Forced Cohabitation After a Hit Romance Variety Show with My Rival Actress - Chapter 28

Gu Yuan turned her back, glancing over her shoulder. The sunlight draped a veil over her sculpted profile, casting a luminous glow on her long lashes and accentuating the elegant line of her nose.

Her entire being exuded a rich fragrance, yet she stood defenselessly with her back to Chi Yu. “The apron? Of course, it’s tied around the waist.”

“……”

After a moment’s hesitation, Chi Yu took the apron, only to face another dilemma: how to tie it.

Gu Yuan, still facing away, gently extended her arms.

That slender figure remained turned toward her.

At that moment, Chi Yu stood holding the apron’s ties, contemplating how to wrap it around Gu Yuan’s front.

When no response came from behind, Gu Yuan glanced back again. “What’s wrong?”

“If it’s too difficult…” She lowered her gaze slightly. “…I’ll just do it myself.”

“No need.”

Chi Yu merely furrowed her brow slightly before breaking into a warm smile.

“What’s so difficult about this? Let me serve you, Sister Gu Yuan.”

Only then did Gu Yuan turn around, murmuring softly, “Thank you.”

“……”

Chi Yu finished laughing, her expression softening. She pinched the apron strings between her fingers, spread her arms, and leaned in, encircling Gu Yuan’s slender waist.

Only through this physical measurement could Chi Yu truly appreciate the astonishing delicacy of Gu Yuan’s waist.

The fresh, subtle fragrance of jasmine drifted into her nostrils, seizing her senses even before her touch could.

Chi Yu wrapped her arms around Gu Yuan’s waist and gently tied the apron strings along that delicate curve.

As if the slender waist might bite, she deliberately kept her arms slightly away from Gu Yuan’s body.

The moment she closed the circle, Chi Yu visibly exhaled in relief.

She had just grasped the ends of the apron strings, ready to tie them and be done with it.

But then Gu Yuan’s voice rang out: “Xiao Chi, tie it a little tighter. It’ll be awkward to work with it loose.”

“……”

Those stunningly beautiful butterfly bones were now within arm’s reach. Chi Yu could almost feel the warmth of Gu Yuan’s skin through the fine hairs on her face.

Their posture was undeniably intimate.

Yet this intimacy didn’t end with the task’s completion. Instead, Chi Yu had to untie the apron strings, grip Gu Yuan’s waist again, and retie the apron snugly.

Chi Yu paused for a few seconds before her fingers began to tug at the half-tied bow. As she pulled, Gu Yuan’s white dress, along with the apron, stretched taut, accentuating the slender curve of her waist.

Live Chat:

Haaah, Gu Yuan’s waist is so tiny!

It’s true! From the side, it looks so thin, but it’s not that gaunt, bland kind of thinness. Instead, her muscle and bone structure are incredibly graceful—truly a blessing from the Creator!

Help! I’m about to die from Gu Yuan’s charm! I feel like she’s showing me her allure without holding back!

Upstairs, if you imagine yourself as Chi Yu, you’d understand the overwhelming impact. But when did Yuanyuan become so flirtatious? In all her previous interviews and work, she seemed so aloof, like a distant, unattainable flower. I never expected her to be so subtly alluring on a dating reality show.

Well, look who she’s trying to reel in.

Last time I called her a master manipulator, no one believed me, and some fans even reported me. Heh, I’m back with a new account, and I’ll say it again: Gu Yuan is totally playing Chi Yu! How can anyone miss something so obvious?

And she even made Chi Yu tie her apron! Tying an apron requires wrapping your arms around her waist—it’s absolutely lethal!

Actually, Sister Gu Yuan always delivers her most lethal moves when she’s alone with Chi Yu. Ah! I’ve discovered some earth-shattering sweetness!

Wait, there’s a trending topic on Weibo!

I saw it too! #GuYuanChiYuDatingRealityShowPassionateEmbrace#. I rushed here the moment I saw it. As expected of the sisters—they’re so quick!

Bullshit about being quick! This is clearly a PR campaign. Who’s buying them trending topics? It’s totally unnecessary! They’re already trending all the time without needing to pay for it. What a waste of money!

The live chat buzzed for a long time before Chi Yu finally untied the apron strings.

But she couldn’t shake the odd feeling that untying it felt… strange.

Not strange exactly, but more like subtly awkward.

She and Gu Yuan had nearly reached home base before. Her hands already knew the familiar feel of Gu Yuan’s clothes, moving with practiced ease.

