Chapter 28: A Blindingly Obvious Crush

From behind, Xu Jianwei called out anxiously, “Chi Ye, move over a bit!”

Chi Ye turned his head, looking annoyed, shot the two girls a glance, then turned away and strode forward.

The event organizer and coordinator immediately stepped up to greet the newcomer.

So this was the VIP guest Chi Ye had gone to welcome. Qin Lang quickly followed, and Xu Jianwei dragged Lin Yuran along, clearly eager to get closer and admire the eye candy up close without a shred of subtlety.

The man walked briskly around to the other side of the car and opened the door. He bent slightly and reached a hand inside. A slender, fair hand extended toward him, and he gripped it tightly to help a woman out, one with jet-black hair, porcelain skin, and a stunningly aloof presence.

Matching rings gleamed on their fourth fingers, glinting under the sunlight. Xu Jianwei nearly squealed.

“So his wife is Qu Wan, the top celebrity?”

Chi Ye stepped up and greeted them. “Brother.” Then, with a nod to the woman, “Sister-in-law.”

Sheng Cong playfully punched Chi Ye in the chest. “You punk, look at you. Two years out of school and already killing it.”

Chi Ye chuckled. “Still a long way to go compared to you.”

Then he gestured toward the others. “My cousin and cousin-in-law. She’s here to perform in the celebrity match today. He’s accompanying her.”

He pointed toward Qin Lang and the others. “These are my friends.”

After the brief introductions, Chi Ye shot a glance at Xu Jianwei, who was practically drooling while clutching Qin Lang’s arm and staring at Sheng Cong. Then his eyes flicked toward Lin Yuran.

Lin Yuran blinked at him. “What?”

Chi Ye jerked his chin toward Sheng Cong and asked grumpily, “Too d**n hot, huh?”

“…”

Completely exposed for fangirling, Lin Yuran froze for two seconds, then nodded honestly. “Yeah.”

Chi Ye was so exasperated he went silent.

Qu Wan laughed. “The first time I met your brother, I said the exact same thing. Cursing and all.”

When she wasn’t smiling, Qu Wan had this cool, elegant aura about her, but once she did smile, it was sweet and disarming, a jarring contrast that made it hard to look away.

Lin Yuran couldn’t stop staring at her perfectly sculpted features. It reminded her of the facial anatomy diagrams in her aesthetics classes.

Sheng Cong frowned slightly and asked Chi Ye, “What’s up with your girl? Shouldn’t she be gawking at me like this other pretty lady? Why is she staring at my wife?”

Xu Jianwei finally realized how inappropriate her behavior was and quickly apologized, “I’m so sorry. Really. I just couldn’t help admiring her divine beauty.”

Lin Yuran was confused. Didn’t Chi Ye just say they were friends? When did she become his girl?

“I’m not his girlfriend,” Lin Yuran whispered.

Hearing that, Sheng Cong suddenly looked more alert. He reached over and wrapped an arm tightly around Qu Wan, subtly pulling her a little farther away.

Lin Yuran: “…”

After a few pleasantries, everyone headed toward the lounge near the competition venue. Chi Ye gave Lin Yuran a gentle nudge on her back, urging her to follow along.

Xu Jianwei decided to stay behind and wait for Yin Xian. Qin Lang had no choice but to stay with her.

Just as the group was nearing the VIP elevator, a clear, feminine voice called out from behind, “Chi Ye!”

Everyone turned to look.

Two staff members were escorting none other than rising star Zhou Xintong toward them. She walked up quickly, a little out of breath, but smiling as she addressed Chi Ye. “Chi Ye, I finally ran into you. It’s been ages!”

Chi Ye looked at her with a flat expression. “You are…?”

Zhou Xintong gave an awkward chuckle. “It’s me, Zhou Xintong. We went to high school together. I was in Class Nine.” Then, with zero concern for her celebrity status, she declared, “I even confessed to you back then, remember?”

“Oh.” Chi Ye drawled, thinking for a second. “Right. Long time no see.”

Zhou Xintong smiled and turned to greet the others. She bowed slightly to Qu Wan. “Senior.”

Then dipped her head to Sheng Cong. “Good to see you, Mr. Sheng.”

Sheng Cong gave a polite nod in return.

Qu Wan smiled and asked teasingly, “So Xintong, you had a crush on Chi Ye?”

Zhou Xintong glanced at Chi Ye, her cheeks tinged with pink. “Mhm. He was the school heartthrob. Every girl in our school was crazy about him.”

As she spoke, her gaze shifted to the woman standing next to Chi Ye. A flicker of surprise crossed her face, and then recognition dawned.

“Lin Yuran?”

Lin Yuran smiled. “Long time no see!”

Zhou Xintong’s smile cooled. “Yeah… it’s been a while.”

At the front, the event staff had opened the elevator. Chi Ye called out, “Let’s head up first. We can chat upstairs.”

The group stepped into the elevator. The event coordinator pressed [19], and the elevator began its smooth ascent.

Zhou Xintong sneaked a few glances at Chi Ye and Lin Yuran standing side by side. Then she laughed softly. “Chi Ye, I’ve visited your company a few times for promotions, but never saw you. You must be so busy. Always chasing your career. Honestly, I had great taste back in the day.”

Lin Yuran stood quietly, listening to the admiration in her voice.

