Chapter 64: Meeting

Gu Yu could never have imagined that the first to confess would actually be Jiang Bomu.

And under these circumstances, no less—just waking up, disheveled, on a phone call, without even meeting face to face. It was casual and simple, devoid of any sense of ceremony.

Gu Yu loved ceremony the most. The confession scene she had fantasized about was precisely that candlelight dinner she had prepared that day: in front of the French windows ablaze with lights, a carefully prepared dinner and cake delicious and inviting, they’d toast together, slightly tipsy, and then whisper their love, sealing it with a long, lingering kiss.

It wasn’t supposed to be like this at all.

She dodged the question: “You should be filming then.”

The National Day and new student welcome gala was held on 9/30. Even though celebrities had the holiday off, Jinling was far from here; she couldn’t possibly make it in time.

“Yes, I’ll be filming.” Pausing, Jiang Bomu added, “But Xunxun, you know that’s not my main point.”

Gu Yu feigned confusion: “Ah, what is it then?”

“It’s…” Jiang Bomu bit her lip, her voice trembling slightly, “I like you. I want to be with you.”

“I like you too. But I don’t want to be with you anymore.”

The first sentence made Jiang Bomu’s heart leap with joy; the next sent it plummeting. She asked softly, “You still haven’t forgiven me?”

A faint static hum traced across the eardrum, only the rhythm of their breathing rising and falling. Gu Yu was silent for a long time.

“You’re just relying on the fact that I like you, so you think if you just crook your finger, I’ll immediately come running, forgiving you easily. But Sister, my heart can hurt too.”

Gu Yu’s voice traveled through the electrical current, ethereal and distant. Jiang Bomu felt dazed for a moment, remembering how she always reflected on her own actions in the dead of night, night after night.

She knew she had gone too far. If Gu Yu had treated her this way, perhaps she wouldn’t even be speaking to her now. So Gu Yu had already been more than generous—she hadn’t shut the door in her face, nor given her the cold shoulder for long. She was just too impatient.

“I’m sorry, Xunxun,” Jiang Bomu apologized quietly. “I haven’t done enough yet. I will heal your wounds. When that day comes, we can talk about feelings again.”

Gu Yu gave a soft “mm.”

“But before then, don’t fall for anyone else. Only like me, okay?”

A hint of pleading crept into her tone. Gu Yu’s heart softened a little, but she also thought Jiang Bomu was overthinking things. She wasn’t a playgirl like Jian Ya; it wasn’t so easy for her to just fall for someone else.

Actually, she was the one who should be worried. So many pretty young actresses in the film crew!

Gritting her teeth at the thought, Gu Yu kept her voice flat: “Depends on your performance.”

Speaking of the film crew, Gu Yu pulled up the group photo from the production launch while casually asking, “Is filming going smoothly?”

“Very smoothly. Most are familiar actors; we work well together. But the director is very demanding; we often have to do a dozen takes before she’s satisfied.”

If this were before, Jiang Bomu would only have said the first two words. Now she’d gotten smarter. Gu Yu stifled a smile and asked a few more things until Jiang Bomu had to start filming and hung up.

Jinling, huh… Gu Yu lay on her back, staring blankly at the ceiling. She’d never been there before.

Reaching for her phone, she looked up flights to Jinling. Tickets for the 30th were already sold out, but there were some left for the 1st. She thought for a moment, then went to chat with Tao Tao.

[Does she have any plans for the 1st?]

A moment later, Tao Tao sent a voice message: “None, none! Teacher Gu, are you coming?”

The thought had crossed Gu Yu’s mind, but Tao Tao had blurted it out so openly. What if Jiang Bomu heard? She immediately asked anxiously.

“Don’t worry, don’t worry, Mu-jie is filming, she can’t hear me.”

Gu Yu’s mind was set. She booked a ticket.

She’d been woken up early that morning and had chatted for so long. Now she couldn’t fall back asleep. She played with Wan An for a while, then got ready to get up and make breakfast, when she suddenly received a WeChat message from Jiang Bomu.

[Forgot to ask you, are you going home for National Day?]

Gu Yu raised an eyebrow and replied casually: [Not going home. I’m going on a trip with my roommates.]

She fabricated a place she’d visited before. In a few days, she’d send Jiang Bomu a fake train ticket info—more convincing.

Jiang Bomu was clearly disappointed: [Have fun.]

Gu Yu teased her: [Why bring this up all of a sudden? You want to see me?]

[I want to see you.]

She admitted it so straightforwardly. Gu Yu didn’t know what to say anymore and could only comfort her: [When your movie wraps.]

When the movie wraps… Jiang Bomu sighed. This film had a three-month shooting schedule. They could only meet during Spring Festival.

