Chapter 9

Chapter 9: Morbid "Would you usually bring your girlfriend breakfast?..." When Nan Shu entered the room, Huituichang was on her sofa, its little tail wagging like a propeller. "Huituichang, have you been up to any mischief?" Nan Shu vaguely noticed the phone screen on the sofa still lit up. Huituichang's big round eyes darted around. Nan Shu sat down, and Huituichang lifted a paw, settling steadily onto her lap. Nan Shu picked up the phone from the sofa, unlocked it with facial recognition, and saw the screen was still on the WeChat chat window with Xie Zeyan. It showed [Call Duration 2:05]. Just ten minutes ago. Nan Shu was stunned. Ten minutes ago, she had been packing her luggage in the walk-in closet—how could she have called Xie Zeyan? She looked at Huituichang helplessly. "Did you make the call?" The culprit let out a soft whimper, resting its chin on Nan Shu's leg and nuzzling against her, looking completely innocent. Nan Shu had no choice but to call Xie Zeyan back with a voice call. After three rings, he picked up. "Xie Zeyan." Nan Shu called his name softly. "Mm, what's wrong?" Xie Zeyan's voice, processed through the receiver, was even deeper and more magnetic. "Um..." Even Nan Shu found it absurd to say out loud, "Did Huituichang just call you?" Xie Zeyan's laughter came through the receiver. "Yes." Of course. Nan Shu furrowed her brow, lightly swatting Huituichang's bottom and scolding it in a low voice, "You just know how to cause trouble for Mommy." Huituichang's ears drooped, and like a child who had done something wrong, it rolled around on Nan Shu's lap, exposing its soft belly. Nan Shu rubbed Huituichang's belly and continued, "Sorry about that. I was just packing, and I left my phone in the room. Huituichang accidentally stepped on it. It didn't bother you, did it?" There was another two seconds of silence on the other end, then Xie Zeyan suddenly asked, "Packing?" Nan Shu hummed in acknowledgment. "Going to Shanghai to film a commercial." "Did you find someone else to walk Huituichang?" Xie Zeyan asked. Nan Shu was briefly taken aback, then understood what Xie Zeyan meant. "I'm leaving tomorrow morning and coming back the night after. Huituichang will be fine staying home alone for two days." "But Huituichang is still very young and needs someone to take care of it," Xie Zeyan emphasized. Indeed, even though she had prepared two days' worth of food for Huituichang and laid out pee pads around the house, the thought of Huituichang staying alone in the big apartment for two days still made Nan Shu feel a pang of reluctance. Huituichang was usually very lively and energetic, often fussing to go out for walks. But she also felt too embarrassed to trouble Xie Zeyan again. Sensing Nan Shu's hesitation on the other end of the line, Xie Zeyan made the decision for her. "I'll take you to the airport tomorrow morning and pick up Huituichang on the way." Hearing this, Nan Shu's heart suddenly raced, and she even doubted whether she had heard him correctly. "You'll take me to the airport? No, no, that's too much trouble for you." "No trouble. I happen to have some business to take care of, and it's on the way." Xie Zeyan opened an app to check the flight information and asked her, "What time tomorrow morning?" Nan Shu's hand instinctively clenched. So it was on his way. She stopped refusing. "It's a bit early—I need to be at the airport by 7:30." "I'll be there at 6:50." "Oh, right," Nan Shu remembered she hadn't told Xie Zeyan about moving yet. "I moved to a different neighborhood." "I know." Xie Zeyan added, "I heard about it from Zong Yi last time." "Then for the dog-walking fee, can I pay you the same rate as last time?" Xie Zeyan raised a hand to press his brow, about to refuse, when the girl on the other end of the line spoke again, "I might need to trouble you a few more times in the future." "Fine," Xie Zeyan said. "I'll bring you breakfast tomorrow morning." Just as the words "No need to trouble yourself" were about to leave her mouth, Xie Zeyan preempted her response. "I need to buy some for myself anyway." Nan Shu had originally planned to skip breakfast and just order a meal on the plane to get by. But since Xie Zeyan put it that way, it would be awkward to refuse again. She hugged her knees, feeling as if a feather had brushed past her heart. She agreed. "Okay." "Then get some rest early. See you tomorrow." Xie Zeyan lowered his gaze, pressing his lips into a smile. "Good night." Unable to suppress the smile tugging at her lips, Nan Shu took a deep breath to steady the fluttering in her chest. "Good night." After hanging up, Nan Shu flopped onto the bed, hugging her pillow and rolling around a few times before picking up her phone again. The screen reflected an oval face flushed with a rosy glow. Her legs swayed lazily in the air as Nan Shu opened her phone and set an alarm for 6:30. It was 10:58 now. Less than eight hours until she would see Xie Zeyan. • 10:58. Xie Zeyan lifted his gaze to the clock on the wall and sent a message to Cheng Kai. Xie Zeyan: [Is that car of yours still around?] Cheng Kai: [Yes, boss.] Xie Zeyan: [Let me drive it.] Cheng Kai: [?] Cheng Kai: [Boss, is this really you?] Xie Zeyan frowned and sent a