I was criticized on a dating reality show, but I retaliated and became an internet sensation.

It was already getting dark when Gu Yan drove the car into the underground parking garage.

He carried the groceries he had bought on the way upstairs. The fingerprint lock clicked softly, the door opened, and the warm yellow motion-sensor light in the entryway turned on.

The house was quiet. He changed his shoes, walked through the entryway, and his gaze habitually swept across the living room—

Then it froze.

The floor lamp in the living room was on, casting a soft halo of light.

In the very center of the halo, Shu Zi was curled up on the sofa, fast asleep.

She was wearing a beige loungewear set; the soft material made her skin look even whiter.

Her long hair was scattered messily on her cheeks and the cushions, and she was holding a cushion that she had pulled out from the sofa cushions with one hand. Half of her face was buried in it, and her breathing was light and even.

I guess he finished painting, then lay down and scrolled through his phone, and eventually fell asleep, still holding the phone loosely in his other hand, the screen long since dark.

Gu Yan stood there for a few seconds, and without even realizing it, his gaze softened.

He walked over quietly and gently placed the bag containing the fish and cilantro on the small table next to him.

Then he turned around, picked up a thin blanket from the side, bent down, and very gently unfolded the blanket to cover her.

Shu Zi seemed to sense something in her sleep, and unconsciously let out a soft moan, rubbing her head against the pillow.

Suddenly, her arm emerged from under the blanket, and in a daze, she grabbed Gu Yan's arm before he could fully pull it back.

Gu Yan paused, his entire body frozen in place.

She hugged him casually, as if she were hugging a large, warm pillow, and unconsciously rubbed her cheek against the sleeve of his shirt forearm, searching for a more comfortable position.

The warm, soft touch of her skin, so relaxed and unguarded in her sleep, was clearly conveyed through the thin fabric of her shirt.

Gu Yan maintained his slightly bent-over posture, not daring to move, and even subconsciously softened his breathing.

He lowered his eyes, looking at her sleeping face so close to his, and his eyes darkened.

Her eyelashes were long, casting a small fan-shaped shadow under her eyelids. She had a delicate nose and slightly pouting lips, giving her a completely relaxed and dependent look.

The living room was extremely quiet, so quiet that you could hear her soft breathing and the increasingly clear heartbeat in his chest.

He tried, extremely slowly, to pull his arm out.

As soon as she moved, Shu Zi's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly, and the strength in her arms seemed to tighten a little. She mumbled something indistinctly, as if she was unhappy that her "pillow" was about to run away.

Gu Yan immediately dared not move.

He remained in that somewhat awkward position, patiently waiting for her breathing to become steady again, before using his other hand to very gently, little by little, try to pry her fingers apart.

Just as he was about to succeed, Shu Zi's long eyelashes trembled, and she slowly opened her eyes.

Her eyes were still misty and watery, and unfocused.

She first looked blankly at Gu Yan, who was so close to her, then blinked and slowly lowered her gaze to her hand, which was still loosely wrapped around his arm.

"...You're back?"

She spoke, her voice hoarse and soft, as if she had just woken up.

"Um."

Gu Yan's voice also unconsciously became very low, with a hint of tension that was barely perceptible.

He didn't immediately pull his arm away, letting her hold him, but instead turned his head slightly to look closer into her sleepy eyes:

Did I wake you up?

Shu Zi seemed not to be fully awake yet. She just stared at him without saying a word for a long time, as if she was trying to process the fact that "Gu Yan is back" and "she is holding his arm".

Three seconds later, she slowly shook her head and then nodded.

Are you hungry?

Gu Yan asked again, his gaze falling on her cheeks, which were slightly pink from just waking up.

Shu Zi reacted faster this time, nodding honestly, "I'm hungry."

After she finished speaking, she seemed to come to her senses completely, realizing the overly intimate posture the two of them were in at that moment. Her fingers, which were holding his arm, curled slightly, but she did not immediately let go.

Gu Yan could feel the slight trembling of her fingertips. He didn't move, but just looked at her, his gaze deep and fixed on her dazed and somewhat helpless face.

The air became thick and sticky at that moment, filled with an indescribable ambiguity.

As he looked at her like that, the faint pink on Shu Zi's face seemed to deepen.

As if finally burned by that gaze, she loosened her grip, quickly withdrew her hand, and shrank back into the sofa.

She pulled up the thin blanket, covering half of her face, leaving only her still-wet eyes visible, and muttered softly:

"...You're blocking the light."

Gu Yan watched her movements, a hint of a smile flashing in his eyes.

He straightened up, took half a step back, and returned the warm yellow halo to her.

He gently patted her head, his voice returning to its usual calm, "I'll go cook."

After saying that, he turned and went to the kitchen.

Shu Zi slowly sat up, clutching a thin blanket, watching Gu Yan's busy figure under the kitchen light.

He took off his suit jacket and was wearing a black shirt today, with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, revealing his well-defined forearms. He was focused on preparing the ingredients.

She touched her cheek; it still felt a little hot.

Just now...did she hug his arm? And rub against him?

Shu Zi buried her face even deeper into the blanket, leaving only her round eyes peeking out as she secretly watched the figure in the kitchen.

Tsk, does this guy know she's been craving this kind of thing lately and is deliberately trying to seduce her?!

Gu Yan quickly prepared dinner. The fish porridge was thick, sticky, and fragrant, and he sprinkled a thick layer of cilantro on top. He also stir-fried a plate of seasonal vegetables.

He brought the food to the central island counter, and Shuzi shuffled over in her slippers and sat down next to him.

He first ladled a bowl and placed it in front of Shu Zi, then handed her a spoon before ladling a bowl for himself.

Shu Zi took it, scooped up a spoonful, blew on it, and put it in her mouth.

The rice porridge was smooth and soft, the fish slices were fresh and tender, and the unique aroma of cilantro enhanced the flavor just right. The piping hot temperature warmed the tongue and the stomach.

"Well……"

She squinted her eyes contentedly, her little feet dangling back and forth, "Delicious."

Gu Yan sat down next to her and began to eat his own bowl, his movements much more refined than hers.

For a moment, the only sound was the occasional soft sound of a spoon hitting the rim of the bowl.

While she was eating, Shu Zi's phone vibrated; it was a message from Lan Manwen.

She clicked on it and saw that Lan Manwen was reminding her that the second episode of the variety show would be recorded the day after tomorrow, and that she should not stay up late these two days and should get some rest to recover.

"Sister Wen sent a message," Shu Zi turned her phone screen towards Gu Yan and tilted her head to look at him:

"Recording starts the day after tomorrow, Mr. Gu. You're so busy these days, how do you find time to record a program?"

She knew that Gu Yan had been busy taking over the Gu family business recently and had a very full schedule. He would probably retire from the entertainment industry to focus on his career.