Her Wild Rose - Chapter 33

Chapter 33: You’re Not Focused

#Confession
#Ring
#Su Qian Tangtang
#Su Qian Mermaid Princess

As soon as Su Qian and Tangtang returned to Gu Shuangran’s villa, a flurry of trending topics instantly dominated the hot search rankings.

Because of Su Qian’s special arrangement, the other guests had already returned earlier. Everyone had already seen the confession scene trending online and were now gathered at the villa entrance, waiting to tease the newly official couple.

“Aiya, you two are finally back, huh?”

Their closest friend, Chi Yu, was the first to speak. She gave Tangtang a once-over, then grinned mischievously. “Tangtang, didn’t you say just a few days ago that you were going to let things take their natural course? So what’s this now—changing your mind for love?”

As soon as Chi Yu finished speaking, the group erupted into light-hearted laughter.

The show had filmed at two locations already, and most of the one-month shoot was already over. The love-hate story between Tangtang and Su Qian had been watched by every guest, so naturally, everyone held good intentions toward their relationship.

Tangtang lowered her head in embarrassment, but she didn’t let go of Su Qian’s hand at all. On the contrary, Su Qian held her hand tighter, and the Baroque pearl rings on their ring fingers gleamed softly under the lights.

“Liking something can change in a heartbeat.”

The warmth from Su Qian’s palm gave Tangtang the courage she needed. She looked up and smiled, her big dark eyes full of calm assurance.

Love doesn’t follow a set form or come with fixed answers. As long as you feel it in your heart and express it through your actions, that’s already an answer. As for the outcome…

Tangtang glanced at Su Qian under the lights. She was leaning casually against the wall in high heels, her brown eyes carrying a lazy air.

Su Qian was still the same as always—detached and relaxed, as if nothing in the world could ever truly bother her.

She always had that attitude, like even if someone held a knife to her throat, she’d probably first look for a place to rest her feet.

This person really was inscrutable.

Tangtang silently muttered in her heart and cheekily stretched out her foot to test if the other woman was actually just slacking off.

Su Qian instantly grabbed her wrist the moment she moved. In a blink, the one trying to play tricks became the one being outmaneuvered.

Her world flipped upside down, and Tangtang let out a surprised yelp before falling straight into Su Qian’s arms. Su Qian looked down at her, and in her slightly amused brown eyes, Tangtang saw two tiny, nervous reflections of herself.

“Su… Su Qian…”

Tangtang nervously whispered her name and tugged at Su Qian’s coat sleeve, her voice small and tense, “Can you let me down? Everyone’s watching…”

That soft expression of hers was simply too pretty, and Su Qian couldn’t bear to let anyone else see it. She finally loosened her arm around Tangtang’s waist and gave her a lazy grin.

“Silly girl, trying to outsmart me.”

Her voice was light—part statement, part complaint.

But to Tangtang, who had just confessed, those words carried a subtle flirtation. Her cheeks instantly turned red, and like a startled bunny, her eyes darted everywhere, too shy to meet Su Qian’s gaze.

This silly girl can’t even take a little teasing.

Su Qian chuckled inwardly, but she didn’t dare push her too far—silly girls had limits, and making her upset wouldn’t be worth it.

Elsewhere, Gu Shuangran watched their natural interaction and couldn’t help but feel a pang of jealousy. She reached over and pinched Lu Piaopiao’s waist. Why could Tangtang forgive Su Qian so quickly, while she, Gu Shuangran, was still stuck in a probation phase?

“That’s because you’re just not good enough!”

Lu Piaopiao dodged her hand and tilted her chin in a proud pout.

She knew how hard it had been for them to get to this point, and remembering all the waiting and longing she’d endured, she couldn’t help but want to make Gu Shuangran suffer a little in return.

Of course, Gu Shuangran could read Lu Piaopiao’s thoughts like a book. She played along and said with a laugh, “Honey, how many points do I still need to pass the test? How about I give you a ring too?”

“Not sincere enough!”

While they bickered off to the side, Su Qian and Tangtang had already entered the villa. Seeing their distracted partners, they exchanged a quick glance and instantly understood what the other was thinking.

“Why don’t we all rest early tonight,” Su Qian suggested, turning off the camera pointed at their bedroom first. She glanced at the other guests who were watching with obvious curiosity and smirked, “It’s not official yet, you know. The things you’re thinking about… wait until after the probation period.”

“Wait—are they talking about that? Is the production team even allowed to air this?!”
“Su Qian doesn’t act like someone who’s supposed to be on top at all! Since when is there a ‘probation period’ in love?!”
“It’s called flirting, people. You ever heard of that?”
“Su Qian, you’ve changed! You’re no longer that cold goddess who used to glare at fans!”
“Waaah! Long live SuTang CP! Meanwhile, this heartbroken single dog should probably get back to work…”
“Serious career fan here with a small concern—will they both retire from the industry after getting married? I mean, look what happened to the last few…”

The second that comment popped up, a wave of panicked career fans filled the chat. Two gorgeous, popular actresses leaving the spotlight? That would be a real blow to the industry.

