Chapter 1: Laughed Out Loud

When Gu Lanxi encountered Lu Nanting, she had just stepped out of her car and was preparing to head upstairs to her apartment.

She had spent the morning at the film channel; there was an interview program she simply couldn't turn down.

The host was notoriously skilled at digging for dirt and had a particular interest in the private lives of celebrities. One careless slip, and she would dig up something sensational.

Having focused all her energy on finishing the recording, she had only managed to grab a hurried meal in her van just past one o'clock.

Her new film was set to start shooting next week, and a makeup test had been scheduled for the afternoon. She had rushed over in a flurry, and by the time she finished, it was already past eleven.

Fortunately, the makeup studio the production team partnered with wasn't far from her home, so it was barely midnight now.

Gu Lanxi rarely stayed up this late, and after such a busy day, she was exhausted.

She carried a warm apricot-colored tote bag, her long, silky, jet-black hair swaying slightly as she walked around the load-bearing pillar toward the unit entrance. She couldn't help it; she covered her mouth with her hand and let out a dainty yawn.

The man had broad shoulders and long legs. He was wearing a trendy T-shirt, shorts, and flip-flops—a look currently very popular—and was leaning against the wall, looking at his phone. Hearing footsteps, he looked up. Seeing her, he took two steps back in surprise, blinked in disbelief, and couldn't help but break into a brilliant smile.

With that smile, a mischievous, starry light emerged in his dark eyes, no different from when he was seventeen.

Even though he hadn't opened his mouth, Gu Lanxi felt as if she could hear his clear voice whispering in her ear: "See? I caught you!"

The man’s name was Lu Nanting, a top-tier celebrity in the domestic entertainment industry and a singer-songwriter. His public image was cool and wild; he looked lean in clothes but was muscular underneath, famously known as a "human hormone."

Yet, few people knew that when he laughed heartily, a shallow dimple would appear on his right cheek.

He just stared at her, his gaze making her heart flutter with unease.

"Hi, what a coincidence!"

Gu Lanxi brushed her long, dark hair behind her ears, stood up straight, and offered a polite greeting.

"Oh, this isn't a coincidence. I was waiting for you."

Lu Nanting put away his phone and walked up to her in a few strides, blocking her in the corner before she had a chance to slip away.

Gu Lanxi lowered her head slightly. Her long, thick eyelashes fluttered like little fans, though they couldn't brush away the dampness in the corners of her eyes.

In private, she liked wearing flat shoes and didn't care for makeup.

Right now, her face was bare. She had naturally pale, cool-toned skin and was wearing a white, halter-neck, off-the-shoulder dress. Under the harsh, pale light of the underground garage, she looked as if she were glowing, like a pearl come to life.

As he expected, the woman had only panicked for a split second when she first saw him, but she quickly composed herself.

A faint, gentle smile played on her face, and she spoke with her usual unhurried grace: "Do you need something from me?"

After speaking, she took her phone out of her bag and opened WeChat to show him: "If it’s not urgent, you can send me a message."

She then opened her contact list: "You can also call me."

She was gentle and polite throughout, showing no sign of anger, but Lu Nanting knew she was furious.

Special people are special even when they’re angry.

It was so late, and he had cornered her here; this had upset her.

Lu Nanting felt a strange sense of stifling frustration, and his words carried a touch of recklessness, constantly testing the boundaries of danger

"What? It’s been several years since we broke up, and you still keep your ex’s contact information? Are you still that hung up on me?"

They both worked in the same circle. Although Gu Lanxi mostly acted in films and rarely did promotional work outside of film-related matters, they were signed to the same company. They saw each other constantly, and their paths crossed frequently at large events that couldn't be avoided. Plus, she had a good relationship with his mother and would see him from time to time. So, even after years of being broken up, they didn't feel like strangers when they met.

Not only were they not strangers, but he watched every one of her films, and she had attended many of his concerts.

Perhaps they understood each other even better now than they had back then.

But Gu Lanxi didn't want to argue with him in the middle of the night. She blinked, sniffled, and suddenly looked pitiful

"I’ve been busy all day. I’m tired, hungry, and sleepy, and I haven't even had a few sips of water. If it’s not something important, can we talk about it tomorrow? I want to go home."

The distance between them was less than half a meter. Gu Lanxi was 1.65 meters tall, and in her flat shoes, she only reached his shoulder.

Because the big screen made her look heavier, she had always maintained a slim figure. With the light shining down, she had the illusion of being overshadowed by a giant grizzly bear, and her eight parts of pity immediately became ten.

