Chapter Seven: All Troubles Began with a Kiss

Back home, Bai Chenxi grew more and more frustrated the more she thought about it. That was her first kiss! Just like that, it had vanished into thin air. True, ever since she’d entered this line of work, she’d mentally prepared herself for such things. But the fact that the other party was Chu Muyun made her want to howl with despair.

Then again, she thought, Chu Muyun was actually quite handsome. And it was her first kiss, so perhaps she hadn’t lost out after all. But then she remembered his temperament, and that perpetual look as if everyone owed him five million, and the gloom descended once more.

In the end, Bai Chenxi drifted off to sleep, caught in the battle between reason and good looks.

The next morning, Bai Chenxi awoke feeling refreshed, marveling at how important sleep was—her cold had vanished overnight.

Sister Wang, seeing that she’d caught a cold, had considerately given her the day off. Of course, it helped that she currently had no work lined up.

Bai Chenxi was all set for a day of lounging at home. She’d just turned on the TV and grabbed her fries when the doorbell rang. “Ahhh!” After venting her frustration, Bai Chenxi resigned herself to opening the door.

“Grandma, what brings you here?” Bai Chenxi hurriedly ushered her grandmother inside. Her grandmother’s eyes swept over the coffee table, and Bai Chenxi followed her gaze—her chips were still sitting right there! She rushed to put them away.

Her grandmother chided her, “You young people just don’t take care of yourselves. You ought to eat less of these things. Have you eaten yet?”

Bai Chenxi certainly didn’t dare admit she’d just woken up and hadn’t eaten. “Yes, I just ate.”

Only then did her grandmother nod in satisfaction. “That’s better! Don’t go imitating those actresses on TV who starve themselves to lose weight. Look at how they’re all skin and bones—what’s so attractive about that? You’re just fine the way you are, you look blessed.”

Inwardly, Bai Chenxi repeated to herself: This definitely doesn’t mean she thinks I’m fat, definitely not, definitely not.

“Don’t tune me out when I say these things,” her grandmother continued. “Look at my grandson—all he knows is work. He eats irregularly, and now he’s got stomach problems, and he won’t listen to advice. And now, he’s made himself sick with a cold again.”

At the mention of Chu Muyun’s cold, Bai Chenxi’s heart skipped a beat. Could she have passed her cold on to him? Inevitably, her mind drifted to that kiss last night.

“Chenxi, you’re not coming down with something too, are you? Your face is so red.” Bai Chenxi touched her face. “No, no. Maybe I’m just a bit warm.”

“Chenxi, the reason I came over today is because I need your help with something.”

“Grandma, whatever you need, just say the word.” Bai Chenxi was ready to promise anything. Her grandmother had always been especially good to her, and being able to help made her happy. She didn’t notice the fleeting shrewdness in her grandmother’s eyes.

“Wonderful!” Her grandmother took Bai Chenxi’s hand. “I was just worrying about what to do!”

“What is it, Grandma?” Bai Chenxi asked, completely in the dark.

“Well, Muyun’s sick, you see. I made him some soup and wanted to take it to him, but your Grandpa Chu had something come up. So I was wondering if you might have time to take it over for me?”

What! Take soup to Chu Muyun? Wasn’t she already the butt of enough of his sarcasm? But Grandma had already asked, and she couldn’t refuse. Besides, his being sick might have something to do with her after all.

Once Bai Chenxi agreed, her grandmother set down the soup and a key, then hurried off, fearing that if she lingered even a moment, Bai Chenxi would change her mind.

Outside Chu Muyun’s apartment, Bai Chenxi stood for a long moment with the soup in hand. How had she ended up here? She shook her head. Forget it—no point overthinking. Taking a deep breath, she rang the doorbell. But after waiting ages, no one answered. Chu Muyun, I rang the bell, it’s not my fault you didn’t open the door—I’m coming in with the key.

“Chu Muyun, Grandma heard you were sick and gave me a key to bring you some soup.” She called out, “Chu Muyun?” several times, but there was no response. Anxiety gnawed at her—what if he’d passed out with fever?

She pushed open the bedroom door and found Chu Muyun lying in bed. She hurried over, but no matter how she called, he wouldn’t wake up. Touching his forehead, Bai Chenxi panicked. “Chu Muyun, Chu Muyun, wake up! We need to go to the hospital.”

Suddenly, Chu Muyun’s eyes snapped open. He gazed at her with an expression she’d never seen before. “I’m not going to the hospital.”

Bai Chenxi felt her heart melting at the look he gave her, cursing herself inwardly for being so weak-kneed—how could she lose her head over a single glance?

“Chu Muyun, it’s good you’re awake, but you’re burning up. We should at least get you checked at the hospital,” she said, her tone unconsciously softening.

But Chu Muyun, acting like a little boy, suddenly hugged her and shook his head hard. “I’m not going. I don’t want to go to the hospital.”

Bai Chenxi had to take a deep breath to steady herself and coaxed him as if he were a child, “But you’re sick! We need to see a doctor so you can get better. If you don’t, you’ll be uncomfortable.”

Still, he shook his head. “I’m not going. They’ll give me injections at the hospital. I don’t want to go.” With that, he buried himself in the quilt in a fit of childish pique.

