Chapter 32.2

Luckily, Xie Zhuguang and the dark-skinned director arrived just then.

A strange scene unfolded: the dark-skinned director leading the way, former superstar Xie Zhuguang and current star Ji Qingyuan acting as bodyguards around Liang Yuyu, while Jiang Rui and Zhu Xinyue joined the crowd, pretending to be fans.

“Sorry, sorry, we have other plans and can’t take photos now. But if you want to see him, you can come to our snack shop tomorrow by the Yunhai shore!” Xie Zhuguang advertised their shop.

“Yes, yes, look for our ‘One Moment, One Scene’ snack shop! Please come~” Ji Qingyuan blew kisses to the crowd, a charming demon.

Liang Yuyu, treated like a toy by these two outgoing men, blushed from his face to his neck like a boiled crab as he got in the car.

Never again! No more variety shows! No, no more shows with Ji Qingyuan! He resolved.

With the addition of these new guests, filming went even smoother, and Ji Qingyuan was excellent at creating variety show effects, giving the production team an abundance of material.

The team felt confident the final episodes would be a huge hit.

But the surprises didn’t stop there.

After the new guests started, Xie Zhuguang, now acting as the receptionist, received a big order.

“Hello, a team-building event? Sure, sure. When? From 5 PM to closing time? No problem, we’ll clear the place for you…”

Xie Zhuguang didn’t recognize the deep, pleasant voice on the phone, but the show recorded the call. The staff couldn’t help but wonder if President Ji, with his voice, could record a promo for their show.

In the past few days, Zhu Xinyue had been waiting for news from Ji Linyu. Ji Qingyuan had clearly said that he had already arrived in Yunhai, but why hadn’t he contacted her?

“Xiao Zhu, a company is coming for a team-building event tonight. We have a lot of drink orders, so you and Jiang Rui should start preparing the drinks this afternoon,” Xie Zhuguang called the staff for a meeting to assign tasks.

Zhu Xinyue threw herself into the busy work.

The visitors were a boy band and girl group from Jinhuan Entertainment, who had just finished an event overseas. They were transiting in Yunhai City and decided to have their “team-building” event here, essentially bringing more popularity to the show. The episode’s buzz would undoubtedly be high once it aired.

After a busy day and feeling a bit unwell, Zhu Xinyue requested to leave early and rest. 

Xie Zhuguang even asked if she needed a doctor.

Zhu Xinyue waved her hand, holding her stomach, and said, “It’s just my period.”

She went straight to bed upon returning to her room.

The production team initially planned to film at the room, but the director received a call and decided to withdraw the staff and turn off all cameras.

After finishing the drink orders in the afternoon, Zhu Xinyue had come back and fallen into a deep sleep. When she woke up, it was already dark outside.

Her room was close to the kitchen, and she heard clinking sounds, thinking someone had returned. She got up to see if she could help with anything.

Stepping out of her room, Zhu Xinyue smelled the aroma of food and heard her stomach growl. She looked toward the kitchen through the hollowed-out screen.

Without her contact lenses, her vision was blurry, but she could make out a tall figure wearing a brown apron and loose short-sleeved loungewear, busy in the kitchen.

“Mr. Ji?” Zhu Xinyue recognized the person in the kitchen and teased him with a smile.

After more than half a month without seeing him, Ji Linyu hadn’t changed much.

Ji Linyu glanced at her, washed and dried his hands, and poured her a glass of hot water from the dispenser.

“Drink some water. Dinner will be ready soon. If you’re feeling particularly unwell, there is medicine on the table.”

Zhu Xinyue took the hot water he handed over, cradling the cup, and sat on the high stool opposite him, watching him cook.

She looked around and noticed the staff were gone, and the camera lights were off, seemingly turned off by someone.

“Ji Qingyuan said you arrived in Yunhai a couple of days ago.” Zhu Xinyue lightly tapped the cup with her fingernail, concealing her unspoken thoughts.

“Yes, I came for a forum.”

Zhu Xinyue put down the cup, propped her chin on one hand, and looked at his back, muttering, “I thought you came specifically to see me.”

Ji Linyu, with his back to her, smiled as he finished cooking the last dish, plated it, and brought it to her.

“I don’t want to disturb your work,” he said.

Before her were three dishes, all home-cooked, smelling delicious. Especially the braised prawns, which Ji Linyu had meticulously cleaned, removing the heads, shells, and veins, making them very appetizing.

“How could President Ji disturb my work?” Zhu Xinyue didn’t have to move at all. Ji Linyu served her the food and even handed her the chopsticks.

“President Ji wouldn’t, but Ji Linyu would,” he said, seemingly hinting at something.

Zhu Xinyue raised her eyes to meet Ji Linyu’s gaze. His look was straightforward and candid, with a hint of a smile, causing her to tighten her grip on the chopsticks.

“What… do you mean? I don’t understand.”

“Do you really want to discuss this before eating?” Ji Linyu gestured for her to eat first.

Zhu Xinyue noticed that Ji Linyu had a particular obsession with ensuring she ate properly.

But she wasn’t in a hurry. Ji Linyu was right there and wouldn’t run away, so she might as well try his cooking first.

Zhu Xinyue had some stereotypes about CEOs, thinking they never cooked and only focused on work. Ji Linyu didn’t seem like someone who would cook, but these dishes were quite delicious.

“I didn’t expect that President Ji would be such a good family man.” Zhu Xinyue didn’t hold back her praise, enjoying the food with her eyes squinting in delight, not noticing the bit of sauce at the corner of her mouth.

Ji Linyu took a napkin from the nearby tissue box and gently wiped the sauce from the corner of her mouth.

Zhu Xinyue blinked, staring into his calm eyes, holding her breath, not daring to move.

The warm light cast a soft glow on him. His movements were gentle and natural, as if taking care of her was the most natural thing in the world.

At such a close distance, a fragment of a dream flashed through Zhu Xinyue’s mind.

He was looking at her lips intently, as if he would kiss her the next moment.

Zhu Xinyue heard her heart pounding in her chest, each beat louder than the last.

Noticing her stiffness, Ji Linyu looked up, met her shimmering eyes, and chuckled softly.

“Relax. I won’t sneak a kiss like someone.”

The tension in Zhu Xinyue’s mind snapped.

Was he referring to her? So, that dream was real?!