Chapter 11

Pedestrians strolled slowly along the ancient street, the white horse’s hooves clopping rhythmically. Flower-bearing ladies passed over the arched bridge between the towers. The wind wove through the curtains, lifting the silk from their baskets as pink peach petals danced through the sky, fluttering down in gentle showers.

Xia Zhuxi trembled her eyelashes slightly and plucked a petal that had landed just behind Shen Jingsong’s ear, holding it up before her. “You’ve got something there.”

Shen Jingsong’s smile bloomed like deep-spring peaches in her eyes.

“Then… you go ahead and get busy?” Xia Zhuxi straightened the autograph book she’d prepared for the fans. They were still waiting outside.

Xiao Chen hurried over too, saying the assistant director wanted Shen Jingsong on set.

Shen Jingsong nodded, gathering her wide sleeves and brushing the pink petals from her clothes.

She picked a squirrel hair clip from the fans’ gifts, slipped quietly behind Xia Zhuxi, and tiptoed up to clip it onto the top of her head.

Xia Zhuxi turned, now sporting two little squirrels atop her hair, but Shen Jingsong spun away in a flash, leaving only her snow-white back and playfully bouncing long locks. Glancing sideways, her dark hair half-hid the secretly upturned corners of her lips. “I’ll probably be back around ten tonight.”

Xia Zhuxi stared blankly for a second before replying, “Okay.”

On the road, Xia Zhuxi wondered: Had Shen Jingsong just ducked away to laugh at her in secret?

At fourteen, she’d been hunched over exam papers at her desk when Shen Jingsong, half-covering the door, had said those words to Pei Ziying—lowering her eyes, her lips curving in a stealthy smile.

Xia Zhuxi had never forgotten that shy, enchanting charm.

She asked herself: How much harder would she have to work to become the one who made Shen Jingsong lower her head and smile like that?

Just moments ago, in flowing white robes with her long hair dancing, Shen Jingsong had smiled—her eyes fixed on Xia Zhuxi.

Xia Zhuxi flicked the little squirrel on her head.

The thing was springy, its fluffy tail swishing back and forth.

Jian Ge came running up in a signed T-shirt and grabbed for the squirrel’s tail. “Did Teacher Shen give you that? I want one!”

Xia Zhuxi dodged with agile grace. “Sister Jingsong put this on me herself. You’re a diehard Jingjing Fairy fan, aren’t you? Go beg your Shao Film Queen.”

Jian Ge puffed up like a blowfish. “I’ll get one straight from Teacher Shen.”

Shen Jingsong’s fans waited at the security checkpoint. The moment they spotted Xia Zhuxi’s car from afar, they burst into cheers.

Xia Zhuxi rolled down the window and passed out the autograph books along with the milk teas Shen Jingsong had prepared for them.

The girls were thrilled beyond words. “Xia God, are you a squirrel too?” one asked, pointing at the hair clip. “Squirrel” was the nickname for Shen Jingsong’s fans.

Pride sparkled in Xia Zhuxi’s eyes. “You bet.”

“Wow wow wow!” The girl whispered to her friends behind her. “This pairing is kinda shippable, right…?”

Summoning her courage, the girl asked, “Xia God, can we get a photo with you?”

Jian Ge coughed softly—a hint that this wasn’t the racetrack, these weren’t racing fans, and they were still on the set of Eight Voices of Ganzhou. It wasn’t exactly appropriate.

Xia Zhuxi went selectively deaf. “Sure! Mind if I hold that big squirrel plush for the shot?”

The girl practically vibrated with excitement. “Of course!!!”

Snap

@Quiet Fairy’s Squirrel Steward

4-2

Fairy-tier shipbait?