And it wasn’t an unfounded fear. After all, Chen Yining had stepped back from acting after marrying Shen Jia, choosing instead to run the company. Then there was Movie King Gu, who left the industry to raise kids after announcing his relationship with a B-list idol. Now that same-s3x marriage was becoming more accepted, fans had started worrying about whether their idols might suddenly vanish from public view after going public.

These days, being a fan was exhausting.

Supporting a queer idol? Even harder.

“Hey! Knock on wood! Don’t jinx it!”
“For real, stop tempting fate like that. That stuff always comes true.”
“Please, I beg you, SuTang can’t quit! They’re the only couple keeping me fed right now…”

Once again, the barrage of comments swept across the screen. As if sensing the audience’s anxiety, Su Qian waved her hand—showing off the ring on her finger—and then quietly said,

“I’m not leaving the industry. If I quit, who’s going to make money to support my wife?”

“!!!!!! Holy—can someone hand me a second bowl of rice right now?!”
“Did I hear that right? Su Qian said she’s not retiring?”
“You heard it here first—Su Qian officially confirmed she’s staying! Career fans, sleep well tonight!”

The live chat practically exploded like a rainstorm. Su Qian smiled knowingly. She was well aware of the online frenzy her words would trigger.

In truth, she’d made up her mind a long time ago not to quit. She had enough wealth for both her and Tangtang to live comfortably for the rest of their lives. And sure, her friend Chen Yining had retired and was living happily with Shen Jia. But they weren’t Shen Jia and Chen Yining. They didn’t have that same ease and detachment.

For Su Qian and Tangtang, giving up their careers would hurt—no matter who did it.

Still, Su Qian knew—if needed, they would both be willing to make that sacrifice for each other.

That’s why she gave that answer during the livestream.

She didn’t want to leave herself any escape route—and she didn’t want their love to be backed into a corner.

“Not even a wedding date yet,”

Tangtang playfully patted Su Qian’s shoulder. Of course she knew why Su Qian had said that. Su Qian had changed a lot for this relationship—and that change touched Tangtang deeply.

Since the show couldn’t show them hugging or kissing on camera, Tangtang could only pour all her love into her gaze, her eyes brimming with emotion.

“I know. But I want the whole world to know I love you.”

Unlike Tangtang’s shyness, Su Qian’s love was bold and direct. She stared into her lover’s eyes, full of gentle affection, as if she wanted to drown in them and never wake up.

Hand in hand, they walked into their room. Just as Tangtang was about to lean in and kiss Su Qian’s cheek, her phone buzzed on the side table.

Su Qian frowned slightly, clearly annoyed by the interruption. She released Tangtang and gestured for her to answer the call.

Feeling a little guilty, Tangtang kissed Su Qian’s collarbone to make it up to her, then gently held the other woman’s fingers in her warm palm—soft heat against cold fingertips, like their very personalities intertwined.

“Hello? Dong Yu?”

Her manager’s slightly nervous voice came through the receiver.

“Tangtang-jie, do you have a moment? I… I wanted to ask you something.”

“Well, I do… for now.”

Tangtang glanced at Su Qian, who was still half-pressed against her, clearly not planning to move. She gave her a pleading look to behave. Then she answered, “Okay, go ahead.”

“Um, Tangtang-jie… I saw that Director Li Xiang is recruiting new guests for the next travel+ season, so I was wondering… could I join the cast?”

Dong Yu’s voice got softer and softer, as if even she realized how ridiculous the request was. Everyone in the industry knew that managers weren’t supposed to appear on shows—and yet here she was, asking for special permission.

“Is it because of someone on the show?” Tangtang’s romantic intuition had grown razor-sharp post-confession. She tapped her phone nervously, and after the long silence on the other end, she added, “Does Shen Jia know? Does she know?”

Before she could ask anything else, Su Qian—clearly fed up with waiting—snatched the phone and leaned in, kissing Tangtang deeply as they sat squished together in the hard chair.

Tangtang was caught off guard by the force of the kiss, reeling from the dizziness. She instinctively tried to pull back, only to accidentally knock her lower back against the chair, wincing from the pain.

Her phone clattered to the floor.

“Sugar-jie? Are you okay?!”

Dong Yu’s panicked voice echoed from the receiver, but Tangtang was too overwhelmed to answer. Su Qian calmly picked up the phone and spoke into it.

“I agree. Just make sure you come early tomorrow.”

Then the phone beeped—shut off.

Su Qian tossed the device onto the coffee table, then leaned down, lifting Tangtang’s chin between her fingers. Her voice was teasing, her expression playful.

“Silly girl… you weren’t paying attention just now.”