This time, even Ding Ze sent Gu Ran a WeChat message, attaching a screenshot of Gu Ran's "like" on Weibo for "the beauty's toolman."
["When will they get their happy ending..."]
["The beauty's toolman is so pitiful"]
Gu Ran had been curled up in bed, not wanting to face what Ji Shiyu had done to her since last night. Finally receiving a message, only to find someone sympathizing with how "pitiful the toolman" was.
Facing the phrase "the beauty's toolman," Gu Ran was gradually pondering other possible meanings when her little universe suddenly collapsed: ["I think you've completely switched sides now."]
["Traitor!"]
["We're through. I'm terminating my contract with Cat's Paw right now! If you think Ji Shiyu is pitiful, go work for him from now on, don't come to me!"]
Ding Ze had no idea which of his words had offended the princess this early in the morning and quickly made himself scarce.
Gu Ran exited the chat with Ding Ze, rolled around on the bed like a silkworm a couple more times, buried her face in the pillow until she couldn't stand it anymore, and finally lifted her head to breathe.
Her mind was flooded with various scenes: the first time she met Ji Shiyu, she was walking along the wall, head down, clutching her backpack that had been thrown into a dirty water bucket. Ji Shiyu was walking towards her with friends, one of whom laughed and asked if that was his chauffeur's daughter. He glanced at her lightly, not even sparing her a lingering look, and left with the words, "How would I know."
That young man back then was arrogant and aloof, possessing all the capital to be proud, while she was like dust in comparison.
Later, the boy grew into a man, still standing in the most dazzling place, and she kept chasing, trying to get closer.
Only, all these images shattered last night, starting from the moment the man bent down to please her.
Gu Ran closed her eyes, a trace of annoyance and embarrassment between her brows, unwilling to think about it anymore.
She finally threw off the covers and got out of bed. When opening the door, she unconsciously lightened her movements, thinking Ji Shiyu must have already left at this hour, until she bumped right into him, only then remembering it was the weekend and there was no work.
Gu Ran forced herself to stay calm, steadied her nerves, and said, "Morning."
Ji Shiyu looked at Gu Ran's crimson earlobes and asked, "Do you have plans today?"
Gu Ran looked at Ji Shiyu rather uncomfortably, then began scanning her mental schedule before answering, "No."
Ji Shiyu extended an invitation: "Then can I borrow a day of your time? For us... to go on a date."
Hearing the man's invitation, Gu Ran's ears seemed to turn even redder. She lowered her head and answered softly, "Okay."
"But you have to wait for me."
Ji Shiyu, of course, waited.
Knowing it was a date today, after washing up, Gu Ran stood before the dressing table with its array of cosmetics, suddenly at a loss for where to begin.
She was skilled enough to apply eyeliner with her eyes closed and hand behind her back, yet today she found herself hesitating over which foundation would look more natural.
By the time Gu Ran was fully ready, nearly two hours had passed.
She emerged from the bedroom wearing a long camel coat with a white scarf, knowing she had taken quite a while, and stepped up to Ji Shiyu: "I'm ready."
Ji Shiyu looked at Gu Ran, every strand of her hair carefully styled, and felt honored to have waited. He took her hand: "Let's go."
Warmth spread from their palms straight to her heart.
With one hand held, Gu Ran used her other to press the elevator button. Ji Shiyu was replying to a message.
After pressing the button, Gu Ran didn't actively look at his phone but still asked, "Who is it?"
Ji Shiyu finished replying, put away his phone, and answered, "Xu Hui."
Gu Ran tilted her head: "What about?"
Ji Shiyu: "Said there's an impromptu meeting today."
Hearing about the impromptu meeting, Gu Ran paused: "Then..."
Ji Shiyu smiled and tightened his grip on Gu Ran's hand: "Not going."
"Let's go."
Gu Ran clutched his hand and followed.
Her first-ever date, and also her first date with Ji Shiyu, just like the most ordinary couple.
Today Ji Shiyu drove. The date location was set at a shopping mall.
Nowadays, people often recognized her, so Gu Ran wore a mask. Upon arriving at the mall, she headed straight for the claw machines.
Gu Ran prided herself on being a top-tier claw machine player; all the plushies on her live-stream background wall were ones she had won. After buying game tokens, she glanced at Ji Shiyu with a "you've probably never played this before" look.
Time to show off some real skills.
Gu Ran rolled up her sleeves to demonstrate her specialty to Ji Shiyu, but today the machines seemed to be conspiring against her. Every time, the claw would loosen right at the exit. She had almost used up all her tokens without winning a single plushie.
Frustrated, Gu Ran slapped the control panel.
Seeing Gu Ran so angry she hit the machine, Ji Shiyu frowned slightly, not realizing a single plushie could be so hard to get.
He had a few tokens himself, so he simply inserted one, operated the joystick to position the claw over a purple Disney's Duffy & Friends character, and pressed the button.
Gu Ran heard the game's victory sound effect beside her.
She turned her head and saw Ji Shiyu holding a purple Disney's Duffy & Friends character, the one known for being the most difficult to win.
Ji Shiyu handed the plushie to Gu Ran.
