"I admit I really do," Zhu Xian said honestly. "The first time I saw you, I thought so, and every time since, I've thought so, and I'll think so for a lifetime."
Zhong Yan finally felt his heart settle upon receiving the answer.
He leaned in and kissed the corner of Zhu Xian's lips.
Zhu Xian naturally didn't let the opportunity pass, showering him with kisses in a passionate storm, causing Zhong Yan's breathing to grow heavy. The limited space of the Maserati was filled with an intimate atmosphere.
Just as things were about to get out of control, Zhu Xian stopped herself in time.
Zhong Yan seemed somewhat unsatisfied, looking at her with a flushed face.
Zhu Xian chuckled, "This isn't suitable. I'll take you back."
Zhong Yan nodded.
He expected "back" to mean back to the hotel, but to his surprise, Zhu Xian drove him out of the hotel and towards the outskirts of the city.
Among the spoils of the original host winning a Best Actress award at seventeen was a villa bought for her by Yao Chong for over twenty million yuan. She lived there most of the time and rarely went out.
However, someone cleaned it regularly, so it was always ready to be lived in.
There was no traffic at night, and they reached their destination in just over half an hour.
After parking the car, Zhu Xian unbuckled her seatbelt and said, "Get out."
Zhong Yan was unusually timid. The courage he had accumulated seemed to have evaporated during the drive. He reluctantly got out of the car and followed Zhu Xian into the villa.
The opulent villa was silent enough to hear a pin drop. The two late-night arrivals couldn't break the stillness. They simply passed through the living room and quickly went upstairs to a room.
Looking at the large bed, Zhong Yan's scalp tingled, and he felt an overwhelming panic.
What had he done tonight?
He had accepted her confession.
And he had followed her home.
Next, some unspeakable things might happen.
How could he be so...
"Scared?"
He swallowed and didn't answer.
"Tsk," Zhu Xian teased with a hidden meaning, "you're really timid. Afraid I'll eat you?"
"She won't eat you."
Zhong Yan thought of what his roommate had said and felt, for a moment, that he wasn't entirely wrong.
This person clearly wanted to "eat" him now.
Although, he wouldn't be at a loss.
He fell into a state of indecision.
Zhu Xian sighed as she looked at him. This person was greatly influenced by the original owner of this body; he was too timid.
"Alright, stop agonizing. Go wash up and rest."
Zhong Yan was a bit surprised, "We're not doing it?"
"I have a sense of guilt, like I'm forcing a respectable woman."
Zhong Yan: "...I'm not."
"Of course you're not," Zhu Xian said with a relaxed smile. "Just kidding. We've only known each other for a few days, and I was too eager. I won't force you. Go wash up. If you're uncomfortable, there's a guest room next door."
After hearing this, Zhong Yan felt he was being overly dramatic.
He wasn't a woman; he wouldn't be the one at a disadvantage in such matters. He liked her, and they should mutually like each other and be willing. Why should he hesitate?
Was he afraid she would eat him and not take responsibility?
If they couldn't be together in the future and never did this, wouldn't that be even more regrettable?
As he thought, his courage returned.
"Let's do it."
Zhu Xian was a little surprised, "Not scared anymore?"
"Not scared." He walked over, embraced her, and began to kiss her deeply.
— Fade to black!
Zhu Xian always felt that Zhong Yan's behavior at times was very familiar.
It was as if they had been together like this before.
However, her memories were incomplete due to the separation of a part of herself, and having experienced so many worlds, it seemed reasonable to have similar fragments in the same situation.
She had always believed in seizing the moment.
If she couldn't remember something, she wouldn't dwell on it.
Tonight, the two protagonists of the trending topic were hotly debated.
In reality, the two were also hotly engaged in passion in the original host's villa.
Her agent, bearing unbearable suffering and unable to find her or any other solution, finally called Yao Chong.
Yao Chong sighed and told her to stop worrying for now.
The result of "stop worrying" was that the next morning, the "Chosen Son" program team issued a statement asking Zhong Yan to withdraw from the competition.
As for Zhu Xian, the program team was still negotiating with her agent on how to handle the situation, depending on their attitude towards the matter.
At noon, Zhu Xian, who had just received the call from her agent, was drowsy. Hearing her agent's question, she indifferently replied, "My goal has been achieved. Withdraw as well, Lu Jie. You've worked hard."
Agent: "...Wait, what goal?"
Zhu Xian's tone was extremely pleased, "What do you think?"
Agent: "..."
She was so angry she wanted to quit on the spot.
She knew this person treated herself as Lu Tanxi all day, almost obsessively. Why would she suddenly decide to participate in a program as a mentor?
It turned out she did it for a man.
Her worry for the whole night had been in vain.
But fortunately, she now knew her intentions and what to do, so she immediately had an idea.
"So, you're not going to deny your relationship with him?"
"Don't worry about it for now. I plan for him to undergo further training for a while. It's good to have some buzz during this period, so people don't forget him." After a moment's thought, she added, "But don't let anyone slander him. Help me investigate who's behind this."
"...Okay."
"After this, you can take a break for a while. I don't have anything to do during this period anyway."
The agent's mood instantly turned from despair to joy, "Thank you, A'Xian! Is it paid leave?"
"Yes."
The agent exclaimed in delight, "Love you!"
Zhu Xian hung up the phone.
Zhong Yan entered with a tray of food. Seeing that she was awake, he placed the food aside and sat beside her, looking at her.
"What's wrong?"
"How are you feeling?"
Zhu Xian smiled, "I've gotten what I wished for, so naturally, I feel great."
Zhong Yan's entire face, starting from the tips of his ears, turned rosy within a minute, and he couldn't even meet her gaze.
Actually, before they truly became intimate, he had never thought this person would be so... pure. However, the first experience had given him a pleasant surprise.
They were each other's first.
This feeling was simply wonderful!
Zhu Xian smiled teasingly, "What are you thinking about? Your face is so red."
Zhong Yan instinctively touched his face; it was indeed hot.
He lowered his head, "Nothing, nothing. Eat something quickly."
He brought the bowl closer, and Zhu Xian saw it was a bowl of brown sugar porridge.
She was a little surprised, "Did you make this yourself?"
"Mhm," he replied softly. "Grandma said that for a girl's first time, she should eat this."
Zhu Xian paused for a moment, then burst into delighted laughter.
This person was truly too adorable!
Zhong Yan felt embarrassed and could only try his best to prevent his face from getting any hotter as he crouched down to feed her the porridge.
"Here, eat."
After breakfast, another piece of news from the "Chosen Son" program team also made it to the trending list.
Zhu Xian looked at her phone and asked Zhong Yan, "What are your plans next?"
Zhong Yan looked somewhat lost.
"Let me put it another way, who is targeting you?"
Zhong Yan still didn't speak.
"I'll have Lu Jie help you terminate your contract."
"No," he said urgently. "No need. I went to 'Chosen Son' to be a foil for someone. It doesn't matter if I'm eliminated; I don't care."
Not really.
"The program team is the program team. I'm asking about someone else. You should have some confidence in me. Be good, tell me."