We Went Viral After Appearing on a Dating Reality Show with Movie Queen O - Chapter 33

Gu Xingyu felt a strange sense of detachment as she stepped back into her familiar courtyard.

After just a few days on the dating reality show, the stark contrast with reality was jarring. She paused by her red sports car, then dragged her suitcase inside.

The house remained unchanged: spacious, bright, luxurious yet minimalist, but strangely empty, as if something were missing.

Back in her room, the Freud roses in the vase on her desk were as vibrant as ever, still glistening with fresh droplets. They must have been newly arranged by the housekeeper, who knew her preference for this particular variety.

Not as fiery as crimson roses, they were equally lush and alluring, yet possessed an elegant charm and captivating allure, much like Shulan herself.

Gazing at the roses, Gu Xingyu suddenly remembered something. She hurriedly opened her suitcase and retrieved the rose Shulan had given her, carefully preserved. Though one stem had begun to wilt, she placed it on the desk alongside the others. Then she pulled out the accompanying letter and tucked it carefully into the bedside table drawer, hiding it deep inside.

Gu Xingyu immediately summoned the housekeeper and instructed her to have the roses dried.

With these tasks completed, Gu Xingyu’s lips curved into a warm, carefree smile, radiating satisfaction.

I wonder when Shulan will return… or if she’ll even come back at all. With the way “Spring Love” is filming, she must be incredibly busy…

After lunch, Gu Xingyu removed her makeup, changed into her pajamas, and climbed into bed for a nap. The familiar, comforting scent of roses permeated the room, filling her with a sense of peace.

Meanwhile, on the other side of town, Bai Shulan and Chen Xi finished their meal and were dragged into a shopping spree by Chen Xi. They discussed various aspects of “Spring Love,” and by the end of their outing, Bai Shulan had acquired a high-quality ruby bracelet and was carrying a large bouquet of roses home.

When Gu Xingyu woke up, it was already dark. The world was silent, as if she were the only person left. A sense of melancholy crept in, leaving her feeling inexplicably lonely.

After a moment of grogginess, Gu Xingyu switched on the lights. The room instantly brightened, and she retrieved a shawl from the closet, draping it around her shoulders.

She rushed downstairs and was surprised to see a familiar figure.

Bai Shulan was lounging comfortably on the sofa, looking relaxed and makeup-free. She wore a long, white dress and had a thin blanket draped over her legs. Her long hair cascaded loosely over her shoulders, falling across her chest. The dress was slightly disheveled, revealing a hint of her smooth, luminous skin at the neckline.

“You’re awake?” Bai Shulan glanced up at the sound of her voice.

A gentle smile lit up her delicate face, radiating warmth and a hint of domestic tenderness.

She still looked as charming as ever at home, yet there was an inexplicable new quality about her.

Gu Xingyu couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but something had definitely changed.

“Shulan, you’re back,” Gu Xingyu replied with a smile, smoothing her hair, which she hadn’t bothered to fix after waking up in a hurry.

“Did you check your phone?” she asked softly, her peach-blossom eyes meeting Gu Xingyu’s gaze—a look that felt both like a direct scrutiny and a tender observation.

“…Huh? What’s up?” Gu Xingyu patted her pockets, realizing she hadn’t brought her phone downstairs.

“I sent you a message,” Bai Shulan said bluntly, her smile abruptly fading.

It was clear that the ripples of her smile had been shattered by a cold stone.

“I… I didn’t check my phone after my nap this afternoon,” Gu Xingyu explained, moving closer to sit beside her.

Bai Shulan stood up, straightening her clothes. “Let’s eat. Are you hungry?” she asked with a forced smile.

Though she smiled, the warmth had vanished from her expression.

Even after spending so much time together on the dating reality show, Bai Shulan still acted this way, not thinking of Gu Xingyu even once throughout the entire day, sleeping soundly until nightfall.

“A little…” Gu Xingyu replied, rising again after barely a minute to follow Bai Shulan to the dining room.

At the long, minimalist rectangular marble table, the head seat remained empty as the two sat side by side.

The housekeeper immediately brought out seven or eight dishes, half of which were seasonal vegetables, nutritious and healthy, as Bai Shulan had requested.

“Shulan, when did you get back?” Gu Xingyu asked, adding a piece of lean meat to her plate.

“This afternoon,” she replied coolly.

“What… what did you do this afternoon?” Gu Xingyu asked hesitantly. In the past, she would never have dared to ask such personal questions.

“I chatted with Chen Xi, the director of Spring Love,” Bai Shulan said without looking up.

“What’s happening with the show now? Are they going to cancel it?”

“Do you want it to be canceled?” Bai Shulan suddenly turned to her, her eyes dark and unreadable.

“…It’s fine. It’s actually quite fun, and I’ve made a lot of friends…” Gu Xingyu had been staring at Bai Shulan’s sharp profile. When Bai Shulan suddenly turned to look at her, Gu Xingyu felt a guilty pang, as if she’d been caught doing something wrong, and quickly lowered her head.

“…Alright then,” Bai Shulan said after a long pause, her soft voice calm and emotionless.

Bai Shulan put down her chopsticks, wiped her mouth, and stared directly at Gu Xingyu.

“…No, that’s not what I meant…” Gu Xingyu stammered, her mind blank. She couldn’t process what Bai Shulan was implying, momentarily stunned by the implication.

