Chapter 90: First Public Performance
Gu Wanrong wasn’t naive. Though she’d never experienced love, she’d seen and heard enough to suspect Xie Xian’s unusual behavior.
But without a clear statement from him, she could only speculate.
For over twenty years, no one had shown romantic interest in her. Now, she wondered if Xie Xian liked her post-system enhancement or her former self.
She considered him a friend and Yingying’s brother. She hadn’t anticipated any romantic development after their few awkward encounters.
Xie Xian always seemed calm, capable, and powerful. She felt her thoughts were transparent to him. Now, she wondered if he understood her current anxiety. What would he say? She didn’t want to imagine.
Xie Xian, sitting across from her, wore an inexplicably complex expression, his gaze restrained yet lingering on Gu Wanrong.
He understood that his earlier concern had caused her to withdraw. She leaned against the car door, head bowed, her fingers tracing a beaded necklace.
He found himself unable to look away, drawn to her.
He recalled their previous encounters; he’d never reacted this strongly. Why was he so out of control? Was it because of the danger she faced, leaving him still shaken?
When had he cared so much for a woman?
Had he become someone he wasn’t—calm, considerate, and polite—by wearing a mask for too long?
He immediately denied this. No, he wasn’t. He knew he was still aloof, indifferent, and unconventional.
Lost in their thoughts, a strange silence settled between them.
The car stopped.
“Goodbye.”
“Goodbye.”
Gu Wanrong waved, watching Xie Xian’s departing figure before entering the hotel.
Xie Xian leaned back in the car, his hands clasped, his gaze lingering on her retreating form. The setting sun, the chandelier’s light, illuminated her slender back, as warm as the tears she’d shed during their first meeting.
His secretary asked, “President, shall we go?”
“Let’s go.”
The car window rose, his voice low.
Gu Wanrong returned to her routine—dorm, classroom, city villa.
“Meow meow meow, do you like it?”
Gu Wanrong held Nai Cha, who wore a pendant made from the ice-type floating blue flower jade. Three identical pendants sat on the coffee table.
Nai Cha stared at the cat in the mirror, at the human who looked exactly like her owner, trying to reach the mirrored cat, only touching the cold surface.
Nai Cha reached for Gu Wanrong, meowing—There’s a human like you holding a cat like me in the mirror; I can’t reach them.
“That’s a mirror! Your eyes are as bright as your pendant. So pretty,” Gu Wanrong said, stroking Nai Cha’s pendant.
“Meow”—Another human thing.
Nai Cha carefully reached out, retracting and extending her paw, landing on her mirrored pendant.
“Mwah,” Gu Wanrong kissed Nai Cha’s head, “You like it, right?”
Gu Wanrong placed Nai Cha on the coffee table, “Here you go; they’re all yours,” pointing to the jade pendants.
Nai Cha played with the pendants. Gu Wanrong removed Nai Cha’s pendant, setting it on the table.
They communicated easily. The scene was peaceful and serene.
Nai Cha ran outside to play. Gu Wanrong called a maid, “Put Nai Cha’s pendants away.”
Relaxing on the sofa, she opened WeChat. Xie Xian’s last message was ten days ago, thanking him for his help with He Yukang.
She’d heard fromYu Yingying that Xie Xian was also in J City. They lived in the same building but hadn’t met or messaged.
“It’s probably an illusion; I feel he likes me. One of life’s three great illusions,” she muttered, dismissing Xie Xian’s name.
A barrage of messages fromYu Yingying appeared:
Ahhh Jing Xiu is so handsome! He’s so charismatic! When he’s on stage… that radiant aura almost suffocated me!
《Idol 101》is produced by Yi Shang, right? I saw it. To the most beautiful woman in the world, my best friend—Gu Wanrong. My biggest wish is to see Jing Xiu’s performance. Please take me to the second public performance.
Gu Wanrong laughed, replying: What about your other idols? Don’t you love them anymore?
Men are like candy—the more, the merrier! Hehehe…
Gu Wanrong shook her head, Okay, I’ll get you tickets for the second public performance.
Love you!
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