ã€ŠA Lifetime of Peace and Careã€‹


 Chapter 1 - A Lifetime of Care

    Chapter 1: A Lifetime of Care

    Yi Ran just got out of the taxi when her friend Zhang Rongrong¡¯s phone call came. She picked up the phone and looked back at the signboard for the health club, confirming that she hadn¡¯t arrived at the wrong ce.

    Zhang Rongrong told her, ¡°I¡¯ve already booked it. There are still some people here so I¡¯lleter. You should go ahead.¡±

    ¡°En, I know. Then hurry up.¡± After she spoke, she turned and stepped through the front door.

    After the young girl at the front desk verified Yi Ran¡¯s information, she entered the waiting area to find a ce to sit down. On the table was a cup of iced drink that was still emitting a cold chill.

    In fact, it was only thanks to Zhang Rongrong¡¯s membership card that she was able toe to this health club, which was not only extremely expensive but had the strictest membership system in S City. Naturally, she couldn¡¯t help but study the decor.

    There was a massive antique screen in the lobby. On the wall hung many calligraphy and paintings, most of which were were ink paintings depicting thendscape, the style very elegant and refined. The atmosphere had the subtle scent of Chinese medicine mixed with sandalwood, giving people a sense of calm harmony.

    She lowered her head and turned on her mobile phone to brush Weibo, conveniently signing in to pass the time. As she waited, she heard the words ¡°has already arranged¡± and ¡°the VIP¡¯s car is at the door.¡± Before she could think much of these words, she saw from the corner of her eyes two slender figures entering and then going upstairs one after another.

    One of the men was dressed in a suit and his figure was tall and straight. His stride was firm and steady. It was so eye-catching that she couldn¡¯t help but look after him. Unfortunately, she was only able to see his disappearing back view.

    Yi Ran pursed her lips and took a few mouthfuls of iced tea to quench her sudden thirst, which immediately made her feel cool and pleasant. After a moment, the attendant entered the waiting room and said that the room was ready. After stopping on the third floor, the person smiled and told her, ¡°Guest, please take a rest. We will prepare tea and snacks for you right away. You can take a shower first.¡±

    She nodded and took a few steps through the door. Theyout of the room was more atmospheric than expected. The area had a small hall for the guests to rest with a separate bathroom on the side. In the middle of the room was a tform with a massage bed.The trembling sound of the zither sounded through the internal loudspeaker.

    Yi Ran kneaded the space between her eyebrows and her expression disyed a sense of exhaustion. As an ¡°outstanding¡± elementary schoolnguage teacher, just one week of ss was sufficient to make her feel fatigued.

    However, when she walked in to lie down, she saw at once that there was already a man on the bed. He was lying face down,pletely naked, revealing a smooth and firm back. Only a small nket covered his buttocks.

    Yi Ran¡¯s brows wrinkled, and her mind grew nk. After a while, she managed to react, thinking that perhaps she had entered the wrong room. But, when she wanted to turn around, she couldn¡¯t help but turn her eyes back. The aroma of essential oils drifted up to her nose, giving off a scent of sweetness.

    The man¡¯s body was neither thin nor burly, disying a perfect physique with a distinct back and showing the dip of his spine that sloped down to his lean waist. The entire line from shoulders to calves was smooth and gentle, yet also eluding a sense of firm strength. His skin looked soft and bright, most especially curve of his butt. She had never seen such a perfect behind before.

    Hearing the movement in the room, the man finally looked up. Because he was in a state of rest, his eyes blinked for a moment before he quickly recovered. After staring at her for a few seconds, he said, ¡°Are you the manager? Did my assistant call you?¡±

    Seeing the face of the person in front of her, Yi Ran was astonished. If she wasn¡¯t mistaken, she saw the man¡¯s photo on the Inte...

    At the time, Yi Ran felt that his figure was above average and his appearance was outstanding, but he did not seem to like tough much. Many times, his mouth was pressed in a tight line. She heard that his temperament was cold and entric. He was not only called a ¡°Ghost Talent¡± by the industry, but he was also a single man that manydies would love to capture.

    Naturally, there were many sex scandal revolving around him. From small television actresses to international film stars to second generation daughters of wealthy families, all wanted to monopolize him.

    In short, this Gu Tingchuan was without a doubt a young and talented big director who had became the standard for male characters in romance novels.

    The other party was clearly displeased. ¡°I normally use a male masseuse.¡±

    Yi Ran suddenly flew back down to Earth and was full of apologies. With an expression of innocence, she said, ¡°...sorry, I¡¯m not a manager. I merely came to the wrong room.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s expression was strict and disciplined. His eyes shed, but he still managed to look indifferent. ¡°Are you not?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on. It was the attendant who brought me in¡­¡±

    At this time, the attendant finally returned. When he saw the situation, he was stunned and speechless. He apologized again and again, saying that the machine at the front desk had been making many mistakes today and he will investigate.

    After hearing this exnation, Yi Ran rxed.

    The attendant gave them two more apologies, until she finally had enough. Waving her hand, she said that she was not inconvenience.

    After all, she came in through the back door.

    Turning to look at the man again, she saw that he was still partially naked and goosebumps prickled across her skin. She could even glimpse a trace of his hip bone, where the towel had slipped back when he had moved earlier.

    ¡°Sorry, Mr. Gu, we will go out first.¡±

    Yi Ran heard the attendant say this, so she just smiled and said to the man, ¡°Mr. Gu, sorry to bother you.¡±

    As she walked out, she couldn¡¯t help but nced back onest time. At this moment, Gu Tingchuan¡¯s assistant seemed to have arrived. He turned his face and said something to the assistant. In short, he didn¡¯t look very happy.

    Yi Ran sighed from the bottom of her heart, trying to save the director¡¯s body in her mind as a video so that she could use it to make up a lot of unspeakable plots.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry to have troubled you. We¡¯ll upgrade the package for you free of charge.¡±

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. I don¡¯t mind.¡±

    She smiled when the attendant shot her a suspicious look.

    ......

    In the next few days, the streets and alleys of S City were full of posters for the ¡°White Birch Award¡± film festival. In order to meet their beloved idols, fans had already booked their tickets early.

    Zhang Rongrong was the brain-destroyed fangirl of the big star He Yang and wanted to go see this Adonis¡¯s graceful bearing in person. Yi Ran did not have much fanaticism for the three-dimensional star, but after some careful thinking, she also agreed to go together.

    In the evening, the red carpet was glistening with starlight, and the two sides were crowded with movie lovers.

    Yi Ran nced at the crowd and took the paper towel handed over by her friend to wipe the sweat from her forehead. ¡°How many people are there? Ah, I can¡¯t stand the heat.¡±

    Zhang Rongrong was also infected by this inexplicable excitement and talked incessantly. ¡°The crew of ¡°Dark River¡± will be in attendance. Of course, everyone is excited!¡±

    Yi Ran involuntarily thought of Gu Tingchuan¡¯s powerful body. She really didn¡¯t expect this boss director to have such good-looking muscles.

    Zhang Rongrong shot her an unscrupulous look. ¡°You¡¯re thinking about that day...¡±

    The words had not yet fallen when a man and a woman appeared on the red carpet. Seeing this, some

    people in the crowd shouted, ¡°He¡¯s here! It¡¯s Gu Tingchuan!!¡±

    The man on the red carpet was dressed in a ck suit, and the actress next to him was the hottest big name in the drama world. She gently held the arm of her male partner, her pace elegant and calm. Her backless dress swayed as she walked. At first nce, it was a picture of seduction for the eyes.

    Even Yi Ren couldn¡¯t help but stretch her neck to see. As the man and woman got closer and closer, the fans around them cheered like loud chickens and screamed their names.

    Yi Ran had a headache and pinched the area between her eyebrows. She was squeezed and was unable to move. It just so happened that the female star stopped in front of them and reached out to sign autographs for some fans.

    This caused the crowd to became wild, and they flocked over.

    There was only a few meters between Yi Ran and the two celebrities. At this time, the man on the red carpet was definitely not the one attracting people¡¯s attention. He suddenly cast a look at her, and the pration of his eyes was too strong, fixing her firmly in ce.

    She stared at him in a daze, even as a cluster of fireworks exploded in her head and her chest grew tight. Around them, the shutter of cameras and the screams of the crowd filled her eardrums, but it was as if Yi Ran heard nothing. Because, at this moment, she could feel nothing but the pounding of her heart.

    Gu Tingchuan seemed to be seriously looking down at her for a while, when the corners of his mouth lifted slightly in what looked like a hint of a smile. But there was no more movements, and he turned back to his partner. He whispered a few words with the actress, as if everything that just happened was only a small episode.

    Zhang Rongrong¡¯s excited face was red, and when the two slowly went away, she madly shook Yi Ran and said, ¡°He seems to remember you? My God, I wasn¡¯t imagining it, right? You¡¯re too lucky! Yi Ran, you¡¯re lucky in love!¡±

    Yi Ran looked up and nced at Gu Tingchuan¡¯s back.

    She had to admit that the Director Gu was indeed a charming man. Gu Tingchuan¡¯s facial features were sharp, the nose was handsome, and the deep twilight of his eyes was clear and resplendent under the light of the red carpet. His aura was truly outstanding, and his talent was even more impressive. It was really a high-ranking person who lived in a different world from them. This was really a man who had every kind of merits.

    She finally understood that even this kind of individual didn¡¯t even need to speak a word for women to rush to his side.

    It took a while for Yi Ran to gain her senses. Then, she turned her head and showed a smile to her friend. She opened her mouth to tease, ¡°Of course. This time, I¡¯m very lucky.¡±

 Chapter 2 - In the Midst of Rain

    Chapter 2: In the Midst of Rain

    Every summer, the city became hot and difficult. By the afternoon, the high temperature in the past few days was finally relieved by heavy rain and gusts of wind, turning the day cool and refreshing.

    The parents picking up their children from Habingguo International School were holding umbres. Compared to other schools in more difficult positions, the school seemed to be vacant in an instant.

    It had only been two months since Yi Ran left her old position and began working here. As a result, she was still unfamiliar with many ces within the school. However, she had already somewhat understood the skills of some of her students.

    After turning on the faucet and washing her hands, she lowered her head to look at the watercolor stain on her chest that, once diluted with water, had turned into something akin to an art pattern. She sighed and said to herself in the mirror, ¡°Awful little fat kid! One day, I¡¯ll find a way to deal with you.¡±

    At that time, the little fat man was arrogant in ss, affecting other children¡¯s reading. She as anguage teacher politely warned him and did not expect to be targeted by the other party.

    Yi Ran was so angry that, just a moment ago, she spoke with the little fat mother about the incident. But, the other party merely scratched the surface with false suppositions and excuses. She unexpectedly encountered such a spirit, ah.

    Although this was a private school, there was bound to be students from wealthy background, but wealth was not a necessary requirement for enrollment. As a result, there will be differences in the quality of students.

    Today, she really wanted to wear a beautiful dress to go on a date. Holding her mobile phone over the stain, she saw that it was too light to wash. She looked at the time and wondered if she should go home to change or just go directly to the restaurant for her blind date.

    She had just entered the corridor to go to the office to pack up when she saw that there was still a student in her ss who had not been picked up by his parents.

    The boy sat in his school uniform. His white shirt and ck trousers were neat and unwrinkled, giving him a very extravagant appearance. Although he was still young, his eyebrows were already handsome, and his academic performance was excellent. He was well-behaved and was already a handsome little boy who was a favorite of many female students.

    As she walked over, she still had some doubts. She knew that he was not much different from many of the children here. Every day, there were luxury cars to pick him up and to take him to school.

    She nced at the movements of his hands on the straps of the bag. Smiling softly, she asked, ¡°Gu Tai, what¡¯s wrong? There¡¯s no car to pick you up today?¡±

    The boy only raised his eyebrows faintly, and it not only looked particrly distinctive but even the demeanor also made her feel a sense of familiarity.

    ¡°Today my uncle wille to pick me up. He¡¯s justte.¡±

    Yi Ran¡¯s heart softened and she said, ¡°With such a big rain, the road must be blocked. Don¡¯t worry. Your uncle will arrive soon.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s no worry,¡± he said and turned his head slightly to look at her.

    Yi Ran: ¡°...¡±

    Nowadays, primary school students are like this, can¡¯t just chat happily.

    She looked at his little school bag and empty hands. If she remembered correctly, when he came this morning, he should have a long umbre with a superhero pattern.

    ¡°Gu Tai, have you forgotten your umbre?¡±

    The child¡¯s expression paused, and he said, ¡°I didn¡¯t bring an umbre. You remember it wrong.¡±

    Yi Ran suddenly felt confused, but decided it wouldn¡¯t be good to say anything more. She nced at the empty ssroom behind her, ¡°Would you like to sit down and wait?¡±

    Gu Tai had a clear voice, and it sounded particrly nice as he said, ¡°I want to stand here and watch the rain for a while. Don¡¯t be noisy.¡±

    Yi Ran: ¡°...¡±

    Well, the teacher was nosy.

    But she still couldn¡¯t let him wait alone in the corridor. Thinking about it, better to just rely on the wall of the ssroom to apany him and wait for his family.

    The rain was still going on, but it was not as heavy as it had been earlier. The dark clouds in the distance were slowly spreading out, disying a a column of light from the sky to the ground.

    Soon after, there was the sound of footstepsing toward them. The shoes of theing person sidestepped a puddle and the pace was calm and steady.

    When she looked up, she saw Gu Tai¡¯s uncle holding a ck umbre. She squinted at the cold figure, and it seemed that she had pressed the static button.

    When the man walked closer, Yi Ran saw the look on his face. She saw that the man¡¯s lips were unsmiling. The eyebrows were smooth, but the dress was obviously quite random, and the wrist cuffs were folded outwards. Very rxed. From the appearance to the temperament, it was not uninteresting.

    He leaned forward slightly, and there were drops of water on the umbre surface. From the distance, his figure looked particrly gentle underneath the overcast sky.

    Yiran didn¡¯t realize how the temperature had gotten so hot, or if just simply looking at Director Gu was too heart-stirring.

    Gu Tingchuan stood in front of the eaves that dripped with a curtain of rain and slowly said, ¡°Gu Tai, let¡¯s go.¡±

    The boy did not say anything but only grabbed his bag and silently followed. When the person was preparing to go back, Gu Tingchuan stopped. Suddenly, he lowered his head and said to the child next to him, ¡°Say goodbye to the teacher.¡±

    Gu Tai sighed, and the proud posture was suddenly gone.

    He lifted his chin to Yi Ran and said, ¡°Teacher Yi, then I¡¯m going home. See you tomorrow.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan had only spared her a nce before, but at this moment, she did not know why he suddenly looked up at her again.

    Yi Ran sighed in her heart. She hadn¡¯t expected for them to meet here.

    She didn¡¯t know enough about Gu Tai¡¯s matter. She only knew that he was not a small one, as the Gu name was also renowned. But, she hadn¡¯t realized that his uncle was actually the famous director.

    ¡°Gu Tai, this is...¡±

    She still had to ask one more question because of her teacher¡¯s duties.

    Gu Tai introduced him at a nce, ¡°This is my uncle, Director Gu Tingchuan.¡±

    Yi Ran made a sound as if she understood and smiled. Gu Tai¡¯s voice just fell, when she suddenly heard Gu Tingchuan¡¯s stern and calm voice. He raised the umbre up, exposing in the clear twilight the handsome silhouette of his face that was rxed.

    ¡°Gu Tai¡¯s parents are not here these days. He will live in his grandfather¡¯s house or with me.¡±

    She nodded, looking at the handsome man in front of her eyes, and saw the rain that had not stopped behind them. After a moment, she smiled and waved at him, saying, ¡°It¡¯s raining outside. When driving, pay attention to safety.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan took in these in words, and as he became familiar with the sounds, his brain shed back to a memory. He seemed to be thinking for a moment so that, for a few seconds, he was silent.

    She saw the silver cuff-links on his sleeves shed and then realized that the other person¡¯s line of sight seemed to notice the stained parts of her chest. She felt a little embarrassed.

    Gu Tingchuan suddenly said, ¡°We¡¯ve met before?¡±

    ¡°...¡± Yiran waspletely stunned in ce.

    She didn¡¯t expect that this famous man would still remember that episode, but she was too embarrassed to mention it to the other party. She said, ¡°No, you¡¯re right... I went to the red carpet for the White Birch Award. You were there...¡±

    ¡°Oh, I remembered.¡± Gu Tingchuan suddenly interrupted her words, his voice was deep and his eyes were unreadable.

    Simultaneously, the two people¡¯s brains shed to the incident that had urred at the health club that day, especially when he was naked and she saw...most of his body.

    Realizing that this incident was a bit funny, the man frowned and concealed his emotions. It seemed that he and the girl were really there.

    On the way back, Schubert¡¯s piano music was ying in the car. The notes were particrly melodious. Gu Tai listened to this boring sound for a while. He looked at the rain on the window and said, ¡°Teacher Yi was also very unlucky today. She wore new clothes to go on a date, and the result was that it was stained by a ssmate.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan held the steering wheel and felt that Gu Tai¡¯s sudden desire to talk about Teacher Yi was funny. The corners of his mouth lifted lightly, ¡°How do you know that the teacher is going on a date?¡±

    ¡°We all know.¡± Gu Tai climbed from the spacious back seat and handed him the new mobile phone in his pocket. ¡°Can you put on my song? I¡¯m going to be hypnotized to sleep by your music.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan was rarely so amodating, but he was willing to listen to the music on Gu Tai¡¯s mobile phone. He ced it on the loudspeaker and, as a result, the car was immediately filled with pop music.

    The man frowned and looked at the red light in front. He stepped on the brakes and looked back. His eyes disagreed. ¡°...What song is this? Where did you get it?¡±

    ¡°I asked Yi teacher to rmend. ording to her, it¡¯s the theme song in a Japanese cartoon.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan raised his eyebrows. In his mind, it seemed unimaginable that an adult will see an animated cartoon at this age. In fact, it had not been important since childhood. But, for those whoe into contact with these things, it was true that the two themselves were totally unrted. However, he knew a little of Japanese.

    ¡°Do you know what the song is saying?¡±

    Gu Tai denied it. ¡°I don¡¯t know, I just think it¡¯s much better than your piano music.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan smiled slightly, but it seemed that he was in a good mood today. He tranted the lyrics. ¡°If you lose the vital thing, you will realize that it is true love.¡±

    After that, he squinted and said deliberately, ¡°It seems that you like the new teacher.¡±

    He was a director, often interviewing those big-name actors, and had always been good at observing. Therefore, he was well aware of Gu Tai¡¯s psychological activities.

    The little guy avoided looking at his face and muttered in a low voice: ¡°Heh. I don¡¯t.¡±

    The rain weakened, but the sky had already turned dark. The school was covered up by the night, and Yi Ran put on her coat, deciding to eat in the urban area. Otherwise, she will have to run back and forth, and the other party will be impatient.

    As she walked out of the campus, she passed the trash can at the corner and suddenly found an umbre that was not fully inserted. The exposed handle had a superhero charm.

    Yi Ran approached and looked at it carefully. She realized that it was very simr to the one brought by Gu Tai today. She grabbed the handle and pulled it out of the trash can.

    She then lowered her head and realized that the front end of the umbre had been broken.

    Yi Ran¡¯s heart was jerked, and there was a feeling of iprehensibility in her heart. Her first reaction was... Why did Gu Tai lie to her?

    Regarding the umbre, why did you say that you didn¡¯t bring it?

 Chapter 3 - Wanting to Get Married

    Chapter 3: Wanting to Get Married

    Yi Ran¡¯s nth date was unsessful. After a dinner exchange, she and her blind date did not have much contact.

    As the new primary schoolnguage teacher, Yi Ran¡¯s daily work also caused her to be very busy so she did not have much time to think about marriage.

    Butpared to other people, she was actually putting more pressure on herself. She said this to Zhang Rongrong: People who were destined was expected to appear at any time before the age of 25, but when they turned twenty-five and no one appeared, they began to feel fate. It was a tormenting thing.

    Yi Ran¡¯s request for her boyfriend was not high. She really didn¡¯t think that a man like Gu Tingchuan will have a deep rtionship with someone like herself. She just wanted to find a satisfactory person. Unfortunately, the reality was not ideal.

    Just like the young man she metst night. His upation was good and his appearance was good, but he was often reminded of his ex-girlfriend. Later, she felt that she was not sensitive enough. But, after the other side noticed his own rudeness, they simply stopped contacting each other.

    In these few days, Gu Tai was often thest student remaining.

    Yi Ran recently paid attention to his every move, so she silently apanied him in the ssroom. She looked down at the lesson n and was secretly impressed with the child¡¯s dedication to doing homework. He was a handsome little boy, and, regarding this, there were definitely some shadows of his uncle...

    At this time, she felt that ¡°overtime¡± had be a kind of enjoyment.

    She didn¡¯t know if she should talk to him about the umbre. When she thought about it, she licked her lips and softly knocked on the side of the desk. ¡°Gu Tai, the teacher found your umbre in the garbage bin that day, and it was broken... Why did you tell me that you didn¡¯t bring it?¡±

    Gu Tai was still a little adult, and he didn¡¯t raise his head as he replied, ¡°Oh, the umbre was my fault. I identally broke it and since it became useless, I just threw it away. I was afraid that you would tell the parents so I didn¡¯t tell the truth.¡±

    Yi Ran¡¯s expression became perplexed, ¡°But...¡±

    She just wanted to express her thoughts as a teacher. Suddenly, there was a familiar voice behind her. It was deep and unfathomable. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I had a dy at thepany today.¡±

    Yi Ran looked back at thete Gu Tingchuan. At first nce, there was a little tiredness in the eyebrows, but it also seemed a littlezy too. When he saw her, he gave her a slight nod. ¡°Hello,Teacher Yi.¡±

    ¡°Hello, Director Gu.¡± The atmosphere between them seemed to be a lot more rxed than thest two times. She packed up the textbooks as quickly as possible, and at the same time looked up at him, ¡°Please allow me to say that your Cloud Headdress and Dark Rivers are all very good. I am also a fan of yours.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan unexpectedly smiled. ¡°Are you?¡±

    After the man said this, Yi Ran¡¯s ears grew slightly hot and her heart felt slightly guilty, suddenly afraid that she would be found out. In fact, it was only after she saw his naked body that she went back and pulled out his past works to study. After blurting it out, she realized how impulsive she was¡­

    Gu Tingchuan did not seem to care.

    When he took Gu Tai¡¯s small bag and was about to walk toward the door, Yi Ran saw a young man who looked like an assistant standing at the door waiting, holding a printed envelope in his hand. She curiously said, ¡°Is Director Gu going to see No Man¡¯s Land?¡±

    Hearing this, he stopped and turned his gaze back to her. ¡°You know of it?¡±

    Yi Ran nodded. The drama was currently touring around the world. However, due to the schedule of the two leads and other reasons, the movie had barely just premiered in the country. One of the issues was an older famous British actress who had performed in many Hollywood blockbusters.

    However, despite the dy, every ticket for the No Man¡¯s Land movie was unexpectedly in demand and insanely expensive. Even the scalpers could not be criticized for the high ticket price. If you want to a better seating, the only way was to pull some strings.

    Celebrities like Gu Tingchuan don¡¯t have to worry about this. The envelopes in the hands of the assistants was obviously the VIP tickets for this drama.

    ¡°This drama is particrly good. It¡¯s really hard to get a ticket.¡± She smiled, then said, ¡°I¡¯m also going to go back. Gu Tai, I¡¯ll see you tomorrow.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan saw that she was already in a good mood after changing the topic. He looked down and noticed that Gu Tai¡¯s eyes had a hint of a smirk in them.

    Yi Ran was inexplicably a bit embarrassed. Fortunately, the director still didn¡¯t seem to care much about what she had said. When he turned back, the assistant came over and took the school bag from him, and respectfully followed them out.

    She also took some things back to the office and found that there were several teachers who were staying behind in school. Afterughing a few words together, Yi Ran suddenly noticed that the man had unexpectedly appeared by the office door.

    Yi Ran certainly didn¡¯t know why Gu Tingchuan suddenly returned. She hurriedly ran out while several possibilities ran through her mind, none of them good.

    ¡°Gu Director, what¡¯s the matter?¡±

    Gu Tingchuan shifted slightly. ¡°Well, let¡¯s talk out there.¡±

    He turned and silently walked out. Calmly following him, Yu Ran could see the other person¡¯s clear and straight back, tall and iprehensible. Her heart felt vaguely uneasy, but also intermixed within was some measure of excitement.

    It wasn¡¯t until they had reached a secluded ce that he finally turned to face her and lightly said, ¡°This is for you.¡±

    She looked down and saw that he had the ticket to No Man¡¯s Land in his hand. When she finally looked up, her expression was filled with apprehension.

    ¡°No, no, no, no. Director Gu, I can¡¯t take this..¡±

    Seeing that the young teacher won¡¯t dare to ept, Gu Tingchuan exined, ¡°My partner gave me three tickets for myself and two friends. My assistant just told me that there are more than one seats avable in the front row. In consideration of this, not giving it away is a waste so you do not have to be too concerned about it.¡±

    Yi Ran initially felt ttered but, after calming down and thinking about it, she can¡¯t help but guess that since he had extra tickets and she was Gu Tai¡¯s teacher, he was only being kind by thinking of her.

    As expected, this man was also good at dealing with all kinds of people.

    Faced with this temptation, Yi Ran thought that she should not ept his ticket.

    Gu Tingchuan waited for a while, gazing at her with indifference, then he calmly said, ¡°I didn¡¯t do this because of your identity. I know that teachers should have professional ethics, but since you are also a fan who like this drama, I only want to be polite.¡±

    Letting the famous Director Gu tell such a sentence, if Yi Ren did not ept, it will be too embarrassing.

    At this moment, Gu Tingchuan lifted his hand, raised his eyebrows, and thought for a moment. There was somepulsive perfectionism in his bones. Since this matter had already been done, he should consider it more properly, so he said, ¡°Then let¡¯s do this. I won¡¯t offer it to you first. I will wait for you toe and give it to you at that time.¡±

    The idea of once again rejecting his offer waspletely shattered by his words. This was the first time she was in contact with such a big man. Her lips trembled slightly, and she said, ¡°Well, it is hard to reject your thoughtfulness. I¡¯ll be respectful and ept it. Thank you.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan nodded, and he smiled lightly. The deep look in his eyes was like the vast ocean under the night sky.

    ......

    On the eve before summer vacation, the sun at noon was heavy and thick with humidity. In addition to approving paper everyday, Yi Ran also had to assist the ss teacher to write student reports for the family, including work summary, quality analysis and so on. In short, before the real holiday, she was very busy.

    During lunch, a bottle of iced tea suddenly appeared in front of her. The condensation outside the bottle seemed to be steamed and had melted into trails of water.

    She absentmindedly nced up and smiled at the young man wearing rimless sses. His expression was refreshing, and his facial features were refined. In fact, he was not only the math teacher Yao Juan but also Gu Tai¡¯s head teacher.

    Teacher Yao sat down and asked her, ¡°You wanted to talk to me?¡±

    Yi Ran nodded and first unscrewed the lid and drank a few sips. From the throat to the whole body, it was refreshing. Then, she told him about how she inadvertently discovered the truth about Gu Tai¡¯s umbre. Not only was Yao Juan more experienced in coaching, he was also the ss teacher and should be able to give more judgment.

    Yao Juan¡¯s behavior toward her was usually very restrained. When speaking in front of her, he was almost never loud and seemed to be a male teacher with great foresight and responsibility.

    At this moment, he also frowned and seemed to think for a long time before he said, ¡°I know. This is actually a big deal. Our habit of lying is also cultivated from a young age...and, actually, I¡¯ve recently observed it. Tai, he seemed to always inexplicably lose some stationary.¡±

    Hearing this, Yi Ran¡¯s heart was somewhat suspicious, but she did not ask any urgent questions and only took another drink.

    ¡°His apparent lying is a behavior that is indeed unnatural.¡± Yao Juan looked at her, and seemed to consider his words before quietly saying, ¡°I¡¯ll take this summer vacation to do a home visit. Then do you want toe with me? I see that Gu Tai likes you. With a female teacher who he likes, he is more likely to be happy.¡±

    Actually, she felt that Gu Tai was really a little proud, usually not cold or hot to her. But, even the ss teacher saw his careful thoughts.

    Yao Juan cast her a hurried nce, but Yi Ran was too immersed in her own thoughts to pay attention. She said, ¡°Yes, that was my guess. Today in ss, Gu Tai kept clenching his fists. Did he have any contradictions with anyone? Someone deliberately broke Gu Tai¡¯s umbre, and he refused to say it?

    ¡°If it¡¯s a contradiction between ssmates, then we must find a way to deal with it. But, Teacher Yi, you may have to calm down and think about it. This kind of thing has to beplicated to resolve. We have to take into ount the temperament of both parents and consider the child¡¯s own feelings. So...¡±

    Yi Ran nodded and said, ¡°I know that I am too emotionally involved. Before I can confirm it 100%, I can¡¯t act rashly so as not to easily hurt the children¡¯s inner feelings.¡±

    ¡°Yes, you¡¯re right.¡± Yao Juan took off his sses and dragged a soft cloth back and forth across the ss. The dark eyes showed a hint of helplessness. ¡°They are only in elementary school. It¡¯s normal for children to have friction. The most terrible are those who are naturally malicious. However, this is an individual phenomenon, after all... I believe that our students will not be like this.¡±

    She knew that what Yao Juan said was reasonable. The children of Habenguo International School were overall very good. Even so, it was inevitable that some students and parents will dislike the teacher.

    Take, for example, the little child who had previously stained Yi Ran¡¯s dress. His parents may not necessarily respect the teacher. Regarding his homework and morality, it seemed like there was very little discipline. Even if you call, the parents will only provide an excuse. It was even harder for them toe to school than to go to heaven.

    At this time, a young female teacher from another ss happened to walk by. When she looked back at them, Yi Ran smiled and said, ¡°Hey, Teacher Guan, let¡¯s eat together.¡±

    Teacher Guan Yilu set her tray down and smiled deeply. She naturally sat next to Yao Juan.

    Yao Juan had a gentle temperament but his nature will be somewhat stubborn when angry. Despite this, he was the most popr single handsome guy among the female teachers. Not to mention the teachers, even several primary school girls said that they liked Teacher Yao¡¯s handsomeness.

    Guan Yilu and Yao Juan chatted happily for a while, then she looked at Yi Ran and asked, ¡°Oh that¡¯s right! Tonight, when everyone have time, let¡¯s go out to sing.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I really can¡¯t tonight.¡± Yi Ran nced at her phone to double check the date and was even more certain. ¡°I already have ns tonight.¡±

    ¡°Hey, a date?¡±

    Yao Juan¡¯s gaze zeroed in on Yi Ran at the same time. Sheughed and said without confidence, ¡°This appointment, I am just out to set fireworks.¡±

    Yao Juan smiled silently but did not say anything, and his delicate outline was bright underneath the afternoon sun.

 Chapter 4 - Avoiding the Charms of a Female

    Chapter 4: Avoiding the Charms of a Female

    At the entrance of the Municipal Theater Hall, Yi Ran waited for Gu Tingchuan¡¯s assistant, Xiao Zhao. After arriving, he handed her the ticket and left with a smile on his face.

    Prior to this, Yi Ran had thought that there might be a chance to take a look at who Director Gu¡¯s ¡°friends¡± might be, and whether it would be a femalepanion, thus providing fodder for her gossiping heart.

    But then again, he was a famous director. Why would he show his private life to a little teacher?

    The performance began on time, and Yi Ran was in the best seating on the first floor. Looking around, she saw a lot of familiar faces on TV sitting nearby. Unexpectedly, she did not see Director Gu. Most likely, he and his friend were in the VIP box.

    Two hours of time quickly flew by. The exquisite acting of the foreign actors, the beauty of the closing curtains, the soaring music, all intertwined into a great and beautiful work, causing the audience to enthusiastically apud.

    Even after the theater lights flickered on, the audience¡¯s apuse still resounded for more than ten minutes. Finally, everyone took their red hands and left the theater hall under the guidance of the staff.

    Outside, the bright glow of the streetmps seemed to slightly sway in the wind. The darkness of the night hung over the city that never sleeps and the sounds of cars filled the air. Yi Ran stood by the road, nning to use a taxi software to request a car. After a moment, she happened to see a tall figure standing among the shadow of the nearby trees and realized that it was Gu Tingchuan.

    Seeing the other party, Yi Ran thought that it would not be grateful or polite to ignore him. Therefore, she took the initiative to go over. ¡°Gu¡­¡±

    As she was about to blurt out his name, she realized that doing so might attract unwanted attention. After taking a few more steps, she finally called, ¡°Mr. Gu!¡±

    Gu Tingchuan lifted his eyes to look over at her and then, after saying ¡°hello,¡± he added, ¡°What did you think of it?¡±

    Yi Ran could not helpmenting on the y. She began to happily praise it. ¡°It was a first-rate show, a truly masterful piece with vivid and realistic portrayals...¡±

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s gaze was steady under the lights of the night and, as he looked at her, he gradually realized that her liveliness was very interesting. His mouth slightly curved into a smile.

    She was still talking when she heard a man¡¯s voice next to her. ¡°You came alone to watch the performance?¡±

    She turned to see a man and could not help but be surprised. It turned out that the friend brought by Director Gu was actually a man who looked like a second generation wealthy son.

    Yi Ran smiled and said, ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Single dogs are like this. I am used to it.¡±

    Any way, she had tried one person eating hot pot, one person watching a movie, one person listening to opera. This was nothing.

    ¡°I only gave her one ticket,¡± Gu Tingchuan exined to the other person.

    The man immediately joked, ¡°Hey, don¡¯t be so quick to say it. It would have been easy for me and this youngdy to switch seats. Director Gu must know this.¡±

    The atmosphere seemed to freeze, and Yi Ran did not know what to say. As she gathered her thoughts, Gu Tingchuan unexpectedly said in a dry voice, ¡°You still need to think before you speak. Otherwise, the oue is enough to put people to sleep.¡±

    Knowing that his friend was implying that he was not being a goodpanion, the man just shrugged and gave Yi Ran a wink. ¡°Director Gu may have a lot of scandals, but, in fact, he can not be easily provoked by the feminine charms, you know...¡±

    As the man was speaking, Yi Ran met Gu Tingchuan¡¯s eyes and saw him shift his gaze to look behind her. Sure enough, he said in a low voice, ¡°The car ising.¡±

    Yi Ran was afraid that he would take the initiative to open the car door for her. When she heard this, she immediately turned around and called back her goodbye to them, ¡°Director Gu, thank you for your good intentions today. The performance was so wonderful. I¡¯ll take a taxi back. Have a good night.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan did not say anything but silently looked after her departing figure, her skirt swaying brightly as she hurried away. His friend couldn¡¯t help but teased, ¡°Not sending people back, that¡¯s not being a good gentleman.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s brows wrinkled, but he merely said, ¡± There are paparazzi nearby.¡±

    ......

    In the past two years, Jiaye filmpany had be incredibly sessful. It¡¯s founder andrgest shareholder was Gu Tingchuan¡¯s father. Recently, due to health reasons, he had gradually began to pass thepany on to the next generation.

    Although he had shares in thepany and was a member of the board of directors, Gu Tingchuan¡¯s original passion was to direct films. For him, movies were the shining light that reflected the world.

    His style of directing in the industry had always been harsh, but no one can deny that this man was truly a charismatic talent.

    After Dark River won several awards in the White Birch Award ceremony, Gu Tingchuan immediately devoted himself to the direction of his next film, which was focused on martial arts, a subject he had never touched before.

    Also, because of his demanding requirements, the daily filming for the movie were often high pressured, making people feel jumpy and depressed.

    The people at the shooting site were listening to Gu Tingchuan¡¯smand. The filming had not gone smoothly. The actress, who was brought on to give an investor¡¯s face, finally lost her smile as he said, ¡°Do you want to act or not? Frankly speaking, if you can¡¯t even follow directions and stand there, don¡¯te to drag down the team. You may be beautiful, but don¡¯t think yourself too clever. You¡¯re not allowed to change the script just because you felt like it.

    At first, although the actress was no longer smiling, she did not cry. Her pretty face became stiff and pale. Finally, tears sprung to her eyes and her assistant had to pull her aside.

    Gu Tingchuan called the deputy director and the group leaders of each department to go over the scene requirements. Finally, he looked down at his watch and realized that it was gettingte. He finally told everyone to go back to rest and to report at the shooting site at 6 o¡¯clock tomorrow morning.

    Every time he got to this stage in the filming process, he be an overzealous workaholic, seeming never to get tired. Even among the group of staff, he will be thest one to leave.

    It was already dark when Gu Tingchuan¡¯s assistant finally drove him back. The car moved through heavy traffic to the Gu¡¯s family mansion located by the coast of S City. Because it was close to the sea and built on the slope of a mountain, the houses in the area were spread further apart. The surrounding area was filled with green nature, and the air was fresh and clean. This ce of flowers and birds seemed to be isted from the rest of the world.

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s long legs just entered the living room, and he hadn¡¯t even taken his shoes off yet, when he saw his parents sitting on the sofa with the TV on and the newspaper spread out in front of them. It can be seen at a nce that trouble wasing.

    His mind slightly suspicious, he drew closer and saw the magazines and newspapers on the table. It was not opened to the financial nor the sports edition. Rather, it was opened to the entertainment section. The headlines were his own and were based on recent rumors regarding his ¡°rtionships¡± with several female stars.

    ¡°So you do know how toe back? How long has it been since you came to see your elders?¡± The mother¡¯s mouth said this, but she still turned to pour him a cup of tea. ¡°You¡¯ve been working hard recently. It¡¯s not a good thing to be surrounded by so many female stars. You¡¯re already 30 years old and should know how to behave.¡±

    Although this was the most ridiculous misunderstanding of him, Gu Tingchuan also did not want to pay any attention to the words nor to the serious atmosphere in the house. He merely changed his slippers and unbuttoned the top buttons of his shirt, looking both rxed and at eased.

    ¡°Tingchuan, you never bring a girlfriend back. Are you afraid that we would not be satisfied? Mom is asking because you are not seriously looking for a future daughter-inw and only want to y with these girls¡­¡±

    Gu Linfeng put away the newspaper in his hand. Looking at his son, he quietly said, ¡°Haven¡¯t you learned a lesson from your big brother¡¯s affairs? Because of this, he lost his family. You should know that these scandals will have an impact on thepany.¡±

    The big brother mentioned was Gu Tingyong, the Gu parent¡¯s eldest son and Gu Tai¡¯s father. He recently went abroad to Germany to find his grandparents

    When the young couple first got married, they were the apples of the big family. They were self-sufficient, and passed the days treating each other as sweet as honey. However, a few days ago, Gu Tingyong¡¯s wife discovered him in a high-end clubhouse with a popr movie star.

    Mrs. Gu immediately raised a ruckus, and now both of them were upset and had escaped abroad. Neither of them had considered how their son¡¯s emotions should be soothed and, in truth, it seemed as if their sense of responsibility as parents had also gone astray.

    Thinking of this, Gu Tingchuan felt a headache blooming and, rubbing his temple, thought that their rtionship was not something he should worry about.

    It was no wonder that everyone else mentioned that the family life of this big director was nonexistent. For him, falling in love was the most wasteful time.

    As Gu Tingchuan continued to press down on his painful eyebrows, he took a sip of warm tea and put the cup down steadily, saying, ¡°These gossips were not provoked by me. These entertainment journals arepetitive. Even if I am not close to a woman, they will continue with their spections. rifying will not seal their mouths.¡±

    Even though, in the end, those media will still withdraw their articles in cooperation with Jiaye, this will not put an end to the spread of gossip.

    ¡°In any case, Tingchuan, we don¡¯t want you to avoid dating seriously. You have never brought a girl back before...If you don¡¯t like girls¡­¡±

    Seeing his mother, Sheng Ru, was bing more outrageous, Gu Tingchuan felt that it was necessary to reiterate his sexual orientation. At this time, Gu Tai came down from upstairs.

    The child was very perceptive. Seeing that his uncle was getting annoyed, he quickly walked over with his homework and said, ¡°Uncle, do you have time to help me?¡±

    Gu Tingchuan wondered what the tutor couldn¡¯t help solve. ¡°What do you need help with?¡±

    ¡°Teacher Yi arranged a summer homework assignment in advance, asking us to observe the work of the elders and write a small essay.¡± After saying this, Gu Tai paused and cautiously asked, ¡°Uncle, can I pick you?¡±

    Gu Tingchuan looked at his parents and, when they did not have any objections, he nodded faintly. ¡°Alright. You cane see what your uncle does every day at work.¡±

    Sheng Ru pulled Gu Tai over to her and smiled. With raised eyebrows, she said, ¡°Gu Tai is very good and has been popr since young. He even received a love letter from a female student today.¡±

    ¡°Teacher Yi said that I and that student will not have any results.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan raised an eyebrow, meaning why.

    Gu Tai said in a low voice, ¡°Because she said, ¡®The style of painting is different, how can you fall in love?''¡±

    With these words, the two elders were confused, but Gu Tingchuan¡¯s lips curved and he suddenly fell into deep thoughts.

    The girl¡¯s pretty face subconsciously emerged in his mind. The pair of eyes were bright and the appearance seemed as if innately happy and full ofughter. The ck hair was slightly wavy and, although she was not stunningly beautiful, he didn¡¯t know why she seemed so much more attractive than the beautiful actresses around him.

    Although the number of meetings between them were not many, Gu Tingchuan had gradually developed a clear impression of Teacher Yi through Gu Tai¡¯s descriptions. At first, because of her rtionship with his nephew, he gave her some attention and preferential treatment. However, in this way, he slowly became more aware of her each day.

    To the extent that, his subtle yet favorable impression of her became the start of a marvelous connection.

 Chapter 5 - Marry Me

    Chapter 5: Marry Me

    By the end of the month, summer vacation officially began. There was no chance to see the cute Gu Tai all day long, and it was even more impossible to see the cool Uncle Gu.

    On the one hand, many of her friends were unexpectedly getting married and, on the other hand, her cousin¡¯s wedding finally arrived. The wedding was held at the famous He Mansion. The He Mansion had a detached Western-style house with amplewn for wedding ceremonies and a nearby luxury hotel with a banquet room.

    Although it was the bride¡¯s second marriage, this time she found a good man from a respectable family. The appearance was also good and, thus, the family was extremely happy.

    When she opened the door to the dressing room, she heard her cousin say, ¡°Where¡¯s my invisible bra? Can you all help me find it? I need it for the banquet dress.¡±

    The bride and Yi Ran had a deep friendship so, when she arrived, the bride paid attention and suddenly asked, ¡°Xiao Ran, this morning, didn¡¯t I give you my bra?¡±

    Yi Ran was slightly dumbfounded that the cousin seemed to be ming her and said, ¡°I saw you hand it to the wedding assistant.¡± Then, seeing the bride¡¯s helpless look, she mentally sighed and forced herself to say, ¡°I will ask. It may be ced in the ce where the ceremony was held.¡±

    ¡°Then can you go soon? It¡¯s almost time for the banquet; otherwise, it¡¯ll be toote!¡±

    Being yelled at by the other person made Yi Ran¡¯s mood turn sour, but it wouldn¡¯t do to argue back back at this moment. As a result, she had no choice but to nod and turn back.

    From the hotel where they will have the banquet to the small house normally took about ten minutes when walking. Of course, it will be quicker if she ran. Despite wearing a blue dress with a shoulder-less top, she ran all the way without caring about her image. By the time she got there, she was sweating and panting. But, she was able to find the bride¡¯s underwear and should be able to bring it back in time.

    However, the more anxious she was, the more flustered she became. She was about to step on the first staircase outside the hotel when she identally ended up spraining her ankle instead. In the moment when her body fell forward, her bag flew out andnded some distance from her. Her whole body was in pain, making her unable to speak for a moment. All of sudden, her right foot felt as if it was being stabbed by needles.

    She fell awkwardly and while shey stunned on the floor, she naturally caught the attention of passersby.

    Sometimes, it really was impossible to know the machinations of fate.

    If you have never met him, even if you both were looking at the same scenery, feeling the same rain and wind, going through the everyday motions of life, you will not be able to see him.

    But, when you really have met him, the city you lived in became very small, such that you could hear his voice everywhere, and you could see his shadows.

    Yi Ran was a little disoriented when she fell, and her mind was a little messy. She waited for a few seconds but, before she could move, she saw a pair of gleaming shoes. She looked up at the owner of the shoes, and her eyes widened.

    The other person was obviously as surprised as she was, but immediately gave her a smile as usual.

    ¡°...Gu, Director Gu?! What a surprise to also see you here!¡±

    ¡°Mmm, I¡¯m here for a wedding,¡± Gu Tingchuan said as he helped her up. Meanwhile, assistant Xiao Zhao took up the bag.

    This morning, he had joined the male god He Yang¡¯s wedding in Bali and had just flew back. Without rest, he then had to rush to the wedding of his eldest friend.

    Yi Ran noticed that he was not dressed as grandly as when he had participated in the White Birch Award ceremony, but he still wore a dark suit in a proper manner. It was a wardrobe necessary for the many events with other celebrities in attendance.

    At this time, Gu Tinghuan was still standing tall. No matter when or where, he was always so handsome, exuding an air of restraint and calm. She thought that this aspect of him was incredibly fascinating.

    He looked down at her and said, ¡°How about I first look at where the pain is.¡±

    He found that the ankle of her right foot was already swollen, indicating that the bone was probably injured. There were also bruises on both of her arms, but these were not very important.

    Subconsciously, his gaze fell on her dress and he noticed that, in the fall, her top had slid down somewhat, revealing the top half of her full breasts. The sight of her ample curves were alluring but not obscene.

    Yi Ran noticed that his gaze seemed different, and she hastily leaned a little to the side to adjust her clothes. Gu Tingchuan still noticed her movements, but he did not care too much about it and merely stood by her side so she could lean on him.

    He had always had a sense of propriety. Later, Yi Ran would tell him, ¡°You are indeed this kind of man, at once gentle and indifferent.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan, the great director of Jiaye, patiently supported her at this moment, and his tone was low and serious as he said, ¡°You have to go to the hospital to get an x-ray. Can you move now? First, let¡¯s find a ce for you to sit down for a while.¡±

    Yi Ran also wanted to find a ce to sit down. The throbbing pain in her foot was making her lightheaded and weak, such that she was almost leaning half of her body against him. She could even feel the radiating warmth of his body temperature. As she took in a deep breath, her eyesnded on the bag in Xiao Zhao¡¯s hand and she immediately said, ¡°No, I need to give the bride something. She¡¯s waiting for me.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan responded, his voice still very calm, ¡°Tell Xiao Zhao what floor and he will deliver it first.¡±

    Before Yi Ran could react, she was already being personally supported by Gu Tingchuan up the stairs. They went to the lobby on the first floor and found a remote sofa to sit down. This series of events was turning into another scare after her fall.

    His hand was firmly holding her wrist, and his height was higher than hers. Tonight, she was also wearing less clothes. Every time she moved, her body would brush against his arm and chest, giving the misconception that they were embracing. When the skin touched, the sensation was electrifying, making the temperature between them gradually grow hotter.

    Although, today, his shirt was meticulously button, it could not hide the strong and beautiful lines of his physique.

    Yi Ran shifted her gaze away and saw that, although the lights in the hall were bright, the ce where they sat was slightly darker. The moonlight came in through the skylight, reflecting the dim glow of lights and the dust particles.

    At this moment, the brilliance of the moonlight paled inparison to the intensity of Gu Tinchuan¡¯s gaze. In her eyes, his good figure was so simple and elegant that it can even give people the illusion of gentleness and caring.

    Yi Ran¡¯s heart was hot, and she turned her head nervously to study the wedding decorations everywhere. The ce was decorated in a weing pink tone. The dreamy decor was very beautiful, but it also made her feel tired.

    This feeling she had long been familiar with. It was the inexplicable repression of work, and the desire to have a marriage. People will never be satisfied with the present, always wanting what they can¡¯t have. Even her cousin, who had failed a marriage, can find a beloved. This made her suddenly want totch on more to the idea of marriage, especially in light of her cousin¡¯s grand wedding and her constant need to unt her beautiful rtionship everywhere.

    The throbbing sensation on her ankle seemed to be more and more painful, and she blinked her eyes. Her eyes were a little moist, but, of course, she was an adult and she forcibly held back her tears.

    ¡°Does it hurt?¡± Gu Tingchuan saw that her expression looked pained. He looked down at her swollen ankle and said, ¡°You need to have an x-ray done to see if there is any injury to the bone.¡±

    Yi Ran nodded. ¡°I know, thank you. Director Gu, it seems like we were brought together by fate. At that time, I also especially went to see you on the red carpet, just like your fans.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan heard these two words, and he couldn¡¯t help but recall the girl who had also said these same words to him. Only, he had not known her well then, and didn¡¯t know that she had already be his fan.

    He remembered the fireworks reflecting on the surface of the water and the scene of the happy bride and groom. As he was remembering, he slowly looked at Yi Ran. ¡°You don¡¯t have anyone you like?¡±

    Yi Ran shook her head, suddenly feeling awkward. ¡°I haven¡¯t met anyone that I really liked. It is also a pity. Even up until now, I have not had any strong emotions toward anyone.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan leisurely took off his coat and draped it over his arm. His voice was light and gentle when he said, ¡°Why? Do you not have friends around you?¡±

    ¡°Contrary to what one might expect, they all have a significant other.¡± Yi Ran suddenly brightened and her finger brushed against his coat as she said, ¡°Do you know, I have a friend who dreamed at night that she liked a boy who she was not familiar with at all. After waking up, she started to crazily pursue him and now she is married with children.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s face seemed to overflow withughter. ¡°That¡¯s very interesting.¡±

    ¡°Yes, the advent of love alwayse in various forms, but unfortunately, I don¡¯t know when it will be my turn.¡± Yi Ran shifted her body and felt that, aside from the sprain on her ankle, her arms and other feet were fine.

    Gu Tingchuan did not seem to be anxious to go, simply sitting on the side of the chair, patiently looking at the moonlight in the distance. It was difficult to know what he was thinking.

    Yi Ran continued, ¡°I have two married sisters and even myst single friend just got married. I sometimes wonder if I will never find that person.¡±

    One cannot simply spend a lifetime waiting for it.

    After saying this sentence, she realized that it sounded like she wasining. She didn¡¯t know how to exin and felt awkward. It seemed that she was subconsciously talking to him as if he was a friend.

    ¡°Director Gu, have Gu Tai finished his homework?¡±

    Seeing that she had changed the subject, Gu Tingchuan also responded with great coordination. When he spoke, his voice was clear and rxed, ¡°When I go back in the morning, I will check. But, he has a tutor so it shouldn¡¯t be a problem.¡±

    ¡°What about his parents?¡±

    Gu Tingchuan looked up at her and said inly. ¡°They are divorcing.¡±

    Yi Ran felt her heart pinched and she felt pained for Gu Tai. She had already made some guesses. After all, the parents marital problems will always have an impact on the child.

    She was considering whether she should continue on with this topic when the man suddenly smiled a little. His body leaned forward slightly, looking bothzy and sexy at the same time. This posture waspletely different from what she usually saw. He said casually, ¡°So you see, there is a lot of trouble with the reality of marriage.¡±

    She shrugged, agreeing somewhat but not caring. ¡°Mmm, I know. But, I still really wanted to get married.¡±

    After saying this, she felt a little embarrassed. Rather than deal with this troublesome matter, she made as if to get up, and the big director next to her immediately helped her. She said, ¡°Everyone is almost gone. I should go.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan very gracefully proposed, ¡°You¡¯re still not good. I will help you up.¡±

    This time, she refused resolutely. ¡°If you let others see you, then it will not only be troublesome for you but be a hindrance as well. It is better to send me to the elevator. Anyway, my family is just upstairs.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan did not insist, but merely just helped her up. When they arrived at the elevator, she let go of his arm and took a few steps towards the door. After a moment of silence, she suddenly thought of something and her eyes grew bright.

    ¡°Teacher Yi Ran.¡±

    She heard his voice and, after blinking rapidly, turned her body to see him through the haze of light. The picture in front of her was a little blurry but bright. His eyes seemed to contain some meaning that she was unable to make sense of.

    Their eyes met through the revtion of fate, and Gu Tingchuan felt that this was like a sign.

    He spoke very naturally, but each word seemed to have been carefully considered. ¡°It is better to marry me.¡±

 Chapter 6 - The Outlines of Love

    Chapter 6: The Outlines of Love

    She never thought that this would ever happen, but then it suddenly did.

    Yi Ran was so astonished that she couldn¡¯t help but turn her head to look at the man, only to see him so calm and unruffled. Truthfully, she thought she must have heard wrong. Was she so eager to get married that she suddenly started having auditory hallucinations?

    As Gu Tinghuan waited patiently, she suddenly gained her senses and asked, ¡°Ah? What did you say?¡±

    He had anticipated her reaction and walked a few steps closer to her side. The elevator door behind her suddenly opened and several guests came out sporadically. When they saw them, they stared for a while.

    Gu Tingchuan reached for her and gently pulled her to the corner next to the elevator. He smiled and told her, ¡°You want to get married? What a coincidence. So do I. And, I think we are quite suitable.¡±

    Yi Ran once again had a moment of astonishment. Biting her lower lip in confusion and unable to look at him, she said, ¡°I don¡¯t understand...Are you saying marriage? This is a big event in life. You suddenly said that¡­¡±

    Gu Tingchaun gazed at her quietly. When he spoke, his tone was steady, ¡°My job, you should know. As for my family background, you can search the inte. Or, if you want to know the specific, we can sit down together and I will tell you. Oh, I don¡¯t drink or smoke. I don¡¯t think I have any bad habits. However, there are some fixed habits when filming, such as drinking a lot of coffee, Sometimes, when I am working on something for a long time, I don¡¯t want anyone to disturb me...But, other than that, if you need me, I will do my best.¡±

    As Yi Ran listened to his words with a dazed expression, she felt that the most incredible thing was happening but Gu Tingchuan¡¯s face was as serious as ever.

    ¡°As for your circumstances, I already know a lot. Although we haven¡¯t known each other for a long period of time, at least not enough to thoroughly know one another, but it is sufficient to start this marriage.¡±

    Yi Ran was still in a stunned state. She patted her face with her hands to calm herself for a moment before she said, ¡°I¡¯m a little confused. You are seriously suggesting, I know this, but I also need to think about it. I think¡­¡±

    Probably because she was too nervous, she felt the illusion of nausea. The injury on her foot, along with the ensuing pain, definitely was not helping her to calm down and think.

    Gu Tingchuan noticed that she had difficulty standing so he smiled and acquiesced. ¡°I¡¯ll give you time to think about it. Don¡¯t worry.¡±

    Yi Ran held the cold marble wall next to the elevator. She dazedly said goodbye to him. When the elevator doors opened, she hobbled in with one foot and pressed theyers of button on the wall. There was a suspicious blush on her cheeks as, from the corners of her eyes, she noticed Gu Tingchuan¡¯s face, so finely carved it was like a work of art.

    She didn¡¯t dare to look up, even when she heard the elevator door slid shut.

    Yi Ran returned to her cousin¡¯s wedding banquet. In an instant, she felt as if the previous event had never happened. This difficult thought caused her graceful eyebrows to subconsciously tighten.

    Before today, if others had told her that Director Gu¡¯s temperament was strange and iprehensible, that he was an entric in pursuit of control and perfectionism, she would only be a little skeptical. But, now that she had seen first hand the man¡¯s decisiveness and boldness, she truly admired and bowed down to him.

    ......

    After a few days, when Yi Ran still had not have time topletely digest Gu Tingchuan¡¯s marriage proposal, she had to face a more confusing reality.

    She was originally lying at home to raise her feet. The so-called unfortunate good fortune was that her bones were not broken, but she was hurt. The mother who had retired that afternoon was cooking at home. She took her ipad and brushed Weibo. When she got to the headlines, she was shocked. Thework was suddenly overwhelmed with new gossip!

    Although Gu Tingchuan was slightly prepared, what he had not expected was that his recent interactions with Yi Ran had been photographed by reporters.

    One of the pictures was of them at a hotel lobby ¡°snuggling intimately¡± with each other. However, because their actions were a bit stiff, some entertainment media also used the title ¡°Director Gu suspected of staying overnight with drunk mysterious woman.¡±

    What made people feel even more incredulous was that not only was the photosst night published, but so were photos of them chatting at the theater hall. To think that some paparazzi had already photographed them previously but was just waiting for this type of big news to reveal them.

    New remarks will appear constantly, and Yi Ran¡¯s face constantly shifted from gloomy to depressed. If she didn¡¯t already have a bad foot, she would probably jump up and start pacing. She wondered whether she ought to call Director Gu. But, she didn¡¯t know how to face this man...

    At this time, Gu Tingchuan was also watching these reports. The assistant Xiao Zhao thought that his boss would look upset. The oue was that his predictionpletely missed the nail on the head.

    Gu Tingchuan stared at the photo of them walking side by side in the hotel. His face was clearer than hers, but he could still sense the bright rity in Yi Ran¡¯s eyes.

    This was probably the first time that he praised a paparazzi photographer¡¯s technology and skills.

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s figure was like a shadow in front of the hotel, while the moonlight brushed over the profile of his handsome face. The sharp line of his nose made him look steady and mature; his eyes had a hint of concentration; but, at the moment, it was the rising of the lips that made him looked particrly rxed.

    Even the photos taken with another actress at the scene of Cloud Headdress was not as natural.

    Some reporters had already swarmed the outside of thepany in order to visit Gu Tingchuan for abuse. This time, it was rted to the topics of ¡°drunk¡± and ¡°hotel.¡± The public opinion was extensive, but Gu Tingchuan had always been very close-mouthed about his personal affairs. Only, this time, this new topic was too sensational so it might take a while to die down.

    In the past, Gu mother wouldn¡¯t think much of these ¡°news.¡± But, her second son had be such a hot topic of gossip. When he saw her call, Gu Tingchuan had some helplessness.

    ¡°Tingchuan, how did you get on the entertainment section?¡±

    He moved his mobile phone slightly away from his face and said, ¡°This time is different.¡±

    Then, taking advantage of Sheng Ru¡¯s surprise, Gu Tingchuan hung up the phone, turned around and asked Xiao Zhao. ¡°Is this it?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Miss Yi Ran lives here.¡±

    He paused and said, ¡°You wait outside.¡±

    When Yi Ran saw her mother¡¯s weird expression as she brought in Gu Tingchuan, the man still holding a small basket in his hand, she was stunned for a while. Then, she quickly pressed her ipad screen to ck.

    ¡°Xiao Ran, this is your friend?¡±

    Yi Ran casually tucked her hair behind her ear, suddenly feeling shy. ¡°Howe you¡¯re here?¡±

    Gu Tingchuan calmly stood in front of the two women. His low voice was particrly nice as he said, ¡°There was no way to say in advance that I wasing. Aunt, sorry to disturb you.¡±

    Yi Ran¡¯s mother, seeing that this atmosphere had some indefinable ambiguousness, quietly endured. After a few moments of joy in her heart, she looked at the handsome man and waved her hand. ¡°You talk first. I still need to fry the dishes in the pot.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan handed the visiting gift to the girl with the red face. He looked at her room a little, seeing a ck wrought iron shelf bed; a home decorated with some vintage solid wood drawers; a blue-toned vase next to the window with a few bunches of hydrangea inserted inside; the atmosphere was refreshing and charming.

    Next to Yi Ran was a pack of opened snacks and a ss of juice with gradually melting ice. She looked down at the things he brought. The package contained a small caramel box that, when opened, housed two gold foiled jars of orange jam.

    She was a little surprised, and secretly ridiculed that she was presently not fit to be seen inpany, much less to receive a gift from director Gu Tingchuan. But the point was...

    ¡°How do you know that I like to eat jam?¡±

    It should not be a coincidence.

    ¡°My nephew told me,¡± Gu Tingchuan said, looking for a ce to sit down. Then, he looked at her. ¡°Sorry, I was filming recently, and I only have a little time this afternoon.¡±

    ¡°I haven¡¯t seen Gu Tai for a while, but I¡¯ve still thought of him.¡± Yi Ran looked at the eye-catching man who was close at hand and lowered her head. She didn¡¯t know where to look.

    ¡°You needn¡¯t feel flustered. If you think it is not appropriate, then I won¡¯t mention it. Sorry.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s sentence made Yi Ran suddenly rx a lot. She cleared her throat and asked: ¡°Why me?¡±

    Probably because she was a teacher, her voice was soft and the ending of each words were warm and crisp, like jade drops. The sounds were very sweet.

    ¡°Because I believe in intuition, so marrying you should be the correct thing to do.¡± He said this matter-of-factly. ¡¡.

    She raised her head to look at him and became more and more convinced. ¡°Is this apliment? Or... Like, how you personally choose an actress for your movies?¡±

    Rumor was that Gu Tingchuan¡¯s eyes were very perceptive. Almost every movie will have a talented actress. As long as he sees a girl with potential, no matter how much energy he spends, he will pour all his artistic talent into helping the other person be better.

    For example, regarding the female lead role in Cloud Headdress, the pure new actor who won the ¡°White Birch Award¡± in one fell swoop was definitely thanks to Gu Tingchuan¡¯s hands-on teaching.

    ¡°Work and artistic creation have nothing to do with marriage. If I have to say that there are any additional reasons...¡± Gu Tingchuan paused and truthfully said, ¡°My family has always hated gossip, and I am tired of it myself. It is difficult when the media is always spreading rumors bringing me and every actress together.¡±

    If he was married, he could at least avoid some of the evils.

    Yi Ran increasingly believed that Gu Tingchuan was really different from many men. While others were pursuing a peach blossom, he was pursuing a stable family life.

    Seeing her in a thoughtful attitude, Gu Tingchuan guided her in a timely manner, ¡°How about it.¡±

    This sentence, he spoke as a statement, not a question.

    The two most difficult puzzles for Yi Ran was that their emotional foundation was not solid enough and the other was that they might not be able to ¡°co-shoot¡±.

    The biggest problem between them should be equality. But, in terms of Yi Ran, it was not a story about Cindere and the prince. At least, she refused to put herself in such a low posture.

    After all, she was toozy to use this kind of dramatic Disney animations topare the possible gaps between their two lives. She was more worried about the problems that may arose¡ªthat was, the inability tomunicate and to run when things break down.

    Love was still love. Money or love, from the beginning of time, both had always been difficult to choose.

    It was just that she clearly understood that while she was thinking, time was constantly flowing. Rather than going for it and making the wrong choice, she feared that she will regret her life more if she had missed the opportunity altogether.

    She didn¡¯t know what she wanted most, but it would not be difficult for her to like such a man.

    In the eyes of Gu Tingchuan, she was probably like an uncut jade. But, she did not need to be engraved by anyone, to be given the most beautiful appearance. Rather, she preferred the modifications given by life.

    After a little meditation, she looked up at him and seemed to have an answer in her heart.

 Chapter 7 - A Rare Happily Married Couple

    Chapter 7: A Rare Happily Married Couple

    After a little meditation, Yi Ran looked up at him and seemed to have an answer in her heart.

    These minor sex scandals had caused him to propose marriage. But, when all was said and done, she didn¡¯t know when Gu Tingchuan had settled on the matter of marriage or whether he had any ns at all. Director Gu was a recognized young leader in the industry. After his debut, he won numerous awards. Although many people disapproved of him, one cannot deny that he was indeed a rare legend that cannot be copied.

    Yi Ran bit her bottom lip and wanted to say something, but she saw Gu Tingchuan looking at her. Her face turned red and she could only say, ¡°Have you been very busytely? What kind of movies are you filming...Is there really still time to get married?¡±

    Gu Tingchuan truthfully said, ¡°A martial arts film.¡±

    She instantly forgot the main points and was surprised. ¡°Really, a martial arts film? Wow... rumors are true?¡±

    He put one finger to his lips and made a shush action. ¡°The specific content has not yet been revealed to the media, so don¡¯t tell others first.¡±

    He did such a sultry movement that she could not react for a while, only knew that after meeting Gu Tingchuan himself can she realize how big his charm was.

    Gu Tingchuan softly said, ¡°Martial arts is a very special subject matter. In recent years, there are almost no good works in the wind. I remember a director I admired, he said, it is a worthwhile subject but it may not be able to move people. So... I also want to make an attempt at creating a martial arts film. After all, most people nowadays remember it with nostalgia and a sense offort.¡±

    When he talked about his work or his creation, he became passionate, exuding an innate sense of perfectionism coupled with the circumspect and meticulous manner of learned behavior. He will state his position in an unbiased manner, every word spoken powerfully and boldly, permitting you to feel that his action was both dangerous yet safe.

    In fact, with a man like Gu Tingchuan, no matter what, it would probably not be smart to let hime to your house as a guest. At this moment, with this kind of man, it was difficult for Yi Ran not to cheerfully look forward to the future. She smiled, even as her eyebrows arched. ¡°How do you n on handling this news?¡±

    Gu Tingchuan shot her a nce and said, ¡°Because our rtionship is different, we will also make the public rtions people respond differently, if you don¡¯t mind.

    She felt that his tone was very unconcerned and didn¡¯t know why her heart suddenly felt disappointed. But then, unexpectedly, the corners of his mouth curved slightly and he said, ¡°I think you¡¯ll agree that something does exist between us?¡±

    Yi Ran was startled and, looking back at him, she finally said bravely, ¡°Actually, when I saw the scandal today, I felt really bad. If, after that, my future blind dates realize that you and I were rumored together, they might think that something actually did happen.¡±

    After all, who would believe that, in the face of such a man, she was only ¡°helped¡± by him for a while and was not directly supported to the bedroom.

    Gu Tingchuan was amused by her silliness, unaware that his smiling expression was unusually warm and was causing a ripple in Yi Ran¡¯s state of mind.

    Yi Ran went on to say, ¡°You see, the current education is not particrly unusual. Some parents do not allow their children to fall in love when they are still students. But, once they have graduated, the parents will suddenly expect marriage within a few months. Although my parents do not often remind me, I know that, sometimes, when they see me without even a boyfriend, their heart will not feel at ease.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan said calmly, ¡°Then, I think it is better to find me than to find those people.¡±

    His face and dark eyes were somewhat focused, causing his temperament to be almost irresistible.

    ¡°Director Gu, we haven¡¯t known each other for a long period of time. In the past, I used to be a bit cowardly when faced with strong leaders, and I also think that you are also very intimidating.¡±

    He raised a questioning eyebrow, and she added, ¡°Since you¡¯ve raised this matter with me, I¡¯ve been thinking a lot about many things. Frankly, I like your job very much and I also like you.¡±

    There had also been a few private interactions...that made her feel girlish in her heart.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know how you will look at me or even how you will feel about me. I sometimes feel whimsical, and sometimes it is very easy for me to be passionate about certain things. I haven¡¯t had a boyfriend before, and I am not good with feelings. I also assume that you are this way as well.¡±

    ¡°...Mmm.¡±

    ¡°I know that you ¡®re very good. I can see that you¡¯ll take care of your family in everything. But, I also know that your interests may be different from mine. I¡¯m just an ordinary person, and you¡¯re in a ce that is far out of reach for an ordinary person like me. I¡¯ve seriously considered your words and, with a marriage between us, it will be impossible to avoid ims that I¡¯m a social climber.

    Gu Tingchuan made a motion as if to prevent her from speaking further. But, she still carefully said, ¡°But you and I are the same type of people. I don¡¯t care about these things. I think we¡¯re at least equal when faced with certain things. I also respect you, not because you are my family but because you are Gu Tingchuan.¡±

    Yi Ran had always been a simple girl. She often indulged in anime and games, and she had seen manyplicated things in life. She had never disliked wealthy people, nor had she felt inferior to them. She simply thought that people are born in different situations. In the end, the best way to know someone was to look at their bearing and watch how they live. Nothing less, nothing more.

    In her mind, these were all things that Gu Tingchuan will be able to clearly see.

    Yi Ran shrugged her shoulders. ¡°Anyway, I¡¯ve seen your ass, and so I will bear the consequences.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan smiled at her but did not want to let her y alone. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s fine. We¡¯re both in the same boat.¡±

    When she didn¡¯t respond, he said meaningfully, ¡°I had also seen your chest¡­¡±

    Yi Ran, ¡°....¡±

    She grew stiff under his gaze, guiltily following along as, with his finger, he drew an ambiguous curve on her arm. Finally, she shifted her gaze up and saw his tempting eyes. Under the wash of the indoor lighting, his eyes were a liquid mixture of radiance and shadows.

    Warmth surged up within her.

    When Yi Ran and Gu Tingchuan walked through the door together, Ms. Yi was facing her buns with dried meat and stuffed mushrooms. She saw them and immediately smiled.

    Yi Ran hesitated, quickly nced up at the man next to her, and, after getting the other person¡¯s approval, said, ¡°Mom, that, we¡­¡±

    Mother Yi did not hear what she was saying. She simplyughed and asked, ¡°Would your friend like to stay for dinner?¡±

    Gu Tingchuan nced at the watch on his wrist and politely declined. ¡°Sorry, Aunt. Not tonight. I have to go back to work.¡±

    Yi Ran knew that he wanted to go back to the studio, but Mother Yi continued to treat him politely. ¡°Would you like to take a few buns with you? The buns I made are especially delicious. Whenever I make them, each person in our family will eat at least three or more. The steaming here is almost done. You sit down and wait.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan saw her enthusiasm and did not want to reject her. When they sat down at the table, Yi Ran thought about what to say, and she said, ¡°Mom, we are a couple. In fact, today, Gu Tingchuan is not just here to see me but also to see you as well.

    Yi Ran¡¯s mother was so astonished that she froze in ce, her hand still in mid-movement. She looked up and down at the calm and handsome man in front of her before covering her mouth and saying, ¡°Are you teasing me?¡±

    Yi Ran: ¡°...¡± Was this really her biological mother?

    Gu Tingchuan said softly: ¡°I am the uncle of one of Yi Ran¡¯s students.¡±

    Mother Yi stared at him curiously, her eyes not blinking. ¡°Oh, so this is why you look so familiar. Xiao Gu, is it? What kind of work do you do?¡±

    Before he had a chance to introduce himself, Yi Ran opened her mouth. ¡°A little director.¡±

    ¡°Oh, how awesome, ah?¡± As Mother Yi said this, she felt as if recognition was slowly catching up, but it just so happened that the buns finished steaming at this time. She turned back to the kitchen.

    Yi Ran nced at Gu Tingchuan, who was quietly examining her. She said in a low voice, ¡°I¡¯m afraid that your identity might scare her. Let¡¯s do this one step at a time.¡±

    After that, the two mutually weaved a love story that was filled with half-truths and half-falsehoods to Yi Ran¡¯s mother. Yi Ran said that she met Gu Tingchuan when he was apanying the nephew¡¯s parents to school. The rtionship between the two gradually became thicker. He took the initiative to ask her to watch a show, and, in the months that followed, they continued to seek each other out.

    Gu Tingchuan looked so calm that, even when the mother looked at him, she could not see any clues. At this moment, he methodologically said. ¡°Aunt, I¡¯m very fond of Yi Ran. I would like to form a family with her as soon as possible.¡±

    Seeing that such a good man wanted to marry her daughter, although Mother Yi still had some doubts in her heart, more of it was filled with joy.

    Gu Tingchuan had originally wanted to wait until Yi Ran¡¯s father came back in order to also meet with him, but the actors on the set would soon be arriving. He could only get up and leave.

    When Yi Ran got up and, with hobbling feet, tried to send him to the door, Gu Tingchuan¡¯s brows slightly twisted. ¡°Your foot is not good. No need to send.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Just a few steps. You have to let me move about, ah.¡±

    Mother Yi, seeing the two people so intimate, no longer doubted their feelings and snickered as she hid in the kitchen.

    As Yi Ran was holding the door frame and preparing to say goodbye, Gu Tingchuan looked down at her and a steady gentleness rose up in him. His expression was normal as he said, ¡°When are you free next week?¡±

    ¡°It should be empty.¡± After she said this, her expression grew confused. ¡°Is there something?¡±

    Under the bright lights, Gu Tingchuan¡¯s eyes were washed with brilliance, and his expression had no hesitation at all as he saw in a low and persuasive voice, ¡°To get married.¡±

    Yi Ran: ¡°...¡±

    But her foot was still not good?!

    ......

    When she was eating that night, Yi Ran talked about Gu Tingchuan with her parents. She didn¡¯t dare to tell everything truthfully. She only picked some key points. After listening to it, Dad didn¡¯t talk for a while, but Mother Yi raised some doubts.

    ¡°The conditions are so good. Are you suitable?¡±

    Yi Ran slipped a piece of fragrant braised pork into her bowl and said vaguely, ¡°Cousin still had a second marriage. She wasn¡¯t even looking for a wealthy family to marry into. But, presently, she was able to rise up to the heavens.¡±

    Mother Yi shook her head. ¡°Can you understand him? Now there are a lot of young couples who get married after only knowing each other for a few months. But, the main thing to consider is whether the two can get along or not. It¡¯s not good topare oneself with other people. Happiness is the most important thing.¡±

    ¡°Mom, I know that I¡¯m a little confused because of the cousin. But, I won¡¯t just decide to marry Gu Tingchuan for this reason alone. At least, I think his character is the best that I¡¯ve encountered, and I get along well with him.¡±

    Yi Ran did not doubt that Gu Tingchuan will have some dark side. For example, he might be sexually cold, or he might like men and just wanted a cheat marriage. But, she once again thought that even if the marriage was just for appearance¡¯s sake, she will not be taking on more than she can handle. It will be an opportunity to be Director Gu¡¯s woman and to allow her a chance to try to hold on to him.

    They no longer know what to say, knowing that Yi Ran won¡¯t listen. Afterward, she opened up WeChat on her phone and told Zhang Rongrong about the news of her marriage with Director Gu.

    Zhang Rongrong only returned with a few short words: You picked up a big bargain! May I ask, at which clubhouse did you pick up such a good-looking, wealthy and powerful husband?

 Chapter 8 - Mrs. Gu

    Chapter 8: Mrs. Gu

    Zhang Rongrong and Yi Ran talked into the middle of the night. As friends, they also gave each other a lot of opinions, support and encouragement. This also made Yi Ran¡¯s somewhat uneasy emotions calm down. After all, Zhang Rongrong worked in a mental health center and was proficient in psychology. Moreover, Yi Ran was an innately happy person. Once a decision was made, there will be no need to think about it again.

    Director Gu had originally said for them to get married in a week, but once he started working, his concentration was amazing. When he finally took the time to find her again, a month had already passed.

    This day can also be regarded as a good day to get married. Yi Ran¡¯s foot injury was nearly recovered. The weather inte summer was no longer so hot and difficult, and the sun shined with bright vitality over the entire city, even as the cool breeze traced the faces of the people as it blew past.

    They nned to meet at the Civil Affairs Bureau, where Gu Tingchuan will register their marriage. She asked him over the phone, ¡°This, I don¡¯t have to talk to your parents first?¡±

    Gu Tingchuan was preparing to park, and his hands were light on the edge of the steering wheel. He tapped it gently and said in a low voice, ¡°My parents knew about our marriage and agreed to it. I can take you back to see the parents after I received the certificate. Right now, they are in Germany with my big brother and wille back in a few days.¡±

    ¡°So, Gu Tai also knows about this? ¡±

    Through the microphone on the headset came the sound of a chuckle. ¡°Mmm, of course, but he is abroad with my mother.¡±

    Yi Ran didn¡¯t know why but she suddenly wanted to see the reaction of the little boy when he heard the news. She thought it would be very cute...

    The sky was bright and white. She walked towards Gu Tingchuan¡¯s tall figure and went all the way up to him. In front of the private car, she stood in ce and waved and smiled at him.

    Gu Tingchuan thought that this seemed to be the first time someone gave him such a greeting. He was surprised and gazed at her for a while before breaking the silence. ¡°Let¡¯s go in.¡±

    The marriage procedures went smoothly. It wasn¡¯t until Yi Ran saw the little book in her hand did she finally react, realizing that she was now married to the big director.

    Seeing the field for marital status, she discovered that this man really had a kind of magic power, because, with his guidance, it seemed that the process of marriage itself had never been so natural or simple.

    Gu Tingchuan ignored her dazed look. After starting the car, he looked at her sideways and said, ¡°I have to go back to thepany first. Xiao Zhao already had the movingpany send me your luggage. We should see it when we go back tonight. You¡¯ll follow me to thepany first.¡±

    He paused, turned off the air conditioning in the car, and asked, ¡°Do you have other arrangements?¡±

    Yi Ran immediately shook her head. On such a day, what other arrangements could she have?

    When Gu Tingchuan asked her to move to his downtown apartment, there were all kinds of worries but she really didn¡¯t have any good reasons to refuse. So, naturally, she could only promise him.

    Yi Ran nced at her surroundings, remembering that this was her first time in Gu Tingchuan¡¯s car and sitting in the position of co-pilot, no less. To be honest, this feeling was hard to describe. It was like suddenly receiving a gift with your name on it, only to find that it represented something very special.

    Yi Ran looked at the decor inside his car. She ordinarily do not pay too much attention to cars and was only able to recognize that this car was a Cadic, one with lines sharply cut like a diamond. When in motion, the car¡¯s body was particrly distinguished.

    The car was not a high-end sports car nor a business luxury car. Even so, it appeared that Gu Tingchuan liked to use this car. Last time, he also used this same car to pick up Gu Tai from school.

    Yi Ran blinked and still couldn¡¯t believe that this was happening.

    After half an hour, the car steadily stopped in thepany¡¯s underground garage. The decoration of the Jiaye filmpany from top to bottom was in a cool color scheme, exuding a rigorous and detailed atmosphere everywhere. Elite men and women in suits and high heels would pass through the corridor from time to time, and everyone seemed to be busy.

    Although thispany will partly belong to Gu Tingchuan sooner orter, several old producers and investors had disputed the plot and setting of his movie. The two sides had different opinions. As a result, he had to rush back to the meeting to handle some things and to voice his own opinions.

    As they waited for the elevator, severalpany personnel in suits gathered around Gu Tingchuan to discuss business affairs. One of them was a deputy director named Lu Shanwei, who was also famous and well-received.

    She quietly followed them to the elevator on the highest floor. As Gu Tingchuan¡¯s new wife, she really felt unprecedented tension. The pressure was ten times more than the first time she stood in front of a ssroom full of students.

    Yi Ran secretly sent a WeChat to her friend, saying: Laozi is now in the Jiaye building, but why do the people here look so good...

    The information was only sent halfway when Gu Tinghuan noticed Yi Ran¡¯s bowed head as she looked at her phone. He opened his mouth as if to say something but seemed to think better of it, and he finally just said, ¡°I¡¯m going to open a meeting. You can go to my office to rest. If you want coffee or snacks, let the staff help you.¡±

    After saying this, he turned to a female staff member. ¡°Take her to my office and bring the documents on my desk to the conference room.¡±

    Before Yi Ran had the chance to respond, the group with Gu Tingchuan at the center had already taken a big step away.

    She smiled at the beautiful secretary in dark professional suit, and the professional smile on the other person¡¯s face was just right. ¡°Hello. Please enter here.¡±

    After greeting her, the secretary took a bunch of files and walked away. Yi Ran sat alone on the sofa for a while.

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s office was not only full of modern art style, but it can even give people a cold chill. She looked around and saw paintings on the wall that looked like they were done by masters. The indoor potted nts were flourishing. It should be that someone always came on time to take care of it. The desk was spotlessly clean with only a few documents piled on top. Even so, the look was still very orderly. The rows of bookshelves were filled with books rted to movies.

    She dared not tamper with his things so she simply took a magazine from the coffee table and thumbed through it. After a while, she got up to look for the remote control to raise the air conditioner. Then, after lowering the temperature a few degrees, she turned and walked out to find the restroom.

    When she returned to Gu Tingchen¡¯s office, there was a familiar figure in front of the door.

    She stared distractedly at the woman, and when she got closer, she realized that she knew this beautiful woman. It was from thest time she and Zhang Rongrong went to see the White Birch Award ceremony. At that time, Gu Tingchuan walked the red carpet with this Dark River female star named Guo Baiyu.

    Yi Ran remembered that Zhang Rongrong had previously said, ¡°This woman is only a small model ranked 18th in line. When she auditioned, Director Zhan and Director Gu settled on her. Otherwise, it would be impossible for her to rise so fast, ah.¡±

    Guo Baiyu¡¯s features were beautifully entuated by light makeup, making her face look even more delicate and elegant. Her maroon hair was wavy and long, contrasting with her pale skin. She wore a tight dress with a high waist extending upward. The neckline was low enough to expose the kind of sexy corbones that could make people lose their concentration.

    Yi Ran was still pondering over how to say hello when Guo Baiyu swept her a nce and asked, ¡°Where is Xiao Zhao?¡±

    She suddenly felt that just looking at the other party was quite good. It was, after all, a popr goddess. Without thinking much about it, she blurted, ¡°Out carrying luggage.¡±

    Guo Baiyu raised her eyebrows in doubt but only thought that this was the work arranged by Gu Tingchuan. Without asking, she handed the things she was carrying over to Yi Ran.

    Yi Ran looked down and saw that it was a box of the afternoon tea snacks usually found at high-end hotels. The fanciful shapes and colorspletely evoked her appetite.

    Guo Baiyu nced at the time on her mobile phone and said, ¡°Is the director still not finished yet? Then you give this to him.¡±

    Yi Ran jumped and raised her voice, ¡°Thank you, Miss Guo. The snacks are not cheap; you¡¯ve spent a lot of money.¡±

    Guo Baiyu heard this andughed out loud. ¡°It¡¯s interesting talking to you.¡±

    She didn¡¯t seem to care what Yi Ran¡¯s identity was. She sent a message on her mobile phone and said to the girl who was suspected of being a new assistant, ¡°I have a notice in the next TV series. I will go first. You tell him that I was here.¡±

    Yi Ran stood in the same ce and watched the big star walk away. Finally, she looked at the snack in her hands. In the past, she and the cousin also went to this hotel to have afternoon tea. It was really delicious but downright expensive.

    She entered the office and closed the door, sighing a little as she did so. Well, the female celebrity obviously did not put Yi Ran in her eye, not even directly as a small role.

    In fact, before deciding to marry Gu Tingchuan, she had also considered the many temptations of this circle. The director¡¯s influence was wide, allowing him to meet all kinds of people, and there had been a lot of reports about his life. Regardless, she had already convinced herself several times that, ording to her perception of Director Gu, he will not be a man who likes to sneak around. What¡¯s more, if he loves to y, there was no need to find her to settle down.

    However, in an environment like the entertainment circle, if he wanted to y with other women, to flirt with and entertain them, this will not be something that she would be willing to ept. Perhaps, it might be that some of his previous scandals were even true.

    Yi Ran couldn¡¯t help but start thinking about it. If one day she really had to face an emotional dispute, could she really stand the test¡­

    After a long time, Gu Tingchuan finally pushed in the door, with traces of impatience still on his face. The results of the discussions at the meeting were not satisfactory. Then, his eyes noticed the snacks on the table, and the look on his face softened.

    However, Yi Ran said, ¡°Oh, this was from the ¡®house goddess¡¯ Guo Baiyu, who wanted me to give it to you.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan paused, and in his eyes was a hint of a teasing smile. ¡°She didn¡¯t ask who you were? You didn¡¯t say it?¡±

    Yi Ran observed his look while drinking tea. She had never had a soft personality. She deliberately replied, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t know what to say even if she asked. After all, I don¡¯t know what your and Guo Baiyu¡¯s rtionship are?¡±

    His eyebrows furrowed for a moment, then he smiled . He moved his eyes back to theputer screen on his desk and said softly, ¡°I will teach you. Next time you can say thank you to her, then just tell her, ¡®He doesn¡¯t like sweets, but Mrs. Gu likes it¡¯.¡±

    Yi Ran was surprised by his answer.

    She repeatedly chewed on the meaning of this sentence, uncertain whether the meaning to him was the same. It just felt that ...was Director Gu being sweet?

    From their first meeting to the present, Gu Tingchuan had always been thoughtful and circumspect. However, she believed that their rtionship was indeed a step closer today, and now they had a new rtionship, one that she hoped will be good.. .

    Gu Tingchuan saw her expression, and got up from his desk. Sitting down on the sofa next to her, he poured himself a cup of tea. She took a sip of her own tea and was about to start talking. But then, she heard her phone on the table ringing.

    She had to lean over and pick it up. He suddenly grabbed her wrist with one hand, his fingertips softly pressing against her skin.

    Drawing in a breath, Yi Ran looked at Gu Tingchuan¡¯s face. She felt the touch of his fingers andpletely forgot to answer the phone. She could only allow the vibration of the mobile phone to continue.

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s fingers gently rubbed a few times over her skin. His eyebrows were pulled down in a frown, as he said: ¡°Why are you always watching the mobile phone?¡±

    His tone was like teaching a youngster.

    But, before she had time to retort, his handsome face drew closer. The eyes were as deep as two pools of water as he suddenly pressed his mouth to her. The kiss caught her off guard, but her lips were still decisively captured and entangled. His mouth was warm and moist, turning her surprise into a kind of shame and incitement that cannot be spoken.

    The taste of his mouth as he kissed her caused her resistance to crumble in an instant. His soft lips were electrifying, sweeping across her senses like a brewing storm.

    And then, the tip of his tongue invaded, pushing away all of her rationality and leaving her trembling with only the soul stirring awareness of him.

 Chapter 9 - Where Should I Sleep?

    Chapter 9: Where Should I Sleep?

    Yi Ranpletely did not expect that this man will kiss her in his office. The movement of his lips as his kissed her, the way his tongue swept across the inside of her mouth,pletely encircled her and left her mind nk.

    Gu Tingchuan shifted slightly, pressing her closer to him, and sensation of his body left her trembling.

    Yi Ran did not know how to resist, but neither did she know how to respond. She originally thought that, if one day someone kisses her, it would be necessary to leave her eyes open to look at him. But now, her eyes were shut tight and she could only use her fingers to cling to his wide shoulders.

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s clothes were very casual today. The gray shirt had some British vors, and his trousers were wrapped around two slender legs, Yet, the way he wore these clothes exuded a strong sense of masculinity, making him seem more dangerous.

    He only held her face with a few fingers and did not even use the full force of his hand, but it was impossible for her to move. His mere touch dominated herpletely.

    He really was a man favored by the goddess of fate.

    There was some confusion in her mind, some indescribable delight that, when aroused by the taste and sensation of his mouth, made her unable to resist the need to press closer. She wanted a deeper taste, even as her ears drummed with the rhythmic tempo of her quickening heartbeat.

    The situation of the two became more and more uncontroble, but there was no obstacle. This was a kiss between a pair of husband and wife, but also a kiss between an unfamiliar man and woman.

    Finally, Yi Ran¡¯s first kiss was interrupted by a knock on the door. When Gu Tingchuan left her lips, his fingers seemed to be deliberately pinching her cheek before he got up and went to open the door.

    Yi Ran did not need to look at the door, knowing that her face was too red to see people. She lowered her head and pretended to be busy with her mobile phone. Looking at her phone, she found that Zhang Rongrong had called.

    As she called her friend back, she could hear Gu Tingchuan standing at the door and talking to the staff. After that, his voice was slightly raised and he said, ¡°My script can¡¯t be changed like this.¡±

    Director Gu can really have a bit of a temper, a departure from his usual gentle calmness.

    As Yi Ran touched her hot lips that had just been thoroughly kissed, her surging emotions finally calmed, but her heart was still shaking.

    As night descended, the streets were warmly lit up by the soft yellow glow of the streetmps, and theyer of clouds had already slowly dispersed. By the time they left, the Jiaye Building was already dark. There were not many stars overhead, making the night sky seemed silent and boundless.

    Because of the kiss in the afternoon, Yi Ran did not know what to say to the other person. On the way to his home, sitting in the passenger seat was like sitting on needles.

    Gu Tingchuan drove the car into amunity where a few houses still had lights on. Although his house was just a fairly small apartment in the city, the inside was structured like something right out of arge mansion, with the rooms shaped by modern architecture. The decorative style of the home was simr to his private office; it was like a modern art exhibit. Although it was elegant and clean, it was still cold and had no ¡°home¡± atmosphere.

    Gu Tingchuan took off his shoes at the porch, and when he handed her a pair of women¡¯s slippers, she didn¡¯t know whether it had belonged to a maid. After changing shoes, she looked up to find the several paper boxes she had packed neatly stacked in the hall.

    As he walked forward, he said to her, ¡°The things that you need my help with can be left on the side. I will show you the house first.¡±

    Yi Ran did not utter a sound but followed behind Gu Tingchuan. Throughout the journey, she was strangely silent. But he also did not mind. He recalled the kiss and was in a good mood, such that, above his graceful chin, there was the arc of a smile and his features could not maintain his usual seriousness. ¡°This is my studio. Please don¡¯t enter it casually or touch the information inside, especially the books rted to movies. This is just a personal habit of mine. I have left a few bookshelves in the study room for you. If you don¡¯t like the decorations of the house, you can change it but just let me know beforehand. There is an extra closet in the master bedroom, and I have left you some space¡­¡±

    He patiently told her all the details of the house and the ¡°rules¡± he had already set beforehand. She listened to it seriously, butter she couldn¡¯t help but start to ruminate.

    She really didn¡¯t expect that one day she would not only get to see the ce where the godly Director Gu Tingchuan lived, but even live with him here...

    Yi Ran still felt a kind of inner shock, which was like suddenly and unexpectedly having the biggest ¡°adventure¡± of her life.

    Seeing that she had gradually stopped responding, Gu Tingchuan looked at her and said, ¡°Are you tired?¡±

    ¡°No, I am in good spirits. Usually, my nightlife will have just begun.¡± Yi Ran smiled and nced at the time on her phone. At this time, she would probably be opening aputer to y an online game, but she obviously could not expect Gu Tingchuan to understand.

    She continued to follow him around, looking at this and that. Gu Tingchuan was usually very busy with work, but she enjoyed the fact that he was taking time with her.

    In the house, there was not only a bar but snooker table. He even had private wine cer that, though small, looked very elegant under the warmth of a chandelier.

    Gu Tingchuan nce at it with a pair of dark eyes, and she caught sight of his clean profile. Then, he flicked off the light switch on the wall and turned to her, saying, ¡°You¡¯re probably not used to living here yet. I will pour you a ss of wine. Drinking a little will help you rx somewhat.¡±

    Yi Ran shrugged and epted the drink . ¡°I¡¯m not used to it. But my mom is already anxious to arrange my room into a mahjong room.¡±

    Gu Tingchuanughed softly, realizing that her sense of humor was really very different from those around him.

    The taste of wine and food sote at night helped Yi Ran to calm down. When Gu Tingchuan took the cake and the winess into the study, he saw Yi Ran stepping on a chair with bare feet and trying to put the books she¡¯d brought on to the top shelf.

    Her long hair shimmered in the bright light, and half of her small face was in his sight. Seeing such a scene in his room for the first time, he couldn¡¯t help but reveal a smile.

    ¡°Come down.¡± Gu Tingchuan¡¯s voice was sharp andmanding. ¡°Your feet have just gotten better. Be careful not to fall again.¡±

    Yi Ran, who had long gotten used to doing the heavy lifting by herself, suddenly realized that someone cared so much. Her heart warmed as he held her hand to help her down, and he personally began to neatly arrange her books for her.

    Her gaze shifted to his bookshelf next to her own, and she saw an interesting title. ¡°This book introduces the work of Fuksa, right? Didn¡¯t he design a domestic airport? Would you mind if I borrow it?¡±

    Gu Tingchuan thought that her interest was pretty broad, not limited to just anime and cartoons. He took a nce and nodded. ¡°Aside from the items in the studio, feel free to use anything else as you pleased.¡±

    After they finished with the study, the two decided to take a break. They each carried a book and a ss of wine as they entered the spacious master bedroom. By the bay window, there was a table with a Go chessboard on top, but Gu Tingchuan piled the books on the bedside table instead. The thick air conditioner made the bed feel cool and refreshing.

    With dinner resolved and since her newly purchased desktopputer cannot be moved, Yi Ran had nothing else to do buty on the sofa in the bedroom and read.

    Outside the living room, the music yer drew out a leisurely tune. The house was like a bachelor pad. She humorously thought that there was no trace of any other woman in the whole house. She wondered if the director intended for it to be so.

    Overnight, the newest gossip about Gu Tingchuan will eventually be the topic of his sh marriage. Once the media and fans knew, they would probably go crazy.

    She flipped through the book while thinking about it and then heard someone said next to her: ¡°Fuksa, he called architecture visual poetry. Regarding the airport you mentioned...Simply speaking, his design philosophy was ¡®fish swimming in theke, birds inhabiting the tree ¡®.¡¯

    This simple phrase was spoken by him, and the sound was like being enveloped by warmth, adding a bit of an attractive appeal.

    She lifted her head to look at him and saw his smiling face and dark eyes, looking particrly appealing.

    Yi Ran sighed, resigning herself to her fate. She began to unconsciously open her heart to him. ¡°I previously thought about bing a designer, butter I found out that my brain was not big enough.¡±

    She probably drank a few sses of red wine already, for there was a clear drunkenness in her eyes. ¡°Director Gu likes his work so much. No wonder the style you like is like this...¡±

    After all, the style of architecture in his home had a sense of freedom and high technology.