voice message: "Tomorrow morning, let me drive your car." Cheng Kai: [Okay, boss.] The cars in the boss's garage started at two million and went up without limit, so why did he specifically want that twenty-thousand car he never even drove? Got tired of it and wanted a change of pace? Cheng Kai didn't understand, but he didn't dare ask, and he certainly couldn't have the boss come pick up his old car himself. Half an hour later, he drove to Xie Zeyan's house and delivered the keys to his study. Just as he was about to leave, Xie Zeyan called him back. "Boss, is there anything else you need?" Whatever the boss said now, Cheng Kai thought he could handle it. Xie Zeyan paused for a moment before forcing out the awkward question: "Do you usually bring your girlfriend breakfast?" "Yes, I do," Cheng Kai said, realizing his tolerance level needed to be raised even higher. "Uh, is it that you want to—" Xie Zeyan cut him off in a low voice: "No." "I'm asking for Zong Yi." Cheng Kai said, "Oh, so it's for Boss Zong. If Boss Zong wants to bring his girlfriend breakfast, I think something homemade would show more sincerity than something store-bought." Xie Zeyan nodded. "Got it." After Cheng Kai left, Xie Zeyan tapped into a Weibo account. He scrolled down until his hand stopped at a certain post. In the photo, a girl held up a sandwich, her bright, clear eyes looking at the camera. Soft pink eyeshadow was lightly blended around her eyes, making her look even more charming. Her long hair fell naturally over her chest, and her bangs were pinned back with a cartoon hair clip. The caption read: [On a diet~ Having a ham sandwich today] • Nan Shu woke up before her alarm went off. Just past six, the sun hadn't risen yet, but the sky was already bright. When she opened the window, a crisp morning breeze greeted her face, accompanied by the chirping of cicadas. Nan Shu stretched lazily as the wind swept through her chestnut-brown hair, and she felt completely refreshed. She had already packed her luggage yesterday, and Xie Zeyan had said he'd bring her breakfast. After changing her clothes, Nan Shu simply lay back down on the bed and scrolled through her phone. As 6:50 drew closer, Nan Shu grew increasingly restless. One moment she was fixing her makeup in front of the mirror, the next she was leaning over the balcony to see if Xie Zeyan had arrived. When she received Xie Zeyan's message, she scooped up Huituichang with one arm and dragged her suitcase with the other, dashing into the elevator. Today Xie Zeyan was dressed more casually, unlike the first two times she'd run into him when he was in a suit and tie. Nan Shu put Huituichang in the back seat and was about to climb in after him when she heard Xie Zeyan say, "Nan Shu, I don't have a hobby of being anyone's chauffeur." "Oh." Nan Shu's face flushed as she moved to the passenger seat. Xie Zeyan took a paper bag from the back seat. Before she even opened it, the aroma hit her nose. "A sandwich?" The bread looked like it had been freshly baked that morning, stuffed generously with layers of meat, vegetables, and fruit. The fillings were substantial, and even though a few spots on the crust were slightly burnt, it didn't take away from the overall quality. Nan Shu took a huge bite and couldn't help praising it: "So fragrant! Where did you buy this?" Xie Zeyan watched the girl's cheeks puff up like a little hamster's and casually handed her a tissue. "Just at the bakery up ahead." Nan Shu looked in the direction Xie Zeyan pointed and could indeed see a small private bakery. "I'll check it out next time." Xie Zeyan raised an eyebrow. "You like it?" Nan Shu nodded. "I do. This place is so generous—the chicken strips are even freshly fried." A familiar melody played from the speakers, and Huituichang squeezed his head between the two seats, wagging excitedly. Nan Shu chewed her sandwich while her gaze unconsciously drifted toward Xie Zeyan. The man held the steering wheel steadily, eyes fixed ahead. His pale throat bobbed as he swallowed, and a tie hung loosely around his neck, layered with a silver chain on top. Feeling the girl's gaze from beside him, Xie Zeyan let out a soft chuckle. "Hm? What are you staring at so intently?" Caught off guard at being spotted, Nan Shu turned her head away with a hint of fluster, her eyes darting nervously and her words speeding up involuntarily. "Nothing. I just thought your tie looks really nice with your outfit." Xie Zeyan didn't say anything, but a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. Nan Shu thought back—the first two times she'd run into Xie Zeyan, he'd also been in a suit and tie, and each time the tie was different. But none of them had been as designed and thoughtful as today's. He must have something important today, which was why he'd dressed up so carefully. Maybe... he was interviewing for a job in fashion or something trendy? • Two hours later, the plane landed in Shanghai. There was no filming on the first day, so Nan Shu coordinated with the staff from the charity project about tomorrow's shoot. Since early morning filming could easily cause puffiness, Nan Shu had been careful with her diet afterward. All in all, the only thing she'd eaten the entire day was the