Chapter 55: The Knot Dissolves

Chapter 55: The Knot Dissolves

The plane flew steadily, but even with noise-canceling headphones on, Shen Ci did not fall asleep; she merely closed her eyes to rest.

Beside her, Xu Junhuan was casually reading a script, but his peripheral vision kept drifting toward Shen Ci from time to time.

She didn't recognize him?

She actually didn't recognize him!

A top star of the entertainment industry was sitting right next to her, and she had fallen asleep completely indifferent to his presence?

"Hello, Mr. Xu. It is time for our meal service. This is the first-class menu. What would you like to have?"

A flight attendant suddenly appeared, leaning down on one knee to present the menu with a smiling inquiry.

Just as Xu Junhuan took the menu, he saw Shen Ci, who had been keeping her eyes closed, slowly sit up straight. "Meal service, right?"

"Yes, Ms. Shen. Please wait a moment. Once Mr. Xu has finished ordering, I will serve you."

Shen Ci nodded and instinctively glanced at Xu Junhuan, only to find that he was also looking at her.

Even through his sunglasses, Shen Ci could sense the complexity in his gaze beneath the lenses.

He seemed very bothered by the fact that she didn't know him.

"You order first."

Xu Junhuan suddenly handed the menu to Shen Ci, signaling lady first.

Shen Ci didn't stand on ceremony. She took it, gave it a casual scan, and said, "I'll have the chicken soup wonton noodles, and an iced lemon black tea, please."

"Certainly, Ms. Shen."

After taking the menu, Xu Junhuan handed it directly back to the flight attendant. "I'll have the same as her."

The flight attendant was momentarily stunned, but her smile remained intact. "Of course, Mr. Xu."

Seeing this, Shen Ci couldn't help but glance at him again, while Xu Junhuan lowered his head, pretentiously continuing to read his script.

Shen Ci raised an eyebrow slightly and stopped paying him any attention. She turned her gaze toward the sky outside the window; the setting sun cast a beautiful golden glow over the clouds.

"Do you really not recognize me?"

A low inquiry suddenly came from behind her, the tone even carrying a hint of resentment.

Shen Ci wanted to laugh, but she held it back.

"Sorry, I have a bit of face blindness. I'm not very good at remembering people," Shen Ci said, turning her head.

As it turned out, the words "face blindness" stepped directly onto Xu Junhuan's landmine.

The biggest taboo for a celebrity is a lack of recognizability. By saying she had face blindness and couldn't recognize him, Shen Ci was essentially saying that Xu Junhuan lacked distinctive features.

But he was one of the people rated as one of "China's Twenty Most Handsome Faces" by the media—and he was ranked fourth. How could he lack recognizability?

His mouth beneath the mask hesitated, but in the end, he gave up in a show of helplessness. As a top star, it was simply too humiliating to force someone to acknowledge him!

It was only after eating a bowl of hot food that Shen Ci felt a bit sleepy. She remained silent for the rest of the journey until the announcement came through the speakers as the plane was about to land, waking her with bleary eyes.

"Dear passengers, we are about to land at Shengang International Airport..."

After the plane descended steadily, it began to taxi along the runway. Just as Shen Ci was preparing to turn off airplane mode on her phone, she heard a sudden commotion erupt in the economy class behind her.

Before she could react, a group of young girls swarmed into the first-class cabin. Some were holding up phones, others were carrying cameras, instantly clogging the first-class aisle completely.

These people were screaming and taking photos frantically, and their target was not anyone else, but the Xu Junhuan sitting right next to her.

"Ahhh! Junhuan! Junhuan!"

"Oh my god, he's so handsome! Junhuan, can you take off your mask and look at the camera?"

"Is Junhuan in Shengang for a brand event? I'll be on your flight tomorrow too! My name is Miaomiao, do you remember me?"

"Junhuan, I love you so much!"

The behavior of these sasaeng fans was exceptionally crazed, leaving Shen Ci stunned. Although she had seen similar videos online, seeing it up close in reality was incredibly shocking.

So, he really was Xu Junhuan!

Shen Ci's memory resurfaced. She remembered seeing him a few days ago at the press conference for *Destiny of the Phoenix*; he was indeed a red-hot top actor in the current entertainment industry.

Some of the sasaeng fans in the front rows even intentionally created a sense of crowding, leaning toward Xu Junhuan in an attempt to make physical contact.

Xu Junhuan, however, seemed long accustomed to such scenes. He merely lowered his head expressionlessly, completely ignoring the words and actions of these frenzied fans.

"The plane is still taxiing! Please return to your seats!"

"Please return to your seats and do not disturb the order on the aircraft!"

The flight attendant's voice for maintaining order fell like a stone into the ocean, having no effect whatsoever. Before long, members of his management team forced their way through the wall of people to reach Xu Junhuan's side, shielding him and escorting him off the plane as soon as it came to a halt.

Before parting, Xu Junhuan cast a deep look at Shen Ci. Seeing her shocked expression, a hint of smugness actually surged in his heart.

*See? You don't know me, but there are plenty of people who do and go crazy for me.*

But at this moment, Shen Ci felt nothing but confusion and a lack of respect.

Only after the sasaeng fans chased Xu Junhuan off the plane did the first-class cabin return to its usual tranquility. The purser continued to apologize to the other passengers, but such incidents were common; whenever a popular celebrity was on board, it would happen, and there was nothing they could do.

Looking down, Shen Ci found the paper Xu Junhuan had just signed for her wedged in the crevice of her seat. She picked it up and looked at it again, finally being able to find the traces of the three characters of his name in the signature.

She folded it casually and put it in her bag, thinking that the drama-obsessed Gu Lianxing might like him.

***

Xiangdong District, Shengang City, Fumao Residential Community.

Standing at her doorstep, Shen Ci's heart raced faster than ever before; it felt as if her heart were about to leap out of her throat.

Light filtered through the peephole. Staring at it, Shen Ci seemed to see her mother's silhouette in a trance.

She raised her slightly trembling hand and knocked gently on the door.

"Is that Xingxing coming home?"

Her mother's voice came from inside, and a second later, the door was pushed open from within.

The moment Shen Jingjing saw her daughter standing outside the door, she froze completely. She remained dazed for a long time, staring unblinkingly at her daughter's face as if confirming she wasn't seeing things.

"Mom."

Shen Ci's voice trembled as she spoke first, and tears rolled down her cheeks uncontrollably the moment she opened her mouth.

That single word, "Mom," caused Shen Jingjing's body to tremble slightly, and only then did excitement and joy belatedly flood her eyes.

"A-Ci, you're back..."

At this moment, Shen Ci could no longer control herself. Endless longing and self-reproach swept over her. She stepped forward, threw her arms around her mother, and wept uncontrollably.

Her daughter, who had always been stubborn and strong, was as fragile as a child in her arms. Shen Jingjing could not help but weep as well; the unspeakable guilt and longing that had weighed on her heart for the past year were finally released at this moment.

"A-Ci, don't cry. It's Mom's fault."