Gu Lanxi had a sweet voice, a high crown, and exquisite bone structure. With her fairy-like beauty that could be both cool and sweet, she had been crowned the "National Girlfriend" since her debut, a title no one had been able to replace since.

Hearing her words, which carried a hint of pleading, even her rivals would likely soften. What man could refuse?

But Lu Nanting was currently filled with a heartache he couldn't resolve, making him immune to this.

The man’s eyes suddenly turned sharp, and his voice deepened: "Do you remember what tomorrow is?"

Gu Lanxi had a photographic memory and was particularly sensitive to numbers. Having entered university at fourteen, it was impossible for her to forget.

But...

Given their current relationship, she didn't want to spend his birthday with him.

So she stopped smiling, stood in the corner, and remained silent with a calm expression.

Lu Nanting pressed his lips together, gritted his teeth, and his jaw tightened. His Adam's apple bobbed several times before he pulled something out of his pocket and slapped it into her palm.

"Gu Lanxi, are you planning to go back on your word?"

Lu Nanting let go and took a step back, turning his eyes away.

In the blink of an eye, the tip of his nose turned red, and his eyes reddened too. He clearly looked furious.

Seeing him like this, Gu Lanxi looked down at the object in her hand.

She had to admit, it was rare to see someone who could look so handsome in an ID photo.

"Remember now? Hmm?"

Seeing her slightly dazed, Lu Nanting took a deep breath, reached out to press her shoulders, leaned down slightly, and moved close to her face: "Did you forget, or are you trying to back out?"

Gu Lanxi’s eyes were light and calm. When she looked at someone quietly, she could always make them calm down as well.

Lu Nanting let go again, feeling inexplicably restless.

After a long silence, Gu Lanxi finally spoke: "My legs are numb from standing. Let’s go upstairs and talk."

Lu Nanting didn't care about their relationship being exposed, but since she didn't want to talk about it outside, he respected that.

Their footsteps echoed—one light, one heavy—as they walked one after the other toward the unit entrance. Lu Nanting walked in front, and as soon as the camera scanned his face, the door opened.

Seeing this, Gu Lanxi’s heart sank. She kept her head down looking at her feet as she entered the elevator, saying nothing.

She should have guessed. He looked so at home, and he even smelled of body wash.

He must have moved in at some point, and it just happened to be her building...

He had come with the determination to win her over.

Gu Lanxi couldn't help but sigh inwardly, momentarily at a loss for what to do.

Bihu Tiandi was a famous luxury apartment complex in A City, located in the most prosperous city center. It consisted of six buildings, with one elevator per household and one household per floor. The apartment Gu Lanxi bought was in Building 4, spanning nearly 400 square meters.

It was quite spacious for someone living alone.

In the middle of the night, the elevator happened to be empty, and they quickly reached the eighteenth floor.

Exiting the elevator, the lobby was large. The layout was the same as the floors above, but the decor was more homey, and the style was different—clearly a place where the owner lived permanently.

It was Lu Nanting’s first time here, and he couldn't help but look around.

It was an elegant French style.

There was a floor-to-ceiling white shoe cabinet, dark brown wooden floors, a wooden shoe bench, and a chest of drawers with a money tree plant on it.

To the left was a window with arched lattice panes. It was half-open, and the night breeze blew the white sheer curtains, gently brushing against the clean money tree in its pot under the window.

Behind the money tree was the closed door to the fire escape, and to the right was the white, arched double-entry door.

It had been several months since the New Year, but the bright red spring couplets were still firmly pasted on the door.

First line: Create a great career and find success year after year.

Second line: Expand grand plans and find everything going as you wish.

Horizontal scroll: Four seasons of auspiciousness.

How should she put it?

It felt like a fairy had descended into the mortal world.

Turning her head, she saw Gu Lanxi place her bag on the shoe bench and sit down to change into slippers, ignoring him entirely.

She was clearly still angry.

They were white plastic sandals, the kind every household had—a simple, comfortable style.

She had stepped right out of the screen and into real life.

Was she not a fairy descending to the mortal world?

Lu Nanting laughed out loud, unable to resist teasing her

"The horizontal scroll could be changed to 'Spring Breeze and Success,' don't you think?"

This was her home’s couplet; she couldn't very well argue with something inauspicious.

Gu Lanxi gave him a calm look, picked up her bag, walked to the door, opened it, and went inside without looking back.

But she didn't close the door.

Lu Nanting laughed and followed her in two steps.

This is a sweet showbiz novel. If it’s not sweet, come to Chengdu and hit me—I swear!

Fans of the genre, close your eyes and dive in!

Please add to your library first.

(End of chapter)