    Gu Tingchuan noticed that her eyes were shining. Her pretty face had already been covered with ayer of blush. Seeing this look, he said with a smile, ¡°I think that no matter which form of creation, the most important thing is to stick to your spirit and persist. Your own art is to stick to your heart.¡±

    Yi Ranzily stretched out her waist and adjusted her posture. She said softly, ¡°In the end, teaching was not my first choice. Nowadays, many people belittle teachers. On the surface, the work may seem fascinating. But, the more remote the ce the teacher worked, the harder it is for the teacher. In fact, when I was an intern, I felt very tired and thought about giving up. But, in the end... I still stayed stupid. Probably because I like to see the young people filled with hope.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan remembered her peaceful smile at that time and thought that, in the entertainment circle, where he was used to seeing all kinds of beauty, it was not so bright and moving. But, yet, there was an unforgettable charm in the curves of those lips. It was probably one of the reasons why he chose to marry her.

    ¡°I can see that you like teaching very much. Gu Tai also likes you very much.¡±

    Yi Ran can¡¯t tell if this was a good thing or not. She bit her bottom lip, remembering the face of the child¡¯s father, Gu Tingyong. The news was actually not surprising. On the one hand, looking at this single matter, it may look crazy on the outside but may not actually be so severe. On the other hand, she felt that the two sons of the Gu parents were really popr.

    However, he was not the same as his brother. He was Gu Tingchuan.

    This man whom she did not know too well but whom also gave her a lot of stability.

    Yi Ran reminded him, ¡°The news that Gu Tai¡¯s parents are divorcing must have some influence on him. As an uncle, you should also take more time to care about him.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan nodded and walked into the bathroom. When he came out, he saw her looking at her phone from time to time. He began unbuttoning his shirt and slipped his finger across the neckline. He said, ¡°You¡¯re wee to use myputer, desktop or notebook.¡± ¡±

    Yi Ran felt that the essence of her ¡°inte addiction¡± had gradually been exposed. She hastened to save it. ¡°Oh, nothing. I won¡¯t die without touching theputer one day.¡±

    Her eyes inadvertently looked at the big bed behind Gu Tingchuan. Thinking of the room not far from next door, she scratched her head and asked, ¡°Where should I sleep tonight?¡±

    He paused his movements, as if he didn¡¯t understand what she meant. ¡°Where can you sleep?¡±

 Chapter 10 - Adapting

    Chapter 10: Adapting

    Hearing him say this, although Yi Ran did not object, she couldn¡¯t help but feel some shyness in the bottom of her heart. After all, it was one thing to agree to marry, but it was altogether different having to lie on a bed with a man she was not wholly familiar with.

    Yi Ran was fully aware that Gu Tingchuan often called for this kind of thing on set, and so it was probably nothing to him. But his aura was too strong, such that, after he finished this sentence, her heart jumped like crazy. Feeling embarrassed, she did not know how to answer him.

    He noticed her anxiety and even if hecked ¡°realbat experience¡± he could guess what she was thinking. Although he had not been willing to appease those actors and actresses under him, at least he knew how tofort others.

    Gu Tingchuan turned back and asked: ¡°Do you have difficulties sleeping in a bed other than your own?¡±

    Yi Ran shook her head. She thought that he would be a gentleman and say that they would sleep in separate beds tonight but she was wrong. Fortunately Gu Tingchuan¡¯s red wine and music, along with other various details of taking care of her, still give her some peace of mind.

    She was considering how to discreetly put forth this proposal but Gu Tingchuan seemed to be one step ahead of her. He filled up her sses again and asked, ¡°So what is going on with Gu Tai?¡±

    Yi Ran held the crystal ss up to her lips. ¡°Ah? I didn¡¯t say anything about what happened to him¡­?¡±

    She suspected that Gu Tai was being bullied but dared not say anything to the teacher. However, since she couldn¡¯t be 100% certain, she had decided not to tell him beforehand.

    Gu Tingchuan furrowed his eyebrows and said helplessly, ¡°He is still young but is mature for his age, and he is naturally moreplicated than his peers. The more the parents are less reliable, the more mature the child will be.¡±

    Then he took a change of clothes from the closet. Looking back at her, he said, ¡°I¡¯ll go to the bathroom outside and take a shower there.¡±

    This reminder Yi Ran she had not removed her clothes from the box. Putting on her slippers, she went downstairs and took out some newly bought undergarments and a nightdress.

    As the night passed, her heart became more and more tense. Aftering out of the shower, she did not see Fu Tingchuan¡¯s figure and guessed that he was in his studio.

    Feeling wide awake, she slipped under the quilt and sent a message to Zhang Rongrong, then brushed Weibo.

    Zhang Rongrong: What is the idea of ??the wedding night? Look at the value of this director, this figure, this talent. Don¡¯t you want to attack in minutes?

    Yi Ran: I just spoke with my mother earlier, and it scared my heart to death. Save me!¡±

    Zhang Rongrong: I wish you sess in pushing down the male god. You must know that the industry is saying that he is sexually cold?

    Yi Ran: Cold in manner but notpletely indifferent. Anyway, I am getting ready to wrap the quilt around me like tube and hide under it. I¡¯m noting out. Good bye!

    Zhang Rongrong: Hahahaha. Driving underneath and noting out? I understand!

    They talked too much, and she didn¡¯t hear the footsteps until Gu Tingchuan was already by the side of the bed. When she heard his voice, it was almost in his ear. ¡°Why are you watching the mobile phone again?¡±

    She suddenly couldn¡¯t helpughing, and wanting to deliberately provoked him, said with a serious face, ¡°I¡¯m just chatting with my friends, catching up on gossip, and still want to y a game.¡±

    Yi Ran looked up at him and saw his dark hair and his eyes gradually deepened: ¡°I deeply dislike it when people indulge in mobile phones, or other electronic products.¡±

    His body exuded a strong scent of freshness from his shower. Compared to the careful and precise manner in the daytime, the person whose figure was brightly lit by the two bedsidemps on the wall was now more casual and rxed.

    ¡°These days, who doesn¡¯t y on mobile phones? Mr. Gu, how old are you mentally?¡±¡¡Even as Yi Ran said this, she still cooperatively put down the phone. She obviously can¡¯t escape so it was best to spend some time with this person. After all, she was sitting on the same bed as this talented, handsome and great director.

    ¡°Probably I am really old?¡±

    She wondered if he deliberately lowered his voice, so that the sound lingered in her ears and created a double effect of hypnosis and awareness.

    Her scalp tingling, she desperately thought of a topic. ¡°Director Gu, in fact, I¡¯ve been curious and wanted to ask if you can tell me about the usual things in the studio?¡±

    Yi Ran¡¯s palm was full of sweat, deeply aware that she was on a strange bed with a man she was not really close to. Then, remembering that they were already a couple, she was able to rx somewhat.

    Gu Tingchuan perceived her little emotions, rested quietly on the bedside, and slowly told her about the details about filming. The result was that the more he speaks, the moremitted and eloquent he became.

    After hearing about some of the works from the Jiaye filmpany, Yi Ran found herself beginning to appreciate some of the unique plots and details in Gu Tingchuan¡¯s films, including his habit of passionately talking about it

    He had long gotten used to all kinds of ttery and praise, from the master predecessors to the admiration of countless younger generations, but it was still very surprising to discover that many of her ideas have never been heard before, more simr to the average audience. It was thought-provoking, but it also brought some unique perspectives about what type of girl she was.

    ¡°The lighting filter and the clothing set of Cloud Headdress was amazing. Also, how can He Yang be so handsome. If one day I met him on the road ...¡±

    After that, the topic was extended to the merits of the camera stand, how to shoot the thrilling long shots in movies, and to discuss Gu Tingchuan¡¯s ns.

    ¡°When there are opportunities in the future, you cane to the scene.¡±

    Yi Ran¡¯s mood was high. ¡°Really?¡±

    ¡°I am just afraid that you will feel bored.¡± Gu Tingchuan put down the document in his hand and looked look at her face, then said: ¡°Yes. You can also think about what kind of wedding you want. After I finished the show, we should be able to do it.¡±

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t really matter. Anyway, I¡¯m not worried ......¡±

    Yi Ran still thought that she needed more time to adapt to her new identity.

    At this time, the speaker outside the bedroom changed to a foreign love song. She noticed that the beautiful lyrics seemed to be alluding to sex. The room, which had originally been focused on drinking and chatting, sudden had a little bit of an awkward atmosphere The reason could be the red wine, or that the man in front of her eyes was so attractive to her. She felt a little dizzy and, thinking of the sweet and hot first kiss that afternoon in the office, she suddenly became very warm.

    When her body fell backward, she suddenly found herself wrapped in a warm embrace. At the same time, she could instantly feel that underneath Gu Tingchuan¡¯s thin shirt was a fit and powerful body.

    She hurriedly looked up to meet a pair of deep and dark eyes, even as his lips descended.

    At first, the kiss was slow and reassuring, almost gently cating. But, gradually, by degrees, he began to skillfully explore her mouth, as if she was a territory he longed to conquer. For her part, this entanglement became full of joy andfort.

    Some things don¡¯t need to be said with words, just need to feel. Gu Tingchuan looked down at her eyes and his burning gaze reminded her of something that Zhang Rongrong had once said: ¡°There is no need for a man to take off your clothes. If he really wants you, he can strip youpletely with just his eyes.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s hot gaze at this moment was almost so direct there was nowhere to escape, exuding a powerful maism that was purely, tantly male.

    ¡°You, what do you want to do...¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t intend for us to have a fake marriage. We can fulfill the husband and wife obligations.¡± He held her fingertips that had trembled, like apetent lover. ¡°But I will never force you.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s back was slightly rising and falling. Yi Ran¡¯s forehead had faints beads of sweat as she was pressed down on the soft bed, his lips brushing against her skin, soft as silk. And the skin tingled and grew heated in the aftermath of his lips.

    ¡°What do you think?¡±

    Yi Ran heard this question and looked up in a daze. She met his gaze and then intensity of caused her to swallow. She suddenly became confused, not out of fear, but more by the sensation that her body was soaked in warm water.

    The beauties in his circle were probably dazzling, and the director was a very popr title. What¡¯s more, he was Gu Tingchuan, who was entric and indifferent and obsessed with filming. Yi Ran didn¡¯t know if he had been with countless other people, but, suddenly, she realized that she quite minded.

    She didn¡¯t know when the music from the living room stop y, but the shyness on her face became more and more attractive under the wash of bright lights.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know...¡± Her words were swallowed up by another strong kiss, mixed in the scent of his coffee and shower gel and red wine. ¡°Gu Tingchuan...¡±

    But, suddenly, she became dazed again because, in the re of light, she saw his smooth chest. Seeing the outlines of his wide shoulders and firm pectoral, the muscles of the abdomen taut with power, Yi Ran wanted to cry ¡°Foul!¡± How could she resist this abdominal muscle!

    Under the caress of his fingers, she gradually felt the wet tides of desire, the taste as if arriving at a beautiful peak and being unable to resist. Even breathing had be difficult.

    ¡°Rx, don¡¯t be nervous...Yes...Let me in¡­¡±

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s hoarse voice was a low rumble, heavy with rare desire. Even he himself was surprised when he detected it. Was it right to let himself indulge in this uncontroble situation?

    ¡°Right now, I probably still can...¡±

    But she was resolutely clinging to his shoulders, trying to get closer to him, to hug him, to approach him, like a traveler wanting to hold on to the only source of light on a dark, dark night. There was no hesitation.

    This action of hers caused all thoughts to fled, making him only want to bury himself inside her soft body.

    Yi Ran was swept up in a vast storm, and there was only one conscious thought left in her mind: from now on, she could only depend on this man. Above her, his expression was especially gentle.

    ¡°Is it good? I need to go faster....¡±

    ¡°Mmm...¡± Her voice was a low and ambiguous moan. Hisrge hand held her smaller one, fingers tightly entwined, even as his other hand explored and fondled the curves of her body, igniting a wet fire within her.

    She bit her bottom lip, her body trembling as she endured the fierce entry. Then, Gu Tingchuan resolved any possible resistance with a soft and overbearing kiss.

    She responded with a clumsy tongue. A leg inadvertently wrapped around his waist and this action made him hot all over. After calming her pain, he pulled her into the mes of desire and carried her along the undting river of pleasure.

    The desire of the body alwayses earlier than the awakening of love.

 Chapter 11 - Workaholic

    Chapter 11: Workaholic

    They continued into the small hours of the morning, and Yi Ran was in chaos. Again and again, he seemed determined to put her at her wit¡¯s end.

    This man was ordinarily unattainable and immactely dressed, yet one never thought that he would be like this in bed. In light of his cold manner, she thought that he would be more ustomed to being pleased. But, regardless of whether it was kissing her or pleasuring her, he did them with great consideration.

    His fingers were like magic. Even her sense of shame was caressed away by him, such that the body became like an empty well, making her overflow....

    Then, after being swept away by the high tides of their lovemaking, Yi Ran would hazily look up with teary eyes. Seeing this image, Gu Tingchuan¡¯s lips would curve into a smile, his dark eyes would sh with satisfaction, and his thin lips would kiss her softly and recklessly.

    Seeing that kind of smile, no one could resist.

    Yi Ran felt that sentimental feelings were fermented this night. As she was lying half-awake, she saw Gu Tingchuan returning to the bed from the bathroom, and her body immediately shifted toward him, already eager for his warmth.

    He was surprised, but then he wrapped her waist in an embrace, and there was no resistance at all.

    In the one room, there was only the silence of the moving moon.

    Yi Ran woke up the next day and saw a messy body with a hickey on her chest and a small bruise on her waist, which made her recalled Gu Tingchaun¡¯s beautiful harassmentst night.

    She felt a bit shy but also a little embarrassed, and she didn¡¯t know how to face Gu Tingchuan after what happenedst night. It was simply that her girlish heart was full to the extreme, and all kinds ofplicated moods were overflowing through her. But, they were all soft and gentle.

    It was only at this time that she realized the temperature on the other side of the big bed had already cooled.

    Not seeing his figure, she was surprised. After changing her clothes and washing up, she walked down the stairs and saw a strange woman wearing a white shirt and a ck trousers. She was busy in the kitchen, but she saw Yi Ran. Noticing her doubtful expression, she said, ¡°Mrs. Gu, hello. I am Mr. Gu¡¯s chef. Do you want a Western or Chinese style for today¡¯s breakfast?¡±

    Yi Ran looked at her for a while. Then, feeling her own face grow hot, she said, ¡°Oh... Chinese.¡±

    She sat at the rectangr table, and the female chef took out a bowl of porridge and a snack. She took a sip of juice. Then she asked, ¡°Has Gu Tingchuan already eaten?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Mr. Gu and his assistant have already eaten and left.¡±

    Oh, this was very like Director Du.

    Yi Ran¡¯s mood suddenly plummeted to its lowest point. She had to admit that after a special moment like a ¡°Newlywed Night¡±, even if there were noforts in the morning, it was particrly frustrating that she couldn¡¯t even see his figure.

    Even if she understood his position and work, she couldn¡¯t do anything about her feelings.

    Yi Ran silently dug into the side dishes but they were all tasteless. There were many messy thoughts in her mind, many of which she could not fully understand.

    She did not required that Gu Tingchuan be especially attentive or considerate. It was also true that there was no love basis between them. He may not be a man who was good a sweet talk, and a person will not suddenly change too much overnight.

    But they were a ¡°couple¡± with each other, something he himself had personally admitted.

    She didn¡¯t like the way he left without saying a word.

    Yi Ran sighed and remembered that there was a stranger in the room before she hurriedly concealed the look of depression.

    Summer had already shifted into Fall. In the afternoon, the city was covered in a light rain. It drenched the streets, the water reflecting the sky and adding a moist color to the whole scene.

    Yi Ran bought some gifts and went home for dinner. When she entered the door, she said, ¡°Gu Tingchuan has been too busy and had to go back to lead the show. He can¡¯te to dinner and had me bring something back.¡±

    After all, it was just like this. Movies, if you stopped working for a day, you would have lost a huge sum of money. This was also an understandable fact.

    Mother Yi did not say anything. She was happy when she saw her daughter¡¯s radiance. She smiled until her eyes were broken into a seam. It was just that Father Yi was not very happy. He had something to say about this son-inw. Moreover, he always felt that they married too hastily.

    ¡°Yes, your dad said it right.¡± Mother Yi remembered something for a moment and asked her, ¡°You have already married the Gu. Are you going to arrange a meal for us and your family?¡±

    Yi Ran knew there will be a lot of concerns. Just like the half-truths that Zhang Rongrong had once said, ¡°You must know that the gap between the rich and the poor will inevitably lead to tragedy.¡±

    At that time, she was like her close friend. She had also agreed, but her personality had never been one to linger over theseplicated things. Since she made a decision, she must face it bravely.

    She smiled and said, ¡°They haven¡¯t came back from Germany yet. The big family has to deal with a lot of things... Hey, Tingchuan said that they will arrange a meeting when theye back.¡±

    These were the truths that Gu Tingchuan and she had previously discussed..

    This man usually looked indifferent and proper, then, in private, was considerate and gentle. One really could not help but love and hate.

    However, the most important thing was that Director Gu¡¯s ¡°meat-body¡± was really impable.

    Yi Ran thought that it was really a little unbelievable that this man actually rolled the sheets with herst night.

    Now that she thought about it, it really was just like a spring-dream, utterly seducing her. But the after-affects on the body constantly told her that everything was a real.

    It was a pity that she was too nervous. She had forgotten that she had eyes and had closed them for a long time. She hadn¡¯t really appreciated the charms of Gu Tingchuan¡¯s graceful and captivating body

    Next time, she would better enjoy the special treatment that this ¡°wife¡± has.

    ...

    For the rest of the summer vacation, Yi Ran sometimes lived in Gu Tingchuan¡¯s apartment, sometimes returning to her family to stay. In addition, her life didn¡¯t seem to be much different from how it was before marriage. asionally, Zhang Rongrong would have a day off and the two would go to have an afternoon tea and to watch the movies. In this way, the days were too good.

    Gu Tingchuan really was a workaholic. He had not even called her once for most of the month. The only text message that he sent simply said: There will be reports about my marriage recently, which will protect your information. Don¡¯t worry, if you can¡¯t contact me, you can call Xiao Zhao.

    ... It didn¡¯t even mention when he will finish the show.

    Yi Ran felt inexplicable and when she thought when they first met, she said to Zhang Rongrong with a funny smile, ¡°It felt like a one night stand with a big man.¡±

    When the phone rang, she saw that the lighted mobile phone screen disyed the name ¡°Yao Juan¡± and quickly picked it up.

    The voice passing through the microphone was filled with elegance and gentleness as usual. ¡°Yi Ran, hello. How was your summer vacation?¡±

    ¡°Not bad. I was out with friends. How about you?¡±

    After exchanging pleasantries, Yao Juan got to the point. ¡°This is the case. I was going to visit Gu Tai¡¯s home, but he has been abroad with his grandparents. It seems that I won¡¯t have a chance this summer. I will have to wait for school to start again.¡±

    Hearing this, she felt strange. She really didn¡¯t know how to say that she had already married Gu Tai¡¯s uncle. She had to hold the phone vaguely. Luckily, there was still a buffer period before she really needed to face that fact of her new title.

    Yi Ran looked up and saw the unclear look in her friend¡¯s eyes. She nced at the other side and said to Yao Juan, ¡°I know. Teacher Yao is so responsible. You really are a worthy head teacher.¡±

    Yao Juan let out an embarrassed chuckle. ¡°Youugh at me.¡±

    Afterward, they hung up and Yi Ran was smiling. Zhang Rongrong¡¯s mouth was slightly raised, and her face looked very interested. ¡°Before, when I asked you if there¡¯s a suitable candidate, no wonder you looked so strange. There is one.¡±

    ¡°Yao Juan is naturally gentle. He¡¯s usually like this to all female teachers.¡± Yi Ran pinched her eyebrows and took a big drink out of her iced tea before she continued, ¡°I¡¯m now Mrs. Gu, and if I have anything to do with others, I will be the ¡®red apricots hanging out of the wall¡¯.¡±

    Zhang Rongrong was quiet for a few seconds, then she added, ¡± Also, at least the director¡¯s worth and body are still worth marrying.¡±

    Yi Ran opened her mobile phone and looked at the only text message sent by Gu Tingchuan. Her mood was not good.

    ...

    Gu Tai only returned to the city a few days before the start of school, and Yi Ran was also busy preparing for a new semester of third grade students. Gradually, she once again became used to the state of single-hood.

    She thought that the children would be sensible and obedient, but on the first day of school, the little fat person in their ss made trouble during the lunch break.

    When the teacher who usually watched over them had to leave, she called Yi Ran to help. When she walked through the back door, she found that the little fat man was provoking Gu Tai. He took a pencil case from Gu Tai¡¯s desk and threw it on the ground, then pointed to him loudly.

    Yi Ran wondered why these small children would have such violent temperaments. When they grow up, wouldn¡¯t then just be big bullies? But, on the other hand, she had some doubts in her heart. ording to Gu Tai¡¯s temperament, he wouldn¡¯t do such a thing. But why did he never talk back or fight back?

    She was about to rush in, but she was suddenly pulled back. When she turned around, she saw Yao Juan, who said, ¡°You don¡¯t want to be too anxious.¡±

    Yao Juan¡¯s temperament has always been gentle. At this moment, seeing Yi Ran¡¯s angry and dissatisfied look, he pushed up his sses, and said in a low voice: ¡°Let me take care of it.¡±

    After speaking, he stepped up to the ckboard and looked at the children in the suddenly quiet room. ¡°Hao Ziyue, Gu Tai, both of youe out.¡±

    Hao Ziyue shook his head and gritted his teeth. ¡°It¡¯s his fault! Why me me?¡±

    Yao Juan¡¯s eyes deepened, but he nodded his head. ¡°The teacher will understand the situation. But, if your parents won¡¯te to school, then I will have to go to see them.¡±

    The student in the ssroom looked at teacher Yao in panic, for the first time seeing him with such a tough attitude. He looked like he have something to say, but he dared not speak. Only, his small face was wrinkled into a bun, as if he had to make a hard choice.

    Yi Ran went to Gu Tai and silently helped him pack up his pencil case. Then, in a low voice that only he could hear, she said, ¡°If you stay silent, you will only be bullied.¡±

    Gu Tai raised a pair of bright eyes and, looking straight at her, slowly said, ¡°Teacher, do you also do this when you run into unjust treatment?¡±

 Chapter 12 - The Wife Scolds

    Chapter 12: The Wife Scolds

    Yi Ran once said that she liked to see young people filled with hopes, but the light in Gu Tai¡¯s eyes had a stinging pessimism.

    She was about to say something but Gu Tai stood up from the chair and followed Teacher Yao out of the ssroom.

    As she silently looked at his retreating back, she felt that something was wrong, but she could not quite pinpoint what it was. She stepped into the hall and watched as Yao Juan lowered himself to talk with them in the shade of the yground.

    At this time, one of Gu Tai¡¯s female friends walked out of the ssroom and stopped in front of Yi Ran. She whispered, ¡°Teacher Yi, Hao Ziyue threw Gu Tai¡¯s pencil case on the ground. He also broke Gu Tai¡¯s umbre before.¡±

    The girl continued, her voice starting to sound uneasy, ¡°Hao Ziyue also broke his watercolor pen. He often throws his fist at other students, and we¡¯re afraid of him because he is very fierce and will beat people¡­¡±

    Yi Ran immediatelyforted the girl softly, ¡°Teacher knows. You did very well and is very brave.¡±

    At this moment, Hao Ziyue waved his fist as was typical, and his face turned bright red. Gu Tai, who stood on the sidelines, was silent and indifferent, just like his uncle.

    After Yao Juan understood the matter, he gave them a warning and then sent them back to the ssroom. He turned and looked back. Upon seeing Yi Ran, he smiled and said, ¡°Gu Tai said Hao Ziyue always likes to go against him. Just now, he deliberately mentioned that Gu Tai¡¯s parents are divorcing, saying that Gu Tai is a bad boy who no one wants. Gu Tai said back that Hao Ziyue¡¯s father have more than one woman outside. Then, Hao Ziyue took action.¡±

    In her heart, Yi Ran also understood that children are impressionable, and the viciousness of TV dramas,bined with their parents¡¯ attitudes, do not necessarily provide good examples.

    ¡°I asked Hao Ziyue, and he admitted that he quarreled with Gu Tai. However, he said that Gu Tai framed him and, when he tried to confront Gu Tai about it, Gu Tai started talking nonsense in ss.¡±

    Yi Ran heard his words and didn¡¯t know what the so-called nonsense was. However, it wasmon knowledge that Hao Ziyue had a temper. She thought for a moment and said, ¡°It seems that I will have to observe the ss to understand what the specific situation is. Last time, Hao Ziyue obviously dirtied my clothes but still refused to admit it to his mother, which led me to doubt his current words. As for Gu Tai, his parents¡¯ marriage are currently at a crisis, which could lead to some psychological fluctuations.¡±

    Yao Juan nodded. Then, his eyebrows wrinkled slightly.¡±Did you go that day¡­the blind date?¡±

    Yi Ran recalled what happened, which was a stark contrast to the current reality of now being in a ¡°sh marriage.¡± She spread her hands helplessly. ¡°There¡¯s nothing to say, really. I¡¯m not going on blind dates anymore. Teacher Yao, are you going to ask both their parents toe this time?¡±

    ¡°Yes, but I still have to find them first. Hao Ziyue has been acting out for more than a year now. ording to some ounts, ¡± he said, but he still had further concerns. ¡°I heard that his parents are really arrogant. In the past, he pushed a male student to the ground and broke his arm. Later, the male student suddenly left the school. So, you don¡¯t need to intervene in this matter. I will take care of it.¡±

    Yi Ran listened to Yao Juan¡¯s words and felt surprised. Although, as the lead teacher, this matter was Yao Juan¡¯s responsibility. However, as she digested his words, she felt that there was something strange about it.

    What¡¯s more, she was now Gu Tai¡¯s aunt. Could she really just stand by?

    ¡°But, Gu Tai¡¯s business, I still hope...¡±

    In the end, nothing was said because their conversation was interrupted by an unexpected phone call.

    At first, when she saw the stranger¡¯s call, she thought it was a sales call. But, she soon realized that this number was a bit familiar. She hesitated a bit before answering.

    ¡°Hello? Is this Miss Yi Ran?¡±

    The voice sounded familiar.

    ¡°Yes. Who is this?¡±

    ¡°I am Xiao Zhao, Director Gu¡¯s assistant. Just that, he is now at the hospital......¡±

    ......

    In no time, Yi Ran was sitting in a taxi. Her whole body feel abnormally tired, not just because school started and she had began teaching again but also due to the worries brought about by suddenly being in a rtionship.

    After hearing Xiao Zhao¡¯s news that Gu Tingchuan was ill, she immediately rushed to the hospital. It was just that, though they had recently gotten married, she still hadn¡¯t seen him for most of the month. As a result, she still wasn¡¯t used to her new identity as ¡°Mrs. Gu.¡±

    ording to Xiao Zhao, Gu Tingchuan was working hard at the shooting site for many days and nights, primarily because the progress of the martial arts film was unsatisfactory. He was angry almost every day and had to personally handle every single matter. To achieve perfection, he sat staring at a monitor for twenty-four hours straight and who knew how much longer. As a result, he suddenly had a high fever and dizziness the morning after.

    When Yi Ran arrived at the hospital, Xiao Zhao was waiting by the elevator. He immediately greeted her and said that he will take her up to the ward. He smiled and said, ¡°In fact, I wasn¡¯t supposed to tell you. Director Gu feared you might be worried so he told me not to tell you. But, I just thought you should know.¡±

    After he said this, he knocked on the door of the hospital room until the man inside said e in.¡± After opening the door, he turned sideways to allow Yi Ran through.

    She walked in and saw at a nce that although this was a hospital room, it might as well be another job site.

    Four to five staff members were seated next to Gu Tingchuan¡¯s bed withptops and bottles of water in front of them. Gu Tingchuan himself had changed into a hospital gown and, though his face looked tired and pale, he still gave out a sense of rigor, his deep gaze still so bright.

    At this moment, Director Gu was concentrating on the meeting and wasn¡¯t expecting her to appear. Not even looking at her, he continued to talk to his staff about business.

    It seemed that everyone knew that Gu Tingchuan was admitted to the hospital. She was probably thest person to know.

    Suddenly, she felt that this situation was like being tightly shackled, and it filled her with bitterness. She was so sad that she couldn¡¯t hide it. She had to hang her head halfway to cover up the feeling.

    After all, these were partners and good subordinates who were constantly around him most days. They knew all the details of this man¡¯s life more than her, even though... she was his wife.

    Yi Ran slightly frowned, but as everyone¡¯s eyes slowly gathered on her face, she only looked at Gu Tingchuan, thinking that this was not right. Therefore, from the bottom of her heart, she began to shift through countless hypotheses regarding how to handle this matter.

    It will obviously be impolite to ask them to stop working directly. She can only use persuasion, especially since his fever still had not gone down, which was uneptable.

    Finally, she bit the bullet and opened, ¡°Gu......Tingchuan, how are you? I received the news and immediately rushed over. Xiao Zhao said you have something to tell me?¡±

    Right after sating this, Yi Ran gave Xiao Zhao a look. The other party had been at Director Gu¡¯s side for many years. He was trained to be observant. Now he responded very intelligently and silently looked at his boss, saying, ¡±Boss Gu, you and your wife can have a chat. We¡¯ll all leave first.¡±

    Everyone listened to his words and immediately filed out. Gu Tingchuan, who was still lying on the bed, looked up at her. This look cause Yi Ran to freeze on the spot. But, gradually, she calmed down and walked over to sit down on the empty seat next to him.

    Gu Tingchuan slightly narrowed his eyes. ¡°I have something to say to you?¡±

    Yi Ran adjusted her breath and said slowly: ¡°I was just making an excuse to get rid of everyone. Because you were overworked, you gained a fever and had to be admitted to the hospital. But, even then, you still had to work hard. If you ended uping down with a genuine illness, then what should be done?¡±

    She knew that those people dared not disobey him. Even if she wasn¡¯t the closest to him, at least she was in a position to remind him to pay attention to his health.

    ¡°The movie¡¯s development was very fast, and there¡¯s not much I can do about it.¡± His gaze fell on her body and the previously furrowed brows suddenly rxed, making his face look much better. Suddenly, the corners of his mouth curved.

    However, Gu Tingchuan had always been observant. At this moment, he noticed the true emotion hidden under the calm surface. ¡°You are angry....You are angry with me?¡±

    Her fingers tightened on her mobile phone. She didn¡¯t expect him to suddenly ask such a straightforward question. She genuinely felt that it wouldn¡¯t make much sense to cover up in front of such a man. She swallowed and felt that she would suffocate with the need to vent. ¡°When did you go to the hospital? Howe I didn¡¯t know?¡±

    Then, she frowned and muttered, ¡°Even you won¡¯t allow Xiao Zhao to inform me at first. Did you think that I couldn¡¯t help, or was it that... our rtionship is really not so ¡®deep¡¯?¡±

    A sense of loss seized her heart, making her feel as if there was nowhere to hide. However, though she could hide the frustration in her eyes, she could not deceive him.

    ¡°This is just my habit for many years. I didn¡¯t want to let others worry about my situation, including my parents. You don¡¯t have to think like that.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan sounded so genuine. It was really a deceptive skill. Yi Ran sighed. ¡°I know you don¡¯t think about me...but at least you should tell me your situation. Even a worker in yourpany knows that you are ill, but your wife doesn¡¯t know. Isn¡¯t that strange?¡±

    Her lively expression made the originally cold hospital room more pleasant. He fixed his gaze on her, unable to look away.

    Yi Ran plucked up her courage to say, ¡°I just feel that since I¡¯m now your family, then I¡¯m also responsible for your physical condition. I know that we haven¡¯t mentioned this before, but at least we have tomunicate about some things. Gu Tingchuan, this time you are in the wrong...... ¡±

    ¡°Yi Ran,e here. ¡±

    Gu Tingchuan interrupted her words, his smooth, husky voice reminding her of the words he had whispered against her ear that night and the feelings that urred after being pressed down on the bed¡­

    Ahem.

    Yi Ran blushed and went closer to his side, thinking that he needed help with something. But, the man suddenly grabbed her waist and pulled her against his chest. His lips pushed away the heavy taste of bitterness. The long, sweet kiss and the soft lips and the tongues entangled together, all made her heart beat faster and faster. The kiss was a magic that could tempt people¡¯s heart.

    When Gu Tingchuan finally released her, she was breathing hard. She saw that his mouth was moist, making her feel both shy and embarrassed.

    ¡°This is what you want?¡± His face looked pale, like a crisp ink painting, as he said quietly but firmly, ¡°I understand.¡±

 Chapter 13 - Paying a Visit

    Chapter 13: Paying a Visit

    ¡°Is this what you want?¡± His face looked pale, like an ink painting, as he said quietly but firmly, ¡°I understand.¡±

    ...This was not it, okay?!

    Yi Ran¡¯s mind was ridiculing like crazy, but she must admit that this kiss reminded her of many intimate sensory memories, which stunned her to the point of speechlessness. Not a good thing!

    Gu Tingchuan was still focused on the kiss and his eyes shifted from her lips to her eyes.

    ¡°You...what are you doing?¡±

    Seeing her embarrassed face, Gu Tingchun calmly shifted his gaze to theptop screen, suddenly wanting to tease her. ¡°You¡¯re not saying you want to do more of the things between husband and wife?¡±

    Yi Ran was still speechless. After a long time, she could only bite her bottom lip and smile in amusement. ¡°You don¡¯t say these kinds of ambiguous words, okay? I just feel like not contacting me for nearly a month is strange. I¡¯ll reflect on my own problems, but you must also do your share.¡±

    She taught it so seriously, as if she was currently standing in front of her ss full of primary school students. Gu Tingchuan adjusted his sitting position and his lips curved slightly, as if he had no objection to this.

    Yi Ran cleared her throat and deeply reflected on her previous state of mind. In the past, she felt that since she had a job and a marriage, there was no need for them to deeply interfere with each other¡¯s life. In fact, this was not enough. Close rtionships are often drawn farther and farther apart by time and distance, and the only thing that remains will just be a marriage in name only.

    ¡°I¡¯m not good at taking care of people¡ªI haven¡¯t taken care of much people, in any case. But, I will try to do my best in the future. For example...if you want to eat while you¡¯re here, I can cook some chicken soup for you?¡±

    Gu Tingchuan was still very pale, but he gave her a look, as if he heard her words and acquiesced.

    Although the man in front of her looked so serious, she could clearly feel the burning atmosphere in the air. She stood up ufortably, then touched his forehead and found it frighteningly hot. ¡°What the heck is going on?! How do you not pay attention to resting while you have a fever? You just have to work...¡±

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s response was a little slow ining. In fact, what he was thinking about was also rted to her.

    He had never been a ¡°home-based¡± man and was ustomed to a long-term high-intensity workload. As soon as he gets busy, all his attention will be on the matter at hand. He actually never thought of giving her a call or contacting her.......

    ¡°I think you¡¯re right. Since we¡¯re now a pair of husband and wife, it¡¯s time we take care of each other.¡±

    Yi Ran was stunned by his words, then she nodded and agreed with him very seriously.

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s expression had a trace of exhaustion. He furrowed his brows and continued, ¡°Recently, Jiaye has been really pushing me. ¡°Homing¡± has to be rushed in order to make the deadline for the film festivals overseas. Slowly catching up has be a nearly impossible task.¡±

    What¡¯s more, there were so many things that were unique to Gu Tingchuan. Art creation is something that others can only help but can¡¯t fake. In the end, he could only force himself, then force others. It was a nightmare experience...

    ¡°However, I really thought of you.¡±

    Yi Ran: ¡°...¡± Was this her meaning?!

    Gu Tingchuan noticed her expression. ¡°I know you said that this isn¡¯t necessary. But, in fact, I am at fault, and I just wanted to assure you.¡±

    Yi Ran nevertheless shook her head and hurriedly said, ¡°You don¡¯t really have to tell me. I just wanted to let you know how I feel.¡±

    After she said this sentence, she suddenly felt a little bashful. Her face flushed red, and she pretended to calmly change the subject. ¡°Actually, I have something to tell you.¡±

    ¡°What is it?¡± Gu Tingchuan responded to her with a very calm gaze.

    She quickly organized her thoughts and simply said that she wanted to ask Gu Tai¡¯s parents toe to the school for a meeting. After listening to the situation, he nted his head slightly to look at the bed as he pondered her words. As he did this, his silhouette exuded a sense of gentleness.

    ¡°It¡¯s not convenient for Gu Tai¡¯s parents toe forward. I¡¯ll attend the meeting instead.¡±

    Yi Ran wondered out loud, ¡°Will your body withstand the exertion?¡±

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s expression was normal, but his voice held a note of amusement. ¡°Do you really need to ask this question?¡±

    ¡°......¡±

    Yi Ran rolled her eyes. This man sure was admirable, ah. He must really have a hole in his brain.

    ¡°Mr. Gu, then, in that case, I will put off the cooking untilter.¡±

    After Yi Ran said this, Gu Tingchuan¡¯s fingers tapped his keyboard a few times before he said lightly, ¡°Speaking of putting off, my parents had just returned back to China. Just in time for me to take you to have a meal.¡±

    At this moment, Yi Ran no longer heard the rest of Gu Tingchuan¡¯s words, she only felt her eyelids twitched...Can¡¯t she have more time to mentally prepare?!

    Unexpectedly, she will be seeing her inws!

    ¡­...

    The city in the morning had a strongte Autumn atmosphere. The weather was gloomy and temperamental, and the breeze carried a cold chill. Outside the window, thendscape was bursting with Autumn glory.

    Gu Tingchuan returned to the Gu parent¡¯s mansion after spending a night at the hospital.

    At the same time, his ¡°gossip¡± finally exploded.

    Previously, he had released a statement through Jiaye that he have always had a stable partner. In the past few days, he even directly indicated that he was married. The newlywed wife was, in fact, the person photographed by reporters at the hotel entrance.

    Although, those photos looked very ambiguous, many viewers could not clearly identify her face.

    Gu Tingchuan even revealed in a subsequent public appearance that his wife was an outsider and was engaged in ordinary work. He hoped that everyone will not disturb their emotional life. These series of explosive news shocked many fans.

    ¡°My great male god turned out to be married?!¡± This Weibo headline immediately attracted tens of millions ofizens to interact. The most miserable thing was that the small editors had to work overtime to send out press releases and soft articles. It was expected that various magical titles will appear in the future, such as ¡°actress xxx, Supermodel xxx... These people actually lost to her...¡±

    At this moment, inside the car, there was nothing but silence. Leaning against the back seat, Yi Ran¡¯s eyes were closed as she napped. She had stayed in the hospital for a long time and was really tired.

    Gu Tingchuan had initially told her to return first, but she only said that, from now on, she will shoulder the responsibility of taking care of his body. Besides, she was really afraid that once she left, he will start working nonstop again.

    However, she didn¡¯t know if it was because of her wordsst night, but Director Gu had been very good. Today, he even allowed the driver to drive while he sat in the back with her.

    Gu Tingchuan looked at Yi Ren. She was breathing evenly, and when her soft eyshes trembled, it created an image that seemed to look as if it was covered by a lightyer of mist. It was unexpectedly very nice. His lips curved slightly and he raised a hand to message his temple.

    The small car gradually neared the coastline and the number of pedestrians on the road was significantly reduced.

    Yi Ran hadn¡¯t been to the area in many years. If Gu Tingchuan¡¯s apartment gave her a strong sense of literary drama, then the Gu parent¡¯s house was probably the same as the maind idol drama. When she went to the living room, she didn¡¯t dare to look around. But, when she heard the faint sounds of Gu Tai¡¯s voice, her nervous emotions eased. She felt that since she had encountered such a good story in her life, it would be better to enjoy it as much as she could.

    Sheng Ru saw her son and could not say whether she was happy or not. As she handed him a cup of tea, her eyes continuously drifted over in Yi Ran¡¯s direction.

    Even though a girl like Yi Ran had be her daughter-inw, she still thought that the girl was unqualified. Fortunately, she was Gu Tai¡¯s teacher and not one of those female stars that Gu Tingchuan was always rumored to be with. The point was that this new daughter-inw must at least be pure. At least she looked cute and quick-witted.

    Even though there were many dissatisfactions, Sheng Ru¡¯s good manners still allowed her to smile. ¡°You took care of Tingchuan for one night. It must be hard. Oh, he¡¯s been working so much over the years. How many times have I told him to be careful?¡±

    Yi Ran smiled and shook her head: ¡°I took good care of him, so aunt you needn¡¯t worry. ¡±

    Gu Tingchuan said in the next sentence, ¡±Call her mother.¡±

    Yi Ran¡¯s ears turned red.

    What she did not know was that Gu Tingchuan used the stable state of ¡°marriage and childbirth¡± as a promise, allowing his parents to ept his marriage to Yi Ran while also dispelling the idea that they could arrange a marriage for him.

    In Gu Tingchuan¡¯s estimation, Tingyong and his wife, who was from an old aristocratic family, were bosom friends long before they got married. Yet, even this pair that had seemed like a match made in heaven was facing a marriage crisis. As a result, it was probably better for him to just find a person that he could ept.

    Gu Lingfeng was sitting on the couch, pretending to read the newspaper and looking indifferent. Gu Tai fixed his eyes on Yi Ran and his expression was strange as he said, ¡°Did you really get married?¡±

    Yi Ran looked at his expression with some embarrassment and did not know why she suddenly wanted to tease him. ¡°Yes, because I like you too much, little handsome Gu Tai.¡±

    Gu Tai looked surprised and stared at her, his expression a little angry.

    Now that Gu Tingchuan had returned to his childhood home, he looked more casual and at eased. He sat on the sofa side by side with Yi Ran, picked up the cup, took a sip of hot tea, and then whispered to his nephew, ¡°Your teacher has already told me your business. I will go and represent your dad.¡±

    Gu Tai¡¯s face slightly changed, but he still pretended to be unconcerned. ¡°Just a small conflict between the students, ah, you do not need to go and visit.¡±

    Yi Ran dared not interfere in the exchanges between them. She pretended to look down at the porcin cup in her hand. It was difficult to see the pattern, but it looked like something made from the West.

    Gu Linfeng shot Sheng Ru a look. Sheughed lightly, though her expression was not as good as before. ¡°There is something we want to discuss together with you. Gu Tai, child, grandmother wants to talk to uncle and aunt. How about you go to the garden for a while, okay?¡± She affectionately squeezed his cheeks.

    Once Gu Tai left, Sheng Ru looked at the new couple in front of her. Her tone was light but there was no smile in her eyes. ¡°You were too quick to get married, and there were many things that still had not been done. Yi Ran, you also know Tingchuan¡¯s temper. I don¡¯t want to say anything, but I hope you¡¯ll understand that the Gu family is arge family. As a result, it won¡¯t just be two people who got married. To make it easier for the elders to ept your marriage, you also must consider many practical matters.¡±

    Yi Ran did not understand her mother-inw¡¯s exact meaning and turned her head to quietly look at Gu Tingchuan.

 Chapter 14 - Believe in You

    Chapter 14: Believe in You

    Gu Tingchuan noticed her gaze, and his eyes shed.

    The young couple waited for the parents¡¯ speeches. Sheng Ru shifted slightly in her seat and her face wasposed as she looked at them. ¡°Yi Ran, you are an intelligent and reasonable little girl who is a school teacher. We certainly believe that you will conduct yourself appropriately. But, our family¡¯s background is special. You should also understand this. We recognize that you both are a happy little couple but, if by chance...¡±

    Sheng Ru also saw the lessons of the past, particrly the issues stemming from the eldest son¡¯s Gu Tingyong¡¯s own marriage.

    ¡°Actually, this practice is also very popr among young people. By signing a prenuptial agreement, everything will be solved.¡±

    Yi Ran heard this and finally understood. Personally, she also had no arguments against this practice.

    However, she had never coveted Gu Tingchuan¡¯s properties. It was not because she was looking at money like it was dirt. Rather, in her case, just being able to marry Gu Tingchuan was already the best thing.

    She was toozy to spend brain cells to calcte the property of others. Not to mention the usual cost of providing for the family, she was even able to have three meals a day from a chef.

    Regarding other expenses...she really had not talked about it with Gu Tingchuan.

    Hearing his mother¡¯s words, Gu Tingchuan deeply frowned. When he ced his teacup on the table, it made a crisp sound that echoed loudly in the suddenly quiet space. This caused Gu Linfeng to look over at him.

    ¡°Mother and father, there¡¯s no need.¡±

    Gu Linfeng¡¯s brows furrowed slightly and his eyes narrowed as he said, ¡°Don¡¯t always be so willful. Now that thepany is being handed over to you, you should mature a little bit. Your young couple¡¯s feelings are now good, but you have to take others into consideration.¡±

    ¡°I never think that our marriage rtionship can be 100% harmonious.¡± Gu Tingchuan had always been blunt, and he was very clear about his rtionship with Yi Ran. ¡°But I believe that no matter what happens, I can find a negotiation method. Moreover, I will not be like big brother and do such an embarrassing thing.¡±

    Then, he raised his eyebrows andughed at himself. ¡°If I disappoint her and fail to be faithful, I should pay for it.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan did not look at Yi Ran as he said this, but his eyes had a bright, smiling expression. ¡°If it is Yi Ran who wants to leave me, then I also believe in her ability to leave smoothly, without any hard feelings.¡±

    His words were unmistakable, making Sheng Ru feel that the topic may be difficult to carry out.

    Father Gu was dissatisfied with his son¡¯s resistance. ¡°You can speak ording to your temper, but do you have to ability to carry it out?,

    Sure enough, Gu Tingchuan said that he did not want to continue this topic, waved his hand dismissively and then opened his mouth to add, ¡°Why can¡¯t you believe in my choice?¡±

    Yi Ran was surprised by him, and warmth flooded her chest. She didn¡¯t think that Gu Tingchuan¡¯s trust for her would be so deep. Perhaps, he was always this insightful when it came to people. Nevertheless, she felt that there must also be other reasons. Thinking this, she turned her head to look at him, feeling as if her heart was scalding.

    Sheng Ru helplessly looked at her husband. She couldn¡¯t reprimand her son in front of her daughter-inw. Therefore, she sent a message with her eyes, telling him to stop. Then, she looked affectionately at Yi Ran, smiling as if nothing had happened. But, in her heart, she had other ns.

    ......

    On the way back, Yi Ran managed to remain calm. After all, there was a driver in the car with them so they did not have the privacy to honestlymunicate. She stared out the window at the receding scenery, recalling the confrontation with the parents. Although the two elders had tried their best to ept her, the dissatisfaction with their marriage was obvious.

    However, what surprised her the most was Gu Tingchuan¡¯s words. He always expressed an attitude worth relying on, making people feel very at ease.

    Yi Ran¡¯s heart had some inexplicable agitation. There were some things she wanted to say but didn¡¯t quite know how to clearly say it. When they finally arrived at the entrance of their home, she stared as Gu Tingchuan¡¯s changed his shoes and blurted out: ¡°Actually, I don¡¯t know how to make chicken soup at all.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s action did not stop. Even his eyes did not blink as he said in a clear voice, ¡°I know.¡±

    Yi Ran took out a bottle of mineral water from her bag and took a mouthful of water to moisten her throat. She said, ¡°However, I can learn immediately.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan murmured ¡°hmm¡± and did not turn his head to look at her even as he took off his coat. His clothes outlined a tall and straight body, the clean appearance looking both restrained and indifferent.

    Yi Ran changed her shoes and went into the house. After a while, she said, ¡°Gu Tingchuan, in fact, I agreed with what your parents said today. After all, this is rted to you¡­¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t say they did something wrong.¡± Gu Tingchuan pinched his eyebrows and looked dissatisfied. ¡°But I just don¡¯t like it.¡±

    Since he insisted, she wouldn¡¯t say anything more. After all, Director Gu had always been rational and sensible. In other words, he was an idealist. This could easily be seen by watching his movies.

    Gu Tingchuan looked back and saw her standing there absentmindedly. He suddenly handed her something and said, ¡°Oh, that¡¯s right. It¡¯s good for you to keep this card.¡±

    Before she could ask, he continued to exin, ¡°I was in too much of a hurry before and did not take care to exin many things. The money in this card is for your use. The family expenditures will be settled every month by my assistant. You don¡¯t have to worry about it. If you want to buy anything, you can use this card.¡±

    Yi Ran listened nervously. He was truly thorough, even taking this as an opportunity to exin things.

    ¡°If you encounter something that requires more money and you can¡¯t find me, you can contact Xiao Zhao instead.¡±

    She took his bank card, thinking that it¡¯s not too bad to have their couple¡¯s living expenses paid by the husband.

    She smiled humorously and stood in the same ce for a moment. ¡°Thank you for trusting me. I will not disappoint you.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan only smiled slightly, but it still seemed radiant to her eyes.

    In fact, he always remembered the words that Yi Ran had said to Gu Tai about ¡°painting styles.¡± If the styles were not the same, then the rtionship will be very difficult to sustain.

    Yi Ran looked at the living room and bedroom where she had lived for many days and nights and remembered the things that they had done on the first night. They had kissed with greedy joy in the shadows of the night and had shown each other sweet and tender care. They had looked into each other¡¯s eyes and when he was deep inside her body, the feeling of warmth and affection was like gloriouspletion.

    She suddenly felt a tremor. They had been more familiar at that time than whenpared to now. Why was this feeling getting more and more difficult to bear?

    However, Gu Tingchuan did not notice herplicated look. He nced at her and asked, ¡°Since my temperature had gone down, I will have to work veryte tonight. You have no opinion?¡±

    ¡°Ah? Oh, that...¡± Yi Ran was suddenly asked, and her brain turned a few circles before reacting. ¡°Then you pay attention to rest. Don¡¯t work too hard.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s eyes slowly blinked as he nodded. ¡°Tomorrow, after sleeping, I¡¯ll go to the school. Then, afterward, I¡¯ll have to rush back to the shooting site.¡±

    Yi Ran turned and was nning to do her own thing. Inadvertently, she suddenly heard the person behind her ask, ¡°In your opinion, is my physical strength very bad?¡±

    She had no time to think, and said in a hurry, ¡°Ah? No, no, you are very powerful...¡±

    After she finished, she felt that the other party might not have this meaning at all. Her face suddenly flushed red, and she took a few steps back to cover up her blush, her heart jumping like a drum.

    ¡°I mean, I don¡¯t think you are in poor health. That is, I heard that you are a workaholic. This seems to be true. You need to rest more.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan paused for a long while. He stood at the junction of the studio and the living room and the half-light and shadow made the clear smile in his eyes even more intriguing. ¡°Probably, I was too busy, and I didn¡¯t care much about you that day.¡± ¡±

    He was afraid that she would be embarrassed so he added, ¡°When you got up in the morning, were you ufortable?¡±

    Yi Ran¡¯s little brain nked for a moment, then she shook her head vigorously.

    Gu Tingchuan took note of the clear look in her eyes, feeling both warmth and relief. After this, he went straight to his studio and closed the door.

    ......

    After a night of good dreams, Yi Ran went downstairs to eat breakfast and found that Gu Tingchuan had actually shut himself in the cold and mysterious studio for most of the night.

    After he came out, he called his subordinates and some English and Chinese words were exchanged. His English pronunciations were very pure and fluent. Every single detail was exquisite, like the pictures in a movie. He did not even have time to greet her, nor did was she even given the chance to remind him to be mindful of his health. They were both in a hurry, and Yi Ran rushed to school.

    The two sses in the morning went by really fast, and it wasn¡¯t long before she returned to the office. She saw Yao Juan and didn¡¯t even have time to talk with him before she suddenly caught sight of the principal entering with a lofty attitude.

    Shi Xiang was also wearing sses but, in sharp contrastpared to Yao Juan¡¯s bookish looks, he was short and balding. He was also very bureaucratic.

    At this point, he slightly blinked his eyes and said to Yi Ran: ¡°Teacher Yi, follow me.¡±

    Afterward, he turned, left the office and walked up the stairs.

    Yi Ran made a grimace to Yao Juan, who had a worried look on his face, then she took a small step to keep up.

    In an empty corridor, the principal looked at her with a smile.¡±Teacher Yi, I don¡¯t think I need to remind you that a teacher¡¯s primary duty is to work. Just because you¡¯re young doesn¡¯t mean you should be too excessive.¡±

    Yi Ran originally thought that the headmaster would praise her. In all fairness, in these few months, she had worked very hard every day. But now Shi Xiang was denying her hard work and downying her efforts.

    ¡°Don¡¯t forget to work hard and make great efforts. You are still too young and need to learn to consider all aspects of the school. In addition, Teacher Yi, regarding the matter of your performance evaluation, you still need to be more meticulous.¡±

    The more Yi Ran listened, the more she felt mystified. She knew that she was not a teacher with no sense of responsibility. Even in the past, because she was too busy with teaching, she had ended up dying her own romantic matter. But why was the other party now stigmatizing her?

    She really didn¡¯t understand what she had done wrong. Although she¡¯d never been the type to keep her grievances to herself, but she felt that, in the workce, she had no choice but to stiffly smile and act dumb.

    Shi Xiang asid, ¡°You and Yao Juan have recently asked Hao Ziyue¡¯s parents toe to school. You should know that many of our international parents are very busy and usually work very hard. They also believe in us and that¡¯s why they sent their children to us. If you encounter something and tell the parents toe to school, doesn¡¯t that make it seem like our teachers are not enough?¡±

    So this was the principal¡¯s meaning. Yi Ran felt even more dejected. She did not know what to say, feeling as if she must weigh many considerations before taking action.

    Regarding this job, it was her cousin¡¯s rich husband who had rmended her. Since he was kind enough to rmend her, thus helping her get a safe and good job, she couldn¡¯t easily offend the principal and embarrass them.

    Thinking of this rtionship, Yi Ran began to feel perfunctory, thinking that she was really ridiculous in the past.

    She couldn¡¯t help herself. She said in a half-joking tone, ¡°Principal, Gu Tai¡¯s uncle is the famous director Gu Tingchuan. Even he can let go of the whole crew and take a trip. Why can¡¯t Hao Ziyue¡¯s parentse? Which country are they the premier prime minister of?¡±

    Shi Xiang did not get angry when she opened her mouth to argue. Instead, he stretched out his hand and ced it on her back. She was not used to such physical contact and immediately grew stiff. She nched, her lips pressed together.

 Chapter 15 - Able to Visit the Set

    <strong>Chapter 15: Able to Visit the Set</strong>

    Shi Xiang¡¯s ¡°kindness¡± was full of hypocrisy and malice. His actions make Yi Ran anxious to avoid it, but yet she also felt as if she was unable to do anything, much less directly give him a round kick like she had wanted.

    ¡°Teacher Yi, I already spoke with Yao Juan. You also must consider your own future, understand?¡±

    Yi Ran could only try to convince herself that this was probably the other person¡¯s natural bodynguage. Therefore, she tried to move sideways to avoid his hand, but who knew that his strength was not light. Even after several attempts, she was not sessful.

    Her heart became more and more anxious, and even Shi Xiang¡¯s words could not prate her fog. What was the overall situation? Wasn¡¯t it just that she won¡¯t dare to offend the dignitary, fearing that she will get into trouble?

    Yi Ran¡¯s mind was in a mess, and she strongly felt that she willpletely flip out and beat him up. At this moment, she suddenly heard a distant voice said, ¡°Teacher Yi.¡±

    She hesitated briefly, and she and Shi Xiang both turned to look at the end of the corridor.

    The warm sun washed over one side of the man¡¯s body and his features gave off a deep sense of perceptiveness. This mixture of light and shadow added a glimmer of incorporeal brilliance, turning the face into something altogether unforgettable.

    As he approached, he purposely slowed down his steps. Yi Ran stared nkly at him and forgot to respond. Shi Xiang finally released his ws from her back.

    ¡°Hello, Teacher Yi. I¡¯m looking for Teacher Yao Juan to talk about my nephew,¡± Gu Tingchuan said concisely, his attitude towards her most appropriate.

    Yi Ran also pretended not to be familiar with him. ¡°Director Gu, we¡¯re honored by your presence. Oh, yes, this is my school principal Shi Xiang.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan turned to face this middle-aged man who was shorter than him and gave a faint nod. His gaze was indifferent, but the corners of his mouth were faintly raised. He suddenly said, ¡°Teacher Yi has won the favor of the principal. Ordinarily, one must also take care not to get too close for fear a boyfriend might get jealous.¡±

    At this, Shi Xiang¡¯s face paled.

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s once indifferent gaze was now cold, and his stern expression was dark.

    Yi Ran was dumbfounded and clearly felt that this man¡¯s words had a hidden meaning.

    However, Gu Tingchuan did not exin more, and went straight to the point. ¡°Teacher Yi Ran is very responsible and has a high quality standard of teaching. She is one of my favorite teachers. Thanks to the principal of the school.¡±

    When he said thest sentence, there was an obvious pause, as if he was reluctant to say the words.

    Yi Ran was a little nervous and perked up her ears to listen to his chilling words. Gu Tingchuan¡¯s face was unreadable, but he clearly did not put the bureaucrat in his eyes.

    Although Shi Xiang had never met him, he knew that Mr. Gu was a young and promising film master, and he also knew that the Gu family¡¯s reputation was not inferior to that of Hao Ziyue¡¯s family.

    However, he did not expect that the famous director Gu would praise the little teacher. Thinking this, he quickly considered what he had just said to Yi Ran.

    The principal awkwardly excused himself and said before he left, ¡°You guys talk, you guys talk. Teacher Yi, you¡¯re very good. You can entertain the director.¡±

    Yi Ran looked Gu Tingchuan up and down. She was in a very good mood. She had rarely seen him be so sharp-tongued. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to be like this. Director Gu, now that you¡¯d defended me, ifter Shi Xiang found out that I¡¯m your wife, that would be hrious.¡±

    This was probably the first time she mentioned her identity as his wife. Gu Tingchuan smiled. ¡°This kind of teacher, I think it¡¯s best to change him. Or, let you and Gu Tai change school instead.¡±

    His perceptive eyes had not missed the sh of anxiety on her face.

    In fact, in addition to thanking Gu Tingchuan for his help, Yi Ran still felt a kind of bitterness. Over the years, she had always been a person to face her problems alone. She never needed a boyfriend to care...

    But now, in front of Gu Tingchuan, she became ordinary and fragile. Compared to those powerful people in the entertainment circle, she probably seemed like a weak intellectual.

    Yi Ran recalled that day when Gu Tai had blinked and asked her, ¡°Teacher, do you also do this when you encounter injustice?¡±

    She had seriously asked herself the same thing and realized that sometimes she also dared not confront those who unjustly provoked her.

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s deep voice interrupted Yi Ran¡¯s thoughts, and she answered with a shook of her head. ¡°I just came here to work not long ago. In fact, this is actually a very good educational institution.¡±

    After saying this, she lead him toward Yao Juan¡¯s office.

    Gu Tingchuan looked at her thoughtfully and unexpectedly said in a soft voice, ¡°That Shi Xiang, you don¡¯t have to take notice of him in the future. Just stay away from him.¡±

    Yi Ran was still somewhat depressed, but when she looked at him, she couldn¡¯t help butugh. Smiling broadly, she said, ¡°It doesn¡¯t really matter.¡±

    Yao Juan was in his office, grading homework, when he raised his head in time to see such a scene. Yi Ran and Gu Tingchuan stood side by side at the entrance. Her smile was back-lit by the soft light outside. Her features were lively and warm. Seeing her smiling expression, his eyes suddenly sank.

    The most critical thing was that when she looked at the man next to her, there were some undisguised joys and deep feelings in her eyes, and the other party seemed to be used to this kind of attention, naturally responding with eptance.

    Yi Ran did not pay attention to Yao Juan¡¯s surprise. She introduced the two men and the three went to the empty ssroom to sit down.

    As Gu Tai¡¯s teacher, Yao Juan first gave a pertinent evaluation of Gu Tai¡¯s performance in the past three years. When talking about the recent events, he bluntly said, ¡°In the past, Hao Ziyue was the destroyer in the ss but had no issues with Gu Tai. However, sincest year, they have been having some small conflicts from time to time. I think it is necessary to resolve the ¡®heart knots¡¯ between them. I will be responsible for talking to the two children alone and find solutions to their problems. I hope that the parents can cooperate.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan was not too familiar with children, but he had watched Gu Tai grow up. He quickly thought for a moment before nodding, his eyes shadowed by the light of the ssroom. ¡°Gu Tai hadn¡¯t mentioned a word of this matter. It may be that his parents were having various disputes at home, which had caused him to have a psychological shadow. I¡¯ll pay more attention to his emotions and look at his homework. You¡¯ve worked hard.¡±

    Yi Ran only watched them converse and did not express her opinions. With unblinking eyes, she stared at Gu Tingchuan, discovering that when he talked about the education of children, he unexpectedly gave out a mature charm, as if he was actually the father of a child.

    When he saw her fascinated, a note of amusement shed across his eyes. She immediately reacted, and her face flushed. She was also afraid that Yao Juan might have also seen her and was deeply embarrassed.

    Yao Juan had long discovered that her eyes had always fallen on Gu Tingchuan. In his mind, rm bells were ringing as he began to think that these two people seemed to have a familiar rtionship.

    Once the meeting ended, Gu Tingchuan got up and said goodbye to him. He went out to the corridor and pulled out his mobile phone. When the call went through, he began to absentmindedly talk into the phone.

    Yi Ran knew that he was busy so she whispered, ¡°I will have sses for a while. Then,ter, I will call you.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan nodded and his gaze fell from her face to her exquisitely shaped corbone. Without thinking, he raised his hand and lifted the silky strand of hair clinging to it. His fingers brushed against her skin, there and gone so fast that she could hardly feel it.

    He took in her faintly sweet scent,and his eyes unconsciously deepened. She gave onest look at the capable person in front of her, then turned around and quickened her pace to the other end of the corridor.

    These actions fell into Yao Juan¡¯s eyes, making them look even more suspicious.

    ...

    Another week passed and Hao Ziyue¡¯s parents still did not appear.

    Yi Ran drank a cup of coffee in front of the office¡¯s water dispenser and returned to her seat to look at her lesson n. Nearby, Guan Yilu and another female teacher were watching videos on their mobile phone. She could hear their conversation.

    ¡°I heard that he got married recently, but I didn¡¯t pay attention.¡±

    ¡°Me too, I always thought that Guo Baiyu was with him.¡± Guan Yilu thought for a moment, raised her neck and asked Yi Ran ¡°Yi Ran, doesn¡¯t Gu Tai from Teacher Yao¡¯s ss have a good rtionship with you? I¡¯ve seen you with Gu Tai several times. Have you dug up any gossip?¡±

    Yi Ran almost burned her tongue with her coffee. She shook her head nervously and thought about distracting them with a change of topic

    ¡°What are you looking at?¡±

    ¡°Entertainment news. They¡¯re saying that Gu Tingchuan¡¯s really secretive about his new film.¡±

    She looked at it for a while and found that the news also touched on the director¡¯s recent sh marriage, deliberately using Guo Beiyu and several other female stars to conduct various analysis. The conclusion was that the director¡¯s girlfriend from outside the entertainment circle must really have big luck, ultimately defeating many goddesses to be the big winner and marry the director.

    Yi Ran had seen Guo Baiyu in Dark River. She had bright eyes and a charming smile that was profoundly bright. Compared this to seeing her in real life, her beauty was a bit different. Fortunately, Gu Tingchuan¡¯s lens had extraordinary magic.

    Lately, she and Gu Tingchuan had been using WeChat to maintain contact. Aside from this, there wasn¡¯t much difference between now and before.

    Yi Ran thought for a moment and suddenly had an excellent idea. She remembered that she had promised to make him chicken soup. She hurriedly returned to her seat and opened up WeChat, thinking about how to initiate the conversation without sounding awkward.

    Frankly speaking, in her heart, she was afraid of being rejected by Gu Tingchuan and being seen as too clingy.

    After editing her message for a long time, Yi Ran finally decided to resolutely send out the message. ¡°I already followed my mother to learn how to make chicken soup and some other dishes. This weekend, if it is not too difficult, how about I send them to you?¡±

    Yi Ran immediately threw the phone away after she finished and really did not dare to see if a reply came in.

    As a result, she was uneasy for an entire afternoon. By the time it was time to go home, Yi Ran opened WeChat and unexpectedly received an answer from Gu Tingchuan. His reply was as straightforward and simple as expected. ¡°En. Then you set the time and I will send someone to pick you up.¡±

    In Yi Ran¡¯s heart, there was finally the feeling of being ¡°Mrs. Gu¡±.

 Chapter 16 - Everything was Routine

    Chapter 16: Everything was Routine

    When the weekend finally arrived, she deliberately woke up early in the morning to carefully dress up. She allowed her long hair to fall loosely behind her back, making her appear more sweet tempered and gentle. She also looked more delicate and prettier than usual.

    Yesterday, she bought a chicken and washed it first before putting it in a pot to nch with boiling water. Afterward, she switched it over to a pot of water to boil,ter adding added red dates, Chinese wolfberry, longan, and some seasoning. Because she didn¡¯t know whether Gu Tingchuan liked the taste of ginger, she simply didn¡¯t add it.

    The smell of the fragrant cooking was overflowing in the house. She packed a few other dishes inside a locked lunchbox. When the driver arrived, she got into the car.

    She sat inside thefortable business car for a few hours and no longer felt tired. When she arrived at the shooting site for Homing, she had to go through a very strict check-in process. She thought that it was no wonder that there was very little news about the film leaked out.

    The ce was packed with people engaged in setting up lighting and props. There was a kind of neat order to the scene. The driver was temporarily invited to go help, and since there were other things to do, he simply told her to wait a moment for Xiao Zhao toe over.

    Yi Ran was not in a hurry, especially whenpared to the rhythm of everyone around her. She felt a bit awkward just standing there.

    While waiting, she shifted her standing positions a few times. She was trying to call Xiao Zhao when she looked up and saw a familiar beautiful face.

    Guo Baiyu gave her friendly smile. ¡°It¡¯s you. Why didn¡¯t I see you before?¡±

    Then she turned her head and said to the other actress who was still wearing a costume, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. I¡¯ll go to Director Gu and ask for some guidance.

    Yi Ran did not have time to respond to Gu Beiyu¡¯s greetings. The other actress, who looked as if she was just crying, stared at her with a pair of swollen eyes and said coldly, ¡°If I knew that Gu Tingchuan¡¯s demand would be so high, I wouldn¡¯t be here.¡±

    Guo Baiyu smiled helplessly and softly appeased her, ¡°I was also miserable when I filmed Dark River. But, to get used to it, I just think about the promising future ahead.¡±

    Yi Ran didn¡¯t want to listen to their discussion and was nning to change her waiting location. She saw Guo Baiyu whispered something in the female star¡¯s ear, patted her shoulder and walked away.

    Yi Ran also recognized that the angry actress wearing a purple costume with tear stains still on her face was Nan Yuan. She had appeared in several idol dramas and painful youth movies. At this moment, she looked at Yi Ran with eyes full of disdain. ¡°You, go and buy me a bottle of water.¡±

    Yi Ran was feeling particrly plucky today so she simply said with an indifferent smile, ¡°Sorry, I am not your person nor a staff member. You can let others go instead. ¡±

    It was probably that she was too angry with Gu Tingchuan and was just eager to find someone to vent on. But, after being rejected, the anger and rage in her eyes became more distinct. ¡°Who are you? Some hick country dweller? You just need to buy a bottle of water. That¡¯s all. How can you talk so much?¡±

    The smile on Yi Ran¡¯s face suddenly became stiff. Why do these kinds of stars always feel as if they¡¯re better than others? Her temper red and when she opened her mouth, she was not polite. ¡°Why do I have to listen to you? Do I owe you? Or did you give me money?¡±

    Even if Nan Yuan was only a B-rate actress, in the entertainment circle, she was probably used to getting special treatment and being attended to at all times. She had a whole group of fans who loved and adored her, looking up to her as if she was some kind of goddess. When Yi Ran ignored her, she flew into a rage and raised her hand as if to p her.

    Yi Ran¡¯s eyes were full of coldness, and she looked back at her fiercely. ¡°Are you too obsessed with ying a drama and wanted to break thew now? Don¡¯t pretend you don¡¯t know.¡±

    She was initially angry but now wanted tough at how preposterous this was.

    In Nan Yuan¡¯s eyes, Yi Ran was not following the customary rules. Her expression was malicious as she said, ¡°Who ultimately hired you? I canin about your foolish behavior to your employer, making them to no longer have any faith in your ability to work.

    Yi Ran, however, felt that it was really a waste of words to talk to this kind of woman. Besides, how can she get angry? She shouldn¡¯t make trouble in Gu Tingchuan¡¯s territory. When she turned her head, wanting to leave, Nan Yuan arrogantly grab her wrist, her grasp so tight that it was painful. ¡°Stop! You still want to leave?¡±

    ¡°Let me go!¡±

    Yi Ran¡¯s strength was bigger than Nan Yuan. She tried to pull back her wrist but when she was unable to dislodge the other person¡¯s hand, she suddenly pushed back, causing the other party to fall.

    There was already a circle of onlookers gathered around them. Finally, Xiao Zhao arrivedte, and when he saw this scene, his face turned pale. He turned his head and yelled at Nan Yuan: ¡°Mrs. Gu came to visit the site for the first time. What do you mean by this?¡±

    Hearing these words, Nan Yuan froze and was unable to react at all when the crowd spread, revealing the usually cold and detached Gu Tingchuan. He slowly narrowed his eyes and his lips curled in silent contempt. Yi Ran saw that Nan Yuan¡¯s face had turned as white as paper.

    When Yi Ran realized that Director Gu had appeared, she couldn¡¯t exin theplicated emotions in her heart. However, the entire busy site was now quiet and the atmosphere had be strange, making her feel a little uneasy.

    Gu Tingchuan came over because the security monitor had mentioned that some people were arguing here, but he was not clear what happened. He looked at Guo Baiyu¡¯s unsightly expression. His voice was cold and clear, ¡°Nan Yuan, starting tomorrow, you need note to the studio anymore.¡±

    Nan Yuan¡¯s expression suddenly changed, as if she was in a daze. She almost copsed but, fortunately, her assistant reached with a hand just in time. ¡°What?! You want to change me?!¡±

    Gu Tingchuan paid no attention to her angry voice and simply said in aposed and cool voice, ¡°I told youst time, even if you can¡¯t act, I can still shoot you. However, you allowed Guo Baiyu to find me to ask me to change the lines and the script for you. You¡¯re not equal to it.¡±

    Nan Yuan¡¯s face turned red and she retorted, ¡°I brought in the investment money from Qin Group, and they let me act!¡±

    Gu Tingchuan gave her an intense look. ¡°I control who gets toe in. You clearly don¡¯t have a brain.¡±

    Yi Ran wasn¡¯t sure if she was imagining things but the words he said were full of cold chills. She unexpectedly discovered that this man can really have a big temper.

    Even if Gu Tingchuan was said to be the ¡°big devil¡± in the studio, it was mostly to make the work more perfect. However, at this moment, when he was mad at Nan Yuan, he would take decisive action.

    ¡°Was it because I offended your wife, so you want to fire me?! Gu Tingchuan, I did not expect you to be such a person!¡±

    Gu Tingchuan did not exin, nor did his expression change as he ordered his group of subordinates first before telling his assistant, ¡°Xiao Zhao, help me handle Miss Nan¡¯s matters. Confiscate her group permit and settle her ount. Starting tomorrow, do not allow them to appear here anymore.¡±

    His eyes were cold, yet the corners of his mouth were curved up.

    Yi Ran finally understood in her heart that he was indeed an ultimate, big name director, one with power beyond even popr movie stars. This was his world, and his words can make a person famous overnight or fall into hell.

    She did not expect that, for her, Gu Tingchuan would open his golden mouth and force Nan Yuan to leave the crew. This man¡¯s attitude towards films was higher than anything else. As long as it was beneficial to his film, he will do anything.

    Gu Tingchuan calmly stretched out a hand and took the things from her, as if nothing had happened.

    ¡°This matter is not important.¡± He turned back to his assistant and said, ¡°Xiao Zhao,e over and help. Let everyone take a break.¡±

    The more Yi Ran looked at him, the more she felt that the director was domineering. This prestige caused her to have some worship and she could not help but blurt out, ¡°A great brother¡­¡±

    Gu Tingchuan did not understand. Raising his eyebrows, he said, ¡°Brother?¡±

    ¡°Hey, you don¡¯t understand inte ng¡­¡±

    She faked disgust and Director Gu also did not have anything to add, maintaining his calm as he took advantage of the break and guided Yi Ran to his hotel room.

    After they entered the room, his clear gaze fell on her body. ¡°If you go back and forth in a day, you will be too tired. You can go back tomorrow instead.¡±

    Yi Ran did not expect that he would allow her to stay for one more day. Naturally, she was very happy. Nodding, she reached out and swept her long hair to the side, asking, ¡°Do you want to hear the exnation? I didn¡¯t mean to make trouble¡­¡±

    Gu Tingchuan turned his body and took a step closer to her. She saw that he was calm and gentle. Seeing his smiling expression, hot excitement gathered in her heart, and she suddenly wanted to kiss him.

    He saw the flickering light in her eyes and, understanding her meaning, he leaned closer to her so that the distance between them was only separated by a breath. As long she looked up, their lips would meet.

    Yi Ran couldn¡¯t help it. She slowly raised her head and saw the unsteady look in his eyes. Gu Tingchuan ced his hands on her waist and pulled her closer into an embrace, so that they were reflected in each other¡¯s eyes.

    ¡°I think you will not be so foolish as to make trouble in the studio.¡±

    She pulled back slightly. ¡°Today, you fired Nan Yuan. Will there be an impact on the shooting schedule?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s okay to slowly supplement her with someone else. Now, don¡¯t talk.¡±

    Immediately after he said this, his lips lightly rub against her own red lips. His eyes were like deep wells of Spring water as he watched her. Even then, one hand had already began to unbutton the neckline of her blouse, his slender fingers faintly moving, delicate and sexy. He would not lose at all to any male stars under his lens.

    Yi Ran subconsciously wanted to hide, to swallow her saliva, but he was pushing her backward onto the bed, his movements charming and gentle, every action exuding a sense of indolence. His hand slowly dragged up her skirt, thenguid motion making her shudder, even as he nipped her red lips and pushed his tongue inside her mouth. Before she knew it, her skirt was already pushed up around her waist, revealing what could not be said.

    Everything else was just routine.

 Chapter 17 - Drinking Chicken Soup

    Chapter 17: Drinking Chicken Soup

    Word of Caution: The following scene has just a pinch of smut. Read at your discretion.

    They were a newly married couple who had treated their rtionship seriously from beginning to end. Therefore, it was reasonable to be entangled. However, Yi Ran really did not expect Gu Tingchuan to have such strength. Before the day was even dark, he was already demanding to eat her¡­

    She tried to recall, except for that first night when they truly became husband and wife, they did not have any more rtions. Because there was no wedding, there was also no honeymoon, making her feel as if everything was illusory. But, her body remembered the taste of his care.

    Compared to the ignorance that came with epting new experiences, now there seemed to be a different feeling in her heart, particrly when their lips were moving together, and his fingers were exploring her lower body, creating a fire that can ignite her whole person.

    She recalled that time when she had told herself that if she have the opportunity again, she must properly appreciate Gu Tingchuan¡¯s strong body. But, when his hand cupped her buttocks without any hindrance, all her thoughts once again melted into nothing.......

    Feeling her trembling, Gu Tingchuan slowed down his movement, like a powerful beast ready to turn into an attentive lover. His face was handsome and lighthearted as his fingers brushed back and forth between her legs, inciting such arousal that she was unable to do anything but rely on his tall and powerful body.

    Gu Tingchuan was unable to clearly exin it. In these years, he had witnessed all the ups and downs of the entertainment circle. He had never been much interested in the feminine charms. But now, after meeting her, he didn¡¯t know why he would suddenly start to behave like an obscene teenage boy. He always felt that, when he was with her, these pleasures and emotions were unsurprisingly natural.

    What¡¯s more, he really didn¡¯t want to talk about other things at this moment. Hadn¡¯t she said that they ought to fulfill their husband and wife obligations? This was very good.

    Yi Ran didn¡¯t know how to respond. She only felt that his posture was too captivating. Just then, his finger instinctively pushed deeper inside her, turning the mes into an inferno.

    A subtle fragrance drift up into the room.

    Suddenly, the sounds of rapid knocking came from outside, interrupting them.

    ¡°Director Gu, Director Gu? Mr. Qin called you¡­¡±

    Gu Tingchuan frowned and intended to ignore him. However, the man at the door added, ¡°Also, afterward, you¡¯ll need to quickly select another candidate before the investors lose their minds.¡±

    Yi Ran heard the overall situation and pursed her lips at him. ¡°That...do you want to go deal with it?¡±

    Gu Tingchuan looked at the bridge of her nose and pulled his face closer so that their faces were mere inches apart. His face unexpectedly showed a helpless smile. ¡°En, I¡¯ll go back to deal with the aftermath. You can take a break here.¡±

    Otherwise, there was still a way¡­

    Yi Ran pushed the thought into the back of her mind and looked at the radiant curve of his lips. He seemed to be in a good mood. Still looking at her, he called ¡°Wait a minute¡± to the person outside.

    Gu Tingchuan pulled back and, after straightening his clothes, he immediately resumed the image of the cold and handsome big director. Before he left, he looked at her sideways and added a sentence, ¡°If you feel bored, you cane to the studio.¡±

    She watched him walk out and bit her lip silently. Their rtionship had just begun to develop, but he was already disying a reliable ¡°connivance.¡±. What¡¯s more, this special treatment was only exclusively enjoyed by his ¡°wife.¡± At least... she had not seen him treat others simrly.

    Yi Ran¡¯s thoughts were getting off track. She looked back at the messy sheets and thought that since Gu Tingchuan was also a man with normal desires, will he usually look at A-films?

    Probably, will he analyze the shooting technique from a professional perspective?

    She suddenly found that her thoughts were too perverted. She patted her cheeks and took a deep breath. Then, she quickly got up and went to the bathroom to wash her face.

    When Yi Ran arrived at the shooting scene in the afternoon, everyone began sneaking nces at her. Their gazes felt different. Realizing that this was the first time she and Gu Tingchuan appeared in public as husband and wife, she suddenly felt more nervous.

    Xiao Zhao and the other staff moved a stool and took a variety of small things, like drinks, to greet her. She sat at a distance from Director Gu and quietly watched him at work.

    The scene they were shooting was not too big and was just a scene with two swordsman. After watching the film, Gu Tingchuan would discuss the content with the actors and other staff, his whole body emitting a cold chill.

    Aside from spending 10 minutes to eat the chicken soup and home cooked side dishes she brought, he spent the rest of the time working. It was only then that she knew that he really was unsmiling when he was filming. Everyone had to listen to him no matter what. The feelings of both men and women listening to his thoughts made her particrly proud.

    Yi Ran was so fascinated that she didn¡¯t know when Guo Baiyu had already came to her side, letting her assistant bring a big box of choctes. After receiving it from the assistant, she gave it to Yi Ran, whispering, ¡°Mrs. Gu, hello. I am bothering you.¡±

    Seeing that the other party insisted, Yi Ran resigned herself. She took the chocte generously and looked up at the goddess, ¡°Hello, are you also in the show?¡±

    ¡°I came to y a small role and just arrived today.¡± When Guo Baiyu spoke, she looked in the direction of Gu Tingchuan. Turning her head back to Yi Ran, she said, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect his wife to be you.¡±

    This sentence vaguely revealed some distaste.

    Guo Beiyu didn¡¯t know what she was so concerned about. After all, Director Gu¡¯s wife did not look as good as herself. Therefore, how can she be nervous?

    Guo Beiyu expressed this kind of thought with just the rise of her eyebrows, such that Yi Ran could clearly understand her scorn. Her expression can¡¯t help but turn a little cold. Of course, Yi Ran was very clear. A man like Gu Tingchuan was too attractive for girls. Therefore, it was necessary to be frank with these types of beautiful girls.

    Yi Ran will not act like a hypocrite. She openly smiled and said, ¡°The snack you sentst time was delicious. Director Gu, he doesn¡¯t like sweets so I was able to take advantage of it.¡±

    When she stood up, her long hair slowly slid down over her shoulders to her chest, so she raised her hand to brush them aside. ¡°I also like the chocte today. You really know how to choose.¡±

    Because of Gu Tingchuan¡¯s position, Guo Baiyu unwittingly had a humble attitude when facing Yi Ran. ¡°Mrs. Gu tters me.¡±

    Yi Ran took a few steps to the side to hand over the chocte to Xiao Zhao for safekeeping. When she returned, she said to Guo Baiyu: ¡°Thank you for your gift. Have you eaten yet? I have to go check if the director has eaten. You know him. If he is busy, he will forget to eat. I¡¯ll leave first.¡±

    Guo Baiyu was dumbfounded. Yi Ran had unquestionable sovereign rights to Gu Tingchuan. Her heart was suddenly overflowing with indescribable jealousy. Her fists were clenched so tightly that her nails flushed white.¡±

    ¡­Why was it like this?

    She looked at Gu Tingchuan¡¯s figure in the distance and gradually became fascinated. She noticed that he seemed to suddenly cast a nce toward her, and her heart skipped a beat.

    He was the man she looked up and was devoted to for many years. But now, he had be the husband of others.

    ......

    The filming of ¡°Homing¡± was full of twists and turns. After dealing with the crisis of changing actresses, and taking pictures of actresses for days and nights on end, and finally being able to enter the post-editing stage, Gu Tingchuan atst had time toe back for the weekend.

    Last night, he made a rare phone call to Yi Ran. His voice was clear and cold, but it made her feel warm. ¡°I n to send someone to pick up Gu Tai tomorrow, and we¡¯ll spend the weekend with him. Will you have any problems with this? ¡±

    Yi Ran liked little Gu Tai, so she naturally had no opinions on the n. However, it was still a bit unexpected for Mr. Gu to suddenly have this idea.

    Gu Tingchuan seemed to understand her doubts and immediately exined: ¡°This is my mother¡¯s request, saying that my older brother and my sister-inw are ready to negotiate their divorce. She feared that the child¡¯s mood will fluctuate.¡±

    ¡°Oh...Of course, we should apany him. I have no problem with it.¡± After a momentary pause, she asked, ¡°Is there anything that Gu Tai likes to eat? I¡¯m going to work early today so I¡¯ll have time to visit the supermarket for some fresh ingredients. I can cook for him personally.¡±

    She wanted Gu Tai to know that others value him. Perhaps, it will make the handsome little guy happier in his heart.

    Gu Tingchuan was soon back from the shooting site. However, because the film progress was too far behind, he just merely changed the work location to home. He stayed in his studio untilte into the evening to view some film samples. The room was full of the scent of coffee by the time he finally came out for a break and saw that Yi Ran was already busy in the kitchen.

    He walked over to check, and realized that it was a mess. Heughed softly, the low, throaty sound carrying such an ambiguous note that it made her whole body weak with goosebumps.

    ¡°You¡¯re really this fierce?¡±

    Yi Ran was made speechless by his words, but she continued to cut the carrots without lifting her head. Gu Tingchuan looked down and saw her wearing an apron. This appearance made her look like a traditional young miss. Although one can¡¯t say that she looked virtuous, this current appearance still made her appear tranquil and delicate, particrly with her long hair tied in a ponytail by her ears.

    He raised his lips slightly, and there was amusement in his eyes as he pointed out, ¡°This is a stick, not a shred.¡±

    Then, he faked disgust and smoothly took the knife from her hand. Wondering how good he would be at cooking, Yi Ran stepped to the side to watch as he busy himself.

    After a moment, she could only stare at him as he easily and dexterously sliced vegetables, then opened the faucet to clean the knife. The water washed over his wrists and a few shallow drops sshed on his sleeves.

    The cool andposed features, the tall and slender silhouette; it was no wonder that so many women coveted him. Yi Ran was momentarily dumbstruck. She thought about how well they¡¯re getting along with one another, and it made her feel both happy and reassured.

    ¡°I originally wanted to arrange for the four elders toe and eat at home, but this is too much pressure for you.¡±

    Yi Ran knew that she was no good at cooking, and thisck of skill had never been very important to her. Now, she felt flustered. She was beginning to care more and more about what he thought of her.

    Gu Tingchuan nced at her, curled his lips in amusement, and returned his gaze to the things being prepared. ¡°I will reserve a ce at a restaurant.¡±

    Yi Ran murmured ¡°hmm¡±, and when she spoke, her soft voice was incredulous, ¡°How do you even know how to cook? Aren¡¯t you a young master?¡±

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s movements paused, and he raised his head to look at her. Then, the corners of his mouth rose, exuding a sense of indulgence.

    Causing the silent undercurrent of love to surge.

 Chapter 17.1 - Extra: Daily Sweetening

    Chapter 17.1: Extra: Daily Sweetening

    Yi Ran was originally an inte addiction girl who was not good at cooking. But after marrying Director Gu, she was able to try all kinds of dishes.

    What¡¯s more, Gu Tingchuan was just too busy. Since thest chicken soup, she had been cooking hard. Sometimes, when they were at home, she would cook for him. However, no matter how much she progressed in her cooking skills, it could neverpare to Gu Tingchuan¡¯s mastery.

    However, Gu Tingchuan seldom had time to cook. Until, that is, the recent film progressed into thete editing stage and he was finally able to take some time to leisurely stay at home with Yi Ran.

    Their feelings had grown deeper with the passage of time, bing as sticky as glue. Gu Tingchuan doted on his wifepletely.

    It was rare for him to be able to rest at home so, of course, everyday he would cook and feed his wife, and, in this way,pletely domesticated her. This kind of feeding did not go on for long before she was questioned by everyone at the office.

    The majority of the questions was as followed:

    ¡°Yi Ran, are you pregnant?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, yeah, why do I feel that you have recently...¡±

    ¡°Yi Ran, have your nutrition been very goodtely? Keep in mind that when the babyes, they might open your stomach.¡±

    Due to showing too much love in front of everyone, all the teachers thought that it wouldn¡¯t be long before the arrival of tiny little Gu¡¯s.

    If it wasn¡¯t because it was currently her time of the month, she would probably question her physical condition. However, reality was always crueler. The real reason was¡­.she had probably gotten fat.

    When Yi Ran went home to have dinner, she picked up the skirt she had just bought recently and looked at herself in the dressing mirror. Frowning, she went out and her face was unhappy. ¡°Gu Tingchuan, look at me. Am I fat?¡±

    Director Gu, who was reading a book on the bed, nced in her direction and said in a normal voice, ¡°No, you¡¯re fine.¡±

    Yi Ran was notforted. She thought about the recent questions from her colleagues. She said, ¡°How could I not be fat? They all insinuated that I¡¯ve gotten fatter. Hey, I¡¯ve decided. I want to lose weight.¡±

    Director Gu continued to stare at the book in front of him and did not even raise his head. ¡°Don¡¯t listen to them. You look really good, not like those female stars. Not too thin.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s basically saying that I¡¯m fat! And, this skirt is bought ording to my previous size. Now it¡¯s tight!¡±

    After she was finished, she changed to a new dress and went to Gu Tingchuan. He looked at her and smiled when he noticed that she was wearing a dress with a short skirt.

    His wife wore new clothes and walked in front of him. Naturally, Gu Tingchuan could no longer read books so calmly, especially when someone¡¯s skirt was so good. He silently set the book aside, paused momentarily, and said with a smile, ¡°Really, you look very good. Don¡¯t lose it.¡±

    He was actually not deceiving her. As far as he could see, her body was still slender with curves in all the right ces, particrly in the chest area. Just look at that softness¡­

    ¡°This is terrible. It¡¯s because, Director Gu, you made too many delicious food recently.¡± Yi Ran conveniently showed off her cleverness by grumbling coquettishly, ¡°I say, this really shows my love of eating. Eating is good for the body, but I¡¯ll be fat after a week of good food. I also don¡¯t like exercising.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan raised his eyebrows, feeling very amused by her. But, his face was calm as he said, ¡°You¡¯re ming me? You said everyday that I have no time to cook for you. I also remembered you shouting about my cooking, saying ¡°this is better than love,¡± saying ¡°this is super delicious.¡±

    When he discovered that Mrs. Gu¡¯s eyes were not amused, he had to surrender. ¡°Well, you have the final say. How do you want to reduce it?¡±

    Yi Ran went over to him, sat in hisp and wrapped her arms around his neck. ¡°Recently, one of the teachers is also losing weight. She said that weight loss recipes are also effective. I asked her to make a list, and I can start doing it tomorrow!¡±

    ¡°Slimming recipe?¡± Gu Yanchuan failed to understand.

    Yi Ran¡¯s weight loss n soon began.

    Initially, Yi Ran said she would personally cook for herself, but ultimately Gu Tingchuan ended up cooking for her instead.

    On the first night, oyster sauce abalone versus chicken mushroom broli noodles. This seemed like a good dinner, and she began eating the noodles.

    After the bite, Yi Ran was frowning painfully. ¡°Hey, hey, why so light¡­¡±

    Gu Tingchuan calmly looked at her. ¡°The recipe says, be light, less oil. Tonight, I cooked a lot of meat sauce. Do you want to eat a little?¡±

    Yi Ran smelled the rich vour of the meat and was dumbfounded.

    On the second night, it was corn yam porridge versus shiitake chicken porridge.

    ¡°Tonight, the taste of chicken haspletely prated into this porridge. It tastes very good. Do you want to take a bite...¡±

    The weight loss programsted for a few days, and Yi Ran did not slim down as expected, but seemed to have gained two pounds instead.

    ¡°My God, I am not losing weight but getting fatter. Why can¡¯t I just control my mouth?¡± She grabbed her husband¡¯s arm and said, ¡°Forget it, I wille and run with you. This is faster!¡±

    Yi Ran gave up the weight loss recipes, and the most happy was Gu Tingchuan.

    Of course, he would not admit that he deliberately chose the weight loss recipes that was light and tasteless and difficult to eat, and he definitely would not admit that he did not want her to lose weight at all.

    After all, if she really slimmed down, probably that kind of feeling¡­.There would be no more.

 Chapter 18 - Im Free Tonight

    <strong>Chapter 18: I¡¯m Free Tonight</strong>

    The talented Gu Tingchuan became the rare chef of the house. As she stood by the sidelines and watched, Yi Ran gradually began to feel guilty. She whispered, ¡°I have made great progress recently. You have to know that I am willing to cook, and I¡¯m always a fast learner, ah.¡±

    Hearing these words, he turned his head to look at Yi Ran. Then, very consciously, she began to defend herself. ¡°I was at home the previous weekend and was just ying video games. You looked at films all day... and now still cook and do housework.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not too hard. Anyway, Auntie will clean the house every week.¡± Gu Tingchuan raised his eyebrows inughter and did not forget to ask her. ¡°So, you bought an oven. Do you n to learn to make snacks?¡±

    Yi Ran did not expect Director Gu to discover the new small appliance in the kitchen.

    ¡°Although I don¡¯t like sweets, I can at least take a small taste for you.¡± He was very clearly teasing her.

    Yi Ran¡¯s face grew slightly hot, so she had to lower her head to cover up and pretend to be busy with Gu Tai¡¯s hurricane cake.

    After a short time, the driver brought the little Master Gu over to the apartment, just in time for lunch. She sat down and looked at the dishes on the side and asked if he liked it. She almost said, ¡°This is the rice cake that your uncle fried for you. Most people don¡¯t have good fortune to eat this.¡±

    Gu Tai turned his head to look at her and took his chopsticks in hand. He looked like a little adult as he said, ¡°That, you haven¡¯t tasted it?¡±

    Yi Ran hastily said, ¡°Yeah, this is also the first time I¡¯ll have this blessing. This is all thanks to you.¡±

    The little handsome guy took the chopsticks and carried a piece to his mouth. He chewed, and his expression was calm as he said, ¡°Oh, the taste is not bad. It¡¯s better than the aunt who cooks my food.¡±

    Yi Ran licked her lips and looked at Director Gu, who was sitting at the side. Thetter¡¯s eyes seemed to rise with a smile.

    The temperature in autumn had begun to decline steadily. But fortunately, in the afternoon, as long as there was the sun, it would not be too cold. After Gu Tai had lunch, heid on the sofa with a full stomach and watched a children¡¯s special film. He was not a child, but he was less open in a ce he was not familiar with.

    Yi Ran thought to tease him. She walked around, leaned over and hugged him, and cloyingly said, ¡°Little Gu Tai, you are my little nephew,. We should be on good terms and nurture good feelings.¡±

    Gu Tai¡¯s face was full of dislike: ¡°Who agreed for you to marry my uncle?... Hey!¡± But the body was very honest, and he did not push her away.

    Gu Tingchuan was originally tidying up his studio. When he came out and saw their boisterous antics, he smiled a little. After steeping himself a cup of tea, he sat on the spacious soda and looked at Gu Tai, who was trying to break away from his aunt¡¯s paws. ¡°If you haven¡¯t finished your homework this week, just do your homework here.¡±

    Gu Tai immediately stopped and pouted at Yi Ran: ¡°My uncle is always so serious. How can you stand him?¡±

    Yi Ran could hardly suppress herughter as Gu Tingchuan picked up his eyebrows and wanted to refute. It just so happened that, at this moment, his private cell phone rang. He got up and looked at the caller. Then, rubbing the space between his eyebrows, he connected and said in a low voice, ¡°I¡¯m resting.¡±

    The person on the other end replied, ¡°Director Gu, you don¡¯t have a beauty on the side so you certainly can¡¯t understand our deste state.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan moved his hand to his forehead. He felt that this was a bit difficult. ¡°Chief Qin, you have a few small actresses in your hands. I¡¯m not qualified to interfere but don¡¯t plug one into my crew again.¡±

    He then added bluntly, ¡°Additionally, I would advise you toter find someone more clever. This one was really too stupid.¡±

    Qin Fang listened admirably and did not get angry. Instead, he said very innocently, ¡°Hey, Tingchuan, you don¡¯t know. Too much intelligence is hard to control.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan had said what he needed to say. He turned to look at his little family and, clearing his throat, said, ¡°Well, don¡¯t bother my private time. We¡¯ll talk about it again when I¡¯m back at work.¡±

    After that, regardless of whether the other party agreed or not, he simply directly hung up.

