Chapter 24: Coaxing Sleep Part 2

Jiang Bomu opened her eyes. Her beautiful gaze shifted, landing on Gu Yu’s face.

Though it was just a light, casual glance, Gu Yu felt she had guessed her thoughts and immediately lowered her eyes.

“Xunxun, you seem very interested in my affairs,” Jiang Bomu spoke slowly. “Why is that?”

Gu Yu pinched her palm and answered innocently, “Because you’re very mysterious. I’ve basically grown up watching your dramas. Facing my idol, of course, I’m curious.”

She subconsciously didn’t want Jiang Bomu to know she liked her.

Jiang Bomu had always treated her like a child. Gu Yu understood this. So it wasn’t time to confess yet.

Jiang Bomu’s original intention was just to avoid answering. Hearing this, she didn’t think much of it. She looked away and changed the subject, “Are you sleepy? Want to sleep?”

Finally, the topic was dropped. Gu Yu breathed a sigh of relief and quickly said, “I slept for ages this afternoon, not sleepy at all. Who asked me to be ‘Sleepless Tonight’? For this nickname, I could even pull an all-nighter.”

Jiang Bomu smiled softly. “Your WeChat nickname is well chosen.”

Though it was teasing, Gu Yu took it as a compliment.

It’s related to you, so of course it’s good.

The atmosphere lightened considerably. Gu Yu then asked her what she did today, why she was so busy.

“Table read, adjusting makeup, costume fitting, building chemistry with the other actors, dining with the director, the male and female leads…”

Jiang Bomu listed them off. Gu Yu felt overwhelmed just listening. How could there be so many things?

“I’m used to it,” she smiled gently. “Though it’s tiring, I’m doing what I love and making money. Why not enjoy it?”

That was true. Gu Yu blinked and asked softly, “Since you love acting so much, until what age will you keep doing it?”

Jiang Bomu hadn’t really considered this question before. She shifted to a more comfortable position, propping her cheek on her right hand and thinking carefully. She didn’t figure it out, but a distant memory suddenly surfaced. She spoke slowly, “Actually, four years ago, I once thought about retiring from the industry.”

Gu Yu looked at her, shocked. At that time, she’d only debuted three years ago. How could that be?

“Every circle has its dark side, and the entertainment industry is especially so,” Jiang Bomu sighed. “In this vanity fair, keeping one’s true heart… it’s too hard.”

Gu Yu fell silent. But Jiang Bomu had kept hers for seven years.

Before they lived together, her way of understanding Jiang Bomu was the same as any fan’s. She had never asked Grandma Qiao anything about her, because she always firmly believed that Jiang Bomu was different.

No one could taint the twilight colors at the edge of the sky.

“Sister, what time is your shoot tomorrow?” Gu Yu changed the subject.

Though she was curious what had made her drop the idea of retiring, Gu Yu didn’t want to dwell on such heavy topics anymore. Already plagued by insomnia, pondering this would be mentally draining.

“Ten o’clock.”

Gu Yu breathed a sigh of relief. That wasn’t too early.

“But I have to be up by seven.”

Gu Yu’s brain short-circuited for a second. She instinctively asked, “Why?”

Jiang Bomu was amused by her completely blank look. She explained good-naturedly, “Because I need to do makeup, style my hair, and change into costume.”

Gu Yu was a bit embarrassed. She’d almost forgotten this was an ancient costume drama, the most complex in terms of costumes and makeup. Seeing Jiang Bomu still laughing, she couldn’t help but whine playfully, “Sister, stop teasing me. I just forgot, okay?”

“Alright, alright,” Jiang Bomu raised her hand, her fingertips gently brushing through her hair. “Whatever Xunxun says is right.”

Gu Yu’s vision blurred momentarily as Jiang Bomu’s hand covered her eyes. Her limbs started moving on their own. She instinctively caught it, loosely holding her wrist.

Without physical contact, Gu Yu could still maintain a calm facade. But Jiang Bomu had initiated touch. How could she possibly hold back?

Night. Sharing a bed. The person she liked.

These three words surfaced clearly in her mind, making Gu Yu’s heart surge wave after wave.

The darkness bred boundless courage. Her fingertips slowly slid down, holding Jiang Bomu’s hand.

The next second, Jiang Bomu pulled away as if burned.

Even though the light was dim, Gu Yu could still see her expression grow slightly awkward. She quickly made an excuse, “I just wanted to see whose fingers are longer.”

Jiang Bomu’s expression became even more evasive. She asked, “Why would you want to see that?”

The Aloof Goddess suddenly seemed like a shy little fairy maiden. Gu Yu felt a tickle in her heart and countered with a straight face, “What does Sister think?”

Jiang Bomu had been called “Sister” many times—joyful, excited, comforting, coquettish. But this time, the flavor was different. It tugged gently at her heart, then ripples spread, the aftertaste seeping into her very bones, leaving her whole body feeling weak and tingly.

“I think it’s time to sleep,” Jiang Bomu instinctively changed the subject. “It’s very late.”

They both clearly understood each other’s sexual orientation. What hands could be used for… was self-evident.

She suddenly regretted letting Gu Yu come over. Nighttime was truly unsuitable for discussing this; it made everything feel so ambiguous.

“But you can’t sleep,” Gu Yu said softly. “Let me tell you a bedtime story, Sister.”

Thank heavens she wasn’t pursuing the hand topic further. Jiang Bomu breathed a sigh of relief and immediately said, “Okay.”

Gu Yu cleared her throat. “This story is called ‘The Older Sister and the Kid’.”