…

As the strings loosened, Gu Yuan’s pleated white skirt flared slightly, its graceful drape swaying gently. The hem brushed lightly against her slender calves.

The delicate jasmine fragrance intensified, filling the air. Chi Yu narrowed her eyes and pressed her lips together.

This time, she used a little more force, not caring if her hand brushed against Gu Yuan’s lower back.

But the moment she started, Chi Yu realized she had been far too naive.

Gu Yuan’s white pleated skirt was made of a fabric with excellent drape, meaning it was thin and clung to the skin.

As Chi Yu tied the apron strings, her fingers inadvertently brushed against Gu Yuan’s lower back. Gu Yuan’s skin carried a warm, delicate fragrance, and with each touch, their body heat seemed to transfer through the thin fabric.

It was far too intimate.

Chi Yu forced herself to tighten the apron strings, instantly accentuating the slender curve of Gu Yuan’s waist.

Her waist was so delicate, her skin always appeared thin due to her low body fat percentage, clinging to the refined contours of her bones.

That’s what made a beauty: the perfect balance of bone and skin.

Chi Yu’s hands tightened, finally managing to tie the butterfly knot on Gu Yuan’s waist.

A faint smile bloomed on Gu Yuan’s lips. “Thank you.”

Chi Yu touched the tip of her nose. “You’re welcome.”

The live chat exploded:

Wait, aren’t you two supposed to be dating? Why are you being so polite?!

What’s there to thank? You’re already the Eastern Princess Jianbing couple!

Am I seeing things? Chi Yu’s ears are turning pink!

I have a bold theory: Best Actress has already won over half of Little Princess’s heart! Look how shy she’s making our bashful uke!

Why is everyone so sure Gu Yuan is the seme? What if Chi Yu is the seme?

Upstairs, don’t joke around! Look at Chi Yu’s pure, beautiful face and her doe-like eyes. This innocent little sister? You’re telling me she’s the seme?!

Team Gu Yuan seme +1

+2

+10086

The crowd around the jianbing stall in the park grew thicker.

This was largely thanks to the “second one 20% off” promotion. Gu Yuan and Chi Yu worked tirelessly inside the small stall.

Despite the rush, Gu Yuan never compromised on her craft. Each jianbing she made was meticulously prepared, beautiful, and, most importantly, delicious.

With the crowd swelling, Lin Yihan and Li Tianyin, who had been distributing promotional coupons, now focused on maintaining order in the queue.

Lu Wenrui wanted to help, but her foreign language skills were limited to simple phrases like “OK” and “FINE.” Anything more complex stumped her, so she ended up clinging to Ruan Feiyu, occasionally pinching her arm and generally being more of a hindrance than a help.

Chi Yu watched Gu Yuan’s slender, pale arms move back and forth across her vision as she reached for ingredients from the condiment station.

Chi Yu had initially wanted to assist, but with only one cooking station and her own mediocre jianbing skills, she could only offer minor support, leaving her feeling largely useless.

The ingredient containers were nearly empty, and the batter was running low.

Inside the cash box, B Country currency had gradually piled up into a small mountain.

Chi Yu glanced at the person beside her. Gu Yuan’s fair cheeks and delicate profile remained as refined as ever, but a fine layer of sweat had quietly crept onto her smooth forehead.

No wonder, Chi Yu thought. Making so many Jianbing must be exhausting.

Yet Gu Yuan hadn’t uttered a single complaint, greeting each customer with a smile and meticulously completing her work.

Chi Yu blinked her beautiful, deer-like eyes, then pulled out a pristine white tissue. She reached out and gently wiped away the glistening beads of sweat at Gu Yuan’s temple.

Gu Yuan was wrapping a finished Jianbing, her eyes lowered in concentration. When she suddenly felt the warmth of fingers brushing her temple, her bright eyes widened slightly in surprise.

The paper bag she was holding tore with a rip, splitting in two under Gu Yuan’s usually gentle hands.

“……”

Gu Yuan: “……”

Her movements froze for a full three seconds, her fingertips trembling almost imperceptibly.

Chi Yu stared at the torn bag, momentarily stunned. It was just wiping away sweat—why such a dramatic reaction?

Or… does she not like being touched by me?

If she doesn’t like it, I won’t touch her again…

A flurry of thoughts raced through Chi Yu’s mind, and the hand holding the tissue suddenly felt stiff.

Gu Yuan’s frozen movements gradually resumed.

Her head remained lowered, long lashes obscuring the expression in her eyes, making it impossible to read her face.