Even after all these years, Zhou Xintong hadn’t changed, still bold, straightforward, never shy about expressing her feelings. Lin Yuran admired that courage, even envied it.

Chi Ye, however, replied flatly, “I’m not busy.”

Zhou Xintong quickly recovered with a smile. “Then I guess I didn’t come by enough. I’ll stop by more often from now on. As your company’s game ambassador, I shouldn’t miss you too often.”

Chi Ye replied indifferently, “Suit yourself.”

Lin Yuran glanced sideways at him, feeling a strange tightness in her chest.

When they reached the nineteenth floor, the elevator came to a halt, but the doors didn’t open.

The staff member pressed the button repeatedly. Nothing happened. Then, without warning, the lights went out. The elevator jolted slightly, then clearly dropped a bit.

Lin Yuran lost her balance and nearly fell backward only to be caught by a firm, steady arm.

She was wearing an off-shoulder white knit top and a matching white skirt. The hand that caught her quickly changed from open to a gentlemanly fist upon touching her bare shoulder.

Once she steadied herself, the arm let go. Then a hot hand wrapped firmly around her wrist.

A low, magnetic voice spoke from above her in the dark, “You okay?”

Lin Yuran looked up and replied, “I’m fine.”

Behind them, Sheng Cong was softly consoling Qu Wan. “Don’t worry, honey. It’s okay.”

The lights flickered, then fully returned.

Lin Yuran squinted against the sudden brightness. As her eyes adjusted, she saw her wrist was still gripped tightly by Chi Ye while Zhou Xintong clung to his other arm, her head buried against his chest.

Chi Ye calmly pulled his arm away. “You okay?” he asked Zhou Xintong without any emotion.

Zhou Xintong lifted her head and released him, her voice low. “Yeah, just a bit shaken.”

Lin Yuran frowned and tugged at her wrist. She pulled free. “Why’d you grab me? I’m not some delicate little flower.” She immediately started pressing all the floor buttons below 19, then hit the emergency bell.

“You holding me back was cramping my reflexes.”

Her words and actions came in one rapid motion. Then she glared hard at Chi Ye.

Chi Ye: “I…!”

Behind him, Qu Wan burst out laughing. “Sweetheart, you’re adorable.”

Lin Yuran turned back and smiled at her.

Chi Ye looked over his shoulder. “You okay, Bro? Sis?”

Sheng Cong held Qu Wan close. “We’re fine.”

The event staff member, pale and drenched in sweat, finally snapped out of it and stammered, “I-I’m so sorry, President Chi. This was my negligence.”

Chi Ye’s voice was cold. “Forget that for now. Focus on getting the elevator open.”

The staff member immediately took out his phone and made a call. The lights above flickered again, on, off, on, and then everything went dark.

In the pitch black, Lin Yuran felt her wrist being tightly gripped again by that familiar, searing hand. She knew Chi Ye meant well, but she didn’t want to be held. She started struggling to free herself. Only this time, his grip tightened even more. No chance of escape.

Fortunately, the elevator didn’t move again.

Half a minute later, the lights came back on, and the doors opened.

A crowd of staff stood outside looking even more frightened than the people inside the elevator. The car body had dipped below the floor level, creating a small but dangerous step down.

Chi Ye reached out and gently helped Lin Yuran up and out first. Then he turned and apologized to Sheng Cong. “Sorry, bro. That must’ve been quite a scene.”

Sheng Cong patted his shoulder. “No big deal.”

He escorted Qu Wan out.

Chi Ye was about to follow when he noticed Zhou Xintong still clinging to the handrail, frozen in place. He walked over, apologetic. “You okay?”

Zhou Xintong shook her head. “Yeah.”

She had lost her balance when the elevator jolted, and instinctively clung to Chi Ye. If it happened again, it would be too awkward. She didn’t want people to think she was throwing herself at him, or worse, that he’d be annoyed. So when the lights went out again, she just gripped the railing tightly.

But now, after that scare, she could tell those two old classmates of hers… something was definitely still there.

Chi Ye urged her, “The elevator’s still not stable. Let’s get out of here.”

“Okay.” Zhou Xintong started moving.

Her heels were tall and thin, and the step was difficult to cross. Chi Ye offered his arm for support. Two staffers rushed over to help her down. Outside, Lin Yuran stood still, watching them emerge one after the other.

Chi Ye walked over to her and asked quietly, “You scared?”

Lin Yuran looked down, bit her lip, and said nothing. He reached out and gently patted her on the head.

“Stop touching me,” Lin Yuran grumbled, brushing her hair back.

Chi Ye paused. “Sorry.” But seeing her sulky expression, he couldn’t help the sly curve of his lips.

Qu Wan adored girls like Lin Yuran. She walked over, affectionately took Lin Yuran’s hand, and said with a smile, “Sweetheart, come on. Let’s go to the lounge and chat.”

The concierge led them toward the VIP lounge.

Sheng Cong fell back a few steps to walk with Chi Ye. Quietly, he asked, “So what’s going on with that girl?”

Chi Ye whispered, “Still chasing.”

Sheng Cong chuckled mercilessly. “You looked pathetic just now.”

“…Hey! Brother!” Chi Ye laughed helplessly. “But I think I’m starting to make some progress.”