Chapter 54 Part 1

“I can’t post on Moments, and I can’t go public with our relationship. I feel really sorry to Liuguang,” Lin Shixia’s voice rang clearly in the private room. A faint, happy smile graced her face as she spoke in the most sincere tone. “Auntie and Sister Qingying have both been so good to me, so I don’t want to hide it from you.”

When she let out an “mm,” Gu Liuguang felt her entire soul leave her body.

Lin Shixia still looked utterly earnest. She gazed seriously at Ye Qingying and Lin Zhenshuang as she spoke, then turned to Gu Liuguang with an apologetic expression and reached out to hold her hand.

“I’m not very familiar with Director Jiawu, so I was worried it would bother you,” Lin Shixia paused for a moment before continuing with a smile. “After all, we hadn’t officially confessed back then, and besides, I don’t think our relationship needs to be shared with others.”

Ye Qingying finally seemed to find her voice. She hesitated before speaking, lifting her eyelids to quickly glance at the head chef across from them. “So… this person is your friend?”

Lin Shixia flashed a bright smile. “Isn’t this the shop opened by Sister Qingying’s friend? It specializes in privacy. I trust Sister Qingying’s friend—I believe she won’t tell anyone.”

Gu Liuguang finally snapped back to reality, her mind still a mushy blur. She wondered why Ye Qingying and Lin Shixia were chatting so amiably, and why no one seemed curious at all about her and Lin Shixia being together.

Oh, right—even Gu Shuang hadn’t said anything.

She tried to peer at Gu Shuang with unfocused eyes, but they were too far apart. She could only see Gu Shuang sitting in her seat as the head chef handed her something. Gu Shuang took it without any extra emotion.

Ye Qingying said, “I wouldn’t know about that. I heard the head chef hasn’t been finalized yet. Besides, selling that kind of news could earn a bit of money.”

Lin Shixia’s smile didn’t falter as she glanced at Gu Liuguang. “If there’s really no other way, we’ll just have to go public. And I don’t want to keep having a secret relationship forever.”

Ye Qingying let out a couple of fake “heh heh” laughs, picked up her teacup, and took a sip. “Going public with a relationship right at the start of your career—especially a same-sex one—aren’t you afraid it’ll affect your career? Things were truly incomparable back in our day to now.”

Lin Shixia turned serious in an instant. “I don’t want Liuguang to feel wronged.”

Ye Qingying chuckled again. “The food here is pretty good.”

Gu Liuguang finally calmed down. Now that her relationship with Lin Shixia was out in the open, if she ever dumped Lin Shixia later, Ye Qingying and Gu Shuang would definitely come after her.

Lin Shixia fed Gu Liuguang another bite. Gu Liuguang wanted to refuse, but since Lin Shixia had just announced they were dating, rejecting it now would seem unreasonable. She opened her mouth and took it.

Lin Shixia set down her chopsticks and called out to Lin Zhenshuang. “Auntie, don’t you have anything to say?”

The empty plate in front of Lin Zhenshuang was cleared away. She pressed a napkin to the corner of her lips, turned to look at Lin Shixia and Gu Liuguang, her face expressionless and unreadable. Her tone was calm as well.

“If you’re together, then cherish the relationship properly.”

Gu Liuguang always felt like Gu Shuang was looking at her, her gaze meaningful and her words drawn out slowly.

Lin Zhenshuang paused, her eyes landing on Lin Shixia as she spoke measuredly. “I don’t want you announcing every single relationship like this.”

“I hope you’ll take everything seriously, no matter what you do. If it’s just for fun, say so early—whether to your fans or to Liuguang.”

It was like a massive boulder lifted from overhead. Gu Liuguang felt the pressure vanish instantly. Though she still didn’t know the exact story between Ye Qingying and Lin Shixia, at least Ye Qingying and Gu Shuang didn’t seem too dissatisfied with her and Lin Shixia being together.

As soon as Lin Zhenshuang spoke, Lin Shixia became much more serious. She nodded in response. “I will. Whether it’s acting or relationships.”

The room fell quiet again, filled only with the sizzle of the head chef heating the fish slices. Gu Liuguang grew a bit distracted, feeling like it was time for a plot point, though she hadn’t figured out when to bring it up.

The shop hadn’t officially opened yet, and they were the only four customers that night. There was plenty of food.

Lin Shixia needed to maintain her figure for filming, so she ate just a little and focused on feeding Gu Liuguang.

Ye Qingying beside them did the same. She barely ate before setting down her chopsticks and lounging lazily in her seat, one hand propped diagonally on the table while the other held her phone.

Only Gu Liuguang and Lin Zhenshuang were still eating. Lin Zhenshuang seemed knowledgeable about Japanese cuisine—or perhaps she had allergies—and skipped certain items.

In the end, only Gu Liuguang was left eating. She didn’t think her appetite was that big, but compared to the three women beside her, she seemed like a big eater.

The meal ended with a piece of dessert.

None of the four showed any intention of moving to another spot. Ye Qingying soon got a call and left first in a car. Before going, she looked at Gu Liuguang and spoke smilingly in front of the others.

“If I invited you to my place, would you definitely refuse again?”

