Time passed swiftly, and in the blink of an eye, it was late spring turning to early summer—the very day Su Qianqian had arrived in this world.
Everything was different now.
Three days prior, Su Qianqian's birthday banquet, which also served as an extravagantly luxurious and highly anticipated engagement party, had just concluded. Gu Chengyu had firmly bound Su Qianqian's name to his own.
Any potential obstacles—whether dissatisfaction from the Gu family elders, criticism from other prominent families, or admonishments from parents—had never truly reached Su Qianqian's ears before Gu Chengyu quietly resolved them.
The present Su Qianqian was also a far cry from her former self.
She had graduated early from Galaxy Academy, finishing as the top student in the performing arts department and becoming an outstanding graduate.
With the popular and critically acclaimed drama "Chaos of Beacon Fires" airing, she had shed her "pretty vase" label in the entertainment industry. Her solid acting skills had earned her a large number of dedicated career fans.
Furthermore, two months ago, Su Qianqian had won the Best Supporting Actress award, achieving both fame and fortune, and possessing a genuine sense of confidence and radiance that was truly her own.
At this moment, the dining room was quiet and cozy.
Having finished her breakfast, Su Qianqian picked up the bag from the chair beside her, ready to leave for the film set.
This was her first project after graduation—a big-budget fantasy drama.
It was also her first time playing the female lead, making it especially significant.
"A-Yu, I'm off!" she said cheerfully, turning to head out.
However, just as she passed by Gu Chengyu, a solid arm suddenly reached out, wrapped around her slender waist, and with a slight pull, brought her tumbling back onto his lap.
"Hmm?" Su Qianqian looked up in surprise at the man holding her.
Gu Chengyu seemed a bit different from usual today.
He was wearing loungewear, his hair slightly disheveled, softening some of his usual sharpness and sternness. His chin rested gently on the top of her head, his arms encircling her waist, holding her tightly as if unwilling to let go.
"Don't go today," he said in a low voice, tinged with an indescribable emotion, unusually clingy.
Su Qianqian chuckled softly, poking his firm chest with a gentle finger. "Don't be silly. It's the first day of shooting today, very important. I can't be late."
She thought he was just being his usual, slightly spoiled self.
But Gu Chengyu didn't release her. Instead, he held her even tighter, burying his face in the crook of her neck, taking a deep breath of her sweet fragrance, and said in a muffled voice,
"Take the day off, or I'll have the production shut down for a day."
"And why would you do that?" Su Qianqian was amused by his rare, unreasonable behavior but also found it strange. She squirmed slightly to look at him.
"Young Master Gu, what's with you today?"
Gu Chengyu lifted his head. His deep, phoenix eyes stared intently at her, complex emotions churning within them, though Su Qianqian didn't quite understand them at that moment.
He knew what day it was.
It was the one-year anniversary of when he truly met her, and the first time he was holding her like this, fully conscious.
"You're not going," he declared imperiously, even a little stubbornly. He lowered his head, rubbing his tall nose bridge against the tip of hers, their breaths mingling.
"Stay home with me. Just for one day."
Looking at his face so close to hers, seeing the unusual stubbornness and a hint of vulnerability in his eyes, Su Qianqian felt as if a feather had lightly brushed her heart—ticklish and soft.
She stopped struggling, softly wrapped her arms around his neck, took the initiative to give him a sweet kiss, and said in a voice so tender it could drip honey:
"Be good, alright? I'll just go for half a day. I'll come straight back as soon as I finish shooting the most important scene, okay?"
Gu Chengyu pressed his lips together, saying nothing, only tightening his arms in a silent refusal.
Su Qianqian had no choice but to play her trump card. Leaning close to his ear, she whispered in a soft, breathy, coquettish tone:
"Tonight, I'll come home early. I'll wear that new, playful little lingerie the swimwear designer just came up with... just for you to see."
"Only for you to look at slowly. And whatever you want to do... I won't resist. I'll cooperate obediently, okay?"
Gu Chengyu's body stiffened. His Adam's apple bobbed violently, and his eyes instantly darkened.
He stared at her for a full ten seconds, engaged in an intense internal struggle.
Finally, he gave her lips a fierce peck, his voice hoarse. "You'd better keep your word."
"Six o'clock. I must see you home by six."