    Gu Tingchuan walked back to the living room and saw Yi Ran and Gu Tai huddled together on the warm sofa. The bright light of the TV shed across their faces, and the warm afternoon sun outside the window made the picture more clear. His gaze deepened and he suddenly thought that this image ought to be captured by a camera.

    At this time, she also noticed his gaze. She lifted her eyes and saw the manzily unbuttoning the cor of his shirt. He was casually leaning against the door frame, the broad line of his shoulders slightly tilted. It was rare to see him so idle and rxed.

    She didn¡¯t dare to look at him again and nervously shifted her gaze away.

    Gu Tingchuan returned to the sofa and thought for a moment as he looked at Gu Tai. Finally, he opened his mouth. ¡°I went to see Teacher Yao the other day and listened to your situation.¡±

    The moment his voice fell, Gu Tai straightened and subconsciously looked at Yi Ran next to him.

    ¡°You ¡®re being bullied by ssmates. Why didn¡¯t you say it at the beginning?¡±

    ¡°Uncle, this is not that simple.¡± Gu Tai spread his hands, looking much like his uncle presiding over a situation at work. ¡°Yi Ran, you know Hao Ziyue¡¯s parents are scary. Before that, a ssmate in our ss was pushed down by him and broke his hand.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s fingers lifted the cup and he sipped the tea as he listened.

    Gu Tai said, ¡°Uncle, I have some good student friends. If they help me, they will be bullied by Hao Ziyue.¡±

    Yi Ran looked at Gu Tai, worried that the child¡¯s heart already had too many hidden emotions, which will only weigh him down. Although he was only in the third grade of elementary school, he was already more mature than the rest of his peers. This also made her feel more distressed.

    ¡°Moreover, I can¡¯t ask him toe out and fight.¡± ¡±

    ¡°Fighting really can¡¯t solve the problem.¡± Gu Tingchuan¡¯s well-defined fingers put down the cup, and his tone was gentle and caring when he said, ¡°Do you feel wronged?¡± ¡±

    Gu Tai was momentarily silent, then he shook his head.

    He replied with dissatisfaction, ¡°But even if I ignore him, he will make trouble with me. What do you want me to do, ah? ¡±

    The world of primary school students was already soplicated. However, the parents who should do the disciplining was not around. Gu Tingchuan shook his head helplessly, and he made his voice as soft as possible. ¡°First, you need to tell the other person that you don¡¯t like this behavior. This is the first correct thing to do. When the teacher asked you about the situation, you initially couldn¡¯t say it but then you became brave and frank. This was also very good. ¡±

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s tone was rarely so soft and warm, causing Gu Tai to only blinked hisrge eyes at him. ¡°When you are being bullied by your ssmates, you didn¡¯t choose to use violent counterattacks, and you tried to protect yourself and your friends as much as possible. This was also the smartest choice.¡±

    The man clearly analyzed Gu Tai¡¯s actions for him. ¡°The only thing that was not good was that you also used other people¡¯s ¡®wounds¡¯ to attack his family. ¡®Language violence¡¯ is also a kind of violence. Gu Tai, you can¡¯t be like that. You do need to deal with him, but if you use thisnguage to counter him, it will only make things worse.¡±

    Finally, his tone became serious, and he told the boy in front of him, ¡°As for what to do, then, you must believe that the teachers and parents can help you solve the problem.¡±

    At thisst sentence, he deliberately slowed down his speech, and the pronunciation of each words came heavy and clear. She didn¡¯t know why she felt a sudden fever in her heart, and her ears became a little hot.

    She looked at Gu Tingchuan intently, always feeling like the man saw something she didn¡¯t understand.

    Gu Tingchuan didn¡¯t care about her awkward look. He only raised his hand and rubbed Gu Tai¡¯s head. Then, he raised his eyes to her and said, ¡°Didn¡¯t you make a cake? Let¡¯s get it together.¡±

    Yi Ran silently followed him to the kitchen. She wore soft t-bottomed slippers, and the top of her head only reached the man¡¯s chin, so she looked up at him and whispered: ¡°Yao Juan said that he will look for Hao Ziyue¡¯s parents. But before that, the principal also spoke with him. If nothing is done, Hao Ziyue will continue to get worse and worse. His parents have created a lot of problems.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan could hear the disapproval in her voice. He turned his head to look in the direction of the living room as his fingers tapped on the kitchen counter: ¡°Is it so difficult for Teacher Yao to convince the other parents? If you are concerned with this, then I will find a way to solve it.¡±

    Yi Ran briefly inclined her head. When she moved to walk back out, Gu Tingchuan raised his hand and gently caught her wrist in a single movement. The skin on his hand was fair and the temperature was a little cold, so she couldn¡¯t help but instinctively shrink back.

    Since that day, they hadn¡¯t been entangled in the end. At this moment, she couldn¡¯t help but think more.

    Initially, he was only thinking about solving their marriage affairs as soon as possible so that he would no longer be distracted by such matters. Butter, he felt that since he was already a husband, they should be responsible for each other¡¯s life.

    He was not sure if he can really love, but at least when facing her, there were many new experiences.

    ¡°I¡¯m free tonight.¡±

    Director Gu¡¯s voice was warm andfortable. When he saw the inexplicable expression on her face, his lips lifted withughter. ¡°I remember very well that you were worried about my physical condition. I ought to set your mind at ease.¡±

    He actually needed to prove that his body was ¡°healthy¡±.

    ¡°...¡± Yiran was petrified for a moment and did not know how to answer him. Finally, she could only grab the te and prepare to flee.

    In the living room, Gu Tai looked at the two adults talking, the white light on the TV set reflecting. his cold smile.

 Chapter 19 - The Night Is Long

    Chapter 19: The Night Is Long

    Gu Tai¡¯s achievements in school had always been among the best. His character was a little cold and proud, but he was also an extremely smart child with good genes and a handsome face. Naturally, it was easy for him to be the teacher¡¯s ¡°heart treasure.¡± Moreover, even if he didn¡¯t understand his homework, they were willing to tutor him. Therefore, Yi Ran didn¡¯t need to help him much.

    She watched him as he worked, remembering that his grandparents also hired an after school tutor for him. She couldn¡¯t bear to let him get tired and said, ¡°Look at the picture book first. Then you can do the rest of it tomorrow.¡±

    Yi Ran took him to the guest room to settle down and sleep. Then, she went and took a shower, the hot steam making her feel radiant and rxed. Afterward, sheid in bed, brushing through Weibo. She paused when she saw Gu Tingchuan. A few days ago, he and several starring actors had attended a charity event to publicize Homing.

    In addition to allowing himself to be photographed and recorded on television, he calmly responded to the questions about the development of the film. He was very vocal in showing his attitude and full-fledged enthusiasm for the uing film. However, any questions about his personal life only received short answers.

    Those clear eyes of his had the ability to prate through the screen into the hearts of young girls.

    Yi Ran was still looking at the pictures with great enthusiasm when Gu Tingchuan came out from his shower. As he wiped his damp hair with a towel, he saw that she was looking at her phone again and thought that it was normal.

    ¡°What are you looking at?¡± His eyes examined her. ¡°I¡¯m very happy to see youughing.¡±

    Yi Ran looked up and saw Gu Tingchuan wearing only a pair of trousers, leaving his upper body uncovered. His strong muscles made her heartbeat sped up. This figure was really like a mountain with flowing water, making people salivate.

    She guiltily closed Weibo and said, ¡°Nothing. Just that somework segments are very funny.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan suddenly faintly smiled. ¡°In fact, sometimes they are very convenient. Like a Weibo ount. Maybe I should get one.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s good!¡± Yi Ran sat up and, after thinking the matters through, said, ¡°No good! Not a good idea. A lot of women would make public confessions to you.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s left hand rose up to cover his widening smile. Yi Ran saw this little action and had to shift her gaze away.

    Outside, the night was deep and the moonlight was silent, the bright illumination reflected in his dark eyes. He just barely walked over to the bed and sat down when he saw her quickly turning her mobile phone face down.

    Gu Tingchuan thought it was funny but did not expose her timid little trick.

    ¡°How is your family recently? Are your parents still okay?¡± Gu Tingchuan asked naturally.

    Yi Ran¡¯s nervous body rxed a little as she responded to his question, ¡°En, they are very good....I also thought about what you saidst time...that...it would be good to eat together with everyone to improve their feelings.¡±

    She was worried that it would be too abrupt, but the man¡¯s bright face showed a faint smile. ¡°I will arrange it as soon as possible, you can rest assured.¡±

    Some words came to her lips, but she thought about it and still didn¡¯t know how to tell him.

    If she said to Gu Tingchuan, ¡°You are too busy toe home,¡± what was the practical significance of this? He was originally a workaholic. Should she understand and be considerate?

    In fact, Yi Ran¡¯s mood was a little chaotic. Under such circumstances, she didn¡¯t know what kind of thoughts she wanted to express. Their marriage life was already like this, and there was no turning back.

    But it was difficult to just be satisfied. There was always some emptiness in her heart, but she couldn¡¯t really pinpoint where this feeling wasing from.

    As Gu Tingchuan drew back the cover, he told her, ¡°Once you be a little more used to some of my work environment, I will take you to an event.¡±

    Yi Ran turned her head and looked at him with surprise. ¡°Me? Will it be too high-profile?¡±

    ¡°It will be simr to the charity event a few days ago and won¡¯t be a problem.¡± He leaned over and brushed his mouth lightly over her earlobe, whispering, ¡°You should get used to the identity of ¡®Mrs Gu.¡¯¡±

    As a matter of fact, to Yi Ran, Director Gu was someone with a steady temperament, a man who had the ability to endure and to conceal his true thoughts. Therefore, it was quite rare to see him aroused and passionate.

    So, when he showed her this side of him, she couldn¡¯t help but feel somewhat intimidated.

    Yi Ran didn¡¯t know whether it was normal for people¡¯s first few times to be like her own. For them to also be ovee by such things.

    Compared to the gentle care of the first time, this time, he prated much deeper, making her frantic to retreat. But every time she twisted her body, she only ended up falling deeper into submission. The body, from head to toe, seemed to tingle and ache. She could not escape his ministrations. Every stroke seemed to alternate between long and short, making her legs go weak with the sensation.

    Gu Tingchuan wanted to change positions and pulled her up from the bed. Their bodies clung to each other without any hindrance. She put her head on his shoulder, panting into the base of his neck and unintentionally making it harder for him to restrain himself.

    Because she was an ¡°Inte Addiction Girl,¡± Yi Ran naturally knew a lot about this area. But, it was only knowledge that had never been put into practice before, so now, she couldn¡¯t help but feel shy.

    His whole body was very warm and moist with sweat, but it was still iparably sexy. She was provoked time and time again, and when she opened her mouth to ask for mercy, her eyes were misty.

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s solid back muscles were regrly undting, and her lips asionally opened against the sweat on his neck, which tasted slightly bitter but ultimately excited her even more.

    ¡°Why does it seem like your physical strength iscking instead?¡±

    Yi Ran did not think that he would still remember to tease her at a time like this. Her heart was provoked, but her body did not seem to care. ¡°What did you say.....Ah!¡±

    Yi Ran¡¯s sweet, throaty sounds were particrly charming, making Gu Tingchuan chuckle. He held her waist as he exerted himself, proving his physical strength beyond a doubt.

    ¡°You are so light. You should eat more.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s back, waist, hips, and thighs¡­.everything made Yi Ran blush. If, a few months ago, she thought of lying in bed with Gu Tingchuan, it could only be considered the most shameful daydream.

    But now, it was a reality. She was straddling him, their bodies colliding and connecting, the sensation of it making herpletely forgetting herself.

    Suddenly, Yi Ran¡¯s whole body fiercely trembled, and Gu Tongchuan embraced her, his voice low and gentle as he appeased her. ¡°Bear with it for a little longer. It¡¯ll end soon.¡±

    .....

    They passed the time appropriately and, after the ¡°full¡± weekend, Yi Ran returned to work.

    Monday was usually a nightmare for all office workers. When the g-raising ceremony ended, she stumbled into the office. It seemed that she had just sat down when Yao Juan came along. He still wore that pair of sses and looked warm and tidy. He looked down at her and asked, ¡°Do you have time? I have something to tell you.¡±

    Yi Ran nodded and already guessed what it might be about.

    They walked to the empty yground. Yao Juan slowly said to her, ¡°In Gu Tai¡¯s case, because we had already spoken with Mr. Gu and also because his parents are going through some special difficulties, I didn¡¯t bother to visit his home.¡±

    She remembered Gu Tingchuan¡¯s care and guidance to Gu Tai in the past two days. She thought that he did a pretty good in ce of Gu Tai¡¯s parents.

    ¡°As for Hao Ziyue, I went to his house this weekend. His parents were definitely not there. I talked to him alone for awhile. He mentioned that he was angry with Gu Tai that day, not only because he was irritated, but because he thought everyone was helping Gu Tai. I talked a bit of sense into him and his mood is much better now.¡±

    Yi Ran felt that this situation was also a very important trigger for the ¡°war¡± between the two. She thought for a moment and worriedly said, ¡°Didn¡¯t Shi Xiang strictly forbidden us to go to his parents? Are you really going?¡±

    Yao Juan looked helpless as he pushed his sses up with his thumb and ring finger. He said, ¡°I really didn¡¯t do much, merely following up to finally let his mother promise toe to the school. But, listen to me, you don¡¯t want to intervene in this matter.¡±

    Yi Ran was slightly surprised. ¡°What are you saying? What do you mean?¡±

    Yao Juan thought for a moment. In the end, he decided to rify. ¡°His parents¡® background are unclear, and they have a special rtionship with the principal. If you are involved in this, it will only affect your future.¡±

    ¡°You are willing to face this so why can¡¯t I do the same?¡±

    ¡°Yi Ran, although we haven¡¯t worked very long together, I understand your character. Hao Ziyue¡¯s mother will definitely irritate you. At that time, you can only choose to be patient or to argue with her. If it is the former, then you will feel very wronged, and if you choose thetter, after venting, the troubles will be endless... I care about your matters.¡±

    After he said this, he suddenly paused unexpectedly. Because they were standing close together, he could see the red love mark under the girl¡¯s neck and near the corbone, and a surge of fire washed over him.

    Yao Yuan quickly removed his gaze and stabilized his emotions. He said, ¡°Women are weaker in the workce. So, you shouldn¡¯t be involved in this kind of thing...¡±

    After he said this, he saw that Yi Ran still wished to disagree, and he suddenly interrupted before she could speak, ¡°Yi Ran, you...¡±

    Yao Juan was silent for a moment before he finally asked, ¡°Do you have a boyfriend?¡±

    Yi Ran was taken aback, and her heart suddenly shook. But, it immediately calmed down. Because she was too preupied with Gu Tai¡¯s matter, she still hadn¡¯t exined or mentioned her marital status.

    ¡°Actually, I¡¯m already married.¡±

    The other person immediately disyed a stunned expression.

 Chapter 20 - In Captivity

    <strong>Chapter 20: In Captivity</strong>

    ¡°Actually, I¡¯m already married.¡±

    After saying this, Yi Ran saw the other person¡¯s stunned expression.

    She never wore a wedding ring, and she hadn¡¯t even taken a wedding leave, much less host a banquet. Of course, no colleagues would know about it.

    Yi Ran scratched her ear and said, ¡°Aside from my family and good friends, you¡¯re now the only one from the school who knows about it. You should not say it out for a while.¡±

    Yao Juan had a bad premonition. He reluctantly asked, ¡°Who did you marry?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s Gu Tai¡¯s uncle, Gu Tingchuan.¡±

    His heart dropped like a stone, and he couldn¡¯t say half a word for a long time.

    Yi Ran had some feelings in her heart. Just now, Yao Juan words made her a bit suspicious, but she was afraid of being arrogant. Now that he was so slow to respond, she felt that she wasn¡¯t overthinking matters after all.

    She could only me Yao Juan for being slower to act. When she first came to Haben International School, she also had some thoughts on the handsome male teacher. However, after not getting any reactions from the other party and considering that they were getting along as friends, she also put down the thought.

    Well, now that things might develop, it would go no further than this.

    Yi Ran looked straight at him and said very generously, ¡°So, I can¡¯t just leave it alone.¡±

    Yao Juan understood and furrowed his eyebrows into a frustrated line. After thinking for a while, he said: ¡°How long...How long were you together? You got married so soon?¡±

    ¡°The time wasn¡¯t very long, but everything has been normal so far.¡±

    Yao Juan still had some traditional ideas about the marriage process. This,bined with his feelings for Yi Ran, caused his tone to be slightly heavy. ¡°Why did you get married in such a hurry? Was it¡­.Did your family have some difficulties?¡±

    ¡°Hey, don¡¯t think too much. This is not a TV series with forced marriages and such hardships,¡± Yi Ran said very easily. ¡°Why can¡¯t I have a sh marriage with him? He looks so good. ¡±

    Yao Juan waspletely stunned speechless her words.

    Seeing his expression, Yi Ran smiled andughed, ¡°Just kidding. Of course, he is very handsome, but there are other reasons as well.¡±

    Yao Juan smiled bitterly, his fingers subconsciously tightening into fists. ¡°Mr. Gu has good looks and an outstanding family situation.¡±

    Yi Ran¡¯s expression turned serious, and her eyes looked passed him to the children taking physical education sses not far away. The sounds of the yground were endless.

    She said, ¡°The most important thing is that he gives people a sense of trust worth relying on.¡±

    She understood in her heart that she was not normally someone who tend to act rashly. But, Gu Tingchuan had such a heart-warming charm.

    What¡¯s more, the words that he said to his parents that day only made her more determined that she had not chosen wrong. Gu Tingchuan was usually very cold to others, not only in the entertainment circle but also to the rest of the world. It was probably very difficult to find men like him...loyal to art and loyal to one¡¯s heart.

    Yi Ran licked her dry lips and thought of the weekend¡¯s entanglement. Suddenly heat bloomed across her face. In fact, she had behaved very shamefully. Afterward, she went and took a shower.

    As for Gu Tingchuan, after he did a lot of unspeakable things, she dared not think about whether the man was satisfied.

    ¡°Oh...¡± Yao Juan¡¯s sigh pulled her out of the memory. The male teacher in front of her said with a smile, ¡°A good flower is thus being kept in captivity.¡±

    Yi Ran squinted slightly and agreed with a nod. But, she unexpectedly said, ¡°I like your analogy, but that ¡®good flower¡¯ probably refers to my husband.¡±

    ......

    The whistling autumn wind was gradually rising and the nts in the school were starting to show a withered color, unwittingly presentingyers uponyers of yellow with mottled hues.

    In the cold air that was slowly blowing, Yi Ran wrapped the cardigan sweater tighter around herself. She was holding the lesson n that had just been used in ss, and the children who came and went when they saw her called ¡°Good teacher.¡± She smiled and nodded. When she turned to the stairs, she heard a sharp female voice.

    ¡°Since you absolutely insist that I need to make a trip to the school, then go ahead andy out this matter!¡±

    Yi Ran was dumbfounded and looked across the distance at the other woman. She was unexpectedly younger that Yi Ran had imagined. On her head was a short curly perm dyed the color of linen. She was wearing a tight-fitting hip skirt and a blouse with low neckline. The way she was dressed made her appear as if she was only twenty years old.

    In the end, Yi Ran wasn¡¯t sure what to say, particrly since the woman¡¯s eyebrows were furrowed so unhappily.

    Yi Ran wasn¡¯t sure if she was Hao Ziyue¡¯s mother. After thinking about it, she turned to Yao Juan.

    In the vacant conference room, the bright afternoon sun streamed through the four windows, the lighting making everything looked veryzy and rxed.

    But, obviously the indoor atmosphere was not as good.

    The sun gently fell on Yi Ran¡¯s head. She raised her eyes to look at Yao Juan, who sat next to her. Sitting opposite them was Hao Ziyue¡¯s young mother, Zou Qiyun.

    The moment the mother opened her mouth, she began toin that they were not responsible for their work. She dismissively said, ¡°Our family¡¯s business is so big, but here you are wasting our time.¡±

    Then, she turned her head and went after Yi Ran. ¡°Were you the one who called me? What kind of teacher are you? Are you so in love with things that your clothes can¡¯t even get a little dirty? So what, you must call the parents toin?¡±

    She was just too strong and incredible, making them momentarily speechless.

    ¡°Teacher Yi, do you only have that one piece of clothing? It¡¯s not a problem to buy you a hundred pieces of this kind of clothes.¡±

    Even though Yi Ran didn¡¯t normally pay attention to brand names, she could safely guess that the bag in Zou Qiyun¡¯s hand was worth thousands of dors. Yi Ran lips slightly rose in a sneer. ¡°Hao Ziyue did not get along with other students in the ss. You know that a dispute happened.¡±

    ¡°Who? That Gu Tai? I already asked my family Yue Yue and he said he didn¡¯t bully the child. If he said he didn¡¯t, then he didn¡¯t. Do you understand?¡±

    The implications was that even if the answer was a ¡°yes,¡± it would still be considered as a ¡°no.¡±

    Yao Juan was about to speak when the principal, Shi Xiang, suddenly broke into their conference room, his fat body slightly jiggling with his enthusiasm.

    In the next second, Zou Qiyun¡¯s face showed a happy sneer.

    Yi Ran seriously suspected that the woman¡¯s previous call was to Shi Xiang, just so the other party would rush over and intercept.

    ¡°Howe Mrs. Hao is here? Wee. The hospitality is a bitcking. There is no coffee or snacks....¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m here to give you all face. Principal Xiang,ter you also need to give these teachers brain. Clearly, it¡¯s their responsibility to watch over the children. Why bother us parents?¡±

    Yi Ran thought this woman¡¯s brain circuit was very strange, but when she wanted to refute, Yao Juan patted her hand. Even Shi Xiang looked at her with a warning expression.

    It was the first time she saw such a terrible gaze from a teacher.

    Looking at Zou Qiyun, Yao Juan quietly said, ¡°This is not Hao Ziyue¡®s first time. Before that, he had also harmed other students in the ss. To be fair, this is truly something that we cannot put off. We have a responsibility to protect the safety of other children. Moreover, there are some contradictions between him and Gu Tai that he himself admits. I hope that parents can still care more about their children and don¡¯t shirk their responsibility to the teacher.¡±

    After listening to these words, Zou Qiyun was unsurprisingly indignant. It was a pity that though her facial features were good, they wereyered over with heavy makeup. Her eyebrows drew angrily together and she retorted, ¡°How do we not care about him? I gave him food to eat, let hime to school here, and now we¡¯re in a transitional period. Once he¡¯s in junior high school, we n to send him abroad. I tell you that our family has earned money for my son¡¯s next life. People like you can¡¯t understand.¡±

    Shi Xiang also red at Yao Juan: ¡°Well, Teacher Yao, since Hao Ziyue¡¯s mother already knows this, then it¡¯s ok, and that¡¯s final. What misunderstandings? They¡¯re only in the third grade of primary school. This is just a small fight so don¡¯t go and erge the problem!¡±

    Yao Yuan¡¯s expression was quite calm. It seemed that he had long predicted this oue. Usually, he was quite good-tempered, but Yi Ran was also aware that when he is faced with problems at work, he will be more stubborn than anyone else. When this happened, his aura will bepletely different, and the whole person will be colder and colder.

    The man lowered his face to look at the woman in front of him, and his expression was very focused as he said, ¡°I¡¯ll only say this. Ms. Zou, not only are you unqualified as a parent, as an adult, you also have personality defects. You¡¯re not responsible for your child¡¯s education, ddin¡¯t care about him blindly using violence to solve all his problems, and, at the very least, don¡¯t even want to sit down and think and talk about the problem. Aside from those things, there¡¯s really nothing else to say. ¡±

    After saying this, he turned to Yi Ran and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go out.¡±

    Obviously, he felt that there was no need to offer any additional basic courtesy to this kind of person.

    Zou Qiyun was stunned for a few seconds and then shouted: ¡°Who do you think you are?! You dare to talk to me like this!! Come back here! Say it again! What kind of teacher are you? Ah? What nerve!!¡±

    Yi Ran¡¯s patience finally reached its limits. She didn¡¯t want to see what the woman was doing. She didn¡¯t want to care about the consequences after this. She will start with Zou Qiyun.

    ¡°Yao Juan, let me go! Don¡¯t look down on teachers just because you¡¯re a parent... Zou Qiyun, you...¡±

    Yao Juan grabbed her wrist and forced her outside the meeting room.

    After the two left, Shi Xiang hurriedly got up tofort Zou Qiyun. Her angryints continued for a while and finally slowly faded.

    Everything that had happened was like a raging tsunami that threatened to drown Yi Ranpletely.

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you let me talk?! Teacher Yao, even if we can¡¯t convince her, at least I have to show my position to that woman! She thought she had the power to bully us?!¡±

    ¡°I told you before that she will infuriate you. There is no good oue from quarreling with her. She will only implicate you.¡± Yao Juan could clearly see that Yi Ran was angry, but he also understood that nothing could be solved in this dispute.

    He frowned and tried to convince her. ¡°Our job is to cultivate people. But even if we exin it, she won¡¯t listen. She may not understand our position for a lifetime... This narrow-mindedness, I think, is probably the worst situation in the world.¡±

    This was a reality that was both realistic and helpless.

    Yi Ran regretted it too much. Why couldn¡¯t she be more thoughtful earlier? Why not be brave? While she allowed Yao Juan toe forward to earn a little dignity for them, she did nothing. Just thinking of it made her feel ashamed.

    She was entangled in her heart, and her mind kept returning to the scene over and over again. Zou Qiyun¡¯s sharp voice, her words lingering in Yi Ran¡¯s ears; it was all making her dizzy.

    However, it was useless to regret it. In the end, she couldn¡¯t do anything.

    The evening sun fell over Yi Ran¡¯s face, slowly illuminating her eyes, but it failed to illuminate her heart.

    On the way home, she was absent-minded. When she returned to Gu Tingchuan¡¯s apartment, she finally regained her senses and remembered ¨C these pathetic self-me and sadness, even if she went home, there was no one to talk to.

    Moreover, she was still alone, and Mr. Gu was still in his studio.

 Chapter 21 - Extra: Sugar Intake

    Chapter 21: Extra: Sugar Intake

    Every year, Haben International School usually arranges for a team of teachers to visit first-rate schools in other cities. Usually, they¡¯ll have to meet and study in the morning and afternoon before they can have free activities in the evening.

    Unlike previously, Yi Ran asked Gu Tingchuan in advanced. At the time, they were in the living room. He quickly nced at his schedule and his eyes shed but he didn¡¯t say he was free.

    In her heart, she still had a girlish disappointment. She asked casually, ¡°What kind of work did you arrange at the time?¡±

    Gu Tingchuan put down his book and said withplete seriousness, ¡°Shooting a public service short film.¡±

    She merely said ¡°oh ¡± and didn¡¯t think much.

    On the day of departure, Yi Ran and the other teachers took a two-hour high-speed train and changed bus smoothly. They arrived at a foreignnguage primary school in Xiling City and started a three-day training activity.

    In the afternoon, the meeting room was air-conditioned and entering it was like entering an ice cave. She only wore a sleeveless dress and a small jacket so she couldn¡¯t help shivering. Yao Juan, who was seated next to her, looked at her and raised his voice for the temperature to be increased. Then, he took his long-sleeved shirt out of his carry-on bag.

    ¡°You cover up with this first. It¡¯s not good for you to catch a cold.¡±

    The man¡¯s eyes were bright with concerns. Afraid that the other teachers might have the wrong impression, Yi Ran hastily but politely refused. ¡°There¡¯s no need, I¡­¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to be so polite with me. This is the mutual help between colleagues.¡±

    Yao Juan was the only person in the room who knew about her marriage. His words were also obviously secretive, and there was no excess emotions.

    But Yi Ran still declined. ¡°You only have one piece of clothing, and I¡¯m not the only one freezing here. It wouldn¡¯t be fair to others,¡± she whispered softly, giving him his shirt back.

    Then, she added, ¡°Also, they have already raised the temperature so I¡¯ll be fine in a little bit.¡±

    Yao Juan saw that she was insistent on this matter so he did not say anything more and turned his head to look at the curtain in the conference room.

    The teachers finished their dinner at the school restaurant and finally got a break.

    They took the opportunity to go to the nearby food night market. Thus, this group of men and women of all ages walked fifteen minutes from the hotel to the shy square.

    Using WeChat on her mobile phone, Yi Ran sent a message to Gu Tingchuan and reported her trip. She looked up and saw all the booths with bright colors disyed everywhere. The pleasing colors fluttered gently, glittering under the shifting light between by the streetmps and the shadows of the night. The ce was packed with the sounds of happyughter and cheerful conversations, and the air was heavy with the delicious scent of food.

    Not long after, the teachers divided into groups of twos and threes. Yi Ran, Yao Juan, amd Guan Yilu naturally became a small team since they were not only simr in age but also yed more easily together.

    Yi Ran and Guan Yilu each bought a paper cup cake and German sausage, but then stared at the sliced meat sandwich stall and had to swallow their saliva. While Yao Juan lined up for them, they moved next door to buy drinks. Guan Yilu excitedly said, ¡°They have beer! You wait, I¡¯m going to get two cups.¡±

    Yi Ran waited for a while in the same ce. Yao Juan got their hit food and joined her. She saw that the sweat on his forehead had already dripped onto the tip of his nose. She hurriedly took out a paper towel and tried to hand it to him but saw immediately that his hands were full of things. She was so flustered that she somehow reached out and blotted the tip of his nose with the paper towel.

    Then, Yi Ran quickly took the food from Yao Juan¡¯s hand and gave him the paper towel. ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard. You can wipe it off.¡±

    Yi Ran smelled the scent of roasted meat and didn¡¯t even have time to swallow back her drool before she heard her name being called. She turned her head and looked behind her in confusion. The man stood in the hazy light, his body emitting a cold aura. He was dressed in simple but high-quality clothing, and he seemed ipatible with this noisy and boisterous atmosphere. But, the most important thing of all was that the curved of his lips was the most captivating sight.

    The twilight of his eyes was exceptionally clear. He was also a well known figure with excellent abilities. Naturally, no matter where he went, he will attract a lot of attention. This was no exception.

    However, Gu Tingchuan did not care about other people. He continued to look at her, his direct gaze making her heart pound.

    They were both silent, like a pair of strangers wonderfully and unexpectedly meeting for the first time.

    Yi Ran had never had this kind of novel experience. The moment she saw him, her eyes grew bright and she also immediately understood the implications of his appearance.

    Her eyes were immediately sparkling and the corners of her mouth were faintly raised, making his heart itch. Gu Tingchuan knew that she wouldn¡¯t be able to conceal her emotions. This was a quality of her¡¯s that he was also particrly fond of.

    Looking at these two people gazing at each other as if there was no one around, Yao Juan was a little dumbfounded. After a while, he awkwardly said, ¡°Mr. Gu, what a coincidence.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan gave him a short nodded and said in a calm voice, ¡°She said that she is eating supper here so I came to take a look.¡±

    The implication was ¡°I came for my wife.¡±

    The starry night sky had infinite brightness but, at this moment, it was the bold outlines of Gu Tingchuan¡¯s features that added a vivid fragrance to her night.

    Yi Ran¡¯s heart had some warmth but it slowly changed to an unspeakable grievance. Inexplicably, she felt moved. ¡°You knew before that I was going to Xiling City. I don¡¯t understand why you didn¡¯t tell me you¡¯ll be here too.¡±

    ¡°I said at the time that I was going to shoot a public service film. You didn¡¯t ask me where it was located.¡± He turned around and med her withplete confidence.

    Yi Ran was stunned, but the agitation in her heart quickly died down. She capitted immediately. ¡°Fine, fine. What you said is reasonable. I can¡¯t out-speak you.¡±

    Gu Tingchuanughed and said, ¡°What¡¯s your n?¡±

    ¡°Of course, stay here and eat. Sitting and listening to the ss for the whole day really made my body ache.¡±

    Yi Ran¡¯s bright smile reached Gu Tingchuan¡¯s eyes and his gaze deepened. When he was about to speak, Guan Yilu finally returned and caught sight of the director. She had been sweating before but now felt refreshed.

    ¡°Oh wow. Isn¡¯t this Gu Tai¡¯s uncle?¡±

    Gu Tingchuan saw that other teachers had arrived and presumed that his presence might make things difficult for Yi Ran. He promptly reacted. ¡°Teacher Yi, we¡¯ve encountered each other, but it would be inconvenient for us to speak a few words.¡±

    Yi Ran took a few steps away from Guan Yilu¡¯s curious gaze. As she said goodbye to him, Yao Yuan started to engage Guan Yilu in order to give them some space. This caused Yi Ran to slightly rx and she said, ¡°How long will you stay here?¡±

    ¡°One week is enough. I still have an important meeting I need to go to. After you shake them off,e look for me and send me a message.¡± As Gu Tingchuan said this, he suddenly sped her hand, his ten fingers twining around her own. His grip was firm yet gentle. As he stepped back, their fingers parted with sentimental reluctance.

    Yi Ran didn¡¯t even have time to register what he had said but Gu Tingchuan had already recovered hisposure. She watched as he turned around and left.

    She could only gaze at the departing back view of her husband¡¯s tall figure. The night market was brightly lit but soon his figure grew indistinct and disappeared altogether. Guan Yilu came up next to her and teased, ¡°Such a handsome family member. I¡¯m too envious.¡±

    Yi Ran¡¯s present state of mind was a little nk. Right before her eyes, the sweetness from before was gradually drifting away.

    As she stood under the bright lights of the streetmp, her figure entered Yao Juan¡¯s eyes, changing into a single, boundless picture.

    While Yi Ran was still in a daze, Xiao Zhao hurriedly rushed up to her and cautiously whispered to her, ¡°Mrs. Gu, Mr. Gu said that he forgot to give you the hotel room card. He said to go in first and he will arriveter.¡±

    Yi Ran looked down at the hard stic in her hand and her lips twitched with a strange feeling.

    ....

    The temperature of the star hotel was very suitable. The carpet was thick and plush, absorbing the sound of footsteps. After taking her room card out of her bag, Yi Ran opened the door and entered. She found that the room was luxurious andvishly decorated. Definitely nicer than the hotel where she had been staying.

    She turned on the TV, changed into slippers, steeped a pot of tea, took a shower, and theny in bed and yed on her phone. Later, when Gu Tingchuan came back, she immediately put down her phone and rushed over to hug him.

    His arms wrapped around her waist, and she touched his hip, feeling that the skin under his shirt was soft and sweaty.

    She affectionately leaned against his body and tightened her hold on her Mr. Gu, feeling his warmth seep into her. ¡°Howe you¡¯re a little sweaty? Did you hurry back?¡±

    ¡°En,¡± Gu Tingchun murmured, his expression showing a faintughter. ¡°I¡¯ll take a shower first.¡±

    Yi Ran obediently nodded her head. At this time, Gu Tingchuan seemed to hesitate, as if he wanted to say something but wasn¡¯t sure how to say it. After a brief struggle, he said, ¡°In the future, aside from me, you¡¯re not allowed to wipe any other man¡¯s sweat.¡±

    She nkly stared after him as he walked into the bathroom and then let out a sputter ofughter.

    ¡°Got it! Just say you¡¯re jealous, ah!¡±

    His response was a vague sound.

    After Gu Tingchuan took a shower, they chatted for a while about work and other trifles things that happened to them in the past few days. Her face was turned toward him, and her expression was full of high spirit, resembling a bright summer sky.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be returning back home the day after tomorrow, but you won¡¯t be there¡­¡±

    ¡°You can stay. You¡¯re on summer vacation, after all.¡±

    Yi Ran felt that this proposal was good, and she raised her eyebrows to confirm, ¡°Really? You want me to stay and bother you while you¡¯re working?¡±

    As she said this, she moved her hand over his hard abdominal muscles and smiled, feeling particrly proud of her own hooliganism.

    Gu Tingchuan did not give her time tough and immediately lowered his mouth. ¡°In any case, regardless of what city you¡¯re in, you¡¯ll still bother me.¡±

    Yi Ran wrapped her arms around his neck and fell back against the soft bed. Compared to home, this unfamiliar ce made the feeling of kissing him even more addictive and exciting.

    This was the ¡°male god¡± recognized by the entertainment industry and other celebrities. How could she not eat his tofu?

    Butter, when the man¡¯s lower body was ruthlessly and repeatedly pumping back and forth against her, causing her hands to tightly grasp the sheets, it was hard to determine who ate whom.

    Her body was hot with his temperature, as if he wanted to ardently give her everything that was beautiful and worldly.

    ......

    With her forehead full of perspiration, Yi Ran was panting and had yet to calm down when Gu Tingchuan¡¯s pressed his lips to her back. His voice was husky and seductive as he said, ¡°Do not go back at night.¡±

    Yi Ran¡¯s entire back grew stiff. Hearing him say this in such a voice, it was nearly impossible to resist. Not to mention, his kiss can make any person excited. ¡°But... at night... they will ask me where I went.¡±

    Actually, it was already difficult for Yi Ran to think, much less talk. Her body was still shivering from the feelings evoked by Gu Tinchuan¡¯s lips on her back.

    ¡°We¡¯re all adults. You don¡¯t need to exin too much.¡±

    Yi Ran turned around and hid under the quilt, trying to escape from the man¡¯s irresistible kisses. She raised her hand between them and made a heart gesture with her fingers. ¡°Uncle Gu, I have to go back to ss tomorrow at 8 o¡¯clock in the morning.¡±

    Before she had even finished speaking, Gu Tingchuan suddenly grabbed her wrist, his fingers wrapped around the smooth curve of her skin in a teasing manner, such that she could not resist melting.

    ¡®Then, you can try.¡±

    As a result, Yi Ran was tossed in bed until the early hours of the morning. Her legs could barely move. Too miserable! Director Gu, in the future, more sincerity, less movements, okay?!

 Chapter 22 - Eating Together

    <strong>Chapter 22: Eating Together</strong>

    Yi Ran sat alone in the apartment¡¯s ss terrace for a long time. She thought about the incident that happened in the afternoon and felt dispirited. She recalled that Shi Xiang had called Yao Juan away, and she couldn¡¯t help but feel pained.

    When he returned, Yao Juan had refused to tell her the specific content of their conversation. He merely smiled at her and resumed his usual expression. ¡°What else can he do? He can¡¯t fire me. He may criticize me and what not, but for the time being, there¡¯s no way he could do it. Even if he did fire me, this is something that I must do.¡±

    Yi Ran also understood. Even if they couldn¡¯t really change anything, even if it was just muddy water that they both had to wade through, she and Yao Yuan were not rtives. She shouldn¡¯t let others stand in front of her to protect her.

    Moreover, she promised Gu Tai she would take care of this matter, and she should always keep her promise.

    It was just that Yao Juan¡¯s words were not unreasonable. Zou Qiyun could never empathize with them. In her entire life, she would probably never have the capability to understand their position and perspectives

    ¡°One must absolutely note injure a child¡¯s heart¡±, ¡°As a teacher, one must always be an upright model to the students.¡± In the eyes of such a woman, what was the worth of thoughts like these?

    Yi Ran ced a pot of tea next to her and sat alone for a long time, feeling depressed.

    She looked at the brown door that opened to Gu Tinchuan¡¯s studio for a long time, remembering that night when he had told her not to enter it casually and not to move anything.

    Usually, when he was absent, the door would be firmly locked. It was not to keep her out, but because he was afraid that thieves might get in. In short, everything must be prevented beforehand.

    Yi Ran did not understand. Everyone naturally has their own territories. It was understandable that men like him might need their own independent space. But, if they were not a couple who had a sh marriage but was instead a pair of lovers, would he still be so demanding?

    The moment this idea bubbled up, Yi Ran felt that this momentous thought would not result in anything good.

    The night was eerily quiet, and the neighborhood was silent. Her heart calmed down slowly so that she could clearly see the current state of life.

    In the past few months, she was married to such a great director. Since then, her ordinary life had became at once bizarre and wonderful. But, it was stillcking some vitality.

    She knew that it was not good to never be content. Some people believed that having enough food and clothing and no worries was already a great blessing. Yi Ran also thought that it was not bad. But, when all was said and done, she nevertheless still felt a little shaken.

    Without realizing it, Yi Ran found herself standing in front of his studio door. She gently brushed her hand across the edge of the door frame. The other side of the door was like a restricted area she could not set foot in, much like Gu Tingchuan¡¯s inner world.

    How to resolve this, and how to change? All these bits and pieces that were gradually connecting them together was not just a rtionship but also love...

    She turned and leaned her slightly hot back against the cold wood. Then, she slowly moved away with both hands crossed over her shoulders, feeling somewhat at a loss.

    When Gu Tingchuan finished working for the day, he came out and saw Yi Ran sitting on a recliner, ying with her hair in a daze. She casually held her long hair in her hands, fingers untangling the knots. Her exhaustion was clear.

    He was slightly surprised, then with a faint smile, he turned and went into the kitchen.

    Not long after, Gu Tingchuan stood behind Yi Ran and whispered, ¡°My work is almost finished. Let¡¯s have a meal with the parents this weekend.¡±

    Yi Ran rubbed her eyes and, when she turned back to look at him, she smiled as usual. She said, ¡°En, okay. It¡¯s a littlete today. I¡¯ll tell them tomorrow.

    At least, he still took these matters to heart.

    Theyout of Gu Tingchuan¡¯s apartment was bright and spacious. The scenery outside the window was even more charming. Looking out the window at this moment, one could still see the dazzling light and brilliance of the distant urban center. Tonight, the night scene was pretty good, and the dark sky was dotted with stars that glowed like diamonds.

    He cast a quick nce at that distant ce and turned to see that she was still absentminded. He paused and asked, ¡°Did you eat dinner?¡±

    Yi Ran did not tell the truth. ¡°I ate a little while ago.¡±

    Actually, she had no appetite today. She bought some takeaway and threw it away after a few bites.

    Gu Tingchuan casually proposed, ¡°It¡¯s a littlete but I¡¯m a bit hungry. I¡¯ll cook some dumplings and you can eat with me.¡±

    Yi Ran was about to say that she was a bit tired and will rest. Unexpectedly, Gu Tingchuan¡¯s smiling expression turned serious, making people unable to read his face. ¡°Last time, I said that you¡¯re to light. It¡¯s important to eat a little more.¡±

    Her heartbeat increased ten folds, and her body froze.

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s voice was slightly deep, and his brows were faintly raised in an unexpectedly vivid expression. ¡°The chief also left behind some chocte toast and jam. Will youe and eat?¡±

    Not long after, there was more movement and heat in the kitchen. The steam seemed to be curling up between the two of them. Yi Ran looked sideways at Gu Tingchuan, who was looking down and putting the dumpling into the bowl. His side profile was soft and bright under the light, turning Director Gu¡¯s usual imposing manner into something entirely different and giving her a sense of stability in their home life. Her mood had unexpectedly improved a lot.

    After tossing through the events of this day, she had a lot of bitterints. But, given their current feelings and rtionships, she did not know how to speak naturally about these thoughts. .

    Moreover, it was difficult for her to expect others to understand emotions such as disappointment, grievances or anger. More importantly, she didn¡¯t want to expose such a weak side of herself to him. How could a man like Gu Tingchuan, who was full of such talents, understand the thoughts of women like her.

    It was something she dared not even think about.

    He brought the hot dumplings up in porcin bowls and each one was round and filling. The color of the soup was clear and refreshing and the arome was enough to invoke her appetite. She scooped up a spoonful and took a sip. Her whole body seemed to warm up, and she recovered some rity. Thinking of Gu Tai¡¯s affairs, it was still something she had to deal with, but she was truly at her wit¡¯s end.

    Her face was hot, but she still brazenly said to Gu Tingchuan, ¡°You are rightst time. Hao Ziyue¡¯s parents are really difficult to deal with.¡±

    Yi Ran did not mention the mistreatment she had suffered, nor did she reveal it in her voice or emotions. The emphasis was not on herself but on the other party¡¯s uncooperative attitude.

    Gu Tingchuan sat down, took the spoon in hand, and as he spoke, his words had somezy maism, ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about it. I¡¯ll find someone to investigate their background and we¡¯ll see what kinds of things they value.¡±

    Regardless, Gu Tai was his family. He would not allow him to be bullied at school.

    After he finished speaking, he picked up his mobile phone and quickly sent a text message. Yi Ran presumed it was regarding this matter.

    ¡°I have never seen such a shameless person.¡± Her tone was cautious, but she still showed some low emotions. ¡°Actually, I thought to myself...Just teach Gu Tai to punch back. At least, use your own strength to solve the problem, without relying on anyone.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan eyes. However, his face was still calm and even his tone was as indifferent as usual. ¡°Still, it is best not to use violence. There is still a dependable person left. That is another way of doing things.¡±

    This sentence suddenly poked at the softest part in Yi Ran¡¯s heart, which was suddenly filled with an indescribable reconciliation. She almost couldn¡¯t prevent herself from crying.

    ¡­.Because, she also wanted to be able to asionally rely on him.

    She bowed her head and silently ate the dumplings in her bowl. When she was full, she stood up and smiled, looking like the clear sky after a rainstorm. ¡°Hey, I also want to believe in this darling person.¡±

    Not wanting to give him more trouble, she took the initiative to collect the dishes when she noticed that he had also finished. But, Gu Tingchuan was suddenly holding her wrist, his touch gentle, as he unhurriedly said, ¡°I will do it. You can go and freshen up.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s okay. It¡¯s faster to clean up together.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan observed her subtle expression and guessed that the reason why she was unhappy all night must have been due to Gu Tai¡¯s affairs. Now, it seemed as if her mood had improved a bit. He slowly released her hand and silently smiled.

    As Yi Ran washed the dirty bowls in the sink, she raised her head to look at the man with the wide shoulders and narrow waist standing with his back to her. She wiped her hands silently, hesitantly walked toward him and unexpectedly attacked. She gently drew herself up against his back, her arms embracing his waist. The firm sensation of his back made her feel as if she had electric currents running through her entire body.

    She hastily released her hold on him and sweetly said, ¡°Thank you...the dumplings were delicious

    At this moment, a bottomless tide swept over her heart before suddenly fading away calmly, leaving behind countless deep and shallow traces.

    Gu Tingchuan watched as Yi Ran¡¯s figure fled, and the slight smile on his face was dazzling.

    That night, they cleaned up the kitchen a little before taking a much needed break, especially Yi Ran, who almost instantly fell asleep the moment her head touched the pillow.

    For the first time in a long time, her sleep was simple and peaceful.

    ......

    They got married in early Autumn, and now it was almost winter. Gu Tingchuan¡¯s work finally came to an end, and he was able to breathe a sigh of relief. Thus, he invited the four elders from the Gu family and the Yi family to eat thiste dinner.

    He found a very private Chinese restaurant located in an old-fashioned courtyard mansion. There were even water pavilions nearby that allowed people to sit by theke. Even the tableware was elegant and stylish. The moment they entered the restaurant, they were instantly enveloped by the delicious scent of food. The boss was also an acquaintance of the Gu¡¯s family, so they could feel assured in all the arrangements.

    Yi Ran¡¯s parents were ordinary people, but they were also understandable people. Although, in terms of status, they were not equal to the Gu elders, who were used to luxury, and they had also not seen the big world, their temperament was amiable and friendly, making them very easy to get along with.

    The restaurant¡¯s soft lighting fell on the six people, who simultaneously ate and chatted with each other. From beginning to end, the atmosphere as serene as expected. Of course, the adults inevitably talked about the wedding.

    Sheng Ru turned her head to ask the opinions of the juniors. Yi Ran looked at Gu Tingchuan, whose expression had not changed, and decided to day her thoughts first, ¡°Actually, we haven¡¯t been married for very long, and Gu...Tingchuan has been very busy. I think it would be fine to wait until next year...What do you say?¡±

    Gu Tingchuan received a certain person¡¯s cry for help and also knew that she was sympathetic to his busy work schedule. More importantly, he roughly suspected that she still had not gotten used to being married yet. With her like this, he really didn¡¯t want to pressure her with such a crowded and grand asion.

    He was a good-looking person, inheriting the elegance of his mother and the calm dignity of his father. At this moment, his features were clear and bright ¡°I also agree with this. Not to mention, there are many things to n before the wedding. You must also want to ask some important rtives and friends to attend. We will take our time to consider it at length, but won¡¯t dy it for too long.¡±

    His handsome face reflected the bright light of the chandelier and, looking at him, Yi Ran was afraid that the elder would insist on this topic. She smiled and said, ¡°Sorry, I need to go to the restroom.¡±

    Unexpectedly, Sheng Ru also stood up. She smoothed back her pleated skirt, her deportment kind and charming, as she said, ¡°Ran Ran, I¡¯ll go with you.¡±

    Hearing this, Yi Ran was a little dumbfounded...Why doesn¡¯t this high-end, elegant, and ssy ce have separate toilets?

 Chapter 23 - Becoming Closer

    <strong>Chapter 23: Bing Closer</strong>

    Yi Ran always felt that her mother-inw¡¯s actions were not done with goodwill.

    She came out of the bathroom absently. As she was washing her hands at the washstand, Sheng Ru came up right beside her. At first, they were both silent. Sure enough, Sheng Ru said, ¡°Of course, we know that Tingchuan likes you very much.¡±

    Yi Ran paused and wasn¡¯t quite sure how to properly respond. Sheng Ru wiped her hands and said, ¡°Linfeng and I both acknowledge you as our daughter-inw. Regarding the matter that we talked aboutst time, we know that Tingchuan is a bit stubborn. So, a few days ago, I asked thewyer to draft an agreement.¡±

    She took her mobile phone out of her handbag, and looked at Yi Ran with a kind expression, ¡°I¡¯ll send it to you. You can read it first.¡±

    Yi Ran: ¡°...¡­ ¡±

    What kind of routine was this? Generally, in a TV show, the strong mother-inw would hand out a check, saying, ¡°Take this money and leave my son¡±, and then she can say indignantly, ¡°10 million is too little, right? Who do you think I am?¡±

    But, there was no precedent on transmitting WeChat files, ah!!

    Yi Ran was a little embarrassed, but Sheng Ru nevertheless acted as if she was not willing. She tried to cate her by saying, ¡°Ran Ran, you see, we didn¡¯t mean to guard against you, nor did we want to destroy your rtionship with Tingchuan. But, with our type of family, everything must be doubly protected. Not to mention, as someone who married into the family, we also don¡¯t want you to be treated unfairly.

    Yi Ran thought about how best to respond. She deliberately softened her voice and said, ¡°This way... wouldn¡¯t Tingchuan be upset?¡±

    Sheng Ru didn¡¯t have time to answer. Before they realized it, Gu Tingchuan, who must have been nearby, suddenly appeared and took away Yi Ran¡¯s cell phone. He immediately deleted the file she had just received and then looked up at his mother with a frown.

    ¡°I knew you would do this.¡±

    Seeing that her son was unhappy, Sheng Ru¡¯s momentum softened a little. ¡°Tingchuan, I know you care about Yi Ran¡¯s feelings, but Yi Ran didn¡¯t say that she didn¡¯t agree.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan heard this sentence and, without looking at his wife, said in a bad tone, ¡°No matter what she agrees or disagrees with, I said it¡¯s not necessary.¡±

    He didn¡¯t like others doing small actions behind his back. What he said was enough. Moreover, he disliked it when others disobey him.

    This discord allowed Yi Ran to realize that when Director Gu was angry, his forehead would wrinkle with displeasure, his aura would turn grave and stern, and his eyes would be like the raging seawater from the Arctic Ocean. Even the surrounding area would freeze.

    Gu Tingchuan lowered his voice and said impatiently, ¡°Mom, I still haven¡¯t even bought her a wedding ring yet. Such an industrious and thrifty wife, did you really want me to find me a second?¡±

    Yi Ran heard this. In her heart, there was an infinite ridicule. Who said I didn¡¯t want it? It was you who didn¡¯t ask me at all. My skin is not that thick!

    Sheng Ru was embarrassed. With an awkward expression on her face, she said, ¡°I didn¡¯t want you to change to wife ...¡±

    ¡°Well, today we¡¯re having a happy meal. Don¡¯t do this kind of disgraceful thing.¡± Gu Tingchuan no longer listened. After he said this, he grabbed Yi Ran¡¯s wrist and left with her.

    His pace was steady, his steps neither too fast nor too slow. He turned his face to see her silent and his eyes suddenly disyed a smile, simr to floatingyers of bright water. ¡°There is a Beijing Opera Theatre next to this restaurant. I used to go there after I eat. In fact,pared to dinner, the restaurant¡¯s morning tea is more special. The shrimp noodles here are also very good. It¡¯s dry and delicious. In a moment, I¡¯ll have them make it for you. ¡±

    Yi Ran thought this move would be too obvious and might greatly provoke his parents.

    Her eyes fell to their sped hands, she still asked, ¡°You arbitrary making such a decision, would it really not affect the business?¡±

    ¡°When ites down to it, this marriage is only between you and me. It has nothing to do with others. You don¡¯t need to care about them.¡± As he pushed the door opened for her, he added, ¡°I will tell them clearly.¡±

    Gu Linfeng was with his inws. While in the middle of speaking, he raised his head to see the two of them stepping forward first. He frowned slightly, already guessing what might have happened just now.

    Gu Tingchuan still looked indifferent. He sat down and rolled the sleeves up to his elbows, exposing his fair forearms. He came to see his father-inw and mother-inw without dressing too formally, making him easier to get close to.

    His ck hair without any hairspray fell down smoothly, and the neckline of his low-necked sweater was a little open, revealing the wings of his corbones.

    At this moment, he didn¡¯t forget to add vegetables to her bowl. ¡°Eat more.¡±

    Yi Ran¡¯s ears turned red and she didn¡¯t dare look up to see the eyes of the other people.

    Mother Yi covered her lips and whispered, ¡°Look at these young newlyweds. Their feelings are so good.¡±

    Yi Ren stared at her mother with disapproval.

    After a while, Sheng Ru also returned. At first nce, she looked the same as usual. Yi Ran was clear-hearted. She knew better than anyone that there was an insurmountable gap between the two of them.

    But since the male god didn¡¯t dislike it, there was no point in her being too concerned about it. After all, it didn¡¯t matter that others might call it shameful or disgraceful. Perhaps, it was others who were blind.

    Maybe you were not so ordinary after all. Maybe you did have some merits. It was just that there were so many excellent people living in this world, sometimes moving forward in a mighty torrent of chaotic grit. Their lively sparks could also make you go unnoticed by others.

    But, what could be done? The best thing was to make yourself better, to grow and work hard a hundred times. This was the best, most direct reaction when you met ¡°that person¡± ¡ªwanting to be a greater self for him.

    .....

    The elders usually rested early so it was only about eight o¡¯clock when dinner ended. Gu Tingchuan remembered something on the way back, leaned forward, and instructed the driver, ¡°Go back to thepany first.¡±

    After saying this, he tilted his head in Yi Ran¡¯s direction to get her opinion. ¡°Do you have anything important to do?¡±

    Yi Ran shook her head. It was the weekend. She had no other arrangements. Instead, he had to supervise the post-production of ¡°Homing¡± before having a good rest.

    Jiaye Film Company was draped in ayer of lights, giving it a cold and outstanding temperament. Yi Ran bowed her head slightly, admiring the delicate patterns on the marble. When they came to the lobby, Gu Tingchuan turned to look at her and sinctly said, ¡°I already told the secretary to quickly organize some things. We¡¯ll leave soon. You wait here. I¡¯ll tell the driver to drive directly to the front door.¡±

    ¡°Oh, okay,¡± Yi Ran immediately said in a low voice.

    Gu Tingchuan nced over her head toward the direction of the front desk girls, who were observing their actions withplex eyes. His ck eyes was like a deep pond, polite and majestic, as he instructed, ¡°Take my wife to sit in the rest area and pour her a ss of water. Thank you. ¡±

    Since the two girls at the front desk joined thepany, this was the first time that they had direct face-to-face contact with the head boss Gu. They were curious about the woman next to him since they also recently heard the shocking gossip about Director Gu¡¯s sudden ¡°sh marriage.¡± However,they have never seen Mrs. Gu¡¯s true face.

    At this moment, their burning eyes seemed to burn holes into Yi Ran. They looked at her young appearance. Her eyes were soft and warm, clear and translucent as if immersed in water, and her cheeks were healthy and flushed. At this time, her long hair was sticking to her neck so she raised her hand to brush them aside. Her bearing was not like those of actresses who came and went. However, she seemed unusually frank ... Because she was Gu Tingchuan¡¯s wife, they dared not go up to chat with her.

    After all, there were also many rumors about her. Some were probably exaggerated, some grounded and, sometimes, it was impossible to tell the truth.

    Upstairs, Gu Tingchuan walked through the office door. The secretary who was still working overtime came over and whispered a few words to him. He frowned slightly but continued to enter.

    The room was full of smoke. Despite the venttion, the smell of cigarettes in the air could not be dissipated. The man sitting on the sofa was looking at his mobile phone, but he saw Gu Tingchuaning in and snuffed out the cigarette between his fingers. ¡°Yo, I was caught by you.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan impatiently waved away the smoke in front of his eyes and stared at the other person indifferently. ¡°What are you doing here?¡±

    ¡°I was closely followed by reporters recently and then at home again by mom and dad. I had toe here to sit down for a breather.¡± After Gu Tingyong finished speaking, the phone screen suddenly lit up. Looking at it from a distance, Gu Tingchuan could see that it was a selfie from a young woman.

    ¡°Since you¡¯re here, I want to ask you for help.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan shook his head and looked down at the desk. Brother Gu was not angry when he saw this, and still smiled. He said, ¡°Listen first. It¡¯s about my son.¡±

    After saying this, he looked at Gu Tingchuan again. Sure enough, hisplexion had eased.

    ¡°The head teacher called to say that there will be a parent-child winter games next week. He hoped that at least one parent can apany the child. But, you know, it¡¯s currently not convenient for his mother or I to show up.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan frowned briefly, wanting to refuse this person¡¯s request. But, he was unable to refuse.

    He reprimanded, ¡°Why don¡¯t you think about Gu Tai? Do you have to make it like this?¡±

    Gu Tingyong heard this sentence and a look of ¡°you are still too young¡± shed across his face. There was also a bit of helplessness and guilt as he said, ¡°I never understand you when ites to this. You have seen the end of my marriage. Are you still anxious to get married and die?¡±

    ¡°You can¡¯t control your lower body. It¡¯s your problem. ¡±

    Gu Tingchuan have always had a poisonous tongue. These days, Gu Tingyong had heard more than enough me, and there was certainly no shortage of this particr one. His eyes noticed the other person¡¯s serious look and he said, ¡°A few years before marriage, she and I were very loving. But somehow, it seems like it¡¯s been a long time... I don¡¯t feel it anymore when I see her. I want to control myself, but there are too many temptations outside. Those young girls are full of energy. You just don¡¯t know because you haven¡¯t experienced it before but that figure, that taste...¡±

    Saying this, he turned to look at his younger brother, and found that there was only coldness in his eyes.

    ¡°Gu Tingchuan, I want to warn you. The prenuptial agreement must be signed, and Jiaye also has my shares ...¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t say any more.¡± Gu Tingchuan interrupted his words mercilessly, his eyes darkening. He was clearly upset. ¡°Hearing this gives me a headache.¡±

 Chapter 24 - Pinching the Face

    Chapter 24: Pinching the Face

    Yi Ran waited for a while in the lobby and then saw Gu Tingchuan walking towards her.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±

    They got into the car parked at the door of the building and sat side by said. His eyes fell on her slightly smiling face, and he said, ¡°I just met my elder brother in the office and he mentioned your school winter games.¡±

    Yi Ran hazard a guess. ¡°He wanted you go in his stead?¡±

    ¡°En. He also said some nonsense. It was really a waste of my time. ¡±

    She noticed Gu Tingchuan¡¯s poor tone and the disgusted expression on his face. She responded very cooperatively, ¡°It seems that you met him not only with ¡®spicy eyes¡¯ but also with ¡®spicy ears.¡¯

    Gu Tingchuan never heard such a statement before. He paused for a moment, and then his lips slowly raised in ayer ofughter.

    Yi Ran didn¡¯t notice his movements at first, but after a while, the man started chuckling to himself. She couldn¡¯t help wondering, ¡°What the heck are youughing at?¡±

    They sat next to each other so it was easy for him to stretch out his hand to touch her face, his fingers resting lightly against her skin. Then, half of her face was suddenly in his palm. Gu Tingchuan didn¡¯t use much strength, but she waspletely motionless and could only respond with doubtful eyes. In contrast, the man¡¯s eyes were deep and filled with an amusement that only he knew. His said in a deep voice, ¡°You are really interesting.¡±

    Yi Ran was speechless...She had not expected this pinching the face to kill method?!

    She vaguely murmured ¡°oh.¡± Her mood was a littleplicated, and a surge of heat washed over her face. She could only lower her face a little and try to calm down her agitation.

    Obviously, a kiss should be used to express the atmosphere at this time, but Director Gu seemed to have no intention of this.

    She cleared her throat and said, ¡°I will pretend not to know you that day. You remember.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan realized she was referring to the day of the games. He tilted his head and asked her, ¡°Why.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid that after everyone knows, they will feel that I¡¯m partial to Gu Tai.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan had some unwilling emotions but could note up with any better proposals. The car was quiet for a long time, leaving only outside street noises. She finally heard a dull response against this backdrop of noises.

    Yi Ran noticed his difort, but didn¡¯t understand where his rebellious emotions came from. After thinking about it, it might be that the elder brother Gu Tingyong, whom she had never met, had upset him. This, she sat obediently and no longer argued with him.

    Director Gu¡¯s mood was always not beautiful.

    ...................

    Harbin International College especially hired a team from outside to coordinate and organize the annual regr Winter Parent-Child Games.

    Yi Ran and Yao Juan also needed to help with some preparations, including confirming whether the children¡¯s parents will be avable at that time.

    She and Teacher Yao stayed in the office to work overtime this day. Yao Juan looked at her watery eyes under the incandescentmp and asked a little unnaturally: ¡°Is Mr. Gu always busy?¡±

    Yi Ran was surprised. ¡°Ah?¡±

    ¡°I haven¡¯t heard you talk about going to the market to buy vegetables or something. Do you not need to prepare dinner yourself?¡±

    ¡°He did hire a chef, but he didn¡¯t always need it and would only asionally called for her.¡± Pausing, Yi Ran downgraded the problem to herself very honestly. ¡°I am a poor cook, and I don¡¯t cook too often. Of course, he was also busy shooting ¡°Homing¡± ... You should know since it¡¯ll be released soon.¡±

    Yao Juan had heard a little about the new movie. He unscrewed the lid of the thermos cup at his hand and took a sip of tea to protect his throat. He said, ¡°I was worried about whether you would marry too soon. But, it seems that you are in a good mood for most of the time, so I probably worried too much.¡±

    When others are really good to you, you always can¡¯t help but feel warm, let alone this person you never hate.

    Yi Ran looked up earnestly him. ¡°Mr. Yao, do you know? You are sometimes too introverted and like to hold all your private thoughts in your heart and dare not say them. If you¡¯re not brave enough to live, it¡¯ll be easy to miss a lot of things.¡±

    Yao Juan was surprised. As someone who would blush when standing too close to a woman, he always knew where his weakness was.

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s right, Yi Ran, then you ...¡±

    Just as he was stammering, Yiran saw WeChat jumping on her mobile phone. When she unobtrusively opened it, she realized that it was actually Gu Tingchuan.

    He rarely used WeChat to send her voice messages!

    Earlier today, he had said that he would have to go to a dinner party, simr to a ¡°script finalizing¡± banquet. There would only be colleagues who attended, and it was good to let her sleep first.

    Yi Ran suspiciously opened up the phone and ced it to her ear. Gu Tingchuan¡¯s voice spread through the machine, each syble low and hoarse: ¡°Come to the xx club immediately to pick me up.¡±

    She was stunned by this sexy and sultry voice She trembled a bit, and when he was about to rush out immediately, she suddenly realized that this man requested her too casually.

    Most importantly, she never liked it when others dispatched her like this. She had endured this bad habit several times, it was really difficult to do so.

    Yi Ran was upset, and returned with an expression.

    As he was about to end the social engagement, Gu Tingchuan saw the expression sent by Mrs. Gu. He was slightly silent and felt only a nk in his heart.

    ¡°Your manner is very rxed.¡± The expression was just such a few ck characters.

    Gu Tingchuan frowned for a long time and really admired how he had the courage to marry her¡­ What was this, a popr expression pack for young people now?

    He had a headache but was also amused. Rubbing his eyebrows, he made another phone call. Fortunately, Yi Ran picked it up.

    ¡°I drank a little wine and was worried about others sending me when I¡¯m dizzy. Weren¡¯t you still at school? Come get me and we¡¯ll go home together.¡±

    She didn¡¯t know if the man¡¯s sweet voice was just too captivating or that the go home together proposal just sounded too tempting. In short, Yi Ran considered that Mr. Gu¡¯s attitude was now good. She went out and called the car all the way to the address he sent.

    As she was going in to find someone, she saw a van parked next to the clubhouse. The door was opened from the inside and out came a young woman with makeup on.

    She raised her eyebrows and immediately recognized the other person as Guo Baiyu, whom she had not been seen for awhile.

    Guo Baiyu came over and greeted her. ¡°Mrs. Gu, you are here. Director Gu is still inside. I was just nning to leave. I didn¡¯t expect to see you.¡±

    Yi Ran said, ¡°Yes, we meet again. It¡¯s really a coincidence.¡±

    Guo Baiyu¡¯s beautiful eyes were slightly narrowed. Before, she was too easy on Yi Ran because she wasn¡¯t sure what Yi Ran¡¯s origin was. It had made her nervous. Even now, she still couldn¡¯t read the other person¡¯s expression.

    ¡°Director Gu doesn¡¯t like to bother people very much. I didn¡¯t expect him to rely so much on you.¡± Exhaling softly, she added, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Director Gu to get married so soon. He is aplicated man...one who is affectionate yet heartless.¡±

    Yi Ran could not help but feel surprised. ¡°I also didn¡¯t expect it, but who can say.¡±

    Guo Baiyu had drunk a bit of wine in the evening. Her face was flushed, and her emotions were surging. She eyes were full of ridicule and tone of voice was strangely delighted. ¡°Don¡¯t get me wrong, but I¡¯m really curious. A man like Director Gu... Do you think he, Gu Tingchuan, loves you?¡±

    In her heart, Yi Ran was startled. But, her first reaction was that she didn¡¯t want to talk to this woman. With a belittling chuckled, she said, ¡°Go back and sober up.¡±

    uo Baiyu obviously didn¡¯t n to stop the topic here. She didn¡¯t care if anyone responded to her and kept talking. Her voice trembled, ¡°In the past, I thought he liked me, but I found out that it wasn¡¯t so ... Oh, of course he liked me but only like art, like one of his works, not really like me personally. He doesn¡¯t understand how to truly love ...... ¡±

    As she finished, Guo Baiyu became aware that she had said far more than she intended. She knew that she was too anxious, and to achieve her goal, she had exposed her thoughts too soon.

    She had said that Gu Tingchuan loved her like loving a material thing.

    Yi Ran smiled, and when she looked at Guo Baiyu, her eyes were full of anger. She knew that this was a public ce, but it would not prevent her from ridiculing back in the samenguage.

    ¡°What do you mean by implying that Gu Tingchuan fell in love with someone just like loving his artwork? What kind of twisted abnormal psychology is this?¡±

    The smile on Guo Baiyu¡¯s face disappeared in an instant: ¡°... Why do you want to misunderstand what I meant? ¡±

    Yi Ran retorted with a smile, ¡°So what do you mean?¡±

    The first time, she didn¡¯t know Yi Ran¡¯s identity so she asked her to deliver a snack to her own husband. The second time she questioned her on the set. So far, Yi Ran hadn¡¯t taken it seriously.

    But this time she was tantly trying to stir up the rtionship between husband and wife. Yi Ran couldn¡¯t tolerate this. The rtionship between them couldn¡¯t be reached by an outsider.

    Yi Ran¡¯s face showed her obvious anger. When she was fierce, she won¡¯t bother to gloss over anything regardless of who was nearby or whether they might misunderstand. ¡°You listen to me. Don¡¯t let me hear the statement you¡¯d just made a second time. Don¡¯t let that fevered imagination of yours turn Gu Tingchuan into a psychopath.¡±

    Guo Baiyu ferociously gritted her teeth and her face was also a little pale. When she thought about this reaching the headquarters, she could only open her mouth to apologize first.

    The sky outside had beenpletely dark for a while, illuminated by brilliantyers of stars. The round moon hung amidst that patch of dark sky, it¡¯s bright light outlining the man as he walked toward them. His face was handsome and clean, but his extraordinary eyes had a dangerous halo.

    Yi Ran had always felt that part of this man must belong to his work. Together, those two parts of himbined to act as one.

    Those movies often had a dark side, but even so, they still carried a bright light that could not be masked. His films have never been despairing but had always sprung towards the endless vault of an evolving humanity.

    Gu Tingchuan tilted his head slightly and said, ¡°I¡¯m not a...psychopath?¡±

 Chapter 25 - Learning to Love

    Chapter 25: Learning to Love

    Gu Tingchuan usually didn¡¯t like drinking very much, and he was also a lightweight drinker. In the past, if he drank some alcohol during the evening entertainment, he would only let Xiao Zhao, who was considered to be more trustworthy, send him home. But now this responsibility and obligation should fall on Mrs. Gu.

    Yi Ran had unexpectedly lowered herself to that woman¡¯s level. Anyway, as long as the other party saw Gu Tingchuan, she would also be terrified and not dare to do anything. Yi Ran sent Go Baiyu a warning nce before turning back to Gu Tingchuan with a smile. She brightly said, ¡°It¡¯s nothing. We¡¯re just casually chatting.¡±

    The man had came over from the entertainment hall. His iron-gray suit was different than his usual appearance, giving him a taller, more jade-like appearance. He walked in front of Yi Ran before suddenly turning to give Guo Baiyu a short nce. He told her lightly, ¡°My wife is not used to dealing with people in the circle so don¡¯t disturb her.¡±

    Yi Ran had grown somewhat used to Director Gu¡¯s protectiveness toward herself, but she was still surprised by his meticulousness. When she looked up at him, she only felt that his eyes were sprinkled with tiny stars, making people feel addicted.

    Guo Baiyu squeezed a little smile on her face and stiffly said, ¡°I just think that I and...Mrs. Gu can also be friends.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s forehead furrowed impatiently. He ignored her words, and taking Yi Ran¡¯s hand, lead her to the car.

    The driver sent them home. When they reached the entrance hall, Yi Ran felt for the light switch on the wall, and the living room soon became as bright as daylight. Before she could change into slippers, Gu Tingchuan, who was behind her, called out her name.

    Hearing the sound, she looked back at him and saw that he was silent and frowning. Earlier, he had said that he wasn¡¯t drunk, only a little dizzy.

    ¡°Have you gotten used to it yet?¡±

    His unexpected question made Yi Ran falter, and she didn¡¯t dare look at him for a while. Finally, as she lowered her shoes, she said, ¡°En, very good, ah. I feel like I¡¯m actually a married person. What are you thinking?¡±

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s voice was very close. His outstanding silhouette leaned closer and his head lowered. He quietly smiled, and his voice seemed at a loss. ¡°Do you sometimes feel that I am too busy and have too little time toe back?¡±

    ¡°....It¡¯s okay.¡±

    At first, she was a bit ufortable and she was unable to adapt to the role of wife. But now, their marriage life was getting more and more harmonious. Although this problem was getting increasingly more thorny, she still didn¡¯t know how to tell him. However, she knew that this wasn¡¯t the right time to do so.

    Gu Tingchuan pulled his cor opened and walked over to the living room toy down on the sofa. Looking at her, he said, ¡°Homing almost finished post-production work. I haven¡¯t thought about epting a new script yet. I will have more time. When you¡¯re off on winter vacation, we will find time to go around.¡±

    Under the light, his face was warm, but there was also a trace of exhaustion and guilt. She had never seen him this way, so soft and sincere. Her chest became hot with warmth.

    ¡°I can understand your job. Although you often make decisions by yourself, filmmaking isn¡¯t just your own business but others as well. You¡¯re an amazingly great director. Movie magazines say that your work is profound and insightful but not indulgent. I always felt that you and your works are like this.¡±

    She had such consideration and such individuality. Gu Tingchun momentarily came out of his head. He rubbed his temple, and the dizziness decreased. With eyes that were a little blurry, he looked at his little wife not far away.

    Yi Ran brought out a ss of honey water from the kitchen and handed it to him. In a soft voice, she said: ¡°It is said that drinking a little will help. Do you want to try it?¡±

    Gu Tingchuan took the ss from her, and their fingertips touched. The soft sensation pulled at his heartstrings, as if it had already carried this kind of feelings since long ago

    She sat next to him to watch him drink. He took a mouthful of water and set the teacup aside. Then, taking her hand, he leaned forward until his firm body was pressing her against the back of the sofa. The other hand rose to cup her face.

    She saw her own shadow reflected in his eyes. He was silent, but his expression conveyed his desire, making him all the more dazzling and charming to her eyes.

    ¡°It tasted a little bad.¡±

    Yi Ran was slightly surprised. ¡°Howe? I took a sip just now¡­¡±

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s lipszily curved, and he said, ¡°Then you tasted it?¡±

    She was already lost in the deep intensity of his eyes and was unable to confirm one way or another. She could only think to reach for the ss of water, but his hand slowly tightened on her hand. He leaned in and pressed his mouth firmly to her¡¯s.

    This was not their first kiss, but it was still shocking. The gentle and focused kiss was delicate, the soft back and forth motion like slowly falling rain. The lingering passion on the tips of their tongue, the gentle and ardent warmth of their lips gently rubbing, all of it made Yi Ran¡¯s body heat up, rippling through her body in waves.

    Yi Ran didn¡¯t know why he suddenly kissed her or even why he kissed her so diligently and carefully. And then, she lost the ability to think and could only feel as his lips brushed against her own lips and teeth.

    After kissing for a long time, he finally released her. He took a sip of the honey water to moisten his throat, and he said softly, ¡°I just wanted to seriously show you that neither Guo Baiyu nor other actresses can have this director. Regarding having a rtionship with her, she tossed me some hints, but I had never epted them.¡±

    Yi Ran was surprised to hear him suddenly mention the beauty. She quickly nodded and couldn¡¯t help but feel that the kiss was very good, but why did this person handle the issue with this kind of scrupulous attention? She obviously preferred to be coaxed instead.

    ¡±En, then I believe you. I don¡¯t think there is anything between you.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± He turned his face away. His husky voice was low, giving him apletely different charm than before. Then, he said it again, as if repeating it to himself, ¡°....that¡¯s good.¡±

    Yi Ran still couldn¡¯t understand the whole inner world of the man in front of her.

    For many years, the men and women around Gu Tingchuan had told him either seriously or jokingly that he could not love.

    He has always had high requirements for others and for himself. He had never been too interested in dating, and nor did he have any patience for it. Although he knew how to be good to others, he never thought about what it was that the other person truly wanted.

    Furthermore, others said that he was like a ¡°God¡± on set, and because he preferred his ownpany most of the time, he also became ¡°self-centered.¡±

    Yi Ran¡¯s movements distracted Gu Tingchuan¡¯s thoughts, and his gaze fell on her, watching as she carefully caress the folds of his coat before hanging it in the closet¡­She was indeed very enjoyable.

    The light in their home was warm and cozy, making the picture seem particrly warm and moving. He knew that, from now on, life with her will have vitality.

    Reason and emotion, turbulence and restraint, all these contradictory attributes slowly merged into the man¡¯s body, and there were some inexplicable stirring in his heart. At this time, his cold eyes were slightly curved, looking particrly pensive.

    Yi Ran felt that Gu Tingchuan was asking these questions today as a means of probing for something. She pretended not to pay attention to his person¡¯s gaze and instead concentrated on doing her own thing.

    Anyway, it didn¡¯t matter if Director Gu doesn¡¯t know how to truly love. After all, who of us understood it, who hadn¡¯t stumbled along the way and used love to heal all kinds of follies rather than to simply face the trials of life together?

    In front of him, she still hadn¡¯t shown many of her numerous thoughts. However, his personal charm always made her seen. Anyway, there was still a long way to go, and the years were long. She probably had a chance...to learn together with him what love was.

    ...

    The sports meeting at the Haben International School was held as scheduled in the gym. The weather was slightly cold in Winter. When the sun shone, the horizon line became golden and the ground temperature rose up, causing the body to sweat.

    Gu Tingchuan has a morning meeting at thepany to follow the movie¡¯s progress. He arrived at the stadium¡¯s parking lot at 9 o¡¯clock. As he came in, he saw at a nce that Principal Shi Xiang was sitting on the tform. The middle-aged man¡¯s clothes looked well-ironed and his chest was puffed out, as if he was the focus of the audience. He didn¡¯t know how much hair gel was poured on the man¡¯s head, since it was so shiny

    Shortly after the entrance ceremony, the children¡¯s personal challenges were carried out. Gu Tai had signed up for the 50-meter sprint and then for the two person, three foot race with his uncle.

    Gu Tingchuan took out his mobile phone and called Yi Ran to locate them. As he did so, he slightly lifted his chin to look around. His face was clear and his body was tall and straight. As soon as he appeared on site, it caused a lot ofmotion. Although the school was not short of parents with big heads and faces and beautiful foreign friends, Gu Tingchuan was undoubtedly the most attractive young elite.

    When Yi Ran saw him, she also realized that he looked a bit different. Today, he wore a dark-colored coat, the kind meant for easy movements. The materials were soft and breathable. He was also wearing a pair of sneakers. When she reached him, he lowered his face slightly toward her. He softly asked, ¡°Where is Gu Tai?¡±

    ¡°He over there, preparing.¡±

    As she was talking, he noticed that there was some sadness. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±

    Yi Ran let out a sigh and said with difficulty, ¡°The sportswear that Gu Tai brought was stained.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan saw his little nephewing from the other side of the runway. His eyes gradually deepened and he finally frown.

    Looking down carefully, he found that the white sportswear on Gu Tai¡¯s upper body was smeared with childish graffiti using a ck marker. It looked a little funny at first nce.

    He raised his eyes and observed the boy pretending to be calm. He smiled calmly and said, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter who painted it. It looks good.¡±

    Gu Tai proudly nced at his uncle, and gave a smile. ¡°Thank you, Uncle. ¡±

    Yi Ran looked with uncertainty in Yao Juan¡¯s direction. Today, neither of Hao Ziyue¡¯s parents came so Teacher Yao ended up apanying him for the parent-child projects.

    But, even if Hao Ziyue did it, they had no evidence. Also, Gu Tingchuan should have connected to them already.

    A few days ago, she heard Yao Juan said that his father was furious at home. He reprimanded his son, and then probably hit him up.

    Looking at the terrible family environment, Yi Ran was really sympathetic to the child.

    Probably because of his aunt and uncle¡¯s cheers, the handsome boy was not disturbed by this ident. Instead, he ran like a little wild horse and won the fifty-meter championship sessfully.

    As they stood by the side of the game to cheer Gu Tai on, Yi Ran suddenly squinted and said to Gu Tingchuan, ¡°Gu Tai¡¯s motor nerves have always been good. Director Gu, what about you?¡±

    Gu Tingchuan looked down at her, their eyes meeting in that short distance. Yi Ran was now smiling brightly and vividly, reflecting the warm sun, which suddenly gave him an impulse to kiss her. Obviously, this was not a good ce. He quickly adjusted his mood before saying, ¡°Do you doubt me again?¡±

    Yi Ran was already used to his teasing words, but then, he spoke his next sentence, ¡°Also, there has been no ¡®exercise¡¯ for a long time.¡±

    She bit her lip a little and wondered how he could so casually continue to stand in ce. Gu Tingchuan¡¯s eyes were warm, but his expression was a little sly, even as he turned the whole world into nothing but a backdrop. She felt a rush of excitement, and there are countless surges in her heart, as if her heart will jump right out of her chest.

    Fortunately, Gu Tai finished the game at this time, and Yiran hurriedly stepped in front of him. Lowering her head, and she said, ¡°Your next project will take awhile to start.¡±

    Then, turning to look at Gu Tingchuan, his eyes fluttered. ¡°There is a ¡®Carnival¡¯ event that collects points for prizes, as well as ice cream and snacks. You take him first.¡±

    He looked at her leisurely: ¡°What about you?¡±

    ¡°I am a teacher. Of course, I want to stay here to help look after the students. ¡±

    Seeing her insistence, Gu Tingchuan patted Gu Tai¡¯s shoulder and left without saying anything.

    Who knew that it wasn¡¯t long before Gu Tai ran back again alone, and the handsome little boy was so helpless that he slightly sighed and said, ¡°Teacher Yi, my uncle said that he would help me win a remote control ne, but it takes two Individuals step on the balloon together. You can help him. ¡±

    ...Director Gui was actually willing to step on the balloon for the nephew¡¯s prize under the public court?

    Yi Ran felt dizzy in her brain. This picture was simply too beautiful. She couldn¡¯t imagine it. She had to be held by Gu Tai all the way to the area where they were participating in the carnival.

    Gu Tingchuan stood in front of the booth and looked at the rules of the game silently. After he saw her, he raised his eyes and smiled lightly. Under the bright sky in the morning, his eyes seemed to float faintly.

 Chapter 26 - A Husbands Embrace

    Chapter 26: A Husband¡¯s Embrace

    In order to write screenys and also as a means of entertainment, Gu Tingchuan had tried many things that others would not touch in their lives, such as long distance sea-travel and driving off-road vehicles across the desert. However, never had he tried a balloon stepping games, much less at an elementary school.

    Yi Ran stood by his side and asked the staff to tie their two foot together with a rope. Gu Tingchuan suddenly covered her hand with his own warm one and leaned in to whisper in her ear, ¡°Be careful, don¡¯t fall.¡±

    Gu Tai, who was standing to the side, rolled his eyes. Was this public disy of affection really okay? Very annoying.

    Director Gu straightened his body and took off his coat, exposing a thin t-shirt and casual pants, which made him look surprisingly lively. This,bined with his pale skin, made him looked as if he was only in his twenties. At this moment, he unexpected looked like an actor in an idol drama but with the calm aura of a director.

    There were some teachers and parents nearby who would stop to cast a curious look at him, and those who recognized him were even more reluctant to leave.

    Yi Ran couldn¡¯t help but be in high spirits, especially after seeing Gu Tingchuan with his face turned toward her, an earnest look in his eyes. She once more thoroughly warned, ¡°Be careful of your feet. I might step on it.¡±

    He felt her body moving against his side. Because of their uncoordinated movements, he released her hand and immediately wrapped his arm around the back of her waist. Yi Ran instantly received an electric shock and her body shook slightly, even as the undercurrents between them became even more intense.

    From the very beginning, he held her tightly without any signs of wanting to release her.

    As Yi Ran was fully enjoying her work and secretly cultivating good feelings with her husband, Guan Yilu hurriedly ran over from the other side of the crowd. She saw Yi Ran at a nce, and because she was in a hurry, she didn¡¯t think too much. She said, ¡°Not good, Yi Ran. Something happened!

    Yi Ran missed a beat and asked her, ¡°What happened?¡±

    Guan Yilu was already sweating anxiously, but when she saw that Gu Tingchuan and Yi Ran were tied together, she froze and quickly rationalized her thoughts before saying, ¡°Hao Ziyue pushed Jia Jia. She hit her head, and now a lot of blood areing out¡­¡±

    For a moment, Yi Ran¡¯s eyes saw ck. After enduring the two-second dizziness, she silently lowered her upper body and began to scramble to undo the knots at their feet. Because she was so flustered and distressed, she only wanted to quickly dismantle the knot and go see how the girl was doing.

    Gu Tingchuan frowned and, blocking her hand, said in a serious and gentle voice, ¡°Don¡¯t move. Let me solve it.¡±

    As she waited for him, she looked anxiously at Teacher Guan. ¡°What happened?¡±

    Even though Hao Ziyue loved trouble, he had never done such an excessive act to a girl before.

    Guan Yilu nced at Gu Tai and then at Director Gu, who was behaving so intimately with Yi Ran earlier. She was still shocked and currently didn¡¯t have much time to process it. She went to Yi Ran and whispered in her ear, ¡°I heard that it was for Gu Tai. Jia Jia fought with Hao Ziyue over Gu Tai¡¯s sportswear, and now she is being sent to the hospital.¡±

    For the first time in Yi Ran¡¯s teaching career, she encountered such an ident and felt very ufortable in her heart. The girl was Jia Jia, the same little girl who had came up to whisper to Yi Ranst time in the corridor. She knew that the little girl trusted her, and she couldn¡¯t bear that the child was now suffering such injuries.

    She immediately said, ¡°I¡¯ll also go to the hospital for a look.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan saw she was anxious and babbling. His deep ck eyes seriously looked into her eyes. He said in a soft murmured, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. The female student¡¯s parents are there, and her ss teacher is also there. If Teacher Yao had already left, then you¡¯ll need to stay here.¡± With these words, his long fingers finally untangled the rope at their feet.

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s gentle and maic voice finally calmed Yi Ran¡¯s nerves. She took a deep voice and gradually recovered her calmness.

    He straightened and proposed, ¡°If you want to go, we¡¯ll take my car. I¡¯ll apany Gu Tai for the rest of the games, and when it¡¯s over, I¡¯ll drive you to the hospital.¡±

    Yi Ran noticed Guan Yilu¡¯s shocked expression and finally remembered some matters. She hurriedly asked, ¡°Mr. Gu, don¡¯t you have to return to thepany?¡±

    Gu Tingchuan smiled helplessly and had to cooperate with her acting. He naturally said, ¡°Anyway, Teacher Yi shouldn¡¯t be too polite.¡±

    Gu Tai was no fool. He had already guessed that what had happened was because of his matter. Wrinkling his face, he looked at the several adults anxiously and pulled his uncle¡¯s sleeve

    Gu Tingchuan lightly touched his forehead and softened his voice as he spoke to his nephew, ¡°Don¡¯t bother the adults. Later, I¡¯ll let the driver take you back to wait at home.¡±

    ......

    Jia Jia¡¯s parents sent the child to a hospital not far from the gym.

    Yi Ran drank a handful of cold water and then went to the bathroom to wash her face. After wiping off the water, the whole person felt quite calm.

    After she came out, she inquired around and learned that Hao Ziyue was sitting alone on the corner of a staircase,pletely ignored by everyone.

    When Yi Ran walked by, Hao Ziyue¡¯s defense mentality kicked in and he moved his body to the side. She smiled and took a seat next to him.

    ¡°The teacher heard that your dad hit you a few days ago, didn¡¯t he?¡±

    The boy hesitated, not expecting that this would be the first thing she would mention.

    ¡°But I did not expect you to learn this trick from your dad. Hao Ziyue, do you still think that you can solve the problem with violence?¡±

    Yi Ran couldn¡¯t be partial to this matter because of her preference for Gu Tai. She still wanted to work hard to maintain the rational attitude of a teacher and to guide this elementary student who had been misbehaving for awhile now.

    ¡°You didn¡¯t deliberately push Jia Jia, did you?¡±

    Hao Ziyue¡¯s face turned a deep shade of red, and his eyes held traces of crying. But, he still didn¡¯t speak so Yi Ran continued, ¡°I see that you always love to go to speak to Jia Jia. If you hate her, why do you keep looking for her?¡±

    When he heard this sentence, he sifted slightly. She sighed and said, ¡°No one is here now. Would you like to tell me why you did this?¡±

    Hao Ziyue bit his lip fiercely and the flesh on his face shook slightly due to excitement. ¡°Why does everyone like Gu Tai? Obviously, I haven¡¯t done it, but Jia Jia used me of making his clothes dirty. Teacher Yi, I was really anxious to push her, but I didn¡¯t mean to make her fall.¡±

    After saying this, the child began to weep helplessly. Yi Ran wrapped her arm around his shoulders and tried tofort him.

    Obviously, Yao Juan¡¯s discussions with the child was starting to have an effect and his solid shell had melted by a lot.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t paint Gu Tai¡¯s clothes ... Do you believe me?¡±

    On the one hand, she could make a rough guess whether the child was or was not lying. But, at this moment, Hao Ziyue¡¯s heart was too fragile. She thought that, at this point, it wouldn¡¯t do to ce too much responsibility on him.

    ¡°I believe you. There may be some misunderstandings.¡±

    Realizing that the teacher trusted him, Hao Ziyue¡¯s tears continuously streamed down his face, and his inner barrierpletely broke down.

    ¡°At home, mom and dad never cared about me, and they also don¡¯te to my school activities. I don¡¯t know what to do, and I don¡¯t want to bully them, but¡­.no one really wants to y with me¡­¡±

    ¡°The teacher will help you solve this problem. You have to believe the teacher. Just promise me that you won¡¯t be rough on anyone in the future. Can you?¡±

    Yi Ranforted Hao Ziyue for a while. Then, Gu Tingchuan arrived in front of them and looked at her with the corners of his mouth slightly tilted. ¡°It¡¯s almost time to go.¡±

    ¡°Hao Ziyue, the teacher is going to see Jia Jia now. We will apologize to her when we see her next time. The teacher will help you. We will solve this ident correctly. Alright? ¡±

    Hao Zi nodded. Yi Ran still couldn¡¯t help but worry about him so she called Guan Yilu toe to watched over him.

    When she raised her head, she unexpectedly saw strip of light illuminating the outlines of the man in front of her. His shirt was slightly opened, revealing the graceful lines of his vicle.

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s eyes were undecipherable, yet still piercing and bright. It seemed that there was no part of his aspects that was wasted. From appearance to talents, he truly received the best of Heaven¡¯s will.

    ......

    It took about ten minutes by car to reach their destination. Yi Ran was anxious throughout the whole journey to the pediatric clinic at the hospital.

    Yao Juan was already waiting for them in the hallway. Seeing their arrival, a smile appeared on his face, and he sighed. ¡°The doctor had already taken Jia Jia to the cleaning room. The back of her head required three stitches, and they had just finished so she is currently resting.... Fortunately, it¡¯s just a minor trauma. ¡±

    Yi Ran walked to the bench where the girl was sitting. Jia Jia¡¯s cry was very loud, saying, ¡°Mom, it hurts. It hurts...¡±

    Yi Ran¡¯s tongue had a faint taste of bitterness, and the soreness of her heart couldn¡¯t be clearly expressed. She couldn¡¯t help but somewhat me herself for this matter.

    She wasn¡¯t strong enough and couldn¡¯t do anything by herself. When faced with evil forces, she couldn¡¯t even do anything with her own bare hands.

    She appeased Jia Jia and talked to her parents again. Then she saw the empty mineral water bottle in their hands and said, ¡°Do you want to drink water? There is a vending machine outside. I¡¯ll buy it for you. Just wait. ¡±

    Despite their polite assertions otherwise, Yi Ran quickly turned to buy water for them. Gu Tingchuan followed a few steps after her and patted her on the shoulder. ¡°I¡¯ll go with you. ¡±

    Yi Ran walked to the front of the vending machine, bowed her head, and gently covered her face with her hands. Although the face was silent, there seemed to be a crack in her heart.

    Gu Tingchuan saw her in this state, and after some careful considerations, there was also a pinching sensation in his heart. After purchasing the water, he stopped to look at her and slowly said, ¡°You can lean on your husband¡¯s chest.¡±

    After hearing this sentence, Yi Ran¡¯s heart fiercely shuddered. With her head still lowered, she wanted to smile and pretend to be fine. Unexpectedly, Gu Tingchuan reached out and pulled her into his arms. She could only ept this embrace.

    If Hao Ziyue had been educated earlier, perhaps today¡¯s tragedy would not have happened. She felt really sorry toward Jia Jia, making her me herself all the more. All kinds ofplicated emotions were intertwined, and her whole heart was in a state of disorder.

    It was rare Gu Tingchuan to be emotionally moved in this way.

    If an actress was sad on set, he would only say, ¡°You are being unsightly.¡±

    But now, he took Yi Ran into his arms silently, and he could feel her tightly clutching at the clothes on his chest, her fingertips pressed hard together. He could even feel her warmth seeping into him through his clothes.

    Shey all her sadness out in front of him, no longer hiding anything.

    ¡°I¡¯m really useless...What kind of teacher am I¡­.¡±

    Gu Tingchuanforted her in a low voice, each word was lyrical, sounding deeply moving to the fragility in Yi Ran¡¯s heart. ¡°You have done so well. You¡¯re someone that people can believe in.¡±

    He ced his fingers on the back of her neck. His small hand movements felt both strong and reliable as he slowly held her in the palm of his hand and against his heart. ¡°And, you never let me down.¡±

    The light outside filtered in through the window and shine on them, adding a bit of softness and haziness to their figures. With her mood stabilized, she was no longer so pessimistic. Only, her eyes looked as if they had been washed with rain, exuding a dazzling rity.

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s soft chuckle was loud in her ear, and his every words echoed in the depths of her heart. ¡°Soft bones, soft body, soft heart, but still putting on a strong appearance with teeth.¡±

    Yi Ran¡¯s cheeks flushed and she dared not raise her eyes to look at the other party¡¯s face. Taking the water bottle from him, she turned to go back.

    Just now, his embrace was so irresistible, his breath lingering on the side of her neck, his arms wrapping around all her soft parts, making her feel very much at ease. This seemed to be the first time...

    Looking up, she found that Yao Juan was standing by the corner, looking at them with some embarrassment.

    Just now, he had looked at the young couple from a distance, hugging and whispering intimately, and realized that there was really no room for him.

