Chapter 22: Massage

The sunset clouds wove into brilliant silk, the sky a resplendent gold. Streetlights and the huge LED screens outside the windows lit up one after another, dazzling as day, making even the bright moonlight seem dim.

Jiang Bomu gazed quietly until the last rays faded, the night sky like black satin, dotted with sparse, half-bright stars, adding a touch of magnificence.

“Finished!”

The girl’s voice drew back her gaze. She tried to stand up, but just as she propped herself on her arm, she collapsed back onto the soft sofa. Having not moved for so long, her entire body had gone numb and senseless.

Jiang Bomu took a breath and forced herself to close her eyes and lie flat, waiting for her bodily functions to recover.

From Gu Yu’s perspective, it was a picture of a jade beauty lying across the sofa. She couldn’t help but swallow. Actually, it wouldn’t have been bad to just let Jiang Bomu sleep on the sofa while she painted.

But it was too late for that now. She should do something.

Gu Yu approached, knelt beside her legs, and slowly placed her hands on the long, slender legs.

The ancient costume was cumbersome. Though separated by layers of fabric, Gu Yu’s heart still surged. The pressure of the massage was sometimes heavy, sometimes light. She stole a glance at Jiang Bomu, who showed no expression. It seemed her legs were still numb.

Acting first and reporting later, she spoke with feigned concern: “Sister, let me massage your legs for a bit?”

Jiang Bomu immediately opened her eyes, glimpsing Gu Yu beside her. Her gaze quickly fell on those hands—slender and beautiful, knuckles slightly prominent, nails trimmed neat and round. No manicure, yet they still gleamed with a healthy luster.

After just one look, she averted her gaze, somewhat awkwardly. “No need. I’ll be fine after resting a while.”

“How can that be okay?” Gu Yu pretended innocence. “You lay there for so long, I even had to feed you your meal. Now you’re uncomfortable; it’s nothing for me to massage for a bit. Sister, don’t feel shy.”

With that, she massaged even more vigorously, asking diligently, “Is this pressure okay?”

Perhaps her massage had some effect. Jiang Bomu felt the numbness in her legs lessening. She could feel those hands dancing over her calves, like playing a piano, the notes flowing. The listener should have been enjoying it, but she instinctively curled her legs slightly.

“Too heavy?” Gu Yu lightened her touch. “How about this?”

Jiang Bomu parted her lips but said nothing more.

Forget it. It was just a massage. Why overthink it? Let her be.

Her body sent no signals of rejection, yet psychologically she felt an awkwardness. Jiang Bomu closed her eyes, imagining the person massaging her was a doctor. But what surfaced in her mind was Gu Yu dressed in a pink nurse’s uniform.

This was bad.

She opened her eyes, silently counted from 1 to 100, and said calmly, “Alright, I think I can move now.”

Gu Yu felt regret in her heart but let go quickly, afraid the other might see her impure intentions and expose her true colors.

Dealing with a Best Actress was truly exhausting.

Gu Yu sighed inwardly, then thought happily: But her acting was now good enough to fool a Best Actress!

Next time she saw Grandma, maybe she should ask for a small role to test the waters. She could debut too, maybe even become an overnight sensation!

Gu Yu fantasized for a while about standing on the awards stage with Jiang Bomu, holding their trophies together.

Ah, what a perfect match they’d be.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Jiang Bomu stand up. Gu Yu immediately rushed over attentively, supporting her arm, afraid she might be unsteady and fall.

“I’m fine now, really,” Jiang Bomu gently pushed her away. “Go look at your painting.”

Gu Yu instantly became nervous. Although she felt she had performed beyond her usual level, what if the other party didn’t like it? She stepped forward somewhat anxiously, wanting to observe the other’s expression immediately. But her gaze subconsciously fell on the painting, and she couldn’t help but sigh.

Ah, truly perfect.

A fair hand slowly rose, reaching towards the painting. Gu Yu snapped back to her senses and immediately, sternly stopped her: “It’s not dry yet. It will ruin the painting.”

Jiang Bomu withdrew her hand in a daze, murmuring, “I feel like I’m seeing Bai Yu.”