After repackaging the Jianbing, Gu Yuan slowly lifted her head.

She smiled at the waiting customer. “I’m so sorry for the wait.”

She handed over the repackaged Jianbing. The customer took it and gave a thumbs-up. “Your wife is so good to you.”

Wife…

Both women paused, momentarily taken aback by the term.

Live Chat:

Hahaha, I told you the crowd’s eyes are sharp!

Yeah, they’re a wife-wife couple, newlyweds vacationing in B Country.

Wait, let me correct that: they’re newlywed Eastern Princess wife-wives, making Jianbing to redeem their princess dresses and support their Little Princess baby.

Teacher, I vehemently opposed your retirement from the literary world back then!

Keep talking! You should write a book!

Gu Yuan quickly regained her composure, smiling faintly as she bid the customer farewell.

After making a few more Jianbing, they finally ran out of ingredients, marking the end of their temporary job.

The customers who didn’t get to buy anything were a little disappointed, but Lin Yihan and Li Tianyin’s explanations helped them understand.

Gradually, the crowd dispersed. Lu Wenrui was the first to rush over, grab the cash box, her round eyes shining with excitement.

“Oh my god, Sister Yuanyuan is amazing! She made so much money in just a few hours!”

Li Tianyin snapped the cash box shut. “What’s so much? We haven’t even paid the owner’s share yet.”

“Oh right,” Lu Wenrui pouted. “Then we probably won’t have enough for chocolate crisps…”

“I was hoping we could buy some chocolate today. That stuff is so expensive.”

“What chocolate crisps?” Ruan Feiyu asked, ruthlessly snatching the cash box from Lu Wenrui’s arms and handing it to Chi Yu. “How expensive are they?”

Lu Wenrui’s arms hung empty. She never expected Li Tianyin to close the box, let alone Ruan Feiyu to snatch it away entirely.

“……”

Lu Wenrui immediately protested. “Why are you asking? Are you going to buy them for me?”

Ruan Feiyu pulled Lu Wenrui aside and took out a beautifully packaged chocolate from her small purse. “Here, have this. My assistant packed it for me in case my bl00d sugar dropped.”

“Ah…”

Lu Wenrui’s eyes lit up. “Really? You’re giving it to me? How many do you have left?”

Ruan Feiyu lowered her head and zipped up her small bag. “Just this one.”

“Huh?”

Lu Wenrui was stunned, overwhelmed by the unexpected favor.

“You only have one, and you’re giving it to me…”

“Eat it,” Ruan Feiyu said, glancing at her sideways, her tone impatient. “Stop chattering so much. It’s giving me a headache.”

Lu Wenrui cradled the chocolate in her hands like a little hamster, her round eyes sparkling like stars. After a moment, she asked slowly, “Do even idiots have brains?”

Ruan Feiyu: “……”

The group finished their part-time jobs, bought groceries with their earnings, and arrived home just after noon.

Lu Wenrui was already howling with hunger.

She peeked into the kitchen, leaning against the doorframe with only half her head visible. “Hao Hao, what are we having today?”

Chi Yu, who was unpacking the groceries from paper bags onto the counter, glanced up at her question. “Spicy hot pot.”

Lu Wenrui nearly jumped with excitement. “Really? Really?! Hao Hao, you’re my goddess!”

“Just a thank you? No help?” Li Tianyin, carrying a bag of groceries, passed by Lu Wenrui and whispered, “Sister Yuanyuan is busy in there too.”

Lu Wenrui slapped her forehead and plastered on a mischievous grin. “Sister Yuanyuan, you’ve worked so hard today! Want Hao Hao to give you a shoulder massage?”

Chi Yu: “……”

Lu Wenrui ignored Chi Yu’s gaze and continued cheerfully, “Don’t worry, Sister Yuanyuan, no need to be polite! You two look so compatible, sharing a room and everything. You even said yourselves you’re very close, so Hao Hao will definitely give you a super relaxing massage!”

The live chat erupted with teasing comments:

Hahaha, Lu Wenrui is on fire! She’s so smooth!

Highlight: “Massage,” and “super relaxing”!

After your analysis, my face is turning red!

More of this plot, please! Production team, are you listening?!

If you blur the cameras during this kind of moment, you’re finished!

Amidst the lively chatter, Lu Wenrui continued to egg her on, her face glowing with excitement. “Oh, Sister Yuanyuan, you have no idea how much Hao Hao wants to give you a massage! She said you worked so hard making Jianbing all day, you deserve the VIP treatment!”