Jiang Bomu glanced at her subconsciously. The story of the older sister and the kid… of course, she’d heard of it. But she said nothing and quietly listened to Gu Yu’s telling.

Gu Yu’s voice was like herself, carrying the scent of sunshine. It felt like returning to the most leisurely, relaxed time—lying on a recliner in the sun, napping. The chair rocking back and forth, creaking gently.

Warm. Reassuring.

The first sense to shut down was hearing. Jiang Bomu could no longer make out what she was saying. Her eyelids grew heavy, and she sank into a dark, sweet dreamland.

Gu Yu, still racking her brains for the rest of the story, looked up and found Jiang Bomu already asleep. Her eyes widened in surprise.

She held her breath for a moment. Jiang Bomu’s breathing remained steady. Gu Yu almost laughed out loud. By sheer chance, she had actually coaxed her to sleep.

Gu Yu had seen her sleeping face before, yet her gaze still couldn’t help but linger on her face, over and over.

The warm light of the night light was the most natural highlighter, falling on the high bridge of her nose, her rosy lips. Even the tips of her hair glowed. Everything made Gu Yu entranced.

Gu Yu felt for her phone. She opened the camera and carefully looked for angles. She found that the closer she got, the more beautiful the shot. She leaned in subconsciously. The divine beauty on the phone screen kept magnifying. She pressed the shutter over a dozen times. Her original intention was to take many and save only one, but each one had its own charm. She couldn’t bear to delete a single one.

Before putting away her phone, she glanced at the time. Exactly three o’clock.

Ah, still not wanting to sleep. Gu Yu followed her heart, staring at the other without blinking.

What if this chance never came again? Better to look a little longer now.

Jiang Bomu slept quietly, not changing position for a long time. Only her brow furrowed and relaxed occasionally, as if she were dreaming.

Would Gu Yu appear in her dreams?

Gu Yu couldn’t help but hope. Unknowingly, she drifted off to sleep.

When she woke again, it was from the rustling sounds of movement.

She lifted her incredibly heavy eyelids and hazily saw Jiang Bomu’s figure. Raising her head slightly, she saw the morning light spilling through the gap in the curtains. The newly risen sun had diligently begun its work.

“Xunxun, did I wake you?”

The voice nearby was very soft, tinged with apology, but it sounded like she was in good spirits. In contrast, Gu Yu, who had fallen asleep twenty minutes later than her, was yawning repeatedly, tears squeezed out. She murmured back, “It’s fine. Did you sleep well last night?”

“Very well,” Jiang Bomu didn’t want to disturb her sleep further and quickly gathered her things. “Sleep a bit more. Work finishes early today; I’ll treat you to a meal.”

Gu Yu, however, opened her eyes wide and sat up instantly.

Jiang Bomu was startled. “What is it?”

“I want to watch you film,” Gu Yu looked at her with burning eyes. “Sister, can I?”

“Where did this idea come from?” Jiang Bomu raised an eyebrow slightly. “It’s not suitable for you to appear in public. People on set are restrained and won’t talk easily, but the paparazzi are rampant. I’m worried…”

“Worried about what?” Gu Yu interrupted her with an innocent look. “I’m your new little assistant. What’s there to photograph?”

Jiang Bomu stared at her in astonishment. Understanding dawned, and she smiled charmingly. She leaned in and tapped her cheek, half-scolding, half-sighing, “You and your clever tricks.”

Gu Yu was stunned by such an intimate gesture. She felt like she was still dreaming. How had they become so close after just one night of sleep?

But this was exactly what she wanted. Following her heart, she squinted and nuzzled against her hand.

Jiang Bomu’s smile deepened. She was just like a well-behaved, clingy little kitten.

Knock, knock, knock—

Someone suddenly knocked on the door, shattering the warm atmosphere.

Jiang Bomu came back to herself and checked the time. She was almost late. She immediately withdrew her hand, her face turning serious, but laughter lingered in her eyes. “You have five minutes to leave the room, or you’re fired immediately.”

Five minutes!

Gu Yu jumped out of bed, slipped on her slippers while answering, “Yes, Ma’am!”

She dashed out of the room and collided head-on with Tao Tao, who was about to knock again.

Tao Tao saw stars. Before she could even make out the person’s face, she began, “Sister Mu, why are you in such a rush today…”

The “ah” hadn’t even left her mouth when she blinked, her vision clearing. A scream lodged in her throat. She covered her mouth and stared at Gu Yu in shock, then looked up at the room number. It was 701, yes, no mistake!

“Sorry, Tao Tao, I’m heading back to my room. Talk later!”

Leaving these words, Gu Yu flashed back into the room opposite.

Tao Tao clearly saw the Cinnamoroll pajamas Gu Yu was wearing. Her shock continued. So they had slept together last night?

As an assistant, she could certainly sense something about Jiang Bomu’s orientation. After all, she hadn’t been in a relationship for years, always keeping male stars at arm’s length. Female stars, though…

She touched her chin, recalling one female-female CP after another.

So Sister Mu and Teacher Gu were together?

Carrying this huge secret, she entered 701, excitedly closed the door, and looked at Jiang Bomu, bathed in morning light. She quickly felt relieved. Such a beautiful face naturally shouldn’t be wasted on some philandering male star!

Teacher Gu was much better. Not only could she paint, but she could also bake cakes… Wait, bake cakes? So was that cake made for Sister Mu?

“Xunxun will be following me to the set these next few days, nominally as my assistant. No matter who asks, you’ll say the same. Don’t slip up.”