    Yao Juan pushed his sses up and tried to ignore Gu Tingchuan¡¯s gaze. He directly said to Yi Ran, ¡°Jia Jia¡¯s parents wanted to speak to Hao Ziyue¡¯s parents on Monday. They also wanted duepensation, despite knowing that they might meet the same fate asst time, with that family whose son had received a broken leg and hand.¡±

    Before Yi Ran could speak, she heard Gu Tingchuan make a rarement, ¡°Next week, I¡¯ll have my assistant call Hao Ziyue¡¯s mother.¡±

    Yao Juan seemed to disagree with his way of handling matters. Facing Gu Tingchuan¡¯s cold eyes, he said, ¡°Teachers will have their own ways.¡±

    ¡°I respect your approach.¡± Gu Tingchuan first expressed his attitude, then he turned to look at the serious Yi Ran. Smiling slowly, he said, ¡°But the teachers are facing this type of obstinate ¡®monster parent.¡¯ You¡¯re at your wit¡¯s end. Just consider this so an emergency measure. I¡¯ll just be saving you some trouble.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan gracefully looked at Yao Juan. On his forehead was a bit of friendliness as well as a sense of alienation. ¡°Besides, the Hao background is not so innocent. Last time, you just only talked to them, right? This time, they need to be reminded to not always act so excessively.¡±

    Yi Ran hugged the water bottle to her chest and lowered her head. The fact that this man will directly help was causing her mood to be less and less serene. She did not even dare to look at the handsome contours of his face.

    Someone once said that the mind¡¯s burden is the most difficult thing to hide in the world.

    Even if you cover your mouth, it will show up in your eyes and escape.

 Chapter 27 - Returning to the Study

    Chapter 27: Returning to the Study

    Yi Ran held Jia Jia¡¯s hand and coaxed her for a while before letting her go home to rest. The little girl was still very strong and had stopped crying after a while. After Yao Juan and her parents talked briefly about the situation, they set a schedule to visit the school on Monday to discuss thepensation.

    The school¡¯s teaching director also came to the hospital to visit the injured the student and her parents.

    Yao Juan walked through the hospital door with Yi Ran. As he was about to leave, he suddenly hesitated and turned back to face Yi Ran with warmth in his eyes. ¡°Since you came to the school, you have helped me a lot.¡±

    He was a male teacher whose experience was insufficient. When they met each other, they also discuss their own personal views on matters regarding the students.

    His face slightly turned red and he said, ¡°Don¡¯t feel too burdensome. Earlier, you didn¡¯t look too well.¡±

    Yi Ran smiled slightly. After a few days of this, she felt really tired. With a powerless expression, she said softly, ¡°Monday, we still must confront that woman.¡±

    Yao Juan looked at her smile and then returned with his own gentle smile. He nced behind her and saw Gu Tingchuan standing next to the flower bed, a phone pressed to his ear.

    The man wasn¡¯t wearing formal clothes, but he could still see that he was dignified. His clothes were meticulously ironed and the movements of his hands and feet were elegant and precise.

    Yao Juan turned his face away and said, ¡°How are you going back?¡±

    Yi Ran slowly shifted her gaze to her husband and said, ¡°I¡¯ll go with Gu Tingchuan.¡±

    Yao Juan still wanted to say something more, but Gu Tingchuan had already finished his conversation and strode over to them with long legs. He smiled casually at Yi Ran. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±

    He didn¡¯t have to return back to thepany so they directly drove home. Gu Tingchuan nced at the rear view mirror and saw Yao Juan standing by the side of the road.

    He pursed his lips and said, ¡°You seem to have a good rtionship with your colleague.¡±

    Yi Ran didn¡¯t take it seriously. ¡°Oh yes. Teacher Yao takes good care of me.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan silently looked at her for a while, his face pale. Then, he released a slow smile. ¡°Hehe.¡±

    ¡°.....¡± Yi Ran was surprised. She was in the middle of drinking mineral water and almost sprayed it out.

    Who can tell her, just what did Director Gu¡¯s ¡®hehe¡¯ mean?!

    Darkness fell, and the night grew heavier.

    That evening, Gu Tingchuan invited the chef toe over to make a few home cooked dishes, such as prawns, boiled fish, braised beef, and stir-fried broli. They all tasted very good.

    After dinner, Yi Ran moved to the study and indulged in ying online games with friends for a long time.

    Gu Tingchaun was in the studio, meeting with shareholders who were traveling abroad. Surprisingly, it didn¡¯t take long before he opened the door.

    Homing hadpleted the post-production process and was passed to a foreign film festival¡¯s reviewmittee. He already had several new scripts in hand, but he was not satisfied with any of them. Or, rather, it should be said that his inspirations had dried up, and he wanted to rest for the time being.

    He sat down on the single sofa in the study with a teacup in hand. The tea in the cup was filled to overflowing, and the white mist rose up.

    Yi Ran had slowly learned Gu Tingchuan¡¯s preferences. For example, at this time,pared to mellow wine, he preferred light tea.

    He stared at her.

    Yi Ran saw the deep smile in his eyes and wondered, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? You¡¯re done so soon?¡±

    Gu Tingchuan lightly shook his head and continued to look at her bright eyes. ¡°I need to take a break asionally.¡±

    Suddenly hearing this from Director Gu¡¯s mouth, Yi Ran couldn¡¯t help but want to take a look out the window. Was the moon rising tonight?

    They could also see a good view from their apartment¡¯s study room. Outside, the lights on both sides of the driveway stretched to the invisible distance, reflecting the stars in the sky and looking very bright and warm.

    Gu Tingchuan nced down at the teacup in his hand. The green tea was tender and mellow. With a calm face, he said to her, ¡°In addition to asking my assistant to find Hao Ziyue¡¯s parents, I also told him to contact the Education Bureau regarding the problems of Principal Shi Xiang. Soon, there will be an investigation team at your school.¡±

    Director Gu was really truly¡­.swift and decisive. Without allowing any objections, he had already straightforwardly given their school a big event?

    ¡°Why do you think you have to deal with Shi Xiang?¡± Although he hadn¡¯t helped Gu Tai and was showing preferential treatment toward the Hao family, he hadn¡¯t really bullied the Gu family.

    Gu Tingchuan frowned slightly. ¡°Last time, he¡­¡± Touched your back.

    He was about to say it. But, he saw Yi Ran looking at him with a smile on her face, her eyes softly glimmering. He reconsidered the rest of his words and was quiet for a moment before he finally said, ¡°As the principal, he should protect teachers who are idealistic and ethical like you, instead of stifling your future.¡±

    Yi Ran listened to his words and thought it was already very good. Anyway, even if Shi Xiang was fired, he asked for it, and she still had to consider his ¡®bad behavior.¡¯ In the end, the results of the investigation will depend on his own good fortune.

    ¡°There is one more thing.¡± Gu Tingchuan took a sip of tea and furrowed his brows. His lips were stained with tea, making them glisten deliciously. ¡°I remain skeptical of Gu Tai¡¯s experience at school. Didn¡¯t you say that the male ss told you he didn¡¯t draw on Gu Tai¡¯s clothes?¡±

    Yi Ran was a little puzzled. ¡°Yes, I believe he didn¡¯t lie. Maybe...someone else did it.¡±

    The corners of his lips rose in a faint chilling smile.

    She suddenly understood his meaning but still couldn¡¯t believe it. ¡°Are you suspecting that Gu Tai did it himself?¡±

    ¡°The handwriting was very simr to his own. I only just began suspecting it.¡±

    After Gu Tingchuan¡¯s calm reply, Yi Ran became silent. Her eyes flickered, but she still couldn¡¯t stop the question. ¡°But why did he do this?¡±

    The man seemed to carefully consider the questions, his eyes deeply focused. ¡°After finishing tomorrow¡¯s affairs, we can go to him and ask him clearly. Not to mention, his dad had returned to China now, and he should take responsibility.¡±

    She returned to theputer and temporarily closed the game. Then poked her head out to look at him, she said: ¡°You are really hard working, not only to run thepany and make movies, but also to fight against the evil forces in our school.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan smiled silently but soon found that she was looked much happier than himself.

    ¡°Then what are youughing at?¡±

    ¡°Fortunately, my mind is clear, and I won¡¯t be scared by your power and wealth.¡±

    As a result, Director Gu was once again amused by her. If there was a night of no work like this, how happy would that be?

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s apartment was bright and quiet. Most ces were filled with various collections of books, as well as film magazines, rted biographies, and Blue-Ray discs. There were many types, but they were all arranged neatly. The floor was also covered with thick carpet. Even if you stepped on it barefoot, you will feel extremelyfortable.

    At this moment, Yi Ran was sitting on the carpet next to the sofa. Her legs were crossed, and she looked very casual and cute. After shooting him a brief nce, she looked down and said quietly, ¡°Actually, I had been a little depressed, but I¡¯m feeling better and better now. Even if you feel regretful and are unwilling, if you can¡¯t do something, then you can¡¯t do something.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan spread a book over on hisp and and reassured her in a low voice, ¡°You can ¡®use¡¯ me and allow me to do something for you. This is also your ability.¡±

    He did not care about being used in this way. As he intently gazed at her, he patiently resolved, ¡°You can rest assured that I am also part of your capability.¡±

    With her heart warming, Yi Ran looked up at him tenderly and still did not forget to tease, ¡°En, that¡¯s terrific, my big brother.¡±

    His embrace today had saved her from being constricted by her own emotions. It was actually a little indescribable.

    Yi Ran watched Gu Tingchuan slowly turned his eyes back to the pages of his book, his face looming mysteriously under the brilliance of the light. She immediately remembered some nights past when there was no gap between them. His lips had kissed her body fiercely, effectively sinking her into his trap.

    There was an excessive feeling of softness threading through her, making her want to gently hug him.

    In fact, she had initially been surprised at the fact that their husband and wife rtionship happened so quickly, but she also knew that the reason it happened so quickly was because they had already taken pleasure in each other.

    Thinking about it now, even though Gu Tingchuan¡¯s artistic ability was so outstanding, he probably still used a ¡°straight man¡± way of thinking when it came to things between men and women.

    As she was lost in thought, Gu Tingchuan set his book aside, leaned over, and kissed her. The initially light kiss soon deepened, and the soft touch both enticed and teased her, imprinting her lips with the taste of him. Because she had never done anything like this in the study, she was more nervous than usual, and her eyshes trembled slightly.

    Now, Yi Ran understood that she was feeling more and more intense about him. Only one kiss was enough to make her feel as if her heart would explode.

    She took the initiative to respond. Without thinking, she sped her hands on his neck and leaned in to softly return his kiss, taking in the sweet taste of tea. This bold move caused her ears to burned, but she didn¡¯t stop.

    Gu Tingchuan also noticed her clumsy but seductive behavior. Although it was her first time responding so ardently, it was already very good. But this sudden change was making it more difficult for him to control himself.

    It was also due to the fact that they liked each other, making their minds and body yield to passion with natural ease and turning touch into an intense desire full of mutual understanding.

    Gu Tingchuanid her on the carpet. His eyes held a strong fervor, and his lips moved heatedly over her mouth. Their faces pressed together, separated only by the merest thread of distance. But, it was still not enough to adequately convey their emotions. At the same time, it also made each other taste sweeter and more tempting.

    He softly whispered, ¡°Are youfortable?¡±

    He kissed and invaded, filled with equal mixture of intense aggression and rxation. She was bing more and more taut, her body writhing, as she looked up at him with glimmering eyes, causing him to slow down and lingered as he licked and sucked.

    ¡°Your book...fell to the ground.¡± Her fingertips stretched out toward the book.

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s eyes were heated, and his smile was a little peevish. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. Focus on this.¡±

    The study¡¯s chandelier made everything bright and visible, outlining the curve of the man¡¯s strong and flexible muscles and the tall length of his body stretched out over her. She could also feel the distinct heat of his member, causing her body to stir with an ardent, restless craving.

    Yi Ran¡¯s long hair was spread out gently behind her, making her waist look slimmer and thinner. Her body was moving incessantly, such that he could no longer hold back and pushed inside in a single thrust. He began with slow strokes but they soon speed up with greater strength, making her pant with tempting sounds.

    Fortunately, the thick floor to ceiling curtains in the study blocked everything out in the world.

    The night was long.

 Chapter 28 - The Two-Faced Little Boy

    Chapter 28: The Two-Faced Little Boy

    The days were bing shorter in Winter. In the evening, the burning clouds stretched powerfully across the sky, stained red like fireworks and looking particrly beautiful.

    On Monday, Jia Jia¡¯s parents arrived once school ended.

    Yao Juan had said that when Zou Qiyun came to negotiatest time, she brought four to five strong men with her, and after intimidating the parents, only paid the smallest amount of medical expenses.

    Gu Tingchuan told Yi Ran before that the background of this Hao family was not clean. It used to have fame and status. But, it was said that when the previous generation¡¯s old master passed away, the police had to dispatch many police forces to maintainw and order. Later, Hao Ziyue¡¯s father got into real estate and became rich, but those connections and methods couldn¡¯t be washed away.

    Zou Qiyun was the second wife. She used to be a delinquent little girl, until she became involved with the rich tycoon at a very young age and gave birth to a son. As a result, she became epted as his legal wife. Now, the family had a worth of billions of yuan and no longer put ordinary people in their eyes.

    On the other hand, Jia Jia¡¯s parents both worked in banking. Their monthly sry was not low, but they were by no means rich and noble people. They held Jia Jia like a pearl in the palm of their hands. Therefore, Jiajia¡¯s character was extraordinarily cute.

    When Yi Ran called in the morning to ask her how she felt, she said, ¡°The gauze is in the back of the head, and my mother said no one will see the scar.¡±

    The four of them talked for about fifteen minutes in the spare ssroom before Mrs. Hao showed up unsurprisinglyte.

    If it weren¡¯t for Gu Tingchuan¡¯s interference, perhaps Zou Qiyun wouldn¡¯t show up so soon nor would she be so easy to deal with.

    She wore an overcoat that looked very elegant and graceful. But underneath was a short skirt and a thin top, paired with stiletto heels. She raised her eyebrows and looked at the crowd. When she spoke, her tone was quite provocative. ¡°No wonder the two teachers would put so much efforts for the Gu family¡¯s child. I didn¡¯t know that you¡¯re working so hard to kiss up to them. And here, I thought you were being just exemry models.¡±

    Yao Juan merely silently faced the young Madam¡¯s scorn. Zou Qiyun was wearing more makeup thanst time, her expression fierce and angry.

    Yi Ran also maintained a solemn, unsmiling face. Seeing that this was Hao Ziyue¡¯s mother, she wanted to try her best to keep her cool;st time, she had been too vexed. Also, for Director Gu¡¯s sake, she must not lose herposure.

    ¡°Today, we will only talk about your son identally hurting someone else¡¯s daughter. Mrs. Hao, you don¡¯t need to be ridiculous.¡± Yi Ran calmly looked at her. ¡°Gu Tai and Hao Ziyue have always been in conflict. In fact, both parties have responsibilities, but Hao Ziyue always used his fist to solve the problem. I hope you can change his direction of education in the future. ¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re saying that my son has a violent tendency? You¡¯re really funny. I only think that my son just won¡¯t allow other people to bully him.¡±

    Yi Ran smiled slowly and opened her mouth to say half-jokingly, ¡°Everyone has only one child and can give everything up for their child. But do you think love is the same as spoiling? ¡±

    As she said this, her aura grew heavy and her words were like a sharp knife pressing down. ¡°The most important thing is to ask for the child¡¯s opinion and to take into consideration his feelings.¡±

    Zou Qiyun¡¯s expression looked ugly to the extreme and she cursed in her heart. When she was about to erupt, Yao Juan stood up in time and blocked her with some words, ¡°Now, we don¡¯t want to argue with you. We asked you toe because Jia Jia¡¯s parents wants to draft an agreement between you both in private mediation. In addition to the relevant costs, I hope you and Hao Ziyue will formally apologize to them. ¡±

    Zou Qiyun stared at them for a moment, refusing to budge. Then, she sneered and said, ¡°What do you mean now? Relying on people to bully us family? ¡±

    After Jia Jia¡¯s parents calmly exined the contents of the agreement and their daughter¡¯s reasonable medical expenses, her face was scornful. ¡°How big are you? You want me and my son topensate you? Fine, you can take the money. But, you don¡¯t just want money.... ¡±

    In Yi Ran¡¯s opinion, Jia Jia¡¯s parents were very restrained and did not say a single harsh word. Speaking to Zou Qiyun, she said, ¡°I think you should have no dispute over the agreement. By the way, does Hao Ziyue¡¯s father have any opinions?¡±

    Yao Juan secretly raised the corner of his lips at seeing how she confronted this woman. Her posture really reminded people a little of... Director Gu.

    When Yi Ran mentioned the child¡¯s father, Zou Qiyun¡¯s expression subconsciously weakened. Of course, she remembered the warning from the man, telling her that she was not allowed to cause trouble at school again.

    Zou Qiyun took a deep breath and stared fiercely at Yi Ran. ¡°You¡¯re a little slut. In order to join the Gu family, you ingratiate yourself to the Gu man. But he¡¯s a big director. He¡¯ll wrap you around his little finger and once he¡¯s done amusing himself, he¡¯ll drop you just like that.¡±

    At this moment, Yi Ran¡¯s expression was light. As she waited for Zou Qiyun to finish, a genuine smile stretched across her face, making her look worthy of being a kind and cordial teacher. She said, ¡°No need to spray fire at me. Besides, the ¡®Gu man¡¯ that you mentioned should refer to my husband. I don¡¯t need to ingratiate myself to him and am, in fact, capable of putting him at my disposal.¡±

    The moment she said this, Zou Qiyun was so surprised that she couldn¡¯t close her mouth. Her first reaction was disbelief. But, in case it was true, she dare not offend any of the Gu family members.

    Thinking about it, if Yi Ran hadn¡¯t reached such a moment of certainty regarding Director Gu¡¯s support...In fact, this felt pretty cool.

    ¡°Since this big wife¡¯s time is precious, don¡¯t just sit there foolishly.¡± She said this in a overpowering voice, which made her appearpletely imposing and much different from her usual self.

    In fact, Yi Ran had never been a doormat nor was she someone who allowed others to vent their anger on her at will. But, in the workce, she had only just suppressed herself.

    The entire ssroom was quiet, and Teacher Yi¡¯s calm voice was particrly nice as she said, ¡°Mrs. Zou, sign the agreement.¡±

    Zou Qiyun¡¯s whole face was distorted and herplexion became pale as her angerpletely crumbled.

    .....

    After solving this big problem, Yi Ran was in a good mood for the rest of the day. When she saw the nasty Shi Xiang, she even gave him a genial expression. Anyway, his unlucky days wereing.

    In the evening, Gu Tingchuan invited Gu Tingyong and his son over for dinner. Yi Ran will be meeting her brother-inw for the first time so she wanted to cook a few dishes to make herself appear as a good wife.

    But, Gu Tingchuan understood that she had been working hard at the school. Moreover, he was afraid she might actually burn the dishes.

    After listening to his reasoning, Yi Ran felt that she really couldn¡¯t refute his words at all...

    In the end, a Chinese chef was invited to over to cook fresh food. Yi Ran felt that since she had married into the Gu family, she had not only been fattened a few pounds, but her taste buds had also be more and more discerning.

    Seeing Yi Ran¡¯s mouth selling cuteness, Gu Tingchuan thought that it was very entertaining.

    Actually, to be a good director, it was important to have insight into the nature of people. Up until now, he had only truly begun to understand her personality.

    Sometimes, she was gentle and sweet-tempered, but then became feisty.

    Sometimes, she was simpleminded and very considerate.

    Yi Ran discovered that Gu Tingchuan was standing silently being her, watching as she artistically arranged the cut fruits on the fruit te. They were standing so close that only a few meters separated them. He reached out from behind her and picked up a piece to put into his mouth. Then, looking down at her, he smiled lightly and said, ¡°It¡¯s kind of sweet.¡±

    Yi Ran nced up at him. His face lowered, as if he was bending his head down to kiss her. She blinked and smiled, but when they were about to kiss, the doorbell rang.

    Gu Tingchuan gave a sigh and could only turn around to open the door. Yi Ran followed behind him curiously. At first nce, she felt that the two brothers were simr to each other.

    Gu Tingyong wore a straight-cut suit with shiny leather shoes on his feet. It was the usual dress style of the elite men. He was also pretty handsome. The radian of his lips was simr to Director Gu¡¯s. But byparison, Gu Tingchuan was more indifferent, carrying a temperament of rejection.

    As they looked at each other, Yi Ran took note of herself and smiled first, saying, ¡°Good to meet brother.¡±

    Gu Tingyong also beamed a smile, but his eyes were unavoidably scrutinizing her with a sense of superiority. Yi Ran caught on that he was looking down on her.

    Gu Tai had already met with Yi Ran at school. Seeing her again, he simply yelled ¡°Aunt¡± before taking his school bag and running into the living room to sit. He took out a children¡¯s novel from his bag and began reading.

    Yi Ran knew that tonight would not be so calm. Looking at the boy¡¯s beautiful face and his cute, dark eyes, she was suddenly afraid of knowing the truth.

    Since she didn¡¯t know what to talk to Gu Tingyong about, she simply ran to the living room to apany Gu Tai.

    Gu Tingchuan turned back to the kitchen. His eldest brother leaned against the door frame and said, ¡°I have a lot of estrangement from my son. You¡¯ve helped a lot. ¡±

    Gu Tingchuan smiled coldly. ¡°Only this time and also for her. ¡±

    It was evident who this ¡°her¡± referred to. Gu Tingyong shook his head, as if almost unwilling to believe. ¡°Such an ordinary girl. I really don¡¯t know what you are doing.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan heard these words, and his lips slightly curved, but his eyes were very cold. ¡°Don¡¯t be arrogant. My wife would not even look at you twice.¡±

    As a sensitive and intelligent child, Gu Tai had long noticed that the atmosphere in the home was not right. When he saw the adults eyes, his heart shook. He nced at the two men talking in the kitchen, and then at Yi Ran next to him. He put down the book very consciously and said, ¡°Whatever you want to say, whatever you want to ask, just do it quickly.¡±

    Yi Ran looked at the men a few steps away and saw some hints on Gu Tingchuan¡¯s face. She looked back at Gu Tak and softly but seriously said, ¡°Gu Tai, tell me honestly. You really don¡¯t know who drew on your t-shirt that day?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±

    Hearing his unhesitant answer, Gu Tingchuan walked over with his hands crossed over his chest, his eyes a little cold. ¡°So, some of the handwriting looked like yours. Was this also coincidence?¡±

    His sense of oppression and momentum werepletely different from Yi Ran. Gu Tai¡¯s expression was shaken immediately. Then, looking up at them, he said: ¡°I know who dirtied my clothes. Didn¡¯t Jia Jia say that it was Haozi Yue?¡±

    Gu Tingchuan saw what he was doing and became more determined. ¡°As a primary school student, you¡¯ve already learned how to frame people. Really clever. Such a clever child, you¡¯re really worthy of being the Gu family¡¯s younger generation.¡±

    His expression hadn¡¯t changed, but each words that fell into Gu Tai¡¯s ears was terrifying.

 Chapter 29 - Dissatisfied

    <strong>Chapter 29: Dissatisfied</strong>

    Yi Ran feared that Gu Tingchuan was being too severe and might scare Gu Tai. She silently frowned and struggled to say, ¡°Today, I spoke with Teacher Yao. He said that Hao Ziyue imed that you¡¯re always making a lot of the kids in ss think that he was bullying you, whether it was breaking an umbre or throwing a pencil box, including this t-shirt incident.¡±

    Gu Tai¡¯s poprity in the ssroom was already very high, making it easy for him topletely iste Hao Ziyue and pushing him to the point that everyone would hate him all the more. As a result, Hao Ziyue could only intensity the use of violence as a means of gaining ¡°attention¡± and ¡°friendship.¡±

    Gu Tai¡¯s face was still expressionless, but when he turned to look at her, his eyes were fierce. ¡°Anyway, you all believed what he said. I have no evidence to prove that these were all done by him, so I won¡¯t even bother.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan smiled and said without any fluctuations in his tone, ¡°Okay, here¡¯s what you did. Your uncle had thought of the script for you. You broke the umbre first, then hid the pencil, and made everyone mistakenly think that ssmate did it. He was angry with you and rebuked you, and you never fought back but allowed others to see it. Later, at the sports meeting, you wanted to escte the situation, but you did not expect that the girl would get injured. ¡±

    Yi Ran understood that Gu Tingchuan¡¯s assumptions were not just hypotheses. The small details had initially been confusing, but now they made perfect sense. All the fragments were now connected into a whole picture, making it more believable. In the end, all these were Gu Tai¡¯s tricks.

    She messaged her eyebrows tiredly, lowered herself in front of him, and looked at his silent face very seriously. ¡°Jia Jia went and confronted Hao Ziyue because she likes you. Do you understand? Gu Tai, you should not allow those who loves you to get hurt.¡±

    Gu Tai had always been an excellent boy in her eyes. Compared to the slightly more arrogant Gu Tingyong, he seemed to be more like Director Gu. He was prideful and a little unyielding, looked handsome, and was especially fun to tease.

    However, this kind of precocious child was no match against a man like Gu Tingchuan, who had faced countless difficulties and who was strong and independent.

    Gu Tingchuan began to guess his motive. ¡°Did he first look at you unpleasantly? But, he didn¡¯t really dare to do anything to you.¡±

    Gu Tai could not find any words to cover himself, when his uncle had correctly guessed everything he had thought. The fortress of his thoughts fell apart in an instant. He couldn¡¯t hold back so much thought, and finally opened his mouth, his voice shaking. ¡°He couldn¡¯t bully me, but he bullies my friends. I was just giving him back what he was owed.¡±

    This was the first time Yi Ran heard Gu Tai speak in such a tearful voice, the sound like a muffled, whimpering little beast. Her heart softened, but Gu Tingchuan did not stop. He lowered his head slightly to look at his nephew and asked, ¡°Why would you do this kind of thing?¡±

    ¡°Why not? He deserves it.¡±

    ¡°Gu Tai, you don¡¯t have the right to manipte and deprive others of life, do you know? You are 100 times worse than your ssmate. If this goes on, in the future, perhaps you might even wonder why you can¡¯t put people to death?¡±

    His words were calm but logical, like a sharp needle piercing at your most defenseless spots.

    Yi Ran took Gu Tai¡¯s hands in hers. They remained stilled for a moment, before she said, ¡°It¡¯s probably impossible for me to persuade you. But, I really wanted to protest you against all the injustices you suffered. I really wanted to protect you.¡±

    However, Gu Tai¡¯s eyes clearly reflected his cold thoughts.

    I don¡¯t need you, and I don¡¯t believe you.

    ¡°Gu Tai, I know you just wanted to protect yourself. But did you know? I felt really sad about you being bullied.¡±

    Her words grew choked. ¡°I wished that all the dirty waters could be sshed on me instead and that all the maliciousness coulde to me. I didn¡¯t want you to see the dark side of the world. Other children might not understand, but I know you will.

    ¡°Don¡¯t speak.¡± Gu Tai threw off her hands, his eyes cold. ¡°You adults are really hypocritical.¡±

    He jumped from the couch and saw Gu Tingyong standing a short distance away. Raising his face, he cried, ¡°Gu Tingyong, you and my mother are getting a divorce. I was bullied but you didn¡¯t care. Why are you both so selfish?¡±

    Gu Tai¡¯s words seemed to hit them at the apex of their hearts. He wanted to make them feel embarrassed. He wanted to deceive these self-righteous adults, to tear down their dignity.

    ¡°And you guys, getting married after only meeting a few times. If you have children in the future, will you be like my father? Anyway, you can just throw them to the grandparents!¡±

    Gu Tingchuanughed when he heard this. In the end, it all came out. For this elementary school student, although his behavior was bad, he just thought too seriously and was expressing his own parts in this matter.

    Children still needed to be coaxed.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be like your father? You¡¯re pulling me down too low.¡±

    Gu Tai suddenly looked at him silently, and then looked at his father.

    Yi Ran once again took the boy¡¯s hand, trying to give him a warm touch and help soothe his emotions. Although Gu Tai was more mature than ordinary children, his nature was still simple, young and tender. As long as he was treated gently, he will calm down.

    She couldn¡¯t understand his behavior in her hear,t and she was very angry. But, she knew that in these days, Gu Tai felt that hecked the love of his parents, who were suddenly no longer by his sides. He must be really lonely.

    ¡°Regarding what you said about your uncle and my marriage, whether you believe it or not, I really believe that this family will educate good children, and we will do our utmost not to let them down, right?¡±

    Gu Tai was surprised. Probably, besides the elderly grandparents, she was the family who cares the most about him these days.

    Yi Ran didn¡¯t want to be angry with him anymore because it wouldn¡¯t solve the problem. She furrowed her brows and said, ¡°I already told Hao Ziyue that he needed to apologize to you and those people he had bullied. You have to take the initiative to apologize to him and agree never to hurt each other again.¡±

    Gu Tingyong sighed deeply. He walked up and ced his hand on his son¡¯s head and gently ruffled his hair. His voice was a little sad. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s your father¡¯s fault. I hadn¡¯t cared much about youtely.¡±

    He sat on the sofa in front of his son and said earnestly, ¡°I¡¯ve been really irresponsible. Once your mom returned, I will calmly talk to her and maybe....we won¡¯t use divorce to solve the problem between us. Xiao Tai, we don¡¯t want you to be sad.¡±

    Seeing such a bright and lovely son turned into someone which such an extreme temper, he was moved in his secret heart. Not to mention, he hadn¡¯t really wanted to divorce. Although his behavior had indeed been reprehensible, he didn¡¯t want to wreck his family. It was actually Gu Tai¡¯s mother, who had always had a big temper, who impulsive wanted to break up.

    ¡°But your aunt is right. You have to apologize to your ssmates and seriously reflect on your mistake. I will impose some penalties on you. During this time, you should also review your behavior.¡±

    Gu Tai stared at Gu Tingyong¡¯s face for a while, his eyes full of injustice. No matter how rebellious he was, he still wanted his father to take pride in him and for his parents to rebuild their rtionship.

    Yi Ran knew that the father and son needed to have a private heart-to-heart. Outsiders shouldn¡¯t intrude. She silently nced at Gu Tingchuan, and they returned to the kitchen. She continued to arrange the fruit te, her lips slightly pursed. She needed to digest what had just happened and didn¡¯t want to speak at all.

    Gu Tingchuan looked at her slightly moist eyes. Although his gaze was unreadable, there was a faint smile on his lips. ¡°At that time, did I move too fast?¡±

    Unexpectedly, Yi Ran let out a puff ofughter and smiled up at him. His eyes always looked so attractive and addictive. At this moment, they were so clear. She could not help but tremble, wondering what to say so that she would not sound so impatient.

    ¡°It¡¯s okay, merely that others need to rush home more at night.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan raised an eyebrow. He didn¡¯t even want to mock or ridicule the idea.

    She quietly looked at his actions in helping her clean up the fruit peels, and the ¡°like¡± emotions for him in her heart seemed as if it was slowly expanding.

    Although Yi Ran was content with their simple everyday interactions, she was also not satisfied with it. It was because she knew deep in her heart that she didn¡¯t want his cars, his house, or even hispany shares. Instead, she wanted more than to be just Mrs. Gu. Her greed was heavier. She wanted his heart, and she wanted his world. But, asking for those was a hundred times harder than asking for a person¡¯s life.

    ....

    This week entered the Winter rainy season, and the next day, it began to drizzle. Even the school¡¯s yground was wet, and the children could only exercise in the indoor gym.

    Yi Ran told Yao Juan about everything that had happened. In a rare instance, Gu Tai had cried that night, and he wasforted and carried home by Gu Tingyong.

    After discussing the matters together, they decided that Gu Tai should admit and apologize to Hao Ziyue for discrediting and ndering him as much as he did in ss.

    Hao Ziyue also need to apologize privately to Gu Tai, Jia Jia and the other students who he had injured.

    The ¡°face-off¡± thatsted so long finally calmed. However, Yao Juan was also very clear that these two ¡°problem children¡± should require long-term psychological counseling.

    In the blink of an eye, it was almost the weekend. Guan Yilu came to her desk, holding her cheeks and said, ¡°Yi Ran, it will rain in the city this week. A few of the teachers have made an appointment to go to Jinshan Lake for cycling and walking. Would you like to go with us? ¡±

    ¡°Ah ... not this week. I already have very important arrangements.¡± Her face was full of apology.

    Yao Juan came in holding a textbook. When he saw Yi Ran¡¯s response, he turned aside and said nothing.

    The female teacher looked at her suspiciously. ¡°You¡¯ve been very preupiedtely. Have you fallen in love?¡±

    Yi Ran softened and said jokingly, ¡°Haha. More or less...I¡¯ll tell youter. ¡±

    Guan Yilu suddenly thought of Yi Ran¡¯s unusual interaction with Director Gu on the day of the games, but this ... this ... this was impossible?!

    Yi Ran didn¡¯t notice the surprised expression the other person¡¯s face. She was totally immersed in her own careful thinking. Because, this would be the first weekend she and Gu Tingchuan would be able topletely spend together since they got married...A full two days!

 Chapter 30 - Spending the Weekend Together

    <strong>Chapter 30: Spending the Weekend Together</strong>

    Their living room provides a view of the Ming Bay brimming with rain water and surrounded by mountains. The green forest meandered along the base of the mountains, cloaked by the clouds and mists in ayer of white gauze. At a nce, the picturesque image was like an elegant ink painting.

    Gu Tingchuan told her about the weekend arrangements. On the first day, they would rest at home and, on the second day, go to an afternoon private reception.

    Yi Ran knew that this would be the first time that he¡¯ll be officially introduce her into his social circle. She was rather nervous about it so, in preparation, she secretly cut her hair, applied a mask, and did her nails.

    The rainy weather was really more suitable for staying at home. In the morning, Yi Ran prepared millet porridge and mustard fish for breakfast. Gu Tingchuan had a faint smile on his face when he saw these things, his mental state suddenly feeling much better than it had been a moment ago. He appeared more rxed and refreshed, as opposed to his strict and gloomy attitude when working.

    He sat down and took a sip of coffee. Using his free left hand, he turned on the TV, then nced at her and said, ¡°You bought this magazine?¡±

    Yi Ran followed his gaze and saw thetest issue of ¡°Master of Movies¡± on the sofa, which contained some information about Homing. It even included a photo of Director Gu on the set.

    The photo was of his handsome profile. White cor covered his fair neck and above it was a beautiful jawline. But, he was unsmiling, his expression rather dark and gloomy. Such a handsome face was thus wasted.

    Yi Ran¡¯s face grew hot, but she still pretended to say calmly, ¡°It was at the convenience store nearby. I stopped there to buy coffee and just happened to see it...¡±

    Gu Tingchuan never cared about being spotlighted in magazines before and never bothered to purposefully read them. However, this time, he got up and flipped over the magazine. Smiling, he said, ¡°Yes, the photographer¡¯s skills in this magazine is not bad.¡±

    While still looking at the magazine, he took a bite of the millet porridge, then moved his chopsticks over to the mustard fish and silently put a piece in his mouth. Although he usually do not eat these, he discovered for the first time that they tasted rather good.

    ¡°Do you also like photography?¡± Yi Ran sat across from him and couldn¡¯t help but look at him a few more times.

    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve been to many ces when filming, and sometimes I¡¯ll take some pictures myself.¡± Gu Tingchuan¡¯s voice rose slightly, and then he easily and cheerfully added, ¡°I¡¯ll take you next time.¡±

    Yi Ran did not expect that he would mention herself. However, she didn¡¯t think too much of it. It probably stemmed from the fact that they had a sense of responsibility for each other, and they valued each other¡¯s feelings. As a result, the man seemed to be regarding her as more and more important, and he had been allowing her to integrate In his life.

    ¡°Okay, you still owe me a long trip anyway,¡± Yi Ran replied jokingly.

    After breakfast, Gu Tingchuan moved to the tall window and called his assistant, saying that next week he would discuss with shareholders about Homing¡¯s theater arrangements.

    He didn¡¯t lower the volume, and she could faintly hear the substance of the conversation. She could gradually see why his mood was not always so happy. After a while, she saw him frown slightly, and she was concerned. ¡°Is everything all right? ¡±

    In response to her question, Gu Tingchuan murmured ¡°En¡± very naturally before going back to the conversation and saying, ¡°Cutting the film for the film festival would not be a problem, but they said doing so would make it difficult to attract a sizable domestic audience, especially since it had already been cut before.¡±

    Yi Ran looked at him with a little anxiety. When Gu Tongchuan saw her face, he was really reluctant. His furrowed brows smoothed out and he smiled, saying, ¡°Forget it. I¡¯ll deal with it on Monday.¡±

    Yi Ran did not understand his specific work. She was a full-fledgedyman when it came to movies, but she knew that the director¡¯s circle were often divided into various grades and ranks. Although his qualifications were not too shallow, his life experience was still ultimately somewhatcking. The films that he directed had surpassed many of his predecessors. This proved that he had extraordinary talents. At the same time, he was born with a golden spoon so it was not umon for people to hate him.

    Gu Tingchuan was able to walk on today¡¯s high alter. However, no one knew the scary amount of efforts he had put in to be able to aplish so much. Fortunately, such a man had always have the care of the goddess of victory and had not yet experienced the real failures of life. .

    They spent the afternoon slowly passing time. Gu Tingchuan looked at the materials and videos in his study. Meanwhile, Yi Ran tried to bake bear cookies in the kitchen. If she was able to bake them sessfully, then she would allow him to try some.

    The small, creamy cookies smelled delicious. It had a yellowish color and was crispy and not oily at all. Although they were still somewhatcking, particrly in terms of shape, Yi Ran was still very confident about the taste.

    Director Gu didn¡¯t particrly like sweets, but he didn¡¯t mind trying a few pieces for her.

    When she stepped into the study, she heard a familiar song and her first reaction was to blurt out, ¡°Ahhhh! It¡¯s the Glorious Dance.¡±

    Hearing this, Gu Tingchuan began to pay attention to the song. Afterward, he raised his eyes to look at her.

    Yi Ran held one of his high-end tes in her hands. Her long, curled eyshes were slightly raised, casting a faint shadow on her cheeks. At this moment, the corners of her mouth were tipped up, making her look like the gentle and soft rain outside. Her temperament was like this, contradictory and inexplicably beautiful.

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s calm gaze met hers. As Yi Ran looked at the gentle man in front of her, quietly holding his book, she could imagine what he would look like in thirty years, wearing a pair of reading sses and lying down to read on a leather sofa.

    So gentle and elegant.

    After taking a closer look, she realized that the book Gu Tingchuan was holding was not his own but had instead belonged to her.

    Yi Ran suddenly felt a little embarrassed. It was an art book primarily about Wang Xizhi¡¯s ¡°Orchid Pavilion¡± series. It was exquisitely printed and the content was elegant and informative. It was actually very suitable for a culture-conscious people like Director Gu.

    ¡°I haven¡¯t read the book yet. I ordered it online at a discount, and the price wasn¡¯t high.¡±

    She always spoke very honestly, and Gu Tingchuan especially loved this unpretentious attitude.

    To Yi Ran¡¯s surprise, Director Gu calmly said ¡°Oh, the first book I took was not this. I took The Overbearing President¡¯s Pampered Wife but I hadn¡¯t read too much of it.¡±

    Yi Ran: ¡°...¡±

    Was there still time for her to tear the book up?!!

    Gu Tingchun knew that he had sessfully frightened her. He took a cookie from the te with a small smile, took a bite, and said, ¡°It tastes good.¡±

    His tone was obviously very encouraging. She was satisfied and set the te aside, not forgetting to quickly changed the subject before he could continue to discuss the plot of The Overbearing President¡¯s Pampered Wife.

    ¡°If you can ept a little more sweets, then I have something better. I bought a particrly famous osmanthus tea cake and glutinous rice cakes. In fact, it should be delicious at home on rainy days like this.¡± She squinted her eyes and smiled. She continued with a pink face, ¡°Oh yes, I nted a little tomato pot on the terrace. What do you think? ¡±

    Gu Tingchuan lowered his head to continue reading and nodded acquiescently.

    She knew more about these matters than he did.

    They spent the rest of the day chatting at home and paying attention to staying fit and healthy. In the evening, Director Gu went for a run in the small gym by the billiards table. Yi Ran yed a few games but, when she grew bored, she decided to join him.

    As a result, after jogging on the treadmill for about forty minutes, she ended up jumping off and bending down and panting.

    Gu Tingchuan was sweating all over, but she could see that he was breathing evenly and was not tired at all. Yi Ran stared dazedly at his figure, which seemed to be floating light as a feather.

    Beyond him, the French window showed an artificialke shimmering under the drizzle of rain. The water surface rippled like silk and the mist seemed to have created a ce that was like a blend between heaven and earth.

    As Gu Tingchuan ran on the treadmill, the sweat on his face was visible under the light. He smiled casually. ¡°We should exercise more in the future in order to increase our physical strength.¡±

    Yi Ran naturally felt a sense of failure, until she looked at his chest. A slightly wet Director Gu was so sexy that she forgot everything else. She felt that the man was really mysterious and irresistible, like the unfathomable sea.

    ¡°By the way, when you take your clothes offter, remember to put them by theundry basket. Auntie will do the wash on Monday.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m done, I¡¯ll change it now.¡± He took off his sweaty shirt and threw it at her hand.

    Yi Ran waspletely dumbfounded.

    The clothes were full of the man¡¯s strong pheromone, making her little heart felt almost unbearable. Looking at his figure, she felt that he looked particrly mature, muscr, hot and charming. Oh, her heart felt as if it would explode!

    Gu Tingchuan came over when she was distracted, ced one hand on her waist, and lowering his head, drop a soft kiss on her lips. Their faces were close together, but there was no more movements on his end. The kiss had been incredibly soft and elegant, exuding a taste of coy pampering.

    Yi Ran¡¯s heart was filled with a honey sweet taste. Her eyes were dark and bright on her small, fair face.

    This kind of weather, this sense of security, was perfect between you and I.

    With you by my side.

    ......

    Gu Tingchuan paid great attention to his environment and particrly liked his surroundings to be secluded. The windows of each room in the house were equipped with window screens, ckout curtains and blinds. Severalyers of curtains kept all the lights and paparazzi out. Of course, most of the people who settle in this high-end residential area were also prestigious people. Therefore, safety had always been incredibly important.

    Yi Ran slowly woke up. The room was dark, and she could hear a little rustling movement behind her. She asked in a husky voice, ¡°What time is it?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s still early. Go back to sleep for a while.¡±

    The calm voice from behind her seemed to have been awake for a while.

 Chapter 31 - Not a Lover

    <strong>Chapter 31: Not a Lover</strong>

    Yi Ran slowly woke up. The room was dark, and she could hear a little rustling movement behind her. She asked hoarsely, ¡°What time is it?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s still early. Go back to sleep for a while.¡±

    The calm voice from behind her seemed to have been awake for a while.

    Yi Ran hugged the bed cover against her chest. Why was it that everything was so different from what she had initially imagined? Director Gu actually also understood how to be attentive, which was very good. Before she fell asleep, they had been lying in each other¡¯s embrace and chatting and thinking about things. This was also very good, but it still made her feel a little bashful.

    But, that Director Gu was just too loathsome, right?!

    Feelingzy, she kept her eyes closed, remembering the indescribably fierce entanglement between themst night. It seemed that the scale were bingrger andrger.

    In addition, Gu Tingchuan had said that he didn¡¯t read The Overbearing President¡¯s Pampered Wife, but that was a lie! She felt that the man had read it all and even studied the obscene details with great attention. He deliberately set her up to perfect those movements. Just forget it, she won¡¯t say anything.

    Remembering this, Yi Ran got s little hot so she got out of bed and went to the bathroom to freshen up. When she came out, she saw that Gu Tingchuan was tidying up his personal clothes. His expression was rxed but it was hard to understand what he was thinking.

    She thought for a moment and asked, ¡°This reception party that we¡¯re going tonight, what do I need to pay attention to?¡±

    He looked at her bare face without any makeup on and then at her delicate and fair feet on the carpet. After watching her like this for a few moments, he said bluntly, ¡°I don¡¯t really like socializing. You also don¡¯t have to worry too much about socializing with other people. Just remember to fully charge your mobile phone.¡±

    After talking, the corner of his mouth slightly raised.

    In Yi Ran¡¯s heart, there was a burst of bewilderment intermixed with a faintyer of joy. She didn¡¯t know if the look in his eyes meant he was being understanding or whether he was teasing her. Her face instantly flushed red. ¡°Then what clothes should I wear? Can you help me pick something out?¡±

    Gu Tingchuan nced down at his watch. ¡°I already told Xiao Zhao to prepare clothes for your. Rest assured, just an ordinary dress will do.¡±

    His words meant that he had taken her into ount. She felt that he was being more and more considerate of her, and nodded her head in response.

    The host was the newlywed whose wedding Gu Tingchuan had flown back to attend. Their family had some close business dealing with the He Mansion. As a result, the private reception was also held at the hotel that was part of the He Mansionplex.

    The vestibule had a western-style garden, which looked elegant and serene against the backdrop of lights. The statue of a European goddess stood in the center of the fountain, holding a water jug in each hand. The clear water poured down into the pond, making a clear, crisp sound like a silver bell. The surrounding bushes and rosewoods were neatly lined, adding to the charming atmosphere.

    Returning to this familiar ce, Yi Ran remembered with mixed emotions the ridiculous beginning between them at that time.

    But strangely, there was no desire to retreat nor any regrets in her heart. It was because this connection was so wonderful. Their two worlds could not have possibly intersected, but then, it inevitably did. Life really was like going down a river, and for her part, she had unexpectedly met a magnificentndscape full of flourishing flowers.

    There were not many guests at the reception tonight, but some people were still curious about Gu Tingchuan¡¯s arrival.

    The director had always been a mystery, and his private life was extremely low-key. Even after the sh marriage, he still had not brought Mrs. Gu out to show off, adding yet more mystery to himself.

    Yi Ran was really not used to such asions. Fortunately, Gu Tingchuan was always by her side and would asionally introduce her to some friends. She also once again met the friend who had been by Gu Tingchuan¡¯s side at that time outside the theater hall. He saw them first and came up to give them a toast. ¡°I thought the matter with the y was fishy. Director Gu, your moves are really too deep. I saw her for the first time and you hadn¡¯t even sat next to each other. But you still seeded.¡±

    He assumed an excited posture and began apuding. Then, he paused and said, ¡°So what was it? Loosen the rein only to grasp the person better?¡±

    It turned out that his name was Ji Yanxi. He was the youngest son of a wealthy bigshot tycoon. Although he acted shameless, he had a fairly serious job. Yi Ran¡¯s opinion of him loosened. She grinned and raised her ss of wine, ¡°At that time, I still hadn¡¯t taken a fancy to Director Gu, nor had he liked me yet.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan gently tapped his own ss against Ji Yanxi¡¯s before turning his head to Yi Ran. ¡°No need to disclose so much. Beware that he¡¯s a gossip. ¡±

    Yi Ran let out a puff ofughter and took a sip of the white wine.

    After chatting for a while, she told Gu Tingchuan that she was going to the restroom and left their group.

    Around the corridor, she looked up and saw the sign for thedies room. As she was just about to push the door in, she heard the conversation between the women inside.

    Yi Ran was surprised and ced her hand on the thick brown door but did not immediately push it open.

    ¡°Have you seen Gu Tingchuan¡¯s wife? She¡¯s not a big beauty, just merely pretty.¡±

    Another woman said in a higher-pitched voice,

    ¡°No wonder he hadn¡¯t brought her out to see anyone. Was he afraid that others might think her too ordinary?¡±

    The other side sounded strange and was probably applying lipstick, ¡°Why would he marry her? Do you think she¡¯s second generation wealthy? Or, maybe she¡¯s the daughter of officials?¡±

    ¡°She doesn¡¯t seem to be...Do you know what else is interesting tonight? He Yang and his wife are here too! ¡±

    ¡°Oh, I remember. Wasn¡¯t He Yang¡¯s wife Lu Keliu winner of the ¡®White Birch Award¡¯ for best female supporting lead? One of Director Gu¡¯s scandal targets! And, also, the one that was most true, right?¡±

    The woman became excited, and her tone raised even higher. ¡°Yeah, at that time, Gu Tingchuan also responded to their rumors with a press conference for the first time. Doesn¡¯t that make it more suspicious?¡±

    Yi Ran listened for a while, feeling a bit awkward. She had never encountered this situation before, and so she couldn¡¯t help but feel a little overwhelmed. She could only turn around and walked back blindly. Her mind was getting more and more confused.

    The scandal with that actress...Yi Ran had also more or less heard of it and had even gossiped about it with Zhang Rongrong.

    At that time, she also thought that how could a man like Gu Tingchuan not have a rtionship with her? It was onlyter, after the incident with Guo Baiyu, that she discovered that he really didn¡¯t have any ex-girlfriend.

    But, even if this was not the case, would every beautiful woman be an imaginary enemy?

    Lu Keliu always had a strange existence in Yi Ran¡¯s heart. Whenever she hears the other person¡¯s name, her heart would thump a little.

    Even though Lu Keliu was already with the male god He Yang and they were a pair of husband and wife who often sent ¡°dog food¡±, when Yi Ran caught sight of her, she couldn¡¯t help but recall the past rumors.

    They had coborated together for the Cloud Headdress movie. At the time, Lu Keliu was like a nk piece of paper. Despite this, Gu Tingchuan had taken every efforts to bring her into the crew and had wholeheartedly trained her to be the winner of the White Birch Award. Yi Ran dared not think about the creative and emotional expenditures that he must haveid at this woman¡¯s feet nor about the amount of frenzied enthusiasm that he must have felt toward this woman.

    Lu Keliu and Guo Baiyu were very different beings. Between the both of them, Gu Tingchuan probably regarded the former as an uncut jade.

    Yi Ran returned back to the banquet room and stood alone in the self-service food area. She looked over to find Gu Tingchuan and realized at once that he was talking to Lu Keliu.

    She could not help raising her eyebrows and thought, I only walked out for a little while and you¡¯re already chatting with your former first love.

    Yi Ran carefully observed the woman with glossy ck hair and an elegant demeanor. Her behavior did not seem untoward, and her manners was also impable.

    She also heard that Lu Keliu was engaged in restoring ancient buildings. Her career was so high that she was able to win the White Birch Award, and she married He Yang, a popr male god who had the hearts of countless young girls. It was as if nothing could stump her.

    Yi Ran was probably too ordinary. Even if she was an omnipotent superman in her own world, once she was ced in the real world, there was really nothing topare.

    At this moment, she could faintly hear Gu Tingchuan¡¯s cool voice. His manner was unpretentious and polite. All of his attention was focused on the woman in front of him, but looking at his profile, there was really nothing to nitpick at.

    It would be a lie to say that she was not curious about their conversation. Just as Yi Ran was considering whether or not to go over, Gu Tingchuan¡¯s inscrutable eyes looked over at her standing by the table. He said something to Lu Keliu, and they walked toward her together.

    Yi Ran exhaled silently, thinking whether to move over or not. When they arrived, she squeezed out a smile.

    ¡°This is my wife, Yi Ran,¡± he said in a low voice, his tone very natural. ¡°This is Lu Keliu. We previously worked together.¡±

    Lu Keliu nced at Yi Ran with great interest. But, when she opened her mouth and was about to speak, someone in the distance called out her name. She turned turned her head to look, then turned back and said apologetically, ¡°It¡¯s the car. Director Gu, Mrs. Gu, sorry I can¡¯t stay to talk. He Yang and I will leave first.¡±

    Yi Ran¡¯s eyes shed with unclear emotions. Maybe because she was not used to such asions, her cheeks and lips were stained red.

    Gu Tingchuan noticed her look, frowned, and brought his hands to her cheeks with a natural familiarity. She felt a little hot, so he said, ¡°Yes. She¡¯s a little bit tired. I should also take her back.¡±

    Yi Ran¡¯s chest remained tight throughout the journey back home. She knew that drinking was one of the reasons. But mostly, it was because she had not expected to meet Director Gu¡¯s ¡°old friend.¡±

    The living room was warm. Gu Tingchuan took off his coat and hung it in the closet. She observed his facial expression. The space between his brows looked a little distant, and he seemed to have no interest in having any heart-to-heart discussions with her.

    Yi Ran could not help but grind her teeth silently. This man was really abominable. He and Lu Keliu had an unclear rumor between them. Besides, the two had met each other tonight, and even if she did not want to believe those gossips, wouldn¡¯t it be normal for him to mind? How could he not take the initiative to exin it?!

 Chapter 32 - The Sentiments Between Husband and Wife

    Chapter 32: The Sentiments Between Husband and Wife

    Yi Ran could not help but grind her teeth silently. This man was really abominable. He and Lu Keliu had an unclear rumor between them. Besides, the two had met each other tonight, and even if she did not want to believe those gossips, wouldn¡¯t it be normal for him to mind? How could he not take the initiative to exin it?!

    Probably because he noticed that Yi Ran was not moving, he turned his head slightly and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±

    She shook her head confusedly, her mind still spinning in circles. The dress she wore was to his specifications. The little ck dress with lotus leaf decorations that his assistant had preparedpletely fit her curves to perfection. The tulle at the neckline was sprinkled with rhinestones, off-setting herplexion. When she walked, the skirt would sway coquettishly.

    Gu Tingchuan shifted and took a few steps closer to her. He was just about to lower his head to kiss her when Yi Ran knowingly and indifferently turned her head. Just to prevent him from seeding, she also rubbed her brows and disy a look of exhaustion. ¡°I¡¯m so tired. I¡¯m going to take a bath.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s eyebrows rose as he watched her turn and walk away.

    He went to the second bathroom to wash up and change. When he stepped out, he saw Yi Ran standing at the entrance of the bedroom, holding a quilt in her arms and looking even more petite than usual. Her manner was imposing as she said, ¡°Tonight I want to sleep alone in the guest room. I want some quiet. ¡±

    Gu Tingchuan didn¡¯t understand what was wrong and was surprised, ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°No reason.¡± Yi Ran took a few steps, thought of something, and then returned back to look at him. ¡°No, I want to sleep alone in the bedroom. You go to the guest room.¡±

    Then, before he could react, she dumped the quilt in his arms, turned, and closed the door.

    Gu Tingchuan touched the bridge of his nose, then reached out and knocked on the door. He knocked for a long time, but the person inside ignored him. The man thought for a while. It was getting sote, and she probably needed time to calm down.

    Yi Ranid in the big bed in their bedroom and tried her calm emotions and go to sleep. The result was that she couldn¡¯t sleep at all. She twisted and turned on the bed for a long time. Finally, she saw up and looked at themp overhead.

    Why couldn¡¯t Gu Tingchuan ask her why she was in a bad mood? This should not be regarded as a deliberate temper tantrum. A normal husband should care about his wife¡¯s emotions!

    In fact, since their discussions about the matter regarding Gu Baiyu, she realized that she needed to take the initiative when it came tomunication.

    After this thought, Yi Ran got up. She walked out of the bedroom and pushed open the door to the guest room. She touched the switch of amp to turn on the light.

    Gu Tingchuan had already fallen asleep long ago. His breathing was gentle and even, and the lines of his body lying on the bed were bright and beautiful.

    Yi Ran walked up behind him and, with no trace of politeness, carelessly tapped his back with her small fists, saying, ¡°Get up, get up, don¡¯t sleep! If I can¡¯t sleep, then you also can¡¯t sleep!¡±

    This was the first time Gu Tingchuan had ever encountered such a situation. He sat up and his deep, dark eyes slowly grew focused as he looked straight at her.

    No one but her would have the ability to call him out of bed in the middle of the night.

    Yi Ran shook slightly at those half-sleepy eyes. Although he didn¡¯t look angry, she still felt that he was intimidating.

    She sat down on the bed behind him. He was silent, waiting for her to talk. ¡°Do you know why I¡¯m not happy?¡±

    Gu Tingchuan shook his head and said in a low voice, ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±

    ¡°Your dad doesn¡¯t know!¡± Yi Ran saw him sleeping quite a bit, and her heart was even more upset.

    Gu Tingchuan looked at her with amusement. ¡°Fortunately, my dad doesn¡¯t know.¡±

    Yi Ran opened her mouth, but she didn¡¯t know how to refute.

    She asked, ¡°You said before that you had nothing to do with those actresses. But there is Miss Lu...?¡±

    Gu Tingchuan finally heard the problem. He looked thoughtful. The light from themp cast the side of his face in a golden-orange light.

    ¡°First of all, there¡¯s nothing between me and those actresses. Before you, I had no other so-called women.¡± He looked at her sideways. ¡°For example, someone who could wake me up in the middle of the night.¡±

    Yi Ran lowered her eyes and asked, ¡°Your meaning is that she is nothing special to you?¡±

    Gu Tingchuan rubbed the space between his eyebrows and carefully thought about it. ¡°She¡¯s not special. But, I must admit that at one time, I have a good opinion of her. It was a long time ago, though.¡±

    His expression was very honest and straightforward. He clearly had no intention to guiltily conceal his rtionship with the woman. But, it only made Yi Ran feel moreplicated.

    ¡°How did that go?¡±

    He picked up the ss on the bedside table and drank a little water to moisten his throat. Then, after dissipating some dryness, he slowly said, ¡°At first, I saw her and wanted to train her to be a good actress. I had some good feelings during the filming process, but she had He Yang in her heart so there were no opportunities for development. Of course, I think that even if I was given a chance at that time, there would be no good results anyway. ¡±

    Yi Ran frowned. Her most direct thought now was: My guide was so hot. Why would there be no good result?!

    ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°I just wanted to treat her well, but I didn¡¯t really care what she truly wanted.¡± After saying this, he paused and looked thoughtfully at the woman in front of him. ¡°Do you think it¡¯s the same now?¡±

    Yi Ran nodded, but immediately shook his head: ¡°I think you are very careful now. Sometimes... I feel taken care of. We all have to adapt to the change of identity, don¡¯t we? ¡±

    Gu Tingchuan looked down and smiled lightly at her. He tried tofort her, and said, ¡°At that time, some people said that I don¡¯t know how to love. I thought I have changed a little, but there are still some shorings that I still need to correct.¡± Lowering his head, he reached down to cover her cold feet with a thin sheet even as he continued to speak calmly. ¡°I often talk about some love issues in my movies, but I know nothing about love.¡±

    In Cloud Headdress, he focused on whether giving up on oneself for love was worth it, and in Dark River, he explored the notion of whether love exchanged using all kinds of despicable means was really love. Then, in Homing, he questioned whether lovepared to eternal life.

    As Yi Ran became aware of this, she realized that his feelings and his views on many things were actually very deep andplicated. In contrast, her ideas were always simple and straightforward. She wanted to love, wanted to be love, and wanted them strongly and without hesitation.

    She lowered her head and found that Gu Tingchuan had covered her feet thoughtfully for her, and her heart warmed at the knowledge.

    ¡°I think that things got a littleplicated, and I wasn¡¯t sure how to handle it. It wasn¡¯t within my control so I chose to stay away.¡±

    Yi Ran was slightly surprised. She remembered reading an interview of his a long time ago in a magazine. The reporter had asked him this: ¡°How would you treat the person you love?¡±

    His response was, ¡°I think loving someone is like being a botanist who is treating a nt that is going to be extinct. It is like a pair of lovers frozen forever in time in a bright flower garden that will, in the end, also ultimately fade away with civilization.

    At that time, she only had one thought: This man was simply too amazing.

    ¡°Then you...why did you want to marry me?¡± Yi Ran blurted out the question that she had never dared to ask.

    Gu Tingchuan thought this problem was not difficult to answer. He looked at her lightly, smiled, and said, ¡°Because, at that time, I was afraid that you might get married. It was a feeling I¡¯d never felt before.¡±

    His words hit Yi Ran in the softest parts of her heart. Her ears suddenly became hot, and she didn¡¯t know how to respond to his words.

    The deepest feelings in the heart was always the most difficult to share with others. Just like Gu Tingchuan, who always felt separated from the crowd, as if he was slowly sinking and drowning in the endless deep sea. With the passage of time, this feeling became more and more intense.

    But, after encountering her, the pain was also significantly eased.

    Yi Ran became choked with emotions. She didn¡¯t understand what was going on with herself, or why she cared so much about the rumored affair. But, at this moment, she was also not willing to me him.

    ¡°I know I was being willful tonight, but sometimes I also want to have this right.¡±

    ¡°It was my fault. I didn¡¯t like to discuss these types of matters.¡± He raised his hand and gently pinched her cheek, feeling the soft skin underneath his fingers. ¡°But, if I can soothe your emotions, I don¡¯t mind. In short, Lu Keliu and I have absolutely nothing between us.¡±

    Yi Ran pursed her lips, and her eyes grew a little red. Aside from that time at the hospital, this was the second time she had down vulnerability in front of him. She wanted to speak but when she made a sound, she discovered that her voice was hoarse.

    ¡°Gu Tingchuan, many people will feel the same as me...You and some of the people at the reception are born to be superior to others. It¡¯s really good. Initially, I didn¡¯t think so at the beginning, butter I realized that it was true. Meeting you had changed my life. This rtionship and this marriage had brought me many unexpected gifts, allowing me to grow and mature and for my family to have a happy event. You¡¯ve given me a lot of happiness. Thank you, Gu Tingchuan. I want to cherish it.¡±

    When her words reached his ears, he took her into his embrace. His arms were always warmer than the air. His soft, maic voice rang out above her head, ¡°Don¡¯t say ¡®Thank you¡¯ to me for such things in the future. Because, I also feel the same.¡±

    Yi Ran clenched his arm. She didn¡¯t know what to do to get closer to him, but she really wanted to work hard for it. When her tears fell, it echoed the heat in her heart.

    She wrapped on arm around Gu Tingchuan¡¯s waist andy down on the small bed. She slowly smiled. ¡°Yes, let¡¯s sleep here tonight.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan was surprised. He wanted to say why squeeze in the small bed when they could sleep on the big bed...Was this the so-called husband and wife fun?¡±

    Forget it, she was soft to hold anyway.

 Chapter 33 - Bass

    Chapter 33: Bass

    This week, the Department of Education sent a team to investigate whether Shi Xiang had harassed his subordinates and epted bribes from parents.

    Regardless of the results of the investigation, Yi Ran was very satisfied. As she graded homework in the office, she sent a WeChat message to Zhang Rongrong and chatted excitedly about it.

    After chatting for a while, she remembered her discussion with Gu Tingchuanst night. She asked Zhang Rongrong, ¡°Do you think it¡¯s normal for people with a high IQ and a lot of talent to have psychological obstacles?¡±

    Zhang Rongrong responded with a smiling expression, though it was unclear whether she was ridiculing Yi Ran. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me that you discovered that Director Gu have some strange sexual habits???¡±

    Yi Ran snorted and typed back, ¡°That¡¯s not it! I just think that he seemed to have a lot on his mind.¡±

    After a while, the other party responded, ¡°That¡¯s for sure. Maybe it¡¯s because of work. Many elite people in big cities now have anxiety. But, in order to make an urate diagnosis, it would require many tests.¡±

    After reading her friend¡¯s reply, Yi Ran thought it was probably her who was too anxious. She knew that this matter wasn¡¯t really important. After all, if she wants him topletely open up to her, she would need to work on it step by step.

    In the afternoon, when Yi Ran was ready to get off work, the sun was already sinking in the west. The sky had a brightyer of gold intertwined with orange. The temperature had dropped a few degrees and, without the sun, it was easy to feel as if one might freeze in the cold. She pulled on her coat and gathered her long hair. When she was about to leave the office, she received a call from Gu Tingchuan.

    ¡°I¡¯m in front of your school,¡± he said in a low voice. ¡°We¡¯re going out for dinner tonight.¡±

    Yi Ran walked outside and saw Gu Tingchuan¡¯s Cadic parked by the roadside. She deliberately checked whether there were any familiar teachers and parents around first before getting in.

    After closing the door, the cold air waspletely shut out. Feeling warm all over, she studied him and asked, ¡°You don¡¯t have to work today?¡±

    ¡°Well, there was something tonight but it was temporarily cancelled.¡± Gu Tingchuan leaned over, pulled her seat belt across her chest, and carefully click it in ce. Only then did he start the car.

    Yi Ran asked sweetly, ¡°Where shall we eat?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll take you to a small bar owned by a friend. Oh, He Yang and his wife will also be there.¡±

    She took a quick look at the man. As he turned the steering wheel with his hands, he met her eyes and asked, ¡°Any opinions?¡±

    Yi Ran didn¡¯t understand what his n was but since he decided it, how could she refuse? Besides, she hadn¡¯t met He Yang yet and thought it would be interesting to meet the man in person.

    She looked back at the scenery outside, where the neonmps had already lit up the streets.

    Yi Ran suddenly remembered something and said, ¡°When will you bring Gu Tai over to visit again?¡±

    Gu Tingchuan lips tipped up. ¡°My sister-inw just came back so let¡¯s wait for a while.¡±

    Yi Ran knew that the family of three were working hard to fix their emotional crisis. As a result, the little nephew hadn¡¯te to his Uncle Gu¡¯s house for a long time.

    She secretly thought that it was fortunate that Gu Tingchuan was not like his elder brother. Otherwise, she would not have married him at all.

    As he carefully drove, he asked her, ¡°Do you like children?¡±

    Seeing that the corners of his mouth were raised, she muttered, ¡°They¡¯re not bad. I was just worried about Gu Tai¡¯s mood.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan looked at her and smiled silently.

    His friend¡¯s bar was not officially opened to the public. When they entered, there was someone ying a guitar and singing on the small stage next to the bar. Looking up, she saw that the person up on stage was He Yang. He was dressed casually but his facial features seemed to be meticulously crafted by God and was therefore very eye-catching.

    She was immediately distracted and didn¡¯t even have time to say anything. After staring at the stage for a while, she realized that Gu Tingchuan, who was standing next to her, was looking at her with displeasure.

    ¡°Let¡¯s find a ce to sit.¡±

    Yi Ran followed him to the corner booth on the right. She pretended to look seriously at He Yang, who was still singing on stage. But, in fact, her eyes couldn¡¯t help but flutter to spy on Gu Tingchuan.

    He sat quietly and looked at the stage. He was leaning slightly sideways against the back of the booth, exuding an air ofzy elegance.

    He Yang¡¯s singing voice was clear and sonorous. ¡°At that moment, did you, did you feel your heartbeat rising, but you just couldn¡¯t say¡­¡±

    His voice was like bass, deep and clear. His voiceplemented his appearance perfectly, making the experience truly memorable.

    At the end of the song, Yi Ran enthusiastically apuded her support, and Gu Tingchuan cast another frowning look at her.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? He sang very well¡­¡±

    Gu Tingchuan messaged his temple and said in a dark voice, ¡°I want some quiet.¡±

    Yi Ran was stunned.

    So, it turned out...that the man really was jealous. This situation made her feel rather delighted, and she couldn¡¯t help but reach out and happily grab his arms. Her faceughed vividly.

    So it turned out that the man¡¯s jealousy would put her in such a good mood.

    After a moment, friends came to the booth one after another. Gu Tingchuan continued to sit and would lower his head from time to time to talk to the visitors.

    Hearing someone call her name, Yi Ran turned around and saw Lu Keliu approaching her from behind. She smiled stiffly at first but soon recovered her calm.

    Since Gu Tingchuan had told her everything, there was really nothing much that she ought to care about.

    At this time, the singing on stage came to an abrupt end. Lu Keliu pointed to He Yang and softly said, ¡°Director Gu, my husband is looking for you.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan shot a quick nce at the figure in the distance and gave a short nod to the smiling He Yang. ¡°Then you two talk first.¡±

    After he got up and left, Le Kuliu sat down next to Yi Ran with a gentle smile. She briefly chatted and rmended what good food could be ordered for dinner.

    Yi Ran looked down at the menu and praised her sincerely, ¡°Male God He is very handsome. Just now, he was singing you a song. I think you both are really well matched.¡±

    ¡°In fact, not everyone thinks so,¡± Lu Keliu quickly opened up to her. ¡°To be honest, I used to hate my personality. I was always too indecisive and hesitant. I was not a straightforward girl like you, which is especially charming.¡±

    Yi Ran did not expect herself to be praised in turn and she became a little embarrassed.

    ¡°You¡¯re being too kind. Besides, everyone¡¯s personality is different. There¡¯s no need to pay attention to the words of such people, don¡¯t you think?¡±

    Lu Keliuughed, looking more elegant as she did so. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m older than you, but there are things that you seem to be able to easily see through. Some people, only when talking about others, can feel confident. Other people also won¡¯t allow anyone to be different from them...but who can satisfy the world? It is fine as long as we¡¯re not ashamed of ourselves.¡±

    After listening to these words, Yi Ran suddenly realized why Gu Tingchuan chose to bring her today. After meeting andmunicating with Lu Keliu, her concern was not so heavy.

    She realized that she should not be too entangled in these long-ago past life events. No matter what happened, she should stride forward enthusiastically. Life was already so difficult. There was no need to be stubborn about certain things.

    He Yang and Gu Tingchuan finally finished their official business discussion. He looked at Director Gu under the flickering light and said, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect that you will suddenly say you¡¯re getting married and then actually get married. When can I drink at the wedding?¡±

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s face subconsciously softened and he carefully turned back to look at Yi Ran¡¯s attractive profile. He softly said, ¡°Unfortunately, there¡¯s no way to predict in advance when you will meet such a person.¡±

    Because he was speaking softly and his voice was quite low, only He Yang could hear. He raised his eyebrows and smiled. ¡°Atst, it is finally Director Gu¡¯s turn.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan nced at him askance, and smiling faintly, he turned and walked back to Yi Ran¡¯s table. His fingers gently grasped the edge of the table as he leaned in to say, ¡°It appears that He Yang just wanted toin a little but won¡¯t dare say it.¡±

    He Yang came around and naturally embraced his wife¡¯s shoulders. His lips hooked up in a smile. ¡°My little family would never believe this pack of lies.¡±

    Yi Ran looked at the husband with his arms around his wife¡¯s chest and thought that it was very fitting. She said, ¡°It was said that Miss Lu took the initiative to chase you. Has the Male God He be inted t this?¡±

    Lu Keliuughed,and He Yang quickly exined, ¡°Of course. Her eyesight is very good. At that time, we were at a remote and deste ce and she took the opportunity to seduce this person step by step.

    While talking, He Yang¡¯s eyes focused on Lu Keliu, as if he couldn¡¯t bear to move his sight away for even a second.

    Yi Ran rxed under theughter of everyone, and she sighed softly. This peaceful night was much more pleasant than she had ecpected.

    ......

    By the time they went back, it was almost 10 o¡¯clock at night. Yi Ran sat in the car while Gu Tingchuan took off his coat and put it in the back seat. Then, he fastened his seat belt and was ready to start the car.

    Although her face was a little red, she deliberately teased him, ¡°Why did you bring me here? Just to intentionally watch other people be lovey dovey?¡±

    Gu Tingchuan looked at her with a smile and, when he was about to speak, the cell phone inside his coat began ringing.

    Yi Ran tried to get it for him. She turned her head and angled her body forward to lean over. But, Gu Tingchuan unexpectedly leaned in. His eyebrows were slightly rxed as he gently pressed his lips against the corner of her mouth first beforepletely invading her mouth with a hungry kiss.

    The kiss was full of strong temptations, seducing Yi Ran bit by bit until she turned into mush and no longer thought of getting his mobile phone.

    Under the dim lights, they kissed deeply and hungrily. After kissing for a long time, Gu Tingchuan loosened his hold on her wrist. He saw Yi Ran¡¯s moist eyes, and he swallowed, his Adam apple slightly rolling. He rubbed his thumb against her lips as he looked at her intently.

 Chapter 34 - A Troublesome Night

    Chapter 34: A Troublesome Night

    Yi Ran looked back at him. His forehead showed a bit of craftiness as he lowered his head again and his mouth closed over her¡¯s, sweeping her away in another deep, passionate kiss.

    When he finally pulled away, his eyes were dark. As he was thinking about further ¡°educating¡± this little woman, Yi Ran leaned back and retrieved his mobile phone. Handing it over, she said, ¡°Here. See who¡¯s calling.¡±

    He nced at the caller¡¯s number and slightly hesitated. Yi Ran arched her eyebrows when she noticed that he didn¡¯t seem to want to call back. She couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°It¡¯s not your job?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Gu Tingchuan said, cing both hands on the steering wheel. ¡°It was Guo Baiyu.¡±

    Yi Ran heard this and paused. Then, she raised an eyebrow and felt that it was certainly not necessary to call back sote.

    She took off her coat, put it on her body, andy sideways on the leather chair.

    The drive in Gu Tingchuan¡¯s car had always been very stable and smooth. She was half asleep and still thinking about the phone call, when she opened her eyes to see the dim lights in the distance. Soon, the car drove into the bustlingmercial city center. They happened to pass by a five-star hotel and encountered a red light. She looked across at the grand entrance way, where cars drove to and from the brightly lit driveway.

    The ck Rolls-Royce parked in front of the door was very eye-catching. There was a man and a womaning down from the side of the car door. The man was a bit old, but his back was straight and his body was slightly pudgy. He was holding the woman¡¯s shoulder and pulling her inside, but the woman seemed a little bit too reluctant. The two struggled for a while, until two tall men in ck came out of the hotel to help drag the woman inside.

    Even from Yi Ran¡¯s vantage point, it was clear that the woman was a little unstable, as if she was drunk. Even more importantly, her figure and outline looked very much like Guo Baiyu.

    Realizing this, she jerked up, suddenly alert, and pulled Gu Tingchuan¡¯s sleeve, saying, ¡°What a coincidence that you just received a phone call from her and now there she is.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan followed Yi Ran¡¯s gaze and saw the two figures. His eyebrows furrowed as he watched carefully. He sneered. ¡°I know the man, too.¡±

    Yi Ran looked at his sneer, which deepened under her gaze. He responded to her doubtful eyes and said, ¡°It¡¯s Gu Tai¡¯s ssmate¡¯s father, Hao Zhenlei.¡±

    She was surprised. This was the first time she encountered this kind of thing. However, it seemed to her that the scene just didn¡¯t look very harmonious. After mulling it over, she asked, ¡°Would you like to make a call to Guo Baiyu and ask her if she¡¯s okay?¡±

    Gu Tingchuan didn¡¯t want to meddle in other people¡¯s business but Guo Baiyu had a contract with hispany and can be regarded as one of it¡¯s artists. As the boss, he supposed he ought to be concerned.

    What¡¯s more, the surname Hao couldn¡¯t be provoked casually. The forces behind him wereplicated. If one was not careful, losing people would only be a trivial matter. Maybe, one might even lose one¡¯s life.

    He pulled the car over to the side and dialed Guo Baiyu¡¯s number. His eyes fell on Yi Ran¡¯s face, even as the dial tone sounded for a long time. Finally, it connected.

    Gu Tingchuan waited for a few seconds, listening to the vague conversation between the man and woman.

    ¡°Who¡¯s calling?¡±

    ¡°Give it back to me¡­.Hao, let¡¯s do this some other day.¡±

    The weak female voice struggled and asked for help. Before Gu Tingchuan had time to speak, the other party had already hung up abruptly.

    The car was quiet for a while. Even Yi Ran could tell that something was wrong. ¡°What happened?¡±

    He was still indifferent, apparently ustomed to the many rules in the circle. He was not willing to mix too much.

    ¡°Maybe it was just overthinking on my part.¡±

    Yi Ran frowned. She felt that she probably watched too much news, or was too concerned about what she had seen. ¡°Isn¡¯t it better to confirm?¡±

    Even if Guo Baiyu was her ¡°love rival¡±, she didn¡¯t want the other party to encounter anything unexpected.

    In order to appease his wife, Gu Tingchuan simply called Xiao Zhao and asked him to contact Guo Baiyu¡¯s assistant within five minutes and report to him afterward.

    As soon as Yi Ran heard this, she noticed that someone was waving his hand by the window. After Gu Tingchuan pressed down the window, the man smiled and said, ¡°Director Gu, good evening. Good to see you. I noticed that the car came over. Are there any customersing? ¡±

    The man in the ck suit was obviously the manager. When he looked at Yi Ran in the front passenger seat, he froze slightly.

    Gu Tingchuan didn¡¯t give much of an exnation and only calmly said, ¡°There is no arrangement tonight. Maybe I will go up to find a ¡®friend¡¯.¡±

    The hotel manager bowed to them humbly and silently walked away.

    Yi Ran stared oddly after the man. She purposefully pretended to make her voice sound cold. ¡°It seems that you oftene to this hotel.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan stared down at the entrance way not far from the car window, his eyes bright and indifferent. But the corner of his mouth hooked up. ¡°Well, sometimes my business associates will arrange to stay here. ¡±

    She whistled. ¡°That¡¯s nice. I haven¡¯t stayed here before.¡±

    He immediately said, ¡± I know. ¡±

    Yi Ren smiled and was about to ask what Gu Tingchuan knew when Xiao Zhao¡¯s phone call came in. He picked up the phone and talked a few words. Then, he silently hung up and looked at her.

    ¡°Guo Baiyu had dinner with Hao Zhenlei tonight, and then she got dragged in. Her assistant was looking for contacts everywhere to settle the matter. It seems that I have to solve it. ¡±

    Gu Tingchuan got out and thought about telling her to wait in the car. But then, he thought that she might get cranky so he decided to just let here along.

    After asking the manager, they learned what floor Guo Baiyu was on.

    A momentter, they were on the elevator, which opened up to a hallway with gorgeous carpets. Gu Tingchuan ced one long finger on his lips to signal that she should not speak. He calmly looked around the corner and discovered that the two bodyguards were standing outside the hotel room door.

    Faced with this situation, he felt a headache settling in. After considering the matter, he turned to Yi Ran and said, ¡°You go downstairs to find the manager, and tell him to bring a few security guards up just in case. ¡±

    Yi Ran looked at him with some worry, ¡°What about you?¡±

    He gave her a faint smile in reassurance, ¡°I¡¯ll go and meet Mr. Hao.¡±

    Yi Ran rushed to the elevator at the fastest speed possible, fearing that matters would grow worse if she was just a second too slow. She entered the lobby and kept as calm as possible as she transmitted Gu Tingchuan¡¯s request to the manager.

    Although Hao Zhenlei¡¯s background and worth was pretty big, everyone who saw the big picture naturally understood that the Gu family was the better backer. Not to mention, the manager was one of the Gu¡¯s people. They brought up the security guards and saw Director Gu standing in front of the door. He looked coldly at door and said, ¡°General Manager Hao, this is Gu Tingchuan of Jiaye Group.¡±

    The two bodyguards were obviously ordered by Hao Zhenlei to not allow anyone to disturb him. These people had always been troublemakers and tried to push Gu Tingchuan away.

    The bodyguard had not expected a quick response so his movement was careless. His arm had just stretched out when Gu Tingchuan wrapped his hand around the man¡¯s wrist and pushed him back firmly to the ground!

    The fallen bodyguard did not expect that this gentle looking man would be so scary. For a moment, he merely stared nkly. However, Gu Tingchuan only looked at them motionlessly, exuding an air that was unexpectedly scary.

    The big man unhappily got up from the ground and rushed at Gu Tingchuan with a curse. Gu Tingchuan shot his hand out to catch the man¡¯s fist, twist his arm behind his back and punched him in his sore spot. The angle was tricky and vicious. It only took a few punches before the man fell down in defeat.

    Gu Tingchuan raised his hands to loosen his cor, looking as if he could beat them up on the spot without any problem.

    At this moment, Yi Ran felt as if the blood in her body was flowing backward, and she felt chilled from her head to her toes. Before the two bodyguards could respond, the manager and the security guards immediately hurried to Gu Tingchuan¡¯s side. Various voices shouted for Hao Zhenlei to open the door.

    When Gu Tingchuan saw the door open, he quickly strode over and stood by the door frame. Hao Zhenlei had wanted to walk out and close the door behind him but he was blocked by Gu Tingchuan.

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s strong posture was imposing and wrapped in ayer of indifference. ¡°Hello, Mr. Hao. I finally saw you.¡±

    ¡°You ... Mr. Gu?¡±

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s eyes slid past the gap in the door before shifting to look at Hao Zhenlei. He drawled, ¡°Well, my wife received a call from her actress friend Guo Baiyu saying that she wanted to meet together tonight. Thanks to Mr. Hao for leaving her overnight. We¡¯ll see you next time.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s reason was very thoughtful. Although it was obviously made up, it can be regarded as enough to save Hao Zhenlei¡¯s face. As long as he cooperated, the two sides did not need to get into a conflict about it.

    It was rumored that Hao Zhenlei relied on his background and strong financial resource to act domineering and wicked and tomit all kinds of crimes. However, after encountering this kind of distinguished celebrity, his arrogance could only diminish somewhat .

    After three rounds of drinks tonight, he had gradually gotten drunk and wanted to conquer the famous actress Guo Baiyu. This kind of thing was not unheard of in the entertainment industry. Just as the oue was about to bear fruit...he was cut off by Gu Tingchuan.

    He was doubtful why this man woulde to make a scene. Either Gu Tingchuan also fancied the beauty Guo Baiyu and wanted to find her to y with or his wife really did have a close rtionship with the woman and therefore pushed him to pull the woman out of a difficult ce.

    Hao Zhenlei was displeased and wanted to send away the Gu family with a few words. However, at this time, a tearful Guo Baiyu staggered out. She barely walked to the door before her body swayed, as if she had lost all of her strength. Her clothes were torn and the corner of her mouth was split open in a cut, disying quite a sorry figure.

    Her features were tender and beautiful, covered with a thinyer of red flush. The way she looked now was enough to arouse a man¡¯s excitement and make him want to possess her. Suddenly seeing Gu Tingchuan in front of her eyes, she silently sobbed, her ck hair covering the sides of her face.

    Guo Baiyu stared at the man with watery eyes, as if she was afraid that he would disappear in the blink of an eye.

 Chapter 35 - Standing on Tiptoes to Kiss

    Chapter 35: Standing on Tiptoes to Kiss

    Hao Zhenlei saw them and smiled scornfully.

    Gu Tingchuan froze and looked down at where he was tightly grasped by Guo Baiyu. He stiffly stripped her hand away and calmlymanded the manager standing next to him, ¡°I¡¯ll trouble you to find someone to take care of Miss Guo downstairs ¡±

    After that, he turned and smiled at Hao Zhenlei, his appearance as calm as ever. ¡°Ms. Guo is an artist of ourpany and her career is on the rise. Any news that mighte out at this time will be troublesome for everyone. ¡±

    Gu Tingchuan nced from the corner of his eyes at Yi Ran, and she silently gestured for Guo Baiyu toe toward her.

    He said to General Manager Hao, ¡°Coincidentally, Mr. Hao¡¯s son is a student in my wife¡¯s ss and has a good rtionship with my wife. This might be considered ¡®fate¡¯.¡±

    After saying this, he shot the two bodyguard a warning nce. The bodyguards were already unwilling to have any further ¡°dealings¡± with him and did not put up a fuss. He said, ¡°We¡¯ll say goodbye first and allow Mr. Hao to rest.¡±

    Hao Zhenlei¡¯s expression was very unnatural as he looked at them. Although he felt that he had lost face, he thought of his son and considered his responsibility as a father. At the same time, he also carefully considered how much face he had lost because of that woman.

    Gu Tingchuan signaled the manager to take Guo Baiyu away before wrapping his fingers around Yi Ran¡¯s hand with natural ease. They followed at a distance, and Yi Ran could see that his body was still tense. However, his eyes had a hint of a smile and a gentleness that pulled her in and made her fascinated all over again.

    ¡°Xiao Zhao already contacted Guo Baiyu¡¯s assistant and she¡¯ll be here soon. Let¡¯s go down.¡±

    Throughout the entire affair, Gu Tingchuan¡¯s expression had not changed much when faced with Guo Baiyu. It was obvious that he drew a clear distinction between himself and the other woman. This made Yi Ran feel relieved, especially in light of the unexpected hug Guo Baiyu had given him.

    ¡°I also feel that there¡¯s not much we can do. She¡¯ll be fine, right?¡±

    After the words came from her lips, Yi Ran didn¡¯t know what else to say. She still remembered the image of Guo Baiyu hugging Gu Tingchuan and she couldn¡¯t help but frown.

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. There will be someone to see to her.¡±

    The elevator opened, and Yi Ran saw Guo Baiyu wrapped in the white nket given by the hotel. Because she was a public figure, they had thoughtfully prepared another room for her to rest as she waited for her assistant to pick her up.

    The woman¡¯s delicate face still have ayer of intoxication, making her look alluring and beautiful under the dim light. As she looked at the handsome Gu Tingchuan not far away, there was a bit of grievance and unwillingness on her face. In the end, she could only bite her lower lip and follow the manager to her room first.

    As they were about to leave, Gu Tingchuan remembered that he still needed to give the manager some instructions. ¡°Let¡¯s go say hello together first before leaving.¡±

    Yi Ran was about to agree, but the phone in her hand suddenly rang. She saw that it was a call from her mother and thought about not answering it. In the end, she hurriedly received the call and waved him forward, saying, ¡°You go first. Let me quickly pick up my mom¡¯s phone call, and I¡¯ll be there in a bit.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan walked to the door alone and pressed the bell. After the manager opened the door, he stepped in and saw Guo Baiyu sitting on the bed, her head silently lowered.

    The air conditioner was turned on to a suitable temperature. He didn¡¯t say anything to her, but instead quietly spoke to the manager regarding some matters. After the other party responded, he nced at the lonely beauty and said, ¡°Then I won¡¯t disturb Miss Guo and will leave first.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan turned and was about to leave with him but Guo Baiyu called pitifully behind him, ¡°Director Gu!¡±

    He sighed and turned back to look at her. ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°I know I was very stupid tonight. I shouldn¡¯t allow someone to arrange this dinner for me. I shouldn¡¯t provoke the viinous Mr. Hao...But I never really thought about sacrificing my body to get to the top...Otherwise, I would not have waited for you to discover me and set me on this path of stardom.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan heard her but continued to look at her indifferently. ¡°This is your own business and has nothing to do with me. But, keep in mind that your personal image is still connected to Jiaye. I hope you will be more considerate of yourself in the future.¡±

    After speaking, he turned around to leave.

    Seeing that the man was about to pull the doorknob, Guo Baiyu no longer cared anymore. She scrambled from the bed and rushed forward. The nket on her body fell to the ground, almost tripping her. At the same time, not only was her slender, white shoulders exposed but so was her bruised body and heart.

    Guo Baiyu held the man resolutely and sobbed. ¡°I¡¯m really not capable...¡±

    Gu Tingchuan shook off the woman with great strength and stepped back. He tilted his head down to look at her, his eyes dark as the night.

    Guo Baiyu no longer had the strength to stand. She dropped onto the thick carpet, her body trembling as she cried, ¡°You used to be like a god in my eyes. I was so careful when I was near you. I didn¡¯t dare to have a bit of delusion about you, but...it turns out that you also have this side to you. You¡¯re not heartless¡­¡±

    Gu Tingchuan was toozy to listen and did not want to waste time here. ¡°This had nothing to do with you. Goodbye. ¡±

    Guo Baiyu¡¯s expression changed and suddenly there was a persistent hatred in her weak tone. ¡°No! How can she really understand you? You can¡¯t have any deep conversations with her. She can¡¯t possibly satisfy you or be your inspiration. You¡¯re so talented that only an outstanding person can truly be your counterpart. I can assist you. The director and the actress, we are the destined natural born couple! I am your destined partner!¡±

    Gu Tingchuan almost felt pity for her. After a few seconds of calm silence, he sneered, ¡°No, you will never understand me. And, I have already found the best partner.¡±

    Every word as like a knife to her heart.

    When Yi Ran entered the room, she found Guo Baiyu on the ground with tears on her face and Gu Tingchuan standing over her.

    He frowned slightly, wondering if he needed to exin to her. But, she had already guessed the situation. She looked down at the woman on the carpet and said coldly, ¡°Miss Guo, my husband is only giving me face tonight. I just wanted to help you a little, and so he helped you clean up this mess. Please don¡¯t go too far. I really hope that you can learn from today¡¯s lesson. In the future, you need to understand self-esteem and self-love. Otherwise, no one can help you next time.¡±

    She narrowed her eyes, looking like a good teacher standing in front of her elementary school students. However, there was no smile in her eyes.

    Guo Baiyu looked at Gu Tingchuan, whose mouth had curved up in a smile. At this moment, she felt as if she was falling into a bottomless abyss. In front of her...they were trusting and loving each other...

    ......

    This night was unexpectedly ¡°lively.¡± They walked out through the hotel door, away from the warm shelter of the air conditioner and into the cold wind. Even as Yi Ran looked up to see the moon nestling brightly among the stars, she pulled her coat tighter around herself.

    To her surprise, Gu Tingchuan suddenly took her two hands and rubbed them with his warm palms.

    Yi Ran looked down at his knuckles and immediately recalled the scene earlier. She lowered her head and gently pressed her lips to his fingers. This unexpectedly childish act surprised him.

    The powerful and omnipotent Director Gu, because of a young girl¡¯s single action, was dumbstruck.

    Yi Ran looked up at him and said earnestly, ¡°Don¡¯t do anything so scary in the future. If you fought more with those two, you might have gotten hurt, let alone for the sake of that woman. You¡¯re kind enough to help her, but how dare she hug you?¡±

    After saying this, she couldn¡¯t help but want to march back and give Guo Baiyu a kick.

    ¡°Gu Tingchuan, didn¡¯t we say before that we need to take care of each other¡¯s body?¡±

    At these words, his heart suddenly lurched as he was ovee with a deep emotion that overtook all his senses. He was touched and could only rub his forefingers back and forth on her hands. He slowly whispered, ¡°Yes, I remembered.¡±

    ¡°But I didn¡¯t expect you to be able to fight like this. My mother, no wonder he was so physically fit¡­¡± Thest part she whispered to herself, not wanting him to hear.

    At this time, under the bright lights of the entrance way, she saw the red mark left by one of the man¡¯s fist on Gu Tingchuan¡¯s right cheek. In her heart was a bit of reluctance.

    She didn¡¯t say anything. Instead, she rose on tiptoes and pressed a quick kiss to Gu Tingchuan¡¯s cheek. This made him feel even more astounded.

    However, after kissing him so impulsively, she felt a bit shy. After her lips left his cheek, she dared not look at him and remained silent.

    Fortunately for Yi Ran, at this time, the manager personally drove Gu Tingchuan¡¯s car in front of them. She quickly got in.

    After she fastened her seat belt, she happened to see the mobile phone in her hand and immediately remembered something. She told Gu Tingchuan, ¡°Oh yes. My mom called just now to ask if you are free this Friday evening. My cousin and her family invited the whole family for dinner.¡±

    Without waiting for Gu Tingchuan to respond, she immediately added, ¡°If you have work or don¡¯t want to go and socialize, it doesn¡¯t matter. You don¡¯t have to go. Anyway, this is not a particrly important dinner.¡±

    ¡°I remember that there shouldn¡¯t be anything schedule for that evening. But, let me confirm with Xiao Zhao first.¡± After saying this, he suddenly remembered and turned to look at her. ¡°Do your rtives know that we are married?¡±

    Yi Ran¡¯s eyelids jumped a little and she said with a weakugh, ¡°They know I got married¡­¡±

    The meaning of this sentence was that they knew that she was married but not to whom.

    Gu Tingchuan simply admired their family. One was bigger than the other. He shot a quick nce at her fingers resting on her knee and smiled slightly.

    ¡°Hey, that¡¯s because the rest of our families haven¡¯t met each other yet since we got married.¡±

    ¡°It seems that you really need a wedding ring.¡± He was sitting next to her in the driver¡¯s seat. The faint moonlight streamed through the window, making his bright eyes gleamed with a scorching heat.

    ¡°Otherwise, even your rtives wouldn¡¯t know that you were married.¡±

    Before she could say ¡°ok,¡± he added again, ¡°And that you¡¯re married to me.¡±

 Chapter 36 - Arriving Late

    <strong>Chapter 36: Arriving Late</strong>

    A few dayster, when Yi Ran went home for dinner, Mother Yi asked if her son-inw would be able to attend Friday night¡¯s dinner. Yi Ran took a sip of juice, remembering thatst night the man had said, ¡°An important meeting just came up and will be held Friday night. I won¡¯t be able to go with you. I¡¯ll call mom tomorrow night and tell her.¡±

    Although she felt a little lonely, she merely nodded and agreed.

    After she was done with her drink, Yi Ran took her mobile phone out and watched the video homework that had been submitted to the students¡¯ parents. She said, ¡°He had originally meant toe, but now a problem came up and he¡¯ll have to meet with others on Friday.

    Father Yi held a ss of rice wine and said, ¡°He¡¯s busy from the start of the year to the end of the year. He really is a workaholic director. Can you two even talk to each other when you get home?¡±

    Although the daughter had been married for some time now, the father and the son-inw hadn¡¯t seen each other much. However, Gu Tingchuan¡¯s character was calm and every time he talked to his father-inw, he was careful and focused. As a result, Father Yi¡¯s impression of him was still very good.

    Yi Ran deeply felt that she was being insulted by her own biological father. She refuted angrily, ¡°Of course, I can chat with him. I don¡¯t just yputer, okay? Plus, I may only be anguage teacher, but I do have some cultural knowledge.¡±

    Mother Yi said, ¡°Oh.¡± Then, she eyed Yi Ran meaningfully. ¡°Okay, you two are in a good rtionship. Now, your mother is getting older. When will you give me a grandson?¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    Yi Ran was instantly suppressed. She buried herself in her meal and wanted to cry without tears.

    On Friday night, Yi Ran left the office after finishing the rest of her remaining work. Next week, she will have an open ss on campus and must prepare for it within the next few days.