Bai Chenxi was both exasperated and amused. No matter how she tried to persuade him, he wouldn’t budge. And with his tall six-foot frame, there was no way she could drag him to the hospital by force. In the end, she had to give in.

“All right, we won’t go to the hospital. Just tell me where your medicine box is, and I’ll get you some medicine. Then you can sleep it off.”

After a long moment, a hand emerged from under the covers to point at the TV cabinet, then quickly withdrew.

Bai Chenxi sighed in resignation. “Very well, Young Master Chu, your humble servant will fetch it for you.”

It took all her effort to coax Chu Muyun into taking his medicine. When he finally drifted off, his face looked perfectly harmless, and Bai Chenxi couldn’t help but swoon a little. “He really is quite handsome. Such a pity he always wears that scowl.”

Worried his fever might return, Bai Chenxi stayed by his bedside, and before she knew it, she too had fallen asleep.

She was awakened by the sound of voices. Standing in the doorway was Xiao Wen, who stared at the scene in shock. What was going on here? Surely he’d opened the wrong door. He closed it again, thinking he must have made a mistake.

Still groggy, Bai Chenxi looked towards the door, wondering if she’d imagined it. But then the door opened again, and the same person appeared.

My goodness, what was happening? There was a woman at Brother Chu’s home—and it seemed to be his goddess.

“Bai Chenxi?” Xiao Wen asked hesitantly.

“You know me?”

Xiao Wen didn’t answer, but inside he was in turmoil. What was going on? Why was the goddess at Brother Chu’s place? Weren’t they supposed to be strangers? Could they be secretly dating? And right under his nose! But none of that mattered now—he seemed to have interrupted their private moment. He had to get out, fast!

“Um, I didn’t see anything, I don’t know anything. I… I’ll just be going.” With that, he bolted, even remembering to close the door behind him, altogether forgetting he’d come to look after Brother Chu because he was sick.

Bai Chenxi was left utterly bewildered. Was that a hallucination? Why had he left again? She touched Chu Muyun’s forehead—his fever seemed to have subsided—so she decided to go heat up the soup Grandma had brought, so he’d have something to eat when he woke up.

When Chu Muyun awoke, he noticed the medicine box and towel by his bed and thought Xiao Wen was actually quite considerate for once—he’d given him time off for being sick and even come by to check on him. His good mood evaporated, however, the moment he saw Bai Chenxi bustling about in the kitchen.

“What are you doing here?” he demanded coldly, as if she had some ulterior motive for being there.

The greeting Bai Chenxi had prepared caught in her throat when she saw the look on his face.

“Grandma knew you were sick. She couldn’t come herself and asked me to bring you some soup. She gave me the key,” Bai Chenxi explained.

“Oh, really? Well, thank you. I’m fine now, so you can go,” he replied. He said thank you, but anyone could hear there was no gratitude in his tone.

So this is what you get for being kind! Bai Chenxi glared at his insufferable face, wishing she could give him a good thrashing.

She was still lost in her fantasy of pummeling Chu Muyun when his mocking voice cut in, “What’s the matter? Can’t bear to leave? Finally showing your true colors, are you?”

Before Bai Chenxi could respond, he continued, “I don’t know what tricks you used to make my grandmother so fond of you, but let me tell you, it won’t work. Keep your little schemes to yourself.”

Bai Chenxi was so furious she was speechless. She stormed out and slammed the door behind her. But no sooner had she reached the hallway than she paused. Wait a minute! Why am I slinking away like this? That’s pathetic!

Chu Muyun opened the door and, seeing it was Bai Chenxi, immediately resumed his sarcastic tone. “What? I thought I made myself clear. You—”

Bai Chenxi didn’t care what he was saying. She barged right back in, slammed the door with a flourish that startled Chu Muyun, though he hid it well. “Miss Bai, is it really appropriate to slam doors in someone else’s house like that?”

Bai Chenxi actually laughed with anger. “Inappropriate? Then you tell me what’s appropriate. I see you’re sick and worry you’ll die alone in here, so I run around taking care of you. And when you wake up, you tell me to leave. Chu Muyun, do you think that’s appropriate?”

“I think you’re overthinking things, Miss Bai. If I need something, my assistant will look after me. No need for your trouble.”

“Chu Muyun, where do you get your confidence? What makes you think everyone wants to cling to you for fame? You’re not a kid anymore—are you still stuck in some adolescent phase? Wake up! Just because your fans fawn over you doesn’t make you unique. Who cares! You think you’re everyone’s darling? If you were some great prize, I wouldn’t want you even if you came to me gift-wrapped.”

Chu Muyun opened his mouth, but Bai Chenxi cut him off. “Shut up and listen. I’ve been patient with you for Grandma’s sake, but you really think you’re something special. I don’t owe you anything, so stop acting like I’m taking advantage of you every time we meet, as if you’re so hard done by. If anything, I’m the one who should be upset—you’re always giving me that attitude!”

“You’re just afraid I’ll use you for publicity, right? Fine, if I ever end up in the same frame as you again, I won’t call myself Bai Chenxi. Here’s hoping we never meet again.” With that, she stormed out, slamming the door behind her.

Outside, Bai Chenxi patted her chest to steady herself and murmured, “Excellent—well reasoned and still fierce.”