elegantly enjoyed a meal. In no time, she had filled her empty stomach to about seventy or eighty percent.
Then, she gently laid down her exquisite cutlery.
The few seats around her were filled with her own people.
Seeing Gu Wanrong stop eating, Butler Liu immediately signaled the flight attendants to come and clear the meal.
By now, Gu Wanrong had also developed the habit of eating less in the evening, a far cry from her previous habit of not being able to stop once she started eating.
She adjusted her seatback, found the most comfortable position to lie down, then skillfully put on her headphones and began reading a novel with great interest.
Butler Liu saw her bad habit of playing on her phone in her peripheral vision but didn’t speak up to stop her. She had already reminded her once the first time she saw it. After all, Gu Wanrong was her employer; for personal habits like this, a gentle nudge was enough.
While Gu Wanrong was fully absorbed in reading her novel, time seemed to fly by.
Before she knew it, the plane landed smoothly at Sanya Airport.
“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Sanya. We have successfully landed at Sanya Phoenix International Airport. The current time is 11:15 PM, and the temperature outside the cabin is…” The voice announcement for the landing sounded.
As soon as they left the airport lobby, the pickup vehicle sent by the hotel Butler Liu had booked was already waiting by the roadside.
The group sat decisively in the hotelās car.
Knowing that Gu Wanrong didn’t like underwater suites, Butler Liu had booked a presidential suite for her.
Gu Wanrong sat quietly in the car. As the car sped along, drowsiness hit her in waves. She was almost asleep by the time they finally reached the hotel.
The driver nimbly got out of the car, opened the trunk, and set the luggage aside. On the other side, Tong Shenba quickly reached out to open the car door and stood there quietly, waiting for Gu Wanrong to get out.
At the same time, a middle-aged man was already standing at the hotel entrance, waiting respectfully. He was the exclusive butler specifically assigned by the hotel for VIP guests.
The moment the hotelās private car came to a steady stop, he stepped forward without hesitation, welcoming the upcoming distinguished guest with the most enthusiastic and professional attitude.
“Hello, Ms. Gu. I am the butler responsible for providing you with service throughout your stay. Welcome,” the hotel butler said as he took the suitcase from the driver, introducing himself.
“Mm.”
Hearing the other’s greeting, Gu Wanrong only nodded slightly in response. At this moment, her eyes were still a bit hazy, and she didn’t seem to be fully awake from her drowsiness.
However, she still added softly, “This is my private butler.”
Upon hearing this, the hotel butler immediately struck up a conversation with Butler Liu.
He knew very well that for any needs or problems during their stay for the next few days, it would be Butler Liu who would step forward.
The hotel butler led them to the elevator for Gu Wanrongās presidential suite first.
Once they entered the room, Butler Liu arranged everything in an orderly fashion. She left someone to responsibly place Gu Wanrongās luggage, while she followed the hotel butler to check the situation of the suites where the other members were staying.
Inside the presidential suite, Tong Shenyan stayed close to protect Gu Wanrong, so she stayed in the same suite. Another person was organizing luggage with Tong Shenba, hanging the clothes they brought in the closet, and arranging makeup, skincare products, jewelry, etc., on the dressing table.
“You guys should also rest early once you’re done organizing!” Gu Wanrong went to the bathroom, feeling slightly tired, and closed the door behind her. “I’m exhausted; I’m going to wash up and sleep first.”
The people in the room responded, “Alright, Miss.”
A short while later, Gu Wanrong emerged from the bathroom, which was filled with rising steam.
The room had been organized. Her damp long hair was loosely scattered over her shoulders. She changed into loose pajamas and lazily blow-dried her hair.
After her hair was dry, she leaned against the soft pillows and reached for her phone on the nightstand. As soon as she opened WeChat, she received many messages.
Tsk, the old problem with the “Fruit-brand” phoneāWeChat messages are often delayed or don’t have notifications. If she hadn’t opened WeChat, they probably wouldn’t have shown up at all.
ā WeChat Group: The Chosen Daughters of Hotpot ā
She scrolled up to the unread messages. Most were idle chat between Wu Aiai and Zhou Siyin. Gu Wanrong selectively answered a few that mentioned her in the input box.
[Gu Wanrong: Thereās no one left in my hometown except you guys. I might not necessarily go back.]
[Gu Wanrong: It snowed yesterday in Shencheng, but not today.]
[Gu Wanrong: Iāve come to Sanya for a vacation. Winter in the north is really too cold.]
No one responded in the group. Wu Aiai, the night owl, probably had an exam the next day and went to bed early. Zhou Siyin usually went to sleep at this time if she had nothing to do.
She exited the chat group and swiped past messages from unimportant people.
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