She wanted to ask Gu Yu to visit the set occasionally during breaks, but when her fingertip rested on the phone screen, she couldn’t bring herself to type the words. It would be too much hardship, and what right did she have to ask Gu Yu to come?

“Mu-jie, Mu-jie, the director is calling for you.”

Tao Tao leaned over to speak. Jiang Bomu came back to the moment, made a sound of acknowledgment, and threw herself into work.

When she finished shooting for the day, it was already afternoon. Exhausted, Jiang Bomu returned to the hotel, wanting to contact Gu Yu, to hear her voice, but afraid she was busy. She picked up her phone and put it down repeatedly.

She closed her eyes to doze for a moment. The special WeChat notification sound for Gu Yu rang out, and she sat bolt upright immediately.

Gu Yu: [It’s hard to get into a character’s emotions. Are there any solutions?]

Jiang Bomu thought for a while before replying: [It’s hard to explain in a few words. Is it convenient for you to voice call?]

The moment she sent it, Gu Yu called.

“So annoying! Laughing at the wrong moments is one thing, but how can someone do so many takes and still not get into character? I’m about ready to change the cast…”

Jiang Bomu listened quietly to her grumbling. When she finished, she answered the question from a professional standpoint, then comforted her: “This isn’t a big problem. On the day of the performance, everyone will be completely invested. Don’t worry.”

Gu Yu relaxed a little and asked a few more questions, all of which received useful answers. She noted them down carefully and smiled: “Good thing I know a Best Actress.”

Seeing her in the mood for jokes, Jiang Bomu moved on to other topics.

“How come you’re interested in drama?”

Because of you. Gu Yu silently gave the answer in her heart. Aloud, she said casually, “Joining clubs gives extra credits. I just randomly signed up for the Drama Club. Didn’t expect I’d end up as president.”

Jiang Bomu spared no praise: “Xunxun is amazing, so diligent and responsible. She’ll definitely make the Drama Club flourish.”

“I think so too.” Gu Yu shook the cat teaser a few times. When Wan An dashed out, she switched on the camera. “Thanks for sharing your knowledge. Here, take a look at Wan An.”

Wan An was almost two months old now. The tiny thing that once fit in a palm had eaten well and gotten quite plump, its belly round and chubby. Gu Yu had even weighed it—already 0.9kg. It was definitely going to be a chonky cat someday.

But for now, Wan An was still quite slender, its leaping movements agile and nimble. It could even predict the direction. Often, the moment the cat teaser was flicked out, it would pounce instantly, its little paws sharp, batting wildly with meow-meow punches until the toy rattled ceaselessly.

Jiang Bomu watched, amused, but said regretfully, “Too bad I won’t be able to pet Wan An for a long time. Will you bring it back home for winter break?”

Gu Yu nodded, even briefly considering the possibility of bringing Wan An to Jinling before realizing it was unrealistic and abandoning the idea. She’d just have to ask Sister Xia Li to look after it before she left.

“Xunxun?”

Lost in thought, Jiang Bomu suddenly spoke. Gu Yu hurriedly said, “I’m here.”

She also dutifully flicked the cat teaser. Wan An, busy munching cat food, came tearing back, putting on a show in the video feed.

Jiang Bomu watched for a moment, then couldn’t help saying, “Actually, I’d rather see you.”

So direct about it?

Gu Yu suddenly felt a bit coy. She adjusted her hair and clothes before aiming the camera at herself, trying to stay composed. “Look, then. Look all you want.”

In the next second, Jiang Bomu also appeared on screen. A pair of beautiful eyes rippling with emotion gazed at her. “Looking isn’t enough,” she said softly.

Jiang Bomu, having awakened her romantic side, could fire off sweet lines one after another. Gu Yu coughed lightly to cover her reaction and took a sip of milk tea.

Jiang Bomu disapproved, “Drinking milk tea at night will cause insomnia.”

“It’s fine,” Gu Yu said with a grin, taking another sip. “Tomorrow’s Saturday. No need to get up early.”

As she leaned forward, Jiang Bomu’s sharp eyes noticed another, unopened cup of milk tea on the table. Her brows knitted slightly. “Whose is that one?”

“Sister Xia Li’s. A few days ago, she treated me to a small cake, so today I’m treating her to milk tea.”

Xia Li again. Jiang Bomu sighed inwardly. Even though she was jealous, she couldn’t forbid Gu Yu from having friends. She simply made a sound of acknowledgment, not saying much more.

They chatted a while longer, and then there was a knock at the door.

“Sister Xia Li must be here,” Gu Yu said, slipping on her slippers and heading for the door, calling out, “Coming, coming!”

Jiang Bomu pressed her lips together, no longer speaking, watching the moving camera feed intently.