    Although Gu Tingchuan did not physically show up, he carefully sent thepany¡¯s car to meet her parents at home and then to pick her up at school.

    Father Yi had three siblings and was the fourth child in the family. Yi Ran¡¯s cousin, Yi Jinting, was the child of one of the brothers and was able to have a more advantageous family conditions since young. However, because of the rtionships between the previous generation, they grew up together. In addition to meeting at family events, they also asionally go out to eat.

    ¡°Of course, this Cantonese restaurant is Michelin-starred, and their food tastes very good. You see what you like.¡±

    i Ran was in a good mood and nodded along.

    Yi Jinting¡¯s mother turned to look at her and asked in front of the rtives, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say on the phonest time that you got married?¡±

    Without hesitation, Mother Yi happily thought of her son-inw and she smiled, her eyes narrowing into seams. However, she did not show off and seemed not to care much as she said, ¡°Just to a decent son-inw who makes film.¡±

    Yi Jinting¡¯s second husband, Xiang Dongsheng, asked curiously, ¡°What¡¯s his name? If he¡¯s in the film industry, I might know of him.¡±

    Mother Yi looked at her daughter and said nothing, but she knew that her son-inw¡¯s family owned a majorpany and had high connections. It was much broader than them, so she answered vaguely, ¡°Maybe you know¡­¡±

    Yi Jin Ting, who sat next to Yi Ren, nudged her with an elbow. ¡°Hey, I didn¡¯t expect my sister¡¯s husband to be like this. Hurry, are there any photos of your husband? Show me. ¡±

    Photos ... Yes, yes, these can be easily found on the Inte.

    Yi Ran thought of it this way, slowly took out her mobile phone, and checked for photos of Director Gu.

    As a result, when Yi Jinting came closer, she saw that her cousin¡¯s photo album had a picture of a man resting on a corner sofa. The floormp cast ayer of light over the image, turning the man¡¯s outline slightly blurry. Even so, the picture was unforgettable.

    ¡°What was that photo ? Is it your husband?¡±

    Yi Ran quickly shook her head to jokingly deny it. In fact, it was a photo that she¡¯d secretly taken one afternoon when Gu Tingchuan was napping.

    ¡°I¡¯ll find it for you, wait a minute.¡± With that said, she opened a web page and nned to turn out a snapshot of Gu Tingchuan¡¯s photo shoot at the press conference.

    Yi Jinting just wanted to see a photo. At this time, her mother said, ¡°Of course, this child has been with Tingting since they were young. Their visions are simr. But, it is definitely difficult to find a husband that match the standard set by Tingting¡¯s husband.¡±

    Yi Ran knew that her aunt wasn¡¯t trying to be rude. She just easily forgot herself and liked to fight for face in front of the rtives. She liked to show off everything, especially after having a son-inw like Xiang Dongsheng.

    ¡°Look at this family Dongsheng, such a talented person. This time theirpany took down a project and it was worth millions. The young couple will soon buy a house near Mingwan.¡±

    Come to speak of it, Yi Jingting also had some skills. Yo Ran could see that her husband treated her sincerely. Therefore, since her cousin had married her current husband, she had been very happy and was basking in her newly married life.

    Yi Jinting¡¯s mother looked at her with twinkling eyes, ¡°Of course, I actually just wanted to say that even though your husband isn¡¯t as elite, it¡¯s not important as long as he treats you well.¡± Without giving Yi Ran an opportunity toment, she added another sentence, ¡°You, if you lower the standard, you should be able to find someone, right?¡±

    Yi Ran felt ufortable when she heard this sentence. She was a little irritated and didn¡¯t want to keep silent anymore. She said, ¡°I just wanted to find someone I find pleasing. In fact, this marriage is very fast because my husband is very pleasing to me.

    Before her aunt could say anymore, the daughterughed first. Pointing at Yi Ran¡¯s cell phone, she said, ¡°Oh, how familiar is this ¡®male god¡¯?¡±

    Xiang Dongsheng took his little aunt¡¯s cell phone and looked at it with a smile. ¡°No, this is Gu Tingchuan. The well-known director.¡±

    Yi Ran nodded amicably, ¡°Yes, Gu Tingchuan is my husband.¡±

    A sudden silence fell over the dining table.

    Yi Jinting¡¯s disbelief was difficult to hide. Her tine was raised a few degrees as she said, ¡°You must be joking, right? Don¡¯t joke around. Isn¡¯t Gu Tingchuan the director of ¡°Cloud Headdress¡± and ¡°Dark River¡±?

    She turned back to her husband again for confirmation and, after getting a positive answer, incredulously said, ¡°The one whose movie went to watch together at the cinema?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right, it¡¯s him.¡±

    Yi Ran and Gu Tingchuan had always kept their marriage extremely low-key. Even the extended family from the Gu¡¯s side did not know, let alone her cousin.

    ¡°You married the owner of Jiaye Films?¡±

    She didn¡¯t know how many times her cousin was going to ask, but she nodded.

    Xiang Dongsheng was also quite surprised. As a straight man, although he thought that his wife¡¯s sister was also very beautiful and her character was straightforward, but for her to be favored by a man like him was already very good, let alone....the rich master who was better than him.

    ¡°How did you know each other? It¡¯s just so amazing.¡±

    Yi Ran thought about it and said, ¡°Yes, speaking of it, if it wasn¡¯t for my brother-inw who introduced this job to me, I wouldn¡¯t have known my husband. His nephew is one of my students.¡±

    ¡°Oh, such a coincidence...Shi Xiang, the principal of the school, I seemed to hear that there was an investigation and now he is being suspended?¡±

    She looked at her brother-inw and nodded, then looked back down while picking up vegetables. ¡°Yes, he often eptsrge gifts and his behavior is also not right...¡±

    Yi Jinting sat silently for a long time, wondering how her cousin managed to marry such a big man. She lowered her voice and whispered in Yi Ran¡¯s ears, ¡°Why did you sign the prenuptial agreement?¡±

    Yi Ran just took a bite from the cold dishes and bit her chopsticks before answering, ¡°I didn¡¯t sign ... Actually, I still think I should sign it. But, I mentioned it several times to Director Gu and since he was particrly disgusted with the agreement, I didn¡¯t want to push it.¡±

    Yi Jinting was so surprised that she couldn¡¯t speak any more. Another rtives at the dinner table wanted to stir up the atmosphere and held up a ss of wine. Heughingly said, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect that our two little girls would marry one better than the other. Come and celebrate, everyone, have a drink! ¡±

    Whatever the case, the family dinner finally began.

    Yi Jinting felt merosed and didn¡¯t want to say anything for a while.

    Half-way through the dinner, Yi Ran¡¯s mobile phone suddenly rang. When she answered, it was from Director Gu asking if the dinner was already over.

    Yi Jinting watched as her cousin lowered her phone. She hesitated for a moment and suddenly said, ¡°Your husband should be really busy, right? Then he doesn¡¯t spend much time at home?¡±

    Yi Ran just answered truthfully, ¡°He was very busy a while ago and was just starting to have more time recently.¡±

    Xiang Dongsheng also had his own calctions in his heart. Although he was still in shock, but having a rtive like Gu Tingchuan was like building adder and using that connection to make the family business be more popr.¡±

    The sky was already dark, and the streets near the hotel was already illuminated by the streetmps. Yi Ran was almost full. She looked at the night scene outside the wonder and wondered who was knocking at the door to their banquet room.

    The closest rtive got up to answer the door. The waiter leaned in halfway and asked the man behind him, ¡°This is the banquet room for Mr. Xiang. Is this right?¡±

    Then, he let the person in through the door. Everyone looked up at the same time.

    When Gu Tingchuan came in, his face reflected the color of the lights in the room. He brought in the cold of the winter night, and his clear eyes were a little dark.

    He wore the same clothes from the meeting without any intentional modification, but his temperament clearly carried the proud air of those who were born superior.

    Xiang Dongsheng, who was a rich second generation, had no problems. But, when ced next to GuTingchuan, the gap between them was really obvious.

    ¡°Sorry, I¡¯mte.¡± He didn¡¯t bother to talk to Yi Ran first, but instead looked at the elders on the side. He nodded politely. ¡°Dad, mom, I¡¯ll send you back in the evening.¡±

    After speaking, he turned to look at Yi Ran with a smile. She initially wanted to say something but she was too fascinated by the beautiful man in front of her.

 Chapter 37 - A Good Eye

    <h4>Chapter 37: A Good Eye</h4>

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s appearance turn the room silent.

    Yi Ran hurriedly stood up and asked doubtfully, ¡°Isn¡¯t it toote?¡±

    The man looked at her with a frown. He was wearing somewhat formal clothes today. On the way, he had taken off his ck coat in the car and draped it over his arm, creating an aesthetically different impression than normal.

    ¡°The meeting ended early. Since there¡¯s still time, I came over to see my parents.¡±

    Mother Yi was so happy that she immediately called the waiter to add an extra seat beside her daughter, and she came and affectionately patted the son-inw¡¯s arm. ¡°You¡¯re usually busy enough with work, and it¡¯s rare for you to get off work early. Why didn¡¯t you go home early to rest? We¡¯re just having a regr meal. ¡±

    Yi Ran remembered and asked him, ¡°Have you eaten yet?¡±

    Gu Tingchuan walked over and took a seat next to her. Because there were a lot of people, he seemed even more taciturn than usual. This time, he just nodded slightly, without much polite words.

    ¡°Dinner again in ten minutes?¡± She saw him acquiesced. With a frown on her face, she turned back to her cousin. ¡°Order two more vegetarian dishes. There are still some meat dishes on the table, but it¡¯s better for him to eat a little lighter.¡±

    A lot of people who met a Gu family member would try to ingratiate themselves. It was probably only Yi Ran who would talk this way to Gu Tingchuan.

    To Yi Jinting, the strangest thing was that Gu Tingchuan was obviously unperturbed and seemed to have no opinion at all over how Yi Ran had made the decisions for him. Ordinarily, Xiang Dongsheng would still prefer for her to ask him first. After all, he was a young master who was used to others treating him well and respecting his decisions. As a result, she had to be more careful when taking care of him.

    Even Yi Jinting¡¯s mother was struck speechless.

    Taking other¡¯s stunned reactions into ount, Xiang Dongsheng held a wine ss and came to Gu Tingchuan¡¯s side. He was obviously in good spirit as he toasted, ¡°I did not expect to be a rtive with Director Gu. I will greet first.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan was usually cold and grim, but he was very well-educated. Moreover, he didn¡¯t want to disrespected Yi Ran¡¯s family. He stood up, took a small ss of wine and drank it down in one gulp. His expression did not change as he said, ¡°You too.¡±

    ¡°We are simr in age, but in terms of business acumen, you have a longer-term vision. Also, your movie were all wonderfully directed. Speaking of which...so many female stars are held up by you.¡± Xiang Dongsheng was too excited and forgot himself. Before he could think better of it, he already quickly said, ¡°Lu Keliu, Guo Baiyu ... My friends around me also praised you and your good eye for actresses.¡±

    Yi Jinting smiled and followed, ¡°So Director Gu already had so many rumors...¡±

    Yi Ran knew that her cousin¡¯s words were not mere jokes. She pursed her lips and immediately responded with a countermeasure.

    ¡°Coincidentally, I also met Lu Keliu a while ago, as well as her male god husband. Cousin, He Yang is more handsome in person than on TV!¡±

    Yi Jinting¡¯s expression turned stiff, and Gu Tingchuan smiled lightly. Amused, he looked back at Yi Ran and, even though his mouth only had a slight smile, it was enough for others to see his pampering. ¡°You¡¯re thinking too much. My only good vision is in choosing a wife.¡±

    Yi Ran was surprised. She watched his profile for a long time without moving, her heart surging.

    Tonight, apparently Father Yi also became excited. He drank a few more sses than usual and became drunk. As a result, he had to be helped by his wife and daughter back to the car before being returned home safely and securely.

    On the way back home, Yi Ran was tired andy against him in the back seat of the car. Gu Tingchuan saw that her eyes were closed, her eyshes curling softly against her cheeks, and her sleeping face looked rxed and extremely sweet under the glow of the streetmps.

    He pursed his lips and stretched out his hands to let her cling on to.

    Thinking of the topics mentioned at the dinner table, the scandals were all out of nothing. Except that, at that time, the news about Lu Keliu did have a bit of truth.

    He gazed at Yi Ran for a while and felt an inexplicable and ridiculous regret. He had always rationally treated past choices as facts that had happened, but on this matter...it was impossible to change things.

    Gu Tingchuan thought that he was fortunate to have met her. This was really the luck with the smallest probability in the world.

    The heart always fell in an instant, without any notice or forewarning.

    ......

    After a few days, Yi Ran¡¯s days of peace were suddenly shattered.

    Someizens broke the news that Gu Tingchuan, who was newly married, took two girls to a hotel and booked an overnight room. One of them was the popr actress Guo Baiyu.

    That specificizen happened to be staying at that hotel on that night and was able to take pictures of Guo Baiyu wearing a woolen hat and hurriedly leaving the room with her assistant. At the same time, he also took a picture of Director Gu talking to the manager in the lobby.

    Although theizen hadn¡¯t specifically linked the gossip to the subject themselves and the media hadn¡¯t authenticated the rumors, this small post on Weibo still caught on fire.

    As she looked at these pictures. Yi Ran¡¯s first reaction was to think that it was only just Monday and this olddy unexpectedly also made it to the entertainment news. She was not prepared at all!

    The second reaction was that there¡¯s no sense of existence at all. She had merely changed her hairstyle a little and dyed her hair but why did no one recognize that she was the genuine wife and had instead been linked as a sex scandal partner with Director Gu?!

    Among the pictures posted, there was a slightly blurry picture that was secretly taken when she was rising on tiptoes to kiss Gu Tingchuan.

    The man¡¯s tall figure had blocked some of the bright light in the background, making the whole picture look half in shadow and half in light. As a result, his slender and smooth outline seemed as if it was covered in ayer of bright starlight.

    Yi Ran looked at her mobile phone with a silly expression, remembering that man¡¯s clear face, which had always been such a silent temptation.

    When Gu Tingchuan walked into the room, he found that she had an inexplicable smile on her face. He guessed, ¡°You¡¯ve seen it?¡±

    ¡°Yes, even my friends on Weibo have forwarded it to me.¡±

    He ced his coffee cup on the study table and stood next to her. At this moment, their bodies were so close together that she could easily grab the hem of his shirt and smell the fresh scent of his clothes.

    ¡°Thepany had already issued a statement rifying your identity to theizens. Moreover, it will state that Guo Baiyu just happened to be resting at the same hotel and this had nothing to do with us.¡±

    These were mere rumors that would unravel once the truth was revealed. However, she knew that the power of public opinion could not be easily ignored. She stared at her mobile phone for a while and asked him, ¡°You saidst time that you n to open a Weibo ount. Then, can I let everyone know on my Weibo that I am really Mrs. Gu?¡±

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s lips curved up, making his side profile look even more as if it was carved in jade. He looked at her softly and said, ¡°If you want to.¡±

    Yi Ran smiled and no longer spoke. She turned directly and went out. Gu Tingchuan looked after her, confused by what she wanted to do. However, he didn¡¯t follow but continued to sit on the sofa in the study and read some of thepany¡¯s contract documents.

    After a while, Yi Ran returned with something in her hand, but she still didn¡¯t speak. She bent down in front of the shelf burdened with trophies like the White Birch Award and other foreign film festival awards.

    Gu Tingchuan sighed, put down the papers in his hands, got up, and went over to see that Yi Ran had put a stuffed ck bear beside his White Birch Award trophy. The bear was arranged to hug the trophy, and Yi Ran was looking at it with a particrly special joy.

    He smiled helplessly and raised his eyes to meet her pair of clear eyes, seeing at once the happiness clearly reflected there. To her eyes, these twopletely different things, when ced together, was very harmonious.

    Outside, the wind was bitingly cold and the mottled tree threw chilled shadows that intersected and entangled together. But, inside the house, the atmosphere and the dim lights cast by the floormp gave the home an indescribable warmth.

    Yi Ran grinned and said, ¡°I want to take a picture and post it online.¡±

    It was hard to imagine that these two things would intersect, much less hugged one another at this moment. Just like him and her.

    How could Gu Tingchuan not see her careful thoughts? He didn¡¯t want to disappoint her and said close to her ears, ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll talk to thepany.¡±

    Yi Ran opened up her photo album on her phone and check-marked the picture to upload. Then, she thought about adding text to match and finally decided on one sentence: ¡°Look, hug you.¡±

    Then, she clicked sent.

    Not long after, thousands of fans formed a sightseeing group to flood her Weibo homepage all at once. As a result, when the page was open, it would cached for a long before being updated.

    When faced with the secrets of the entertainment industry, theizens had all became smart detectives. The background of this photo was obviously at home, and the trophy was printed with Gu Tingchuan¡¯s movie name. One can easily infer that, apart from Director Gu himself, only his wife would have ability to send out such a picture. As a result, this Weibo post became the gathering point for many fervent discussions.

    ¡°Mistress Bear X? Together with the grim Director Gu¡¯s trophy cup?¡±

    ¡°I give this ¡®bear hug¡¯ a hundred points! Be fearless and proud, Mrs. Gu!¡±

    ¡°I swiped and, without warning, caught a bowl of dog food. And, it was our people who broke into the circle!¡±

    ¡°This kind of honey juice is just beyond sweet. It¡¯s amazing. Way to go, sister!¡±

    ¡°I feel like this kind of marriage is definitely unlikely to be derailed by any hotel!¡±

    Although Yi Ran did not respond, this picture was already full of pink bubbles.

    The next day, as soon as Yi Ran stepped into the office, she was instantly surrounded by several female teachers. Before she could speak, a young teacher had already said, ¡°Yi Ran! I didn¡¯t expect that when the cold male god had a sh marriage, it would be with you!¡±

    She looked up at them, still unable to speak. Everyone began to eloquently express how much they appreciated Gu Tingchuan¡¯s works, particrly his serious and indifferent style of directing, which many found fascinating.

    Seeing that Yi Ran¡¯s face was very embarrassed, Yao Juan took the initiative to rescue her. ¡°Yi Ran, have you finished preparing for your open ss? Didn¡¯t you ask me to help?¡±

    She nodded quickly and responded, ¡°Yes, there are still two days.¡±

    The teachers who had surrounded her desk had to be temporarily dismissed.

    Yao Juan lowered his eyes, covering the thread of disappointment on his face. Then, after a pause, he asked her, ¡°I remember that the International Film Festival will open this week. Isn¡¯t Director Gu¡¯s work being reviewed?¡±

    Yi Ran was in the middle of opening her lesson ns. But, when she heard him, her actions froze mid-way. Oh my goodness. This wife was too ipetent. She even forgot such an important thing!

 Chapter 38 - A Good Night Sleep

    Chapter 38: A Good Night Sleep

    At this time of the year, the rose bushes within the school had already frozen and were all practically bare of leaves. The whole city was covered in a milky white veil of fog.

    In the evening, Yi Ran took Gu Tai out to dinner at a Western restaurant with American beef burgers. She was concerned about his homework and his current moods. Compared to when he was having dinner at home Gu Tingyong, Yi Ran allowed Gu Tai to eat as he pleased.

    ¡°A lot of students in my ss came to ask me today if you¡¯re married to my uncle.¡±

    ¡°Yes, some children came to ask me too.¡± There was some worry in Yi Ran¡¯s heart, and she asked him directly, ¡°Were the students unhappy with you?¡±

    The child took a bite of his beef burger and then sipped his iced tea. He said calmly, ¡°How is that possible? I¡¯m so smart, who can be unhappy with me?¡±

    Yi Ran¡¯s mouth twitched. Yes, even if someone disliked Gu Tai, the one she should worry about was not Gu Tai himself but the other party.

    Gu Tai blinked and asked, ¡°After this, will you be officially open about your rtionship? When are you going to have a wedding?¡±

    ¡°You viin, who cares so much about me? I want to ask you, how are things with your dad?¡±

    She put ketchup on his te of fries, and the little boy calmly said, ¡°He¡¯d been at hometely. My mother is still angry with him...But, I know these are just tricks and she still likes my dad.¡±

    Yi Ran couldn¡¯t help but silently criticize the man. Although she had firsthand knowledge of how charming the Gu men could be, if there came a day when Gu Tingchuan would start to flirt with other women, she didn¡¯t think she would be able to look at him the same way.

    After Yi Ran sent Gu Tai home safely, she returned home to practice the content of the open ss by herself. When she grew tired, sheid in bed and twisted and turned. The big bed was soft and warm but every time sheid down, she felt as if she just couldn¡¯t getfortable.

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s phone call came at this time. As soon as she was connected, she heard the man¡¯s deep voice came through, the timbre sounding particrly nice and pleasant to her ears.

    ¡°Do you remember when I said that I will be going abroad to a film festival this week and needed to prepare some things?¡±

    Noticing that she hadn¡¯t responded, he hesitated briefly before asking, ¡°Do you want toe along?¡±

    Yi Ran mildly entertained the idea of epting the invitation. Her heart was filled with a mixture of joy and an ambiguous soreness, and even her ears became slightly itchy. Although she wanted to ept, she knew that couldn¡¯t let go of her work so casually. Besides, he really caught her by surprise.

    ¡°I have sses, and it won¡¯t be convenient to take time off on such short notice.¡±

    Moreover, she felt that her status as Director Gu¡¯s wife had to be used step by step. At present, it was already big enough just to let the people around her know.

    Gu Tingchuan really wanted her to appear bright and beautiful in front of the media and knew that she will be flooded by the bright sh of the reporter¡¯s cameras.

    But then, such publicity will result in her freedom being greatly curtailed in the future.

    Gu Tingchan didn¡¯t want to force her. Maybe, if it had been in the past, perhaps he might have been more demanding and ask her to stay with him. But, his mood had also been disturbed recently. Judging by the feedback received from various parties, it waspletely unknown whether Homing will even win. For the first time, he felt uneasy and didn¡¯t want to affect her mood.

    ¡°Okay. You¡¯ll be home for a few days so remember to go back and spend some time with your parents.¡±

    Yi Ran didn¡¯t know about Gu Tingchuan¡¯s uneasiness. She pressed the mouthpiece closer and said, ¡°I know. Don¡¯t worry about me. Gu Tingchuan, next time, can you tell me earlier about your work arrangements?¡±

    Gu Tingchuan was working overtime in the office and could see the bright moon from the window of the high-rise building. The moonlight reflected his clear eyebrows and turned his eyes into bright diamonds.

    ¡°Yes, I forgot to tell you this time. Oh...You¡¯ll be hosting your open ss soon. Don¡¯t be nervous. You¡¯ve always been expressive and memorable.¡±

    Yi Ran: ¡°...¡±

    His voice was indescribably sexy.

    Director Gu still remembered such a small thing. In fact, it was really nothing, but she still felt very happy to be cheered by her husband.

    She breathed in through her nose and said, ¡°I won¡¯t let you down.¡±

    As their marriage slowly deepened, Yi Ran¡¯s understanding of Gu Tingchuan also deepened.

    For example, she knew that he wrote his first screeny at the age of fourteen and studied at an American university and majored in literature, history, and drama. He received many schrships and directed the first film in his early twenties. That movie made him famous overnight.

    Gu Tingchuan had the tendency to study Western culture, but he also carried the heritage of the East. Regarding his films, she couldn¡¯t judge them like a professional film critic might, but she still had great confidence in them.

    Yi Ran turned her head and breathed in scent left Gu Tingchuan left behind on the bed sheet. She knew that it was just a lingering breath of him but she couldn¡¯t help herself. It was that smell that finally helped her fall asleep.

    ......

    Yi Ran sessfullypleted the school¡¯s open lessons, and the feedback from the students and teachers were very good.

    In a sh, New Year¡¯s Day was almost here.

    Gu Tingchuan was busy with thepany the whole day, and then he flew directly overseas with his team. Even though they were separated for only three days, they still felt that time was passing by very slowly.

    The day faded away and night descended. There was a six-hour time difference between the city of S and the ce where Director Gu was at. The award ceremony would be held at 1 a.m. Beijing time. Yi Ran expected to stay up all night and so she returned to her family home. She hid in her room with the door closed. As soon as the time came, she eagerly waited for the official announcement to be published on the inte, followed by the red carpet photos of the stars.

    When it was past 12 o¡¯clock midnight, she unexpectedly received a call from Gu Tingchuan.

    In an isted corner of the hotel where the team stayed, he leaned against a wall with one hand in his pocket and one hand holding the mobile phone. He deliberately avoided the noisy media and crowds outside. At night in a foreign country, some thoughts always came suddenly.

    Although Gu Tingchuan was always working outside, when he was home, at least he could go to see her. Now, they were separated by such long distance and it naturally felt different.

    Yi Ran was also full of such thoughts. She suddenly wanted to say a lot of things to him. When they were together, due to various reasons like restraint, shyness and unfamiliarity, she rarely took the initiative to affect him. But now, she missed those tight passionate hugs and kisses the most.

    But, she didn¡¯t know how to say these things. In the end, she was still careful and said, ¡°Gu Tingchuan, can you take a selfie for me?¡±

    His eyes darkened and he smiled. But, he still directly said, ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± Yi Ran pouted and jokingly said, ¡°Why not? There are so many beautiful babes around you. I¡¯m worried. How about we wait for you to be alone, then we¡¯ll video chat?¡±

    Gu Tingchuan nced at the hotel pool reflecting the bright moonlight. His eyes lightened for a moment. ¡°What kind of video?¡±

    Yi Ran paused when she heard this. For a few seconds, her heart throbbed and lurched like a roller coaster.

    In the past, she would blush and feel embarrassed. But now, she was already married and had the ability to fight back. She hummed low in her throat and said, ¡°Director, which one do you want? Otherwise, you book a time and I will prepare for it?¡±

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s fingers tightened on his mobile phone. But, before he could answer, someone shouted his name. Yi Ran certainly knew that his hands were full these days. Between dinners, luncheons, award ceremonies and so on...the fact that he would take the time to call her was already a rarity.

    She wanted to linger but instead said, ¡°Go and get busy. I¡¯ll wait for you toe back to tell me about it.¡±

    Gu Tinghuan murmured ¡°en,¡± then paused. The sweet words he wanted to say¨Cwords that could eloquently capture that unfamiliar throbbing and missing sensation he felt without her¨Che ultimately still did not know how to turn them into the most moving words. In the end, he only said, ¡°Don¡¯t stay up toote and go to bed early.¡±

    They were just a few simple words but they were said in a voice that was extremely gentle.

    Yi Ran, who hadn¡¯t slept yet, was entertained by various stories from some of the major media. She even followed several tags on Weibo and stared at pictures of Gu Tingchuan as he walked the red carpet.

    He was wearing an expensive but low-key suit with a fine pattern on the ckpels and neckline. His temperament was noble and handsome. His face was as indifferent as ever, and his skin tone was white and clear. Only the corners of his mouth were faintly raised in the barest hint of a smile.

    She was a little nervous and a little excited, and as the awards ceremony began, awards were soon handed out one after another.

    In the early morning, the other side of the world was celebrating but, on this side, there was only a silent, sleepless night.

    Even as Director Gu¡¯s fans waited for him to glorify the Chinese domestic films once more, the international reception for Homing was unprecedentedly cold, and no awards were won.

    When Gu Tingchuan first debut, his qualifications were still not sufficient so the expectations were quite low. In recent years, he had won a staggering amount of awards. As a result, the expectations for his sess grew by leaps and bounds, making this current losspletely different from his first year.

    If you were just a pure neer, maybe no one will pay attention to your losses. But, once your fame became loud enough, even just a little lost will be the fodder for sensational headlines.

    Yi Ran reviewed a variety of information and the more she read, the more she felt sleepless and shaken.

    A well-known film critic who also participated in the film festival had, after watching the film, written: ¡°In terms of martial arts film, Homing was indeed different and full of courage. However, because of the excessive emphasis on Gu Tingchuan¡¯s personal style, the film came across as too proud and aloof, thus creating a sense of disconnect between the film and it¡¯s audience. Gu Tingchuan was a master at surprising and exceeding people¡¯s expectations. However, in this rare instance, he was entrusted with the expectations of countless people but he ultimately failed.¡±

    Yi Ran¡¯s expression changed one after another. It was as if that block of text was constantly hitting her eardrum, creating a buzzing echo in her ears.

    What should she do? Whether it was glory or failure, she should stay with him and share it with him.

    This was the responsibility of a married couple.

    The night was very quiet. She sat in front of theputer and waited for a long time. She couldn¡¯t help but take out her phone, thinking that Gu Tingchuan was probably tired after dealing with various interviews at this time. But, she wanted to call him, wanted to hear his voice, wanted tofort him.

    She dialed his phone number, and it rang for a long time but no one answered. She bit her lower lip, and for the first time, she didn¡¯t know what she could do and what she should do. She waspletely at a loss.

    She couldn¡¯t sleep and hugged her knees, pinching her body tightly with one hand and feeling the coldness of her fingers.

 Chapter 39 - On the Way Back

    Chapter 39: On the Way Back

    Yi Ran didn¡¯t know how long she slept, but the vibration of her phone woke her up.

    She found that she had fallen asleep on the bed, still wearing the same clothes, and without covering herself with the quilt. The heater was turned on all through the night, and the room was warm but quite dry.

    She rubbed her eyes and saw that it was half past six in the morning. Her mobile phone had two missed calls and one WeChat message from Gu Tingchuan.

    He knew that she was probably asleep and sent a WeChat message saying that they would rush back in the morning.

    Yi Ran thought for a while. It was probably still very early in the morning for Gu Tingchuan. She didn¡¯t want to disturb his rest so she changed her reply from ¡°Please contact me when you¡¯re free¡± to ¡°Call me before boarding the ne.¡±

    When she arrived at school, she was a little bit sluggish. Her colleagues probably learned that Homing hadn¡¯t received any awards at the film festival. They were afraid she would feel embarrassed so they didn¡¯t stop by to chat with her. Only Yao Juan took the initiative to say hello.

    He saw the faint circles under her clear eyes and softly said, ¡°There are so many excellent domestic films that don¡¯t always win. But, it¡¯s a pity for Director Gu.¡±

    Yi Ran looked up, and seeing the pity behind Yao Juan¡¯s sses, she couldn¡¯t help but want to praise him, ¡°I say, Teacher Yao, you are too good. Good-natured and good-hearted.¡±

    Yao Juan was taken aback by her words and felt slightly ufortable. His brows furrowed a little but he still gave her a smile.

    Just after the lunch break, she finally received a call from Gu Tingchuan. The man¡¯s voice was slightly hoarse and there were some noises in the background, but when she heard his voice, her whole heart trembled.

    ¡°I¡¯ve arrived at the airport and will take off in half an hour.¡±

    When the time finally came, she realized that it would be useless to console him. Instead, as his wife, she should give him some encouragements.

    Yi Ran slowed down and said very firmly, ¡°Gu Tingchuan, you are such a good director. That crazy group of judges are blind. I¡¯ll give you a hundred little red flowers when youe back. You¡¯re really great.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s voice had a bit ofughter to it, but she couldn¡¯t see that his eyes were still gloomy.

    ¡°As soon as I get off the ne, I¡¯ll have to go directly to thepany. There are a lot of things waiting for me to deal with.¡±

    Yi Ran desperately wanted to see him, but she also expected that the man would have to face many problems and difficulties when he returned. After thinking it over, she found that she still could not tolerate it and said, ¡°You always eat indiscriminately. When you return to thepany, I¡¯ll make you something to eat.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan messaged his eyebrows. But, he understood her mood and was unwilling to refuse her. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll tell Xiao Zhao in a bit and have him send someone to pick you up.¡±

    Yi Ran could hear that his mood was extremely bad. The harder he was on himself, the harder it would be for him to forgive himself. It would take a while for him to recover from his loss.

    She thoughtfully said, ¡°Okay. I won¡¯t bother you anymore. Take a rest on the ne, and I¡¯ll see you when you get back.

    Yi Ran hung up the phone and sat by her desk in a daze, absentmindedly pulling her long hair in front of her.

    She used to think that their tacit understanding was getting better and better. He certainly had feelings for her. But, in the end, the nature of their work was radically different. When he really needed assistance and enlightenment, this vast distance between them was suddenly exposed.

    However, he had never said that he liked her and had never used the word ¡°love.¡± She really had no confidence.

    When you had such a cherished person in your heart, every move, every smile, became the most advantageous thing, and you simply wanted to stubbornly hide him in the bottom of your heart and keep him safe and protected.

    During Gu Tingchuan¡¯s flight back and as Homing was about to be released in China, an unexpected incident urred.

    The protagonist in Homing was a talented young actor who once debuted as a member of a boy band. As it was, he happened to sh with passengers on the ne and was recorded arrogantly eximing, ¡°Do you know who I am?¡±

    The actor further dered that the Chinese didn¡¯t have the talent nor the ability to make good movies. After naming and criticizing a few films, he went back andined that Gu Tingchuan was too difficult to get along with.

    Everything was secretly photographed and posted online, igniting mass indignation. Tens of thousands of people demanded the he be blocked and called for everyone to refuse to see Homing.

    The next day, Yi Ran was still preupied with the news as she headed to the Jiayepany building. These remarks had spread like viruses, and she did not dare to think about what Gu Tingchuan must be feeling.

    Thinking of it, the panic in her heart was so deep that she could feel the beating of her heart through her fingers.

    As a Jiaye¡¯s staff lead her to the elevator, she tried to rx her expression. As soon as she stepped out of the elevator door, she saw Gu Tingchuan standing in the hallway. That familiar figure was talking to Xiao Zhao, who stood beside him.

    Her eyes grew hot, and she hung her head down as she hurriedly wiped her eyes. Then, she walked toward him, a gentle smile on her face.

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s face was very poor. He was clearly exhausted after such a long journey. He listened to Xiao Zhao¡¯s report for a long time and didn¡¯t say a word. As she neared, he looked sideways at her and suddenly stretched out his hand to hold her wrist. Then, he bent down slightly and leaned a little on her shoulder.

    This action turned Yi Ran¡¯s soft heart intoplete mush. But, her words were lodged in her throat. Too manyplicated thoughts rushed up, making her bite her tongue instead.

    Xiao Zhao froze and winked at another staff member. The staff member received his signal and they both calmly walked away.

    Yi Ran gently wrapped her arms around his strong waist. She felt as if it had been too long since they had touched each other, making this moment seem as if it was just a sweet illusion. It made her want to hold him tighter.

    ¡°I brought some takeouts from your favorite restaurant, along with a few dishes I made myself.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s voice was cold. ¡°Sorry, I have not appetite right now.¡±

    She silently shook her head, knowing that he was upset and indignant and was probably caught between self-me and self-denial. There was a strict self-discipline in this proud and handsome man that others could not see.

    He had always been a creator first and a celebrity businessman second.

    ¡°Let¡¯s talk after you take a break and they warm up your food.¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t apany you. Sorry, I¡¯m...¡±

    Before he could finish talking, the elevator behind them let out a ding and the door opened. When Gu Tingchuan looked up, his expression turned extremely ugly.

    Even when he was having a dispute with the two bodyguards at the hotel, he didn¡¯t have such a cold expression.

    ¡°Who allowed you to enter the building?¡± He nced at the other person, his voice extremely cold. ¡°Let lost! Don¡¯t show up in front of me.¡±

    The actor was none other than Yi Yihong himself. His face was pale, and his tone was pleading, ¡°Director Gu, I really know that I was wrong. I drank some wine and was confused for a while¡­¡±

    ¡°But wasn¡¯t that how you really felt in your heart? Well, I can fulfill your wish.¡± Gu Tingchuan smiled so coldly that the other person felt as if he had fallen into an icehouse. ¡°Since you like to drink, then go home to sing. I don¡¯t wee people who don¡¯t respect movies¡­¡±

    His words were like ice picks, pressing Yi Yihong down. The man knelt in front of Gu Tingchuan with a ¡°thump¡± and tugged at his trouser leg in a panic. He implored, ¡°Director Gu! I beg you! I got a little confused and made a mistake. Please don¡¯t disregard this little person¡­¡±

    It was very clear to him that only the man in front of him could turn things around for him. But, Gu Tingchuan didn¡¯t fall for his act and, instead, raised his leg to kick him away.

    Xiao Zhao probably heard Yi Yihong¡¯s crying and, knowing that the boss would be upset, hurried out of the elevator. He pulled the actor crawling on the ground up.

    Gu Tingchuan told Xiao Zhao fiercely, ¡°Take him out!¡±

    Yi Ran didn¡¯t say anything. She knew that this person had basically dug his own grave. If this kind of person wanted to mingle in the entertainment industry, he must curtail his true manner. If not, being an actor would simply be a dream. Even if he had not fallen under the hands of Director Gu, sooner orter, he would offend other powerful people.

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s mood waspletely disturbed, and his face was dark and gloomy. He looked at Yi Ran silently, and not wanting her to be involved in these matters, he said with his eyes lowered, ¡°You go back early. I will eat the food, okay?¡±

    Yi Ran knew that he was irritated, but she really wanted him to sit down and eat something with her. However, in this depressed atmosphere, he also made it clear that he didn¡¯t want to talk to her about anything. She had no choice but to nod uneasily and ask Xiao Zhao to take the food container she brought in. ¡°Then I¡¯ll go back first. After you¡¯ve taken care of things,e home early.¡±

    The setting sun was sinking deep into the horizon as she stepped out of the gate. She quietly looked back at the building that was lit against the dark night sky. His office was on the top floor of the building, putting him so far out of reach that she couldn¡¯t see clearly. She couldn¡¯t see him at all.

    ¡­..

    On New Year¡¯s Day, there was a cold rain, followed by what appeared to be light snow. Yi Ran thought that it would be the same asst year, but the snow only turned out to be frost and hail brought about by the cold air.

    Consequently, the weather was always dark and hazy.

    Gu Tingchuan stayed at thepany for two days and didn¡¯te home. At this time, the screening of Homing also ushered in a wave of bad reviews.

    ¡°This movie made no sense and the editing was really chaotic. Had Gu Tingchuan gone crazy?¡±

    ¡°Yi Yihong, the actor who yed the protagonist, yelled at passengers in public ces! He also said that Chinese domestic movies are all shit! #Resist #Homing. Let all their investors go bankrupt!¡±

    ¡°Good stuff! Did Director Gu¡¯s level plummet because of his obsession with beauty? Or did the young genius director exhaust all his talents?¡±

    Naturally, Homing¡¯s bad reception also affected Jiaye¡¯s stock. In addition to the public outrage caused by the actor, the general public also gave the film bad reviews, causing the box office viewings to be even more dismal.

    Yi Ran went alone to the cinema to watch Homing, thinking that Gu Tingchuan still had a firm standing in this market.

    However, it turned out that he used too many cool, dark colors, and a lot of scenes had a gloomy and depressing atmosphere. This was contrary to what everyone had expected of a martial arts film.

    Perhaps, when yed on IMAX screens, the pictures would be clear and magnificent. However, in theaters with normal quality, the audience will soon grow tired of the dark tones disyed by the characters and the background. Even the final editing seemedcking.

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s past works were a fusion between business and art. However, this film apparently abandoned the mercial¡± element from beginning to end. Although he had expected the cold domestic reception, he hadn¡¯t expected to lose foreign awards. He also didn¡¯t expect that the lead actor would go out of bounds and cause the movie to suffer such heavy losses.

    Yi Ran felt for the first time that people¡¯s words were the most vicious weapons. Everyone seemed to to have their own curses, as if the genius once raised by them to god level had fallen from the high altar and straight into hell.

    .....

    It was already the weekend when Yi Ran opened the bedroom door and heard shallow movements downstairs. She walked along the railing and saw Gu Tingchuan entered from the frost outside. He was followed by his assistant, Xiao Zhao, who seemed exhausted. They both appeared to have lost weight.

    She hurried down to see how things were going.

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s face was indifferent but his forehead had a bit of mncholy. He turned to exin something to Xiao Zhao first, then pursed his lips and said to her, ¡°Sorry. I want to stay in the studio for a while. You don¡¯t have to worry about my dinner.¡±

    Yi Ran was stunned and, before she could respond, the man had already turned and stepped into his studio, closing the door gently behind him.

    In the living room, Xiao Zhao was silent for a long time. He had been with Director Gu for many years. Although he had always kept to his duty, he felt that he still had to say a few words. ¡°Mrs. Gu, if you have time, please advise Director Gu to go easy on himself...He, he hasn¡¯t been quite himself these days and have been pushing himself too hard. I¡¯m afraid that he might copse again.¡±

 Chapter 40 - Open Your Heart

    Chapter 40: Open Your Heart

    Yi Ran¡¯s smile was helpless. ¡°He always liked to attribute all the errors to himself, I know...Xiao Zhao, you should go back to rest.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan liked to work for long periods of time, was always very particr about certain things, was introverted and reserved, was prone to treat work with a passionate mindset. So, all things considered, it was understandable that he was reluctant to share his inner world with her.

    Yi Ran absentmindedly looked at the empty living room,pletely bereft of any trace of anger. A few weeks ago, he was eating breakfast here, chatting with her, and then dealing with the work that had been purposefully dyed for a night.

    But now, Gu Tingchuan had returned to his studio and all she saw was the brown-walled iron gate that he put up to iste himself from the world. This fortress had been unbreakable for so many years, and she did not have the courage to open it.

    The weather outside was cloudy, and the weather forecast predicted that there might be a light snowfall in the next few days. Dark clouds were now rolling over from the north, howling and spreading over the entire city.

    After a while, heavy snow fell onto the ground, and the outside world became a silver-d garden. The vehicles parked outside were soon covered with a thickyer of frost and snow. It seemed as if the whole world was sleeping.

    In the evening, Yi Ran insisted on delivering food to Gu Tingchuan. She took a deep breath and knocked on the door. When she didn¡¯t get a response, she tried to turn the door handle. Fortunately, it was unlocked and she was able to open the door.

    In fact, she had entered the studio many times before, but she had not taken the time to observe it carefully. Currently, the strong smell of coffee suffused the room, and the spacious curtains were pulled opened.

    Gu Tingchuan was standing by the table with things piled messily up by his feet. There was a TV attached to the left wall that was likely also used for video conferencing.

    Yi Ran didn¡¯t have time to look at these things and was focused on the man. Fortunately, he didn¡¯t look at her indifferently and didn¡¯t rush her out but remained silent.

    She persuaded him in a worried tone, ¡°Your sleep has always been bad. Don¡¯t drink too much coffee. It can upset your sleep cycle.¡±

    ¡°I know, it¡¯s okay.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan said this but his sight was focused on the movie being yed on the TV. asionally, his gaze would drop to the books and documents in his hands.

    She set down the te and tried to talk to him about recent events. ¡°Oh right, do you remember that my friend is a doctor at a psychology center? She praised you for being particrly precise about the character¡¯s psychological state.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan didn¡¯t look back, but his voice had a hint of amusement. ¡°Really.¡±

    ¡°I made dim sum with a new recipe, which was hell-level difficult. Would you like to try it?¡±

    He just nodded, ¡°Okay, just leave it.¡±

    No matter what she said, the topic was often simply ended by him.

    Yi Ran sighed and turned slowly toward the door. When she looked up sideways, she saw the puffs of white snowkes floating outside the window, gently flowing like waves of catkins rippling in mid-air. It looked extraordinarily beautiful.

    She suddenly froze.

    The city of S had not have such heavy snowfall in many years. The sky hung low and heavy, and the branches outside were pulled into disorder by the fierce wind, causing them to creak and groan. The longed for snowstorm had arrived.

    She wanted to enjoy snow, tea, and reading with him.

    But, just looking at their current state, this dream seemed impossible.

    .....

    The entire huge studio was now like a perpetual motion machine, without stopping for even a moment. Gu Tingchuan continued to spread more and more things on the carpet.

    In the middle of the night, Yi Ran felt the man settled into bed to rest but he seemed toy for a while, unable to fall asleep and kept tossing and turning in bed.

    She wondered if she should say a few words to him, but before she could speak, he got out of bed again and left.

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s meals also became very small. Even if she sent food to him and waited inside, he wouldn¡¯t eat much.

    He poured a lot of coffee to refresh himself, and she also saw him standing in front of the screen from time to time, watching the same movies repeatedly...

    After so many days in a row, Yi Ran couldn¡¯t stand the atmosphere anymore. The next day, she stepped into his work room, opened her mouth and shouted, ¡°Gu Tingchuan!¡±

    She was really angry.

    Yi Ran¡¯s character was not so forgiving, but because of her adoration and admiration for him, she had unknowingly suppressed her temper.

    ¡°I keep telling you that I hope you can tell me about your work, your ideas, anything. But you never seem to take it seriously. Is it really that difficult for us tomunicate?¡±

    Gu Tingchuan seemed to be confused and dispirited. He looked down at the pen that had made numerous marks on the white paper in front of him and absentmindedly said, ¡°No, you don¡¯t need to worry about me. I just have a lot of things that needed to be addressed.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan had a cold temperament and had never been good at interpersonalmunications. They had married under such unfamiliar circumstances, and these resulting obstacles was a ticking time bomb in their marriage. Now, it finally detonated.

    ¡°You¡¯re not working. You¡¯re hurting yourself and consuming your health!¡± She answered, almost gritting her teeth.

    Gu Tingchuan rubbed his eyebrows and replied casually, ¡°You should also be clear about what happened these days. I need some time to think about future ns...¡±

    ¡°You can think about it, but did you know that the movie you directed had been thrown on dozens of streets?!¡±

    Yi Ran knew that he was unwilling to speak, so she quickly added more words. ¡°Why do you persecute yourself like this? I know that the Gu family was counting on you, and I know that so many fans loved you, but so what? Failed or not, wouldn¡¯t it be better if you started over from the beginning? Are you, Gu Tingchuan, not allowed to fall on the streets once in a while? Who prescribed it? ¡±

    She took a big breath before continuing, ¡°Also, is it really such an embarrassing thing to tell others what¡¯s in your heart? I¡¯ll tell you the truth. I had already watched Homing, and I can also tell you what I don¡¯t like. One of the protagonists died, and the other was left worse than death. Almost everyone in the film runs counter to their original intention! Gu Tingchuan, do you dare to face your problem? How many people said that your film was too lifeless? Wouldn¡¯t it be great if you changed it? ¡±

    Gu Tingchuan looked down at the table and did not see Yi Ran¡¯s red eyes. His expression was forbearing as he faintly said, ¡°I can¡¯t think of anything else to take next.¡±

    Yi Ran paused for a moment. She suddenly realized that, in front of her very eyes, he seemed to have lost ayer of his former brightness, leaving only a pair of eyes ck as ink.

    ¡°I¡¯m not concerned about those ¡®failures¡¯ that have already passed,¡± he said quietly, sitting on the chair and still not looking up: ¡°But I never felt this way. I¡¯ve lost inspiration.¡±

    That was a the worst nightmare for creators.

    The studio was boring and dreadful, and the cold weather just made the surrounding temperature more harsh. Yi Ran heard his voice as a sigh. ¡°So, I can only think of my own way.¡±

    His meaning was very obvious. She could not do anything for him, nor could she stop him.

    ¡°But why not try to make more changes? Your life is different from the past ...¡±

    Gu Tingchuan shook his head. There were so many meanings to this little action. It could signify that he did not want to change. It could also express his helplessness, as if he couldn¡¯t help himself...

    Yi Ran only felt that ...it turned out that she really was not needed. From beginning to end, they were just a married couple and did not have the kind of intimate husband and wife rtionship that allowed them to rely on each other in all matters.

    Her fiery heart was extinguished halfway, as if a basin of cold water had been poured over her from head to toe. Her hands and feet froze momentarily, then she calmed down and said, ¡°Oh, then you keep busy. I know it.¡±

    When Gu Tingchuan realized what she had said and looked up, he only saw her thin and soft back. His heart lurched with an unknown emotion. He was very unustomed to it, but he also didn¡¯t want to reject it. He parted his mouth to speak.....

    She closed the door forcefully behind her.

    The moment Yi Ran stepped out of the studio, a sense of powerlessness washed over her. She slid onto the floor, feeling helpless and distressed. But what could she do? She couldn¡¯t pry open a person¡¯s heart.

    Although she really wanted to say to him: Gu Tingchuan, no matter what happened, can you talk to me? Gu Tingchuan, as long as you can open your heart, you will know that I am here. Even if it can¡¯t change the situation of losing inspiration, but at least it can make you feel better.

    She lowered her head, tears suddenly falling down like strings of pearls.

    The person who lived in her heart was so high that no matter how desperately she tried to catch up, she couldn¡¯t catch up with him after all.

    She was just an ordinary elementary school teacher. How could she understand the burden of a ¡°genius¡± with a creative block?

    At this moment, Yi Ran felt that her mood was darker than the sky outside the house, like all the umted undercurrents these days had suddenly washed over her. She couldn¡¯t support it, and it was swallowing her whole.

    She wiped away the tears with the back of her hand, wondering how else she could help him.

    She also wanted to be happy, which may help Gu Tingchuan out of his predicament¡­

    But, she couldn¡¯t fake happiness.

    This situation made her even more worried. Perhaps it would be necessary to adjust the status quo. Otherwise, they will only drag each other into the mud, slowly sinking and finally choking.

    The early morning found Yi Ran in the kitchen. She hadn¡¯t slept through most of the night and was now roasting coffee and making omelette. Soon, the aroma drifted through the room.

    While looking at the snow outside the window, Yi Ran saw Gu Tingchuan¡¯sing out of the studio from the corner of her eyes. Hisplexion was unhealthily white, and he probably hadn¡¯t slept much. His whole person seemed fuzzy and out of reach.

    She knew deep down that she was not so insignificant in Gu Tingchuan¡¯s heart. It was just that he hadn¡¯t gotten used to it yet.

    ¡°I have a few words to say to you.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan murmured ¡°Mmm¡± and raised his eyes to look at her.

 Chapter 41 - Warm Life

    Chapter 41: Warm Life

    When you thought you were going to get something, but you ended up losing it, this would result in the most pain. Just as she had thought that she was so close to him, only to be rejected thousands of miles away.

    Yi Ran knew that the damage she suffered was nothingpared to the damage he had suffered.

    But if, at this time, they couldn¡¯t even frankly face this setback together, it would be nearly impossible to cross this gap in the future.

    Yi Ran stared silently at the man in front of her. She felt helpless but had to make some changes for him to see.

    ¡°Gu Tingchuan, you once told me that you don¡¯t know how to manage rtionships, so you will choose to avoid it. But we also saidter that we should cherish this marriage with each other.¡±

    A sense of awareness slowly trickled through Gu Tingchuan¡®s heart. His fingers on the coffee cup trembled as he lowered the cup and looked at her heavily.

    ¡°This time you¡¯ve encountered these things, but I don¡¯t know how tofort you. In fact ... I probably said everything I could say, but it didn¡¯t seem to help you.¡±

    She smiled mockingly at herself and rested both hands on the table. But, her tone was quite calm. ¡°You¡¯ve been hiding in the studio for more than a few days...It seemed that you don¡¯t need mypany. You¡¯re just fine.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan frowned slightly. It was just that he was too ustomed to dealing with matters by himself. He tended to keep all his emotions in his heart and did not want to tell others. He had never tried to emotionally rely on the people in front of him.

    Yi Ran stood there quietly, as quietly as snow melting, gentle and clear, which made Gu Tingchuan¡¯s heart tremble.

    ¡°I never really felt that you have difficulty connecting with me. Even if wee from different sses, you can at least understand me...It¡¯s just that things have changed and this seemed like something that¡¯s hard for us to handle.¡±

    Because he had a proud, reserved, and strong personality.

    She thought that they had already reached the stage where they were just like any pair of husband and wife with a tacit understanding of each other. But, it turned out that she was just too happy and had lost her sense of reality.

    ¡°I also wanted for us to be able to go out together and rx. Hopefully, your inspiration wille back. But, you didn¡¯t seem to want to, and in the end, no one can really force you. Sorry. I thought that I might be able to help you.¡±

    She ought to be able to rise up with great enthusiasm and persistently help him. But, when she took a step back, she realized how mentally and physically exhausted she was. Yi Ran really felt that a bit of change was needed in order to make him realize that the dilemma between them was something that they needed to resolve together.

    ¡°Gu Tingchuan, I n to move home and stay for a few days.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s expression froze and he lifted his head to look at her. ¡°What did you say¡­?¡±

    ¡°You need to think calmly about many things, so I¡¯ll give you some time. I believe you cane to a decision,¡± Yi Ran said, sounding calm. In fact, the more violently he reacted, the better it would be for her.

    ¡°Also, I know that it wasn¡¯t personal...¡±

    Gu Tingchuan, if you still need me, then find me again.

    Yi Ran took onest bite of her omelette and washed it down with thest of her coffee. She silently stood up and walked to the sofa. Without uttering a single word, she simply picked up the small bag that had been arranged earlier and left, closing the door behind her.

    The hurried movements at the door quickly disappeared, leaving only silence in its wake. Gu Tingchuan looked at the door for a long time, unable to calm down.

    He clearly knew that the anomalies these days were causing too much damage to her and the torment might result in irreversible damage to them. He had meant to tell her that there was a corner of his heart that belonged to her and even if he was suffering, he would also take responsibility for her.

    However, Yi Ran was obviouslypletely disappointed with him.

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s expression was cold as he looked at the breakfast she had prepared for him. But he could not eat half a bite. After thinking for a while, he got up and walked back to the studio. He turned on themp attached to the wall.

    This was where he had spent the longest time. But everything here, from theputers, projectors, yers...to the air conditioners, televisions, and even refrigerators, were all just cold machines. How could theypared to a soft, tender concern?

    He strode to the table and swept out his arms, scattering all the pens and papers and everything else on to floor. Then, he pulled back the chair and sat down heavily.

    Even as a child, Gu Tingchuan had never been good at talking with his family. He had already understood from a young age that there was no use in talking. It would not improve his situation at all.

    When he calmly thought about it, he wanted to find a mobile phone to call Yi Ran. But then, a momentter, he saw the small white pill bottle that had fallen to the ground. His assistant had bought it for him a few days ago to alleviate his migraines. He leaned over and pick it up, resting it on the corner of the table.

    In these past few days, his mental pressure was so great that he couldn¡¯t fall asleep and had a persistent headache. This feeling was especially strong when he was creating. It was like God was giving him both talents and trials hand in hand.

    In the end, Gu Tingchuan had to admit that he had long grown ustomed to Yi Ran being by his side and had became used to their new identity as husband and wife. His wish was not only to indulge and pamper her, but also to be able to talk to her honestly and unreservedly.

    He thought with some amusement: When did that girl manage to turn herself into a habit?

    When she had turned and wanted to leave, he felt such an inexplicable pain his heart, as if the thread with the sweetest happiness was being severed. It made him want to pour everything out to make her happy, only to realize in the end that there was no other cure. It seemed that he had long fallen in love with her.

    As he was thinking about it, Gu Tingchuan heard the doorbell ringing. He hurried out. The moment he opened the door, he almost blurted out, ¡°Yi Ran.¡±

    Xiao Zhao stood outside with a nk expression on his face. He wasn¡¯t sure if he should enter. When Director Gu turned back indifferently, he closed the door and carefully reminded, ¡°Director Gu, you told me toe here¡­?¡±

    Gu Tingchuan only said, ¡°En,¡± and walked slowly to the sofa in the living room. After sitting down, he opened the mobile phone in his hands.

    Xiao Zhao came up with hisptop and realized that Director Gu¡¯s condition had improved. Feeling settled in his heart, he said, ¡°Here is your work schedule for today. Do you need to add or revise¡­¡±

    Before he could finish speaking, Gu Tingchuan interrupted, ¡°There is only one work arrangement for today.¡±

    Xiao Zhao looked at the boss, and suddenly felt a little confused.

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s fingers covered his slightly painful forehead, and he said softly, ¡°Mrs. Gu is back at her mother¡¯s house.¡±

    Xiao Zhao did not even bat an eyelid but the corners of his mouth slightly stretched up. He saw the boss adjust his sitting position, his fingers wrapped around his mobile phone. He raised his gaze up to meet Xiao Zhao¡¯s eyes before lowering his gaze to ponder over something.

    He was thinking about how to properly redeem himself.

    It was time for him to recognize reality. After all, movies were movies, and life...had always been life.

    .....

    The heavy snow stopped for one day, only to begin again the next day. The fluffy snow was incessant and dense, gently falling in thick fragments. The white snow, apanied by the dim yellow street lights at night, added a touch of peace and romance to the atmosphere.

    When Yi Ran suddenly returned home, her parents were surprised. Not to mention, they also heard the matters regarding Yi Yihong. They asked her if she was in trouble with Gu Tingchuan and, in any case, she ought to stay with her husband at this time.

    With apletely innocent expression on her face, she told her parents that she came back because Gu Tingchuan was too busy.

    After dinner, she received a call from Zhang Rongrong. Because her hospital was understaffed and she worked overtime all day, they hadn¡¯t got together in a while.

    ¡°How are things with Director Gu? It seems like the situation¡¯s not too good, ah.¡±

    Hearing her voice, Yi Ran rxed. She lowered her voice and mocked herself. ¡°I have absolutely no fluctuations in my heart, and I sometimes even want tough.¡±

    ¡°Pffff.¡± Realizing that Yi Ran could still joke, Zhang Rongrong felt relieved. ¡°You need to stay inflexible. If Gu Tingchuan can¡¯t even take the initiative to talk to you then to hell with him!¡±

    Yi Ran touched her nose and told her a little bit of what happened. Zhang Rongrong said solemnly, ¡°Looking at his mental state, he wasn¡¯t intentionally notmunicating with you. Whatever his obstacles are, it would be better to unblock them.¡±

    Yi Ran held the mobile phone with one hand and touched herputer mouse with the other hand. ¡°Then, do you think it¡¯s a little inconsiderate that I left?¡±

    Zhang Rongrongughed gently and said, ¡°Probably not. Maybe stimting him will bring about surprising results. Not to mention, it might be able to help alleviate his pent up emotional and psychological state. It¡¯s also a good thing to let him develop the habit ofmunicating with you.¡±

    Yi Ran murmured an agreement, but before she could talk, the other party already ordered, ¡°You need to make peace quickly. I have a weddingingter this year and you muste with Director Gu. Then, everyone will know I¡¯m Mrs. Gu¡¯s girlfriend and afterward, I will have more face.¡±

    Yi Ran: ¡± ... ¡±

    After they hung up, it didn¡¯t take long for her mobile phone to rang again. She felt an inexplicable sense of panic but, once she lowered her head to look at the screen and realized that it was indeed the person she was hoping for, her heart suddenly calmed.

    When the phone rang again, Yi Ran picked up the call. After a moment of silence, Gu Tingchuan¡¯s voice came through quietly and softly. ¡°Yi Ran.¡±

    Her heart trembled slightly, but she couldn¡¯t allow him to see her shaken so she forced herself to calmly say, ¡°What is it?¡±

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s dark eyes narrowed slightly even as the corners of his mouth curved up in a smile. His voice was stern and serious as he said, ¡°The car I sent is waiting for you downstairs. Come here and we¡¯ll talk about it.¡±

    Yi Ran was surprised and asked him, ¡°Where?¡±

    The man¡¯s eyes held a deep smile. ¡°Get in the car first. Let me leave a little mystery.¡±

    She didn¡¯t know why but, after listening to Gu Tingchuan¡¯s voice, she could already imagine him gazing out at a distant ce, the snow falling heavily around him. His bright countenance gave him an incorporeal brilliance, making people want to keep looking at him and forgetting how to look away.

 Chapter 42 - Going to See the Snow

    Chapter 42: Going to See the Snow

    At sunset, Yi Ran looked up and stared at the distantndscape of mountains and stones. It was covered with a thinyer of snow. The car sent by Gu Tingchuan was heading towards the mountains, and the scenery along the way was extremely beautiful.

    It was precisely because of the snow that the sky was so grim and grey, making it hard to distinguish the correct time.

    Yi Ran thought that there was probably nothing that could make the whole city look more winter-like than a heavy snowfall. Looking at the whole Ming Bay, it seemed to be standing among the gully of years, creating such an irresistibly picturesque scene that her heart became breathless with amazement.

    She soon arrived at a small gazebo by the mountainke, which was a private residential area in Ming Bay. As a result, there were no outsiders trespassing and very few residents who coulde and go.

    Because of the sub-zero temperatures in recent days, a thinyer of ice had formed over theke. At this moment, the snow was drifting down, covering thendscape and the pavilion into a mixture of white and green. A man sat beside the pavilion, quietly admiring the view of the snowyke.

    Yi Ran realized that he must have been sitting for a long time, as if he was not afraid of the cold. His ck hair and shoulders were covered with ayer of snow. His back was leaning on the bench railing and the hair drooping over his forehead was mussed by the wind. The zipper of his ck down jacket was open, exposing a small section of skin at the neckline of his undershirt. His clear and cold eyes were especially alluring.

    The image was extremely picturesque. He looked so much like a lead straight out of a movie, making her recall the phrase: the moon¡¯s cold face was a blossom glistening with snow.

    Gu Tingchuan heard her approached and turned around. He lifted up his hands to touch the her windblown pink cheeks. As they drew closer, he saw snowkes hanging on her eyshes, like sparkling stars, and he couldn¡¯t help but gaze solemnly into her eyes.

    At this moment, the wind was peaceful and calm. Yi Ran pulled closer to him and pressed her hands over his hands on her cheeks. For the longest time, neither of them spoke.

    Finally, Gu Tingchuan¡¯s gaze slowly shifted away to look at the snowy scene around them. ¡°Now, it¡¯s snowing and a little windy, but it doesn¡¯t matter. The weather will get better in a bit.¡±

    She was silent for a moment before she finally shook her head helplessly and quietly said, ¡°Sometimes, I think you are the coldest and most ruthless person in the world, but sometimes, I think you are the most romantic and hopeless man ¡±

    Gu Tingchuan smiled and readily epted her description of him.

    He lifted the small nket on his right andid it beside her on the bench. Then, he raised his hand to ask her toe and sit.

    Yi Ran didn¡¯t know if she was moved by the scenery or by other reasons but, as she sat on the warm nket, her voice was very light. ¡°What is this? Are you giving great respect to the teacher to win sympathy points?¡±

    He leaned over and took her hands in his. Noticing that they were cold, he simply put his coat over their hands and said, ¡°The ¡®respect for the teacher¡¯ phrase here is very relevant. It depends on if you were touched or not.¡±

    His hands were wrapped around her own hands tightly and the enthusiasm and care with which he held her made her whole body feel warm. She couldn¡¯t help but look up and examine him. The corners of the man¡¯s mouth were slightly lifted and his deep eyes seemed to be coated with a cold mist.

    ¡°Yi Ran, I must admit that I also have a lot of ws, such as pride and holding my head down. This kind of character was probably developed since I was a teenager. I always thought that I was not the kind of person who would be affected by surrounding pressures, but this time...perhaps I did suffer some effects, which caused my mind to be nk.¡±

    She understood that he was always a calm-minded man, but sometimes he could be very harsh on himself.

    Moreover, the process of falling was so painful that no matter who it was, it was natural for the person to suffer some pain.

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s voice was a bit hoarse, and his dark eyes were especially bright and clear. ¡°This marriage is not just you. I¡¯m trying to be better but, so far, I¡¯m just a stupid beginner.¡±

    He rubbed her gradually warm fingertips and whispered softly, ¡°I shouldn¡¯t push you away.¡±

    At that time, when he asked her to be his wife, he had generally thought that they would have the sentiments and marriage of an arranged couple. He would have a wife and children to apany him. The two of them would quietly face the bits and pieces of the years together. Even if it was just this, he would have been content.

    But, he couldn¡¯t control love, which arrived a burning me in his heart. When he fell in love with her, he naturally began to want everything.

    Yi Ran saw Gu Tingchuan¡¯s Adam apple bobbed and perceived his changing mood. A strong fluctuation shifted through her heart as she began to believe in love.

    ¡°Gu Tingchuan, you have to know that your situation these days had made me very sad. You closed yourself off and didn¡¯t even need me to apany you by your side. I was so worried that you would nevere out of it.¡±

    She met his gaze and couldn¡¯t look away.

    ¡°There¡¯s a saying that goes: You are so talented, but why must you suffer?¡±

    His voice was clear but full of emotions as he said, ¡°Sorry, I shouldn¡¯t have kept you out.¡±

    Yi Ran smiled slowly. ¡°I know you wanted to be strong. I¡¯d only thought of it today. I think that maybe you dare not expose too much emotions to me because, even if the whole world pitied you, you don¡¯t want me to pity you...But, I¡¯m your wife. I like you so much that I really can¡¯t help myself.¡±

    She couldn¡¯t deny her feelings. She was deeply infatuated with him, with this gifted and distinguished and at the same time also narcissistic and indifferent man.

    Gu Tingchuan leaned over and pulled her against his chest with one arm. She looked up to meet his gaze but he had already turned his face and she only saw his handsome and solemn profile.

    In his movies, Gu Tingchuan always felt that onlyplicated rtionshipsst. Truthfully, this was actually very illogical. It was funny because now he realized that regardless of how perfect or imperfect, love was actually very fragile and could one day end due to a myriad of reasons.

    Their rtionship did not begin with love and desire. But, in the end, these became the very reasons that made them strive to safeguard their rtionship. It was not very innocent, but it was also still very pure.

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s eyes reflected the beautiful snow scene on theke, so bright and gentle that it made Yi Ran felt that she would always remember this scene. This moment was something precious that only she could experience in this world.

    ¡°Yi Ran, do you know how I see you?¡±

    She paused suddenly and stared at him nervously.

    Gu Tingchuan slowly said, ¡°Your personality has contradictions, but I really like your multifaceted nature. You have a certain appreciation for art, and you can speak reasonably and think quickly. In contrast, you can also y boyish video games well. I know that you have the ability to achieve more and to change to a more lucrative career. But, because you like to deal with children, you stayed in this profession and was still full of idealistic expectations...¡±

    He paused here, his expression calm but underlying this steadiness was a deep affection that could not be denied.

    Yi Ran knew that she was obviously not as good as what he imed her to be. But love was blind and it tends to make people stupidly intoxicated.

    At this time, Gu Tingchuan finally found his words again and thoughtfully said, ¡°Maybe, my next movie will be about a teacher.¡±

    Yi Ran still hadn¡¯t caught up to his train of thoughts. After a few seconds, she said, ¡°Really?¡±

    ¡°Yes. I was sitting here alone in the afternoon and thought of it. Maybe my ¡®inspiration¡¯ really came back.¡± He released her and turned to face her. ¡°Also, this is something that Ick and wish to give to you.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan saw that she was still at a loss for words. He spread out his palms and there rested a wedding ring that was slowly being covered with icy snow.

    The proposal ring was intricate and elegant, iid with a 3 carat diamond. It was clear that the ring was crafted by a team of ingenious jewelry craftsmen.

    The shape and curve of the golden base was like flowers in bloom, looking elegant and refined, intertwined with the natural, charming coquettishness of a lover.

    He unconsciously softened his tone. ¡°I also prepared a ring and, besides the ring, I also wanted to give you a grand wedding.¡±

    Yi Ran gave in and looked down at the ring again. Then, she ced her slender fingers against Gu Tingchuan¡¯s lips. She could feel his lips tremble slightly and her palms grew hot.

    ¡°I still insist on cultivating feeling with you first.¡±

    Her face was warm and full of smiles.

    Gu Tingchuan didn¡¯t say any more. Taking her left hand, he slipped the ring onto her ring finger.

    Ever since he met her, he was constantly surrounded by surprising and precious things. These things that he could hear with his ears, see with his eyes, and feel with his heart were all rarities in this world.

    Gu Tingchuan leaned in and kissed her. Her lips became slightly moist, and her cheeks grew hot with his warmth. His mouth was overbearing and enticing as he prated past her lips and encircled her tongue, passionately licking and sucking. She unconsciously grabbed his clothes, her body full of surging joy.

    They intimately embraced each other, the brush of their mouths like a war dance. Yi Ran trembled slightly, but she no longer felt the slightest bit cold. His kiss was always so seductive and their entangled tongues made her feel as if the earth and sky were turning upside down.

    He murmured against her lips, ¡°Look, the snow has stopped.¡±

    After the heavy snowfall, everything will melt into nothing. Tomorrow will be full of clear and cloudless skies and the nights will be covered in bright starlights.

 Chapter 43 - Ive Liked You From the Beginning

    Chapter 43: I¡¯ve Liked You From the Beginning

    Yi Ran lowered her head and rubbed her cheeks, which had flushed red due to the ambiguous atmosphere. With her mind finally settled, she turned her attention to theke¡¯s crystallized surface. In the distance, therge moon hung in the sky. This scene reallyplemented the appearance of the man next to her.

    ¡°The scenery here is really good. Do youe here often?¡±

    ¡°When I used to live here, I woulde out on the weekends to rx and organize my thoughts.¡± Gu Tingchuan smiled gently, holding her shoulder with one hand. He murmured softly, ¡°Here in the summer, you can take a boat ride on theke. There are also oak trees and willow trees nearby and more types of beautiful flowers than you can imagine.¡±

    Yi Ran¡¯s breath was a puff of white mist in front of her. She leaned her head on his shoulder and looked up silently at the distant lights. After a while, she said, ¡°I don¡¯t know if I¡¯m disturbing your interest, but I¡¯m really hungry¡­¡±

    After she quietly muttered this, she raised her eyes and smiled at him. ¡°And you haven¡¯t been eating welltely. Shall we go for a big meal?¡±

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s face was amused, as if he had already guessed it. ¡°I already told Xiao Zhao to book a restaurant. Let¡¯s go.¡±

    Once Yi Ran was inside the car, Gu Tingchuan simply instructed the driver to drive and did not specify the destination. She felt a bit puzzled and smiled at him. ¡±Director Gu, are you giving me another mystery?¡±

    The man¡¯s expression was calm and unhurried as he leaned against the backseat of the car. He lightly said, ¡°In short, it will be a ce you¡¯ll like.¡±

    Yi Ran eagerly waited until they arrived at the luxurious hotel they were atst time.

    Gu Tingchuan had booked the hotel¡¯s high-level Chinese restaurant in advance. Neatly arranged on both sides of the elegant rectangr dining table were tableware andmps that looked like unique works of art. Waiters shuttled silently between the tables and chairs while guests asionally talked in polite murmurs.

    Director Gu sat before the white tablecloth, his eyes calm and clear. His temperament was iparably outstanding. While looking at the menu, Yi Ran told him, ¡°Eat a little warm food to nourish your stomach.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan nodded, made a pot of tea, and ordered a few snacks such as shrimp dumplings, crystal cakes, and other simr dishes, wanting to let her pad her belly first.

    Yi Ran silently buried her face behind the menu and snickered. My God, this feeling was really great.

    But, after thinking it over, she didn¡¯t feel right. The man...hadn¡¯t said ¡°that¡± to her yet.

    Even if she could almost confirm Gu Tingchuan¡¯s thoughts, but without the words, she would always feel that there was something missing.

    Gu Tingchuan inadvertently looked over and didn¡¯t know what the girl was doing.

    He had remembered what she said before very clearly. Since she had never stayed at this hotel before, he wanted to take her for a night.

    Yi Ran ate hot food and looked more lively. Once they got to their hotel room, she checked it out both inside and out. Then, she took off her shoes, slipped her feet into soft slippers prepared by the hotel staff, and fell back on thefortable bed.

    This was the best presidential suite, ah¡­ She felt that even breathing in this room would cost money.

    Gu Tingchuan calmly took off his jacket, then reached out and began undoing his cor. When Yi Ran slightly raised her body to look at him, she saw that the man¡¯s gold-ted buttons were open, and his posture was elegant and ambiguous.

    Her eyesughed at him. ¡°Have you ever stayed alone at a hotel before?¡±

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s was still taking off his clothing. He casually nced at her and said, ¡°Otherwise, would Xiao Zhao stay with me? I¡¯ll take a shower first.¡±

    Yi Ran felt that he seemed particrly anxious and didn¡¯t know why. She just wanted to dig for some gossip and to ask if he ever had a female staring knocking on his door before.

    She turned her head and saw the bright night view of the city outside the floor-to-ceiling window. The light and furnishings in the room catered to the breathtaking view outside the window. The visual feast of this scene formed a beautiful enjoyment.

    Hearing the faint sound of water flowing from the bathroom, Yi Ren still could not hold back, and her face was constantly beaming.

    Not long after, Gu Tingchuan came out with a white bath towel wrapped around his narrow hips. She was curled up on the sofa, looking at her mobile phone. She nced at him from the corner of her eyes and saw the man¡¯s firm pectoral muscles. His back and abdomen were tall and straight. Feeling her mouth suddenly go dry, she hurried up and handed him a bottle of mineral water. ¡°Oh right. I wanted to ask you¡­¡±

    Gu Tingchuan took the water from her, but still didn¡¯t n to say anything. He just told her directly, ¡°Go wash up. You were at thekeside and your body is probably cold.¡±

    Yi Ran: ¡± ... ¡±

    Why did it feel like her husband didn¡¯t want to chat with her?

    She pursed her lips. The heater was on in the room and she even ate already. She was obviously already warm enough. But, he was silently looking at her so she had to pick up her bathrobe and walk away.

    The bathroom was very warm, making her feel hotter after taking a shower. Yi Ran took a water bottle from the cupboard and took a few sips. When she walked back to the bedroom, she unexpectedly happened to see the man with his bath towel off, revealing the contours of his strong legs. The area between his legs was bulging spectacrly underneath his brief.

    She choked on the water in her mouth and stared at him speechlessly.

    ¡°You, what are you doing ¡­¡±

    Yi Ran was trembling slightly. She knew they would roll the sheets tonight, but he really was too anxious.

    Gu Tingchuan heard her voice and turned around. She saw that he was on the phone but did not hear what the other party said. The man had already said, ¡°I¡¯ll call againter,¡± then promptly hang up and walked over.

    Yi Ran took a step back, but he wrapped his arms around her waist and lowered his head to lightly nuzzle the slope of her neck.

    ¡°It¡¯s itchy ¡­¡±

    Gu Tingchuan lightly nibbled her neck as a bit of punishment and whispered, ¡°Do you remember ... when was thest time?¡±

    Yi Ran¡¯s cold fingers brushed across his warm cheek. He lifted his head and gently pressed his forehead against hers. She lowered her eyes and did not dare to look at him. After all, it had been a while since they were so intimate.

    ¡°But we need to talk for a bit and cultivate the atmosphere.¡±

    Gu Tingchuanughed softly and lifted her slightly wet hair away. ¡°Then we¡¯ll talk in a while.¡±

    Yi Ran¡¯s entire body felt as if it was bright red as she fell back on the bed. As he wasing up, she rolled over slightly and, as a result, was hugged from behind.

    She had delicate facial features, and though they were not particrly striking, she was still very beautiful. But, her face became even more charming when she blushes.

    ¡°Wait a minute ...¡± Even if they weren¡¯t chatting, he had to say it first.

    Gu Tingchuan lowered his eyes, which were unable to hide his restlessness. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±

    ¡°You, did you miss something this afternoon?¡±

    He maintained hisposure but smiled in amusement. ¡°What?¡±

    Yi Ran turned her face to look at the great director, her eyes bright. ¡°You really don¡¯t know? That¡­ I won¡¯t be at ease if you don¡¯t say it.¡±

    Gi Tingchuan tightened his hug from behind her. After a few seconds of silence, his lips parted against her ear. ¡°Yi Ran, in fact, I¡¯ve liked you very early on.¡±

    It was theplete truth.

    Yi Ran¡¯s heart seemed to be swept up by a storm, and her whole body felt as if it was floating. It turned out... After being confessed to in this way, all her senses were infinitely amplified.

    His lips pressed lower and lower while his fingers undid the knot of her bathrobe and peeled off the garment.

    Yi Ran¡¯s eyes were moist. Her slender figure was now lying prone on the bed, her long legs curled up, and her hands trembled as she gripped the headboard. Every slight movement of his mouth stirred her whole body, as if she was a bowstring underneath his touch.

    Yi Ran couldn¡¯t help but straightened even as she clung tightly to him. His posture made made her gasp slightly.

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s eyes were full of amusement. ¡°Why tremble? Are you cold?¡±

    Yi Ran mumbled, ¡°From behind, you¡¯re much sexier than me.¡±

    She still remembered the first time she saw Director Gu. From the waist to the curve of his butt, the sight was like a picture, giving her a considerable ¡°shock¡±.

    He embraced her, not knowing if he should express his gratitude for her praise. But, there was such a soft and smoothndscape in front of his eyes that he couldn¡¯t help saying, ¡°The usual practice is good.¡±

    She was tempted into helplessness and could only slowly open her body in his arms, her toes clenched tightly. As the gap between them disappeared, she could feel the man¡¯s inherent strength. No matter how many times, each time was a temptation that she could not resist.

    ¡­..

    The night scene was tititing. After being physically exhausted several times, Gu Tingchuan held her as theyid in bed. She turned over and looked at him, feeling that this moment was rare and incredibly satisfying.

    She had always wanted to lie down and chat with him like this. However, she really didn¡¯t know what to say. She pressed her lips together and propped her head up with her arm. She saw his profile and felt emotionally moved.

    Gu Tingchuan was just talking to someone on the phone. She closed her eyes and thought for a while. Afterward, she finally said, ¡°You said earlier that you wanted to base your movie on teachers?¡±

    Gu Tingchuan ced the phone aside and his eyes narrowed slightly as he thought about it. ¡°I have some ideas. I¡¯ll see if I can write a script when we got back.¡±

    She was deeply touched, and after thinking about it, she looked up and asked him, ¡°Guess which of your movies I like the most? ¡±

    Gu Tinghuan looked at her with clear eyes. ¡°Dark River?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re so smart!¡± Yi Ran¡¯s face brightened: ¡°When I watched this film, I always felt that the thought I wanted to express was already expressed in the most beautiful way in the world. When I think of it, the whole person will feel refreshed.¡±

    The light from outside the window scattered over her raven hair, making her look bright and hazy. It was just like her character. She was always full of contradiction, making her seem so unpredictable.

    At this moment, he gave it a little thought: ¡°In that case, let¡¯s continue.¡±

    After saying this, he lowered his head and kissed her forehead. He said huskily, ¡°I won¡¯t avoid it in the future. Even when things get difficult, I won¡¯t avoid my feelings. I don¡¯t think there is much I can do in this life, but at least I can leave something in the form of a movie.¡±

    Yi Ran responded to him with a soft. Her voice was soft and firm as she said, ¡°Director Gu, you will be a great master.¡±

 Chapter 44 - Inseparable Love and Affection

    Chapter 44: Inseparable Love and Affection

    The days when the snow melt was always the coldest. The New Year¡¯s Day seemed to have arrived early this year, and the school¡¯s winter vacation also have arrived even earlier. As Yao Juan was wrapping up examining papers in the office, he looked up at Yi Ran¡¯s elegant silhouette. Coughing a few times, he covered his mouth and said, ¡°In the blink of an eye, it¡¯s already the end of exam. Life moves really fast.¡±

    Yi Ran was going to a dinner tonight so she had finished up early. Smiling sweetly, she said, ¡°Yes, I have to go to my inw¡¯s house for New Year¡¯s Eve this year. It¡¯s very exciting.¡±

    Yao Juan reluctantly wanted tough, and finally shook his head.

    Since she and Gu Tingchuan had talked things out and exchanged feelings, although their daily work and lives hadn¡¯t changed much, she feltpletely different. They were more intimate when alone and, when he kisses her, she seemed to feel several times more shyer than before.

    In the past, Yi Ran could still have some secret thoughts. Now, in front of Director Gu, all the secrets would be exposed instantly. The frequency of the two people had smoothed out to the same pace, which was both sweet and exciting.

    Regarding Director Gu¡¯s Homing, after the male lead actor, Yi Yihong, announced his temporary break from acting, people¡¯s evaluation of the film seemed to change.

    ¡°It was not dark nor was it boastful. I rmend this martial arts film, which was clearly shot by very knowledgeable and talented people.¡±

    ¡°Master PO¡¯s main points were very reasonable. If it were others, they can¡¯t even shoot it half so well. Director Gu really had a lot of courage!¡±

    ¡°Recently, a magazine from abroad wrote an article about Homing saying that it was the best movie of the year, ahh.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan also recently epted a short media interview in order to ¡°stabilize the military heart.¡± He said that through this film, he had learned to be ¡°modest¡± and ¡°reflective¡±, and the next film will change and return to tradition.

    However, even when the man spoke such humble and introspective words, he had the courage to ignore others. In front of the camera, his handsome face was apathetic and indifferent.

    When Gu Tingchuan came to Yi Ran¡¯s office and sped the door frame, his little wife was still chatting with Yao Juan and smiling. His expression was quiet and straightforward, which caused some chatter in the office when he appeared.

    Hepletely ignored the eyes of others and said in a low voice, ¡°Yi Ran, let¡¯s go?¡±

    She looked back at the man and was immediately seduced by the low-pitched voice. ¡°Yes, right now!¡±

    Turning around, she hurriedly said goodbye to Yao Juan and trotted out with her bag.

    Gu Tingchuan walked beside her, the sounds of his leather shoes steady in the corridor. There seemed to be some dissatisfaction. His fingers were possessively wrapped around her waist and the distance between them was naturally closer.

    Yi Ran was worried about other things, so she didn¡¯t notice that he was acting a little strange.

    Gu Linfeng and his wife had just returned from their vi in Australia. They nned to spend the New Year in S City this year. As soon as they returned, they asked the two sons and daughter-inws over for the weekend. Of course, they most wanted to see Gu Tai.

    Although Yi Ran already had some experience when facing the two elders, this would be the first time she met Gu Tai¡¯s mother and so she was still a little nervous.

    Gu Tingchuan brought his nephew out of the ssroom and sat in the car. As he looked out the window at the vehiclesing and going, he felt inexplicably unpleasant. Why must he be annoyed by the things that he had long been ustomed to?

    But he knew clearly that if he hadn¡¯t defeated him in the first ce, she would probably now be with that young man named Yao Juan.

    This thought made him feel unhappy.

    Gu Tai put down his small school bag in the back seat of the car and sensitively realized that his uncle was a little upset. He looked up and looked at Yi Ran. Seeing that she was obliviously admiring the scenery, he pretended that he found nothing and took out his video game console.

    .....

    By the time they arrived at the Gu family estate in Ming Bay, the stars were scattered in the dark night sky and the interior of the mansion was brightly lit. There was a spicy and delicious vor drifting in the air and making people¡¯s appetite greatly increase. What surprised Yi Ran was that everyone seemed to be treating her better than before.

    Sheng Ru smiled more resplendently than in the past. She took Yi Ran¡¯s hand and said gently, ¡°Listen to your mother. You like spicy food and today¡¯s chef is good at Sichuan cuisine so you have to eat a little bit more.¡±

    Yi Ran was ttered. As they walked away from the others, she listened to her mother-inw whispering, ¡°You worked hard a while ago. Tingchuan is easily stressed when he works, but fortunately you are there. ¡±

    So that¡¯s how it was. It was probably that a while ago, Homing caused a series of turbulence, and Gu Tingchuan was emotionally nervous. However, his family were helpless. Now that he had recovered his spirit, she could be regarded as having achieved some credit.

    Yi Ran knew that Sheng Ru shouldn¡¯t say any more, and she responded urgently, ¡°Mom, you saying this is not true. You have been taking care of Tingchuan much harder than me.¡±

    Sheng Ru was satisfied with this remark and turned around to invite everyone in.

    Little Gu Tai entered the room and had barely just sat down on the couch when a tall woman ran up to him and pulled him into her embrace. ¡°Little darling, did you have any trouble in ss today? Tell mother.¡±

    Yi Ran was somewhat surprised to see this scene. She thought that the woman who would leave her son behind while she went abroad would be the cold and sharp type. She didn¡¯t expect Gu Tai¡¯s mother to be very cute. But she was indeed a youngdy, wearing an elegant knee-length dress. She was as thin as a model, with bright skin and perfect makeup. Even her big eyes looked very fairy-like.

    After she finishedmunicating with Gu Tai, she turned around and saw Yi Ran standing on the edge. Her face brightly lit up. ¡°Hello, today we finally met. I heard Gu Tingyong said that you took very good care of Gu Tai. ¡±

    She looked more or less curiously at Yi Ran, who was used to it. She smiled and said, ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I¡¯m also his teacher and should do it¡­ Besides, he has such a handsome uncle.¡±

    Yi Ran¡¯s joked eased the atmosphere between them. Lin Yuanyu nced back at the two brothers who were talking in low voices by the dining table, pouted and said, ¡°The Gu men are very handsome. I also suffered from the ¡®Good-Looks Fan Club¡¯.¡±

    Although Lin Yuanyu¡¯s dress and appearance, and even the way she moved her hands and feet, were all elegant and refined, Yi Ran found that,pared to Gu Tai, this mother had a more childish heart. It was not difficult for Yi Ran to understand what she did before...

    Maybe it was because the Gu family¡¯s behavioral changes came too suddenly. Yi Ran ate until she was full. After the meal, she chatted with her mother-inw and Lin Yuanyu for a bit. Then, Gu Tai pulled her clothes and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go y games over there?¡±

    Yi Ran heard the words and immediately brightened. She turned to look at Gu Tingchuan next to her. After getting his acquiescence, she allowed Gu Tai to pull her in front of therge screen TV. After sitting on the carpet, she took the game console in hand.

    Gu Tai¡¯s dark eyes reflected the bright colors from the screen. ¡°Did you have an argument with my uncle?¡±

    ¡°Ah? No ... what¡¯s wrong?¡±

    ¡°You didn¡¯t notice that he¡¯s a little upset?¡±

    Yi Ran¡¯s mind faintly thought back to Gu Tingchuan¡¯s beautiful face while driving, which was indeed more silent than usual.

    But ... nothing special happened. Or did he have a problem with his script?

    After they yed a few rounds, Lin Yuanyu¡¯s bright voice came from the drawing room on the right. ¡°Be careful of your liver. Grandma wants to say a few words to you!¡±

    Yi Ran smirked and looked at her young nephew. ¡°Quickly go. Be careful of the liver. ¡±

    Gu Tai got up with a dark face and walked away. After a while, she heard footsteps behind her. At first, she thought it Gu Tingchuan. Looking back, she realized that it was Gu Tingyong, who was holding a ss of wine.

    His temperament was very different from Gu Tingchuan¡¯s, but his face was a bit simr. Setting the cup aside, he sat on the sofa not far away. Yi Ran realized that she had never been alone with this elder brother before.

    ¡°A lot of things happened a while ago. For my brother, it was a lot of twists and turns.¡± He smiled at her, lowered his voice and said, ¡°As his brother, I am actually useless to help. ¡±

    She was a little embarrassed and secretly thought of how to answer. ¡°Brother, you are too modest. Gu Tingchuan and I both agreed that, because he has you to support him, he could shoot without any distractions. ¡±

    Gu Tingyong shook his head and spectively said, ¡°In the past few years, he was indifferent to everyone, talked harshly, and had also experienced stress and emotional blockage. I was worried that he will have too much anxiety, but it seems that he is more rxed now than in the past. Thank you for being with him.¡±

    ¡°I haven¡¯t done anything special, and many issues he could handle himself.¡± Yi Ran look down the handle in her hand and whispered, ¡°But if he needs me, I will stay with him.¡±

    Gu Tingyong had never understood the reason why his brother was so adamant about Yi Ran. But now, he realized why. Even couples who had known each other for a long time would not dare say such words, let alone in rtion to someone like Gu Tingchuan. If they were not of the same mind, then they would not be so sentimental.

    Later, he saw the Gu Tingchuan seemed to have noticed that they were talking and his expression had a look of protectiveness. He thought that, for ordinary people, Gu Tingchuan was so difficult to approach. But now, with Yi Ran, he seemed to carry the sentiments of ordinary people.

    Yi Ran turned her face and saw Gu Tingchuan entered the living room. He handed her a ss of wine. Her heart warmed and her eyes smiled cleverly up at him. ¡°Gu Tingchuan, how about you buy me a game too?¡±

    Gu Tingchuan nced at him swiftly before turning his attention back to her. ¡°I¡¯ll buy, as long as you don¡¯t get too addicted.¡±

    Yi Ran naturally pulled his sleeve and smiled at him. ¡°It depends on your performance.¡±

    Gu Tingyong simply did not want to look at this picture. In contrast, the separation between him and Lin Yuanyu had not gone away and it was now harder for them to get along.

 Chapter 45 - Young Idol

    Chapter 45: Young Idol

    After Yi Ran yed with Gu Tai for a while, Gu Tingchuan called for the child to go to bed. Then, he took Yi Ran to the indoor window sill on the second floor to look at the night scene. She looked down at the hand he was holding and then looked back up at him. The man looked extraordinarily distinguished under the lights and her heart began pounding.

    Tonight, although Yi Ran had a better perception of it, she still didn¡¯t understand the world of the wealthy.

    She knew that even when a person¡¯s spiritual strength was stronger, the gap in the material world could still be clearly seen. Just like Gu Tingyong and Lin Yuanyu, both of whom were used to an exquisite and luxurious lifestyle. After listening to them discuss finances and politics, she realized that despite Lin Yuanyu¡¯s childish nature, her knowledge was not superficial.

    This realization made her feel that even though she and Gu Tingchuan were so different, he nevertheless became a lover within her reach. Their marriage was indeed a magical existence.

    They walked all the way to the bay window and the silent solitude was different from the lively atmosphere downstairs. It was elegantly decorated with tables and chairs in the European style. Gu Tingchuan leaned down and lightly kissed her cheek. She stared nkly at him for a moment before she recovered enough to smile. ¡°Do you have something you want to tell me?¡±

    Gu Tingchuan didn¡¯t rush to answer but found a rattan chair and sat down. He only wore a shirt and a long ck dress pants. With aposed temperament and a gentleplexion, he nced at her and said, ¡°If I want to be alone with you, do I have to have something to say?¡±

    In this gentle moonlight, she looked back at him quietly and walked toward him. She didn¡¯t sit down in front of him but leanedfortably back against the table. She didn¡¯t have long legs like a model, but her legs were straight and well-proportioned. Her hips, wrapped in jeans, were slightly curved, and at the moment, with her pressed against the table, she looked particrly tempting.

    He took her hand lightly and did not say what she wanted to know but instead carelessly asked, ¡°Do you want to drink tea? There are tea in the cupboard, with teapots and cups, all washed.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s not bother the director¡¯s hands. I¡¯ll make it for you.¡±

    Yi Ran turned around to take out a clean tea set. As he watched her slim and petite back, Gu Tingchuan¡¯s eyes darkened. Finally, the corners of his mouth hooked up. ¡°I was thinking that since we have a husband and wife rtionship, shouldn¡¯t you be more aware of this problem?¡±

    She turned back in surprise and the cup knocked against the porcin te with a clear sound. ¡°When am I not aware of?¡±

    ¡°Regarding your suitor, shouldn¡¯t you keep a distance?¡±

    Yi Ran guessed something vaguely in her mind, but she couldn¡¯t believe it. She restrained the giddy smile on her mouth and brought up the hot water for the tea set. In the next second, Gu Tingchuan got up and took the te from her. After cing it on the table steadily, he lifted the pot handle and slowly pour the tea. At that moment, the only sound was the tea flowing quietly.

    She raised an eyebrow at him. ¡°My suitor? Who¡¯s that?¡±

    ¡°Have Yao Juan ever pursued you?¡±

    Yi Ran took a tea cup and brought it up to her lips. Her heart was clearly threatening to jump out of her chest, but she still pretended to be calm. She said, ¡°No. When he began to show me a good impression, I was already married...Hey? The great and majestic Director Gu, how could he be so unexpectedly petty?¡±

    Gu Tingchuan stared at her and resolutely asked, ¡°Have you liked any other man before?¡±

    Yi Ran let out a puff ofughter. Who knew that in the next moment, she would suddenly be pulled into his arms. He held her so tightly that she could notugh anymore.

    The moonlight streaming through the window sill traced her elegant features and the girl in his arms seemed to be be even more exquisite.

    ¡°I¡¯ve never talked about love before. At most, a long time ago, I secretly liked a senior who yed basketball in the yground. If you want to turn over ¡®old ounts,¡¯ mine is definitely less than yours.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan saw her proud look and turned his face to softly kiss her ear. The gentle kiss was like an electric shock throughout her body, making her want to escape but she could not resist against his strength.

    Yi Ran decided to relent and appease him instead. ¡°However, if I had met you during my school days, I would definitely love you secretly.¡±

    Even though he already knew the answer, Gu Tingchuan still asked, ¡°Why?¡±

    Seeing that he cared so much, Yi Ran realized that she was probably the first person to get this ¡°honor.¡±

    ¡°There are other reasons aside from your good looks.¡± She didn¡¯t dare to stare into his eyes and looked at the tea cup on the table. ¡°When I was chatting with your brother earlier, he said that you were different from others since you were little. When you were both in the same junior high school, whenever he came to see you after school, he would often find that other ssmates were ying but you...would be leaning against the streetmps by the wall, studying under the moonlight.¡±

    She could even imagine how beautiful the sight was. A handsome schoolboy standing alone and wearing a clean school uniform, his dark ck hair gleaming under the quiet moonlight. Who knew how many girls already fell for it?

    ¡°I really don¡¯t have any resistance to literary youths like you.¡±

    Although he didn¡¯t know whether she was teasing or praising him, Gu Tingchuan thought her performance was a pass. His eyes gradually lowered to her lips and he said in admonishment, ¡°Remember to keep a distance from Yao Juan in the future.¡±

    Before Yi Ran had time to answer, the man pressed his lips to her shoulder first before capturing her mouth in a kiss. His eyes were reflections of lights and his expression was slightly overbearing.

