Gu Chengyu watched her slender, graceful figure disappear through the doorway of the secondary bedroom before finally allowing himself to relax. He leaned back into the spacious sofa, arms resting casually on the armrests, eyes closed—yet a trace of worry lingered between his brows.
Letting her stay alone for a week?
Safety came first.
The security measures at Shen Media’s headquarters and his Cloud Peak penthouse were top-tier, so he wasn’t concerned. The unassuming Mercedes she drove had long been modified to bulletproof standards. Little Chen, his assistant, had been trained under the strictest protocols since childhood by the Gu family—his loyalty and skills were beyond question.
But a small-town variety show set?
A place teeming with all sorts of people—unsafe.
He’d need to assign a female bodyguard as her assistant, someone to stay by her side at all times.
And that Mercedes was too cramped. She needed a more spacious, comfortable, and secure RV.
As for the driver? Still Little Chen—he was reliable.
Then came the trivial matters.
The girl wanted to make her own way, unwilling to rely on him for everything. He admired that independent spirit.
But what about navigating social intricacies, the unspoken rules of human relationships? Should she learn them?
Gu Chengyu frowned.
No, there was no need to burden her with such things.
He picked up his phone and dialed the Gu family’s estate manager directly.
"Manager, arrange for someone to come—female, skilled in combat, sharp-witted, and exceptional at handling miscellaneous affairs and social niceties."
"She’ll be responsible for coordinating all of Miss Su’s external affairs and ensuring her safety. Su Qianqian is a newcomer in the entertainment industry."
He paused, then added, "Actually, one might not be enough. Assign a personal assistant as well—someone meticulous, to oversee her daily needs."
"And… find a fashion consultant, designer-level, with an impeccable eye."
"Her private wardrobe, accessories, hairstyle—every aspect of her image should be presented to her as the optimal choice. She shouldn’t have to waste energy on it."
"If necessary, hire a top-tier designer to accompany her. Handle it as you see fit."
The estate manager on the other end acknowledged the orders without question.
Gu Chengyu hung up, feeling slightly more at ease.
Three people—would that be enough? One all-purpose assistant and bodyguard, one personal caretaker, one image consultant.
That should cover every aspect of her needs.
At the thought of the harsh comments that might appear online, his gaze darkened.
His woman had to be flawless in every way, beyond reproach.
What else…
Ah, right. He’d recently stocked her walk-in closet with designer dresses. Those would do for now—after all, no unauthorized photos from Shen Media or Cloud Peak would ever leak online.
But if she went on that variety show, those dresses couldn’t come along. Too flashy, clashing with Qianqian’s public image as an orphan.
His fingers tapped lightly against the sofa armrest.
Simple. For any favorite designs, he’d just buy out the copyright.
Have a high-end atelier recreate them, minus the logos.
The Gu family held considerable shares in luxury conglomerates anyway—such a trivial matter was easily handled.
Anything else?
Gu Chengyu mentally ran through the checklist: clothing, food, shelter, transportation, safety, image, miscellaneous affairs… Everything seemed accounted for.
He exhaled deeply, sinking back into the sofa.
This was more exhausting than negotiating a multi-billion-dollar deal.
The sound of running water in the bathroom stopped.
Yet the crease between Gu Chengyu’s brows remained.
His delicate, tenderly nurtured girl—raised like a hothouse flower, so fragile she might bruise at a touch—was about to be on her own for a week.
Even with all his meticulous preparations, an uneasy tension still coiled in his chest.
Rumors of his mother’s arranged marriage plans had leaked. Families eyeing the position of the Gu family’s young madam, women scheming to climb the social ladder—
It was inevitable that some foolish, shortsighted creature might set their sights on Qianqian.
His eyes darkened, a cold edge flashing within.
They’d better not.
Or else, he’d make them regret it.
A soft click sounded as the bathroom door opened.
Gu Chengyu instantly smoothed away all traces of his dark mood, reverting to his usual lazy, indifferent demeanor as he glanced toward the door.
Su Qianqian emerged wrapped in a plush white robe, her damp hair cascading over her shoulders, her cheeks flushed pink from the steam like a ripened peach.
"Master Gu, I’m done," she said softly.
Gu Chengyu reached out, his voice low and warm. "Come here."
Su Qianqian obediently approached, letting him pull her into his embrace.
He took the dry towel from her hands, carefully wrapping it around her wet hair, gently patting the strands dry. The clean, sweet fragrance of her skin filled his senses.
"Let’s dry your hair first. There are some things I need to discuss with you later," he murmured.
Then he looked down at the girl nestled in his arms—this delicate creature he’d painstakingly sheltered—now blinking up at him with wide, questioning eyes.
A sigh escaped him.
Troublesome little thing. The nickname suited her perfectly.