“Hey, why such a strong smell of alcohol?! Sister Xia Li, how much did you drink!”

Gu Yu’s voice was exasperated. Just as Jiang Bomu was about to say something, Gu Yu added, “Gotta go, need to take care of Sister Xia Li.”

Thud. The call was hung up without a second thought. Jiang Bomu stared at the words “Voice call has ended” on the chat screen. She lay back on the bed. Jealousy surged from her heart to every limb and bone, threatening to overflow.

But she was utterly powerless.

She wasn’t Gu Yu’s girlfriend. She had no right to demand anything.

“Sister Xia Li, drink the honey water.”

Gu Yu rummaged in the fridge for ages, finally found the honey, and brewed a cup of honey water for her. But Xia Li’s consciousness was hazy; she had long since fallen asleep, mumbling something indistinct.

Gu Yu listened closely and suddenly heard the word “Xunxun.” Thinking she was awake, she quickly responded, “I’m right here. Hurry up and drink the water.”

“Xunxun, ah…” She opened her bleary eyes. “You’re really… beautiful…”

Gu Yu didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Why was she still complimenting her even when drunk? But that wasn’t a reason not to drink water. She put on a stern face and handed the honey water over.

Xia Li obediently took it and drank a mouthful.

“You didn’t go out drinking for work again, did you?” Gu Yu sighed. “Drinking this much…”

“It’s because I’m troubled,” Xia Li interrupted her. “Xunxun, I was abroad for so long. Did you forget about me?”

“Of course not. Back then, I used to ask my parents all the time when you were coming back,” Gu Yu said, smiling as she recalled the past. “I’d even cry about it.”

Xia Li gazed at her silently and murmured, “But now that I’m back, why did you fall for someone else?”

Gu Yu looked up, staring at her in disbelief. What Jiang Bomu had said was actually true?

“When you were little, I even held you in my arms. You were just this small,” Xia Li gestured, her eyes hazy with tears. “You held my hand and said you wanted to be with your Sister Xia Li forever. How could you forget?”

Gu Yu was silent for a moment before speaking: “I see you as a real older sister.”

She had never imagined Xia Li would like her.

“Yeah, I can only ever be your sister now,” Xia Li closed her eyes. “When did you start liking Jiang Bomu?”

Gu Yu bit her lip and confessed honestly: “When I was sixteen.”

That night, they talked a lot, about so many things—from childhood to the present, and from the present back to childhood. Sighs and exclamations dissipated in the wind. When they saw each other the next day, they interacted just as they always had.

Xia Li never brought up that night again, and Gu Yu certainly didn’t mention it either. Both acted as if they’d forgotten it entirely.

As National Day approached, Gu Yu grew increasingly nervous. Every day was a fixed routine: classroom, Drama Club, home. Hard work paid off. In the end, the play’s performance far exceeded the level achieved in rehearsals, and the entire audience erupted in cheers.

Gu Yu smiled as she exited the stage, went backstage, and hugged the club members excitedly. Then, with a generous wave, she declared, “To celebrate our successful performance, dinner’s on me tonight!”

“President, you rock!”

It was already midnight by the time the group dinner ended and Gu Yu got home. She was utterly exhausted. With the days of accumulated high tension finally released, she slept soundly for the first time in ages, not waking until one in the afternoon.

If it were an ordinary day, it wouldn’t have mattered—she could even loaf around for more sleep. But her flight was in two hours. Gu Yu felt like her head was about to explode as she rushed madly to the airport.

By the time she arrived in Jinling City, it was seven in the evening. Gu Yu had no time to appreciate the twilight scenery. After getting into a taxi, she began coordinating details with Tao Tao.

Once at the hotel, Gu Yu didn’t go straight to see Jiang Bomu. First, she went to Tao Tao’s room, took a shower, carefully applied her makeup, and changed into a pure, alluring short skirt.

Tao Tao gasped, “Teacher Gu, when are you debuting as a star?”

“Right now,” Gu Yu flipped her hair. “I’m off to seduce Jiang Bomu. If the seduction succeeds, I’ll debut.”

Tao Tao stifled a giggle. Once Gu Yu was standing in front of Jiang Bomu’s room, Tao Tao immediately sent a WeChat message to Jiang Bomu according to their plan: [Mu-jie, open the door. I forgot to give you something.]

[Coming right away.]

Tao Tao, her mission accomplished, closed her own door and retreated. Gu Yu immediately rested her left hand on the doorframe, her right hand on her hip, and struck an exceptionally flamboyant pose.

Click. The door opened. Jiang Bomu looked up to meet the face she yearned for day and night, frozen for two seconds.

Gu Yu was very pleased with her reaction. Smiling radiantly, she spoke: “Miss, beautiful lady, do you need any… special services?”