    With her in front of him like this, Gu Tingchuan was moved by a deep affection. He continued to kiss her soft and tender lips, even in front of the window, where anyone could pass by.

    Yi Ran devoted herself whole-heartedly to this deep kiss and had no time to care about others.

    ......

    The school¡¯s winter vacation officially began after the end of final exam.

    In addition to Gu Tai achieving first ce in ss as in the past, Hao Ziyue¡¯s performance also improved significantly. Yi Ran was deeply relieved that she volunteered to work overtime to help tutor him on his bad writing skills.

    As for Shi Xiang, he was dismissed from the school. The new principal will take over for him in the new year.

    In addition to visiting both her family and her inws, Yi Ran also supervised Gu Tingchuan¡¯s physical and mental health as he worked. Although the man took a few days off for the New Year celebration, he was already preparing for his next project. Thus, their honeymoon had to be dyed due to various matters involving the new movie.

    Yi Ran was not upset about this because she could fully understand Gu Tingchuan¡¯s position on this matter. He needed to prove himself again with the next film. If he couldn¡¯t return to the peak, then he probably couldn¡¯t let go of the past failure.

    After Gu Tingchuan¡¯s script outline was written, he often went to thepany to meet with producers in the creative department. When he got home, he would continue to polish the script.

    Unlike before, Yi Ran could not only enter and exit his studio at any time, but he would even approach her to discuss the script.

    In no time, thepany¡¯s production department began to start various preparatory work. The directing department also found a lot of actors for Gu Tingchuan. This time, he had a clear image of what kind of male and female protagonists he wanted. As for the male protagonist, he intended to use a neer. Soon, this selection was narrowed down to three people.

    Yi Ran had nothing to do during the holidays so she would often visit thepany with loving meals and have lunch with him.

    Currently, her identity was also different. There were a bunch of fans that seemed to like family members of big stars, and so she had to wear a hat with the brim lowered whenever she visited.

    The car was parked in front of the building door, and Yi Ran was able tofortably enter the internal elevator. She carried a bag of fruits all the way to the top floor, where Director Gu¡¯s office was located. When she saw Xiao Zhao, she smiled kindly and said, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Is Director Gu not here?¡±

    Xiao Zhao asked the secretary to take her fruits first before taking her back to the elevator. ¡°Director Gu and the deputy director are interviewing the candidates for the leading actor role in the auditorium downstairs.¡±

    This immediately aroused Yi Ran¡¯s interest. ¡°I heard that the director intended to use ¡®little fresh meat¡¯? May I have a look?¡±

    Xiao Zhao smiled and took Mrs. Gu down to the casting room, where a few candidates were waiting outside in the hallway. She looked at them and saw that they were really pleasing to the eyes.

    The actor closest to her was a young man who looked only a few years younger than her, probably in his early twenties. He was standing and looking around at the door of the casting room. The moment he noticed her, his face exposed some doubts.

    ¡°Where did I see you¡­¡± He came over and looked at her for a moment. ¡°Are you Director Gu¡¯s...wife?¡±

    Yi Ran was slightly surprised. ¡°Do you really recognize me?¡±

    The boy had just set foot in the entertainment industry and had no worries. He said unobtrusively, ¡°I love to read gossip magazines and saw the photo of you and Director Gu kissing at the hotel doorst time!¡±

    The person standing beside him was probably his agent, who gave him a stern nce so that he would shut up and stop talking.

    ¡°Sorry, Mrs. Gu. This is a neer to ourpany. He still doesn¡¯t understand ...¡±

    However, since he mentioned it, the other two young actors who stood a little farther away also cast curious nces at Yi Ran. After whispering for a while, they came over to say hello.

    ¡°Are you really the director¡¯s wife? You are so young and beautiful.¡±

    ¡°Mrs. Gu, hello, I¡¯m d to meet you. I graduated from the Film Academy¡­¡±

    Yi Ran was secretly ecstatic. Who knew that, because of Gu Tingchaun¡¯s face, she could enjoy being called beautiful? It was no wonder that wealthy women would want to take care of their little white faces. The feeling was just too awesome!!!

    She was chatting with them enthusiastically, until the door to the audition room opened from the inside and the deputy director, Lu Shan, nodded to her with a smile. Then, he moved over and Gu Tingchuan walked out. He looked at her, looked at the handsome young men around her, and his eyes darkened slightly.

    Xiao Zhao saw the boss¡¯ expression and cleverly smile. He told everyone, ¡°Well, Director Gu must take a ten-minute break first. The next candidate should prepare in advance.¡±

 Chapter 46 - Passionately in Love

    Chapter 46: Passionately in Love

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s appearance caused the originally harmonious atmosphere to immediately be tense. Those agents and actors straightened and dared not to even breathe as they watched his face.

    Director Gu himself turned a blind eye to these. Although he recently raised some protestations about Yao Juan, he was not a man who would indiscriminately eat vinegar. At this moment, he only gave them a cursory nce before fixing his gaze on Yi Ran. His voice was inconceivably gentle as he said, ¡°When did you arrive?¡±

    Yi Ran smiled slightly. ¡°Just a little while ago. Were we talking too loudly and bothered you?¡±

    Lu Shan opened his mouth, then paused and looked at Director Gu. Meanwhile, Gu Tingchuan¡¯s expression did not change at all. He merely smiled at her and said, ¡°No, I just needed a rest.¡±

    The young actor who was chatting with Yi Ran approached and thoughtlessly and suddenly interjected, ¡°Director Gu, your wife is very cute and has a good personality. We just talked for a bit and she ispletely different from what I expected.¡±

    The agent beside him couldn¡¯t wait to find a seal to block his mouth, but Gu Tingchuan only smiled coldly and spit out a short sentence, ¡°Thank you. If you have time, you should pay more attention to the audition.¡±

    After saying this, he turned to the deputy director and his assistant and said, ¡°I¡¯ll return to the office to take a short rest.¡±

    It should be known that, in the past, getting the ¡°workaholic¡± Director Gu to put down his work for even a little bit to rest was simply an impossible task. But now, Yi Ran appeared and, every time he looked at her, he would smile brilliantly, making people feel as if he was totally indulging in love.

    Gu Tingchuan walked by her side and tried to fix the scarf around her neck. However, she held down the back of his hand and looked at him, saying, ¡°Actually, I¡¯ll just take it down. Yourpany¡¯s heater is on and I feel hot.¡±

    He simply took off her scarf for her and ced it in her hands. Then, he raised his eyebrows and reminded her, ¡°It¡¯s been cold recently. Be more careful of your body.¡±

    The two people getting along with each other so naturally, just like a young couple, really opened the eyes of the crowd.

    Yi Ran walked into the elevator in a happy mood. Gu Tingchuan stepped inside after her and turned to press the elevator button. He gaze rested on the group of youthful male actors.

    Each figures was healthy, with bright facial features. They were all clearly visually attractive. He still couldn¡¯t hold back and looked at her deeply. He raised his lips and asked, ¡°So happy?¡±

    Yi Ran smirked and teasingly said, ¡°I¡¯m not stupid. These new generation actors don¡¯t really want to provoke me. They want to be close to me so they could borrow me¡­ But I¡¯m satisfied. Hahaha.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s lips tipped up. He quietly looked away and, after a moment, said, ¡°This profession has many rules and regtions. Before, the reason why I didn¡¯t take you out into the circle was also because I wanted to avoid this.¡±

    He sighed helplessly but, after having been under Yi Ran¡¯s influence for a while now, his sense of humor had increased. ¡°Don¡¯t say they are just good to you. Many actors are also dedicated to me.¡±

    Sheughed and said with a smile, ¡°Director Gu also had a lot of hardships. With such high charisma, he can make all living things go crazy over him.¡±

    When the elevator door dinged open, Gu Tinghuan looked down at her and suddenly softly said, ¡°Yi Ran.¡±

    She froze slightly and looked at him intently.

    Gu Tingchuan didn¡¯t rush to speak but first reach out to hold the elevator door open. After Yi ran walked out, he followed closely behind. His voice came sightly from behind her right. ¡°I¡¯m busy with my work. In the near future, it may be even harder to find time. But, filming is a career I can¡¯t give up. I can adjust and manage some schedules and tasks, but I won¡¯t be able to control everything¡­¡±

    ¡°I already understood all of this,¡± Yi Ran interrupted. She stood outside his office door, faintly emitting a fresh and sweet fragrance. ¡°At least, I¡¯ll have winter and summer vacations so I can cooperate with you. We still have more time, and if a situationes up in the future, it won¡¯t be toote to discuss it.¡±

    In fact, what really made Yiran happy today was nothing more than being able to further participate in his work and in his life. The fact that such a man, who was originally aloof and reserved, was able to share his life with her like this today was already a sea of change.

    Gu Tingchuan stepped into the office and embraced her. He lowered his head and softly said next to her ear, ¡°We didn¡¯t even have a chance to go on a good trip. I was nning on taking you deep sea fishing.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡± Yi Ran was interested after hearing that she might be having some fun. Although she regretted not being able to set off right away, as long as she was apanied by this person, doing soter would never be toote.

    Some journeys, as long as you walk with the right person, were already too short to begin with.

    Wrapping her arms around his waist, she raised her head up to look at him. ¡°Let¡¯s wait until next time. Anyway, there will be time in the future.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan raised his hand and touched her cheek gently. His soft and alluring eyes noticed Yi Ran¡¯s body slightly trembling, and he promised her word by word, ¡°Whether it is a wedding, a honeymoon, or whatever you desire, I will make it happen one by one, as you wished.¡±

    His voice was clear and distinct, lingering in her ears.

    It made her believe that waiting together was already like flowers blossoming.

    ¡­¡­

    Originally, Yi Ran nned to apany Gu Tingchuan in eating fruits, then to admire the ¡°small fresh meat¡± and then return home. However, in the afternoon, the weather suddenly changed. The spring rain fell down softly like catkins, wrapping the city wetly in a denseyer of rain and fog.

    Gu Tingchuan did not want her to run around on such a rainy day and said out of selfishness, ¡°Stay in my office. You can rest or surf the inte. When I¡¯m not too busy, we¡¯ll have dinner together.¡±

    Yi Ran dly epted this proposal. It was usually not a problem for her to sit in front of aputer all day, but after sitting for a long time, her back began to ache. As a result, she decided to visit other ces in the building.

    Outside, the sky was still gloomy and drizzling. Although it was not too cold, the weather will inevitably cool the temperature by a few degrees.

    She walked to the hallway with the windows opened and still felt the cold. Regretting that she did not bring her scarf, she was about to return to the office when she suddenly saw a woman walking towards her.

    Because she was not psychologically prepared, Yi Ran did not respond for a while and so did not immediately turn around and leave. By the time she realized who the other party was, it was already toote.

    Simr to the dark sky outside, the woman¡¯s somber expression was dark and menacing. Guo Baiyu¡¯s voice was low as she told her assistant, ¡°Go ahead. I have a few words to say to Mrs. Gu.¡±

    They had not seen each other since their meeting at the hotelst time. Yi Ran felt that the atmosphere was quite awkward and since she really didn¡¯t have anything to say to her, she merely smiled politely before turning to leave.

    As a result, Guo Baiyu forcibly stopped her by raising her voice slightly and saying in a voice full of ridicule, ¡°Have you ever thought that, from the bottom of his heart, no man can truly refuse a beauty? Even if he suppresses the nature of a man, but if he works outside the home for a long time, he inevitably won¡¯t be sleeping alone, in solitude and empty-handed. Not to mention, do you even know how many actresses in Gu Tingchuan¡¯s movies who wanted to sleep with him?¡±

    Yi Ran wanted the other party to shut up, but Guo Baiyu only became more and more outrageous. ¡°Wasn¡¯t Director Gu¡¯s elder brother, Mr. Gu Tingyong, the best example?¡±

    Guo Baiyu¡¯s self-confidence blinded her. She thought that since she was once supported by Gu Tingchuan and had gently held his arm, she would have the chance to win Yi Ran¡¯s status.

    Yi Ran could clearly see her scheme. Usually, such a woman who wanted to snatch someone else¡¯s husband, when it was no longer possible to pretend to be friendly, will naturally choose to deliberately sabotage the other person¡¯s husband and wife rtionship. This was so the wife will go back and find trouble with her husband.

    She was irritated by such a plot and didn¡¯t want to always be in a vulnerable position. She thought for a moment and said without dy, ¡°No wonder Miss Guo had dinner with Mr. Hao.¡±

    Hearing this, Guo Baiyu¡¯s face changed slightly, but she calmed down and sneered. ¡°This circle is not as simple as you think. Do you think I would be so obvious if I do this?¡±

    Yi Ran shook her head and nced at her. ¡°I just wanted to remind you that Mrs. Hao used to be a youngdy as well. What would she say if she knew someone wanted to hook up with her husband?¡±

    Guo Baiyu¡¯splexion became ugly, and she examined Yi Ran calmly. Wanting to refute, she said, ¡°I¡¯m also an artist cultivated by Director Gu, a person of Jiaye. If you really do this, wouldn¡¯t it be bad?¡±

    Yi Ran¡¯s eyes slowly narrowed and the atmosphere became heavy. ¡°Do you really treat yourself as an international film empress? Or, do you think that Gu Tingchuan wouldn¡¯t be able to make money without you? Do you really want to see whether Gu Tingchaun would kick you out first or whether he would discard me first?¡±

    Whatever Guo Baiyu wanted to say, Yi Ran was not the least bit interested. She turned and pressed the button on the elevator, subconsciously wanting to go to the level where Gu Tingchuan was located.

    She leaned against the elevator¡¯s mirror and sighed silently. As she walked to the doorway of the casting room where he was, her expression gradually eased.

    Xiao Zhao happened to be standing outside the room and making some arrangements. He saw her and said, ¡°Mrs. Gu, didn¡¯t you say...you¡¯ll wait for Mr. Gu in the office?¡±

    Yi Ran reluctantly smiled and exined, ¡°I got tired of ying on theputer and decided toe down and take a look. You don¡¯t need to inform him. I¡¯ll go back up in a moment.¡±

    Xiao Zhao was very proficient and didn¡¯t ask any more questions. As he was thinking about whether or not to tell Director Gu, Lu Shan came out and said, ¡°Assistant Zhao, please let me just ...¡±

    As he said this, he noticed Yi Ran standing on the side and cast a surprised look at her.

    Yi Ran knew that Gu Tingchuan was busy auditioning actors for the male lead role, and she didn¡¯t want to interrupt the man¡¯s work, but... Suddenly, it was boring to stay alone in the office, so she just wanted toe closer to him.

    Lu Shan handed the rest of the business over to Xiao Zhao and nodded to Yi Ran.

    Yi Ran saw that there was still an actor left to be interviewed and so she turned to go back upstairs. A momentter, Director Lu came out again. This time, he looked at her politely. ¡°Mrs. Gu.¡±

    Deputy director Lu Shan added gently, ¡°Director Gu invites you in.¡±

 Chapter 47 - Strict Teacher

    Chapter 47: Strict Teacher

    Yi Ran really didn¡¯t expect to be invited to the casting room. She was a little hesitant and didn¡¯t want to cause them any trouble because of her arrival.

    There were shooting machines and lights in the room. Gu Tingchuan sat in the middle seat with his head was lowered,. He was in the middle of talking to the high-level leaders around him, but when he noticed her nervousness, he smiled¡­. Mrs. Gu was really cute.

    Yi Ran unexpectedly had to appear in a ce filled with such elite people that she couldn¡¯t help but have a but of stage fright. But then she imagined that this scene was simr to when she held a public ss and this soon helped her calm down.

    ¡°You came at just the right time,¡± he said, before solemnly introducing her to everyone. ¡°This is Yi Ran, who is also anguage teacher at an international primary school. When I wrote the script, she gave a lot of amendments. She can also help with providing some opinions regarding the candidates for this role.¡±

    He did not emphasize her identity, but Lu Shan had told the assistant to add afortable chair not far behind Gu Tingchuan and then told her, ¡°Please sit.¡±

    Yi Ran sat down uneasily. Aside from thest time when she saw Director Gu calmly controlled the overall situation in his crew, this was the second time she was able to see him in his element as a creator and an artist.

    He turned toward Yi Ran and a smile slowly appeared in his eyes. ¡°After thest audition ends, we¡¯ll discuss the performance of the actors. You can also express your opinions.¡±

    Yi Ran was sitting very close to him and, because they were suddenly ¡°working together,¡± she felt very excited. She softly asked him, ¡°Is this really okay? I don¡¯t understand the movie and was justing and going.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan heard her clearly. The sound of her voice managed to dissipate his fatigue from the day¡¯s work. He nced at her reddish earlobe and said slowly said, ¡°What I just said are facts, so why not?¡±

    The reason he asked Yi Ran to join the team was that she could help him with his work. Also, he didn¡¯t know why she suddenly appeared in the hallway so it was better to put her next to him. This will make him feel more at ease.

    At this time, Lu Shan came over and calmly handed Yi Ran a profile, whispering, ¡°You can take a look first. Here is the actor¡¯s resume. We¡¯ll see if he is suitable to y in Moonlight.¡±

    Yi Ran hurriedly took it and thanked him.

    She already knew that Gu Tingchuan¡¯s new movie was called Farewell to Moonlight, which talked about several young teachers, all with different goals and ideals, who arrived at a small and remote vige to be rural teachers. They will face many problems with smiles and tears and, in the end, a return to truth. The script used a lot of writing to describe the characters¡¯ inner worlds, motives and ideals. It was sincere, steady, and yet delicate, disying the goodness of human nature while giving the audience a beautiful experience.¡±

    After experiencing such a box office failure, the fact that he was able toe up with such a simple and unpretentious counterattack showed that Director Gu had more confidence and bravery than anyone else.

    Yi Ran recalled the actor¡¯s character and muttered to herself for a moment before saying, ¡°Director Gu, I always thought that this character...somewhat resembles like Yao Juan.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan was unable to restrain his smile as he called someone to fetch the actor. It turned out to be the young man who had taken the initiative to talk to Yi Ran in the hallway. This was really a new actor. He was originally very nervous auditioning in front of Director Gu. But, when he saw Yi Ran, he rxed a bit and winked at her in greeting.

    Director Gu¡¯s expression immediately changed. The young man¡¯s behavior was really too annoying. Frowning slightly, he said coldly, ¡°Do you think I have a lot of time to waste? Why are you just standing there?¡±

    Behind him, Yi Ran hurriedly bowed her head, pretending she was looking at the script. It appeared that that Mr. Gu really was a strict teacher.

    After the audition was over, Gu Tingchuan announced a break and everyone purposefully found reasons to walk out of the casting room, leaving Yi Ran alone with her husband. She looked up at the raindrops scattered on the small window, feeling content and peaceful.

    Gu Tingchuan sorted out the information at hand and asked her, ¡°Why did youe down here?¡±

    Yi Ran didn¡¯t want to hide from him so she clearly exined what happened with Guo Baiyu. In the end, she mischievously said, ¡°It seems you are too charming. I¡¯ll have to wipe out rivals from time to time. So tiring.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan imagined the scene and raised his hand. His fingers gently brushed across her cheek. She had on light makeup and her lip color was beautiful and alluring. The woman in front of him was feminine and lovely, making him feel as if she was a craving he could not resist indulging in.

    The palm of his hand was dry and warm. He leaned in to press a heavy kiss on her mouth. His voice was mild as he said, ¡°After a while, she will no longer appear in Jiaye. We¡¯re in the process of recing the spokesperson for some of ourpany¡¯s products. Moreover, I won¡¯t ask her to act in my movies again.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan exined slowly clearly, ¡°She was initially already a stiff actress. Now, she is no different from the actresses in those circles. ¡±

    Yan Ran nodded and said, ¡°Anyway, I won¡¯t be affected by her words. I just got a little fed up with it.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan also understood. These typical females all tend to use to use the same tactics, which also made him feel very bored.

    Those famousdies and film queens always thought that he liked nothing else but sensual vixens. But, he was the exception, a person who was not interested in looking for his other half.

    If he hadn¡¯t met Yi Ran, his life would probably have a lot less joy and pleasure. These were experiences that no amount of money could buy.

    Besides, he was already very rich.

    His heart suddenly softened and he hugged her gently with his hands resting on her hips. He was unafraid that someone might barge in and instead whispered against her ear, ¡°Since getting married, my scandals have plummeted. In the future, it¡¯s better to stay with me more often... ¡±

    He meant...he wanted her to be more involved in his work and stay with him.

    She never thought that one day, this spouse would proactively seek herpany.

    Yi Ran was perturbed and looked at Gu Tingchuan in doubt. She immediately saw his deepening smile and the affirmation in his gaze. She held his fingers and slightly tightened her grasp, still not daring to believe that he would make such a request.

    The man¡¯s low voice was maic and husky, temporarily making her heart feel overwhelmed. She could only suppress her emotions. She pressed her lips together and her bright and clear eyes became slightly curved. She said, ¡°Okay, I will try my best.¡±

    She will try her best to adapt to their new life.

    ......

    The rainy season was almost upon S City. The rain continued intermittently for several days and, suddenly, there was very little time left in Yi Ran¡¯s winter vacation.

    This day, she was outside. There was a light drizzle, and she stepped on the wet pavement, holding the umbre in one hand. With her other hand, she firmly held the little boy¡¯s hand.

    Gu Tai, still carrying his small school bag, bowed his head and muttered, ¡°It¡¯s too cruel. Even in this kind of weather, I still have to do my homework.

    ¡°Who made you wait sote to do your winter vacation homework? Since you haven¡¯t finished your homework, you deserve it.¡±

    Last night, as Gu Tingchuan was dressing, he had helplessly said to her, ¡°Tomorrow afternoon, bring Gu Tai out to have dinner with me. I haven¡¯t spent much time with him this winter vacation so I should at least have a meal with him. Also, his winter vacation homework may require your supervision.¡±

    Gu Tingyong was busy at the branch, and Lin Yuanyu had also gone on a business trip abroad. When she learned by phone that her son still hadn¡¯tpleted his homework, she scolded the tutor and then called Gu Tingchuan to ask him to take care of it.

    Yi Ran held the umbre tilted toward the boy. ¡°In a moment, you can tell me how much you still need to finish. We¡¯ll wait for your uncle to finish his business meeting and then we¡¯ll take you out for dinner.¡±

    Jiaye was located in the bustling business district in S City,plete with countless high-rise buildings. There were also many financialpanies as well as studios, TV stations and brokerage firms. As a result, it was a ce celebrities often frequented.

    In the afternoon, Gu Tingchuan met with several coborators at a nearby coffee shop. Because they all had a fairly friendly rtionship, half of the meeting was for catching up while the other half was to conduct official business. They drank and chatted with an open, rxed atmosphere.

    The traffic in the area had always been quite congested, and it was even more difficult in rainy weather. After looking at the traffic conditions outside, Yi Ran told the driver, ¡°It¡¯s just around the corner. You can let us out here so you won¡¯t have to detour around.¡±

    The driver turned the steering wheel and slowly parked the car to the side.

    Yi Ran took Gu Tai to an area thick with restaurants. Although the sky was foggy, they could still clearly see the figures not far away.

    She was wondering if Gu Tingchuan¡¯s meeting had already ended when Gu Tai suddenly grabbed her wrist and refused to go any further.

    She paused and found that the boy¡¯s gaze was nk as he stared unblinkingly at the front right. She followed his gaze and saw a young womaning out of a western-style restaurant. The woman was holding on to the man¡¯s arm and talking animatedly.

    Yi Ran didn¡¯t have a good feeling about this. The girl was very young, with long curly hair. She held an umbre, not caring that the rain was wetting her shoulder as she talked intently to the man in front of her.

    As for that man...he looked remarkably like Gu Tingyong.

    ¡°Brother Tingyong, I can¡¯t bear not seeing you again in the future. Even if it¡¯s just meeting once in a long while, I will be content and won¡¯t ask you for anything else¡­¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯te near me again. I should have said this clearly long ago. I won¡¯t change my mind. My driver¡¯s here. Nina, take good care of yourself.¡±

    Gu Tingyong apparently ran out of patience and simply left her standing there while he strode to the other side of the street.

    The girl named Nina was sobbing heart-brokenly. After crying for a while, she took out her cell phone as if to call someone.

    Yi Ran observed this entanglement. The little Gu Tai apparently had very good eyesight.

    He suddenly let out a low chuckle, and his whole face disyed a gloom that didn¡¯t match his age. Feeling vaguely distressed in her heart, she grabbed his hand and passed a little bit of warmth andfort to him.

    She was still thinking about how else tofort him. After all, this was the first time she had bumped into this kind of scene.

    Gu Tai calmly said to her, ¡°Let¡¯s go. Uncle is waiting.¡±

 Chapter 48 - Big Devil

    Chapter 48: Big Devil

    The sky was overcast and therge ss window in front of a cateringpany was covered with ayer of raindrops. Gu Tingchuan, who had just finished his business at the cafe, saw that there was something wrong with Gu Tai and that Yi Ran looked ufortable.

    As he handed the paper towel in his hand to Yi Ran, there was a faint question in his eyes. ¡°Your shoes are wet.¡±

    Yi Ran sat down silently to wipe her shoes and cautiously nced at Gu Tai¡¯splexion, fearing that he would suddenly ¡°ckened.¡± She turned back to look meaningfully at Director Gu and said as implicitly as possible, ¡°Just now...we saw big brother.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan listened to her narrative, and then, while holding his coffee cup, looked at Gu Tai. ¡°You knew this before, and because of this, your parents almost divorced.¡±

    Gu Tai, wearing a small vest and white shirt, had a dullplexion. His tough and silent appearance was really simr to a certain Director Gu.

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to excuse your father. He did make a serious mistake.¡± As he spoke, the man¡¯s eyes were equally heavy and somber. ¡°Not everyone will make such a principled mistake as him. There are no reasons to get your understanding for what he had done. ¡±

    Yi Ran was a little surprised by his remarks and subconsciously looked at the other party. She didn¡¯t know what else he would say. Gu Tingchuan took a sip of coffee, put the cup back, and analyzed calmly. ¡°But the reality is that he had made a mistake. Now, for this family, your dad is also trying to recover from this mistake, and your mother has decided to ept it. What is your opinion?¡±

    Gu Tai, holding the menu on the table, dejectedly said, ¡°I don¡¯t know. My dad talked to me a lotst time. I was very angry with him, but I also want to ...let them get back together.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan smiled lightly and ruffled his fluffy soft ck hair. ¡°Give them a little more time.¡±

    Gu Tai thought for a few seconds and suddenly looked up at them, pouting. ¡°I understand the truth. I¡¯m going to the bathroom.¡± After speaking, he got up and ran off.

    Looking at the back of the young boy¡¯s gradually disappearing back, Yi Ran took the ss on the table in front of Gu Tingchuan, took a sip of water to moistened her throat, and then sighed. ¡°It was actually very awkward for the child to see this scene.¡±

    Thinking of Gu Tingyong constantly disappointing his children and family like this, she said in a neutral tone, ¡°The young master of a wealthy family has a lot of prestige. When women catch sight of you all, they¡¯re stunned motionless. ¡±

    Gu Tingchuan gently rubbed her arm. ¡°What are you talking about?¡±

    Yi Ran tightly held his hand, licked her lips, and whispered, ¡°Director Gu, you won¡¯t let our children...run into this type of mess in the future, right? ¡±

    Gu Tingchuan leaned over and lightly pinched her chin. He kissed her lips gently and slowly. When he pulled back, his eyes glowed hotly. He said, ¡°...our children?¡±

    ¡°Someday...not right now.¡± Yi Ran looked around. Fortunately no one paid attention to their kissing.

    Gu Tingchuan saw that her words were somewhat evasive, as if she was reluctant to discuss the topic in depth, much less at this time and in this environment. Since it wasn¡¯t the right time to discuss this right now, he didn¡¯t say much. He lightly tapped her nose once. ¡°Let¡¯s order afternoon tea.¡±

    These days, he liked to flirt more and more. Yi Ran touched the bridge of her nose, followed by her hot ears. After Gu Tingchuan called for a waiter and ordered a slice of red velvet cake and coffee, Gu Tai finally returned.

    Yi Ran was leaning on Gu Tingchuan¡¯s shoulder and when she looked up, her forehead knocked against his chin. ¡°Every time I resolve one primary school student¡¯s problem, I feel like the red badge on my chest is shining.¡±

    Gu Tinghuan choked on his coffee. Yi Ran opened her mouth to ask the boy, ¡°What did you do?¡±

    Gu Tai pursed his lips, clearly showing his disapproval of the young and loving couple. ¡°Did you forget? I said I was going to the bathroom.¡±

    But...the direction of the bathroom was not over there.

    Yi Ran frowned slightly, only to find that the child wasughing like...a little devil.

    Gu Tai sat on his seat and kicked his feet. He tilted his head to look out at the rustling wind and rain, his eyes like ayer of mist.

    He didn¡¯t really go to the bathroom but instead had walked around the coffee shop for a while before finding the Nina who was just with Gu Tingyong.

    Seeing that the other party was still calling on her phone and crying, the boy looked around before turning toward the ice cream parlor and buying an ice cream cone

    He smoothed down the shirt on his body, adjusted his face into an innocent smile, and walked to the girl. ¡°Sister, why did you look a little familiar?¡±

    Nina was still in the middle of crying. She looked down to see the little boy standing in front of her, clear-eyed and handsome. Seeing him well-dressed and smiling, she instantly felt better. She said ¡°Wait a minute¡± into the phone and responded to him, ¡°Are you a kid on TV? Do you know me? I¡¯m an actress and have been in several works¡­¡±

    Gu Tai didn¡¯t wait for her to finish. In the gloomy light under the rolling clouds, he looked coldly at her and flung the ice cream at her chest.

    Nina screamed in fright, attracting the attention of the pedestrians nearby. Many people saw the beauty with her chest stained with ice cream and pointed at her.

    Nina was frightened and angry as she stared down at the perpetrator in front of her eyes.

    Gu Tai didn¡¯t panic. After all, he had achieved the desired effect. He coldly raised his gically excellent eyebrows, and told her word by word, ¡°In the future, don¡¯t go after someone else¡¯s husband, aunt.¡±

    ¡­..

    The next day, Gu Tingchuan met with the directors in thepany. Gu Tingyong also attended as the head of the branch. Each department took out their first quarter statements and ns. By the end of the meeting, the streetmps were all lit and the sky outside the building was dark.

    He looked at Gu Tingyong from the office door. Seeing him, the other party said, ¡°You want to talk?¡±

    Gu Tingchuan entered the room and, loosening his tie, walked to the desk. He quietly said, ¡°Yesterday, we took Gu Tai to dinner in the business district.¡±

    Gu Tingyong didn¡¯t seem surprised when he heard this. He found a seat on the sofa and frowned slightly. ¡°You wanted to say that Gu Tai saw, right? ¡±

    He let out a small sigh and added, ¡°Nina sent a message asking me to meet her and I needed to talk to her anyway. I knew Gu Tai saw her.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan saw that he already knew and didn¡¯t want to judge nor bother anymore with this matter. He looked down and opened his phone to see if there were any messages from Yi Ran. Meanwhile, he reminded his older brother, ¡°Since you wanted to break up with others, do it thoroughly. Otherwise, it¡¯s better to not do it at all.¡±

    In fact, Gu Tingyong still couldn¡¯t understand why his younger brother could be so unaffected. After all, they moved in the same circle and, as a director, his chances of facing temptations was higher. How could he remain immune to it?

    ¡°In some matters, I want to do it to the end but it¡¯s hard for others.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan spread his hands and still responded unsmilingly, ¡°It¡¯s your own death. Should you me others?¡±

    He had his hands full so he didn¡¯t have much time or much energy to deal with his brother¡¯s mess.

    The production team of Farewell to Moonlight spent about two weeks on a field visit at the shooting location. They also took the opportunity to collect some information from other small viges. Because the film was not expensive and the scenes do not require much advanced work, the early stage of preparations waspleted in about three short months.

    The opening ceremony for Gu Tingchuan¡¯s films had always been low-key. Since then, more actors had joined the crew. He and Yi Ran also needed a little time together.

    Fortunately, today¡¯s transportation was convenient. On the first week after school started, she took a Friday afternoon flight to the small vige that Director Gu as at. She was then picked up by the crew¡¯s car and driven to the shooting location.

    The flight was very timely with no dy. After she arrived on time, she got on a business car and met one of Director Gu¡¯s assistant. The other person smiled at her and immediately said, ¡°Mrs. Gu, the whole crew is waiting for you to save them.¡±

    When Yi Ran heard this, she froze. ¡°What happened?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s because we have a pig teammate among us¡­¡±

    ording to the little assistant, a very young and new associate director was added to Moonlight¡¯s production team. He had no qualifications and was the son of a well-known director in the movie circle. That director was a friend of the Gu family. As a result, he wanted to put his son next to Gu Tingchuan for some experience.

    Director Gu was initially unwilling to ept but, due to various circumstances, he could not easily refuse. In the end, even his mother Sheng Ru got involved. As a result, Gu Tingchuan assigned him to follow Lu Shan so that he could learn as much as possible. After all, he still had to see if the person was diligent.

    The result was that the son, Su Congwen, was spoiled from an early age and put no one in his eyes, not even Gu Tingchuan. He didn¡¯t pay attention to anyone, much less someone more ¡°prestigious¡± than him on set. The derision in his eyes was clearly obvious. He always felt that this director was just like himself, a young master of a wealthy family, and was merely a ¡°ghost talent¡± that was promoted by the media.

    ¡°Hey, this kind of thing is very easy to do.¡± On the first day he the joined the group, he told the person in charge of the props, ¡°What ability Gu Tingchuan has is, at best, good luck. He¡¯s born into this and with his family backing, it¡¯s not difficult to be famous. After all, he probably get a lot of good script. I don¡¯t know why a group of people follow him.¡±

    These words were said a lot and gradually passed on to Gu Tingchuan¡¯s ears.

    Yi Ran frowned slightly and asked the assistant, ¡°How did Director Gu deal with it?¡±

    The assistant said that this sunny morning was the perfect weather for filming. When Gu Tingchuan appeared in the crew, he remained as calm and indifferent as always. However, after hearing Lu Shen¡¯s reports, his mood changed a lot.

    ¡°My crew will not keep idle people. Since he is unwilling to do the chores given to him, let him do something else,¡± he told Lu Shan. ¡°Call the person over.¡±

    Su Congwen was called over. Once he arrived, Gu Tingchuan examined him for a moment with mocking humor. His eyes deepened until, in the end, all one could see was a pair of dark eyes filled with a strong, powerful deterrent.

    ¡°I¡¯m not going to shoot the scenes today. You do it.¡±

 Chapter 49 - Tsundere Director

    Chapter 49: Tsundere Director

    ¡°I¡¯m not going to shoot the scenes today. You do it.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s face was calm when he said this sentence but every word that fell into the ears of his crew was like a bomb, stunning them.

    There was a sudden silence.

    Su Congwen didn¡¯t expect that he would suddenly be yed like this. He looked at the other person with a stiff face. ¡°Gu, Director Gu, what do you mean¡­¡±

    ¡°There are some important scenes that needed to be filmed today. You should know that I don¡¯t support people who don¡¯t pull their weight. Since you think that the tasks Lu Shan wants you to do will only bury your talents and you think you can do better than me, it¡¯s better to let you take over from here.¡±

    After Gu Tingchuan said this, he really stood up and gave him the director¡¯s seat in front of the monitor. He told Lu Shan in a calm tone, ¡°You assist Director Su to finish up the remaining few shots today. I¡¯ll return back to the hotel.¡±

    At first, Su Congwen thought that Gu Tingchuan deliberately gave him power but only wanted him to apologize in public and lower his spirits. However, he didn¡¯t expect that Director Gu would not give him a chance at all. After gesturing to Xiao Zhao to pack up, he immediately left.

    Su Congwen stoodpletely dumbfounded as he watched Gu Tingchuan¡¯s indifferent figure disappeared down the road.

    However, he wasn¡¯t the only one who was surprised. Lu Shan had been following the man for so many years and now he strongly felt that since Director Gu got married, his temper seemed to have changed a lot.

    In the past, Gu Tingchuan would have been furious and would have kicked the person out of the crew without any hesitation. But, since he had married Yi Ran, his temper had noticeably improved.

    However, he knew that the boss always had his own reasons for doing things. He nced at Su Congwen, rubbed his eyebrows, and said, ¡°Okay, Director Su, the actors are already in ce. Can we shoot?¡±

    Su Congwen was actually a cker. After spending a lot of money and studying abroad for a few years, his knowledge of film making was actually very basic.

    He panicked and looked at the records, props, and lights around him...and especially at those who regarded Gu Tingchuan as a male god in their heart and questioning him to varying degrees.

    Su Congwen had a burning anger in his chest. Since he was a child, everything had revolved around him. When had he suffered such a loss? That Gu Tingchuan thought that he was something and gave him no face. If he wanted him to shoot, then he¡¯ll shoot. He won¡¯t lose to such a man!

    He sneered and, pretending to sit confidently on Gu Tingchuan¡¯s seat, he raised his chin and looked at Lu Shan. ¡°Let¡¯s start with a medium shot, with head-up, this...Are the actors ready?¡±

    Lu Shan frowned slightly. ¡°Isn¡¯t head-up toomon? Looking up and down would be better.¡±

    Su Congwen immediately became embarrassed and angry. ¡°What are you doing? Your director asked you to assist me, not for you to correct me. If Gu Tingchuan is here now, would you talk to him like this?¡±

    ¡°Actually, yes.¡± Lu Shan didn¡¯t get angry and instead looked at Su Songwen as if he wasmunicating with an ignorant child. ¡°During the shooting process, if I have better opinions than Director Gu, I will put them forward. Otherwise, why am I getting paid?¡±

    Of course, this was based on the rare chance that Director Gu would make such a low-level mistake one day.

    Su Congwen was about to let him off when a thick voice came from behind. ¡°What the hell are you doing? Who is the little fart sitting there? Why isn¡¯t Gu Tingchuan here yet?!¡±

    This came from an experienced female actress. She was grumpy and this attitude had not changed much since she was young. After she finishedining, she used the script in her hand to hit a staff on the head. ¡°Call Gu Tingchuan over at once!¡±

    When Su Congwen saw this, he couldn¡¯t help but shrank back his neck. He thought that if the other party knew that Gu Tingchuan had left things in his hands, he would probably be the one to get hit.

    Lu Shan stood to the side and observed the increasingly intimidated expression on this unscrupulous junior¡¯s face. He finally understood Gu Tingchuan¡¯s intentions.

    It was the smartest way to allow the other to back off without having to kill a soldier.

    .......

    After listening to the assistant¡¯s descriptions, Yi Ran thought that it was strange.

    After all, Gu Tingchuan¡¯s behavior at this time was notpletely harsh. If she had to describe it, it was probably a bit like being a tsundere.

    The muddy road had a lot of potholes but they finally arrived at the town. Yi Ran had never been there before and so everything was unfamiliar. Thefortable hotel where the crew was staying at was about a few dozen miles away from the vige in the mountains.

    She got out of the car, closed the door, and ran straight to the room where Gu Tingchuan was staying in. However, when she reached the door, she did not immediately knock.

    Thinking that they hadn¡¯t seen each other these past few days, she didn¡¯t know what to say. She had missed him a lot, especially his warm embrace, which always made her feel moved beyond words.

    There was not only tension and excitement in her heart, but also a deep, consuming love.

    With such an incident happening in the crew, she didn¡¯t know if Gu Tingchuan would be alright or if he would feel frustrated because others were looking down on him due to the failure with Homing.

    As Yi Ran was thinking, she heard movement in the room. She panicked and quickly rang the doorbell.

    The man soon came to answer the door. She just saw the familiar handsome face in front of her, and joy burst into her heart. He stood in the doorway, his silhouette framed by the back light that came from the glow of themp. Half of his face was encased in shadows and there was a small smile on his lips.

    Yi Ran held her breath, bit her bottom lip, and hadn¡¯t even managed to open her mouth before he leaned over and gently kissed her.

    Her husband faintly smelled of flowers and cologne. Her mind grew nk and she couldn¡¯t help leaning back slightly, subconsciously holding his face in her hands. Their kiss deepened as their hungry lips continually rubbed and parted. The faint warm temperature of his mouth washed over her.

    As he pulled his mouth away, Gu Tingchuan lightly pinched her chin with his fingertips. Releasing her, he took her handbag and ced it by the door.

    ¡°The road here¡¯s not easy. Did you get tossed around?¡± After saying this, he went and gave her the warm water by the TV.

    Yi Ran murmured an acknowledgment and took a sip of water. The cold spring on her body was gradually washed away by the water¡¯s warm current. Then, she entered the room and nced around.

    Even though this room was the best in this hotel, it was not luxuriously decorated. Despite this, it was still very clean and tidy. She thought that since Director Gu had prematurely left the crew, he must still be working in his hotel room. But, aside from the notebook on the table, there was a German movie ying on theputer and a ss of red wine filled halfway on the table. The red wine was thick and dark, exuding a scent of intoxication.

    Yi Ran couldn¡¯t helpughing: ¡°It seems you didn¡¯t put that silly boy in your eyes, then I¡¯m relieved.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan took the cup from her hands. She looked so good that he kept looking at her very seriously.

    Director Gu was definitely not a man who neglected his duties. He should have his own considerations on this matter, and there may be strange things she did not know about.

    Yi Ran didn¡¯t wait for her husband to open his mouth, and casting a sidelong nce at him, she continued to ridicule, ¡°Some people just don¡¯t know how to cherish their good fortune. They obviously have help from someone powerful, and now they¡¯re treating these powerful people as enemies.¡±

    He let out a low chuckle. The mellow and maic sound made her feel a deep sense of awareness.

    Yi Ran found it hard to identify with people like Su Congwen. In the future, if he really did be famous, he would probably be a big scourge. Wouldn¡¯t a man like him cause trouble within the hidden rules of directing?

    Despite having just traveled , Yi Ran was still full of vitality. She sat at the table and rested for a bit. She took out her mobile phone from her backpack to see if there were any interesting news. When she looked up, she saw Gu Tingchuan in front of her. One arm was stretched out and on his slender finger was a ring, shining brightly.

    He absently stroke the surface of the ring, his gesture gentle and sexy. There was a kind of calmness and restraint that was unique to him, and he was looking at her small face intently.

    ¡°When did you wear the ring?¡± Thest time she saw him, he merely had it on hand.

    Gu Tingchuan was originally looking at her intently and, when he heard her words, bowed his head slightly to nce at the ring on his finger. Then, he said softly, ¡°Because you¡¯re not here, I have no option but to try on this memento to see if there are any results. But, it seems that the effect is shallow.¡±

    After listening to the man¡¯s sweet words, her cheeks grew pink.

    Her eyes were bright and soft. Looking at him made her heart pound so she couldn¡¯t help but look away. She said, ¡°You can speak better than before. It¡¯ll be harder to argue with you...Hey, why do you keep looking at me?¡±

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s lips stretched into a smile. Of course, it was because he wanted to kiss her again.

    Yi Ran didn¡¯t wait for his answer and suddenly remembered that when she was in the car just now, the little assistant had reminded her to asionally show love on Weibo, which would not only promote their healthy and intimate ¡°couple image¡± but help theirpany as a whole.

    Yi Ran thought about theposition and asked the experienced Gu Tingchuan for his opinions. After listening to her, he tenderly and patiently patted the soft hair on her head. ¡°You decide, I¡¯ll cooperate. That¡¯s it.¡±

    She pondered for a while and then came up with something that had long been dreamed of in her heart.

    That night, Yi Ran updated her Weibo. The left corner of the photo showed the hotel table. The iPad on the table was only lit with a line of ck characters on a white background.

    But, looking at the reflection, one could see a very tall figure looking down and reading a book. Although that reflection was hazy, it was enough to make out that the figure was Gu Tingchuan. His facial features were neat and clean and his eyebrows were traced by a faint light.

    A warm yellow filtered was added and the text apanying it was straightforward and sensational: A bright moon in my heart.

    This time,izens all understood that this was clearly a tyrannical case of dog abuse. Mrs. Gu had gone to the filming site for a visit!

 Chapter 50 - In their Own World

    Chapter 50: In their Own World

    Yi Ran sat on the sofa and happily brushed Weibo, asionally interacting with cuteizens.

    ¡°Mrs.!! Is Director Gu also cold and aloof in private? Does he ever use his poison tongue on you?¡±

    ¡°Mrs, you¡¯re so brave to risk ¡®domestic violence,¡¯ ah.¡±

    ¡°Director Gu often works very hard. Let him pay attention to his health.¡±

    ¡°You seem very happy. Ah, I really envy you. I also want to know what sleeping on the same bed with Director Gu feels like!!¡±

    She wanted to go back and add a dreaming expression but, for the sake of maintaining her image, decided to resist.

    Meanwhile, Gu Tingchuan was standing next to the bed. His head was tilted slightly as he talked to Lu Shan and received updates on what¡¯s happening with the crew and about the shooting progress.

    In fact, although he said that he gave the directorial work to Su Congwen, what Mr. Su, who grew up in luxury with very little responsibilities, could do was limited. It won¡¯t be long before he was scared by the various battles and disappeared like smoke.

    Lu Shan and the rest of the directors were already very familiar with Director Gu¡¯s directorial strategies. The entire team was also his usual team. Although he was not there, the progress should not be dyed too much.

    However, Yi Ran was still curious so, after he hung up, she could not help but look up and ask, ¡°Director Gu, now that you¡¯ve left the studio in the hands of that person, are you not afraid that there might be some trouble?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s still Lu Shan so nothing can happen. Besides, this person needs to know the weight and responsibilities thate with being a director; otherwise, he would not be deterred.¡± Gu Tingchuan came over and her whole person was covered by his shadow. ¡°Of course, there was another reason. Before returning to the hotel, I asked the driver to take me to a nearby river to take a walk around for inspiration.¡±

    There was a hint of uncertainty in Yi Ran¡¯s eyes. She remembered that she had proposed to him to not always close his heart. If he could go out to rx, perhaps he could see with a different perspective.

    Gu Tingchuan leaned down and told her, ¡°Tomorrow morning, you can apany me to the crew. After the work is over, I¡¯ll take you to for a look?¡±

    His every word knocked down the uncertainty in her heart.

    She nodded and picked up therge original English book on the sofa. She asked in amazement, ¡°Is this the book you¡¯re reading in your spare time?¡±

    Yi Ran nced at the cover a little and saw that the book was a biography of a painter.

    Gu Tingchuan patiently exined, ¡°It¡¯s the biography of Egon, who lead the Viennese separatist movement and who was known for depicting messy limbs and expressing chaotic emotions.¡±

    She casually flipped through the book, which disyed many sketches of naked men and women. The lines were messy and most bodies were thin and slender. She couldn¡¯t helpughing and said, ¡°Director Gu¡¯s interest is really wide. This is not the typical public aesthetic.¡±

    ¡°Mmm, I would like to take you to different countries to see different exhibitions,¡± Gu Tingchuan said. Afterward, his eyebrows narrowed into a frown. ¡°After wrapping up this film, I should take a break. After all, I owe you too many trips.¡±

    After he said this, he leaned over and buried his hand in Yi Ran¡¯s hair. He tilted her head up slightly to look at him. Their faces were so close that she could see the transparent light refracted in his eyes and, there, she saw a reflection of herself with bright, red cheeks.

    Gu Tingchuan closed the short distance and captured her mouth in a kiss. The feeling of missing was there between their lips. Yi Ran responded quietly with her head up, and the tip of her nose and the corners of her mouth were rubbed and kissed by him. After a while, her eyes grew soft, filled with a bright moisture.

    His body reacted and Gu Tingchuan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. Before she could say anything, he had already lifted her in his arms and carried her to the bed, where he firmlyid her down. Even before she finished sinkingfortably into the mattress, he had already pulled her shirt off and undone the sp of her bra, revealing the lush peaks of her spring scenery.

    Feeling the other person¡¯s eyes lingering on her undting curves, she turned over shyly and buried her face in the pillow. He chuckled and lightly bit her ears, making her whole body tingle and burn. Then, he turned her around and his body settled over her.

    Gu Tingchuan was about to lower his head to seal her lips in another kiss when he felt a pair of hands restlessly exploring his body. The temperature of her fingertips made him fairly boil with excitement.

    ¡°....What are you doing?¡± He frowned slightly. Her touch was stirring up all the blood in his body, making his lower body quiver and near erupting.

    Yi Ran didn¡¯t realize the reaction she was evoking. She kept rubbing and exploring with fingers that were clearly gaining more confidence. ¡°I want to touch your pectoral muscles and abdominal muscles really well so I could remember their feel by heart.¡±

    The moment she finished speaking, he kissed her hard. His body exuded a mature fragrance as he steadily controlled Yi Ran¡¯s lips, plunging his tongue into her mouth to gently twine and stroke her tongue. ¡°I¡¯ll help you remember.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan was about to indulge in his lovely wife¡¯s body when he became distantly conscious of a knocking sounding from outside the door. The two were right in the middle of ¡°visiting¡± with enthusiastic passion when they were once again interrupted mercilessly.

    He had already guessed who hade to find him, but he didn¡¯t want to bother with it. He bowed his head and wanted to kiss Yi Ran. She also thought that it might be Su Congwen outside the door. After thinking it over, she suggested, ¡°Why don¡¯t you resolve the matter first? Otherwise, you will still have to deal with him tomorrow. Not to mention, it¡¯s probably better to give him a way out before mom learns about this, which won¡¯t go over well.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s eyes became a little helpless. After considering her suggestion, he pulled the bed cover over her and whispered, ¡°Give me five minutes. You don¡¯t have toe out.¡±

    He straightened his shirt and opened to the door to see Mr. Su standing in the hallway in front of the door. Seeing that Director Gu¡¯s face was indifferent, Su Congwent¡¯s face paled slightly. They looked at each other for a while without speaking.

    The light from the window in the hallway disyed the cold and indifferent side of the director, making him look even more unfriendly. However, Su Congwen knew that since the other party was willing to open the door, there was still room for him to speak.

    He raised his eyebrows and did not dare look down on the man opposite him. He said, ¡°Director Gu, I know I shouldn¡¯t talk nonsense in the studio. I was too impulsive and shouldn¡¯t say those words¡­¡±

    Yi Ran sat up on the bed, the bed cover wrapped around herself, and silently listened. Gu Tingchuan didn¡¯t say any additional words aside from this cold phrase, ¡°I don¡¯t care what you think. Don¡¯t exin it to me.¡±

    Su Congwen¡¯s lips shook and his prideful temperament rose up again. But, he couldn¡¯t vent. His eyebrows twisted a few times but, in the end, he only bowed his head and relented. ¡°I¡¯ll work seriously in the future and will not cause trouble to the crew.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan didn¡¯t care if he was sincere with his apology, as long as he can be responsible for his own work.

    Thinking of this, he said solemnly, ¡°I hope you remember this sentence. Report to the crew on time tomorrow morning. If you arrive even 5 minuteste, then you need not appear at all.¡±

    After saying this, he mmed the door shut.

    Su Congwen stared at the door in front of him. He always felt that underneath the man¡¯s calm expression, there was...a weird eagerness.

    Gu Tingchuan returned to the bed and immediately lowered his head to kiss Yi Ran. He wrapped his hands around her waist, feeling her body trembling slightly.

    He said in a low voice, ¡°Can you continue?¡±

    In the end, before Yi Ran could even answer, she was already being stimted and could only gasp and pant with her eyes closed. When she was finally able to open her eyes again, she looked up at him with trembling eyes.

    He was startled for a moment and could no longer speak. Instead, he just kissed the person on the bed, the light in his eyes intense and passionate. There was no need to say more.

    .....

    Once Spring arrived, the flowers and trees were lush and flourishing. This would be the best weekend morning to rest, but the Moonlight crew still had to continue shooting.

    This day, the sun was bright, and the shooting location had beautiful flowers and trees nted by the rural people. At a nce, thendscape was bursting with branches and leaves, showing a mottled horizon of blue and green. It looked very good.

    Yi Ran saw a lot of faces that often appeared on television. She knew that the young man who had taken the initiative to talk to herst time in Jiaye¡¯s hallway had won the part of the male lead. However, what surprised her the most was that the young TV Emperor Peng Shaohui also had a part in the movie.

    In truth, Peng Shaohui could be considered as a ¡°national boyfriend¡± more so than He Yang. This was because his image was bright and healthy. His female fans also spanned from young to old.

    Yi Ran was still not used to dealing with various celebrities under that status of Mrs. Gu. She felt more like an ordinary onlooker who managed to see popr celebrities, which made her feel more than a little excited inside.

    ¡°Peng Shaohui, you¡¯re dressed so simply for this role that I almost didn¡¯t recognize you.¡±

    Peng Shaohui was very personable, with thick eyebrows andrge eyes. Even when ying an ordinary college student, he would still look very heroic. ¡°We actors are very professional. For the purpose of art, we would even sacrifice our own personal image.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan saw that they were chatting and walked over with a walkie-talkie. He smiled faintly. ¡°Were there very little scenes being shot today?¡±

    He looked askance at the emperor and added, ¡°So free that you still have time to chat?¡±

    Peng Shaohui grinned and looked at him with a pitiful expression, ¡°Director Gu, you need to have pity on this single dog, okay? Even as a student, He Yang was already giving out a lot of dog abuse. Now, I still have to be abused by you when filming. It¡¯s hard enough to talk about a girlfriend, much less be able to find one.¡±

    Even if Yi Ran didn¡¯t follow the entertainment news, she would still be able to hear gossip about this man¡¯s alleged affairs. She couldn¡¯t help but tease him, ¡°Now that everyone is out of the circle, you must feel very invigorated.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan raised his wrist to nced at his watch and said pointedly, ¡°It¡¯s almost time, and there is still one scene left. You can go after you finished shooting.¡±

    Then, he leaned his face down and his eyes roamed over her features. He smiled faintly. ¡°The flower field besides the river is particrly beautiful. It¡¯s not yet flowering, but it looks spectacr when the sun is setting.¡±

 Chapter 51 - Video Chatting

    Chapter 51: Video Chatting

    After they shot a few scenes, the weather suddenly changed. Gu Tingchuan and Yi Ran had nned on going to the river bank. However, the wind grew fiercer and the sky began to drizzle.

    Although it was drizzling, it didn¡¯t affect the moods of those in love. Yi Ran borrowed an umbre from the crew, walked to the riverbank in boots, and stepped into the shallow edges of the river water.

    ¡°Pay attention to your feet, don¡¯t fall,¡± Gu Tingchuan said in a low, pleasant voice behind her. He held an umbre in one hand and a camera in the other hand.

    Yi Ran yed in the water for a while and turned to look back at him by the water¡¯s edge. At this time, the sky had be clearer and the rain had lightened up significantly. Gu Tingchuan looked at her through the camera lens, judged the color andposition, and pressed the shutter.

    As the man focused on her through the camera lens, his expression looked both idle and serious. When he held the camera with his slender fingers, he exuded a professional and calm temperament, along with a sense of artistic elegance. It made her feel a little shy and embarrassed. She bit her bottom lip, closed her umbre, and ducked underneath his umbre to stand next to him.

    Gu Tingchuan held the umbre handle steadily and looked down at her, his eyes disying traces of amusements.

    She looked up and said, ¡°I didn¡¯t see the flower field or the sunset you mentioned, but the scenery is still very beautiful.¡±

    He showed her the camera screen, which disyed the shot he had just taken. The camera screen showed the outline of Yi Ran¡¯s curves. There was a point of light behind her, making her look white and elegant, just like clean snow. It resembled an oil painting from a great master and evoked an indescribable feeling.

    ¡°Oh my god...having a husband who can also take great pictures is just in unjust.¡±

    Yi Ran took the man¡¯s arms, grasping his sleeve with her fingers, as they walked along the path, chatting.

    ¡°Today, I watched some of the video shots, and I felt particrly worried...Compared with your previous movies, has the style changed? Although the theme is not particrly popr, it can resonate really well with audiences at all levels. I believe it will be sessful.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan heard herpliment and felt a hint of sweetness in his heart. After all, no other people can console him like she does. As he was thinking about rubbing the corners of the mouth that was praising him, his cell phone in his coat pocket started ringing.

    He nced down and told her. ¡°It¡¯s a friend. I¡¯ll pick it up.¡±

    Yi Ran obediently stopped walking and stood there waiting for him to answer the call. At the moment, the evening drizzle was scattered away by the wind and the branches along the roadside shook. Feeling slightly cold, she leaned closer to him in order to borrow his body temperature to keep herself warm.

    Gu Tingchuan simply wrapped the arm that was supporting the umbre around her back and pulled her against his chest. The sound of the man¡¯s heart beating, intermixed with the outside sound of rain, was next to her ears, making her heart feel warm.

    She dazed out for who knew how long before she realized that Gu Tingchuan had finished his phone conversation. The tip of Yi Ran¡¯s ears turned red but, instead of moving away, she pillowed closer to his sturdy chest and asked, ¡°Who was that?¡±

    ¡°A person I know who has a good voice.¡± Gu Tingchuan thoughtfully stared down at the tender face of the person in his arms and said, ¡°You should also know his name. He¡¯s called Bo Yan.¡±

    Yi Ran was startled. ¡°Oh my god! Bo Yan? Of course, I know of him!¡±

    Gu Tingchuan deliberately ignored her excited expression and calmly said, ¡°I approached him a while ago, asking him to voice Peng Shaohui¡¯s character. But, he was also very busy and might not be able to find the time.¡±

    Yi Ran naturally knew of this Bo Yan, who voiced a lot of web dramas and audio works. His identity was a mystery since he would only asionally takemercial works. Usually, he preferred to take on jobs that could be done over the inte, merely as a means of entertaining himself. Despite this, he had be something of a god in the online entertainment distribution industry.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to know the inte god. Who is he? Can you say?¡±

    Seeing his little wife¡¯s curious face, Gu Tingchuan told her, ¡°He is He Yang¡¯s cousin. His voice and ability would really add a lot to theter stage of the movie.¡±

    After listening to Gu Tingchuan¡¯s words, Yi Ran knew in her heart that, although he didn¡¯t say it, he still wanted to make all the details in the movie perfect. She took his hand and squeezed it encouragingly.

    Gu Tingchuan understood the sentiments in her mind and the light in his eyes was somber and silent under the rain.

    Yi Ran turned her head to look at the distant horizon. Through the drizzling rain, a golden light was gradually spreading through the distant lines of mountains and forest, warming up the smile of the person by her side.

    Gu Tingchuan hugged her with one hand. Seeing the growing rain on the river, he lowered his head and said, ¡°The rain ising down heavier. Let¡¯s go back.¡±

    .....

    After whittling the time together for two days, Yi Ran returned to work and zealously taught her ss of children.

    Moonlight¡¯s shooting went smoothly. During this time, there happened to be an art festival at the school and, every day, Yi Ran would help Yao Juan with the ss rehearsal and singing show. As a result, she was not able to visit the shooting site again.

    After over a week of this, Teacher Yi really wanted to video chat with Director Gu but she knew that he wasn¡¯t ustomed to it and likely won¡¯t say much.

    In the evening, when Gu Tingchuan called to ask if she had eaten on time, Yi Ran answered a little absently and expressed a feeling of grievance. ¡°It¡¯s 7 o¡¯clock today after rehearsal. Mom and dad left on a trip, and I just cooked a little something to eat.¡±

    The man on the other end hooked up his lips and looked at the light meal Xiao Zhao had bought. But, his appetite was not high. He asked, ¡°Are you free now?¡±

    Yi Ran pursed her lips, ced her feet up on the sofa, and leaned back. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±

    Gu Tingchuan had remembered all the careful thoughts she had expressed to him. Naturally, when the right time came, he was determined to take action. At this moment, his elegant voice came through the speaker, ¡°Would you like to video chat?¡±

    ...Director Gu actually offered to video chat with her?!!

    Before, he would never do things he was not interested in, nor did he waste time on things that he considered boring. However, after he became interested in her, all the details and irrelevant little things would be important in his thoughts.

    When Yi Ran heard his question, her heart felt as if it was brushed by feathers, and her chest was full of warmth. She smiled gently, ¡°Okay, just wait a minute.¡±

    She opened theputer and logged in to the web page version of WeChat. Afterward, she made a video call to the other party.

    When Gu Tingchuan saw her, he froze slightly. His eyes swept over his surroundings, feeling d that he was alone in the hotel room.

    Yi Ran blinked a few times and saw that Gu Tingchuan looked distracted. Before she could speak, he said meaningfully, ¡°You bought a new nightdress?¡±

    Yi Ran looked down and saw that she was wearing a light bluece nightdress. Because Gu Tingchuan¡¯s apartment had floor heating and it was always warm, she just went ahead and put on the newly bought night dress without thinking much about it.

    In fact, the nightdress¡¯ overall length very conservatively ended at the knees. But, the neckline was dropped very low to the chest and was edged with thince, looking a little sexy.

    She hurriedly pulled the nket to cover herself. Her cheeks flushed but she still looked at the man in theputer with a bit of coyness. ¡°Yes, I bought it with your card. Next time...you can suggest your preference? Regardless, you should get notifications, right?¡±

    Gu Tingchuan looked at her meaningful eyes and felt his heart tickled. But, he couldn¡¯t touch the person in front of him. He raised his eyebrows slightly. It seemed that this video call will test his patience.

    ¡°You¡¯ll need to wear it when Ie back.¡±

    Yi Ran felt that the atmosphere had be too ambiguous. This was their first time video chatting and it was full of inexplicable heat. She hurriedly shifted the topic. ¡°What are you thinking? What did you shoot today? Do you have any experience to share with me?¡±

    They proceeded to talk about each other¡¯s work. As they did so, Yi Ran couldn¡¯t help but stare at him in earnest. The man on the other side of the video showed a slightlyzy posture. He wore only a thin t-shirt, and his skin was bright under the light. As he talked, his thin lips disyed a distinct outline.

    ¡°After this...can you video chat with me more when you¡¯re free?¡± Yi Ran smiled and looked at him, making him feel that she was particrly beautiful and lovely. ¡°Mrs. Gu also needs to inspect the room in case other beautiese to Director Gu to ¡®talk about the movie¡¯.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan narrowed his eyes briefly and controlled the restlessness in his heart with great difficulty. Meanwhile, he took into ount the thing that was inconvenient to say and, instead, said with great care, ¡°I also hope that you can apany me all the time like my crew. I mean, you can do whatever you like, but it would be great if we can see each other more often.¡±

    Suddenly, Yi Ran¡¯s heart swelled. But, she wasn¡¯t sure what he meant so she looked at him questioningly, ¡°Do you mean..¡±

    Did he want her to change jobs?

    ¡°I often fly to various ces now, and I can¡¯t guarantee that I won¡¯t go abroad for filming or to participate in various activities¡­¡± Before Gu Tingchuan could finish what he wanted to say, his cell phone rang. He looked at the other caller and his brows slightly furrowed. ¡°Xiao Zhao is calling me. It might be something urgent.¡±

    Otherwise, he would not be disturbing his boss after work.

    The smile in Director Gu¡¯s eyes dimmed as he returned to work mode. He held the phone and his heart softened slightly as he looked at her. ¡°I¡¯ll answer the phone first and wait for you to take a shower. Then, we¡¯ll talk again.¡±

    In order to ease his moodiness, Yi Ran immediately covered her eyes and eximed, ¡°Pervert!¡±

    Gu Tingchuan groaned slightly, wanting to ask her...what was she thinking?

    But, he felt that she was too cute. He looked at her and said word by word, ¡°Yes, the charm of a certain woman can lead people astray.¡±

    Someone¡¯s cheeks instantly flushed red.

 Chapter 52 - Take Off

    <h4>Chapter 52: Take Off</h4>

    The art festival for the elementary school students in Haben International School smoothly came to an end in April.

    Since Shi Xiang left, a new principal came and took his ce. She was young, had a round baby face, and was much more open-minded than he was. She usually expressed her viewpoints concisely during meetings and her character was simple and transparent to the teachers and students. She was also very kind, which made everyone feel that the new headmaster was very cute.

    Yi Ran had no ss in the morning and stayed behind in the office to correct each student¡¯s weekly journal. She saw that Gu Tai wrote:

    I sat in front of the window and saw my mother came back from the airport.

    My gift was an aerial camera.

    I valued it, even though there was something that I liked more.

    Because, outside, it was raining heavily.

    Gales and strong winds are customary.

    Yi Ran had mixed feelings in her heart. She hadn¡¯t expected that the child would be so lyrical and literary, especially for one so young. It seemed that when he grows up, he just might take on Director Gu¡¯s mantle.

    At this time, Yao Juan, who was not far away, returned to his seat. She heard him gave a low sigh and saw his head droop, his back emitting helplessness.

    She leaned sideways and asked, ¡°What happened? Is there any trouble?¡±

    Yao Juan turned his head slightly and saw her concerned look. He frowned and replied, ¡°Every time something happened in ss, you¡¯ll ask to help. I don¡¯t know what to say.¡±

    Yao Juan was not only a male teacher but the head teacher as well. At this international school, the burden was already very heavy to begin with. However, Yi Ran felt that there should not be disputes among colleagues.

    ¡°There are many things happening with students now, and maybe I can help a little. Besides, I¡¯m not too busy here.¡±

    He seemed to be struggling internally, then he scratched his cheek and said, ¡°There¡¯s a ssmate in the ssroom...lifting girls¡¯ skirts.¡±

    Yi Ran heard this and didn¡¯t know whether tough or cry. ¡°Oh wow. These little ones became hooligans at such a young age.¡±

    ¡°Yes. Your Gu Tai had such a strong sense of justice that he said a few words to the boy.¡±

    Yi Ran raised her eyebrows proudly. ¡°Of course. He¡¯s a little gentleman.¡±

    She tapped the pen against her chin, bit her bottom lip, and tried to think of a good solution. As she was thinking, her mobile phone rang.

    Yi Ran took a look to see who had called and saw that the bright screen disyed Xiao Zhao¡¯s name.

    She couldn¡¯t imagine why he might be calling her, but she had a bad feeling. Not wanting her suspicion toe true, she frowned and connected the call. ¡°Hello, Xiao Zhao?¡±

    Xiao Zhao didn¡¯t respond at first, then he said in a low voice, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s me, Mrs. Gu. Is it convenient for you to talk now?¡±

    Yi Ran slightly nced around, her eyes dark. When she spoke, her voice was uneasy. ¡°What happened?¡±

    ¡°Yes, just listen to me slowly, okay? This morning, Director Gu wanted to give an example to the actors and so...he climbed the roof himself but didn¡¯t expect that the tile would not be secure and be slippery. He identally fell from the roof to the shed. Fortunately, he fell on a cardboard box. Now he¡¯d just been sent to the hospital in town. ¡±

    After listening to this, Yi Ran¡¯s face became pale. Her forehead was beaded with sweat, and she couldn¡¯t open her mouth for a moment, as if fearing that her mouth would leak out all her fears.

    ¡°So, that ... how is he now?¡±

    She almost bit her tongue and had to desperately appease her inner panic.

    ¡°The doctor said that, fortunately, when he fell down, there was a cardboard box. Mr. Gu was also still conscious at the time, but he had sprains and traumas on his shoulders and back. I¡¯ve already contacted the nearest Nanfa Hospital and asked Mr. Gu to go there for a detailed examination and treatment. ¡±

    Yi Ran¡¯s heart was beating violently from uneasiness and anxiety. She couldn¡¯t believe that this had happened.

    ¡°Okay, Xiao Zhao, please keep in touch with me at any time. I¡¯ll rush there now. Can you send me the specific address?¡±

    Xiao Zhao had guessed that she would respond like this and already made her travel arrangements. ¡°Mrs Gu, you don¡¯t need to worry. I already helped you book a ticket and would send a car to the airport to pick you up.¡±

    Yi Ran nodded forcefully, only to realize that he wouldn¡¯t be able to see her. The palms of her hands were sweaty, as if she was suffering from arrhythmia. Thus, she could only force herself to calm down.

    She pursed her lips and listened as Xiao Zhao told her, ¡°I¡¯ll call back right away when Director Gu¡¯s general situation bes more stable.¡±

    In the past 20 years of her life, Yi Ran had never experienced this. It made her feel both bewildered and at a loss. The moment she feared she might miss something, her heart was filled with anxiety and fear.

    Yao Juan looked at Yi Ran sitting stiffly in her chair, her arms trembling slightly. He couldn¡¯t help worrying immediately. ¡°What happened?¡±

    His voice brought Yi Ran back to her senses. Although she was still worried and anxious, she calmed enough to look at him and said, ¡°I might be taking time off. Something happened to my husband.¡±

    Yao Juan nodded immediately.

    ....

    That morning, the scene they were shooting was when Peng Shaohui¡¯s character climbed to the roof alone to smoke.

    It had rained the night before and was a bit slippery in various ces. Gu Tingchuan wanted to get a sense of the scene being shot and to gain a good grasp of the character¡¯s mood.

    Once Xiao Zhao became aware that he was going to climb the roof, he was stunned. ¡°It¡¯s dangerous, Boss Gu. Are you sure you still want to go up in person?¡±

    Lu Shan also agreed, but Gu Tingchuan insisted. He stepped up on thedder and turned back to tell them, ¡°If I do nothing due to concern for my own safety, why would the actor listen to me when I tell him to go up?¡±

    He climbed up the roof with adder. As far as he could see, the scene before him was a green field of farnd, distant mountains, and chirping birds. The sun hovered in the middle of the sky, it¡¯s light shrouding the small vige beyond. His eyes narrowed slowly, and there was a faint feeling of awe. For a moment, he missed Yi Ran even more but she was, of course, still in the city.

    Gu Tingchuan took out a cigarette from his pocket and held it between his long fingers. He brought the base up to his lips, tasting the slight bitter tobo. He also tried to figure out the emotion and attitude of the character as he stood alone on the rooftop.

    The females in the crew couldn¡¯t help looking up at Director Gu. How could he be so handsome! Sure enough, it was worth to film in such a difficult ce!

    After a while, he got an idea and moved, nning to call Peng Shaohui up. But, as he walked a few steps forward, the bricks under his feet shifted. He feet slipped, and he tipped forward. He tried to grab the tiles around him but they were still too wet and he couldn¡¯t grasp them. He suddenly fell on top of a cardboard box full of clothes on the ground.

    A series of screams sounded while other staff members stood in shock. Xiao Zhao and Peng Shaohui were terrified.

    The small hospital in the town made a preliminary examination of Gu Tingchuan. His right shoulder was sprained, and there were multiple bruises on his back and shoulders. Fortunately, there was no concussion, but there might be soft tissue contusions near the ribs.

    Ninfa City was the nearest big city, and Director Gu was immediately sent to the city-level hospital by the crew car.

    It will take two hours to fly from S City to Ninfa City. It was afternoon when she arrived at the airport. She had directly set off from the school and did not have any luggage except her shoulder bag.

    At the airport entrance, she hurried to the parking garage and met one of Gu Tingchuan¡¯s assistants. The girl was afraid she might worry and said, ¡°Director Gu¡¯s brother will also be leaving in the next flight.¡±

    She nodded absently, listening to the little assistant saying, ¡°Before I came here, Director Gu was still being examined...¡±

    Yi Ran received a call from Gu Tingchuan before boarding the ne, and she almost burst into tears in an instant. Fortunately, she calmed herself but when she spoke, her voice was hoarse, ¡°How are you? Does it hurt?¡±

    Her tone was as if she was coaxing a child. Gu Tingchuan couldn¡¯t help but hooked up his lips in a smile. Then, he felt a sharp pain in his chest, and he slowed his breath to say, ¡°My older brother is also aware of this and will being to see me too. Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m fine. As for my parents, they are in France and have not been notified. It¡¯s better to save them on the worry of having to withstand more than a dozen hours on a flight back.¡±

    Yi Ran finally understood what real distress was and felt as if she could not breathe. Her eyebrows were drawn together in anxiety and a burst of uncertainty washed over her.

    ¡°Then don¡¯t say so much. Take a good rest and cooperate with the doctor during the examination. I will board the ne in a while and, when we meet, I¡¯ll scold you so get ready for it.¡±

    She sat down in her airport seat, covered her eyes with her palms, and tried to stop her tears from flowing down. However, she really didn¡¯t want Gu Tingchuan to find that she was behaving abnormally and be worried about her so she asked a few more things and hung up the phone with a bit more peace of mind.

    As they were driving to the hospital, the little assistant who came to pick her up saw that Yi Ran had no intention of speaking and didn¡¯t bother her. Finally, after a long thirty minutes, she arrived at the hospital where Gu Tingchuan was staying.

    She walked to the door of the VIP ward of the hospital. When she lightly pushed the door open, she saw the man lying on the bed. In that instant, the fatigue and anxiety in her heart disappeared, leaving on the sound of her own heartbeat lingering in her ears.

    Yi Ran¡¯s eyes were moist, wanting to hold this man tightly and never let go.

    She just wanted to give this man in front of her all the best wishes and prayers.

 Chapter 53 - Taking Care of Oneself

    Chapter 53: Taking Care of Oneself

    In the evening, an orange glow spilled through the window onto the white sheets.

    Yi Ran studied Gu Tingchuan, saw his forehead abrasions and white bandages, but realized that his appearance was not too bad. It might be because the light in his room was soft, but his whole person seemed to encased in a faint and clear mist, as if she was looking through the beautiful lens of a movie camera.

    She walked over without saying a word. Gu Tingchuan held her hand tightly and said very gently, ¡°Did you worry?¡±

    Her slightly red eyes narrowed and her features were painted with traces of sadness. Her tone was anxious as she said, ¡°Don¡¯t move around so much. How can I not worry?¡±

    Yi Ran¡¯s shoulders were still trembling. At that time, when she heard that something happened to him, she was so scared. Even now, there was still a lingering fear, causing her to fear she might not be able to let him go.

    Her arms looped around him, and though she wanted to hug him tightly, she was afraid she might hurt him. In the end, she only used a slight force to hug him.

    When Gu Tingchuan saw his wife¡¯s difort, he felt distressed in turn. He held her in his arms and patted her back, his action elegant and thoughtful.

    ¡°I was really scared to death by you. Could you please take better care of yourself in the future?¡±

    She really wanted to beat this person up, but she also couldn¡¯t bear to see him hurt anywhere. In the end, she could only frown and stare at Gu Tingchuan. Even at this time, he was smiling in an elegant and noble way, which was currently really annoying.

    ¡°It¡¯s okay. Almost all of the examination reports had already came out.¡± He coughed a few times, felt his chest hurt a little, and frowned faintly. He slightly adjusted his sitting position to prevent her from seeing it.

    Because she was sitting on the bed next to Gu Tingchuan, Yi Ran could observe his face closely. She asked earnestly, ¡°Then tell me honestly, how many injuries are there? Is the chest injury the most serious?¡±

    ¡°Yes, but fortunately, there are no broken ribs or legs. Nothing that a good rest could not heal.¡± Gu Tingchuan thought deeply before he added, ¡°The dislocated shoulder was sprained, and the left ankle somewhat swollen. It probably just knocked against something.¡±

    Although he spoke very lightly and easily, Yi Ran was still not reassured. She continued to ask him, ¡°What about the back? And the legs? Didn¡¯t you say there were still injuries?¡±

    Gu Tingchuan raised his hands and ran them through her long hair. Heforted her, saying, ¡°It¡¯s not a traumatic injury. Wouldn¡¯t I still be in pain, otherwise?¡±

    Yi Ran traced one soft fingertip across the man¡¯s strong eyebrows. She paused and didn¡¯t know what else to say. She could only me herself, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I would have taken better care of you if I were by your side.¡±

    He grasped her fingertips, his face gentle. ¡°It¡¯s my fault. I didn¡¯t take good care of my body. I promised you, but I seemed to have forgotten.¡±

    After hearing Gu Tingchuan say this, Yi Ran was caught between smiling and frowning. In the end, she shrugged her shoulders and looked at him helplessly. She always felt that this kind of bted hindsights was not useful.

    ¡°This time, we got lucky. You have to be more careful about idents on the set in the future.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan was still so calm. Even after identally falling from a rooftop, his face was still nd and he talked to her intently. ¡°I¡¯m in excellent physical condition so, naturally, I won¡¯t be seriously injured.¡±

    He justified this statement by adding, ¡°You know that benefits of normal exercise, right?¡±

    Yi Ran couldn¡¯t help but rolled her eyes. But, consider that the other person was wounded, she still managed to hold back.

    ¡°Of course. Knowing that the roof will be slippery after it rains, I will not choose to climb up. For someone so smart like me, there will be no possibility of injury to begin with!¡±

    Gu Tingchuan: ¡°...¡±

    The great Director Gu, who was so scary on set, was rendered speechless by his wife.

    With a faint smile on her lips, Yi Ran inspected the bruise on his forehead. Not to mention his perfect face, even if his forehead scarred, it would be a big loss for all fans.

    Afterward, she lifted the bed sheet and carefully examined the rest of the injuries on his body. Seeing the swollen ankle to the bruises on his chest, she frowned unhappily.

    ¡°You¡¯re really fine, right? You already promised not to hide anything from me.¡±

    She will always remember that snowy night and, as long as she mentioned it, he knew that she will not tolerate any ambiguity on his part.

    His clear eyes looked at her tenderly and he nodded to her. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m really fine.¡±

    Seeing that Gu Tingchuan was still in pretty good spirit, Yi Ran finally let thest vestige of anxiety go. ¡°Okay, I believe you. Do you want to drink water? I¡¯ll pour it for you. Just wait a moment.¡±

    Outside, the sunset finally fell away, leaving a faintyer of rust-colored light and shadow. Later, the clouds disappeared and the sky became a dark dome.

    As she sat on the sofa beside the bed, Yi Ran looked at Gu Tingchuan. He held the mobile phone with his left hand and pointed to theptopputer as he exined the arrangements for the shooting to several persons in charge. The telephone and video kept streaming.

    She sat quietly for a while, waiting for him to finish, and then interjected, ¡°Gu Tingchuan, I was thinking about it while you were on the phone.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan was surprised by her sudden change of topic and, after thinking about it, he finally reacted, asking in a clear voice, ¡°About what?¡±

    ¡°I think it¡¯s really troublesome that you don¡¯t always know how to take care of yourself when you get busy. And, I also get that you can travel far away in the future.

    This incident today affected her thinking even more.

    ¡°I¡¯ll think about quitting my job in the future, but I don¡¯t think I can do so at this moment.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan had a different view on this. However, he still respected her and wanted to give her space to think independently. Therefore, he didn¡¯t make any counter arguments.

    Yi Ran pursed her lips and said slowly, ¡°I think I¡¯ll have to consider it long and hard. I can¡¯t just make a decision all at once and so I¡¯ll will wait for a suitable opportunity in the future to see how I can work with you.¡±

    He leaned back against the hospital bed, which made him look even taller. He looked at her, then raised his lips and chuckled. ¡°That¡¯s okay. Don¡¯t worry too much about it. You can think about it slowly.¡±

    Yi Ran picked up the side te. Then, thinking about dinners, sheughedzily, the sound of herughter carrying traces of coquettishness. ¡°Oh yes, during your absence, I found a Chinese refreshment shop. It¡¯s not too far away from our home and is very suitable for making a pot of tea to sip while slowly eating. Will you go with me next time?¡±

    Looking at her pouting appearance, he smiled and responded, ¡°We can go there before returning to the crew.¡±

    At this moment, the nurse knocked on the door and led someone inside.

    When Yi Ran saw that it was Brother Gu, she stood up and greeted the other party.

    Then, she walked over to the nurse, who was about to leave, and asked her for details about Gu Tingchuan¡¯s condition. She also asked about what to pay attention to when taking care of him.

    Gu Tingyong looked at Yi Ran¡¯s back, then turned his attention back to the man on the hospital bed. He couldn¡¯t help but smile in relief. ¡°You really do look alright. I can feel rest assured.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan nced at him and deliberately said, ¡°You must have a lot of free time to fly here?¡±

    As the older brother, Gu Tingyong was ustomed to the great Director Gu¡¯s direct manner of speaking and said indifferently, ¡°I¡¯ll be staying at a nearby hotel tonight and will apany you back to the city tomorrow. You can take a good rest at home for a week before returning to the crew.¡±

    He saw the displeased expression on Gu Tingchuan¡¯s face and almostughed out loud. ¡°I don¡¯t think you can even rest when at home, but at least take time to lie down asionally to prevent anyplications. It will be troublesome.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan no longer insisted. He looked at the girl who was still talking to the nurse in the hallway, and his heart felt moved, the feeling was sweet like sugar and warming him from inside out.

    ¡°I know. Even if I go back to the crew right away, a certain person might not agree.¡±

    He must prevent a confrontation on this issue. Otherwise, she might perform the drama of leaving home and going back to her mother¡¯s house again. This was something he won¡¯t be able to stand.

    Gu Tingyong immediately understood. He slipped his hands into his pockets and studied the face of the man in front of him.

    ¡°I see that you¡¯ve really changed.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan used to be indifferent to everything, turning a deaf ear to everything in the world.

    Director Gu himself did not care how much he had changed, but he now felt that he saw more clearly than some people.

    After all, a life onlysted for a hundred years. The fact that someone can still miss you thousands of miles away was the greatest, happiest feeling in the world.

    ¡­...

    That night, Gu Tingchuan was not able to fall asleep. Even if he could tolerate all of his body¡¯s injuries during the day, but at night, all these injuries seemed to wake up all at once, leaving behind a lingering pain that made him sleep uneasily.

    Yi Ran didn¡¯t want to go back to the hotel to sleep alone. Fortunately, Gu Tingchuan was a special patient so the hospital set up a small bed next to the hospital bed for her to sleep in.

    asionally, she would wake up to see how he was. Then, seeing that he was asleep, she would sometimes touch the man¡¯s handsome face and stroke his hand, her movements extremely gentle. She took care of him carefully, every little move carried with it traces of sincerity and love.

    Her every touch was like the warmest sunshine after he had encountered a heavy rainstorm.

    When Yi Ran finally fell asleep, Gu Tingchuan quietly opened his eyes and saw under the light of the moon that strands of her ck hair had fallen across her forehead. He wanted to reach out and tuck them behind her ears but was afraid of waking her up.

    The man¡¯s eyes were dark in the moonlight, and he silently looked at the sleeping person before him for a long time. Gradually, he became drowsy even as his heart became softer and softer.

 Chapter 54 - Face Slapping

    Chapter 54: Face pping

    The next day, Gu Tingchuan left Nanfa City by ne under the escort of everyone. Due to his injuries, he temporarily returned home to rest for a week, and the studio naturally became his work site.

    Yi Ran agreed to allow him to work as long as he adhered to her three rules. One, there must be a time limit for each job. Second, when it came time to lie down, he must lie down to rest. And, three, when she is present, he must do as she says and allow her to take care of him.

    Oftentimes, Gu Tingchuan will work seriously in the studio and connect to the shooting location via video projections on the TV screen or through other wireless devices. In addition, although he didn¡¯t normally have a sweet tooth, he would also often have a taste of the snacks she made him.

    Yi Ran recently received some newly purchased tea cakes. After brewing tea, she ced a slice of cake with pine nuts on a te and carried them to Director Gu.

    They spent a few days safely like this.

    At a bit past 8 o¡¯clock that night, she walked to the studio with a tea tray and found that Gu Tingchuan was flipping through a book by hand. At the same time, there were many papers and scripts scattered on the desk and over the carpet. She also saw the script for Moonlight.

    She looked at it curiously, lowered the tea tray, raised her eyes and asked him, ¡°What¡¯s up? Haven¡¯t both the script and the preparation works beenpleted?¡±

    Gu Tingchuan murmured an assent, put down his pen, and said, ¡°Since I¡¯m organizing at home, I wanted to go through it again, and find out all the details that might need to be modified. ¡±

    Yi Ran¡¯s eyes drifted up to the book in front of Director Gu. She took it and turned it over. He noticed that she was looking at it and said in a low and clear voice, ¡°Actually, every time I read a book, I hope you can also read it with me.¡±

    He coughed and his lips quirked. ¡°I want know what your opinions are and whether you will have the same viewpoint.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan didn¡¯t just want her to belong to him. He also wanted them to be able to exchange ideas with one another. He must be able to read her thoughts so as to capture her heart. After all, he had already given her his whole heart.

    Yi Ran¡¯s expression was bright, as if she understood the deep meaning behind his words, and a soft sweetness grew in her heart. ¡°I know. I¡¯ll take a look before going to bed. Director Gu, someone else might have a difficult time understanding your love words.¡±

    She leaned over and kissed him enthusiastically on the cheek. Her soft lips on the man¡¯s cheek quickly overwhelmed him, causing him to freeze.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to take a shower now. It¡¯s time for you to rest.¡± Yi Ran looked at him with the stern expression of a young teacher. ¡°When I¡¯m, I hope to see that you are already obediently in the bedroom.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan reacted, nodding, ¡°Understood.¡±

    Yi Ran left the studio and entered the master bedroom for a change of clothes. Then, she took a shower and walked out of the bathroom feeling refreshed. She found that Director Gu had forgotten his words and was still lost in his work.

    Her voice came into his ears, ¡°Don¡¯t make me angry. When I get angry, you¡¯ll be afraid of me.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan heard her words and looked across at her. The little girl who just came out of the bath had a towel over her shoulders and was wiping her wet hair. Her face was not gorgeous and she was not tall, but she was exquisite to him. The dress under the white towel was thin, outlining her seductive curves.

    In the warm light, her expression was serious and her eyes curved like crescent moons, emitting a water-like luster. She lowered her head and cast a nce at the script of Moonlight and saw the male lead and female lead on the cover. The subtitle underneath was not only the intention of the male lead but also the central idea of ??the whole movie.

    Her finger rubbed the words on the paper and she slowly read out loud, ¡°Wherever the heart is, there lies paradise, turning life into the greatest journey.¡±

    After carefully pondering the silent and vast meaning behind this sentence, she couldn¡¯t help but sighed. ¡°If this could be done ... it would be really great.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan looked at her profile and his dark eyes turned thoughtful. He couldn¡¯t help whispering, ¡°Life with you is a journey I will never forget.¡±

    Yi Ran didn¡¯t understand what he said but before she could ask him to repeat himself, he had quietly shifted the topic. ¡°Regarding this movie, we will likely change the style. I¡¯d also listened to your opinion and think that perhaps shooting a movie is simr to life in that both have no forms. I will allow various directors to make their own attempts ording to their own different creative interpretation.¡±

    She agreed and ced her hands on his cheeks. As she leaned forward against him, Gu Tingchuan enjoyed her beauty with great contentment. He lowered his head, lingering against his wife¡¯s neck. He also took the opportunity to look at her nightgown. His lips bent in a smile. ¡°You¡¯re wearing the new nightgown fromst time?¡±

    Yi Ran was tightly embraced by him, and she buried her head in his chest coyly, faintly aware that the atmosphere had be a little ambiguous. She pressed her hands against the edge of his desk, raised herself slightly on tiptoes, and kissed him.

    The kiss contained many days of suppression, making her shiver unbearably. She pulled at his shirt with her fingertips, responding implicitly, her eyes clear and moist

    ¡°Since I can¡¯t work anymore, let¡¯s do something else.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s shirt was open to reveal his chest, and his skin was ented by the light, causing all thoughts to be centered on his body.

    Feeling his reaction against her body, she was startled and stared up at him with wide eyes, only to discover that the ck eyes looking back her here were dark and hot.

    ¡°You, you are still healing ...¡±

    Thest time, they made love in the study, this time...Would he really direct such a scene in this ¡°sacred and invible¡± studio?

    Gu Tingchuan stared at her bright red lips, and said vaguely, ¡°You¡¯re like this, how can I resist you?¡±

    He pulled off the white towel on Yi Ran¡¯s body and traced his fingers along the edge of the nightdress.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, my body has already recovered. If you don¡¯t believe it, it¡¯s more practical for you to see it.¡±

    He suddenly lifted her from the table toward the ground and pulled her thin waist so that her body was flushed against his. His lips was hard and hot against her mouth.

    Yi Ran¡¯s hands pressed against his back and her entire body felt as if it was scalding. Her long hair was silky and slightly messy, flowing everywhere and driving people crazy.

    Feeling hot and limp, she breathed impatiently. She looked out with misty eyes, only to find that she was lying theyer of script and other paper materials that were strewn on the floor.

    She stiffened and the tightening of her body caused the man to groan.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I have all the words in my head anyway.¡±

    If it had been before, she would never dare to imagine that this serious man would allow them to linger on his important scripts. But it had unexpectedly happened. Now, the man¡¯s voice was low and irresistibly tempting, not caring about anything else but the woman in front of him.

    Even if these papers had be wet and crumpled, there was no need to worry about it. Gu Tingchuan wanted to lower his head and kiss the teary eyes under him.

    ¡°Okay, then your shoulders ... be careful...¡±

    Yi Ran had nowhere to run but could only grasp his arms. The touch of her palms was strong and firm, but she was afraid of hurting his injury. With force, the man sank deeply and urgently, crushing her with his physical strength, and the touch of friction between their skin was irresistible.

    Gu Tingchuan gazed down at her gentle watery eyes, and the darkened lights in a room traced their entangled figures.

    ......

    In no time, a week passed and it was nearly time for Gu Tingchuan to return to work. Even though she knew this, Yi Ran still felt a bit reluctant.

    After he leaves, who would boil nutritious soup to supplement his body? But, then again, considering his brave ¡°performance¡± that night, she may just be worried for nothing.

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s flight was booked for the afternoon. In the morning, they packed his luggage together. As she was folding his clothes, she heard the sound of the electronic doorbell from downstairs.

    She walked to the living and nced at the entrance camera. Although she had some suspicions in her heart, she hadn¡¯t expected for the person outside to be Guo Baiyu, whom she hadn¡¯t seen in a while.

    She pondered carefully, then finally opened the door downstairs for the other party.

    Yi Ran walked back to the study, fingered the door frame lightly, and raising her tone intentionally, told him, ¡°Director Gu, the female goddess Guo Baiyu is at the door.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan heard her words and frowned slightly. ¡°I¡¯ll go and see.¡±

    After Guo Baiyu came up, Director Gu stood in the living room and didn¡¯t even ask her to sit down. He greeted her with indifferent eyes and said, ¡°Do you need something?¡±

    Where did shee from? Guo Baiyu had just left the set and didn¡¯t even take the time to remove the makeupon her face. She looked a little tired, and the anxiety in her eyes could not be masked. ¡°To see you.¡±

    Although the crew blocked the news of Gu Tingchuan¡¯s injuries from various media, it seemed that rumors had stilled leaked. He rubbed his eyebrows and ced on hand on his hip, disying an impatient attitude. ¡°This is my home. Please don¡¯te here casually in the future. Also, if you need to contact me about anything, please contact my assistant first. Private affairs and business affairs should be clearly separated.¡±

    ¡°I know that I¡¯m being rude, Director Gu. I just...when I heard the news, I was worried and didn¡¯t think clearly.¡±

    Guo Baiyu wanted to show a considerate side, so she had rushed over in a deliberate hurry. Besides, she thought that since it was a working day, his wife would not be at home.

    Who knew that Yi Ran happened not to have a morning ss so she nned on going to schoolter instead.

    Yi Ran came out of the study. There was a small smile on her face, which did not reach her eyes. She raised her eyebrows and looked at the woman with bright eyes. ¡°You see now that my husband is fine.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan didn¡¯tt waste time running her out. Before he closed the door on Guo Baiyu, he sent her away with, ¡°Please go back and talk to my assistant if you have any other matters.¡±

    After he firmly closed the door, Yi Ran leaned on the sofa and straightforwardly said, ¡°She¡¯s is not very emotionally wise. In the future, you must not bring me a love rival like Gu Tai¡¯s mother, or I will really be frustrated.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan didn¡¯t bother to answer Mrs. Gu¡¯s statement at all. Instead he simply turned around and went to the study to continue packing up.

    Yi Ran: ¡°...¡±

    Bad attitude!!!

    On the ground floor of this clean and bright apartment, Guo Baiyu¡¯s sad eyes were already covered with tears. She came to the first floor silently in an elevator, stiffly took out a paper towel, wiped off the teardrops on her cheeks, and took out a powderpact from her bag. After fixing her makeup, she put on her sunsses and went out.

    Not far away, a figure hid quickly, and after making sure that the woman hadn¡¯t discovered him, he quickly followed.

 Chapter 55 - Major Dog Abuse

    Chapter 55: Major Dog Abuse

    After Gu Tingchuan¡¯s returned to the crew of Farewell to Moonlight, everything progressed smoothly.

    Even Su Congwen, the once proud and arrogant man, now behaved like a man with his tail between his legs.

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s trauma took about a week to heal. The sprain remained only a little sore, and the soft tissue contusion near the ribs was slowly recovering. In this way, he returned to the shooting site and maintained a high intensity workload.

    Luckily, because most of the scenes were shot smoothly, his chances of injury also plummeted.

    As the weather warmed up day by day, Gu Tingchuan¡¯s filming also came to an end, and Yi Ran became more and morefortable with her teaching job.

    During this time, in addition to the WeChat and video chatting, she would sometimes travel long distances to visit him. However, even if she went to the scene, Director Gu still spent most of his time working overtime.

    Before he officially returned home, the man asked over the phone if she wanted to participate in an internal preview of the movie. Although Yi Ran didn¡¯t understand the nature of the event, she still obediently agreed.

    Director Gu¡¯s private screening room was located in the Jiaye building. Every time the first edition of the film was cut, he will invitepany directors, several investors, and some important people toe and watch the movie and discuss the amendments.

    Gu Tingchuan sent a car to pick her up her. When she arrived downstairs, it was about seven o¡¯clock in the evening. As the elevator continued to climb, the night scene of the entire city came into view. A splendid night wasposed of clusters of lights on the roadside trees. Hangingnterns and the warm halo of stars made time seem both subtle and slow.