sandwich Xie Zeyan had bought her. The next morning, while she was still in the makeup room getting ready, she received a message from Xie Zeyan. Xie Zeyan: [Image] Xie Zeyan: [Taking Huituichang for a walk] Nan Shu: [Working hard, massaging shoulders jpg] Remembering how Sister Fu had reminded her to post more content on social media, Nan Shu switched to the front camera and took a few photos of herself in the mirror. Today her makeup leaned soft and pink, with a glossy peach-toned lip gloss that made her look fresh and sweet. Nan Shu opened Weibo, picked out a few photos, and composed a post: [Up early, starting work~] The signal in the dressing room was poor. After she hit send, her feed took a while to load before her post finally appeared. A few seconds later, a notification popped up on her messages: [NX liked your post]. Nan Shu was quite familiar with this "NX." He had followed her a long time ago, and every time she posted, he would like it immediately. Driven by curiosity, Nan Shu logged into her anonymous Weibo account used for lurking and gossip, and clicked into "NX"'s profile. "NX"'s IP had previously been in the UK, but now it had changed back to Jingjia. His following list contained only her, and his feed had never posted anything else. It looked like an abandoned account with no one managing it. But in reality, every time she posted something for work, "NX" would like and comment. Back when she first started filming, she was always nervous about underperforming. Late at night under heavy pressure, she would post rambling thoughts visible only to followers on Weibo. "NX" would comfort her: [You're already doing great] Occasionally, she shared two photos of herself with kittens at a cat café. NX: [Adorable] ... During the break after the first photo set, Nan Shu followed the guidance of her two personal stylists to the lounge. The two stylists were around Nan Shu's age and stood at the lounge door chatting. "Oh my god, Meng Yanzhou is shooting for Harper's Bazaar in the next studio. I ran into him this morning—he's like a 3D model, devastatingly handsome from every angle." "Meng Yanzhou is actually in Hushi? I've been a fan of his for so long, ahhh. Should we go take a look after we're done?" Nan Shu wasn't unfamiliar with the name Meng Yanzhou. Before turning thirty, he had swept the Golden Rooster, Huabiao, and Hundred Flowers Awards—the undisputed and uncontested Best Actor in the entertainment industry. Even more commendable was that since his debut, he had almost zero scandals and zero rumors. Nan Shu had never met him in person, but she often saw him online, since this Best Actor was a regular on the trending page, frequently going viral for some candid shot or unedited photo from an awards ceremony. Nan Shu was also intrigued and perked up her ears to listen to the two stylists chatting by the door. On the way back to the studio, Xie Zeyan sent Nan Shu a message asking about her flight information that evening. Xie Zeyan: [Just in time to return Huituichang to you] Nan Shu looked down and replied: [Seven o'clock flight, arriving in Jingjia...] She didn't see the person approaching from around the corner. By the time she noticed, her steps couldn't stop in time, and she crashed headfirst into the man's chest, a searing pain shooting up from the tip of her nose. Nan Shu was knocked back two steps, and the next moment, a hand with distinct knuckles tightly gripped her wrist. Like a vine that had grown in a corner for years, it silently coiled around her wrist. She looked up. The person she had bumped into turned out to be Meng Yanzhou. Nan Shu was startled and instinctively pulled her arm out of Meng Yanzhou's grasp, bowed politely, and addressed him: "Hello, Teacher Meng." Nan Shu had seen online before that many people said Meng Yanzhou was even more handsome in person than in photos. Today, she confirmed it. Meng Yanzhou had fair, cool-toned skin, narrow phoenix eyes as deep and unfathomable as still water, and a brooding aura. When he spoke, his voice carried a metallic chill: "Hello." For some reason, Nan Shu suddenly felt afraid of his gaze. She found it sharp and sinister, and she recalled how fans had once described Meng Yanzhou as having "stories in his eyes." The photographer was already calling for Nan Shu at the studio entrance. Nan Shu bowed again to Meng Yanzhou. "Teacher Meng, I'll be going then. I'm really sorry about just now." Meng Yanzhou nodded. "Go ahead." As she brushed past Meng Yanzhou, Nan Shu looked down at her phone and realized that the half-finished message she hadn't sent had accidentally been sent to Xie Zeyan. Xie Zeyan: [Hmm?] Xie Zeyan: [Did something happen?] Nan Shu: [Nothing, I just bumped into someone T T] Nan Shu: [I'll contact you when I arrive in Jingjia] Nan Shu: [Thanks!] ... When Nan Shu's figure disappeared around the corner, Meng Yanzhou finally withdrew his gaze and looked again at the hand that had touched the girl's arm. After standing still for a few seconds, he raised that hand to his nose. The palm still carried the lingering fragrance of the girl's scent. Meng Yanzhou took a deep breath, a morbid satisfaction surfacing in his eyes. "After all these years, you still haven't changed your perfume."