Chapter 13: 013

Back at the villa, Song Guiya fetched an ice pack and gently applied it to Xi Tongyue’s ankle.

Xi Tongyue nestled into the sofa, her posture the picture of languid relaxation, though her face was etched with clear displeasure.

Song Guiya assumed it was the pain in her foot or the chill of the ice pack making her uncomfortable. In truth, Xi Tongyue was simply irritated that she could no longer catch that faint soapberry scent.

Why hadn’t the running path felt quite so short on the way there?

Song Guiya soothed her. “Just bear with it a little. Icing numbs the pain and helps treat the sprain.”

Xi Tongyue waved a hand dismissively, as if it hardly mattered.

To make her more comfortable, Song Guiya gathered a few soft pillows and propped up the injured foot.

Under the light, the pale ankle gleamed like fresh snow, the skin so translucent that faint blue veins were visible beneath, tracing delicate paths to finely defined bones. The pale pink toenails resembled scattered flower petals.

Even a single pair of feet seemed like the masterpiece of some master artisan, carved with painstaking care.

Unwittingly, Song Guiya lost herself in the sight, a strange emotion stirring unbidden in her chest. It vanished in an instant when she noticed Xi Tongyue watching her with keen interest.

She lowered her gaze. “It’s not a serious injury, but you still need to rest properly if you want to walk normally. Should I let Sister Huo know and push back your schedule for the next few days?”

Xi Tongyue knew perfectly well that Song Guiya was trying to change the subject, but she had no intention of letting her escape.

“Song Guiya,” she called.

“What is it?” Song Guiya looked up.

“You’re blushing.”

Song Guiya froze for a moment, then rose to her feet with deliberate calm. “Rest here for a bit. I’ll go upstairs and run you a bath.”

With that, she headed straight for the stairs. Xi Tongyue could clearly see the faint flush coloring her cheeks.

Satisfied, Xi Tongyue’s lips curved into a smile. Then realization dawned, and she called after her. “A bath?”

Song Guiya glanced back, her expression impassive. “Bathwater.”

Xi Tongyue arched an eyebrow and fixed her with a steady stare, saying nothing.

Song Guiya shot her a pointed look. “You’re injured—it’s not convenient for you to bathe alone. I’ll help.”

She had endured Xi Tongyue’s teasing long enough. Even a statue of clay would have some fire in its belly. Today, Song Guiya was determined to turn the tables and make her squirm for once.

But before she could savor the moment, Xi Tongyue rested her chin on one hand, her expression laced with anticipation. “The contract doesn’t cover this service, of course. But since Miss Song is offering so generously, how could I refuse?”

Song Guiya: …

The counterattack had failed.

“Still,” Xi Tongyue continued, noting how Song Guiya’s tension was visible to the naked eye, “you know my leg is hurt. Certain activities might prove… inconvenient.” She tilted her head, her features radiating an almost otherworldly allure. “So you won’t mind taking the top position, will you?”

Song Guiya: ???

She had no idea what “taking the top” meant exactly, but Xi Tongyue’s suggestive tone made it clear she was referring to the intimate matters expected of contract lovers.

The air hung heavy with silence until the sharp trill of a phone broke it.

While Xi Tongyue glanced down at the screen, Song Guiya made her escape.

The corners of Xi Tongyue’s eyes lifted in amusement as she answered. Her voice carried a note of delight. “Still up so late? What’s on your mind?”

Huo Yao fell silent for a beat, reining in her frustration with effort before managing to sound professionally composed. “You found time for a late-night riverside stroll, but I can’t call for a chat?”

Xi Tongyue idly nudged the ice pack beside her foot. “We got photographed?”

Huo Yao let out a cold snort. “Photographed? They caught the whole thing in crystal-clear detail. You really think a mask fools anyone? A top-tier female star brawling with a scandal-plagued artist right out in the open? Paparazzi aren’t the only ones who’d get excited—even stray dogs would perk up!”

Xi Tongyue blinked in confusion. “Paparazzi pulling in that kind of money these days?”

The scenic walkway fell within the highly exclusive villa district. Those drunken louts were residents who’d staggered out for a wander and run into them by chance. Paparazzi shouldn’t have been lurking anywhere nearby.

Huo Yao could see she was missing the point entirely, which only fueled her anger. She silently invoked the God of Wealth three times to steady herself before pressing on.

“It’s a messy story. The video came from the clerk at that convenience store along the walkway. She spotted Song Guiya the moment she went in to buy something and started snapping photos on the sly—caught the entire incident, start to finish.

“But once the police showed up, she got cold feet about causing trouble, so she just posted it to her Moments. One of her friends—your hardcore fan, no less—recognized you right away, got the original file from her privately, and flipped it for a hefty sum to the paparazzi.”

Xi Tongyue glanced at the video files Huo Yao had sent to her email. They were impressively high-definition, but she remained unconcerned. “This little thing got you so worked up?”

Huo Yao was a gold medal manager in the industry who had handled situations like this hundreds if not thousands of times. So why was she losing her cool now?

She nearly spat up a mouthful of blood. “Have you forgotten what you promised me? Don’t you know what kind of situation your little lover is in? These past few years, I’ve been living in fear, terrified you’d decide to go public on a whim. The contract’s almost up at last, and right at the end, you pull this?”