Chi Yu was speechless. If anyone had done the least work today, it was Lu Wenrui herself.

However, her hesitation stemmed from a different reason…

Chi Yu remembered Gu Yuan’s reaction when she had wiped her sweat earlier.

Gu Yuan must really dislike being touched, even on that night when I held her chin, she frowned slightly.

If wiping sweat elicited such a reaction, how much more would a massage—which required direct contact with her skin—cross the line?

Gu Yuan would definitely refuse.

But then another thought flashed through Chi Yu’s mind: If she dislikes physical contact, why did she ask me to tie her apron? Was it just because she needed help with a task? Would anyone have done?

With this, Chi Yu was about to decline.

“No need—”

But Gu Yuan interrupted her halfway through. “Sure, why not?”

In the stainless steel sink, water gushed from the faucet, crystal droplets splashing and dancing. Gu Yuan’s pale hand emerged from the flowing water, fingertips still dripping.

She calmly placed the small cucumber into the sink, gently stirred the water, then looked up at Chi Yu with a smile. “It would be nice for Xiao Chi to give me a massage.”

Chi Yu: “……”

Meanwhile, the Love’s Heartbeat supertopic was buzzing with activity, with posts and replies flying thick and fast.

Friends, fellow shippers, question: Do you prefer watching your OTPs cooking together in heartwarming scenes, or do you love the sparks flying during their massage sessions?

LOL, I’m watching right now! I love both, but at this rate, Lu Wenrui will starve to death before they even get to cooking.

No, no, not just her! Ruan Feiyu will join her in starvation.

When Ruan Feiyu wasn’t on the show, I thought she was a shrewd girl, but… it’s all an illusion. Her shrewdness only extends to her looks.

That’s just how our Feifei is! Her fans are constantly worried about her covers face. Please be understanding!

I just finished eating, and here the sisters have to work to even get a meal. The show’s serious about this—no money, no food! Now I feel so blessed!

In the kitchen, cameras captured every move of the cooking guests.

Chi Yu’s precise knife skills were clearly visible on screen.

Most importantly, Gu Yuan was nowhere to be seen.

Ten minutes earlier, Gu Yuan had placed some ingredients in the sink, dried her hands, and brushed past Chi Yu.

Chi Yu raised an eyebrow. “You’re going out?”

Gu Yuan still held a pristine white handkerchief, meticulously wiping her fingers. A faint red mark circled her ring finger, catching Chi Yu’s eye.

At the sound of Chi Yu’s voice, Gu Yuan looked up, her eyes shimmering with a watery glint beneath her long lashes.

“Mm,” she murmured. “I’m a bit tired. I think I’ll go rest.”

“Xiao Chi mentioned you’re a good cook, right?”

Chi Yu blurted out, “You’re not going to stay with me?”

Gu Yuan neither confirmed nor denied, a faint smile still playing on her lips. “I’ve been standing for over three hours. My shoulders and back are stiff. So, I think I’ll leave it to Xiao Chi.”

“Xiao Chi, would you mind?”

Xiao Chi, Xiao Chi, always Xiao Chi.

Chi Yu forced a smile. “Of course, Sister Gu Yuan. Get some rest.”

As Chi Yu stepped aside to let Gu Yuan pass, Lu Wenrui, completely oblivious to the mood, boomed, “Sister Yuanyuan’s been working so hard! Just resting isn’t enough. Hao Hao, why don’t you give her a massage after you finish cooking?”

“A full-body massage would be perfect!”

“I…”

Chi Yu had barely opened her mouth when Lu Wenrui immediately held up two fingers in a “watch out” gesture. “You must give her a massage. I’ll be watching you.”

The live chat erupted in laughter, praising Lu Wenrui’s quick wit. However, Gu Yuan’s die-hard fans fiercely criticized Lu Wenrui for making tasteless jokes, sparking a heated online battle between her fans and these toxic solo stans.

The supertopic was a bloodbath, but Lu Wenrui remained blissfully unaware. She clutched a beautifully packaged chocolate bar, carefully holding it up to her eyes. She blinked at it, then gently touched its edges.

A sweet smile bloomed on her face.

But her smile vanished when she saw Ruan Feiyu enter the kitchen. Startled, Lu Wenrui quickly hid the chocolate behind her back and stood at attention. “You! What are you doing here?”

“…Can’t I be here?”

Ruan Feiyu gave Lu Wenrui a disdainful look, as if she were an idiot, and began unbuttoning her sleeves. “What else? I’m here to help.”

