The weather was turning cooler, the night growing deeper.
In Gu Chengyu's penthouse apartment, the lights were blazing brightly.
Su Qianqian was curled up on the soft sofa in the study, a script open on her knees. Her expression was focused as she silently mouthed her lines.
She had recently taken on a movie role. It wasn't a heavy part, but the character's inner world was complex and required careful study.
At the same time, her coursework at Xinghe University was no less demanding, and she didn't want to fall behind.
Her phone screen lit up with a message from Gu Chengyu: 【Still reading the script?】
Su Qianqian glanced at it, her fingers pausing for a moment before replying with two words: 【Yeah.】
Soon, another message came through: 【Miss you.】
Su Qianqian frowned slightly. She wasn't really in the mood to go to the master bedroom tonight.
After a moment's thought, she replied: 【But I'll be at this for a while longer. You should sleep first, don't wait for me.】
After sending it, she flipped her phone face down on the sofa and let out a soft sigh.
Her gratitude towards Gu Chengyu was genuine.
When she first arrived in this strange and dangerous world, alone and vulnerable, and under the malicious gaze of Lin Shu, it was he—this towering tree—who had sheltered her from all storms, providing her with top-tier resources and unwavering protection.
Without him, she could never have established herself so quickly, let alone seen her star rise so brightly.
But as for deep affection... that seemed harder to claim.
She knew too much about his casual, philandering past, and she knew their beginning stemmed from a necessary dependence.
She played the role of the little woman who relied on him and was infatuated with him—a performance that was half-truth, half-act.
The truth lay in her gratitude, her reliance, and that inexplicable physical attraction. Every time they were intimate, she always felt her energy replenished afterwards.
The act was her constant, clear awareness that he wasn't her type.
Her ideal was someone bright and clean, and he was, quite simply, the opposite.
Now, with her career on track and her studies demanding more time, she found herself, almost without realizing it, devoting less energy to him.
Her replies to his messages were slower, she occasionally turned down dates, and sometimes she even gently refused his advances for intimacy. Though, he had been indulging her more lately, not insisting with his former forceful "take what he wanted" attitude.
She knew this wasn't good, even smacked a bit of burning bridges after crossing the river, but she genuinely didn't have more energy to spare for him.
Her phone vibrated again.
She picked it up. It was another message from Gu Chengyu: 【Then I'll come keep you company.】
The tone brooked no refusal.
Su Qianqian rubbed her temples, feeling somewhat helpless.
Just as she was thinking how to respond, a message from someone else popped up.
Zhou Yu'an: 【Qianqian, are you free tomorrow afternoon? The demo you sent last time could be helpful for people with insomnia. I'm thinking of using it on a production line at one of the Zhou family's hospitals. I'd like to discuss some copyright details with you.】
Su Qianqian's frown deepened.
Zhou Yu'an.
That man, a psychologist who appeared gentle and refined but was actually inscrutable.
Ever since their encounter in the school music room, he always found various reasons to approach her, his sense of propriety perfectly measured, making it impossible to outright refuse.
She could see his interest, and it annoyed her.
After all, she had zero desire for complications, especially not by provoking one of Gu Chengyu's close friends.
She replied to Zhou Yu'an: 【Mr. Zhou, you can decide on your end.】
【My schedule is packed with classes tomorrow, I probably won't have time.】
There was no further reply from him.
Su Qianqian put down her phone, feeling unsettled. These top-tier young masters were far from as harmless as they appeared on the surface. She remained inwardly wary, her only desire to keep her distance.
The study door opened, and Gu Chengyu walked in, holding a cup of warm milk.
He walked over to her, handed her the milk, and his gaze swept over the script on her knees and the phone lying face down.
"How much longer?" His voice was low, tinged with dissatisfaction.
"Almost done." Su Qianqian took the milk, sipping it slowly, avoiding his gaze.
Gu Chengyu sat down beside her, his arm naturally circling her waist, his chin resting on the top of her head as he looked at the script in her hands. "Working so hard?"
"Mhm, I want to do a good job," she replied softly, leaning pliantly against his chest.
She thought she didn't like him enough, but his embrace truly made her feel safe in this unfamiliar world.
Gu Chengyu felt her slight nuzzle and tightened his arm around her. "You seem very busy lately. I hardly see you."
"I have to balance studies and work," Su Qianqian explained in a soft voice, lacing it with a hint of coquettishness. "Besides, I want to become a little more outstanding, so I can be a tiny bit more worthy of you."
The words were half-true, half-false, but they successfully pleased the man.
Gu Chengyu chuckled lowly, lowering his head to kiss her forehead. "Silly. My woman doesn't need to prove anything like that."