Back when Xi Tongyue had convinced her to take Song Guiya on, she had indeed promised not to publicize her relationship with Song Guiya while the contract was in effect. Even though circumstances had changed since then, Xi Tongyue still had no intention of breaking that promise.

With calm composure, Xi Tongyue held her phone farther away to escape Huo Yao’s near-roaring voice.

“Fine, getting photographed together is one thing—but fighting?”

“Can you even imagine tomorrow’s headlines?”

“Shocker! Five Golds Best Actress and Black-Red Little Flower in Late-Night Riverside Brawl with Drunk—Movie Queen’s Downfall or Little Flower’s Depravity?”

“If our PR department manager didn’t have a connection with that paparazzo, the preview post would’ve been ready to drop first thing Monday.”

“He’s giving us a heads-up by contacting us first. That’s face.”

“His price: five hundred thousand. You paying out of pocket, or company card?”

Huo Yao and Xi Tongyue shared a bond that ran deeper than most, so even in the heat of real anger, she didn’t mince words. They both knew neither would hold a grudge.

Once Huo Yao had vented her spleen, Xi Tongyue thought it over. “No need to pay. Let the video out.”

Huo Yao was aghast. “Have you lost your mind, or did I hear wrong? Do you have any idea what you just said?”

If that video leaked, Song Guiya’s fate might be up in the air, but linking Xi Tongyue’s name to hers would drag the Five Golds Best Actress off her pedestal for good. All the glory she’d earned before would mean nothing once her most devoted fans turned on her and hurled her into the abyss.

Xi Tongyue’s star would be extinguished, and the company would face a full-blown crisis.

Huo Yao would never let that happen.

Xi Tongyue couldn’t care less about pedestals or abysses—they meant nothing to her. Still, she had no intention of getting everyone fired over her recklessness.

“Relax. Not the whole thing. Just a different angle.”

Even after hearing Xi Tongyue’s plan, Huo Yao hesitated. “You think that’ll fly? The paparazzo agree?”

Xi Tongyue replied, “It’s a win-win. Anyone with a brain would say yes.”

Huo Yao grudgingly agreed, but not without a parting shot: “Never met a gold master like you. Song Guiya must’ve saved the galaxy in a past life to land as your goldfinch.”

Xi Tongyue had just hung up when Song Guiya came downstairs, the bath run and ready.

Song Guiya offered to carry her up, but Xi Tongyue turned it down—the position was just too awkward.

Song Guiya looked utterly baffled.

Propping herself on Song Guiya’s arm, Xi Tongyue rose from the sofa and hopped on one leg toward the stairs.

That’s when the elusive black cat materialized around the corner. Its ice-blue eyes flicked over Xi Tongyue before it lifted a front paw and mimicked her awkward hopping back and forth, its expression pure mockery.

Xi Tongyue’s face darkened on the spot. Sensing peril, the black cat bolted.

Song Guiya chuckled and, before Xi Tongyue could truly bristle, bent down. “Let me carry you up instead.”

Steam filled the bathroom, and all the bath products had been neatly arranged within easy reach beside the tub.

Song Guiya carried her inside and set her down gently by the tub before turning to leave. “I’ll be right outside. Call if you need me.”

Xi Tongyue eyed her. “How are you supposed to help me wash up from out there?”

They were both women, so it wouldn’t be improper—but Song Guiya respected Xi Tongyue’s position too much to presume.

Her earlier quip had just been a desperate counter after getting teased so mercilessly.

Now she’d backed herself into a corner.

Song Guiya softened her voice. “I was only joking before. Can’t I take it back?”

Maybe it was the steam, but Song Guiya’s eyes gleamed misty and vulnerable, hitting Xi Tongyue right in the chest.

The woman who was so decisive and fearless on the battlefield, her gaze always resolute—now softened like this…

It was deadly.

To keep things from veering into dangerous territory, Xi Tongyue shooed Song Guiya out anyway.

The water in the tub was just the right temperature. Gripping the edge, Xi Tongyue swung her leg over and sank into the soothing warmth.

Her gaze drifted to the half-open door, and she remembered how Song Guiya used to stand guard behind the screen, sword in hand, every time she bathed before.

She was the only person besides the Imperial Guards who could wear a sword while walking through the Inner Palace.

She had been her personal bodyguard since childhood.

They had been inseparable companions for seven years—until she marched off to war in her father’s place and fell on the battlefield.

Generations of the Song Family had served as loyal retainers, earning the deep trust of Royal Father. From her earliest years, he had assigned the eldest daughter of the Song Family to accompany her.

And Song Guiya had indeed proven loyal to her—sincere and true-hearted, holding nothing back.

Yet the way she treated Song Guiya was different.

~~~

After her bath, Xi Tongyue slipped into a bathrobe. Song Guiya came in to help blow-dry her hair.

As she reached for the hairdryer, Xi Tongyue caught sight of an opened small paper box in the mirror cabinet, with several square plastic packets scattered beside it.

It looked vaguely familiar.

Song Guiya didn’t glance at the label on the box. Instead, she picked up one of the square packets and examined it closely before turning to Xi Tongyue. “Last night, Wuyuan must have thought this was food and carried one off. I put it in my room—I’ll bring it to you later.”

At those words, Xi Tongyue lifted her eyes. There, pinched between Song Guiya’s two slender white fingers, was an orange-flavored condom.

Vivid. Striking.