Lu Wenrui immediately asked, “Can you cook? If not, don’t just get in the way!”

Ruan Feiyu shook her head, walking toward the sink as she replied, “I can’t do it all myself, but I can help. Weren’t you planning to help?”

Lu Wenrui was speechless. Truthfully, she hadn’t planned to help, not because she didn’t want to, but because the thought hadn’t even occurred to her.

Realizing this wasn’t right, she began rolling up her sleeves and squeezed in to help. “Fine, I’ll help. Is that so bad?”

“It’s fine, but did you really need to ask?”

After being scolded, Lu Wenrui couldn’t help but mutter under her breath, “It’s not like I’m the only one not helping. Tianyin Eonni and President Lin aren’t here either!”

Ruan Feiyu paused, then replied earnestly, “They seemed to have gone back to the tent. Something must have come up.”

“What could be more important than food?” Lu Wenrui grabbed a bunch of scallions, plucking at the leaves. “Those two have been acting so strange lately. Ugh, I can’t say exactly what’s going on, but basically, Tianyin Eonni doesn’t want to hang out with me anymore…”

Ruan Feiyu paid no attention to Lu Wenrui’s stammering or what hidden meaning her words might hold. She simply turned to Chi Yu and said, “Alright, Hao Hao, what can we do to help?”

Though Ruan Feiyu had already taken the initiative to wash the vegetables, she still asked Chi Yu, intending to rope Lu Wenrui into a “radical makeover” of the pouting, lazy girl.

The camera silently recorded the scene.

Live Chat: Look, is Ruirui still hung up on Li Tianyin?

I’ve noticed Tianyin and President Lin have been getting really close lately. Maybe sharing a tent helped them bond? They’re always off doing things alone together.

Could it be that Li Tianyin and Lin Yihan have hit it off? Did Ruirui get dumped?

Lu Wenrui, mistakenly assumed to be heartbroken, was casually roped into helping with the work. She pouted and said, “Yeah, alright, Hao Hao, let’s see what we can do.”

“……”

Chi Yu, who had been absentmindedly chopping vegetables, looked up at the sound of their voices. “You two want to help?”

Ruan Feiyu: “Yes.”

Lu Wenrui: “……”

She wanted to say no, but didn’t dare.

“How about you two help wash and chop the vegetables while I prepare the base sauce?” Chi Yu put down what she was holding and stepped aside to make room.

The stove and cutting board were positioned at opposite corners of the kitchen, quite a distance apart.

Ruan Feiyu looked a little disappointed but persisted, “Can’t I just help you directly?”

All morning, Gu Yuan and Chi Yu had been standing together. The cramped stall couldn’t accommodate a third person, so she hadn’t bothered trying to squeeze in.

But she had overheard the customers’ chatter. They all said Gu Yuan and Chi Yu were a couple.

Everyone agreed they made an eye-catching pair of wives.

The thought weighed heavily on Ruan Feiyu’s heart.

She had felt a little unwell earlier, but when she saw Gu Yuan leave the kitchen, her first instinct was to find Chi Yu.

“……”

Chi Yu’s emotions churned. Hearing Ruan Feiyu’s words, she walked to the stove and lit the burner to heat the oil. “How about you help me with the seasonings and bring the cutting board over to continue chopping the vegetables? I’m about to start making the base sauce.”

“Okay! Great!”

A smile finally graced Ruan Feiyu’s lips. She dropped what she was holding, abandoned Lu Wenrui, and turned to help Chi Yu.

Lu Wenrui: “……”

So this is how abruptly someone can be abandoned?

As Lu Wenrui washed vegetables, she strained her ears to eavesdrop on the conversation behind her, snapping several vegetable heads in the process.

Ruan Feiyu took over Chi Yu’s task, and the two women stood shoulder to shoulder, preparing ingredients and seasonings.

With three people crowded in the kitchen, their shoulders frequently bumped, and their upper arms brushed against each other.

Yet Chi Yu couldn’t shake the inexplicable feeling that it would be better if Gu Yuan were here.

Ruan Feiyu’s cheeks flushed a faint pink. “Okay, am I cutting this potato correctly?”

Chi Yu glanced over. “Yes.”

Ruan Feiyu: “Really?”

This time, Chi Yu didn’t even lift her eyelids. Wielding her spatula, she tossed rock sugar into the spicy broth, beginning the final steps. “Yes.”

“……”

Ruan Feiyu bit her lip. “But I still don’t think my cuts are pretty enough. Could you teach me how to cut them better?”