On the easel, the beauty lay recumbent, one hand casually supporting her face. Her alluring, delicate features seemed fixed on a certain spot, as if waiting for a lover, or lost in thought, inviting endless imagination, irresistibly drawing the viewer in.

Gu Yu glanced sideways at Jiang Bomu and thought: Clearly, Bai Yu is standing right in front of me.

She always became whatever she played. Not just main roles, even a three-minute cameo in some drama left people unforgettable, praised from the top of her head to the tips of her toes. Every Bilibili compilation was guaranteed to feature her, often as the cover image.

She was a born actress. And Grandma had the keen eye to recognize talent, excavating this uncut jade from the desert.

This time playing the Courtesan Belle, of course, was no different. Even before officially joining the set, she was already Bai Yu—bewitching eyes, soul-stealing charm. With a single beckoning wave, crowds would rush forward eagerly.

“Xunxun, may I?”

A gentle female voice pulled back her thoughts. Gu Yu asked, confused, “What?”

“I said, would you be willing to authorize this painting for me and the production team?”

Gu Yu blinked, stunned by this news, speechless for a moment.

“I really like this painting,” Jiang Bomu laid out her thoughts. “So I was thinking of negotiating with the director to use it for pre-release promotion when the drama is about to air. What do you think?”

She understood now and instinctively refused. “My painting isn’t that good.”

She was just an art student. Gu Yu was very self-aware.

“If I like it, that’s enough,” Jiang Bomu smiled gracefully. “If the director doesn’t agree, I’ll keep it for myself. Is this price acceptable?”

She gestured a number with her hand. Gu Yu’s breath hitched, and her eyes immediately turned to gold coins. “Rich sister, support me!”

The moment these words were spoken, both of them paused.

Gu Yu wanted to crawl into a hole and hide. How had she blurted out her inner thoughts? Her expression slightly embarrassed, she stiffly explained, “I meant that money is enough to keep a sugar baby… no, I mean…”

The more she explained, the more tangled it became. Gu Yu decided to just give up. “Anyway, you know what I mean.”

Jiang Bomu smoothed her hair at the temples and spoke with perfect composure. “Eating my food, drinking my drinks, using my things… isn’t that what I’m doing right now?”

Cough, well, that logic did seem sound.

But she still started listing her own merits. “I can cook noodles, make cakes, accompany you on walks, teach you to paint, and also…”

She deliberately paused, a smile touching her eyes.

Jiang Bomu played along and asked, “And what else?”

Gu Yu blinked, saying playfully, “Also, I can coax you to sleep. It’s just a bit of insomnia; falling asleep isn’t that hard.”

Jiang Bomu’s eyes shifted, quietly watching her. After a long moment, she finally spoke. “We’ll talk about it later.”

Gu Yu kept her expression relaxed, though her palms were actually sweaty. She smiled. “Okay, Sister, think it over carefully.”

She had never held any hope that Jiang Bomu would agree immediately, so a polite refusal was within expectations. Slowly, slowly; one day, she would agree.

That wasn’t urgent. What worried her now was how to get the other to agree to let her go to the set. Departure was the day after tomorrow.

While Jiang Bomu went to change, she thought carefully for a while and still decided to just ask directly. It wasn’t something that needed hiding; why beat around the bush and be annoying?

Twenty minutes later, Jiang Bomu finally came out. Not only had she changed, but she had also removed her makeup. A coldly elegant face, completely unrecognizable from the peerless, bewitching Courtesan Belle of just half an hour ago.

Gu Yu gathered her emotions and spoke pitifully, “In a couple of days, I’ll be the only one left at home. Sister, can I go to the set with you?”

As she spoke, she looked up, her expression bright, her gaze clear. Facing such a Gu Yu, Jiang Bomu simply couldn’t utter a refusal.

It was only a week of filming. Bringing her along wouldn’t hurt.

Still, she warned, “A film set isn’t a place of comfort. I’m worried you won’t adjust.”

“I’ll be fine!” Seeing her agreement, Gu Yu cheered. “Don’t worry, I could even carry luggage up thirty flights of stairs!”