Chapter 35: Smile
Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=7288969
Lu Xici never felt that dining with Song Liufeng was so painful.
She's somewhat absent-minded. When faced with her friend's questioning, she stays silent for a while before responding.
In the end, Song Liufeng couldn't stand it anymore and started eating quickly without talking to Lu Xici, wanting to let her leave early.
At this point, Lu Xici realized her impoliteness.
She apologized to Song Liufeng, promising to treat her to a good meal next time.
Song Liufeng teased, "With your distracted appearance, one might think a fox spirit had lured away your soul."
Song Liufeng gestures three fingers and remarks, "One meal won't do. I should at least extort three meals to recover my emotional damages, right?"
Isn't it like being lured away by fox spirit Jun?
Lu Xici laughed brightly in her heart, giving Song Liufeng a perfectly timed expression. "Three meals of set meals from the crew?"
"****!" Although Song Liufeng didn't use any uncivilized language, Lu Xici could discern the meaning from her expression.
"Just kidding. Contact me when you're free."
….
Lu Xici sat in the car and watched the passing scenery outside the window, wishing the car could go even faster.
Song Liufeng chose a restaurant near the commercial street, while Lu Xici agreed to have a meal with Jun Youyue at their marital home.
Although it was a route she had taken less than half a year ago, Lu Xici's state of mind was completely different now.
She was anxious at both times, but one is afraid of Jun Youyue getting hurt, and also afraid that her approach is too reckless, saddened by the other's silence.
The other one is full of anticipation, just thinking that person will be waiting at home makes her heart almost drown happily in sweetness.
What dishes will Jun Youyue prepare?
Having not returned home for over a month, what will the house be like?
The unknown doesn't always bring fear.
Now, Lu Xici eagerly anticipates witnessing these unknowns, a smile uncontrollably forming on the corners of her mouth.
Luckily, there are partitions in the front and back. Otherwise, if the bodyguard lady sees her like this, it might get reported to Butler Liu.
However, it is quite strange for Miss Xici to return to the marital home.
The bodyguard contemplates whether to report it to Butler Liu.
After the car stopped, Lu Xici has already grabbed her bag and dashed away.
Eager to see her sooner.
The road to the villa is quite long.
Lu Xici runs at the fastest speed, occasionally bothered by shoes hindering her or finding it inconvenient to speed up with her bag.
As she approaches the entrance, Jun Youyue seems to sense something and opens the door.
Two pairs of eyes with distinctly different auras collided, carrying the same anticipation, and same joy.
Silent and invisible sparks burst into the air instantly.
Jun Youyue eagerly runs forward, heading towards Lu Xici, who is also jogging towards her.
She opens her arms, catching her beloved who has been apart for less than an hour.
Sensations feel like a century has passed.
Lu Xici's warmth finally genuinely transfers to her, and Jun Youyue tightens the hand holding her, wanting to merge with her.
Words have become pale and unnecessary.
The two just quietly embrace, savoring the intense emotions that erupt after a brief separation.
It's only when Jun Youyue felt her shoulder slightly damp that she reluctantly loosens her grip. Still, she keeps Lu Xici enclosed in her arms, lowering her head to touch their foreheads.
"A’Ci," she almost forces them to make eye contact.
Lu Xici's teary eyes magnify infinitely before her, the visual impact pressing on widened eyes. Jun Youyue refuses to close her eyes, comforting Lu Xici in this way.
"Don't cry."
In truth, Jun Youyue doesn't know how to console people, most of the time not understanding who needs comfort.
She just sees Lu Xici crying, and she would feel sad herself, instinctively wanting to make Lu Xici happy.
Lu Xici chokes back a sob, changing to embrace Jun Youyue's neck. "I am happy..."
Jun Youyue breathes a sigh of relief.
The two slowly make their way into the villa, and Lu Xici finally doesn't feel awkward about being so close to Jun Youyue.
Almost hanging onto her all the way, moving like she is boneless.
"Before, every time I came back to this place, I was hoping to see you. Even if you didn't talk to me, seeing the light in your room made me feel better."
Inside the door, looking at the unchanged setup, Lu Xici shares with Jun Youyue things she never wanted to talk about before, and there is no longer any sadness in her heart.
Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=7288969
It’s probably exactly what Jun Youyue thought.
Solving a math problem, you only remember the sense of achievement at that moment and the subsequent joy, not the pain of thinking during the process.
Jun Youyue froze on the spot.
No wonder she almost always sees Lu Xici every time she comes home. Lu Xici must be running home every day just to wait for her.
Just to see her for a moment.
Back then, she thought just being together was enough, never thinking about talking more with Lu Xici.
Jun Youyue's nose felt a bit sore.
Seeing her like this, Lu Xici breaks into a smile, waving at her.
"The past is in the past. I have what I wanted now – talking to you, hugging you. Stop standing there, come over and eat."
“Mm," Jun Youyue purses her lips, trying to force a smile, but it ends up as a twitch at the corner of her mouth.
"Pfft." Lu Xici catches the very hard-working twitch at her mouth.
Jun Youyue looked away in embarrassment.
Lu Xici is in a good mood and doesn't let her off that easily. She shifts to where Jun Youyue turned, getting close to confirm the curvature of her mouth.