    She was nning to call her husband but saw that Lu Shan and two other staff were chatting in front of the door. Director Lu had stayed really busy with the crew for a while and now he looked more thin and a bit more tanned.

    ¡°Is Director Gu in there?¡±

    ¡°Yes, today he is leading and may be busy.¡±

    Every time Mrs. Gu came to visit, she would also bring some benefits to Lu Shan and so the two of them gradually became familiar with each other. Yi Ran smiled and asked, ¡°Will you being watching the preview also?¡±

    ¡°I won¡¯t go in since this is for VIP only,¡± Lu Shan said and made a ¡°please¡± gesture for her to enter. Then he instructed the staff nearby, ¡°Give Mrs. Gu something to drink. Would you like to drink something hot or cold?¡±

    Yi Ran thought for a bit. ¡°I¡¯ll take a cup of coffee.¡±

    The screening room was not wide and the light was dim, but it was very private andfortable.

    Gu Tingchuan looked at Yi Ran¡¯s face through the dim light. Her long eyshes were slightly raised, and the corners of her lips were tipped up in a faint smile. She looked around, saw him, and her face lit up.

    ¡°My wife is here,¡± Gu Tingchuan whispered to thepany¡¯s directors. Then, he walked to Yi Ran and reached out to gently wrap one arm around her shoulder. There was only a slight gap between the two, which made them look very intimate. He then made some courtesy introductions.

    Yi Ran had already met some people while others were new. He introduced her to others, but also made sure not to force her to do too much socializing.

    After a while, Gu Tingchuan noticed the man who came in through the door. He lowered his eyes and smiled at his wife. ¡°You should have heard of him before.¡±

    Looking up in surprise, she followed his gaze and looked at the man by the door. Despite theck of light, she could still see a good-looking young man entering from outside.

    ¡°He¡¯s the Bo Yan I told you aboutst time, regarding voicing Peng Shaohui¡¯s character.¡±

    After listening to Director Gu¡¯s introduction, her face immediately showed a look of surprise. She had paid attention to Bo Yan¡¯s great works for several years now. However, she never knew his true identity nor had she even seen his actual appearance. Who would have thought that such a man with such a good voice would also look so good!

    He was really worthy of being a blood rtive with the male god He Yang...

    The man smiled at Mrs. Gu and nodded to the bosses who seemed to know him. Then he turned his attention to Gu Tingchuan and said quietly, ¡°Good evening, Director Gu, Mrs. Gu. ¡±

    His voice was as clear and mellow, just like the strings of a musical instrument. The low tone was very melodious. When Yi Ran heard his voice in real life, she was awestruck and her brain nked for a moment, dying her response.

    Finally, she calmed down and said, ¡°Bo Yan, hello. I¡¯m actually...I¡¯m also your little fan.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s eyes deepened, and he looked at her with a smile. ¡°How familiar these words are. I seem to have heard them somewhere. ¡±

    Yi Ran was contrite, and she immediately pulled his sleeves obediently. When she first met Gu Tingchuan, she did say something simr to him...

    The other party did not know what kind of inside joke they were ying at so he merely smiled slightly. His appearance was as clear as a mountainndscape, seeming to shine like a pool of moonlight outside, which was very charming.

    ¡°My name is Sui Jinzhi. It is my honor to meet Mrs. Gu.¡±

    Sui Jinzhi¡¯s voice was inherently excellent. As a well-known god in the two-dimensional world , his voice was top-notch and easily recognizable. As a result, he had long been famous on the inte. Many businesses had contacted him to work with them but he would, more often than not, reject them.

    Yi Ran couldn¡¯t stop hearing this voice, which made her absentminded. Gu Tingchuan stood beside her and said calmly to Sui Jinzhi, ¡°It¡¯s hard on you. You¡¯re usually busy with work and now have to rush in for this preview meeting.¡±

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you in the same situation? Besides, Director Gu¡¯s films are hard-to-find good works. I¡¯m proud to be a part of your team.¡±

    Su Jinzhi, like Director Gu, had always been very efficient, so their past cooperation had also been very enjoyable.

    After chatting for a while, Gu Tingchuan saw that it was almost time and called for the staff to prepare for the premiere to begin.

    All the lights in the projection room dimmed and the big screen flickered on. Yi Ran sat in the first row on Gu Tingchuan¡¯s right-hand side. The better viewing position was reserved for those older generations.

    She secretly raised her eyes to look at the man next to her. Her sight fell on his sharp jawline and the tip of his handsome nose, before rising up slightly to look at his bright and deep eyes

    The soft sound of his breathing lingered not far from her, and she thought to herself that this was the best sound.

    Suddenly, the man calmly stretched out his hand and held her hand gently. The touch was hot and familiar, and she felt shy but still held his hand back in this dark projection room. Then, they began to watch Director Gu¡¯s new work, Farewell to Moonlight.

    This was a simple and heartwarming story that explored the gaps between ideals and reality. The ending was actually very different from Gu Tingchuan¡¯s previous films. Nearly everyone in this film got what they wanted. The only exception was Peng Shaohui¡¯s character. He was the brightest touch of color in the whole drama and always warmed the hearts of the people around him. However, in the end, his ambition was not realized.

    The cause of this character¡¯s death was actually rather ridiculous. He was hiding in the underbrush, rushed out, tripped, fell into the river, and drowned. This sort of carelessness usually happens all the time and would ordinarily be ridiculously funny if not for it¡¯s tragic ending. Moreover, when inserted into the plot, it became the worst point in the movie.

    Even if the audience did not shed tears on the points of love and reunion, they would not be able to help but sigh over the impermanence of life once they¡¯d viewed the river edge scattering the students¡¯ flowers.

    Not to mention, there was also Sui Jinzhi¡¯s voice dubbing, which added the finishing touch.

    As a non-professional voice actor, Male God Sui had shown more professional voice acting skills than even professional. The ability to deal with the character¡¯s emotional conflicts was impable, and his portrayal also gave the character more depths.

    Yi Ran was an elementary school teacher so her feelings on this subject was particrly deep. She dared not say that she had devoted her life to teaching as deeply as those teachers in the movie, but she had also seen many simr individuals around her, fighting alone for their own ideals and goals.

    Sometimes, they would also be weak and weep, but even if a person was crying at home with tears in their eyes, in the face of life¡¯s difficulties, they will still be like towering giant trees that will not fall. The many storms will not bring them down for they were always proud and fearless.

    Despite the turbulent emotions coursing through Yi Ran¡¯s heart, she still sat calmly, waiting for the credits to roll.

    However, toward the end of the show, before the credits, a few words appeared in the center of the dark screen. They seemed to wrap up the film concisely, but the script made her feel a subtle familiarity.

    ¡°Let¡¯s have a lifetime of love.¡±

    The words appeared, disappeared, and changed into:

    ¡°Then life will be a journey that you and I will never forget.¡±

    After three seconds of darkness, the credits began to roll.

    Yi Ran didn¡¯t know why but when she saw those words, her chest tightened suddenly. The wrenching ache was not due to anxiety or panic. Truthfully, she didn¡¯t fully understand what she was so nervous about. Therefore, she could only pinch her hands in order to maintain her calm facade.

    Gu Tingchuan looked at her and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±

    ¡°What is the purpose of these two sentences?¡±

    He looked at her quietly for a moment, raised his hand and caressed her cheek. Then, he blinked and focused on meeting her gaze, ¡°This is my selfishness. I not only wanted to depict the view of the whole show, but also to represent my thoughts.¡±

    Without this woman in front of him, he would not be able toplete the filming for this movie, nor would this movie have even existed.

    In fact, she was the moonlight in his life.

    It was only because she was with him that he became brave enough to ovee his shadows and be reborn.

    Yi Ran, in this journey called life, I also hope that you and I will travel it smoothly together.

    Yi Ran didn¡¯t respond for a few seconds. Then, she could no longer hold back. She covered her eyes and burst into tears.

    She hadn¡¯t expected such an answer, and she never imagined that, one day, someone would confess to her at the end of a movie.

    Gu Tingchuan leaned down and hugged her gently, not caring about thepany leaders and friends sitting in the movie theater.

    The gradually brightening light illuminated the top of their heads, casting a faint shadow not far away and hiding his intentions.

 Chapter 56 - We Need to Talk

    Chapter 56: We Need to Talk

    When the lights at the toppletely came on, Yi Ran hastily wiped away the tears at the corners of her eyes. She temporarily suppressed the trembling emotions in her heart and pretended to look at these big men around her.

    Although this was only the first cut of the film, it had essentially expressed the essence of the whole story. Gu Tingchuan talked to several directors about their views.

    Later, Sui Jinzhi also expressed his appreciation, ¡°The Great Learning says that all matters have a beginning and an end. To understand the meaning of culture and literature, one must first understand matters at the most ordinary grass-root level. The style is really radical. Director Gu, I admire you very much for being able to make such a movie. ¡±

    Gu Tingchuan was not modest at all as he epted the praise, but also had the wherewithal to ask for more.¡± Then I¡¯ll make an agreement with you first. Next time, we¡¯ll cooperate as before. You¡¯re not allowed to refuse.¡±

    Sui Jinzhiughed in response, looked at the time on his watch, and said goodbye with a smile.

    Although it was gettingte, Gu Tingchuan still had to stay in the office to deal with some of today¡¯s feedback and then wait until tomorrow for additional discussions.

    Lu Shan greeted everyone outside the screening room and then left, leaving only the couple facing each other.

    Gu Tingchuan walked over first, bowed his head and kissed her. She hooked her arms around his waist and looked up at him, ¡°Director Gu, your surprise is really too big. How can I easily ept it?¡±

    He knew she would have this reaction, so he hugged her and chuckled in a low voice. ¡°The best way I can express these sentiments is in a movie. As long as you can understand it, then you don¡¯t need to be too agitated. I don¡¯t want you to have the opposite reaction, which would be bad.¡±

    Yi Ran¡¯s eyes had a strong emotion. Gu Tingchuan looked down at her and coaxed her softly from the depths of his heart, ¡°Don¡¯t shed tears. I don¡¯t want to see your tears when I do this.¡±

    But, aside from tears, she didn¡¯t know how she could express the love and shock that was beyond words.

    Yi Ran shook her head and the tips of her ears turned red. ¡°I haven¡¯t done anything remarkable. Even before, I was just doing everything within the natural regards of a wife. I really don¡¯t require you to spend a lot of time...¡±

    Gu Tingchuan frowned. He really wanted to close her mouth. ¡°It was my choice to confess to you, but it seemed to put you under a lot of pressure instead.¡±

    Maybe it was his kindness that made her chest felt moved with such turbulence. After thinking about it, she lifted her head and ced both hands firmly on his cheeks. Then, she raised on tiptoes to kiss his hot lips.

    This kiss was delicate and tender, and just like the surprise he gave her, it was full of indescribable emotions.

    He kissed her back softly and tenderly, but the kiss soon deepened and became heavier. Her hot lips were gently bitten by him, making her feel drunk.

    After kissing for a while, Gu Tingchuan pulled away, leaned his forehead against her won forehead and whispered, ¡°Don¡¯t many directors and authors like to dedicate their work to the person they love the most? This is what you deserve. You have to ept it frankly. Otherwise, I will feel uneasy. ¡±

    Yi Ran put her head on the man¡¯s chest, the ce that always gave her a sense of endless security. Every time, it always felt so good.

    ¡°Okay. It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t like it; I¡¯m just too happy. I think I just need a little bit more time to digest it.¡±

    She snuggled against him for a long time before whispering, ¡°You¡¯re really too much. You always make me cry. You obviously know I don¡¯t like crying. ¡±

    He was so attentive to her that she really couldn¡¯t help but be moved.

    Yi Ran really had no idea what else to say. So, she could only say again, ¡°Aside from thank you, I really don¡¯t know what else to say. My heart is feeling some turbulence, but I understand that my feelings for you will only increase more and more.¡±

    She didn¡¯t dare look at his eyes anymore and could only rest her head on his chest with the corners of her mouth tipped up.

    There were only two people in the screening room. At this moment, the light of themps were reflected in their eyes. She rxed and her smile widened. ¡°Now, I¡¯ll go to the office to rest and wait for you. Then, let¡¯s go home togetherter at night, okay?¡±

    Gu Tingchuan also smiled and then raised his hand to smooth her messy hair.

    They still have a lifetime to go. This surprise will eventually just be another notch in their long memory.

    ......

    Since it was determined that their daughter had married into a good family, it was not an exaggeration to say that Mother and Father Yi finally put down half a lifetime of worry. They began to focus more on traveling, which made Yi Ran feel a little envious.

    Not long after they returned from visiting Dalian, they contacted their daughter to ask her toe home for dinner. She ended up going alone because Gu Tingchuan had to supervise the follow up preparatory work for Farewell to Moonlight.

    After the meal, Mother Yi brought in a te of cut pears, and Yi Ran ate it with great interest. Her father, who was still drinking, looked back at his daughter and suddenly said, ¡°Although he is usually very busy, your husband is still really good. He¡¯s also good to our family.¡±

    After saying this, he saw that Yi Ran didn¡¯t respond and continued, ¡°I heard that he took the time to see your cousin and her husband. ¡±

    Yi Ran was stunned. She jerked her head to look at her father, her expression startled and unhappy. ¡°Why did he see them? What did they want?¡±

    Originally, it was understandable for them to want to have a meal together and so she didn¡¯t mind asking Director Gu to make some time for them.

    However, Yi Jinting went ahead and contacted Gu Tingchuan in private behind her back. She had never even told Yi Ran. This had made everything awkward.

    Mother Yi was puzzled and said, ¡°What¡¯s the matter? You didn¡¯t know? We heard it from Jinting¡¯s mother. Oh, she said that the two nned to buy a house in Australia and wanted to take us there for vacation in the future¡­¡±

    Yi Ran shook her head nkly and did not pay attention to the rest of her mother¡¯s words. She just hurriedly said, ¡°What happened? What did Gu Tingchuan do?¡±

    Mother Yi thought about it and looked at her husband. Neither of them answered for a while.

    ¡°Well, it seemed that Xiang Dongsheng¡¯spany needed help. It¡¯s a business matter, and we didn¡¯t understand it very well.¡±

    Because of this, Yi Ran spent all evening fuming. She was upset with her cousin but she also didn¡¯t want to call her and directly confront her. She also felt a little upset with Gu Tingchuan as well.

    Although, at this moment, she still couldn¡¯t determine exactly why she was upset with him, she couldn¡¯t help but feel upset nevertheless.

    When she got home, she went online and chatted with a few good friends for a while. Gu Tingchuan finally returned home at around 9 o¡¯clock.

    Recently, the weather in the daytime had started to dry out, and the asional rain also did not help with the heat. Even with the air conditioner on in the office, he still felt sticky whenever he had to step out and return home. He walked up to Yi Ran and kissed her on the cheek, saying, ¡°I¡¯ll take a shower first ande out to talkter.¡±

    However, it was clear that Yi Ran was not the type of person to hold things in her heart for long, especially when she had been holding in her unhappiness since dinner. She thought about it for a while, then she rushed into the bathroom, raised her voice and called out his name. ¡°Gu Tingchuan, I have something to say to you.¡±

    The bathroom was already full of steam. Through the frosted ss, she could see the vague outline of the man¡¯s body. Initially, Director Gu thought he was hearing things and so he slid open the ss door to check. He saw her standing outside and his expression slightly twitched.

    She was...nning to watch him take a shower?

    Gu Tingchuan was silent at first but when he saw that she had no intention of leaving, he asked, ¡°What happened?¡±

    Yi Ran was too busy watching his reaction and did not pay attention to how embarrassing the scene was. She just said, ¡°Did you n on hiding what you did?¡±

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s hair was already wet. Seeing her frowning so hard, his heart felt funny and so he remained silent for a while. He squeezed the shampoo bottle and began washing his hair.

    ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°Do you dare say no?!¡± She took a step closer to him, staring at the other person¡¯s expression and ignoring the parts that should be ignored.

    Gu Tingchuan rubbed the shampoo over his ck hair. The white foam gathered just above his eyebrows, making him look gentle and harmless andpletely without his usual cold indifference. He cleared his throat and said, ¡°Then what do you want me to say?¡±

    ¡°Why did you hide that fact that you met with Yi Jinting? Why didn¡¯t you say anything to me?¡±

    So it was regard this matter. If she hadn¡¯t mentioned it, he would havepletely forgotten about it.

    Gu Tingchuan washed out the foam on his head and his ck hair clung wetly to the sides of his head. He looked down at her with a softer expression than usual and his eyes no longer looked so sharp. He had already guessed what was on her mind. He said, ¡°It¡¯s not an important matter so I didn¡¯t think to mention it to you.¡±

    He frowned and added, ¡°Your cousin¡¯spany had encountered some troubles and needed some funding. They knew my family and I had a good rtionship with the bank and wanted me toe forward to introduce them.¡±

    ¡°But I still felt ufortable.¡± Yi Ran pursed her lips tightly and involuntarily twisted her fingers. ¡°I know that friends and rtives should receive favors and that family ought to help each other, just like Xiang Dongsheng had initially helped introduce me to my current job. But...you¡¯re not this kind of person. You dislike people using these types of sentimentalities on you just to gain face.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan saw that her eyebrows were furrowed and so he took her words seriously. He rinsed the hair conditioner out of his hair. As he stood under the hot water, he looked at her with heated eyes, making him look tempting and irresistible.

    ¡°You¡¯ve stood there long enough.¡±

    ¡°...... ah?¡±

    Before Yi Ran could react, Gu Tingchuan suddenly reached out to wrap his fingers around her hand. He leaned over and whispered lightly into Mrs. Gu¡¯s ears, ¡°Be good. Don¡¯t make a sound.¡±

    After hearing this sentence in his low, maic voice, even a girl with a bad temper can instantly be as obedient as a sheep.

    He directly pulled her into the shower. Her clothes immediately became drenched. She squealed, thenughed uncontrobly. She turned around and tried to escape but was strongly restrained by the man and could not move at all.

    Behind her was the cold tiles and in front of her was nothing but hot skin.

    Yi Ran found that there was no way out.

    The thin T-shirt on her body becamepletely wet and stuck to her skin ufortably. The man in front of her looked down very patiently as he blocked her in with his hands on both sides of the wall,pletely enclosing her within his sphere of influence.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t tell you about this because I thought they had already spoken with you. But, it wasn¡¯t a big deal.¡±

    ¡°No one told me at all. It was only after dinner today that my dad mentioned it to me.¡±

    She spoke with a little bit of grievance. She didn¡¯t understand why they went looking for her husband but left herpletely in the dark.

    Did they think that she didn¡¯t understand the operations and strategies ofmerce? Or, did they think that she had no right to influence Gu Tingchuan at all?

    It really made no sense to her.

    Gu Tingchuan lowered his head and buried his face in her neck. He wrapped his arms around her waist, noting that the texture underneath the clothes was silky and alluring. He said quietly, ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about these matters. It was only because they did something wrong. If I knew at first that they were like this, I wouldn¡¯t have helped them.¡±

 Chapter 57 - Movie Premiere

    Chapter 57: Movie Premiere

    As Yi Ran indulged in the pleasant sound of his voice, she raised her hand to wipe off the few drops of water that had fallen on her eyshes. She met his gaze. ¡°Of course, I understand that it¡¯s not your fault, but...you still didn¡¯t tell me.¡±

    When she spoke again, her soft voice was a bit yful. ¡°Gu Tingchuan, you¡¯ve done too well. I won¡¯t say anything now...Just that,ter, no matter what, even if it¡¯s for my family, you don¡¯t have to feel as if you must ept everything. You can also discuss it with me first. If they wanted you to help with something and you feel unwilling, you don¡¯t have to do it¡­¡±

    Su Congwen was the best example. Director Gu never liked to be approached by others.

    He was a proud, unconventional man.

    Gu Tingchuan bent his head and kissed her. He let out a muffled groan and the sound was so tempting that her legs grew weak.

    Yi Ran felt his lower body pressed against her. He stood with his back to the hot water and the temperature inside the shower stall seemed to have be increasingly hotter. Yet, he seemed to have no intention of stopping at all.

    From his good intentions with Farewell to Moonlight to breaking his principles for her family, all of these she had already acknowledge and had long ago been set ame by them.

    ¡°Sometimes, I really don¡¯t understand Yi Jinting¡¯s family.¡± Yi Ran lowered her eyes, her eyshes trembling, and stared straight down at her bare feet. ¡°Since thepany is in trouble, why even buy a house in Australia? That¡¯s terrible!¡±

    He smiled and then, seeing her opening her mouth and then closing it without saying a word, said in a deep voice, ¡°What else do you want to say?¡±

    Yi Ran felt that he was about to act naughtily and went all in. She deliberately rebuked, ¡°I also want to say...you seemed so experience, wanting to do bathroom y like this. It¡¯s doesn¡¯t seem like I¡¯ve been your only partner.¡±

    Gu Tingchuanughed helplessly, because such a topic seemed impossible to justify.

    His hand brushed away the wet hair from her forehead before drifting down to cup the back of her neck. He leaned down and kissed her red lips, using his tongue to slightly part her mouth.

    The man murmured, ¡°What do you mean? You¡¯re the one to make me think about going to bed.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s embrace tightened and little by little, Yi Ran fell into his snare. Subconsciously, her body began to arch toward him and her hands simultaneously clung to him. He could guess what she wanted so he took a small step back and shifted her legs with both hands. He stepped between her parted legs and lifted her entire person up with his hands on her buttocks.

    She leaned forward against him, not paying attention to how ambiguous their posture was, as the hot water constantly fell down on her wet body. She looked at this noble and cold man.

    ¡°What do you mean? What about others, like... kissing? Am I the first?¡±

    Gu Tingchuan narrowed his eyes and tightened his hold on her behind. ¡°I should have guessed that you had bad intentions.¡±

    ¡°What? How did this suddenly be my fault?¡±

    He saw that her eyes were moist under the dense steam, and he suddenly felt the urge to nip at her cheek. ¡°You did it on purpose. You sneaked in here to seduce me?¡±

    ¡°No! You¡¯re imagining things. I really just wanted toe in to¡­¡±

    Before she could finish speaking, her mouth was suddenly blocked by a pair of lips. Under the hot water, the man¡¯s eyes were smiling while her breathing soon becamepletely thrown into disarray.

    What happened afterwards no longer needed to be described in detail. This kind of chest to chest embrace was really just...digging a pit and jumping inside.

    .....

    What Yi Ran didn¡¯t expect was that the next day, Cousin Jinting called her.

    She had just woken up in bed and had no clue. She listened to her cousin softly say, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ran Ran. It wasn¡¯t good of me not to tell you first. As a matter of fact, I felt too embarrassed¡­¡±

    Yi Ran pressed her lips together and did not speak right away. She recalled that Gu Tingchuan told herst night that it was Jinting who first called assistant Xiao Zhao and asked for Gu Tingchuan, saying that they had something important to tell him.

    That night, Yi Jinting and Xiang Dongsheng looked for a Chinese restaurant near Jiaye Building. They sat down with Gu Tingchuan and talked for about half an hour. After he learned about their specific situation, he simply returned to the office to continue working.

    Yi Ran responded tly, ¡°Why are you suddenly telling me this?¡±

    It turned out that it was because of Yi Ran¡¯s parent¡¯s strange attitude. Seeing Yi Ran¡¯s reactionst night, her parents asked her cousin¡¯s father to check again. After doing this, it finally passed into Jinting¡¯s ear.

    ¡°We were also a little worried at that time, so we went to see Gu Tingchuan quickly. We¡¯ll have dinner next time to thank you and your husband.¡±

    Yi Jinting knows that she must not let the other party know her true thoughts. She felt that Yi Ran had never been involved in this area of ??work before, and she had lived in her idealized utopia since she was a child. Furthermore, she did not want to see her and her husband¡¯s disys of affections likest time.

    After all, she still couldn¡¯t figure it out at all. How could Director Gu, who was so high above them, be with such a little girl who could only teach?

    Although these words never came out, Yi Ran was able to perceive a bit and didn¡¯t say much to her cousin. In the end, since she was able toin about this matter to her husband, this soon passed without incident.

    However, what Gu Tingchuan did for her made her feel...really warm.

    Just after this year¡¯s summer vacation, Farewell to Moonlight finished its final editing stage and ushered in its premiere at the cinema.

    This time, the PR side did a good job of advertisement to build momentum for the new film. Both Gu Tingchuan and Yi Ran will also be attending the city¡¯s premiere.

    Additionally, Director Gu was very ¡°friendly¡± this time around. Thepany selected some big fans to watch the premiere together at the theater and to cheer on their favorite actors.

    Yi Ran arrived at the event site. The lights were brilliant and dazzling, and fans held signs and shing boards in support of their favorite actor or actresses. She looked around and found that Peng Shaohui really deserved to be a ¡°national male god.¡± He had male and female fans galore.

    This was the first time she appeared in front of the media. As a result, the public rtions department invited a special stylist to dress her.

    For the first time, Yi Ran wore a dress sponsored by an international brand. The shoulders were partially exposed, and at the same time, glittering sequins were used to reflect the light falling from the roof of the theater during the walk. It was very elegant and moving.

    When a reporter wanted to take a photo of Yi Ran and Gu Tingchuan together, she bent her lips slightly, and her expression was just right in disying feelings of affection for her husband. .

    Gu Tingchuan was quite satisfied with the various arrangements. Besides, there was Yi Ran next to him, and so there was always a smile on his face. He reached out to help her and didn¡¯t forget to ask, ¡°Have you be ustomed to wearing high heels yet?¡±

    She looked up at the man, her delicate features entuated with detailed makeup. ¡°I will not be able to walk fast but my shoes are not abrasive at all, and I feel veryfortable.¡±

    When directors promoted their films, they will typically go in and out with the female lead. However, Director Gu brought his young wife and stayed with her from beginning to end, making Yi Ran¡¯s heart full sweetness.

    After the ceremony, Gu Tingchuan, who had just been interviewed with the other actors and actresses, returned to his seat beside her. He said in a low voice, ¡°Let¡¯s watch a movie, Mrs. Gu.¡±

    Yi Ran¡¯s face became hot. She murmured ¡°Mmm¡± and hurriedly turned her eyes to the screen.

    Although she was watching this movie again, she still felt passionate about it. The final version revised by many opinions was really smoother, including some favorite things from the audience and fans. She watched it very seriously and the night quickly deepened.

    However, when the movie was about to reach the climax, there was a suddenmotion from behind the auditorium.

    Yi Ran frowned slightly, feeling vaguely as if there was noise from the fan¡¯s seat behind. For a while, it was mixed with the lines in the movie, making it difficult for her to listen.

    Before she could react, several figures rushed to the front of the screen, disturbing everyone. They began spraying paint on the screen and throwing all kinds of garbage into the auditorium. They all looked quite menacing.

    These men turned on the shlight on their phone, brought out a stack of photos, and threw them all over the ce, shouting, ¡°Gu Tingchuan and an actress have an improper rtionship! Bad movie made by a bad person! Don¡¯t watch it!! ¡±

    The photos in his hands were just a few shots of Guo Baiyu walking out of an apartment wearing sunsses, but it was hard to recognize that this as Gu Tingchuan¡¯s home.

    ¡°Guo Baiyu also went to Gu Tingchuan¡¯s private home! You are a pair of dogs!¡±

    In the past, Director Gu¡¯s many scandals were always sensational, but all of them were tabloid news and not worthy of trust. Moreover, since he got married, people had already seen that Mr. Gu do not mess with flowers outside.

    This incident was obviously beyond the scope of ¡°hype¡± and directly entered the grand rhythm of deliberate disturbances.

    Gu Tingchuan, with a hardplexion, still maintained his sanity. He stood up and protected Yi Ran behind his back. Looking at her with raised eyebrows, he said, ¡°These people are deliberately causing a disturbance. Don¡¯t worry. I had already made detailed preparations. The security team has been deployed well in advance, and nothing will happen. ¡±

    His first reaction was not to worry about the premiere of the movie, but ... to care about her safety.

    Gu Tingchuan stood in front of her, protecting her like a sword and a shield. Somehow, at this moment, what Yi Ran felt could not be described in words.

    The staff at the scene hurried forward. The auditorium was filled with various disturbing voices, but no matter how noisy the outside was, as long as he was in front of her, Yi Ran¡¯s heart will feel secure.

    As she looked at the people, she couldn¡¯t believe that this was a real.

    Are these people crazy?

    Why suddenly came to Gu Tingchuan¡¯s premiere?

 Chapter 58 - Take a Rest First

    Chapter 58: Take a Rest First

    The fans caught in the middle were frightened by this riot and cried out in fear. Yi Ran raised her eyebrows, fingers tightening on his shirt as she pulled on it uneasily.

    Gu Tingchuan felt her emotions and patted her back gently to appease her. Meanwhile, he was speaking to Xiao Zhao, his eyes even colder than normal.

    Finally, arge number of security personnel came in to maintain order. Arge and stalwart man escaped their containment and rushed to the front, holding a few eggs in his hands. He threw the eggs in Yi Ran and Gu Tingchuan¡¯s direction!

    Gu Tingchuan used his hands and body to block those dirty things, and the high-end tailored suit on his body became stained.

    The man wanted toe again but was dragged away by the Gu¡¯s bodyguard in a blink of an eye. They forcibly pulled his hands to the ground as he cried out in pain.

    Gu Tingchuan nced at the stains on his body, took out a paper towel from his pocket, and wiped the sticky marks left by the egg yolks and egg whites. When an assistant brought in a towel, he allowed him to take over and clean his clothes.

    She looked restlessly at their surroundings, but fortunately the chaos seemed to have subsided.

    Several troublemakers were arrested. Xiao Zhao had just finished giving a report to the police. Meanwhile, the staff were working hard to maintain order and arrange the evacuation in twos and threes. In addition to soothing everyone¡¯s emotions, at the same time, they announced that today¡¯s premiere will be temporarily cancelled but that it will definitely be held again.

    ¡°Xiao Zhao, you¡¯re responsible for taking Yi Ran back first,¡± Gu Tingchuan¡¯s voice was full of helplessness, but he tried his best to behave normally in front of her.

    Yi Ran frowned. ¡°Can I stay with you?¡±

    Xiao Zhao came toward them. ¡°Director Gu, do you want to interrogate these people first?¡±

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s gaze turned slightly, and he slightly raised his chin. ¡°No, wait for the police to cooperate in investigating this incident. We must not tolerate such people.¡±

    After he said this, he paused before adding, ¡°Yi Ran, we¡¯re not sure if they have other goals tonight, or whether things are really over. If you stay here, I will worry.¡±

    Yi Ran knew thatpanionship had two ways. Another way was to not let the other side worry about her or to drag the other¡¯s hind legs.

    She calmed down and had to think silently about what she should do. But she didn¡¯t know what was the most correct thing to do and so she didn¡¯t speak for a moment.

    After a moment of stalemate, he finally sighed and there was a hint of a helplessness and plea in his voice. ¡°I¡¯m fine now, but if you¡¯re here, I¡¯ll be distracted. So, you go back to your mother first. If I finished early, I¡¯ll pick you up?¡±

    Although he would be more at ease if she went to his family home, he knew that not only was his parents still not at home but that she would feel more at ease at her family house.

    Yi Ran pursed her lips, thinking that if she couldn¡¯t see him tonight, she couldn¡¯t sleep anyway...

    She looked at the man and her voice was very firm. ¡°Then I¡¯ll go back now, but no matter howte, you have toe and pick me up.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan nodded after seeing her frown.

    He feared that she was still uneasy so he rubbed her cheeks and sincerely reassured her, ¡°You can rest assured, I¡¯m not in a bad mood. This kind of thing is not as bad as it was for me previously. It really doesn¡¯t matter much. ¡±

    This sentence finally gave her some peace of mind. If he needed her to apany him, she would definitely stay, but she was just afraid that her stay would be a nuisance. Better to just go back and wait for the news.

    Yi Ran stood for a while and saw the police approaching. She grabbed the man¡¯s hot hand, suppressing the painful heartache rising from the bottom of her heart, and there was some sourness in her nose.

    Since she was with him, she also knew that the more she was rmed, the more calm he would be.

    ¡°Then I¡¯ll go first. You can call me at any time.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan raised his hand and pulled her into his arms, hugging her infort. The anger and regret in his heart was soothed by her distressed look.

    ......

    Back home, Yi Ran¡¯s parents hadn¡¯t fallen asleep yet, and they were naturally worried at their daughter¡¯s sudden arrival.

    Mother Yi, wearing short-sleeved pajamas, walked into the living room to turn on the lights before looking at Yi Ran nervously, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Didn¡¯t you say that you and Tingchuan are attending the premiere for his movie tonight?¡±

    Yi Ran was afraid that if they knew, they would only worry about her in the future, but she couldn¡¯t keep it hidden. ¡°There were some troublemakers at the premiere but they have already been arrested by the police. I just came back to wait for him. ¡±

    Father Yi also entered the room, frowning. He couldn¡¯t believe it. ¡°What kind of people are they? They are so brave. Now there are more and more people who don¡¯t follow thew. It¡¯s good that the police were called. Catch them! Imprison them for a few years! ¡±

    The things that the assholes did on the scene were not really serious. But, the fact that they chose this critical moment made them more destructive.

    Yi Ran was anxious.

    He was Gu Tingchuan. How many people was paying attention to his words and deeds, was watching indifferently, and was hiding in the dark to see the drama... These insidious people would view this as entertainment.

    Fortunately, Gu Tingchuan was capable and can handle these matters so calmly.

    Yi Ran was still a little uneasy. She first went to the bathroom to wash her face, changed her clothes, and turned around aimlessly in the living room, looking around.

    Mother Yi cleared her throat,looked at her daughter and asked, ¡°Are you full at night? We still have some food left. Do you want to eat?¡±

    Yi Ran shook her head as she opened the cab and pulled out some utensils and ingredients to make a cup of hot tea to warm her heart.

    ¡°No, you and Dad go to bed first. I¡¯ll wait for Tingchuan toe back.¡±

    The two elders finally returned to their bedroom to rest. In fact, she wouldn¡¯t be able to sleep much after this, but she didn¡¯t want to worry them.

    When we love someone, we always carry out simr psychological activities and we always make simr actions.

    Yi Ran smiled faintly as she thought of this. She walked to the window in the living room. As far as her eyes could see, there were bright streetmps connecting the outside world.

    That night, she held her cell phone, frequently looked at the time, and wondered whether he would call suddenly.

    About an hourter, Gu Tingchuan finally called and said that the transcript had ended, and he would wait for the result of the police interrogation.

    He was on his way back now.

    Yi Ran took a sip of the tea that had just been brewed. The temperature of the water had cooled down, but she felt relieved.

    The night was peaceful and quiet. Even the sound of the wind was clear

    There was peace and quiet in the night, and even the sound of the wind was very clear. Yi Ran updated her parents and went downstairs to wait for the car.

    Within a few minutes, the dull engine sound of the car loomed into her ears, and she looked for the sound. The car¡¯s headlights illuminated the road at night.

    Yi Ran sat in the car and saw Gu Tingchuan leaning on the back seal. There was a faint exhaustion between his eyebrows, but when he looked at her, his eyes were slightly bent, and he said, ¡°I¡¯m here to pick you up. Let¡¯s go home.¡±

    ¡°What happened?¡±

    ¡°Five people were arrested. ording to them, there were about seven aplices in total, and some of them had a criminal record. This time they disrupted public order and will be detained.¡±

    Yi Ran¡¯s lips pressed together irritability and her eyes drooped. ¡°Why the heck did they do this?¡±

    Gu Tingchuan rubbed her cheek soothingly with the back of his hand. ¡± These people im to be fans of Guo Baiyu, and now they felt that their ¡®Goddess¡¯ had been defiled. They wanted to get revenge. ¡±

    After he said this, he paused and let out a low chuckle. ¡°This is likely untrue. The police said they don¡¯t even know which movie Guo Baiyu had been in. ¡±

    Yi Ran thought about it and guessed what he meant. ¡°So there¡¯s someone plotting behind the scene?¡±

    Gu Tingchuan nodded.

    Thepany¡¯s public rtions team began issuing statements using various tforms. They wanted to post it out since the situation appeared to be getting bigger and bigger. Meanwhile, the policeunched a deeper investigation. After all, the Gu family was very well connected. It wouldn¡¯t be difficult to investigate this matter if necessary.

    Although Director Gu had always been indifferent to Guo Baiyu, he still had a vague rtionship with her. Regardless of whether she was actually involved or not, it was impossible to casually disregard the possibility of her involvement. Therefore, he tasked Xiao Zhao with contacting Miss Guo¡¯s agent to find out more on this matter.

    However, it may not be appropriate to say that it was self-directed. After all, outside public opinion had always been harsher on female stars.

    Some of the doubts in Yi Ran¡¯s heart could not be answered for the time being, and what followed was worrying about the man¡¯s psychological condition.

    ¡°Are you really okay?¡±

    Seeing that Yi Ran was worried about him like this, Gu Tingchuan quietly looked at her for a moment. ¡°Although I feel irritated, the things that happened tonight have nothing to do with the quality of my work.¡±

    He nced at the night scene shing by next to her, and while she was distracted, he bowed his head and kissed her soft lips.

    ¡°We¡¯ll talk about it moreter.¡±

    Yi Ran nodded, tugged at his clothes, and lowered her head tofort him softly. ¡°Okay. Then you take a rest first.¡±

 Chapter 59 - Hes A Genius

    Chapter 59: He¡¯s A Genius

    The first thing Gu Tingchuan did when he got home was to wash away all the dust.

    Yi Ran sat on the sofa holding the remote control and did not dare to brush Weibo. What happened at the premiere tonight had probably spread. Thements under her ount must be quite exciting.

    She leaned her head sideways on her knees which were drawn up against her chest. She turned on the TV and watched the recent hit drama. The actress ying the lead role was the newest TV empress. This actress had round eyes and features without many shorings and was very popr with the audience.

    However, Yi Ran preferred the junior Xu Qingying, who yed against her. She had a very cold and charming look and had the standard ¡°Sister Fairy¡± temperament.

    Soon, the sound of water in the bathroom was cut off. Gu Tingchuan changed and returned to the living room. He saw that she was absentmindedly staring at the TV screen.

    Gu Tingchuan sat down next to Yi Ran and pulled against his side. She felt every line of his firm chet through his thin pajama top, which made her blushed.

    However, she was not in a hurry to wash up and wanted to talk to him first.

    Gu Tingchuan cleared his throat, and there were some naughty intentions in his cold eyes. ¡°Last time you came to visit me at the shooting site, did you remember the feel of touching my body? Have you memorized it yet?¡±

    Yi Ran was surprised, Her nose grew hot, and she hurriedly turned her eyes away. She did not expect that the man was still in the mood to tease her!

    ¡°What are you talking about, Director Gu?¡±

    Gu Tingchuan smiled faintly and then sighed as he became serious. ¡°Lu Shan and everyone thought that they were all practically worked to death these past days and could soon escape my ws to take some much needed rest...Then, this unexpectedly happened.¡±

    Someone dared to spoil his premiere.

    Yi Ran must confessed that she had never seen Gu Tingchuan truly angry. Even when he was at his most severe, was harsh or irritated at work, they were not true anger. Therefore, that person who ruined his premiere probably won¡¯t gain much satisfaction.

    No matter who that person was, she certainly admired his ability to court death...The older generation of the Gu family wanted their children to cultivate their own skills and to hide their true strengths. As a result, the Gu family¡¯s power did not only stem from a little filmpany.

    Yi Ran looked at him thoughtfully and said, ¡°Do you have any idea about who might have nned this?¡±

    When Mrs. Gu spoke, Gu Tingchuan noticed that her face waspletely devoid of this evening¡¯s makeup and her clothes had been changed to an ordinary dress.

    Although she looked delicate and charming all dressed up for tonight¡¯s event, the current her had eyes that were crystal clear and her skin was soft and bright against the warm colors of the living room, making him feel even more sentimental toward her.

    Although his face disyed a rare, casual indolence, this was only deceptive. ¡°Yes. The other party also deliberately dragged Guo Baiyu in so the list of suspect was narrowed significantly.¡±

    Unfortunately, Yi Ran did not have the ability to help him with his list. After all, she didn¡¯t know much about his business and film circles. What she could do better was to simply talk to him and help him settle down.

    ¡°I haven¡¯t had a chance to tell you. Actually, watching your movie, I could think of many people around me who will take it to heart.¡±

    She suddenly realized that, even early on, she liked to treat him and speak to him straight-forwardly. She felt that, in addition to his indifference, he also had the temperament of a literary artist...In this regard, they could be considered as having something that aligned well together.

    Yi Ran hadn¡¯t spoken candidly to Gu Tingchusn for a while now. It was probably because, after their rtionship became public, someone had said behind her back that she only cared about Gu Tai in order to get close to his uncle.

    However, when Yi Ran first met Gu Tai, she hadn¡¯t even know Gu Tingchuan. Moreover, she had also treated Hao Ziyue and Jia Jia equally.

    He rubbed her head and Yi Ran leaned back against his chest, found a suitablyfortable position, and said, ¡°I can understand that everyone¡¯s viewpoints is different regarding what makes a good teacher. I¡¯ve mentioned before that students can have contradictions and fights. Students can also lie. These things happen everyday, and so the management required can sometimes feel endless. I know and can understand these students¡¯ helplessness and some of their experiences. But, nevertheless, I often find it difficult to manage them. Personally, I sometimes wondered why I remained a teacher.¡±

    As this man had once said, if it was just for bread, she could have chosen a more profitable profession.

    Gu Tingchuan smiled, and his eyes revealed a sense of rxation and indulgence. He liked to just listen to her.

    He looked at her intently and said, ¡°Professions like teachers, doctors, and other simr fields have more significant responsibilities than ordinary positions. But, of course, not everyone can agree with this. There are always some people in this world who like to use their dark side to specte on the intentions of others. And then there are some people who, instead of unintentionally not seeing the truth, purposefully avoided the truth instead.¡±

    Yi Ran stretched out her legs and the gestured caused them to be entangled with his long legs. But, she was so focused on the topic of discussion that she didn¡¯t notice that Gu Tingchuan¡¯s eyes were gradually deepening. ¡°Well, what happened at the theater today seemed, on the surface, to be simr to what you¡¯re saying.¡±

    However, both of them knew that this was by no means a disturbance caused by dissatisfied fans. From the few people captured who had a prior criminal record, it could be seen that they were clearly not the type to go chasing after stars. Not to mention, the police had discovered all kinds of ws from just a little interrogation.

    She smiled lightly. ¡°But anyway, Gu Tingchuan, your movie made me think about many things. Also, my friends who went to small towns to be teachers suffered a lot of hardships, but they still persisted. So, I must not give up either. Also, I want to be a better person for you.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan heard this and could not help but hook up his lips in a grin. Suddenly, the whole appearance looked better. Yi Ran never knew that he could look so sweet.

    After she regained her senses, she realized that she had stopped talking after seeing him smile. Then, she leaned down and kissed the man¡¯s cheek with satisfaction. She said with a smile, ¡°I¡¯m going to take a shower first, then we¡¯ll go to bed together.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan, who had been provoked by her, suddenly looked serious as he raised his hand up to stroke her long, silky hair.

    Yi Ran, who had already jumped off the couch, turned back. Frowning slightly, she asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±

    He looked at her and said with a straight face, ¡°I thought you had already washed at your mother¡¯s house. I only found out just now that you hadn¡¯t¡­¡±

    Yi Ran:¡± ... ¡±

    Why did I have to ask just to be teased by you?

    ......

    In the morning, Yi Ran drank soy milk, ate a few slices of bread, and was sent to school by Gu Tingchuan¡¯s driver.

    Before publicizing their rtionship, she often took the subway or a taxi by herself. Now, a driver often sent her instead.

    Some time ago, Yi Ran had mentioned about getting a driver¡¯s license during the uing winter vacation. Gu Tingchuan had said solemnly, ¡°If you get a perfect score, I¡¯ll buy you a car.¡±

    Although this statement still required more in-depth discussions, she suddenly realized that they had this kind of money...

    Now, at this moment, Yi Ran was sitting in the back seat and brushing Weibo.

    At first, she didn¡¯t dare read any remarks on the Inte. But, after chatting with Gu Tingchuan, she felt fearless. Besides, she also cared about the public perceptions of events.

    Nowadays, the various trends and downfalls in the entertainment industry could be seen from the direction of the public opinion online.

    Since the incident at the premiere of Farewell to Moonlightst night, the public rtions team at Jiaye had first reposted this message published online by a local public security official:

    Last night, seven men threw rubbish at the premiere of a movie, destroying public property, damaging theater projection equipment, and causing false public opinion to be widely disseminated byizens. At present, the police hadunched an investigation in ordance with thew and arrested the seven people. These seven people have then been administratively detained and fined.

    The news was released in a timely manner, and police¡¯s response was also quick and decisive. As a result, the entertainment factor on the matter was significantly reduced. The message posted by the official also provided an additional deterrent.

    Aside from this, several stars who had participated in the event posted their own statements on Weibo. Among them, the ount most followed byizens belonged to Peng Shaohui, who had always been outspoken and cheerful.

    Peng Shaohui: Today, I heard the agent said that some of those arrested were pretending to be my fans. Can I have fans of this quality?! There must be something wrong on the inside! I hope the police will discover the truth. After all, Director Gu¡¯s movie can¡¯t be ruined by people like you! Don¡¯t force me to swear!¡±

    What Peng Shaohui had mentioned was also one of the clues obtained by the police during their interrogation. The seven individuals had not only plead guilty but also offered their ¡°motives¡± for causing the disturbance.

    While the case was pending until further investigation, many true fans who participate in the premiere on the inte also expressed their feelings. As a result, there was a whole wave of praise for Farewell to Moonlight.

    Xiao Ni is a Strange Tsundere: Bright Moon is ten times better than imagined! It¡¯s a pity not to be able to see the ending!! I really wanted to vomit blood. It is said that Director Gu finally confessed to his wife at the end of the movie!! Something like, ¡°Thanks to my wife, dedicated to my wife¡±! How many people can achieve this kind of romance?

    Yndy Yan: The psychological state of some of the protagonists and the supporting characters were described too realistically. Sometimes, they were so real that it¡¯s hard to think and look at at them. At the same time, the feelings and the plots were both so beautiful and evocative, just like flowing water.

    Drizzling Meow: To the upstairs neighbor, it¡¯s not so much the river, as the post said. It should be the moonlight in the sky or the moonlight on the world or the moonlight on earth.

    Out of Hunting Fish: In short, it¡¯s really a big loss if you don¡¯t watch it. After the show, I¡¯ll watch it at least 6 or 7 more times! This movie was really beautiful and could be Director Gu;s most transformative work. He¡¯s really a genius.

    Gu Tingchuan was really a genius.

    When Yi Ran saw thisment, her nose was sore, and she was moved for some reason. There was ayer of light in her eyes as she gently covered her mouth with one hand.

 Chapter 60 - Interview

    Chapter 60: Interview

    Even if she was certain that Gu Tingchuan would return to his dazzling peak, when she really received feedback from the audience, she couldn¡¯t help but feel ecstatically happy.

    In fact, what circles were not like this? There may be turbidity and filth, but these could also be erased by idealism and changes.

    Yi Ran just liked Director Gu¡¯s temperament of being ¡°out of the mud but not being stained.¡± Today, he seemed to be washed by fireworks and returned back to the peak where he belonged.

    Her heart was full with too much sweetness that she almost brushed passed her picture without paying attention to it.

    It was taken by journalists and fans who came to the scene. Several photos had certain degrees of blurriness, but she and Gu Tinghuan clearly stood side by side. By chance, they happened to be looking at each other. The man¡¯s expression was calm and serene, and although she looked a little nervous, the light at the bottom of her eyes was firm and brilliant.

    The busy staff and the chaotic scene around them had be nothing but background noise.

    If it weren¡¯t for the fact that everyone knew that they were a couple, the two people in the photo appeared to portray the sentiment of a love movie.

    However, it was obvious to anyone with a good eye that Gu Tingchuan¡¯s first reaction during the event was to soothe his wife¡¯s emotions.

    They didn¡¯t require much rifications. With just one look, they already understood each other.

    Yi Ran quickly saved the picture on her mobile phone.

    She had thought for a whilest night and still couldn¡¯t figure out what to post on Weibo in response to everyone. Now that she saw these photos, she finally gained inspiration. So, she tapped out a few lines:

    One looks for this kind of feeling for all of one¡¯s life...In the second half, you must remember to go to the cinema to find it. (*wink)

    Then, she picked a pleasing ID from one of those movie fans and forwarded the photos.

    After posting on Weibo, Yi Ran felt refreshed and looked up at the sky outside the window. The clouds were like cottons in the exceptionally clear sky. When she saw the familiar building on the roadside, she realized that they had arrived at the school.

    The car stopped steadily near the main entrance of Haben International School. She thanked the driver as usual and opened the door to step out. As she did so, she heard loud noisesing from the crowd of people outside.

    Yi Ran hadn¡¯t realized that there were so many people in front of the school gate so she was unprepared when she stepped out.

    The moment the door was closed, the crowd of people surged toward her eagerly.

    Yi Ran narrowed her brows tightly, feeling as if a sharp wind had suddenly came up against her, chilling her from beginning to end.

    At this time, the driver seemed to have said something from behind her, but there were so much noises swarming over her all at once that she couldn¡¯t hear him. She saw a lot of tall photographers holding their cameras aloft in front of her. Meanwhile, a female reporter thrusted a microphone in front of her face.

    ¡°Excuse me, are you Director Gu¡¯s wife, Mrs. Yi Ran?¡±

    ¡°What did you think about someone deliberately disrupting Director Gu¡¯s premiere?¡±

    ¡°Mrs Yi, is your marriage really still harmonious? Did Gu Tingchuan take you and Guo Baiyu to a hotel room? ¡±

    ¡°Did Gu Tingchuan have other women outside while maintaining a marriage rtionship with you?¡±

    Yi Ran¡¯s mind sounded a deafening rm. She was pale, her lips pressed tight, and she could only keep telling herself to be calm.

    They surrounded her on all sides, like ayer of airtight walls, and their breath was mixed with their chattering.

    She didn¡¯t look at the cameras as she calmed herself down as quickly as possible and used her brain to think.

    The origin of these reporters was unknown. Moreover, she had no experience with public rtions. She should say less so as to prevent herself from making any mistakes. Besides, she was not obligated to respond to these ridiculous questions.

    Because this was the first time she encountered such a battle, Yi Ran was overwhelmed and did not respond for a moment. However, she still knew in her heart that it was impossible to always hide behind Gu Tingchuan. Since she was his wife, she must save face for him.

    She reassessed her thoughts, straightened her back, and looked up at theseplete strangers. She said coldly, ¡°Since you¡¯re blocking me because of my husband¡¯s matter, then at least call me ¡®Mrs. Gu,¡¯ thank you!¡±

    No one here had ever dealt with Gu Tingchuan¡¯s wife and had no idea what type of person she was. However, they were all gossip reporters who had been in the entertainment industry for many years and were battle hardened. Immediately, after a momentary pause, someone asked loudly, ¡°Ok, so what is Mrs. Gu¡¯s answer to our questions?¡±

    Faced with a sh of light, she blinked and became even more calm. ¡°Your questions will be answeredter. Since you interrupted me, I now have to rush to work and can¡¯t waste time with you here.¡±

    Reporter: ¡°You evading us like this, is it because of your guilty conscience?¡±

    Yi Ran¡¯s heart immediately grew hot with anger at these words. Although her initial fear had passed, she was also impatient to leave. Being surrounded like this in such hot weather was ufortable enough as it was. She tightly clenched her hands.

    ¡°I have nothing to say regarding these matters that you have created out of nothing.¡±

    But why would these reporters let her go so easily. They just kept asking more questions.

    Yi Ran wanted to move toward the school gate, but she was surrounded so tightly that it was impossible for her to move. She felt a cold chill and began thinking about what to do next.

    Not far away, Jia Jia, who was being carried to school by her mother, saw this scene.

    She always had a close rtionship with Yi Ran and liked Gu Tai very much. At this time, she saw that Teacher Yi was anxious and wondered why so many adults wanted to surround her and not let her walk.

    Jia Jia couldn¡¯t bear to see the teacher she liked being bullied. She suddenly scrambled away from her mother and ran towards the crowd. ¡°Miss Yi! What¡¯s wrong? I¡¯ll help you!¡±

    Yi Ran looked down, thinking that Gu Tingchuan¡¯s driver should have seen her under siege and would have called for reinforcement already or that the school¡¯s security guards would soone over...

    But, to her surprise, she saw a familiar little figure in the crowd. Before she could open her mouth, the little figure that was desperately trying to pull apart the crowd was suddenly pushed out. The photographer only felt that someone wanted to grab his position so, not seeing the little girl, he subconsciously used his body to push back.

    Jia Jia fell on the ground and was so frightened that she pulled the female journalists closest to her. The other party identally knocked into her, lost her bnce, and fell down, which finally made the whole scene grow quiet.

    Yi Ran was able to slip out of the gap and stumble to help the little girl.

    ¡°Jia Jia ?! Are you okay? Where are you hurt ?!¡±

    At this moment, Yi Ran¡¯s whole face was extremely angry. She looked up at the photographer with sharp eyes and shouted mercilessly, ¡°Don¡¯t run into my students! Otherwise, I¡¯ll call the police now!¡±

    It was only after she had finished shouting that a dozen strong and burly bodyguards in ck clothing suddenly appeared out of nowhere. They were very organized and disciplined as they broke the reporters¡¯ circle.

    One of them looked at her and said, ¡°Mrs Gu, I¡¯m sorry that we¡¯rete. You don¡¯t have to worry. Mr. Gu sent us.¡±

    Yi Ran didn¡¯t have much to say and relied on the bodyguards to escort her and Jia Jia safely away.

    She gathered Jia Jia up in her arms and apologetically walked back toward her mother. She couldn¡¯t help feeling guilty and remorseful, but still held back her emotions as she said, ¡°You see, what a good Jia Jia? You¡¯re here to help me¡­¡±

    Jia Jia¡¯s mother had always felt grateful toward Yi Ran for her early friendship and so she did not me her at all. Instead, she held her hand anxiously, fearing that she would be wronged. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Teacher Yi. Go inside quickly. Those people don¡¯t have any morality and will do anything for a bit of news!¡±

    Yi Ran still felt guilty, but she also knew that remaining outside would only cause trouble to the children and parents who were still arriving at school. Feeling troubled, she nced at the bodyguards. The head bodyguard understood and smiled back at her. ¡°Mrs. Gu, you go ahead. We¡¯ll deal with matters here.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve troubled you.¡± As soon as she finished speaking, she entered the school.

    It was only after she walked into the campus and encountered the familiar trees and refreshing atmosphere, did she feel that the horrors she had just encountered began to recede little by little.

    However, there was still a faintyer of gloom in her eyes and a bloody taste in her mouth. She hadn¡¯t even realized that she had bitten the inside her mouth¡­

    She entered the office and sat down. After filling a cup with water, she took a few sips but her expression remained gloomy.

    After her emotions calm, she began to doubt what had just happened.

    After all, who asked these reporters toe to her collectively? Why did they suddenly decide toe and trouble her at school at this time? Her identity had already been revealed and she wasn¡¯t even considered a member of the entertainment industry.

    Still, she and Gu Tingchuan were originally a couple and their quests were directly rted to him so perhaps they were hoping to get news from her?

    In addition, when did Gu Tingchuan send the bodyguards? Did he know she would meet these reporters today?

    In the past, he had always handled the things around her very well.

    Yi Ran sorted out her thoughts. However, she still had too little experience and so had no clue¡­

    She was considering whether she ought to call Director Gu when Yao Juan arrived at the school. When he saw her, he narrowed his eyes slightly in distress.

    ¡°So, the goal of those outside should be you.¡±

    Yi Ran could only smile helplessly when she heard this sentence.

 Chapter 61 - Continuous Fermentation

    Chapter 61: Continuous Fermentation

    Yao Juan lowered his head and looked at her. ¡°Is everything okay?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine now. My husband¡¯s bodyguard had already came over.¡± Yi Ran smiled reluctantly, pretending to be indifferent and easy-going. She raised her hand to push back a strand of hair.

    Teacher Yao frowned deeply in front of her and, seeing that the girl¡¯s face was pale, said, ¡°What the hell was Gu Tingchuan doing? I don¡¯t understand their rules, but shouldn¡¯t they take care of it in the media?¡±

    Seeing Yao Juan¡¯s unusually serious face, Yi Ran felt a little nervous. His heart seemed to be immersed in a sour solution and his first instinct seemed to be wanting to quarrel with Mr. Gu.

    ¡°I already said that he sent someone to protect me. This time, an ident happened, and the reporters found me somehow ...¡±

    He looked at her forbearance and sighed. He was only upset because he cared about this disturbance.

    ¡°You caused amotion like this and there were already many parents and students who witnessed it. I suspect...¡±

    Before Yao Juan could finish speaking, Guan Yilu walked in on the two of them. She looked at Yi Ran in confusion before saying, ¡°Yi Ran, I just met Principal G¨³ and she asked me to tell you that she wanted to see you in her office. ¡±

    Yi Ran still hadn¡¯t managed to caught her breath and now must stand back up.

    Principal G¨³ was the new female principal. After she had arrived at the principal¡¯s office, she had looked around for awhile and then promptly threw away all the materials used by Shi Xiang. The office was also renovated from inside out into a feminine style.

    ¡°Yi Ran, don¡¯t be nervous. Have we had a chance to chat alone before?¡±

    Principal G¨³ spoke in a low and gentle voice, which helped Yi Ran calmed down enough to return her smile. From previous experience in dealing with her, the other party always gave a good impression.

    ¡°I already know what happened at the school gate this morning.¡± The principal¡¯s gaze fell on Yi Ran, and for a moment it was difficult to read her expression.

    Yi Ran pondered and said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Principal G¨³, I didn¡¯t mean it ...¡±

    ¡°I understand. You don¡¯t need to hurry to apologize.¡±

    She gestured for Yi Ran to stop and, seeing the girl¡¯s face look slightly tight, also guessed that she must have felt guilty. She bluntly said, ¡°I know some of the Gu family and have also heard about what happened at Gu Tingchuan¡¯s premiere. The media is very curious about your life, which is normal.¡±

    Yi Ran listen to this point and was a little surprised. When she was about to ask something, the mobile phone in her pocket vibrated. She guessed who might have called, but she didn¡¯t interrupt the conversation with Principal G¨³.

    At this moment, Principal G¨³ stood up, walked to her, and patted her shoulders with concern. She sounded very reasonable and very much in control of the situation as she said, ¡°However, you will cause unnecessary disturbances when you enter and leave the campus. It would be a problem for students and parents. ¡±

    Yi Ran closed her eyes and nodded silently.

    Principal G¨³ still smiled and had not meant to embarrass her. ¡°So, I can grant you a maximum of three days¡¯ leave. I¡¯ll have a substitute teacher temporarily take care of your ss. I hope you and Mr. Gu can handle things properly, Teacher Yi. ¡±

    She knew that this was the best way to deal with it. There was nothing to refute and no room for grievances. She said in a dull voice, ¡°I see, Principal G¨³. ¡±

    Yi Ran walked out of the office in despair. Seeing that it was almost time for the morning ss, she nned to go back and get teaching materials first.

    She didn¡¯t know who caused the incident and how long until it blew over. As she was worrying, her cell phone rang again.

    Seeing that it was Gu Tingchuan calling, Yi Ran¡¯s heart tightened.

    ......

    Atst, it was the blooming season and so the white-cor workers at Jiaye had been very busy since the early morning.

    Earlier, even before Yi Ran had arrived at the school, Gu Tingchuan had already reached his private office.

    The carpet, which was Nepalese hand-woven, had been a recent recement, and the colorful prints lined the entire space with a sense of art. However, at this moment, the atmosphere was chilly as an ice cer.

    Director Gu sat in his work chair with a cup of hot coffee in hand, his face slightly haggard,

    Xiao Zhao was sitting on a stool in front of the office long table, and on the sofa not far behind sat Gu Tingyong, who came from the branch.

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s fingers intermittently tapped on the table and his eyes were narrowed as he quietly listened to the results of Xiao Zhao¡¯s investigation over the past few days.

    It turned out that several ¡°high-level fans¡± who participated in the premiere event were threatened one after another and tasked with performing out their drama during the premiere.

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s eyebrows were calm, but his eyes still emitted a cold chill. His voice had absolutely no fluctuations as he said, ¡°Did you find out who touched my premiere?¡±

    Xiao Zhao didn¡¯t dare to look up, but factually reported, ¡°It was Hao Zhenlei. He made use of his underground connections to bride some people.¡±

    It was important to discover who was behind the scheme. For the Gu family, it wasn¡¯t really a big deal. However, the Hao family, which was used to sinister means, was simply not astute enough and had left behind bits and pieces of clues everywhere.

    As long as you go online and checked the ounts of a few people, you can see that the ¡°special funds¡± were deposited by apany that belonged to Hao Zhenlei.

    It was difficult to know if this person had be so arrogant in recent years that he thought he could let Gu Tingchuan eat such a loss without incurring much damage.

    Gu Tingchuan thought a little bit and realized that it was probably due to the unpleasant hotel confrontation some time ago. Furthermore, he also heard that Hao Zhenlei nned to get involved in the entertainment industry.st time.

    After listening to Xiao Zhao¡¯s brief description of the Hao family background, Gu Tingyong¡¯s face clearly disyed his utter disdain and contempt. ¡°Isn¡¯t this just new money who is involved in underground affairs? His dog eyes must be blind enough to think he could bully our Gu family.¡±

    Hao Zhenlei¡¯s power was developed steadily in several big cities, but he was still an antpared to the Gu family.

    In fact, he knew very little about the Gu family at all.

    Seeing that Gu Tingchuan spent most of his time making movies, he thought that the surname Gu was only born to ordinary wealthy people. In fact, the Gu family style was just too low-key.

    Their sharp edges were all carefully concealed.

    There were some things that Yi Ran did not even know about and that Gu Tingchuan currently did not want her to know too much about.

    The Gu family was built on a solid foundation that had been umted over several generations. Many members of the Gu family had establishedpanies abroad, and almost all were pioneers in various fields. Together, they created an unshakeablework of wealth and power.

    It was Gu Tingchuan¡¯s paternal grandfather who paved the way.

    The old man Gu had been bedridden for many years and now that he had grown old, he lived in seclusion abroad with nary a care for worldly affairs. However, he always believed that his poor health was due to the fact that his business style was too aggressive, leaving him with no way out. Today¡¯s result was therefore inherited from this past.

    Therefore, the juniors education were well-bnced and focused on discerning right and wrong. As a result, except for Gu Linfeng¡¯s two sons, the other juniors stayed far away from the media, living quietly.

    Gu Tingyong was furious and felt impatient with his brother¡¯s calm. He said unpleasantly, ¡°The older generation said that we should keep our minds hidden. We all remember it, but now we are all bullied within our own family territory.¡±

    The light washed over the faces of the two young masters of the Gu family, making them look even more austere. Gu Tingchuan was about to say something but saw that Xiao Zhao was looking at the screen of his mobile phone, his expression growing increasingly more anxious.

    He felt that something was wrong so he asked, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±

    Xiao Zhao cleared his throat and said, ¡°Chief Gu, they¡¯re having a hard time getting through to me, but they just sent news that Mrs. Gu was harassed by a crowd of reporters at the school gate this morning.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan froze, but his eyes were chaotic. His voice suddenly rose, ¡°Why did they suddenly go to her? Didn¡¯t anyone receive the news in advance?!¡±

    He usually didn¡¯t easily express his joy or anger But, at this moment, the other two people in the room felt an irrepressible angering from him.

    Gu Tingchuan only felt a bitterness in his heart. He did not expect that in such an unexpected situation, he would allow Yi Ran to face the mob alone. He always knew that these reporters were crazy. Thinking that Yi Ran had to deal with them...He felt a heavy fist m in his heart.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Gu, I find out the situation now.¡±

    Xiao Zhao went out on the phone and Gu Tingchuan immediately dialed Yi Ran¡¯s mobile phone. But, even after a few tries, the oue was always a busy signal. His appearance was as still as the deep sea as he worried whether she had encountered something else.

    Five minutester, Xiao Zhao returned to the office, cleared his throat, and hurriedly reported to Gu Tingchuan. ¡°The reporters said that it was Miss Guo Baiyu who provided them with Mrs. Gu¡¯s information.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan couldn¡¯t help sneering, regardless of whether it was Hao Zhenlei or Guo Baiyu, they were both in too much of a hurry.

    ¡°Find out if the two of them are colluding and want to sing a y.¡±

    However, he won¡¯t allow Guo Baiyu to escape. She was stupid enough to create trouble for Mrs. Gu.

    Gu Tingyong, seeing that his brother had not made up his mind, he tried to convince him by holding a fire in his heart. ¡°I just wanted to say that you have been filming for too long. The reality of the world is that the weak are often preyed upon by the strong. You¡¯ve forgotten this.¡±

    Gu Tongchuan raised his eyebrows and a pair of cold eyes turned to look at him.

    ¡°Guo Baiyu put out a few words just to let Yi Ran be blocked once and you¡¯re already this nervous. If we let Hao Zhenlei off and allow him even a little bit of life and if he fails to appreciate our kindness and reaches out his hands to touch Yi Ran, then it might be toote for you to even cry.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan also had the arrogance of the Gu family in his bones. At first, he felt that this incident was simply a farce. Hao Zhenlei was like a dirty mouse in his eyes.

    However, it was a mistake for him not to put the Gu family in his eyes and tried to touch something that he shouldn¡¯t.

    The first step would be to make Hao Zhenlei lose his foothold in S City. Although it would only rip off his fur and won¡¯t hurt his bone marrow, they still have time and resources to give him a few more rounds in order to resolve this matter satisfactorily.

    As soon as Gu Tingchun thought of the effect this might have on Yi Ran, he decided that it was better to cut off the roots to prevent future troubles.

    ¡°I¡¯ll leave this matter to you. In the meantime, I¡¯ll greet the elders and brothers and sisters of the Gu family.

    After all, this time he will definitely use some of the Gu family¡¯s financial resources and rtionships, which will surely shock the elders.

    ¡°Be thorough.¡± Gu Tingchuan stood up, still holding his mobile phone. He nced back at Xiao Zhao and Gu Tingyong, and his voice became even colder. ¡°Don¡¯t allow him to escape.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan walked to a lounge on the roof of thepany. He called Yi Ran and this time the other party finally answered.

    ¡°How are you?¡±

    When she heard Gu Tingchuan¡¯s familiar steady voice, she remembered the ident today and felt exhausted and helpless.

    She held the mobile phone and felt a little warmth in her heart as she said, ¡°Did you arrange those people to protect me in the morning?¡±

    ¡°Yes. I¡¯ll send someone off duty to pick you upter and bring you to thepany.¡±

    In fact, he had arranged for bodyguards early on. He wanted them to be able to protect her when he was not around, especially during hermute. However, today, these people became busy with other matters and the traffic on the road was too terrible. This was why they werete.

    Gu Tingchuan heard her hoarse voice and his expression became more gloomy.

    Yi Ran could hear the softness and worry in his voice. She tried to appease his concerns and said with a smile, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll see youter.¡±

 Chapter 62 - Eating Ones Own Bitter Fruit

    Chapter 62: Eating One¡¯s Own Bitter Fruit

    At the school, Yi Ran gave the other teachers her lesson ns. Then, she told the children that she would be gone for 3 days. By the time the afternoon came around, it was time to leave school.

    On the way back, she resolved to return to normal. But, from time to time, she would remember the reporters clutching at her frantically and deliberately ndering her marriage. These vivid pictures were like heavy shadows, making her mind feel confused andplicated.

    But as Mrs. Gu, she must have the strength and self-confidence to put those matters behind her. Yi Ran knew that this would not be thest time this happened. If it happens again in the future, she will also take measures for Gu Tingchuan.

    By the time she arrived in Jiaye, Gu Tingchuan was working in his office.

    Earlier, he had already met with others to discuss the time to re-start the premiere. The public opinion on the inte was developing on the bright side. As long as they crushed the rumors those people started, the ¡°conspiracy theory¡± regarding infidelity can be thoroughly washed away.

    Hearing someone knocking at the door, he raised his eyes and told the other person to enter. He saw Yi Ran¡¯s smiling face, her fair skin paired with eyes that curved like the moon, and the whole room was suddenly brighter.

    Gu Tingchuan immediately got up and stepped in front of her. He took a closer look at her face and determined that she was okay, so he finally let go of some worry.

    ¡°You haven¡¯t experienced this kind of thing before, were you scared?¡±

    ¡°How could I be so weak? Although Icked the ability to adapt, but I have seen it in TV series and novels, and I can guess what they¡¯re like.¡±

    Yi Ran smiled, but her voice was still a little hoarse. Gu Tingchuan heard her, frowned, and asked, ¡°How about after themotion? You need to protect your throat.¡±

    ¡°Yes, I know. Now that I¡¯ll be on vacation for three days...Oh, right... Does Principal Gu knows your family? ¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± He leaned over and hugged her. Before Yi Ran could react, she was already firmly hugged. The man kissed her cheek. ¡°I¡¯ve burdened you ¡±

    Yi Ran grabbed his arm and smelled the clean scent on his shirt. She couldn¡¯t help but indulge in it as they quietly enjoyed the sweetness of each other¡¯spany.

    Gu Tingchuan was relieved. ¡°This matter will soon pass, and you won¡¯t be subject to this kind of crime anymore.¡±

    ¡°How¡¯s the investigation?¡±

    Gu Tingchuan thought for a moment, and said that Hao Zhenlei and Gu Baiyu were the culprit.

    Some thoughts shed in Yi Ran¡¯s eyes, and she couldn¡¯t help feeling a little uneasy. ¡°In the end, it was still the trouble I¡¯ve caused. If I knew, I wouldn¡¯t have cared about what happened at the hotel!¡±

    Gu Tingchuan gently covered her lips with his fingers. He narrowed his eyes and resolutely replied, ¡°You were doing good deeds. But you didn¡¯t expect to meet a bad dog, nor did you expect to be bitten by Guo Baiyu.¡±

    What more could Yi Ran say?

    He nced at his watch and said, ¡°Xiao Zhao has brought Guo Baiyu and asked her to wait in the conference room. Stay here and wait for my news.¡±

    She smiled and nodded, knowing that the matter was being handled and she would just get in the way.

    Gu Tingchuan saw that Yi Ran¡¯s eyes clearly reflected his own image, and he smiled. ¡°As for Hao Zhenlei, he won¡¯t be arrogant in S City anymore.¡±

    He said this lightly, but Yi Ran was already aware that this was the style of the big chaebol and their families: It was time to make xx go bankrupt, and so on. This seemed to make sense.

    The one with the most power determine the lives and deaths of others.

    As she was thinking, the man bowed his head and kissed down her neckline, tickling her heart. At this moment, nothing could be more healing than his familiar embrace and kiss.

    His kiss stole over her like magic. His warm palms were pressed against her waist, and the heat of his lips brushing against her mouth filled her chest with warmth.

    He lingered on her mouth, his nose brushing against her face. As long as he touches her body, she couldn¡¯t help but love his affectionate snuggle and seek morefort.

    In the end, Gu Tingchuan pressed his lips against her forehead and softly said, ¡°Wait until I have finished handling these matters and then we can go home for dinner.¡±

    Yi Ran¡¯s ears were reddish as she clutched his shirt. She thought about what he said and murmured, ¡°Oh, I haven¡¯t bought any food yet¡­.¡±

    ......

    Guo Baiyu sat in the conference room with her agent. She pulled off her sunsses, revealing a haggard face. They turned back to see Gu Tingchuan enter with an assistant. She noticed that he looked stern and his whole body exuded a sense of wrongness.

    ¡°Director Gu ...¡± When Guo Baiyu met his gaze, she was almost startled. She had never seen such a cold expression on his face before, not even when he was at his worst when directing.

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s figure was shrouded in darkness, and the dark expression on his face instantly made people panic.

    ¡°Do you want to go ahead and say it, or should I ask?¡± He sat down not far from them. His thin lips maintained a curved line, and he looked at them coldly. ¡°But you should understand that, in the end, it made no difference.¡±

    Guo Baiyu also wanted to make onest struggle. It was either this or to wail in tears or tough crazily. ¡°Director Gu, I don¡¯t understand you¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll talk first. If you still want to hide anything from me or say any false words, I will make you pay the price.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan raised his lips, but the cold iceberg force that exuded from him had long made people unable to resist.

    Guo Baiyu¡¯s lips were pressed tight together. She shot a secretive nce at her agent and said, ¡°This morning, Mrs. Gu was blocked by reporters. I was the one who told them where to go.¡±

    That night, after the scene at the premiere, many reporters came to her asking why she went to Gu Tingchuan¡¯s apartment. Guo Baiyu never denied nor confirmed anything. Instead, she hid the matter as if it was the truth. Then, she urged them to see Yi Ran, saying that Mrs. Gu would give them an answer. She even leaked Yi Ran¡¯s work location to those reporters.

    Gu Tingchuan thought about these things that Xiao Zhao had already reported to him, and then waited slowly for her to continue to expose herself.

    ¡°It was me. Since the night at the hotel, I still kept in touch with Hao Zhenlei¡­¡±

    Guo Baiyu couldn¡¯t get Gu Tingchuan¡¯s affection, and after offending him, she had seen that her career was no longer making any improvements. She heard that Hao Zhenlei was going to enter the entertainment industry and thought that if she was attentive to him, he would allow her to y a main female lead.

    ¡°But I didn¡¯t know what happened at the premiere that day!¡± She suddenly looked up at him and her expression shifted, her eyes still full of love.

    However, Gu Tingchuan didn¡¯t respond at all, only using a faint look to signal her to continue.

    Guo Baiyu bit her lower lip tightly and said word after word, ¡°It was afterwards that Hao Zhenlei told me that he had sent people to follow me and to take those pictures ...¡±

    In fact, Hao Zhenlei wanted to give Gu Tingchuan trouble, to cause his movie to be attacked by some public opinion, and at the same time intended to set off some rumors, thereby undermining his stable marital status.

    How many dirty methods he used before to do serious business, now he wanted to wash them all away. However, the inferiority that was deep in his bones could not be easily forgotten, just like a person cannot easily forget their roots.

    If Hao Zhenlei had long seen Gu Tingchuan as someone unpleasant, Guo Baiyu had long hated him because of love. After going to Gu Tingchuan¡¯s apartment and being photographed, she simply cooperated with him.

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s eyes shed coldly, and the surging undercurrents in those eyes was almost suffocating.

    Guo Baiyu knew that everything was a foregone conclusion. Her body was trembling slightly, and the agent next to her finally sighed, wanting to please her artist. ¡°Mr. Gu, you will stay your hand and let us go alive, right?¡±

    Her miserable appearance fell into his eyes, but she could not change anything. Gu Tingchuan just smiled coldly. ¡°This would be based on your own ability. Neither my wife nor I would help you again. ¡±

    This was the bitter fruit that she had nted.

    Gu Tingchuan continued. ¡°For my marriage and for my wife, you must hold a press conference. As for what you want to say to the media, you will have a briefing with Xiao Zhao and he will instruct you. I don¡¯t want my wife to be harmed by any rumors because of you. In this matter, you have absolutely no conditions to refuse me.¡±

    Guo Baiyu kept talking and tried to ask for mercy several times but was blocked by Gu Tingchuan¡¯s cold face. She knew that there was no room for her to discuss with the other party. If she kept bothering him again, she may end up worse...

    Gu Tingchuan said, ¡°If you want to develop in other regions, I will not interfere. But don¡¯t appear under my eyes. ¡±

    This sentence seemed to leave her a lifeline, but in fact, it was no longer possible for her to have a ce in the domestic entertainment industry.

    After the press conference, she will disappear in this circle.

    As for going to Japan or South Korea for development, although these were not within the scope of Gu Tingchuan¡¯s influence, there was certainly no way to go.

    Gu Tingchuan remembered that his little wife was still waiting next door. He didn¡¯t want to waste time here anymore and stood up. He smiled at Xiao Zhao. ¡°You tell them about the requirements I¡¯ll go first.¡±

    From the corner of his eyes, Xiao Zhao also noticed that Guo Baiyu¡¯s wane face had be even more pale. He nodded and said, ¡°Director Gu, please rest assured.¡±

 Chapter 63 - Tall, Rich, and Handsome

    Chapter 63: Tall, Rich, and Handsome

    Gu Tingchuan returned to the office and saw that Yi Ran was just standing there, quietly flipping through the magazines on his coffee table. He walked up to her silently and, leaning over without warning, wrapped his arms around her. He pulled her a few steps until she was sitting directly on the edge of his desk.

    Yi Ran was afraid she might fall so she reached out to gently pull on the man¡¯s shirt.

    After he was seated, she could not help frowning slightly. Her director hadn¡¯t been so naughty before!

    ¡°Where did you learn this trick?¡±

    ¡°The book you put in the study.¡±

    Yi Ran: ¡°...¡±

    It¡¯s time to throw away some non-nutritive novels.

    She saw his seemingly calm look and said with a smile, ¡°You don¡¯t have to think about how tofort me. Although it was quite unexpected that I was besieged by reporters in the morning, it¡¯s all right now, and nothing really happened.¡±

    Moreover, as long as he was around, no matter how bad it was, her mood can be cured instantly.

    Gu Tingchuan murmured an assent, then said slowly, ¡°I¡¯ve been busy for the past few days and now suddenly remembered something. You didn¡¯t even remind me.¡±

    Yi Ran couldn¡¯t keep up with him at all. Unsure about what he was referring to, she simply looked at him and waited.

    Gu Tingchuan met her eyes and said, ¡°I kept thinking, was it because you didn¡¯t say it on purpose, or maybe you forgot?..It¡¯s our first wedding anniversary.¡±

    His intimate words caused her heartbeat to sped up. She pursed her lips and looked away with a smile. ¡°I remembered. But, you were too busy so I just specifically didn¡¯t mention it.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan frowned. When he was about to speak, she wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned against him.

    He embraced her in a tender hug that was even more sticky than sugar.

    ¡°It¡¯s okay. It¡¯s only the first year. There will be more opportunities in the future. Moreover, I haven¡¯t told you about many messy thingstely.¡± In order to thoroughly express her thoughts, Yi Ran covered his hands with her own and held him in her palm. ¡°You should understand my personality. If I really care about this, I will definitely tell you. But, I¡¯m telling you truthfully, from the bottom of my heart, that this is not very important right now.¡±

    Of course, Gu Tingchuan knew this. Not to mention, as far as their current rtionship was concerned, she really wasn¡¯t the type to hold her grievances in her heart. If she had any concern or unwillingness, she would take the initiative tomunicate with him.

    The corners of his mouth tipped up and he said, ¡°Yes, then it seems that the preparations I made have be redundant.¡±

    ¡°What? What have you prepared?¡±

    He raised his eyebrows. ¡°I¡¯ve booked the itinerary for a week-long holiday. We¡¯ll go sea fishing in Canada, eat seafood, watch exhibitions, and have all kinds of dinners¡­¡±

    Yi Ran, who hadn¡¯t yed in a long time, was immediately interested by this surprise arrangement. She grabbed his shoulders and shook them back and forth. ¡°Really? This is our honeymoon?¡±

    Gu Tingchuan held her hands down and said, ¡°It can be considered as such. As I¡¯ve said before, I willpensate you slowly.¡±

    Yi Ran looked at him again and quietly and helplessly sighed. Why was this man so hot and cute? It always made her feel ted.

    Yi Ran said, ¡°However, holiday tickets are expensive.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan: ¡°...¡±

    He nodded and said, ¡°Yes, so I asked the Gu family to prepare a special ne.¡±

    Yi Ran: ¡°...¡±

    She can once again affirmed that it¡¯s awesome to be married to Director Gu!!!

    .....

    Before they went abroad, Jiaye Company sought out several long-term media partners and several senior journalists who were originally loyal supporters of Gu Tingchuan. They dug up information about Guo Baiyu and certain a real estate businessman

    Tobat the news that someizen broke out about Gu Tingchuan and Guo Baiyu opening a room together, they posted a photo of her eating alone with the rich businessman that night. This was followed by pictures of them entering the elevator together. There was even pictures of Guo Baiyu and the man entering and leaving the club.

    Of course, the rich businessman was none other than Hao Zhenlei.

    Some reporters took advantage of this to create a sensation, saying that the group of people identified by the police who nned to disrupt the premiere were actually ¡°scapegoats¡±, and it was this Hao Zhenlei who really caused trouble.

    In short, after reading a series of dry goods,izens said that it was a good show ...

    What was even more unexpected was that Guo Baiyu suddenly held a press conference. She refused to answer questions on the spot but unterally announced the ¡°required thing¡±.

    She blinked sourly at the shing lights and said, ¡°Thanks to the fans and media friends for their concern, but I¡¯m sorry to inform you that I want to leave the domestic entertainment industry for personal reasons. I haven¡¯t decided what my next step is, but I will tell you as soon as there is news. In addition, I also want to say that the scandal between Director Gu Tingchuan and I was never true. I sincerely wish Director Gu Tingchuan and Mrs. Gu much happiness. Thank you again for your support. Thank you.¡±

    When Guo Baiyu stepped out of the conference site, she seemed to have been drained. She leaned against the wall as her agent fanned her with a manuscript. But her heart was numb. There wasn¡¯t even the slightest pain. She thought that the bad things she had done in this circle were nothingpared to others, but unfortunately she mistakenly underestimated her opponent and went wrong step by step.

    This decision was undoubtedly indirectly confirming the rumors. All of a sudden, Guo Baiyu¡¯s public image fell to the lowest point, and she was allizens could talk about.

    This sensational news had an impact on Hao Zhenlei¡¯spany stock price. Not only that, the Gu family¡¯s various pressures on his business continued unabated. Their confrontation didn¡¯t even have any smoke at all. His hostility toward them was just sshing some water, but he waspletely suppressed by the Gu family.

    This would undoubtedly serve as a warning to all potential enemies lying in wait to take advantage of Jiaye. The warning was this: Now was a peaceful time. To keep your ownnd, don¡¯t move your mind.

    In these few days, Gu Tingchuan ended up being a good mood every time he thought about going out with his wife. When he and Xiao Zhao arrived at thepany¡¯s elevator, a manager came to him with a frown and whispered, ¡°Boss Gu, Hao Zhenlei sent a gift.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan heard the words, raised his eyes, and saw a long-legged beauty holding a dark red suede box. She stared at them and opened a corner of the box, saying, ¡°This is a treasure that President Hao got from an auction. President Gu is a great director and he must naturally appreciate unique art.¡±

    However, Gu Tingchuan didn¡¯t even bother to look at it. He merely looked at the manager with a stern expression and said in a cold voice, ¡°What kind of people do you allow in here? Get her out!¡±

    Xiao Zhao quickly followed with a wink to the manager. Then, he stepped into the elevator with Gu Tingchuan. Even before the door could close, he couldn¡¯t helpughing. ¡°This Hao Zhenlei will also be a demon. Even if he sends tens of millions of teapots, they won¡¯t be rare enough.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan didn¡¯t say anything but merely smiled.

    ..¡­

    A few years ago, when Yi Ran and her cousin traveled abroad, they sat in the first ss. This was already considered her most advanced experience.

    Since knowing that she will be going abroad for a honeymoon on a luxury ne, her mood was always in a state of excitement.

    That night, she was so excited that shepletely had insomnia. In the end, she was so noisy that Gu Tingchuan gave up his n to rest and pressed her to the bed twice. She finally stopped.

    Fortunately, traveling was a magical thing. The next day, Yi Ran still felt refreshed and flew to the other side of the ocean with Mr. Gu in a very sunny mood.

    While on the ne, she was bored and downloaded some movies and documentaries using wifi. Some of them were French film documentaries. She watched only half of the episodes before raising her hands to surrender. She squeezed into Mr. Gu¡¯s arms and said. ¡°No, I don¡¯t understand.¡±

    After pouring two sses of wine, Gu Tingchuan took a sip out of one ss and smiled slightly. ¡°There¡¯s no narrator. You, as ayman who had never been in contact with these types of movies, will naturally find them difficult to understand.¡±

    Before she could respond, he added. ¡°However, I like your honesty. At least, you don¡¯t pretend to understand.¡±

    She was speechless and wanted to say that she was trying to pretend to be cultured in front of him!

    She looked at Director Gu¡¯s attentive expression and listening to his pleasant voice as he patiently exined to her, ¡°This film is not an ordinary introduction to film history, so it¡¯s difficult to understand. It includes literature, music, painting and history.¡±

    ¡°But I have no extensive knowledge and it¡¯s impossible for me to fully understand. ¡±

    She took a sip of wine. Her cheeks looked more vibrant, and her eyes were bright.

    Gu Tingchuan was agitated. He rubbed her cheeks and quickly press a kiss to her red lips before saying, ¡°In fact, you already have enough knowledge, Teacher Yi.¡±

    Yi Ran was embarrassed and smiled at him. The praise already made her very happy. She leaned her head back and enjoyed the exclusive service of her famous husband. He exined the legendary charm of the movie for her in his low, maic tone.

    Later, Yi Ran feel asleep on the ne, and they soon reached their destination safely.

    Because Gu Tingchuan¡¯s schedule was too full, they didn¡¯t have much time. Excluding the round trip travel time, they would only have a few days to y at most.

    But, she didn¡¯t mind going anyway. As long as there¡¯s Gu Tingchuan and food, everything was more than enough.

 Chapter 64 - Call the Police

    Chapter 64: Call the Police

    Even two days after arriving in Vancouver, Canada, Yi Ran was so excited that she didn¡¯t even seem to have jetg.

    Gu Tingchuan first took her on a big ship to experience deep sea fishing. There were professionals and friends who also apanied them.

    The wind and waves at sea were not big, and the weather was perfect, if a little cold in October. They had on professional sea fishing clothing, which was waterproof and helped kept the cold at bay. Gu Tingchuan took her in his arms to show her how to do certain things.

    There were no clouds, just blue sea and blue sky everywhere. The man¡¯s voice was soaring in the breeze as he patiently introduced her to all rted knowledge regarding deep sea fishing and fish species.

    ¡°Fishes are generally divided into surface fish, shallow fish, middle fish and bottom fish. Different fishing gears are used to catch different types of fish.¡± Then, he helped her tie the bait to the fishhook.

    Yi Ran¡¯s interest in fishing was certainly not as strong as him, but she had the novice¡¯s good luck. Her hook quickly caught a heavy fish. But, because the fish in the sea was too big, she couldn¡¯t reel it in and so it didn¡¯t take long until she ran out of energy.

    ¡°...Gu, Gu Tingchuan! There¡¯s a fish on my hook!!¡±

    Soon after she called out his name, Gu Tingchuane behind her and reached out to hold her hands. Together, they exerted force and immediately began to reel the big fish in. Seeing the fish jumping lively on the floor, Yi Ran also jumped excitedly. She turned back and held her husband in her arms.

    When the friends around them saw their affection, they immediately apuded and begged them to kiss one another. Gu Tingchuan responded to their request. While Yi Ran was still unresponsive, he lowered his head and pulled her into his arms. Then, he ced his lips on her mouth and kissed her.

    Afterward, Yi Ran bit her bottom lip in embarrassment, and continued to talk andugh casually with Gu Tingchuan¡¯s friends.

    The man¡¯s posture was a lot looser than when he was at home, and Yi Ran looked at his gentle profile in the slightly warm sunlight. Even his eyes had a strong smile, making her feel that this vacation was like dreaming.

    It seemed that sea fishing could make these men¡¯s adrenaline soar.

    Gu Tingchuan hooked his lips and looked at her, ¡°Is it interesting?¡±

    Yi Ran held his hand. Although the hull was still bumpy, she also enjoyed it. ¡°It¡¯s interesting, and it¡¯s an eye-opener.¡±

    To experience this with her lover. Wasn¡¯t it a great blessing to be able to visit the thousand worlds together?

    What¡¯s more, they could also admire each other¡¯s nature.

    Gu Tingchuan could see that she was really indulging in this kind of happiness. He hugged her from behind and leaned slightly on her shoulder. At this moment, the two of them quietly talked to each other as they looked at the clean, blue water gleaming in front of them.

    The past two days were full of fun, but it was also very exhausting. After returning to the hotel that night, she fell asleep without even saying a few words.

    Fortunately, the next two days did not require wind and sun. Director Gu took her to see several exhibitions, especially the Vancouver Art Museum, which is one of the more famous local historical monuments.

    Although it was a bit cold, Yi Ran was always warm in her heart, so there was no need to fear this chill.

    The two held a quiet visit in front of various exhibits and did not have to worry about paying attention to various reporters and fans. After all, people who can recognize them outside of China was extremely rare. Therefore, she gave everything her wholehearted attention as Gu Tingchuan whispered about the history of several works and the life of the artists.

    The man was caged in the golden sunlight of the art museum. He spoke with clear and warm eyes, ¡°Emily Carr, one of the most popr artists in Canada, was good at using nature as the theme to create...¡±

    Gu Tingchuan originally had a unique temperament conducive to art so he was particrly attracted to ces with a strong artistic atmosphere. Fortunately, she had also taken some extra-curricr art courses in college, and she could also have some conversations with him.

    ¡°What kind of painting do you like the most? Um ... let me guess.¡± Yi Ran¡¯s entire face was in the soft light and shadow. She rubbed her chin yfully and said, ¡°Is it watercolor?¡±

    Gu Tingchuan smiled and nodded. ¡°Yes, then oil painting and sketching.¡±

    As soon as he smiled, all the exhibits that were silent throughout the years seemed to be ted with a golden light.

    Yi Ran listened to his professional-like exnations, even as his extraordinary style and tall figure attracted other visitors nearby.

    There were three other female Chinese students listening to him speaking. She didn¡¯t know if they recognized them or not.

    Upholding the vanity of women, Yi Ran very cheekily said, ¡°Maybe they¡¯ll take photos of us and upload them online.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan normally hated such high profile behavior, but now he was actively raising it. He held her in his arms with just the right amount of strength, and his eyes looked at her darkly, ¡°Then let¡¯s get closer.¡±

    She was nestled nicely in the man¡¯s arms and was unconditionally cooperated by him. This made herughpletely.

    After watching the exhibition, they went to a local restaurant to eat. It seemed as if they were no different from an ordinary couple. Gu Tingchuan drove himself and lingered in the streets of the city. Sometimes when they were tired, they would just casually find a cafe to sit and rest.

    Gu Tingchuan also brought a camera with him, but in her eyes, every shot of his could be turned into a postcard picture.

    Yi Ran watched him sitting on a seat outside the cafe on a bustling street, taking photographs of passersby. She secretly took out her mobile phone to take a picture of him. Director Gu held an SLR. His eyebrows were slightly arched, and his jaw was smooth and gentle. There was a slight smile on his lips.

    She just pressed it at random and was reluctant to send it out to let others appreciate it together.

    Yi Ran thought about it. It seemed that the photo of him alone was precious every time. She shed her light, extended her right hand, and shook it in front of the man¡¯s eyes. Gu Tingchuan looked away from the camera and slightly turned his head toward her. He looked over and held her fingertips deliberately. At this moment, she pressed to shoot.

    Theposition was beautiful and iparable, and it was so sweet that it could stick to your teeth. Nodding with satisfaction, she posted this image on Weibo and seriously thought about the matching words:

    #Farewell to Moonlight# Have you ever loved a man who turned out to be so different from what you imagined? This deep love allows you to wait with all the time in the world, so that it may blossom into a flower one day, just for you to pluck and offer to him.

    After she finished posting, she quit Weibo and continued to look at the people and scenery in front of her.

    But it was hard to imagine how many people wouldment and repost this confession on the Inte.

    After ying for a few days like this, it was time to go back. Gu Tingchuan took her to a private dinner the night before.

    The number of people present were small, but they were social celebrities from various circles. The Chinese couple hosting was also well-known figures. Knowing that Gu Tingchuan hade to Vancouver, they especially hosted a banquet in their own mansion.

    The house was spacious and chic, the facilities were neat, the air was fresh, and the ce was clean and tidy. Yi Ran came to this home for the first time as a guest. After she was full, Gu Tingchuan apanied her to take a walk nearby. They walked into the courtyard, and she looked up at the countless twinkling stars, converging into a Milky Way hidden above the dark night.

    She happily sat down on a bamboo chair, and Gu Tingchuan walked up and sat next to her. Together, they watched the incredible stars in the sky.

    The two watched quietly for a while, idly chatting one after another, and holding a ss of red wine at hand. In fact, he had already drunk a lot tonight, but it was hard toe on vacation with Yi Ran.

    ¡°Do you like the trip these days?¡±

    ¡°Of course, I will definitely pester you to take me out to y more, and you just said that you used to go to the desert for drag racing. I naturally want to apany you.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan sat closer to her and wrapped one arm around her waist. His eyes were like obsidian, and his thin lips smiled faintly. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s go togetherter.¡±

    She saw her figure in those bright eyes. After drinking a bit of wine, she was a little restless and simply leaned back against his chest.

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s eyes narrowed, as he remembered a certain conversation he heard from the club that night. In fact, he was already a bit overwhelmed, but he still said in a deep voice. ¡°I remember one time before, you were arguing with someone who said that I love like a psychopath.¡±

    Yi Ran heard him. She stretched out her arm to grab a ss of red wine and took a sip, feeling a little strange in her heart. ¡°It¡¯s been so long, why do you suddenly think of it? ¡±

    ¡°Loving someone was like loving a sculpture, a work of art... I¡¯m a little concerned about this statement.¡± He held her wrist, his voiceced with someziness and huskiness as he murmured, ¡°I was thinking in terms of human wisdom. There¡¯s power in the thought, the thought is in the soul, and if one day your soul is in it, I will also love the statue.¡±

    Yi Ran was surprised by his words, and she trembled suddenly in his arms. She hid deeper and let his arms hugged her tightly.