Xia Zhuxi rocking a squirrel hair clip, hugging a giant squirrel plush, cheesing with Shen Jingsong’s fans in front of the Eight Voices of Ganzhou kickoff poster.jpg

【Holy shit, who’s that? Let me rub my eyes—is this a dream?】

【I’ve already got my ships sorted.】

【Up top, lightning fast~】

【As everyone knows, pro athletes have killer stamina, and our fairy is so petite, so… (doge)】

【Which one’s the bottom?】

【Fiery racing god as the younger top? Way better than that A-lister who forcibly shipped with our fairy, hyped the CP, then ghosted (catthulhu)】

【Shh, sisters—don’t jump the gun. This “god” has tons of fans. What if they see it and accuse our fairy of clout-chasing?】

【Agreed, steward fans only.】

【Clout my ass—we’re just shipping. What’s it got to do with her rice bowl?】

【Let’s watch and wait. The main parties haven’t interacted, not even mutuals.】

【Replying upstairs: Maybe on alts? Feilian PR is locked down tight.】

Jian Ge showed Xia Zhuxi the Weibo post. “Take a look. It’s blown up in an hour. Good luck if the boss comes down on us.”

Xia Zhuxi glanced over. “Got it. If PR cracks down, I’ll throw you under the bus clean.”

In fact…

@Chu Yun – Xuanyuan Group Chairman

4-2

Repost / @Quiet Fairy’s Squirrel Steward: Fairy-tier shipbait?

Jian Ge: “…”

The boss was the one who’d stressed maintaining the driver’s image and banning scandals in meetings. And the boss was the one reposting shipbait.