Behind her, Lu Wenrui nearly rolled her eyes, mimicking Ruan Feiyu’s voice and exaggerated lip movements.

Live Chat:

LOL, is Ruirui about to transform?

Hahaha, I can’t help it either! Feiyu has been throwing obvious hints at Chi Yu forever. I don’t know what Chi Yu thinks, but Sister Feiyu, seriously, do you really not know how to flirt? Who uses such awkward lines to hit on someone? If it’s not your lane, don’t force it, okay?

Some people just aren’t naturally seductive. Feifei might look like a cunning b1tch, but she’s actually a total dork. (Don’t ask how I know, I just do.)

What’s pretty or not about a potato? Sister, if you say that to Chi Yu, she’ll probably freeze up completely. How’s she supposed to teach you?

As expected, the live chat’s predictions were spot-on.

Chi Yu was thinking the exact same thing: What’s pretty or not about a potato?

Chi Yu raised an eyebrow, unsure how to respond.

When Ruan Feiyu received no response, she steeled herself, picked up the kitchen knife, and held it up in front of Chi Yu. “Alright, alright, I might not know how to hold a knife properly. Can you teach me?”

Chi Yu: “……”

Lu Wenrui: “……”

Live Chat: …

Lu Wenrui, who had just stolen a bite of a cherry tomato, nearly choked to death. After spitting it out, she coughed for ages.

She massaged her throat for a long time before finally catching her breath.

“Alright, alright, have you already stir-fried the base ingredients? Go wash your hands and give Sister Yuanyuan a massage. We’ll take care of things here.”

With that, she pushed Chi Yu out of the kitchen, continuing to urge her, “Don’t worry, don’t worry! You’ve done all the hard work. We can handle boiling some vegetables, right? Don’t worry about us.”

Before Chi Yu could react, Lu Wenrui had shoved her completely out of the kitchen. She could still hear Ruan Feiyu’s voice calling after her.

“Hao Hao? Hao Hao?”

Immediately afterward, Lu Wenrui’s voice cut in: “What are you yelling for? Didn’t you say you wanted to help? Well, now you can! Helping one person is the same as helping another, right?”

“You agree, don’t you?”

“……”

Chi Yu, forcibly pushed out, surveyed the clean and tidy hall and reception room.

There was no sign of Li Tianyin or Lin Yihan, and certainly none of Gu Yuan.

The faint, lingering fragrance hadn’t completely dissipated. After a moment’s thought, Chi Yu headed toward the bedroom on the second floor.

The bedroom’s white wooden door was tightly shut. Gu Yuan must have returned to her room, since Chi Yu hadn’t closed the door when she left earlier.

Reaching the door, Chi Yu inexplicably raised her hand and knocked three times.

Knock, knock, knock.

No response came from within. Slightly puzzled, Chi Yu called out, “Sister Yuanyuan, are you in there?”

Finally, Gu Yuan’s voice drifted through the crack in the door: “I’m here.”

Chi Yu placed her hand on the bedroom door’s metal handle. “Then, Sister, I’m coming in.”

As soon as she said it, Chi Yu realized she’d made a clumsy, inappropriate joke. But Gu Yuan seemed oblivious, simply murmuring a faint “Mm.”

With a click, the bedroom door swung open, releasing a wave of delicate fragrance.

As the door swung wider, Chi Yu’s eyes fell upon Gu Yuan, who was sprawled across a chaise lounge. A gentle breeze slipped in through the window, causing the sheer curtains to flutter softly and lifting strands of Gu Yuan’s loose, dark hair.

Her hair danced in the air, and the hem of her white dress, pulled up slightly by her half-reclined posture, revealed slender, pale calves. The wind occasionally lifted the skirt, allowing glimpses of her snow-white thighs.

Gu Yuan remained motionless on the chaise lounge, her eyes closed, a faint furrow creasing her brow as if utterly exhausted. Her long lashes trembled slightly, and a delicate pink hue lingered at the corners of her eyes, lending her an air of fragility.

Sunlight streamed through the window, enveloping her body in a hazy, luminous glow, like a meticulously rendered oil painting bathed in light and shadow.

“Gu Yuan… Sister…” Chi Yu whispered, her voice sounding strangely unfamiliar.

Finally, Gu Yuan’s eyes fluttered open, her beautiful gaze settling on Chi Yu.

“Ah, Xiao Chi, you’re here,” she murmured, brushing her long hair aside to reveal a smooth, pale shoulder. “Are you here for my full-body massage?”