Looking at the Disney's Duffy & Friends character in her hand, Gu Ran gaped in surprise, then looked up at Ji Shiyu and asked, "Did you crawl inside and steal it?"
Ji Shiyu: "?"
...
However reluctantly, Gu Ran had to accept the fact that Ji Shiyu had won the top-difficulty Disney's Duffy & Friends character on his first try. She bit her bubble tea straw, huffing with indignation.
Ji Shiyu didn't know what this Disney's Duffy & Friends character represented, but as an insider in the claw machine world, she knew that in the face of this plushie, her entire cabinet of wins would be overshadowed from now on.
Out of jealousy, Gu Ran tightened her grip on Ji Shiyu's hand.
Feeling Gu Ran's hand tighten, and holding the Disney's Duffy & Friends character he had won for her in his other hand, Ji Shiyu remembered her home had every plushie except this one. He asked, "Uh, don't you like this one?"
"No." Gu Ran shoved her half-finished bubble tea into Ji Shiyu's hand, pulled up her mask, and took the Disney's Duffy & Friends character from him to hold herself.
After the claw machines, it was basically lunchtime. Ji Shiyu had reserved a table at the restaurant on the top floor in advance.
It was a unique rooftop restaurant, also called the Secret Garden Restaurant, located on the mall's top-floor terrace. Enclosed by glass, its wooden frame structure was entwined with various flowers and spider plants, allowing diners to enjoy their meal while basking in the sunlight.
Even disregarding the food, the ambiance alone was enough to win over most female patrons. Despite the high prices, a steady stream of customers came to check in.
An elevator in the mall led directly to the restaurant. As they entered and Ji Shiyu was confirming the reservation with the host, Gu Ran idly glanced inside.
Then she saw, inside the restaurant, Yuan Mengxuan and a few of her superficial girlfriends sitting together, taking selfies with their food.
Halfway through confirming the details, Ji Shiyu felt someone tugging at him.
He turned around. It was Gu Ran.
"What's wrong?"
Gu Ran: "Let's eat somewhere else."
For some reason, Gu Ran didn't want to run into the superficial girlfriends at this moment.
This feeling was strange. In the past, when she was openly or secretly competing with her fake friends, she knew that no amount of lavish spending was as useful as having Ji Shiyu by her side. But today, when she went out with Ji Shiyu and ran into those same fake friends, she didn't want to meet them at all.
Perhaps it was because she no longer needed Ji Shiyu's presence to prove anything. Meeting them now would only create unnecessary trouble.
Gu Ran: "I don't want to eat here. I want grilled fish."
Ji Shiyu had thought he'd picked a restaurant Gu Ran would like, never expecting her current craving for grilled fish. He responded with an "Okay," then told the waiter to cancel their reservation.
There was a grilled fish restaurant downstairs, but it was full at the moment. The two took a waiting number ticket and began to wander aimlessly.
Gu Ran, holding her Stitch, passed by the claw machine area and felt the envious glances from the people inside.
This plush toy was currently the ultimate status symbol. Gu Ran's vanity soared. As she deliberately passed the claw machine area for the fourth time, she suddenly spotted several familiar faces.
Yuan Mengxuan was walking over with her fake friends, chatting and laughing.
Gu Ran thought to herself, How did they finish eating so fast? Don't these people usually take an hour just to take photos? She then grabbed Ji Shiyu's hand and turned to walk the other way.
Ji Shiyu finally sensed that Gu Ran seemed to be avoiding something. She was pulling him along quickly while looking back to scout, her posture resembling a female spy from a police thriller.
Just as Gu Ran was turning her head to vigilantly monitor her fake friends' every move, she was suddenly pulled a couple of steps to the side.
Gu Ran: "Huh?"
The door to the fire escape opened and then closed.
Ji Shiyu pulled Gu Ran into the stairwell. "They won't find us now."
Gu Ran realized Ji Shiyu already knew she was hiding from someone and had even helped her escape. She let out two awkward laughs.
The fire escape stairwell was very quiet. Gu Ran hugged her Stitch, lowering her head to stroke its soft fur.
Ji Shiyu: "You didn't want to run into them?"
Gu Ran gave a soft "Mhm."
Ji Shiyu: "Am I that much of an embarrassment?"
"No," Gu Ran frowned. "You wouldn't understand."
Ji Shiyu let out a soft sigh and wrapped his arms around Gu Ran's waist.
Since they were waiting anyway, he pulled down the mask on Gu Ran's face.
Kissing was supposed to be part of the dating routine.
This step was just happening a little earlier. Ji Shiyu lowered his head and kissed Gu Ran's lips.
Gu Ran's cheeks grew slightly warm. She closed her eyes and parted her lips to respond.
The kiss was long and lingering. Gu Ran grew slightly lightheaded, leaning most of her weight against Ji Shiyu.
All her senses were focused on their lips and tongues, so she didn't hear a burst of chattering voices.
The fire escape door was suddenly pushed open. The bright light from the mall flooded in, accompanied by a few complaints: "The elevators in Wang's Mall are so slow, this place is going to go out of business sooner or later."
Gu Ran froze in Ji Shiyu's embrace.
She turned her head and made eye contact with several of her fake friends, who were staring back, utterly dumbstruck.