    She jokingly said, ¡°These words you said made me want to call the police...¡±

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s hot breath brushed gently against her ears and straight into her heart, making her feel itchy and soft. ¡°Some people say that when ites to love, there is no wise person. I think, I have fully exhibited this. For example, just now, I just want to kiss your whole body.¡±

    After speaking, without waiting for her reaction, he covered her lips directly. All the unclear thoughts turned into hot action, and she could not help but hold him, her body trembling as she was breathlessly kissed.

    His hot tongue encircled her and around her. He kissed her hungrily and almost desperately, and she drank him in. At this moment, she also wanted to do something to him. She also wanted to kiss his strong chest muscles and to breathe against his ears, wanted him to knock her down in many different postures and positions and to go deep into her, to linger with her.

    Yi Ran simply turned her head, raised her body upward, lightly bit his ear, and whispered, ¡°Let¡¯s go back to the hotel.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s eyes darkened, and when he lowered his head, he had a deep smile. ¡°Oh? ¡±

    She clung to him very nicely, her cool fingers falling on his cheeks as she softly said, ¡°It¡¯s cold outside. Let¡¯s go back to get warm. ¡±

    Director Gu looked at Mrs Gu seriously. However, in his heart, he was already overjoyed.

 Chapter 65 - Its Still Not Too Late

    Chapter 65: It¡¯s Still Not Too Late

    Vacations were inevitably fleeting. The moment the nended, Yi Ran woke up from her drowsiness. She covered her face in a confused manner and finally managed to wake up a bit. She had yed uncontrobly these days and was really tired.

    Gu Tingchuan alsopletely put off his work for a few days. Of course, no one dared to pick this kind of opportunity to annoy him. When they arrived safely at the airport, they saw Xiao Zhao waiting.

    He asked Xiao Zhao the situation of thepany in the past few days, and the other party respectfully reported them one by one. Then, at thest moment, in a voice that only the two of them could hear, he said, ¡°Director Gu, Hao Zhenlei has been calling for a long time. On the phone, he said that he wanted to meet with you alone. ¡±

    Gu Tingchuan was still expressionless when he heard the news. The other side had lowered his posture, but that did not mean he had to ept it. He stepped out of the cabin and felt the weather outside was quite cold. He went back to see if Yi Ran had put on her coat and saw that she had done a good job of keeping warm. Then he said to Xiao Zhao coolly, ¡°I don¡¯t want to see him. Push it for me.¡±

    He nced not far away to where the bodyguard was waiting. He stopped, waited for her to catch up, and took her hand, instructing, ¡°I¡¯ll send you back first. You should rest early since you have ss tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°Okay, but don¡¯t work toote.¡± Yan Ran knew that he had to deal with a backlog of official business affairs, so she didn¡¯t say anything else.

    When they got in the car, she fell back into his arms and slept for a while. The driver first took them back to the apartment and then went to the Jiaye building.

    When Gu Tingchuan came out of the underground parking garage, Hao Zhenlei was standing on the other side. He seemed to have been waiting for a long time and, when they saw Gu Tingchuan arrived, he sent his secretary over.

    Xiao Zhao looked helplessly at the boss, while Director Gu only smiled coldly and did not look over there.

    During these days, Hao Zhenlei¡¯s many projects in S City had not progressed smoothly. Hispany seemed to be suppressed by an invisible force. In addition, he also encountered development difficulties in several otherrge cities. Losing construction biddings was nothingpared to the damage incurred when several buildings failed to meet standard construction requirements. Even the judicial department had gotten involved in the ensuing investigation.

    Hao Zhenlei¡¯s feelings for Gu Tingchuan gradually increased from dissatisfaction to anger, but eventually changed from anger topromise. He was a businessman. For long-term consideration, he could only show goodwill to the Gu family and ask for mercy.

    Hao Zhenlei had been fierce for the better half of his life, and this was the first time he had to wait for a ¡°junior¡± younger than him in a ce like a garage. What¡¯s more, Gu Tingchuan had no intention of inviting him to the office upstairs. After all, he was not qualified.

    Gu Tingchuan saw the other blocking his way and there was a faint, mocking smile on his lips. ¡°I have nothing to say to you, General Manager Hao.¡±

    Hao Zhenlei was furious. He looked at Gu Tingchuan with a pair of cold and gloomy eyes, but he couldn¡¯t make matters worst.

    ¡°General Manager Gu, Hao just wants to make friends with you. I hope you can give me a chance.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan smiled slightly, and said, ¡± General Manager Hao, to do good business, it¡¯s important to pay attention to high-rise buildings and to use them as good resources. Unfortunately, you startedte and did not have the capacity to control the fires.¡±

    He lowered his eyebrows and added, ¡°I¡¯ve never considered you as an opponent, and you don¡¯t need to pay attention to me. As long as you don¡¯t show up in front of me, everyone can pretend that you¡¯re invisible.¡±

    Hao Zhenlei originally started in S city. Now, asking him to give up such a good market was more painful than cutting off his own flesh. He was thinking about what to do in exchange for the room for conversion ...

    However, Gu Tingchuan turned back to give him a sense of oppression, and this treacherous old fox couldn¡¯t help shaking. His indifferent expression gave him the final disillusionment. ¡°Mr. Hao has real estate projects everywhere. He knows how to cherish the results. In the event of a w, it¡¯s not good to just lose. ¡±

    In fact, he has already collected a lot of this man¡¯s matters that could be used against him.

    Hao Zhenlei hadn¡¯t slept well for the past few days. At this moment, he finally looked like a deting ball. But, he had also suffocated enough.

    He could only pull at the corner of his mouth, look at the young man in front of him with a pale face, and said, ¡°At this point, I hope everyone will just keep the peace, General Manager Gu.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan was toozy to answer. He simply turned and left, only waving to Hao Zhenlei without turning his head.

    ......

    October in S City was like riding a roller coaster. It hadpletely entered winter without any warning. Thest day of rain took away thest trace of warmth, leaving only the refreshing cold.

    Farewell to Moonlight had another premiere and,ter, was officiallyunched in various domestic markets.

    Gu Tingchuan temporarily focused his work on Jiaye Company. Although he was still too busy, he had more time to go home for dinner in the evening, which also made Teacher Yi very satisfied.

    During the ss, Yi Ran sepecially called little Hao Ziyue to her office. He had alreadypleted the transfer procedures and would soon go to another city to study and live.

    In these days, Hao Ziyue had seen that her manner was very awkward, and she knew that he knew. But, she didn¡¯t need to confirm that it was rted to his father¡¯s matters.

    ¡°Hao Ziyue, you¡¯re leaving. Is there anything else you want to talk to the teacher about?¡±

    ¡°Mrs. Yi, my mother...had lost her temper at home a lot these days, throwing things and scolding people.¡± He rubbed his nose with one hand. For the first time, he didn¡¯t know what to say.

    Compared with Gu Tai¡¯s young wisdom, Hao Ziyue was more naive and reckless. He lowered his head and said sadly, ¡°My dad¡¯s not in a good mood, and my mother has been scolding you all the time. Also your husband too.¡±

    Yi Ran wasn¡¯t surprised. On the contrary, she wanted to tell him a lot of things and wanted to say that the world was not so beautiful. But he was too young. Even if she said it, he wouldn¡¯t understand. Not the mention, she couldn¡¯t really exin the stakes or the circumstances.

    She only hoped that he would not be another Hao Zhenlei.

    ¡°Hao Ziyue, although you are going to leave, the teacher is very happy that you can finally be friends with Gu Tai. I hope that when you¡¯re in the new school, you¡¯ll make more friends and...¡±

    Yi Ran took care to paint a picture of hope for him. She pulled out her business card and handed it to him, patiently urging, ¡°The teacher¡¯s phone number is here. You should keep this in case...if you have an emergency, you can always contact me.¡±

    At this time, Gu Tai also came to Yi Ran¡¯s office, holding a bag in his hand. ¡°Teacher Yi, I want to give Hao Ziyue a gift...¡±

    Yi Ran saw the two boys with very different personalities and tolerance. But now, they have to suddenly face a different, unpredictable world.

    Sure enough, the trajectory of life can sometimes develop in a direction we never expected.

    Because the choice of the parents affects the child. As for the child...Fortunately, their lives had just begun and everything was not toote. As Yi Ran had once said to her own Mr. Gu: they are the youngest hope.

    ......

    The two elders of the Gu family stayed in France for a while. When they finally returned to the city, they called the juniors back to dinner. After getting off work, Yi Ran was received by the driver from Jiaye. Gu Tai waited for her downstairs, and then they went with Gu Tingchuan to visit the Gu family in Ming Bay.

    Recently, her connection with her sister-inw could gradually be considered as friends. She had even had a few meals with her friends and was almost brought fully into her circle.

    Yi Ran understood that she was simply benefiting from someone else¡¯s light. For this reason, she was able to receive invitations to attend conferences from major international brands. These were, of course, meant for debutantes and societydies.

    In fact, at one point, she was even wearing bright and beautiful clothes and carrying a famous bag to attend a reception. After listening to Lin Yuanyu introduce herself, she couldn¡¯t help but admit that she might never get used to asions like this.

    Yi Ran was still struggling to adapt to various new changes and had discovered that it was not easy to find a bnce between her previous life and the life after marriage.

    ¡°Of course, I just bought a new scarf in the mall next door. It¡¯s a new Winter model. I also bought you one too.¡±

    Yi Ran took a look at the bag, and it turned out to be another expensive essory. She looked it over and said, ¡°Your vision is really good, and you look beautiful. You can look good in anything.¡±

    They were very polite and friendly when they met. Lin Yuanyu also taught her to dress up and gave her a lot of good things.

    At the moment, Gu Tai¡¯s mother was carrying a lot of things in her arms and had a difficult time pressing the elevator button. ¡°Oh, mother! You step aside first. We haven¡¯t gone up yet.¡±

    Yi Ran was about to follow when a voice called out behind her, ¡°Mrs. Gu!¡±

    She turned back in surprise, and saw a new cleaning girl standing in ce, staring at her with wide eyes.

    They had met each other in the hallway before and had nodded in greeting to each other.

    Yi Ran felt strange so she told Lin Yuanyu, ¡°You go up first.¡±

    When the elevator door was closed, she asked the cleaningdy, ¡°Is there anything wrong?¡±

    ¡°That, that, Mrs. Gu, there was a woman who wanted me to give you this box.¡± The girl spoke with an ent, which was cute.

    Yi Ran smiled and took the box from her. She nodded her thanks again and opened up the box to see what was inside. She froze.

    In addition to some valuable jewelry, there was a card in the middle.

    ¡ª¡ª ¡°I never wanted something outside of you. I just want your love.¡±

    She didn¡¯t know who it came from or what those words meant. She looked doubtfully at the cleaningdy, ¡°Is the woman who gave you this box still here? What does she look like?¡±

    The girl was stunned for a moment and, trembling, said, ¡°I don¡¯t know. Pretty with big eyes. Dressed very fashionably...Oh, but not a beautiful as you, Mrs. Gu.¡±

    Yi Ran didn¡¯t know if she shouldugh or cry. She could only take the box first and say, ¡°Well then, I know you¡¯re busy. Thank you.¡±

 Chapter 66 - Small Scheme

    Chapter 66: Small Scheme

    The more Yi Ran looked at the contents of the box, the more she felt that these things were toys bought by a man to please a woman and to give the sentiment that love was as sweet and thick as honey.

    Since the other party wanted to give her something, naturally she wanted her to see it, which caused her to have some conjectures.

    Yi Ran held the box, and after thinking about it for a long time, she still couldn¡¯t believe that it had anything to do with Gu Tingchuan. Besides, Guo Baiyu was no longer a love rival. Was there any other woman that she didn¡¯t know about?

    Lin Yuanyu apanied Gu Tai to do his homework in the lounge, and then took the things she brought and went alone to the office. Since there was no clue, the best option was for Yi Ran to directly ask the man himself.

    Gu Tingchuan was looking at some ns in his office, and when she came in, he pointed to a te of snacks prepared on the table. His eyes were still trained on the white paper in front of him. Although he still looked cold and indifferent, but his eyes had became a little softer.

    However, Yi Ran intended to me him deliberately. She ced the box in front of the man, put her hands on hips, and pretended to be angry as she said, ¡°Mr. Gu, you are so daring. You dare to send other women jewelry!¡±

    Gu Tingchuan lifted up his chin to look at her. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡±

    ¡°The girl from housekeeping downstairs gave it to me. She said it was for Mrs. Gu ...¡±

    Gu Tingchuan removed the documents on the table, opened the box and looked at it. Suddenly there was a sense of inexplicableughter.

    A thought shed through Yi Ran¡¯s mind, but it shed too fast and she couldn¡¯t catch it.

    The man reminded her. ¡°There is more than one ¡®Mrs. Gu¡¯ here.¡±

    Yi Ran was stunned and instantly understood the meaning of her husband words. This little cleaning girl was new. Even if she saw her with sister-inw, she only knew of Yi Ran as Mrs. Gu.

    This was embarrassing ...

    Gu Tingchuan turned the card over and said thoughtfully, ¡°... Nian En, just this name.¡±

    ¡°Who is Nian En? Do you know her?¡± Yi Ran looked scornfully at him.

    ¡°Gu Tingyong might recognize the name.¡± His tone was full of ridicule for his elder brother.

    She sweated a little and then whispered, ¡°Well ... are you going to hand it over to sister-inw?¡±

    Gu Tingchuan was thinking about how to deal with this matter when they heard someone knock on the door. The other side came without waiting for a response. ¡°Tingchuan ah, I thought of something ... Hey, what are you looking at? ¡±

    me the box in front of this man for being too conspicuous. Not to mention, the diamond jewels were shining too brightly against the light and making them difficult to hide.

    Yi Ran winked at Gu Tingchuan, but the other side was indifferent. He just quietly handled the box in his hand.

    ¡°Nothing, I¡¯m ... looking at what Tingchuan sent me.¡±

    Lin Yuanyu felt that they were acting weird. When she looked down, she saw the card on the table, and she picked it up curiously. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡±

    When she saw the words on the card, her expressionpletely froze.

    Seeing her like this, Yi Ran guessed that nothing could be concealed this time, and that Mars would hit the earth ...

    ¡°... Nian En, Ni Nian En?¡± Lin Yuanyu was full of anger and stared at Gu Tingchuan. ¡°I know. She¡¯s that little star Nina?¡±

    Gu Tingchuan answered her calmly, ¡°I don¡¯t know. ¡±

    Lin Yuanyu looked at the front and back of the card, then she grabbed the box and opened it. Now that everything became clear, she threw the things on to the ground. Without looking at Yi Ran and Gu Tingchuan, she turned and walked out.

    Yi Ran gazed at Mr. Gu. ¡°Now...what should I do? Should I give chase?¡±

    He rubbed his eyebrows. ¡°No, sister-inw has a big temper. It¡¯s useless for others to try to persuade her.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan really didn¡¯t want to care about his brother¡¯s breaking things, but in order not to be caught, he still had to call him to remind him.

    Yi Ran drummed her cheeks and said indignantly, ¡°Well, what¡¯s with the bad habits of a typical rich young master? Even his wife is useless. Sister-inw has a good body, a good family background, and a wide range of insights. She¡¯s a smart and beautiful person, and she has a very easy-going personality. asionally, she¡¯s very cute¡­ She is really perfect, but your eldest brother has to go outside to find ¡®stimulus¡¯.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan knew that this diatribe would affect himself, and he hurriedly said, ¡°Yes, unlike my wife¡¯s strict control. Nothing will happen here. ¡±

    Yi Ran¡¯s eyes began to narrow as she stared at him. ¡°That¡¯s nonsense. Where am I controlling? If you want to provoke others, what could I do? ¡±

    Director Gu slowly answer, ¡°Your husband just refused tomunicate for a week, and you had to run back to your family as a ¡®threat¡¯. What do you think?¡±

    Yi Ran: ¡°...¡±

    Her cheeks flushed red. She didn¡¯t want to talk to this man anymore. It was better to go and see how sister-inw was doing.

    .....

    For most of the night, Lin Yuanyu¡¯splexion was very poor due to anger. There were hidden fires in her eyes, and the cold aura around her could freeze people directly.

    Yi Ran felt that this fact was notforting, and although Gu Tai did not know what had happened, he could guess why his mother was upset. In short, it was nothing more than the father who annoyed the mother.

    He whispered to Teacher Yi, ¡°If the two of them really got a divorce one day, I¡¯ll stay with you.¡±

    Yi Ran: ¡°...¡±

    She wondered if she should cry orugh.

    When they arrived at the Gu family estate, Lin Yuanyu walked into the hall without looking at Gu Tingyong and went to say hello to his parents first. The eldest brother could only follow her awkwardly, pretending that everything was calm.

    Gu Linfeng and Sheng Ru also saw that something was wrong, but they couldn¡¯t directly ask. Everyone bore through their dinner. Immediately after, Gu Tingyong stood up and called his wife and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go upstairs and have a chat ¡±

    Lin Yuanyu gave him a faint nce, but because of the presence of her inws, she could not refuse directly so she could only follow him upstairs.

    Yi Ran nced at the silent Gu Tai beside him and asked carefully, ¡°Well, shall I y a game with you?¡±

    She just hoped that the sound instion here was better.

    Gu Tingyong and his wife walked to the balcony. Lin Yuanyu said coldly, ¡°I¡¯m going to pack my luggage now. I want to go back to Germany. I want to take Gu Tai back!¡±

    They had been husband and wife for so many years. Gu Tingyong naturally knew how to coax his wife. He pulled on her hand. ¡°We¡¯re still working on this marriage and suddenly you want to break up. Wouldn¡¯t you be letting others seed?¡±

    ¡°What letting others seed? Gu Tingyong, I¡¯ve had enough of you and your Nina. She sent me everything you¡¯d sent her and even wrote a card of affection. Apparently, she doesn¡¯t want your money, just your love!¡±

    Gu Tingyong directly pulled her into his arms. He couldn¡¯t help feeling distressed at seeing her eyes bright with tears. ¡°Wasn¡¯t all this just because she didn¡¯t get my love?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re disgusting!¡± Her tears were brought on by this man and she pushed him away. ¡°You said nothing about these women? As if you haven¡¯t done that kind of thing? I don¡¯t believe you really didn¡¯t like anyone else!¡±

    Gu Tingyong hugged Lin Yuanyu from behind, making her unable to escape. ¡°I have said that it was a moment of confusion. It wasn¡¯t anything serious, and there will never be a second time. I¡¯ll repeat it again. It¡¯ll never happen again in this life. You have given me a chance...how can I still do something like this?¡±

    ¡°But you¡¯ve hurt me now! Today, it may be Nina, but tomorrow, it could be someone else. How can I bear it? ¡±

    Lin Yuanyu was now furious, Gu Tingyong knew this. He frowned tightly. The moonlight clearly reflected the emotions floating at the bottom of the man¡¯s eyes, and his face was full of heartfelt regret.

    ¡°Anyway, no matter what I say now, you won¡¯t be happy.¡±

    Lin Yuanyu heard these words and looked at him. Gu Tingyong seemed to be struggling and finally said frankly, ¡°Last time, I told you that I stayed for Gu Tai. In fact, this was a lie.¡±

    His eyes flickered, and he tightened his embraced on Lin Yuanyu. ¡°I hope that you won¡¯t leave so I made up a reason for you to stay. ¡±

    .....

    Yi Ran and the children yed a few games. When their eyes became sore, they looked up to see that Gu Tingchuan had came over. He looked at them sternly and said, ¡°Time to stop.¡±

    Gu Tai put down the gaming console and stretched his littlezy waist. ¡°The two upstairs also started out very loving. But, beware, the years are not forgiving. ¡±

    Yi Ran tapped a knuckle against his little brain. ¡°My God, why is this child¡¯s mouth so poisonous?¡±

    Gu Tingchuan also red at his nephew as a warning.

    At this time, Gu Tingyong and his wife also came down, and the three hurriedly observed the couple¡¯s reaction. Although they were still not speaking to each other, they were obviously no longer in such a tense situation as before Gu Tingyong also dragged Lin Yuanyu¡¯s hand tightly, as if he was refusing to let go.

    Yi Ran felt relieved from the bottom of her heart and looked down to see that Gu Tai was also smiling.

    No matter how the child behaved, he still hoped that his parents would reconcile.

    She couldn¡¯t help but sigh. The Gu family man was so terrific that they were able to turn the tide.

    Gu Tai was yelled by Lin Yuanyu to eat fruit. Director Gu just happened to walk by and saw the fascinated look on Yi Ran¡¯s face. He tapped her forehead and whispered, ¡°What¡¯s up with you?¡±

    ¡°As the saying goes, ¡®Do not do unto others what you would not have them do unto you.¡¯ I still hope that they would reconcile so their small family won¡¯t be broken up.¡±

    She smiled faintly, unable to hide the inexplicable emotions in her heart. ¡°There are some things we probably can¡¯t avoid. You can also admire other girls. In the future, maybe you will also be interested in other people.¡±

    If this was in the past, Gu Tingchuan might not be able to honesty and truthfully answer her. But now, he knew exactly what to say:

    ¡°Appreciating someone and liking someone are very different things to me. I have appreciated others before, but I¡¯ve never liked anyone like you. You¡¯re the only one I¡¯ve also wanted to marry.¡±

    After listening to his words, Yi Ran looked up in surprise, feeling at a loss for words.

 Chapter 67 - Not Enough Love

    Chapter 67: Not Enough Love

    Gu Tingchuan saw her surprise and smoothed her hair, saying, ¡°From a rational point of view, we really can¡¯t predict what will change in the future, but things are fine now.¡±

    ¡°Yes, that is true.¡± Yi Ran smiled gently at him, her eyes bright and clear.

    He brushed his knuckle against the tip of her nose. ¡°Eat more fruit. You ate too much meat at dinner.¡±

    ¡°...¡± It was obvious that his parents had been putting vegetables in her bowl at dinnertime!

    As he was leaning against the dining room table, Gu Tingyong saw his brothering. He coughed softly and said, ¡°What¡¯s going on with the security of your building? Anyone can bring anything in.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan saw that the culprit was behaving in reverse and his smile was especially bad. ¡°The other party said that she was Master Gu¡¯s friend. Who would dare to stop her?¡±

    Brother Gu¡¯s facial muscles jerked. ¡°It would be inconvenient if this goes on. Thanks to brother¡¯s help.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan expressionlessly took a sip of tea and said, ¡°I said you need to solve these things yourself.¡±

    ¡°How would I know that this woman would be too vengeful? What she wants is not just my love but also hopes to make my family feel uneasy. This makes her happy.¡± As he was speaking of this, Gu Tingyong also understood that this was a disaster brought about by himself. He was the one who really hurt the family, not the vengeful girl.

    ¡°Well, it¡¯s ok. I¡¯ll deal with it. Thank you, Director Gu, for calling me to inform me earlier.¡±

    Yi Ran came over with a te of dragon fruit, handed it to the elder brother, and smiled at him sweetly. Then, she said, ¡°Brother, eat. Sister-inw told me to bring it to you.¡±

    Gu Tingyong picked up the fork, looked at the young couple who seemed to be in love, andughed.

    These two people were obviously married first before they even so much as talked about love.

    .....

    After the release of Farewell to the Moonlight, the film went all the way to the top of the box office list. As a result, Gu Tingchuan was nominated for several film industry awards at the end of the year, and Yi Ran¡¯s Weibo also attracted a lot of attention.

    This was a happy moment for them, and she was also smiling and happy all day.

    Yi Ran had just returned from the principal¡¯s office when she saw that there was a young girl in her seat. The girl was wearing a high school student uniform and had a face like peach blossoms. Her legs were stretched out as she flipped through an entertainment magazine.

    She was wondering whose daughter the girl was when Yao Juan¡¯s voice came from behind her, ¡°Sorry, Yi Ran, I just let her sit there first.¡±

    ¡°... is she your sister?¡±

    Before Yao Juan could answer, the high school girl jumped up. ¡°Who¡¯s his sister? That big mold is restricting my personal freedom.¡±

    Teacher Yao pushed up his spectacles and pointed to her. ¡°Speak quietly. There are other teachers at work!

    After saying this, he exined to Yi Ran, ¡°This is is the daughter of my mother¡¯s oldest friend. Her name is Chi Qianwen, and she will take the college entrance examination next year. I¡¯m tasked with tutoring her. Yes, I¡¯m the ¡°big mold.¡±

    Yi Ran raised her eyebrows and waved her hand generously. ¡°Let her sit, I should go back.¡±

    ¡°Principal Gu just asked for you¡­ Is everything all right?¡±

    Seeing Yao Juan¡¯s expression of concern, she hurriedly exined, ¡°It should be considered a good thing. She just said that she felt that my ss was very energetic, and the form of teaching was also a bit novel or something, and she wants to rmend me to participate in the district first sspetition.¡±

    The so-called sspetition, as the name implied, was apetition for quality lessons, demonstration lessons, andnguage instructions. The general participating content essentially focused on how to teach children the proper reading method or on courses like literacy and so on.

    After hearing this, a smile appeared between Yao Juan¡¯s eyebrows, and he nodded immediately. ¡°Principal Gu really know how to look at people. You have affinity, a fresh image, and you can speak reasonably and think quickly. Of course, you have this strength.¡±

    Chi Qianwen heard the male teacher¡¯s speech and, seeing the expression on his face, smiled disdainfully.

    Yi Ran noticed the girl and winked at Yao Juan. ¡°Mr. Yao, I found that when you talk to this little beauty, why don¡¯t you blush?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m full of a hundred poisons that she must apparently stay away from,¡± he said, pressing his lips together in deadpanned expression. ¡°I don¡¯t me her parents for dealing with her. She¡¯s really thick-skinned.¡±

    Yi Ran let out a burst ofughter and Yao Juan added in a low voice, ¡°Besides, she¡¯s only a child. Why should I be nervous?¡±

    ¡°Oh please. I¡¯ll be eighteen years old in a few months, only a few years younger than you. Don¡¯t always treat me with this attitude, ok?¡±

    Chi Qianwen nced at the good-looking Yi Ran and raised her chin. ¡°It seems that Yao Juan likes you very much. ¡±

    Yi Ran showed her ring finger. ¡°I¡¯m married.¡±

    ¡°Wait, you seemed familiar¡­¡± Chi Qianwen put down the magazine in her hand and walked a few steps closer to looked at Yi Ran. She covered her mouth in shock and said, ¡°Are you... I remember that Gu Tingchuan¡¯s wife is a teacher. Are you really Director Gu¡¯s wife? ¡±

    Teacher Yi shook her head, then nodded.

    ¡°Holy crap! It can¡¯t be! I really like Director Gu¡¯s movies. Oh my God!!¡±

    Chi Qianwen excitedly grabbed and hugged Mrs. Gu, as if hugging her was like hugging Director Gu himself.

    Yao Juan hurriedly shooed her away from Yi Ran. Frowning, he criticized, ¡°I told you to keep quiet and to not disturb other teachers.¡±

    Chi Qianwen narrowed her eyes unhappily at him. With her beautiful face full of vigor and vitality, she pointed her finger at the man and suddenly said in a soft voice, ¡°Yao Juan, just you wait. One day, you¡¯ll make me happy.¡±

    Yi Ran¡¯s heart jerked in surprise and she turned her head to see Yao Juan¡¯s reaction.

    Oh yes, now Teacher Yao finally blushed.

    She pped her hands and said, ¡°Student Chi have good taste and vision. No wonder you like my husband. You have a good future ahead of you.¡±

    Yao Juan¡¯s ears turned red. He didn¡¯t think that the two females would join hands to tease him. He turned his head and said, ¡°Don¡¯t follow her nonsense. Chi Qianwen, pack you and go back with me.¡±

    Chi Qianwen hugged Yi Ran¡¯s arm affectionately and shook her body. ¡°Next time Ie, I¡¯ll bring a magazine and you can sign the director¡¯s signature for me, Mrs. Gu.¡±

    ......

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s daily life had probably never been as domestic as these past few days. After returning home, he would ask the assistant to buy vegetables and he would then proceed to wash said vegetables in the kitchen.

    Yi Ran hugged the man¡¯s waist from behind. She leaned her head sideway topliment him. ¡°It smells so fragrant. How can my husband be so good at cooking?¡±

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s mouth hooked up in silentughter. Before he could speak, Yi Ran opened her mouth to add, ¡°s, it¡¯s a pity that it happens so rarely.¡±

    He turned his head to calmly stare at her and said with a smile, ¡°What utter nonsense.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t you have to attend various events and prep for the next movie?¡±

    Seeing Yi Ran¡¯splicated expression, Gu Tingchuan hugged her and said, ¡°I have some ideas, and there are several other filmpanies who wanted to cooperate with me.¡±

    Still observing Yi Ran¡¯s expression, he added, ¡°But I¡¯ll consider it after the Chinese New Year. Don¡¯t you want me to stay at home?¡±

    She hurriedly embraced him, her face grinning from ear to ear. ¡°How is that possible? I didn¡¯t think you would have enough time.¡±

    After saying this, she turned to look at the soup on the stove. His voice came from behind her, ¡°Why did you say that?¡±

    She asked, puzzled, ¡°What? ¡±

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s brows furrowed slightly, but there was a tenderness in his eyes. ¡°Before, why didn¡¯t you say anything?¡±

    Yi Ran adjusted the fire on the stove, then she slowly said, ¡°I wasn¡¯t as familiar with you yet ...¡±

    As she turned to look for a small spoon to taste the soup, she thought of all the heart-breaking mental journeys of the past. When she spoke, her low voice had some grievances. ¡°I wanted to say, if I miss you, will youe back?¡±

    Gu Tingchuan pretended to seriously ponder her question. But, when he looked at her, his eyes were full of softness. ¡°Of course, I will.¡±

    Yi Ran¡¯s heart trembled slightly, and she once again pounced on the man, burying her head in his arms and holding him tightly. He won¡¯t know all her careful thoughts in the past, but they were merely traces of their journey. No matter how abundant, she won¡¯t forget these small treasures in the future.

    Gu Tingchuan quietly returned her hug for a while. But then, he had to return to cooking. He pulled her a little further away from the stove and said, ¡°Beware of oil sshing.¡±

    Yi Ran tasted the rib soup, and the fresh and delicious vor burst in her mouth. She thought of business and changed the topic. ¡°Oh, are you free next Saturday? My friend Zhang Rongrong is getting married and wanted to invite us to go drink wedding wine. Would it be an inconvenience to attend their banquet?¡±

    Gu Tingchuan stir-fried the saffron in the non-stick pan, and he said quietly, ¡°I remember that I have a meeting to discuss the filming cooperation with several people in the industry. But, that appointment is a noon so dinner shouldn¡¯t be a problem.¡±

    Yi Ran was not assured. ¡°Won¡¯t you be bored and feel inconvenience? You won¡¯t know anyone there.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s enough to know you.¡± Gu Tingchuan raised his eyebrows. ¡°If it ends early, we can go to see a movie afterward.¡±

    Yi Ran let out a sound of disbelief.

    Gu Tingchuan nced at her. ¡°In the evening, there should be less people, right?¡±

    She noticed that his slender hand holding the spat was especially good-looking.

    ¡°Okay, okay. Then, afterward, we won¡¯t disturb the privacy of the bridal chamber and leave right away.¡±

    Anyway, she knew that Gu Tingchuan was not used to participating in such customs.

 Chapter 68 - Late Night Movie

    Chapter 68: Late Night Movie

    On Saturday morning, Gu Tingchuan changed clothes and was ready to meet the industry leaders whom he had an appointment with. Yi Ran helped him fixed his dark sweater and looked back in the mirror to see the elegantly dressed man.

    Director Gu was also wearing the cuff-links that she had bought for himst time. Since marrying him, all of her expenses had been significantly reduced and so she was able to save some money to buy her husband gifts. Even this humble pair of cuff-links had cost her tens of thousands.

    She looked up and met his dark gaze. Her cheeks flushed pink.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you sleep well?¡± He asked. ¡°Sleep in for a while.¡±

    Yi Ran rubbed her eyes, hugged his used clothes in her arms, and prepared to take them to theundry room. ¡°It¡¯s okay. Rongrong asked me to go to her house earlier. I¡¯ll change clothes in a bit and leave.¡±

    ¡°Okay. I¡¯lle find you when I¡¯m done with my meeting.¡±

    He lightly squeezed her face and pressed a quick kiss to her mouth. Afterward, Gu Tingchuan left.

    The people he had a meeting with was actually representatives from several producers and distributors from China, the United States, and the United Kingdom. The purpose of the meeting was to invite him to direct a nature film focused on rare wild animals.

    Gu Tingchuan had never actually directed this type of films before. However, in his student days, he had used wild animals has main characters and had made simr documentaries in order toplete some school credits.

    ¡°This is a joint shooting between three countries. We n to divide into three shooting groups and synchronize the material across the countries. The production team is very good. You and your team are naturally responsible for the final editing.¡±

    After talking for more than half an hour, Gu Tingchuan had a basic understanding of their goals. He liked to do things that others might consider ¡°crazy.¡± This was a well-known directing characteristic of his.

    Aside from the fact that the work will be abroad, he will not only go deep into nature but also be able to work with those professional wildlife investigators. He could go beyond his typical director status and be an ¡°explorer.¡± For Gu Tingchuan, shooting such a type of movie was more attractive than any other movies.

    However, he could not make a decision immediately.

    Budgeting was not a problem. After all, the partners were already some of the best moviepanies in the world. The problem for Director Gu was just that¡­.

    It would take too long.

    If he participated in the filming, he would have to leave S City. The shooting time may take as long as two years. There was no need to say more on what this might mean.

    But, if he didn¡¯t participate in the filming, it would be a missed opportunity for him.

    He took a sip of freshly ground coffee and looked calmly at Xiao Zhao. After some time, the coborators gave him thoughtful looks, and he responded, ¡°I¡¯ll need some time to think about it.¡±

    .....

    The wedding was on the top-floor terrace of a five-star hotel.

    Zhang Rongrong herself did not make much money as a doctor. However, her family had a strong foundation and was able to host a luxurious wedding for her.

    As soon as Yi Ran arrived with the wedding party, she received a call from Gu Tingchuan to let her know that he had finished his meeting and was on his way.

    ording to the wedding day schedule, the ceremony will be held in the afternoon and the dinner in the evening.

    When Gu Tingchuan looked at the colorful balloons dancing in the sky, and saw the happiness in Yi Ran¡¯s eyes, he couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°What kind of wedding do you want?¡±

    There was a touch of sweetness in Yi Ran¡¯s eyes as she looked at the man and quietly said, ¡°Would you find me difficult? So far, I¡¯d thought of several romantic ns. Maybe, probably a wedding at an ind like Bali. We could invite our family and friends. This seems to be the typical popr wedding ns, right? But, aside from this, I really can¡¯t think of anything more special.¡±

    She looked at the white decorations and at the roses and wedding cake. She said in a soft voice, ¡°Gu Tingchuan, I always felt strange. It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t feel satisfied. It¡¯s just that I am too ordinary and feel as if I don¡¯t deserve you.¡±

    When he heard these words, he felt moved and quickly suppressed the feelings that surged in his heart. He could only look down at her and said, ¡°You think too much, silly.¡±

    This was the first time Yi Ran heard him calling her ¡°silly.¡± Her ears felt red and itchy, and her heart was full of love.

    However, she thought that it would probably be difficult to have a wedding that was significant to them.

    The bride, Zhang Rongrong, had a red nose as she stood on the terrace where the ceremony was held. She rubbed her hands together and eximed, ¡°Can we go back indoors? This olddy is freezing to death!¡±

    It was too cold, especially since she was only wearing a pink jacket over her wedding dress. At this time, seeing Director Gu appear next to Yi Ran, her eyes became astonishingly bright.

    The man¡¯s clothes were not too sophisticated, but it was meticulously tailored. His ck hair hang down across his forehead and was notbed back, making him look more casual.

    Gu Tingchuan nodded to Yi Ran¡¯s friend very politely. ¡°Congrattions to you.¡±

    Zhang Rongrong froze, then turned her head and shook Yi Ran¡¯s shoulders. ¡°You little demon! How did you be so lucky?! Tell me. Why did Director Gu, someone with such talent and boundless prospects, want to marry you?!

    Yi Ran immediately came up with a witty reply, ¡°Because I am fresh and pure and not artificial and very different from those pretty and flirtatious vixens?¡±

    Zhang Rongrong: ¡°...¡±

    Gu Tingchuan: ¡°?¡±

    Seeing their awkward expressions, sheughed a few times.

    The entire wedding dinner was robbed by Gu Tingchuan. Even if the man just sat there silently, there were countless radar-like nces fixed on him.

    Fortunately, Zhang Rongrong arranged for them to be at the same table with men and women with polite manners. Otherwise, Director Gu would have to deal with a lot of troublesome fans. Even so, there would asionally be a few fans who would ask for photos or autographs. Gu Tingchuan would quietly refuse, ¡°Sorry, it¡¯s inconvenient today.¡±

    They waited until the banquet was almost over and the toasting began before they decided to politely withdraw.

    Yi Ran took Gu Tingchuan to Zhang Rongrong. She looked at the groom a few steps away, who was in the middle of having a quiet discussion with the best man regarding the details of the toasts. She said, ¡°Your husband is handsome and considerate too. Where is he bad? You also got lucky.¡±

    Zhang Rongrong hugged Yi Ran with a wide smile and Yi Ran said, ¡°Rongrong, Gu Tingchuan and I have something to do at night, so we¡¯ll leave first. You know he¡¯s not used to these asions...¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s all right. It¡¯s enough that you both came to give me face. You just don¡¯t know but even my mother-inw came to ask about Director Gu.¡±

    Yi Ran leaned over and hugged her friend. ¡°Then we¡¯ll meet up againter. I wish you a happy wedding and a precious son. ¡±

    Zhang Rongrong looked at them ambiguously. ¡°You said me, but it¡¯s you! Are you going to have children soon, ah?¡±

    Yi Ran was too choked to answer this question. She quietly looked at Gu Tingchuan, hoping he would help her with a reply.

    The result was that Director Gu was indeed Director Gu. He spoke calmly and only said a single word, ¡°Tonight.¡±

    After he was finished speaking, he took Mrs. Gu¡¯s hand and turned away.

    ......

    Gu Tingchuan asked the driver to go back earl and drove Yi Ran himself for their date. He originally wanted his assistant to book movie tickets, but Yi Ran took out her mobile phone and said that it would be more convenient to book their own tickets. She showed him the app¡¯s interface and told him that she¡¯ll buy whatever he wanted.

    Director Gu knew that she wanted him to experience this kind of normalcy so he only smiled and agreed.

    There were more couples out at night than expected, but they nned to wait until the movie started before sneaking into the theater room in the dark. Anyway, they bought tickets for the back row so they shouldn¡¯t attract anyone¡¯s attention.

    As they waited in the car, Yi Ran listened to the jazz music ying on the stereo. She looked at Gu Tingchuan and said, ¡°Am I imagining things? I feel like...you¡¯re more quieter than usual tonight.¡±

    At first, she thought the wedding was too lively, which made him feel ufortable, but after careful observation, it seemed that this was not the case.

    Gu Tingchuan nced at her, and there was a tacit acquiescence in this look. After a moment of silence, he knew that if he didn¡¯t say it now, he would always think about it, so he simply ignored the movie mentioned today and began speaking, trying to make her understand his thoughts and positions.

    After listening to it, Yi Ran¡¯s mood was really tangled. She knew what the man was worrying about, and she knew that there were too many contradictions.

    After all, this nature film was not just as simple as making a film, but to present a natural world through the lens of with his own careful thinking.

    The reason Gu Tingchuan¡¯s continuous breakthrough had continued to surprise many people was because he was not only trying to make a film belonging to ¡°Gu Tingchuan¡± but to also allow the audience to see the widerndscape behind his movies.

    ¡°When talking about ideas, there was an American who said that if people don¡¯t value ecological protections, then as a species, we have no future. I think that this makes sense.¡± Yi Ran looked at the lighting through the window and pressed her fingertips on her knees. She bowed her head and added, ¡°They can give you such an important opportunity. This just fully affirmed your ability in all aspects.¡±

    He smiled, and after a long hesitation, he made up his mind. ¡°Yes, but I won¡¯t go.¡±

    Looking at the smile in the man¡¯s eyes, Yi Ran felt uneasy. ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°If I follow the shooting schedule, I¡¯ll be gone for more than a year. There¡¯s even a chance that it¡¯ll even take a few years instead. But, we just got married, and there are still many things I want to do with you.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s words were not to reassure her nor to give in to her, but they were his true thoughts. It was because of this that she felt that it was even more uneptable.

    This incident made her feel burdened, but she could not agree either... It was a dilemma.

    She could see Mr. Gu¡¯s ambitions, and she could also feel his deep love. This was all her advantages, and the thing she loved most was him only.

 Chapter 69 - A Little Luck

    Chapter 69: A Little Luck

    The night movie wasn¡¯t too bad. The movie they ended up watching was an unsessful foreign hero blockbuster. This kind of film could only achieve the best effect when viewed in a movie theater.

    Before entering, Gu Tingchuan also deliberately bought her popcorn. However, even the aroma of food,bined with the extreme effects of the movie, couldn¡¯t detract her from her distraction.

    Yi Ran was thinking about what to say to Gu Tingchuan, whether to let him make this documentary, to allow him to satisfy his sense of creation or to be loyal to her heart and let him stay¡­

    She couldn¡¯t give a positive answer now.

    It was cold outside at night, but fortunately, the theater was fully heated, and she was sitting next to Director Gu. At this moment, she felt like a sluggy mess.

    Even in the dim room, Gu Tingchuan felt her distraction. ¡°You don¡¯t seem to be thinking about watching the movie.¡±

    His voice was so close to her ear that she could feel the warmth of his breath against her skin. Before Yi Ran even had the chance to speaking, she was already being kissed.

    The kiss in the dark was more secretive and urgent than usual. The tip of his nose rubbed against her face as his lips brushed over hers. The light, lingering touch was sexy and charming, creating an irresistible confusion.

    His tongue dipped into her mouth, tasting like sweet corn and sweeping from top to bottom. As she was breathlessly kissed, her fingers subconsciously tightened on her popcorn, nearly tipping the bucket over.

    Even as his mouth moved over her lips, his hands began to feel restless. He stroked over her upper body, and the gentle touch made her chest feel swollen and numb.

    It was clearly a cold and chilly night, but in this dark cinema, it was full of tenderness. Yi Ran was also beginning to feel hot. She wanted to say that this was a public ce. How could Gu Tingchuan, a famous director, be so brave!

    Yi Ran nced at him in the dark screening room and realized that the man had deliberately disturbed her. Seeing her shameful red face through the shing white lights on the screen, he finally retracted his hand with satisfaction.

    Later, he looked sternly forward as he began to pay attention to the movie. His side profile resumed his usual indifference, and he did not look at all like someone who had just kissed her breathless in a dark, public ce.

    After they watched the movie, Mr. Gu drove home directly. Although it was already early in the morning, Yi Ran still did not feel tired. She was silent along the way, her head in a mess. But, she couldn¡¯t think of anything.

    After Gu Tingchuan entered the room, he took off his coat and said to her, ¡°Don¡¯t think about it too much. I¡¯ve already decided.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s easy to say. Shouldn¡¯t you think more about such a big thing?¡±

    Yi Ran changed into her newly bought cotton slippers, which quickly warmed her feet. When she looked up and saw the man¡¯s tall and handsome back, she also remembered the kiss that seemed to remain between her lips and tongue. If they were really separated for so long, the probability that she would spend her days pining after him would be very high.

    Gu Tingchuan was standing at the entrance, his silhouette backlit by the lights in the living room. His well-defined face had a loving look.

    ¡°Then tell me, if I went, would you miss me?¡±

    Would you miss me?

    This sentence suddenly poked at Yi Ran¡¯s sore points. Her nose grew sour, and her expression was full of contradictions and perseverance.

    How could she not miss him? As long as this thought came about, it was so intrusive that she knew she would spend the next few days lingering over it. If he was really gone for that long, how would she survive day by day without him?

    However, these were things that she must do.

    ¡°Then, tell me? Should you be the type of man who would give up his dreams for the sake of his wife?¡±

    Yi Ran said this with a bit of anger. He heard the words and just smiled. ¡°I¡¯m not giving up on my dreams. I¡¯m just choosing what I should do now. What¡¯s more, we haven¡¯t even nned a wedding yet. Even if my mother didn¡¯t say anything, my grandfather and his generation would have a lot of opinions.¡±

    Yi Ren felt a tight, desperate inner panic, and there was ayer of tears in her eyes. ¡°I know. But, I just want you to do your favorite thing. I can¡¯t bear for you to give up anything for me. I knew that I would have to be apart for you for a long time but¡­¡±

    Her voice was soft and helpless. Gu Tingchuan walked in front of her and held her gently. When he spoke, his voice was clear, ¡°Then, just let the matter go. Even if I don¡¯t do it, they¡¯ll give it to some other director.¡±

    ¡°At least don¡¯t reject them so quickly.¡± Yi Ran looked up at him seriously. ¡°Give it a little more time. Let¡¯s think about it some more.¡±

    Actually, the only way left was for her to go with him and participate in the shooting with him.

    Yi Ran also remembered that Gu Tingchuan had hoped that she would stay with him some day. In the future, he would have to go to various ces for away to shoot movies and it would be inconvenient for them to be so far apart.

    She just did not expect such an opportunity toe so fast. Even if she made this decision hastily, there would still be many issues to consider. Moreover, the filming site might be hard to live in. She didn¡¯t know if it would be inconvenient for him to take her along.

    Besides, what could she do aside from taking care of him? How could she make use of her greatest talents and abilities? How to prove her worth?

    These were things that needed to be considered in the long run.

    In Director Gu¡¯s arms, Yi Ran felt only warmth. She quietly sighed and thought that if these doubts could be resolved, then they might be able to actually make it work.

    ......

    Saturday night was very quiet, and the next day was windy but sunny. In the morning, Gu Tingchuan went to thepany to handle some matters and nned to return early in the evening.

    Yi Ran fell asleep on the bed for a while. When she came to, she rolled over and picked up her mobile phone to swipe on thetest entertainment news. As a result, she suddenly discovered that the number of reposts andments on her ount was several times higher than usual.

    When she clicked on her ount and looked, she waspletely shocked and speechless.

    The reason was that someone posted to Weibo, and there was only one sentence.

    Gu Tingchuan: My Yi Ran, let¡¯s go on a date tonight?

    This meant that Director Gu had opened a Weibo ount¡­

    Director Gu actually had a Weibo ount¡­

    Director Gu even used Weibo now¡­.

    And, on the inte, he was openly and generously showing his affection for her!!!

    Yi Ran originally suspected that someone might be impersonating him, but when she saw the ¡°filmmaker family man¡± tagline under his ount, she felt that there was really no mistake.

    Yi Ran was utterly fascinated. Last night, she kept twisting and turning and wasn¡¯t able to fall asleep until dawn. Now, the man had pleasantly surprised her and she was finally distracted from her previously chaotic mood.

    After getting up from bed, she sat in a daze in front of theputer. She had wanted to get some teaching powerpoint done, but in the end, nothing was done. Instead, Zhang Rongrong, the newlywed, called her and they ended up chatting for a long time.

    In the evening, Gu Tingchuan finally returned from thepany. The moment she heard the sound of the door opening, Yi Ran got up from theputer and hurriedly walked up to him. He raised an eyebrow and looked at her.

    ¡°Why did you suddenly think of opening up a Weibo ount?¡± Yi Ran asked as she thoughtfully took out his slippers and put then down in front of him.

    Gu Tingchuan changed his shoes and hung his coat. Then he calmly said, ¡°After discussing with the public rtions team, we¡¯ve decided that it¡¯s not always good for only you to show affection.¡±

    Yi Ran pretended to be unhappy, but as she watched him, she couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°Director Gu, this time, you can harvest the confessions of countless fans.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan raised his hand and rubbed her bright face.

    She raised her hands to touch his fingers and he said, ¡°The room is obviously warm. Why are your hands still so cold?¡±

    ¡°Because I miss you, of course.¡± Yi Ran smiled brightly and prepared to heat up the dishes in the kitchen. Then, she told him conversationally, ¡°Rongrong called in the afternoon. They just bought a new house and nned to renovate. She¡¯s looking for a good interior designer, which made me think¡­ Do you have any rmendations?¡±

    Gu Tingchuan quickly entered the studio to put away some materials. When he came out, he said, ¡°My friend Xie Qingshan has a design studio but his price is a little high. Though, if your friend wants to look for other excellent designer, he or she might be just as expensive.¡±

    He wore a thin sweater, and the light-colored clothing also matched well with his overall temperament and elegance.

    Gu Tingchuan entered the kitchen and stepped to Yi Ran¡¯s side. After leaning over and kissing her cheek, he said, ¡°I¡¯ll have Xiao Zhao give you a business card.¡±

    At this moment, she felt a surge of warmth. The man had done so much for her. As long as she said something, even casually, he would take it seriously.

    Even though they had been married for more than a year already, he still seemed to be in love and had even asked on Weibo if they could have a date tonight¡­ This kind of sweetness was difficult to find.

    Yi Ran knew that Gu Tingchuan had stopped talking about this nature film so as not to disturb her peace of mind.

    She slowly turned to her side and held the man¡¯s hand with both hands. She lowered her head and didn¡¯t look at him, but her voice was firm. ¡°I think that you can agree to this movie, so long as you can take me. We can go together.

    Gu Tingchuan hadn¡¯t thought of this possibility, but he thought from the bottom of his heart that this was not a good proposal. ¡°It would require a lot of strenuous walking and the shooting environment might be very difficult. I¡¯m afraid that your current body might not be able to keep up.¡±

    Yi Ran shook her head, her eyes filled with an unconscious deep affection. ¡°I don¡¯t have to go on the front line all the time, right? And, I already thought about it. When you get there, you can try to make arrangements for me as much as possible. If it doesn¡¯t work out, I can return by myself. Isn¡¯t that possible? Even if I don¡¯t apany you all the time, I can at least stay with you for a few months at a time, right?¡±

    Gu Tingchuan didn¡¯t know how to decide. He rubbed his eyebrows and said, ¡°Even if you want to go, what about your work?¡±

    Yi Ran knew that he might ask about this. She opened her eyes wide and smiled at him. ¡°The Gu family has some power right? Doesn¡¯t President Gu know your family? I¡¯ll talk to her personally and ask if I can leave my job for a while. After I came back, we can see if she can give me my job back. If not, I can just find a job at another school.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan frowned slightly. ¡°Then can you bear to leave your students?¡±

    Yi Ran frowned, then ced her hands on the man¡¯s cheeks before whispering, ¡°It¡¯s not that they¡¯re not important in my heart. It¡¯s just that this is the best solution for us. I want to support you unconditionally. As for anything else¡­We can always find ways to resolve them.¡±

    This was like ...

    She wanted to dedicate her youth to him, but she also wanted to dedicate her love to her career.

    However, more than anything, she also wanted to dedicate all her life to the good things that she held tightly in her hands.

 Chapter 70 - An Obedient Ranran

    Chapter 70: An Obedient Ranran

    Gu Tingchuan sighed from the bottom of his heart. He knew that Yi Ran¡¯s really liked her current job as a teacher and she would be reluctant to leave behind Gu Tai.

    However, when confronted with the conflict between him and her, she could only choose what she wanted more and temporarily put aside her work.

    Currently, as he looked at her smiling eyes, he knew that the best choice would be for them toplete the film together.

    ¡°Okay, let¡¯s do this. I¡¯ll discuss it with them again and see if it would be inconvenient to bring you along.¡±

    Yi Ran nodded. When the man tapped her head with his fingers, she covered her head. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s take a long vacation and enjoy nature¡¯s beauty.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan opened the refrigerator door, took out some of the ingredients inside, and closed the door again. Then he turned back and smiled slightly at her.

    The film that Gu Tingchuan was invited to co-direct this time was temporarily named ¡°Anthology of Life.¡±

    The producers defined this documentary-like ¡°nature movie¡± as something that should be appropriate for all ages but would lean more toward being a happy movie for adults.

    This was much more difficult than just making a documentary or a children¡¯s movie.

    Generally speaking, in the early stages, the film crews would shoot materials in the form of a full documentary. Gu Tingchuan would then used the collected materials to edit and organize.

    For a young director like Gu Tingchuan, it was naturally impossible to not to participate in the shooting process.

    The three film crews were not only experienced wildlife photographers, but also members of the BBC documentary team. It was unprecedented for a young photographer like Gu Tingchuan to even be able to cooperate with such an elite documentary filming team.

    After a few meetings, he tentatively chose the Sichuan province as the first shooting site. It was close to Chengdu, which made traveling very convenient so it was more suitable to go there with Yi Ran.

    At the end of the year, Gu Tingchuan told his wife, ¡°Principal Gu and I talked about your leave of absence. You can talk to her more about specific matters but there are more than two months left before we set off so you should have enough time to hand over your work.¡±

    Yi Ran had also done a lot of mental preparation and agreed with him.

    Before leaving, she also visited Zhang Rongrong¡¯s new house and saw the female designer from Xie Qingshang Designer Studio, who had arrived to inspect the house.

    Shi Qian was only a few centimeters taller than Yi Ran. Her face was very memorable and her skin tone was white. Her body was shapely and soft. Just like a fairy, she was fair and beautiful with dark eyes. However, she didn¡¯t smile much and her temperament was rather cold and indifferent.

    ¡°Mrs. Zhang, can you tell me the specific requirements for your house?¡±

    After asking this, she raised a polite smile, reminding people of the gleaming site of a south bank river.

    Zhang Rongrong was not in a hurry. When she saw this female designer¡¯s appearance, her eyes shed immediately. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to be such a great beauty. I heard that your boss, Master Xie, is very harsh but is young and very talented.¡±

    Shi Qian looked at Yi Ran¡¯s friend and pursed her lips. ¡°He¡¯s less harsh than Director Gu. I¡¯ve heard about Director Gu¡¯s crazy work deeds.

    Yi Ran wondered out loud, ¡°Yes, do you know my husband?¡±

    She shook her head and her face softened a bit. ¡°Just what friends have told me.¡±

    Zhang Rongrong saw that there were only three of them in the house and actively pursued the topic. ¡°Yeah, I thought Director Gu was unapproachable at first, but then he came to my wedding and seemed to be able tomunicate just fine. But, of course, how can you manage a man like Gu Tingchuan?¡±

    Yi Ran saw that Shi Qian didn¡¯t seem to be a talkative girl. Everyone had friends inmon so she said frankly, ¡°There are times when you just have to wait him out. For example, whenever he gives me a logical sermon, but I just won¡¯t pay attention.¡±

    Zhang Rongrongughed at this.

    The three turned around in the house and briefly talked about the design concept while Shi Qian took notes. Looking at the beauty¡¯s focused look, Yi Ran couldn¡¯t help saying, ¡°I remember something I¡¯ve heard before: The design style should be like a cup of tea, t and soft, but with a sweet aftertaste. ¡±

    Shi Qian thought for a moment, with a smile in her eyes, and said, ¡°It seems that Xie Qingshan also said something simr. Well, at this point, he and Director Gu are both illustrious.¡±

    Zhang Rongrong hugged Yi Ran andmented, ¡°Oh, to think that you¡¯ll be traveling with your husband. I won¡¯t be able to see you for several months. What to do, ah?¡±

    Yi Ran smiled with yful disdained, ¡°At that time, you and your husband will be very busy decorating your house. When will you have time to miss me?¡±

    Zhang Rongrong thought for a moment and said, ¡°But I didn¡¯t really expect you to be leaving with your husband. It¡¯s like the two of you can¡¯t be separated for a moment.¡±

    Yi Ran didn¡¯t know what to say. In the end, it was probably not that she couldn¡¯t stand being temporarily separated from him, but it was just that she wanted them to be together. She wanted to stay with him.

    For all her years.

    It didn¡¯t take long for the three of them to have a thorough chat. Zhang Rongrong couldn¡¯t hold back her need for gossip anymore and she asked with her head tipped to the side, ¡°Shi Qian, do you have a boyfriend? Hey, you and Master Xie aren¡¯t in love, right?¡±

    Shi Qian waved her hands a little unavoidably before answering the question. ¡°No, my boyfriend, he¡¯s¡­ not in the design circle.¡±

    Yi Ran saw that she didn¡¯t know how to answer and hurriedly tried to help her. ¡°Ah, Dr. Zhang, can you be a bit more reserved?!¡±

    ¡°Not at all. What good is being reserved? If you want to be a little fairy, you shouldn¡¯t be too ordinary.¡±

    Yi Ran: ¡°...¡±

    Really, this Dr. Zhang had an interesting way of thinking.

    ......

    The filming of Anthology of Life officiallyunched in the new year.

    However, just a few days before her departure, Yi Ran came down with the flu.

    As shey shivering under the cover, she wanted to say that she was physically strong and hadn¡¯t been sick in several years. But, of course, she ended up getting sick at this critical time.

    Gu Tingchuan rushed back from thepany as soon as possible and went to the bedroom. He saw that her nose was red and her face was sullen. There were used tissues in the trash can near the nightstand.

    He frowned slightly and asked, ¡°What did you take at noon? Did you take any medicine?¡±

    ¡°I took a few bites of porridge in the kitchen.¡±

    Her nose was stuffed and her voice was weak. She also had no sense of taste or appetite. Even her voice sounded sick, making him feel distressed.

    Gu Tingchuan walked over to her and reached out to touch the temperature of her forehead. She still felt a little hot. He pulled the cover up around her andforted her softly, ¡°What do you want to eat tonight?¡±

    Yi Ran shook her head. She really wanted to jump over and hug Director Gu but she was afraid of getting him sick too. She leaned pitifully on the bedside and stared at him. ¡°I don¡¯t want to eat anything. I don¡¯t feel well.¡±

    He looked at her silently for a long moment and finally sighed. Then, he came over and hugged her tightly. He looked serious as he said, ¡°Yi Ran, don¡¯t follow me to Sichuan.¡±

    Yi Ran understood that if she arrived there and was still as sick as she was now, it would only be troublesome.

    But now that she had reached this point, she also didn¡¯t want to stay behind just because of these minor illnesses. So, she raised her spirits and determinedly said, ¡°Let¡¯s not decide now. How about we wait to see if I¡¯ll get better tomorrow? My recovery has always been fast.¡±

    Since she was looking at him with such intive eyes, Gu Tingchuan didn¡¯t want to push the matter anymore. He changed the topic. ¡°I¡¯ll get you chicken soup tonight. You should try eating a little.¡±

    Yi Ran bit her lower lip and said nothing. Feeling a little helpless in his heart, he looked at her with deep eyes and said slowly, ¡°Ranran, be obedient.¡±

    Director Gu suddenly used such a big trick on her. Yi Ran was naturally coaxed. When he looked at her, it seemed as if there was a warm spring breeze blowing toward her, making even her illness abate a little.

    Gu Tingchuan worked in the kitchen for a while and finally brought back the chicken soup in a serving tray. He ced the tray on the nightstand beside the bed. There was a golden spoon in the soup, a tablecloth, and even a transparent vase with a single stem of hydrangea.

    She lifted her eyes to see the deep caring in the man¡¯s gaze and felt a strong surge of emotions. ¡°With you taking care of me like this, how can I not get better soon¡­¡±

    Gu Tingchuan removed his hands from the tray and reached over to graze her nose with his finger. ¡°Before, when I was hospitalized, you took care of me. Shouldn¡¯t this be me reciprocating?¡±

    Yi Ran picked up the spoon and tasted the soup. Although she still couldn¡¯t eat much, the color of the soup looked delicious and the taste spread through her mouth, leaving her lips and teeth stained with a fragrant aftertaste.

    ¡°Mmmm, your chicken soup is better than mine.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan stood next to her and quietly watched her drink half a bowl of soup and choked down a few pieces of shredded chicken. Then, he took away the small tray with satisfaction.

    After Yi Ran ate dinner, she got out of bed to walk around for a moment. When Mr. Gu handed her a ss of warm water and some medicine, she murmured her thanks, tipped them down, and handed the ss back to him.

    She returned to bed and looked at Gu Tingchuanzily. ¡°My husband, since we¡¯re so dependent on each other, then, even if I¡¯m sick, shouldn¡¯t you still bring me?¡±

    Gu Tingchuan took off his slippers andy on his side next to her. He leaned against her outside the cover and whispered. ¡°I know. Now, you shouldn¡¯t think about anything. Just sleep and rest.¡±

    Yi Ran blinked. His heart softened, but he couldn¡¯t do anything so he chose to clear his throat and said, ¡°I won¡¯t leave you behind. What are you afraid of? Close your eyes.¡±

    he could feel her eyes getting heavy but she fought it, murmuring, ¡°If I go to Sichuan with you, I can see the pandas. I really wanted to see them¡­¡±

    Gu Tingchuan couldn¡¯t help the smile that rose to his lips. His slightly hot palm was gently stroking back and forth on her cheek, making her feel itchy andfortable. Soon, she really fell asleep.

 Chapter 71 - Finale, A Lifetime of Peace and Care

    Chapter 71: Finale, A Lifetime of Peace and Care

    Due to Director Gu¡¯s care, Yi Ran¡¯s fever went away within two days and her cold gradually improved. By the time they finally left for the filming site, she was already feeling refreshed and thus was able to leave with the team.

    In everyone¡¯s estimation, Yi Ran had a frank personality. She had a fresh and pleasant attitude and her mouth was always in a state of smiling. She was also a teacher, and although she had something of an inte addiction, she was able to easily get along well with everyone.

    The weather was still cold, but there were already signs of warming up. The shooting location was deep within a mountain forest and the scene everywhere was like something out of paradise.

    When Yi Ran looked up, she could see the endless blue sky stretched out like a dome above her. Even the stream at her feet reflected the blue sky. There was no city noise, only the simple scenery of nature and unrestrained animal activities.

    Gu Tingchuan wore loose work clothes and the lights breaking through the gaps in the forest danced across his handsome face, making his indifferent eyebrows seem a little warmer.

    At this time, they must observe the small details throughout the filming process. Their goal was not to change nature, to interfere, to feed, nor to force the animals to change their behavior through human interference.

    Gu Tingchuan looked at their surrounding terrain and proposed to the on-site supervisor, ¡°The scenery here is good. Let¡¯s capture a panorama shot and use itter.¡±

    As a result, the production team stopped and found a ce to start camping.

    It was nice to see that they were already working on their own. She, as a logistician, followed after them and looked at the nearbyndscape spread out like a scroll of ink painting. It was shockingly beautiful. She never even felt the loss of her cell phone or herputer.

    Seeing the photographers diligently working, she found that she could express her appreciation of the silent beauty around her just by using the lens in her hands. She also deeply admired how this film was focused on showing the habitat and animal behavior around them.

    Gu Tingchuan saw Yi Ran¡¯s eyes flickered with feelings, the emotions delicate and soft. Even in this ce that was full of nature¡¯s color, he couldn¡¯t help himself.

    Although they were seriously working, it was impossible not to have a kiss.

    Thinking about it like this, Director Gu walked closer to her. He turned his head, leaned down, and slowly pressed his soft lips to her cheek, the gesture thoroughly showing his affection and cherishment.

    It was just a simple kiss, but it rippled through her. Yi Ran felt her cheeks grow hot, and she shyly pushed him away a little. In order not to affect their work, she moved over to the stream to see the bamboo forest in the distance. And there, she could see the pandas¡¯ roaming figures.

    But, she had no opportunity to get closer.

    Her eyes were beautiful and riveting, and behind them was the magnificence of their natural environment. The twobined created an unforgettably scenic atmosphere.

    Gu Tingchuan took all these details into his eyes and they lit his heart with a wild light.

    Looking at the magnificent scenery together, they suddenly realized that they had traveled so many roads together, and the heartbeats between them burst forth as one.

    ......

    Because of the magnificent scenery that seemed to stretch on endlessly, the photographer team took pictures nearby before entering the bamboo forest. Yi Ran also set up a tent with Gu Tingchuan and slept on a rtively t terrain.

    Although it wasn¡¯t so easy to fall asleep at night, it didn¡¯t matter much since Gu Tingchuan¡¯s warm body was next to her, making her feel warm all over as she listened to the wind whistling through the forest and the strange, low hum of the animal life outside.

    The next day, the photography team started working before daybreak. She slept in the tent until the morning light was bright. After she woke up, she washed by the stream and tied her hair into a bun at the top of her head with a leather cord. When she turned back, she saw Gu Tingchuan and a photographer talking as they walked out of a patch of trees.

    When he saw her, he smiled. Before she could respond, he had already came to her side and his eyes were brighter than the mountains and the watersbined.

    ¡°I¡¯m having canned breakfast.¡± She was inexplicably excited when she spoke.

    Gu Tingchuan didn¡¯t respond to this. Instead, he just stared at her quietly for a long time, and then he softly said in her ear, ¡°Yi Ran, let¡¯s get married.¡±

    The statement was said in such a restrained manner that it was difficult to notice the slight tremor between the words.

    Yi Ran saw the smile in his eyes and, for a moment, she waspletely stunned. She stood in ce and didn¡¯t gain her sense for a long time. ¡°...ah? But, we¡¯re already married.¡±

    Now, he wasughing and his eyes were a charming amber against the backdrop of green mountains and rivers.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you want to have a special wedding? After we go back, no matter what kind of banquet we have, here we should at least have a wedding that¡¯s special to us.¡±

    After Gu Tingchuan said this, Yi Ran understood instantly.

    This was the perfect time and opportunity.

    They had an excellent photography team with photographers from different countries, as well as the several acquaintances from Director Gu¡¯s normal team. There were also thousands of pandas and the backdrop of beautiful mountains behind them. But, more importantly, they had each other.

    Yi Ran never thought that, in the end, their wedding would be like this. But, even though she had never thought of it before, this was ideal.

    After all, all the previous waiting was only originally to satisfy an artificial sense ofpletion.

    She bit her lip and couldn¡¯t hold back her tears. As her eyes filled with water, she looked at him and said, ¡°Okay. Then, let¡¯s get married.¡±

    After the decision was made, Gu Tingchuan was responsible for convening the people into groups. Meanwhile, Yi Ran went back to the tent to go through her things.

    Although she didn¡¯t bring much cosmetics, fortunately she brought a base foundation and lipstick. She also looked good enough that she didn¡¯t need much makeup.

    Yi Ran wore a long, white down jacket while Gu Tingchuan wore a ck one. She also walked by the stream to pick some green grass and wildflowers to make a wreath, which she wore on her head.

    The team members stood on either side of the aisle. Under everyone¡¯s cheers and apuse, the bride moved forward with a smile and walked step by step toward the man.

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s eyebrows were clear and his handsome figure stood in front of the mountains and rivers like some kind of immortal. Under the blue haze of sky, he looked even more outstanding, like a water and ink painting brought to life.

    Their wedding was not full of noise and champagne and wine. There was no sea of roses. But, there was the beauty of nature around them, which could not be exchanged for millions of dors. This was the most priceless romantic ce in the world.

    Yi Ranughed sweetly and her long, soft hair floated behind her. Her beautiful facial features were soft and pleasant.

    This small wedding will be forever engraved in their memory, serving as an honorarium of their love.

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s friend, who served as their key witness, cleared his throat and asked solemnly, ¡°Gu Tingchuan, are you willing to marry Yi Ran as your wife, in old age, in sickness and in health, until the day you die?¡±

    Yi Ran inexplicably felt somewhat tense in her heart. Gu Tingchuan nced at the man, then he looked intently at Yi Ran, who stood in front of him, and said, ¡°Yi Ran, the first half of my life was focused on work, obsessed with creation, and I was not interested in anything else. I had no hesitation and only used my eyes to look at the people and the world around me. But, it is my greatest blessing to walk with you in the second half of my life. I hope that you can apany me throughout the rest of my life, no matter how many days or nights. The scenery in the world are so many but as long as we walk through the mountains and rivers together, to see the wooden jackdaws and the plum blossoms under the moon one by one, it would be the greatest honor.¡±

    Yi Ran didn¡¯t know what to say. Her heart felt like it was drenched in sweetness. His gentle voice hovered around her ears, epassing all the love in the world, such that she could not even pine for it.

    ¡°Yi Ran, are you willing to marry Gu Tingchuan?¡±

    She was already crying as she nodded her head and said, ¡°Gu Tingchuan, I am willing. You have always been so precious and indispensable in my eyes...You¡¯re like the night, holding all the silent stars in the sky.¡±

    Heughed, pleasantly surprised, and his eyes were full of pride. ¡°Nie Luda¡¯s poem collection Twenty Love Poems and One Song of Despair.¡±

    They had such a tacit understanding and can still make the other feel excited. Just like, not wanting a luxurious feast and wedding but instead this simplepanionship.

    The man held her hand tenderly and ced a ring on her finger. His eyes were filled with tenderness as he lowered his head to kiss her lips. All the feelings and love that could not be expressed in words were wrapped in this single kiss.

    No matter what others say, in Gu Tingchuan¡¯s eyes, Yi Ran had always been a charming girl. She wasn¡¯t extremely well-read nor did she have dazzling achievements. But, she was humble and practical. Even without his protection, she would continue to resist all injustices, moving him with her distinctive vitality.

    He would never be able to find another one quite like her.

    At this moment,bined with the mountains in the distance, the flowing water in the stream, and all the undercurrents and gullies of the natural world around their wedding scene, this event became a beautiful, picturesque video under the cameraman¡¯s magical lens.

    No one could remain unmoved.

    The tears that ran down Yi Ran¡¯s cheeks gathered at her jaw and dripped onto the back of Gu Tingchuan¡¯s hand in a shining arch, spreading like a silent and surging flower bud.

    Gu Tingchuan lowered his head and spoke again with power, his words prating her bones and burning into her body. ¡°Now did I only know how beautiful tears can be.¡±

    He suddenly felt the little temperature on the back of his hand gradually spread, melting him all over. Unable to help himself, he leaned down and gathered Mrs. Gu into his arms, kissing her lips and drowning in her taste.

    Yi Ran trembled with happiness. She was embraced by him, remembering all the events that lead up to his day. Life continued to flow like fire, inextinguishable.

    The best love in the world could not be forced. It was difficult to imagine the feeling. But, love thrived in the knowing, in understanding each other¡¯s dreams and understanding each other¡¯s heart.

    ¡ª¡ªGu Tingchuan, if mypany these days was not enough to make you happy, I will use the rest of my life to make sure that your days are filled with tenderness.

    ¡ª¡ªYi Ran, because of you, I will be an immortal film master.

    There will be countless people who will apud me loudly and turned my life into a kind of legend.

    And you will be a constancy in the biography of my life, leaving no verses of regret.

    ......

    This lifetime of care was the most longsting love.

    Meeting in this life was a kind of gift. To be able to have children together, to be fortunate enough to spend this lifetime of a hundred years together, hand in hand. When you look back on the past, you will feel that you have spent an amazing lifetime of peace and care.

    In this way, life became like a journey, making you unable to forget.

 Chapter 72 - Extra: Love is a Long Road

    Chapter 72 Extra: Love is a Long Road

    It took Gu Tingchuan¡¯s nearly a year and a half to film Anthology of Life. Since Yi Ran personally teamed up with him toplete the film, she spent most of her time with him and his group. When they finally returned home, they had their second wedding in Hawaii.

    Life gradually returned to its normal rhythm, and Mrs. Gu returned to teaching.

    As for why Yi Ran decided to go back, it was because she wanted to work as a teacher for a few more years while she was still young. For this decision, her fellow teacher friends toasted her with an evening cup of wine.

    It didn¡¯t take too long after their marriage for Mrs. Gu to be spoiled and proud. Whether at home or in front of Director Gu, she became increasinglywless.

    For example, one day, Director Gu had to film a movie and wasn¡¯t able to return home until deep into the middle of the night. He was expecting his wife to eagerly hug him but, instead, he found Mrs. Gu ying happily in front of theputer. She didn¡¯t even pay him any attention at all.

    ¡­What happened to being gentle and considerate and loving?

    This was not the most important thing. After discovering this situation several times, Gu Tingchuan lectured her seriously, ¡°Don¡¯t always stay upte. Wasn¡¯t this what you told me before?¡±

    Yi Ran felt that she shouldn¡¯t be at fault here. Who let this new online game be too easy and addicting? It was simply poisonous!

    ¡°Before, you were overworked. As for me, it is only because this game was too exciting. It¡¯s different.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan rubbed his eyebrows, holding back the words he wanted to say. Yi Ran only continued to stare at theputer screen without looking back, her two hands flying on the keyboard, and he knew that even if he said too much, his words would be regarded as wind.

    During the next day, Director Gu personally cooked a table full of food and had dinner with Yi Ran.

    He moved his chopsticks over to give her some food and said as mildly as possible, ¡°When did you sleepst night? Haven¡¯t I said that you¡¯re not allowed to y sote into the night?¡±

    She was usually fine when he¡¯s home at night, but as long as he was away for long, she would just stay up all night and y games.

    Yi Ran only said, ¡°Oh,¡± stuck out her tongue impishly at him, and continued to enjoy a delicious dinner. After eating, she sat on the sofa and brushed Weibo with her legs crossed. Gu Tingchuan cleaned up the table, put the dishes in the dishwasher, and came out to see this scene. He couldn¡¯t help but have some inexplicable thoughts.

    ¡°Yi Ran, let¡¯s go for a run.¡±

    ¡°Ah? But I have an appointment with my friends, and they¡¯ll be waiting.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s expression seemed calm and quiet at first nce, but it was like the peace before the storm.

    Sure enough, there was a sudden glint in his eyes and he issued an ¡°Emperor¡¯s Order¡± to her, ¡°Teacher Yi, I¡¯m going to confiscate your phone, and I¡¯ll unplug thework cable at 8 o¡¯clock sharp, regardless of whether you¡¯re ready or not.¡± .

    Yi Ran¡¯s parents hadn¡¯t done this to her since she was a child, but now this man suddenly came up with such a trick. She¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief.

    She eximed, ¡°What? Why are you doing this?¡±

    As he began unbuttoning the top two buttons of his shirt, his low, clear voice soundedzily in the quiet living room, ¡°You have gone too far. ¡±

    ¡°You weren¡¯t like this before. You shouldn¡¯t interfere with my personal life!¡±

    Gu Tingchuan looked down at her, ¡°You weren¡¯t like this before either. You were very amodating with me.¡±

    Yi Ran raised an eyebrow and immediately showed her fighting value. Even up til now, she had amodated him.

    ¡°Gu Tingchuan, do you know that you also have very bad habits? Every time you eat, drink, and do things, do you know how many times I¡¯ve cleaned up after you? But, did I everin to you?¡±

    Gu Tingchuan froze, surprised by how quick she took to respond. While he wasn¡¯t paying attention, she suddenly took the topic in another direction.

    ¡°Also, you used to eat anything I cooked, saying how good it was. But now, you¡¯vepletely exposed your picky habits. Do you know how many eggnts I just ate in order not to waste food?¡±

    Director Gu was speechless but still stood by his righteous words. ¡°These are two different things. You¡¯re forcing words and twisting logic. Shouldn¡¯t you pay attention to the truth of my words instead?¡±

    When Yi Ran heard this, she remembered that Gu Tingchuan was someone with a careful and precise temperament. He loved nothing more than making logical arguments and could go on and on about it.

    ¡°I understand the logic of your arguments many times, but I just don¡¯t want to hear them.¡±

    There was a saying: There¡¯s no need to reason things out with a wife. Just love them, buy them things, and tell them they¡¯re thin enough. These three points would be sufficient.

    Gu Tingchuan calmly took a deep breath, feeling both amused and helpless at the same time. ¡°Do you realize that each time you get mad like this, I have to remind myself that Mrs. Gu is the person I dote on the most?¡±

    ¡°You¡­ You...!¡± Yi Ran was speechless. She grabbed the cushion on the sofa and threw it at him. ¡°Okay, very good! Let¡¯s continue to hurt each other!¡±

    Gu Tingchuan was toozy to reason with her. As he got up, he undid thest remaining buttons on his shirt. There was a sharp oppression in his eyebrows as he said, ¡°I have no time to quarrel with you. It¡¯s a waste of time.¡±

    With that, he walked back to the bedroom and said, ¡°Come in! ¡±

    Yi Ran: ¡°....¡±

    She pursed her lips and shouted back, ¡°I won¡¯te in!¡±

    After a moment, she looked up and saw Gu Tingchuan standing by the door. His figure was quiet and peaceful, but his eyes had a warning glint.

    Feeling panicked, Yi Ran reluctantly removed her butt off from the sofa and went over to him.

    As a result, as soon as she came to the door, he suddenly leaned over and hugged her.

    Before Yi Ran could react, she was already taken directly to bed. Gu Tingchuan immediately pressed her down and said with a restrained smile, ¡°I have to teach you a lesson.¡±

    He yanked Yi Ran¡¯s blouse open, suddenly revealing her pale skin. The man¡¯s action was so fast that Yi Ran¡¯s face flushed red.

    Yi Ran tightened the corners of her lips and, although she didn¡¯t want topromise so quickly, she could only say, ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll go for a run with you, alright?¡±

    ¡°Toote,¡± he interrupted her pleading. ¡°You¡¯re too addicted to online games. I think it¡¯s time for an intervention.¡±

    ¡± ... How can you be such a domineering hooligan?¡±

    ¡°You think I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re doing?¡± Gu Tingchuan met her clear eyes and an electrical current seemed to run through her whole body. The agitated atmosphere had now changedpletely. ¡°Is it fun to fight with me?¡±

    Yi Ran mischievously reached out to grab the man¡¯s round butt and squeezed. In a single breath, her graceful and elegant image no longer existed.

    ¡°I can also be rebellious, okay? And also, this can be considered as having a kind of husband and wife fun.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan raised his eyebrows and lowered his head to seal her red lips, his eyes darkening. He kissed her for a while before finally whispering, ¡°I don¡¯t want you to touch theputer tonight.¡±

    Yi Ran was fully enjoying this. She wrapped her arms around him and said, ¡°Then do you want to watch a move?¡±

    In fact, it had always been easy for them to amodate andpromise with each other.

    Between their two worlds, from beginning to end, being able to meet each other halfway was the best thing.

    ......

    Yi Ran lost a lot in the e and hurt each other¡± incident. Soon after, they also discovered another bad habit, which was that they both liked to buy things randomly.

    Gu Tingchuan stepped in through the front door and found that the express delivery was as high as a mountain. He took scissors from the kitchen, opened up a few boxes, and found that they were either various paraphernalia, or the more dull zy¡± kitchen utensils.

    In short, not only was his wife addicted to the inte but she was also quite spoiled.

    However, Yi Ran thought that all the things she boughtbined were not as expensive as the single cup he brought home. When he also stuffed it in the storage closet, she expressed her dissatisfaction.

    In order to alleviate the ¡°conflict between husband and wife¡±, Gu Tingchuan deliberately called her over, intending to establish a family rule.

    The rule was simple. Whoever bought the most ¡°junk¡± per week would be punished.

    The punishment would be as follow: the person would have to hold his or her ears and contemte the wall for an hour.

    Of course, when Yi Ran heard this, she said it was too childish, but Director Gu insisted.

    Gu Tingchuan became extremely busy with work for the next few days. One day, when he stepped in through the door, he saw Yi Ran hurried over to prepare his slippers. She even sweetly said, ¡°Husband, wee back!¡±

    The moment Director Gu heard the word ¡°husband¡± being said so sweetly and tenderly, he immediately guessed that something was up. But, he still quietly enjoyed the service of his wife.

    The two had a sweet and delicious dinner, and Yi Ran even hurriedly urged him to rest while she took the initiative to put everything away.

    The moment Gu Tingchuan walked into the study, he saw a half-human sized stuffed Japanese bear and immediately realized why someone was being so attentive tonight.

    Yi Ran knew in her heart that this could not be concealed. Not to mention, the bear was toorge to hide.

    The man¡¯s outstanding figure stood in front of the window. When he heard her footsteps entering the study, he asked gently, ¡°Did you forget the house rule so quickly?¡±

    Yi Ran murmured, ¡°You listen to me slowly exin¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m listening.¡±

    ¡°This is a limited edition item that just came out. If I missed it, it¡¯ll be gone forever. And... it¡¯s not useless. It¡¯s cute, isn¡¯t it? Just like me...¡±

    The more she spoke, the ¡°sharper¡± his eyes became.

    Gu Tingchuan pointed to the corner. ¡°Go to the station for an hour.¡±

    Looking at the man¡¯s serious expression and knowing that he waspletely serious, Yi Ran tried toe up with a way out. But, she couldn¡¯t think of anything good. Therefore, she could only bite her lips silently and stand at the corner, feeling aggrieved.

    After punishing the wife, he sat on a chair to read. However, someone¡¯s resentment was too strong, making it difficult for him to concentrate. Finally, he couldn¡¯t stand it anymore.

    In less than half an hour, Gu Tingchuan gave in.

    In fact, he wasn¡¯t really angry that she would buy these useless things. After all, it wasn¡¯t like they didn¡¯t have the money. As long as she was happy, then it was fine. The problem was that his wife bought a stuffed bear that did not match his temperament at all. Last time, she even bought some male action figures.

    First, she was addicted to gaming and now she wanted to bring them home...He found this extremely difficult to put up with.

    As Gu Tingchuan beckoned to her with one hand, his rubbed his eyebrows with the other. He said, ¡°Okay, stop muttering. Come here!¡±

    As for thest remaining half hour, Gu Tingchuan helped Yi Ran made up for it in bed...

    A few dayster, Yi Ran met Xiao Zhao, and she inadvertently asked, ¡°Xiao Zhao, did he not buy anything this week?¡±

    Xiao Zhao had long be Mrs. Gu¡¯s secret spy, particrly when it came to the physical and mental health of his boss. He immediately reported, ¡°Buy. At an auction, he bought a set of decorations that cost several thousands.¡±

    ¡°What did he do with it?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s still in thepany¡¯s lounge.¡±

    Yi Ran narrowed her eyes.

    ...Gu Tingchuan! You¡¯re so dead!!!

 Chapter 73(End) - Extra II: Love is a Long Road

    Chapter 73 Extra II: Love is a Long Road

    Director Gu¡¯sst film Farewell to Moonlight blossomed overseas, and Anthology of Life was also highly sought after once it was released.

    Yi Ran apanied Mr. Gu for the first time on the red carpet of an international overseas film festival. She couldn¡¯t help remembering the time when she saw Gu Tingchuan and Guo Baiyu walking down the red carpet. She had only thought to go and look at him but didn¡¯t expect him to also look back at her, which hadpletely startled her.

    That being said, their first encounter was even more unusual.

    ¡°It¡¯s strange to realize that one day I would be walking down a red carpet with you.¡± Yi Ran tucked her wind blown hair behind each ear before continuing to say, ¡°I¡¯m a little nervous, ah.¡±

    She was dressed in a sky blue short dress decorated with exquisite Su embroidery. The motif of the pattern was apricot flowers, which was full of Chinese elements. It was beautiful and bright and white as snow.

    As the spotlight slowly dropped down, highlighting the elegant and calm man next to her, the man in question held her hand and whispered, ¡°If you¡¯re nervous, pretend they don¡¯t exist and just look at me.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan spoke with a natural expression. Even the intonation was steady. But, there was an inadvertent protection in every words.

    Yi Ran took a deep breath and looked at the bright lights in the distance.

    Under this shadow, she took Gu Tingchuan¡¯s hand and walked towards the media and fans step by step.

    The location of the film festival was not far from the seaside. Yi Ran didn¡¯t know whether it was psychological or not, but she could smell the water vapor in the air, which made her feel rxed.

    They attended the after dinner party and then went for a walk in the garden near the hotel.

    She saw the lights and shadows of the swimming pool near and far, and the environment surrounded by flowers and grass. Then, she remembered something, and still looking forward, said, ¡°My parents went to see Yi Jinting¡¯s house in Australia and showed me photos. It¡¯s a vi with a view of theke and came fully equipped.¡±

    ¡°Yes, you mentioned itst time.¡± Gu Tingchuan held her hand and slowly added, ¡°So I bought you a manor in France.¡±

    Yi Ran: ¡°¡­ ?!¡±

    The longer they were married, the more she felt that Director Gu¡¯s money sometimes flow like water. She had no idea how liberal with money this man could be!

    Of course, Gu Tingchuan tried to give her a detailed exnation, but the more Yi Ran listened, the more she felt dizzy, to the point where she didn¡¯t want to listen at all.

    ¡°What are you doing?¡± She covered her small mouth, looking up at him in surprised. ¡°Why did you buy a manor for me, and in France?!¡±

    Feeling that the night breeze was a little cold, Gu Tingchuan wrapped the shawl in his hands snugly around her shoulders. ¡°From your tone earlier, didn¡¯t you want a house?¡±

    She was only gossiping about it as an outside observer, nothing more!!!

    Yi Ran frowned seriously. ¡°You don¡¯t need to do this. Even if I want to vacation in France, wouldn¡¯t it be better to just rent something?¡±

    Gu Tingchuan looked back at her with a deep gaze and said calmly, ¡°I could buy a yacht for you, even a airne. But I didn¡¯t think you would want them, since you never mentioned them.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right. As long as I can eat delicious food, have a little bit of fun, and be with you, then I don¡¯t want anything else.¡±

    Of course, when he bought her bags and shoes, she was naturally willing to ept them.

    As long as the two were alone, it was difficult to suppress the happy and harmonious atmosphere between them. Gu Tingchuan wrapped his hand around her small waist and she leaned up to kiss his chin. ¡°Director Gu, I haven¡¯t given you an heir yet. How can you just reward me like this?¡±

    Gu Tingchuan smiled narrowly. ¡°Fool, this is not directly rted. ¡°

    In fact, he had always have a difficult time expressing the feeling he had toward her...wanting to say: Yi Ran, of course, you are a goddess muse in my eyes.

    Yi Ran smiled and said nothing, her sweet profile turned to face the night breeze. Gu Tingchuan saw her eyes flicker and he could not help but pause briefly before asking in a low voice, ¡°So, are we having a baby?¡±

    She rolled her eyes, but they were full of smiles.

    Gu Tingchuan¡¯s eyes revealed some doubts and a bit of surprise. He shook his head with uncertainty. After all, he had absolutely no experience in this matter. So, he calmly said, ¡°Let¡¯s go check when we get back?¡±

    After saying this, Gu Tingchuan leaned over and kissed the corner of her mouth. Yi Ran responded by rising on tiptoes to kiss his cheek. She said, ¡°Let¡¯s go back to the hotel first so I can change out of these high heels.¡±

    So they sped their fingers together and turned towards their room.

    Behind them, long shadows scattered on the ground under the warm street lights.

    Love was a long, endless road

    ......

    The exam paper was finally handed out .

    98 points, all due to a typo.

    Gu Duoduo sighed as he took the paper and shoved it into his schoolbag.

    This meant that there would be no praises.

    In the afternoon, Yi Ran set out on time from Jiaye. It took twenty minutes for the driver to take her up to the gates of Haben International School.

    The traffic was smooth on the road, but shortly after she entered the car, she received a call from her former colleague, Yao Juan. ¡°I¡¯m not sure where Gu Huaize went, but he must still be in school. Right now, I¡¯m asking the children why he suddenly took his test and ran out of the ssroom.¡±

    It had been two years since Yi Ran officially quit her teaching job, but she still maintained a good rtionship with teachers such as Yao Juan and Guan Yilu. She pursed her lips and said, ¡°I understand. Just like little Gu Tai, he is very sensitive, but he¡¯ll be fine.¡±

    After arriving at the school, she learned that Gu Huaize had been found hiding in the corner behind the building.

    She bent down to look at the first grade boy, her eyes stern. ¡°Doudou, I already said that you mustn¡¯t always trouble your teachers.¡±

    ¡°I just need a quiet corner.¡± Gu Duoduo bowed his head and on his small face was a grief that was not suitable for his young age.

    Yi Ran couldn¡¯t help touching his small face. After apologizing to several teachers, she brought him back home.

    When Gu Tingchaun came home, he saw that Yi Ran was busy in the kitchen.

    He rolled up his sleeves, took out a few ingredients, and began to help Yi Ran with her work.

    Yi Ran grabbed her husband¡¯s neck and rose up to kiss his cheek. When she looked over, she saw a tall, handsome teenager standing by the kitchen entrance. She frowned, hurriedly went to the bathroom to grab a towel, and threw it to him. ¡°Why are you so sweaty? Wipe it off.¡±

    The teenager took the towel and wiped down his forehead to his neck, revealing bright and clear skin. ¡°I just returned from ying basketball with my ssmates.¡±

    Yi Ran looked over this hormone-distributing young man who was probably the most handsome boy in his high school. She asked herself, why do boys grow so fast? In the blink of an eye, her family was already growing up to capture the hearts of thousands of girls.

    Gu Doudou flew over in a happy mood and tightly held his hand. ¡°Brother Gu Tai, you¡¯re here!¡±

    Gu Tai lifted him up directly with a strong and thin arm. After he put him back down on the ground, he said, ¡°I came for dinner. My parents aren¡¯t home tonight. Let¡¯s go and see Lulu.¡±

    Every night, after Mr. and Mrs. Gu arrived home, the nanny would leave. Moreover, Gu Huailu usually caused very little trouble for her young parents. After drinking milk, she would fall asleep until the early hours of the morning.

    While the two children were away, Yi Ran said to Gu Tingchuan, ¡°Today, Doudou seems to have a lot on his mind. You should have a chat with himter tonight.¡±

    He raised his hand and gently squeezed her shoulder. ¡°You know I can only reason with him. It¡¯s probably impossible to have a heart-to-heart chat.¡±

    Yi Ran patted his hand and turned to look after her little daughter, Huailu.

    After dinner, Gu Tai returned home early to finish up his homework. Gu Tingchuan also asked his son to take out his homework, and Gu Doudou finally brought out his test paper for his father to sign.

    Director Gu nced at the results, signed his name, and said lightly, ¡°A little careless. You should double-check your paper after you finish it.¡±

    Doudou pouted and did not speak.

    Yi Ran yed with her daughter for a bit and then ced some snacks and drinks on the desk. Seeing that her son looked lonely, she took the initiative to open the topic. ¡°Doudou, why did you want to find a quiet corner at school today?¡±

    Gu Huaize didn¡¯t say anything but only lowered his head.

    Gu Tingchuan thought for a moment and raised his eyes to gaze at his son. ¡°Is there something you want to say to dad?¡±

    Realizing that his father was seriously questioning him, Doudou held back his trembles and quickly said, ¡°Dad, why don¡¯t you like me?¡±

    His childish words carried no harm but disyed his truest heart.

    Gu Tingchuan and Yi Ran both stared nkly. However, the son seemed to have prepared his speech for a long time and he vigorously confided, ¡°I can already eat spicy food. I¡¯m the tallest in the ss, and I can also be as good as Brother Gu Tai. I can also get 100 points on a test, but why don¡¯t you praise me? You also never said you like me...On myst birthday, you didn¡¯t evene back for cake!¡±

    Gu Tingchuan was slightly stunned, and Yi Ran bit her lip, trying not to interfere with the conversation between father and son.

    He pulled his son on to hisp, and Gu Huaize struggled symbolically for a moment before he stopped moving and hung his head inpromise.

    Gu Tingchuan softly and patiently said, ¡°First of all, it¡¯s not your father¡¯s intention not to celebrate your birthday. I¡¯d already apologized to you. There was a sudden ident on set, and I had to deal with it.¡±

    Gu Huaize was still young. Even though he could understand the helplessness of an adult, he still couldn¡¯t stop the grievances in his heart. As a result, the emotions simply bottled up in his heart, making him feel ufortable.

    ¡°You have a special nickname, but your sister doesn¡¯t. Your nickname is ¡®Doudou¡¯ because you are your father¡¯s first child. You bring a lot of happiness to your dad and this family, you know?¡±

    Gu Tingchuan tried tomunicate with the child in a straightforward manner so that he could understand his good intentions. He raised his hands and wiped the tears on his son¡¯s face. There was a faint smile in his eyes as he said, ¡°I¡¯m stern with you because I hope you can grow up to be a better person than me. And, like me, I hope that you can protect your mother and your sister and keep them happy every day. Can you do that?¡±

    Gu Huaize thought about it seriously. He thought of his favorite mom, of his lovely little sister, and he nodded his head vigorously. ¡°I can.¡±

    Gu Tingchuan tenderly touched his son¡¯s hair. ¡°Then you have to understand that your father¡¯s high demands on you are all for your benefits.¡±

    One day, you will grow into a big tree, spread your wings and fly, and be independent in this world. And, I will be so proud of you.

    Because you¡¯re my child, I will pass on all my knowledge to you...

    Gu Huaize nodded again and hugged his dad¡¯s neck.

    Gu Tingchuan held his son¡¯s small body. There was a smile in his eyes as he raised his gaze to look at Yi Ran.

    Her eyes fell on therge and small bodies in front of her, and her heart was full of an inexpressible tenderness.

    Of course, Gu Doudou will soon discover that his father doted on his mother and sister so much that it was simply out of this world...

    That night, Yi Ran was lying in bed. She couldn¡¯t sleep and logged in to Weibo to send an update:

    My baby, one day, you will walk along the colorful road by yourself. May you grab on to the reigns of your dreams and never give up.

    I am so lucky to have given birth to you and to be your family. Before you grow up, let¡¯s walk this journey together. ?

    Love is a long, endless road.

    ¡­¡­..

    The author has something to day: So far, all of the chapters and the extras arepleted. In fact, in this chapter, I also want to say somest words to you. It is fortunate that I can know you through this story. I am infinitely grateful. May you grab the reigns of your dreams and never abandon them.

    Love is a long, endless journey. Let¡¯s walk it together. o (¡¨ ¡®¨Œ¡¯ ¡¨) o

    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and

    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!