Chapter 12: Husband?

Inside the studio, rows of wooden bookshelves and display cabinets were neatly arranged, filled with various restoration tools and rare materials, such as delicate rice paper, ancient ink blocks, exquisite brushes, and various adhesives and paints.

Zhuang Jianxi, wearing a simple white work uniform and professional gloves, was collaborating with a restoration master in his forties to restore a fragmented original piece of calligraphy by Emperor Guangxu.

In this restoration department, she was almost the youngest restoration master, but her experience and skills were in no way inferior to those of the experienced masters.

At this moment, she was intently observing every detail of the calligraphy, holding a delicate tool to perform meticulous restoration work, her eyes revealing a reverence and passion for art.

Every touch, every color adjustment, embodied a respect for history and a pursuit of exquisite craftsmanship.

They occasionally whispered to each other, sharing their restoration experiences and insights, creating a work atmosphere that was both rigorous and filled with warmth.

Professor Zhang watched from the side, very satisfied, nodding repeatedly.

Just as she finished a detail and was taking off her gloves to stretch, the ringtone of her phone in her pocket suddenly rang. She casually took it out to answer.

“Where are you?” A deep voice came from the other end of the phone.

Zhuang Jianxi was taken aback for a moment, glanced at the unfamiliar number on the phone screen, and then put it back to her ear, coldly saying, “What’s the matter?”

Qiu Yixun’s voice carried his usual domineering tone, “What time is it, and you’re not coming back yet? I’ll send someone to pick you up.”

“No need.” Zhuang Jianxi simply uttered these two words before hanging up the phone.

Professor Zhang, seeing this, chuckled kindly, “Friend?”

Zhuang Jianxi didn’t know how to explain, so she just hummed in response.

Professor Zhang, smiling, was about to say something else, but the phone in Zhuang Jianxi’s hand, which she hadn’t had time to put down, rang again.

She hesitated for a moment, and as soon as she answered, Qiu Yixun’s voice was slightly annoyed, “Zhuang Jianxi, I wasn’t finished speaking, and you hung up on me?”

Zhuang Jianxi’s expression was calm, “I’m going back now.”

As soon as she said this, the annoyance in Qiu Yixun’s voice disappeared, returning to a gentle tone, “Then be careful on the way, I’ll wait for you to eat.”

Zhuang Jianxi didn’t answer, and hung up his phone again.

Qiu Yixun, “…”

Professor Zhang, listening clearly from the side, his old eyes flashed with gossip, but he didn’t ask anything, only chuckled, “It’s a bit late, hurry back and eat.”

Zhuang Jianxi smiled and nodded, bidding farewell to Professor Zhang.

As soon as she left the museum, a flashy sports car stopped in front of her.

The window slowly rolled down, and a girl wearing sunglasses, lively and adorable, grinned at Zhuang Jianxi, “Xixi, did you miss me?”

Zhuang Jianxi’s eyes lit up when she saw the person, her cold face tinged with a hint of warmth. She walked forward, her voice carrying a hint of joy.

“Ke’er, where have you been all this time?”

The person was her friend, Long Ke’er, about her age, with a family background comparable to Zhuang’s, her closest and most familiar childhood friend.

Long Ke’er got out of the car and gave Zhuang Jianxi a big hug, “Don’t even mention it, I’ve been in a film crew for the past few months, the semi-closed entertainment life has really been suffocating me!”

As the only daughter of the Long family, she didn’t inherit the family business properly, but instead, before graduating, she ran around the world, one moment going abroad for photography, the next moment impulsively joining the entertainment industry.

If it weren’t for the Long family’s large business and their indulgence in her whims, she wouldn’t have been so carefree and free.

The two rarely met, so Zhuang Jianxi immediately put the matter of going home aside, got into Long Ke’er’s car, and with a step on the gas pedal, they went to the small tavern they used to frequent.

This small tavern was tucked away in a corner of the bustling city, with a quiet and secluded environment, unique in its own way.

A few strands of purple and green vines intertwined on the wooden door frame. Soft lights fell, contrasting with the retro decorations, creating a warm and mysterious atmosphere.

Various old wine bottles and music tapes were placed inside the store. Each item seemed to carry different emotions and memories. Gentle jazz music flowed slowly in the air, allowing people’s minds to find unprecedented relaxation and tranquility.

Three or four guests chatted while eating and drinking inside, the atmosphere was great.

Zhuang Jianxi and Long Ke’er ordered a few special dishes. They ate and drank the plum wine brewed by the tavern owner himself, taking small sips.

“I remember you never chased stars before. Why did you even join the crew this time?”

The warm yellow light illuminated Zhuang Jianxi’s fair side profile, making his features delicate and his eyebrows and eyes like paintings.

Long Ke’er had watched this face grow up since she was a child. Even though she was basically immune to it, she would still be stunned for a few seconds every time she didn’t see it for a while.

She said emotionally, “Do you believe in love at first sight?”

Zhuang Jianxi was stunned for a moment, “What?”

Long Ke’er took a large gulp of wine, opened her phone and showed Zhuang Jianxi her phone screen.

The screen saver was an extremely handsome man in ancient costume, riding a tall horse, looking heroic and dashing, with a jade-like appearance.

Zhuang Jianxi found it a bit familiar. Wasn’t this Xu Chengzhou, the recently popular movie star?

Long Ke’er recalled their first meeting with a face full of infatuation.

“I just came back from filming lions in Africa. As soon as I got off the plane, I saw a group of crazy fans besieging and screaming. I got caught in the crowd of fans…”

At that time, Long Ke’er, who was still a little dizzy from the flight, was inexplicably squeezed in front of Xu Chengzhou. All she could hear were girls and boys screaming and shouting.

“Xu Chengzhou, I love you!!”

“Zhouzhou! Ah!! Husband!!”

Long Ke’er was squeezed dizzy and rolled her eyes.

She couldn’t help but ask back when she suddenly heard a boy next to her calling Xu Chengzhou “husband,” “Husband?”

She probably wasn’t keeping up with the times. She didn’t expect today’s fans to be so blunt and direct, calling their idol “husband” directly…

Unexpectedly, she had already gotten very close to Xu Chengzhou. Long Ke’er’s clear “husband” successfully caught the attention of the expressionless, cold and indifferent Xu Yingdi.

Xu Chengzhou’s eyes were long and narrow, his gaze fell meaningfully on the girl with a camera hanging around her neck, her face pale from being squeezed.

Messy brown curly hair, bright big eyes, Barbie doll-like features, but dressed in a native style, Long Ke’er looked like a messy cat at this moment, pitiful and…cute.

Xu Chengzhou stopped, took a bottle of water from his agent’s bag and handed it to Long Ke’er.

His expression was calm, his voice mellow, “Don’t shout, go home.”

Long Ke’er subconsciously took the water, staring blankly at the tall figure who was surrounded and left. She was confused, inexplicably…love at first sight.

“Just because of a bottle of water, you chased after him?”

Zhuang Jianxi couldn’t understand Long Ke’er’s brain circuit. Seeing her holding her phone and looking at the idol on the screen, smiling like a flower, he couldn’t understand.