Jian Ge had to admire her boss’s quirky style.

~~~

Twilight gathered.

Xia Zhuxi arrived early at the set to pick up Shen Jingsong and watched her wrap a take from afar.

Ranran only had three scenes upfront; the rest came next month. Once these days of filming ended, they could head back to Shengjing together.

The door to 2108 stood ajar.

Shen Jingsong entered the room, fastening her coat.

A humidifier sat on the entryway cabinet, casting a hazy warm glow as it slowly exhaled wisps of white mist.

The scent was bergamot and lemon, mingled with a touch of ebony.

Two racing suits lay draped over the sofa, while an Irish coffee steamed faintly on the coffee table, releasing a subtle whiskey aroma. A racing magazine lay pinned beneath the cup.

Xia Zhuxi stepped out of the bedroom, clad in the Feilian team uniform. Her posture was upright, her figure tall and elegantly slender.

Shen Jingsong smiled faintly. “Have you decided?”

Xia Zhuxi blinked. “Hm?”

Shen Jingsong held up the gold powder signing pen. “Where to put my name.”

“Mm.” Xia Zhuxi gathered the racing suits from the sofa and set them aside in the corner. “Sister Jingsong, please, have a seat.”

Shen Jingsong perched on the edge of the sofa, twisting off the pen cap. Her eyes followed Xia Zhuxi’s movements. “Where do you want it?”

Xia Zhuxi stepped closer and stood beside her, glancing down at the team uniform. “On my clothes. Anywhere’s fine.”

Shen Jingsong’s smile widened. “Alright then.”

She rose to her feet. The hem of her skirt glided along the curve of her thigh. Her pointed high heels shifted back slightly, the thin stilettos lifting into the air.

Xia Zhuxi dipped her gaze a fraction. Shen Jingsong’s eyelashes were long and delicately curled. With her eyes lowered in concentration, she carefully inscribed a line of small characters along the edge of the left shoulder strap.

Xiao Xi is awesome.

Shen Jingsong.

Xia Zhuxi lit up with delight. “Whoa, it’s a Personalized Autograph!”

Shen Jingsong shook her head. “This isn’t.”

Xia Zhuxi latched onto the key point. “Then this one?”

Shen Jingsong unfastened the brooch pen from her coat and extended her palm. Following the gesture, Xia Zhuxi placed her right hand into it. With the fine crystal-tipped pen, Shen Jingsong gently traced a flourish of cursive letters at the base of her pinky finger.

“This is the real one.” Shen Jingsong’s voice rang clear and bright.

Xia Zhuxi admired her Personalized Autograph.

She lifted her hand beneath the floor lamp. Light filtered between her fingers, the soft warm tones wrapping around her.

xsx

Xia Zhuxi’s first and last initials—x and x—cradling Shen Jingsong’s final initial, s.

The xsx intertwined, as if the two x’s were embracing the s between them.

Xia Zhuxi’s gaze lingered, lost in the loop of letters encircling her pinky, reluctant to pull away.

It resembled a tail ring forged from ink.

A tail ring on the right hand—she vaguely recalled it symbolized a secret promise of the heart, awaiting a favorable reply.

She knew it was just coincidence.

But it made her so happy.

Shen Jingsong’s voice came softly. “It’s my first time signing like this. It might not be pretty. I hope you like it.”

“It’s beautiful. I love it.” Xia Zhuxi looked at her. “Will there be a second time?”

Would she sign like this for someone else?

Shen Jingsong took hold of her pinky. “A Personalized Autograph is a signature for just one person.”

Xia Zhuxi laughed aloud. “Right, of course.”

What an idiot she was.

A happy idiot.

Shen Jingsong’s little idiot.

The housekeeping department staff found it all very odd. The shower in 2107 had been fixed ages ago, so why did the VIP in 2107 keep using the bathroom in 2108 every night?

The hotel management assumed the staff hadn’t repaired it promptly and chewed them out for it.

The housekeeping department felt deeply wronged.

Steam billowed from the bathroom, carrying a light, refreshing fragrance.

Xia Zhuxi heard the bedroom door ease open. She looked up to see Shen Jingsong emerging, towel-drying her damp long hair.

Tiny water droplets trailed down her graceful neck, pooling in the delicate hollow of her collarbone.

One droplet clung to that little mole, magnifying it like a lens.

It was so beautiful.

Shen Jingsong was so beautiful.

“What are you looking at?” Shen Jingsong asked.

Xia Zhuxi flinched like a child caught sneaking treats. “Nothing. Just spacing out.”

Shen Jingsong’s tone softened. “You must be tired. Get some rest soon. I’ll be done in a moment.”

She grabbed a comb and returned to the bathroom to use the hairdryer.

Xia Zhuxi listened to the hum from within, imagining the warm air tousling Shen Jingsong’s long hair, brushing over her pale, silken skin.

Had that droplet on the mole dried by now?

When Shen Jingsong had been drying her hair earlier, a flush of rosy heat had colored her chest. Had it faded?

She…

“All done.” Shen Jingsong emerged with her hair dry, slipping into her coat. “I’ll head back now?”

Xia Zhuxi called out. “Sister Jingsong.”

“Hm?” Shen Jingsong paused, bag in hand. The casually tied belt of her coat had come loose, revealing the pearl-hued silk dress beneath.

Xia Zhuxi asked with feigned mystery. “Have you noticed you’re missing something?”

Shen Jingsong thought for a moment. “Nope.”

Xia Zhuxi prompted. “Think harder.”

Shen Jingsong tapped her chin with a finger, pondering briefly before slowly shaking her head. “A hint?”

Xia Zhuxi broke into a grin and lightly tapped her own lips with her index finger.

Shen Jingsong’s eyes widened, shimmering with surprise.

A moment later, she lowered her lashes, a faint blush of embarrassment coloring her lovely features.

Xia Zhuxi suddenly realized her gesture had been misinterpreted. Shen Jingsong had gotten the wrong idea!

That wasn’t what she meant!

Oh god—

Hastily, she retrieved a small item from the leather box on the desk. It was wrapped in soft velvet, which she handed to Shen Jingsong. “What I meant was something to do with your lips. This is what you left behind last time.”

After much deliberation, Xia Zhuxi had decided to return it to her.

Shen Jingsong unwrapped it. Nestled within the red velvet lay a lip gloss in peach-pink packaging. The tube was crystal clear, allowing the luscious peach liquid inside to swirl gently. A delicate metal bow adorned the top of the cap, catching the light from the strip and shimmering faintly.

Such a soft, gentle color would look stunning on Shen Jingsong’s lips.

They would carry a sweet fragrance, soft and touched with a hint of moisture.

Shen Jingsong: “No.”

Xia Zhuxi’s eyes flickered with confusion.

Shen Jingsong said: “It wasn’t left behind.”

Shen Jingsong wrapped the lip gloss back in the velvet and placed it into Xia Zhuxi’s hand. The edge of the red velvet beautifully complemented the porcelain skin at the base of Xia Zhuxi’s finger.

Shen Jingsong lifted her face, her eyebrows a smoky teal, her features glowing like pearls veiled in haze. “It has simply arrived at the place where it belongs.”

Languid jazz drifted from the black vinyl record player.

Xia Zhuxi stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the personalized autograph on the base of her pinky finger. She twisted open the lip gloss and used the shimmering peach tint to draw a heart on her skin.