"Don't look, I'm shy." Jun Youyue avoids eye contact, appearing uncomfortable, and actually quite shy.
Why is this person so cute, even admitting to being shy herself?
Lu Xici is amused by Jun Youyue's efforts, making her want to smile along.
Her mouth curves up! About fifteen degrees!
Lu Xici finds her adorable for trying so hard, almost tempted to help Jun Youyue form a smiling face.
Not stopping at just a blush, Jun Youyue even extends two fingers, attempting something Lu Xici wouldn't dare to do.
She places both hands on her own mouth, then vigorously pulls them upward.
Lu Xici sees Jun Youyue's expression resembling a clown, can't hold it in, and bursts out laughing.
Jun Youyue lets go, her stiff facial muscles returning her mouth to its original curvature.
However, seeing Lu Xici so happy, Jun Youyue is infected and finally gives a sweet, genuine smile.
Lu Xici was stunned for a second.
Today is another day to indulge in the beauty of her wife.
"Can you please smile less in front of others in the future?" Lu Xici, thoroughly affected by Jun Youyue's beauty, loses her composure and utters this sentence.
“Mm, I wasn't planning to in the first place." Jun Youyue rubs her stiff face, receiving Lu Xici's request, and decides to practice smiling and make it a special show for Lu Xici.
Before Lu Xici can say anything else, Jun Youyue pulls her to the dining table. Upon closer inspection, her face is red – she's actually shy.
The dishes Jun Youyue ordered naturally suited Lu Xici's taste more than the restaurant chosen by Song Liufeng.
During the meal, they didn't talk much, but as they ate, they stole glances at each other, and then made eye contact, sharing a silent laughter.
Of course, Jun Youyue never manages to squeeze out a decent hearty laugh, at most, just giving a smile.
With the combined effect of the beauty bombardment and Jun Youyue's attempts at smiling, Lu Xici joyfully puts down her chopsticks, almost pounding the table in laughter.
The meal took almost an hour. The result is Lu Xici eating too much, supporting her stomach, and unable to move much.
Jun Youyue carefully helped her walk to the sofa.
This posture is a bit weird.
"You seem to be supporting a pregnant woman." Lu Xici complained.
Jun Youyue:...
"This is better." She changed her position and moved her hand to Lu Xici's lower abdomen, holding up her still-flat abdomen.
It’s the familiar upright flavor.
Lu Xici has become accustomed to it already.
She has a lover filter, finding Jun Youyue's serious-faced jokes incredibly cute.
Both of them have nothing to do in the afternoon.
They sat on the sofa, and Lu Xici suggested, watching a movie. Jun Youyue selected "Missing Her," the first movie Lu Xici starred in after her debut, and also the only one not considered a hit.
"Missing Her" is from the male protagonist's perspective, telling the love story with his wife. In the end, it reveals that the wife has already passed away, providing the audience with a twist.
Lu Xici wants to change it. "That one is a dark history, don't watch it."
"I haven't seen it in its entirety." Jun Youyue just wants to watch it with Lu Xici.
She wants to see any side of Lu Xici, even those awkward photos among the ten thousand that some fans think could be used as GIFs. Yet, Jun Youyue still considers them treasures, repeatedly admiring each one.
"But my acting was really bad back then..." Lu Xici tries to show Jun Youyue the best side possible.
After a brief tug-of-war, Lu Xici receives a phone call.
She opens her phone to discover that not only Lu Tingyi but also He Lan, Lin Ni, Song Liufeng, and even several friends in the industry have called her many times.
However, her phone had been on silent since she entered her home, and only Lu Tingyi's call had a ringtone, given her particular concern.
Lu Xici quickly answered her mother's call.
"What were you doing? Why did you pick up so slowly? Have you seen the hot search?" Lu Tingyi stares at the screenshots and information provided by her subordinate, feeling somewhat complicated.
"No... what's going on?" With so many people calling her, it must be a significant hot topic.
Lu Xici thinks about her recent activities but can't figure out anything worthy of being exposed.
"Then check it first and call me back." Lu Tingyi decisively hangs up the phone.
Lu Xici's phone is on speaker, and Jun Youyue, hearing about the hot search, quickly opens Weibo.
As expected, she sees Lu Xici's name on the third trending topic, followed by the word "explosive," with the numbers continuously rising.
Among the top twenty hot searches, there are also three or four others related to Lu Xici.
The two people clicked on the top item without knowing why.
"Shocking secret! Certain female celebrity surnamed ‘L’ s private life is in chaos! The loving wife image completely collapses!”
"While flirting with others, she even clings to a certain powerful actor, and daring to bring her little lover as an assistant. Is today's trending topic this thrilling from the very beginning?"
"The mistress theory is established! The female celebrity surnamed 'L' is not married, and she's involved in others' relationships. Click to see the evidence!"
"Want to know the secret of how a certain fairy has had no scandals or black materials since her debut? This article reveals the answer!"
"The number of financial sponsors is unknown. It is said that someone has arranged dates with dozens of financial sponsors in one go, and wearing a wedding ring is just to conceal this fact!"
Looking at the pile of extremely embarrassing marketing account headlines, Jun Youyue's brows furrow tighter and tighter.
Author's Note:
Jun Youyue, the assistant and little lover, saw this: "This is bad, I've really dug my own green pit."