“…Shulan, wait! I… I didn’t mean to say I wanted a divorce… Ah, no, that’s not it. It’s just… just what Yu Yue said,” Xingyu stammered, her hands fluttering helplessly.

Shulan nodded slowly, neither answer satisfying her.

Xingyu still only felt a shallow fondness and liking for her, nothing more… So everything was optional, as if she didn’t care about anything at all.

Gu Xingyu felt that whatever she said would be wrong… She simply shut her mouth, realizing she’d said the wrong thing and upset Shulan.

Bai Shulan finished eating and went straight upstairs, too annoyed to deal with Xingyu’s wooden-headedness.

Her previously good mood had been completely ruined.

A large bouquet of roses stood upright on the coffee table in the living room, strikingly prominent. Without asking, Xingyu knew Shulan had brought them home.

Gu Xingyu had noticed the flowers earlier but hadn’t asked about them for various reasons. They were likely a gift from Director Chen Xiao. She leaned closer to inspect them, but there was no card or note with a signature.

The massive bouquet of roses, so large it occupied a third of the coffee table, was a deep, almost black red. Each bloom was exquisitely vibrant, radiating a wild, passionate energy.

The air was thick with the heady fragrance of roses, so intense it bordered on bitter.

After a moment of stunned silence, Gu Xingyu turned and walked upstairs to her room.

She went straight to her desk, picked up her phone, opened WeChat, and tapped the red notification dot on Shulan’s profile picture.

Xingyu, what do you think of this?

The attached image showed a large bouquet of roses—identical to the one on the coffee table in the living room.

Did Shulan buy these?

Were they meant for me?

The corners of Gu Xingyu’s lips involuntarily curved upward. She opened the chat window, sat on the nearby sofa, and gently bit her lower lip, carefully considering what to reply.

After a long pause, she finally tapped out a response:

They’re beautiful!

Shulan, what do you think of this?

The attached image showed a bottle of vibrant crimson Freud roses on her desk, their petals glistening with dew-like freshness.

Gu Xingyu had spent ages photographing them, even applying a flattering filter to enhance their beauty.

She quickly exited the chat interface, turned off her phone screen, and casually placed it on the table, pretending to be relaxed. She strained her ears for any sound, her gaze darting around restlessly as she waited for a response.

Meanwhile, across town, Bai Shulan stood by the floor-to-ceiling window in her apartment, frowning slightly. She gazed at the lush, verdant forest stretching into the distance, the tips of the trees tinged with green, swaying gently in the breeze, a refreshing and pleasing sight.

Suddenly, her phone’s notification tone rang out, startling the distant forest into a dramatic sway to the left.

Bai Shulan’s lips tightened as she walked over to pick up her phone. The wooden-headed fool finally remembered to text me, she thought.

Her frown softened, the corners of her mouth lifted slightly, and a hint of a smile finally appeared on her face.

She slowly typed out two words:

Pretty.

In the agonizing wait that followed, each second stretched into an eternity. Gu Xingyu felt like ages had passed before she finally couldn’t resist checking her WeChat interface. At last, a small red dot appeared.

Shulan has replied! she thought, and she immediately tapped to open the message.

Gu Xingyu’s heart leaped wildly in her chest, a chaotic mix of nervousness, excitement, and joy. The turmoil within her lingered, and she couldn’t stop the smile spreading across her face.

Shulan was willing to acknowledge her again. This was her chance to make amends.

Shall I have them sent to your room?

After sending the message, Gu Xingyu carried the vase, flowers and all, to Bai Shulan’s room.

Bai Shulan saw the message and couldn’t help but smile knowingly.

Thinking a vase of flowers will make me happy? It’s not that simple, Xingyu…

Still, it’s rare for you to take the initiative. I can’t exactly refuse…

She turned off her phone and tossed it onto the sofa, leaving the message unanswered.

Moments later, a knock sounded at the door.

“Come in.”

Gu Xingyu appeared before her, cradling a vase overflowing with roses. Above the vibrant, lovely bouquet was her flawless, pale face, made even more striking by the delicate blooms.

It was impossible not to be charmed by the sight, though whether the flowers or the person was more captivating remained unclear.

“Shulan…” Gu Xingyu felt flustered the moment she stepped into the other woman’s room, unsure where to stand.

“Just put the flowers here,” Bai Shulan said with a smile, her voice soft, clear, and warm.

Gu Xingyu obediently placed the flowers on the coffee table.

“Alright, you can go now,” Bai Shulan said softly, her smile graceful.

“…Ah? Shulan… I… I’m sorry, I…” Gu Xingyu stammered, unable to form a coherent sentence.

“…Just teasing you. Sit down. Thank you for the flowers, they’re beautiful,” Bai Shulan said, leaning closer to examine the petals of the Freud roses.

“It’s nothing…” Gu Xingyu glanced around, observing the room, which was similar in size to her own but noticeably more luxurious and cozy. On the bedside table sat an exquisite decorative piece inlaid with diamonds and jewels.

“Have you showered yet?” Bai Shulan asked bluntly, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

“…Ah? I… I haven’t…” Gu Xingyu froze, her ears flushing crimson.

That’s not why I came here…

“Didn’t you say you wanted to help me?” Bai Shulan’s lips curved into a teasing smile.