Nighttime.
Su Qianqian returned home, her dewy almond-shaped eyes sparkling with excitement, her lips curling into an irrepressible smile.
The moment she stepped inside, she bumped into Gu Chengyu, who had just finished dealing with emails in his study.
The man was dressed in comfortable dark gray loungewear, his tall, broad-shouldered frame leaning casually against the doorframe.
"You're back?" He raised an eyebrow, his gaze settling on her face, which clearly screamed, "I have great news!" His lips unconsciously curved upward in response.
His little girlfriend wore her emotions on her sleeve—never able to hide a thing.
"Mhm!" Su Qianqian nodded vigorously, like a cheerful little bird, darting over to him in a few quick steps. She tilted her head up to look at him, her voice sweet and soft, brimming with unrestrained excitement.
"Mr. Gu, I got the role!"
Gu Chengyu was infected by her unguarded joy, reaching out naturally to ruffle her soft hair. "Oh? What role? The female lead?"
"Not that," Su Qianqian shook her head, her long, wavy hair swaying with the motion. "A courtesan! Just two scenes!"
She held up two slender fingers, her eyes gleaming. "In the first scene, I dance—a stunning entrance! And the second scene… well, I’m a cold corpse."
At the mention of "corpse," her face scrunched up briefly before excitement took over again. "Brother Wang helped me secure it. The director said I passed the audition."
Gu Chengyu nearly choked on his own breath.
Amusement and novelty flickered in his eyes as he looked down at the girl in his arms, practically bouncing with joy over a minor role with just two scenes.
"A courtesan? A corpse?" he repeated, his tone dripping with playful teasing. He pulled her closer, pinching her rosy cheek.
"That’s it? That’s what has you this happy?" He leaned in, his deep voice laced with laughter as he murmured near her ear, "Sweetheart, have you forgotten who your boyfriend is?"
He paused, his tone carrying an arrogant yet doting certainty. "Gu Chengyu, hm? With just a word from me, leading roles and blockbuster scripts would line up for you to pick from."
"You like acting? Tomorrow, I’ll have Shen Que tailor a script just for you—let you act to your heart’s content."
"Why bother with some two-scene courtesan role, hm? Especially one that ends up a corpse?"
Su Qianqian, nestled in his embrace, blinked in slight bewilderment at his outrageously privileged remarks.
Of course she knew who he was—she might even understand his future influence better than he did himself.
But still…
She lifted her head, her clear almond eyes meeting his with quiet determination. Her voice was soft but stubborn. "It’s not the same, Mr. Gu."
"How so?" Gu Chengyu arched a brow, intrigued.
"This… this is something I earned through my own audition," Su Qianqian emphasized the word "own." "Brother Wang gave me the chance, and the director approved me."
"Even if it’s just two scenes, this is my first step into the entertainment industry—one I took on my own."
Her eyes brightened further as she continued, "And the role is really challenging! The dance has to be alluring but not vulgar, and even as a corpse, I have to convey a chilling beauty…"
Gu Chengyu watched her earnest analysis of the role, her pride in this small achievement, and felt that mix of amusement and something softer—something tender.
The women around him only ever chased top-tier endorsements and leading roles.
But here she was, over the moon for a minor supporting part.
"Alright, alright. Your first step, taken all by yourself," he chuckled, his tone indulgent. His large hand tightened around her slender waist, pulling her closer. "So, my little actress, what’s your next move? Hm?"
Su Qianqian flushed at his question, suddenly remembering why she had rushed to him in the first place.
She grabbed his arm, giving it a little shake—though his grip was too firm for her to budge.
Giving up, she instead tilted her face up, her big, watery eyes full of pleading and sweet persuasion. "Mr. Gu… the director said my dancing isn’t good enough. My movements aren’t precise, and just relying on my presence isn’t enough…"
"He gave me a month to practice…"
She paused, her voice turning even softer, sweeter. "I want to hire a dance teacher—a really, really good classical dance instructor… Mr. Gu, please?"
Gu Chengyu was utterly charmed by her adorable, earnest begging—just for a dance teacher.
His chest shook with silent laughter. "That’s it?" He pinched her chin lightly, tilting her face.
"A two-scene courtesan role is worth all this trouble? Even hiring a top-tier instructor?"
He teased her deliberately. "Your boyfriend could snap his fingers, and the best dance doubles would line up. Why go through the effort yourself?"
"No doubles!" Su Qianqian shook her head firmly, her expression resolute.
"I want to dance it myself!"
"The director said the shot will be a close-up—it’s all about the eyes and the feeling. No matter how good a double is, their expression won’t be the same. I want to do it right!"
She shook his arm again, her voice dripping with honeyed sweetness. "Please, Mr. Gu… help me find a teacher… pretty please?"
Her wide, innocent eyes—full of hope—gazed up at him like a kitten seeking its owner’s favor. Impossible to refuse.
Gu Chengyu’s heart melted under her pleading. Any remaining urge to tease vanished.
He leaned down, pressing a loud kiss to her smooth forehead.
"Fine!"
His answer was swift, his tone dripping with fond indulgence. "Just a dance teacher? Tomorrow, I’ll get you the best. The top in the country—good enough? If not, we’ll find someone overseas."
Su Qianqian’s eyes instantly curved into happy crescents. She rose onto her tiptoes, pecking a kiss against his sharp jawline. "Thank you, Mr. Gu! You’re the best!"
"However…"
Gu Chengyu tightened his hold on her waist, preventing her from pulling away. His dark, fox-like eyes glinted with mischief as he leaned closer, his voice dropping to a murmur.
"A verbal ‘thank you’ isn’t enough."
"My little courtesan… how exactly do you plan to… properly thank me, hm?"
Su Qianqian flushed crimson, even the tips of her delicate ears turning pink.
She understood his implication perfectly. Shyly, she tried to bury her face against his chest, but he playfully tilted her chin up instead.
Seeing her flustered, pliant expression—ripe for the taking—Gu Chengyu’s smile deepened.
A minor role with just two scenes?
Suddenly, it didn’t seem so insignificant.
At the very least, it gave him a glimpse of his little girl—so vibrant, so determined, so utterly endearing.