As she said this, her gaze shifted to Lin Shixia with clear intent. “You weren’t willing before, and now that you’re with Lin Shixia, you’d be even less likely to come.”

Gu Liuguang had eaten too much and felt uncomfortably full. She didn’t react in time when Ye Qingying spoke to her—she never expected Ye Qingying to address her at all. In her mind, they should both be rivals now.

Who ever invited a rival to stay at their place?

She found Ye Qingying’s words baffling, so her response wasn’t polite. She deliberately said, “I’m afraid Shixia would get jealous.”

Ye Qingying laughed once and said no more before getting into the car and leaving.

Lin Shixia had taken a cab over. On the way back, the three of them rode in Lin Zhenshuang’s car.

The driver was at the wheel, Lin Zhenshuang sat in the front, and Gu Liuguang and Lin Shixia sat in the back.

The driver asked where to go first. Lin Zhenshuang glanced out briefly and checked the rearview mirror. “Do you need to head back to the set tonight?”

Lin Shixia hummed in affirmation. “Not until tonight. Auntie, if you have something urgent, we can drop you off first. Liuguang and I aren’t in a rush.”

Lin Zhenshuang was quiet for a moment before asking Gu Liuguang, “Are you heading back with Shixia tonight? The company’s not busy right now. I need to stop by Shixia’s apartment first—I’ll drop Shixia off at the set.”

The diamonds Gu Shuang had given her were still in the safe in the car. Taking them to the Hengdian hotel wouldn’t be safe; it was better to store them in the apartment first.

But Lin Shixia had just told everyone they were dating, and Gu Liuguang still felt insecure. She only felt a bit at ease being with Lin Shixia, and she still needed to talk to her about heading back to A City.

After weighing her options briefly, she made up her mind. “I want to go with Shixia.”

Both of them looked at her. Hearing her answer, Lin Zhenshuang nodded without expression. “Then we’ll drop them off at Hengdian first so they can rest early and recharge.”

Lin Shixia secretly breathed a sigh of relief beside her. Though Liuguang had said she liked her and agreed to be together, Lin Shixia had zero sense of security.

Especially when she opened the door and saw Gu Liuguang sitting with her aunt and Ye Qingying—that unease had peaked.

She’d been relieved more than once that she’d asked Director Jiawu for leave to come over. Otherwise, Gu Liuguang might have left her without her knowing.

Her instincts told her that her aunt and Ye Qingying both had unusual attitudes toward Gu Liuguang.

Even something as simple as returning to the apartment or going to Hengdian with her made Lin Shixia feel like she was awaiting judgment.

Only when she heard Gu Liuguang’s firm answer did she relax, convinced that Gu Liuguang really liked her.

The car sped along. Traffic was light at this late hour. When they reached an intersection, Lin Zhenshuang suddenly had the driver pull over and turned to ask Gu Liuguang, “That Prosperity Milk Tea Shop you like is nearby. Want some?”

Gu Liuguang had eaten a lot that night and hadn’t moved much since leaving the restaurant and getting in the car. She couldn’t eat solids, but she could manage a thirsty sip of milk tea.

Remembering the shop, Gu Liuguang licked her lips, figuring she’d probably get thirsty in the middle of the night. “Sure, I’ll go buy it.”

She was worried Gu Shuang might get the wrong one.

Lin Shixia frowned. She glanced at Lin Zhenshuang up front before asking Gu Liuguang, “How does Auntie know which milk tea shop you like?”

She hadn’t discovered the shop herself, so the question made her a bit guilty. Her eyes darted. “It’s not that I like it that much. I just happened to pass by this afternoon.”

Lin Shixia said “oh.” “Really? I thought you and Auntie had some secret.”

Gu Liuguang tensed up. “How could that be? What secret could I possibly have with your aunt?”

She noticed Lin Shixia’s suspicious look, but she truly had nothing with Gu Shuang. She immediately grew unhappy and accused Lin Shixia angrily, “What do you mean? Do I have any reason to lie to you? If you don’t believe me, then let’s break up!”

Lin Shixia’s expression changed. She reached out to hug Gu Liuguang and apologized softly. “Sorry, I was just talking casually… If you don’t like it when I say stuff like that, I absolutely won’t do it again…”

Remembering something, she turned to Lin Zhenshuang. “Auntie, sorry. I didn’t mean anything about you and Liuguang. I really was just saying it offhand.”

Lin Zhenshuang’s voice was cool. “It’s fine.”

Gu Liuguang quietly breathed a sigh of relief. She hadn’t wanted to break up at all. Though she was sure Lin Shixia wouldn’t, it wasn’t 100% certain. Seeing her reaction calmed her down.

She took the out. “Since Auntie said it’s fine, okay then.”

The car pulled over to the side of the road. Gu Liuguang had been there that afternoon and knew the way. She opened the door and got out.

Lin Shixia put on a mask and followed. “I’ll go with you.”

Only Lin Zhenshuang and the driver remained in the car.

Prosperity Milk Tea Shop was popular mainly in C City, a hot tourist spot, so it always drew crowds.

Even at 9:30 p.m., the shop showed no signs of closing, with a long line out front.