Starlight Descends - 3

Night

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"The odds aren't great."

The phone screen showed 9 p.m. She was on a call with Ye Qingman.

Qi Yao was sweating it out on the treadmill, tight leggings tracing the long lines of her legs and the curve of her hips. Damp strands of hair clung to her temples, her bare face glowed a healthy pink through the pale skin, clean and lovely.

"Damn, babe, you're stunning." On the screen, Ye Qingman cracked sunflower seeds between her teeth and gave a thumbs up. "That body, that face, who wouldn't swoon? Forget endorsements, you'll win over your white moonlight in no time."

"...”

Qi Yao turned off the treadmill, stepped down, and shook her hair loose . "Keep going."

"Right, right." Ye Qingman spat out a shell. "Fengxing's basically top-tier among domestic brands. Almost half of the market share's. And this time it's a whole new series with their own self-developed chip."

"I send you a file. Take a look."

Qi Yao opened the detailed data report. Charts, graphs, the whole package.

Ye Qingman's keyboard clacked away. "This is from when they were looking for their AY series' spokesperson. My assistant made it."

Fengxing Group was founded years ago, focusing on information and communications technology. Thanks to its forward thinking corporate structure and development philosophy, as well as a visionary founder who attracted top talent, the company rode the wave and was now a global leader in ICT infrastructure and smart devices.

The group held numerous subsidiaries with a wide range of business, but its core fields remained on data communications equipment and microelectronics.

"The AY series is advertised as good value for money. Lots of models, pretty colors, plenty of options. So they lean toward traffic stars." Ye Qingman said, fully self-aware. "Like you, like me."

Qi Yao made a soft "mm." "So did you get it?"

"...You wanna run that back? Say that again and I'm hanging up!"

Ye Qingman's teeth clenched at the thought of a sure deal slipping away because of a scumbag's sabotage. "If it weren't for that bastard, I'd have it in the bag."

Qi Yao smiled, pulling pajamas from the closet. "So don't be a lovesick fool."

Her shirt rode up with the motion, revealing a flash of pale, toned waist.

Ye Qingman made a face. "Tch. We'll see what you say when you're the one in love. Anyway, back to business."

“Their new X-11 series is positioned as high-end from the start. High performance, stability, and definitely not cheap. Probably about one and a half times the average market price, double that of their AY series."

"I asked around. Since the announcement, several Golden Eagle Award winners have already put out feelers."

She rattled off several names. All actresses in their mid thirty with massive national recognition, known for their sophisticated, intellectual, elite images.

"Classic Fengxing smart play." Ye Qingman clicked her tongue. "They've only indicated interest. Zero leak about who they actually want."

A few barks sounded through the video, then a black-and-tan dog appeared on screen, stretching its neck to lick the camera.

"Good boy." Ye Qingman scooped it up to block the attempt, and started her earnest persuasion.

"Babe, if you ask me, let's not fight for this one. Save yourself the embarrassment. You'd be passing on a rival's product to chase Fengxing, and end up with nothing."

Qi Yao furrowed her brows, considering. "I'll think about it."

Ye Qingman sighed, knew it was no use. "Fine. Just remember to pick up the dog later."

"Got it." Qi Yao hung up and headed for the shower.

---

Near midnight, Qi Yao got out of the car lugging a large bag, a leash in her other hand.

A German Shepherd jumped down from the passenger seat, circling around, moving with the grace of a leader patrolling its territory.

Ye Qingman was going to film a period drama in some remote mountain location. Learning Qi Yao had a three-month break, she was so indignant and decided to give her something to do. So before leaving, she entrusted her beloved "son" with her.

A dog.

In her exact words: "My baby is very good. More importantly, he's naturally smart and sensitive. He can sense danger and attracts romance."

Qi Yao just snorted, dismissing it entirely.

But she hadn't expected that while she was putting something in the trunk, the smart little dog would vanish.

She stood outside the building, mouth opening and closing, but couldn't bring herself to call the name. She could only wander along the path looking.

This apartment was the one Qiao Nian had found for her. Prime real estate, a flat with two units per floor.

Good landscaping, good property management, solid security, excellent privacy. Quite a few entertainment industry folks with C City registration owned a place here.

Following a security guard's directions, Qi Yao went out the main gate and around to the back street.

The main road was thick with traffic. The side streets were packed with late-night food stalls, loud and lively.

Barbecue stalls lined up in a row, blue plastic stools and portable tables set under banyan trees. The hiss of opening cans and the clink of glasses rose and fell one after another.

A barbecue stall owner sprikled cumin over sizzling skewers, plated them with three bottles of beer, and hurried to the first table with a smile. "Sorry for the wait. Busy night. These are on the house."

"That's too generous. We're regulars here." Zhou Qi rubbed his buzz cut and waved. "Thanks!"

Da Bai adjusted his black-rimmed glasses and grabbed a handful of pork skewers. "Man, finally two days off. Once this partnership deal wraps, I'm sleeping for three days straight."

"Might as well just climb into a coffin. You think you're the most tired?” Zhou Qi gave him a look of disgust and jerked his chin. "My Bro here hasn't said a word, and you're already claiming credit."

Zhou Qi opened a streaming app. "Bro, you're taking two months off, right?"

Yu Jiashu had changed into a black hoodie. Gripping the cold beer bottle, he hooked his index finger under the tab, and pulled it off with casual ease. White foam bubbled up, wetting his fingertips.

"Depends."

He leaned over to grab a napkin, spreading his long, well-defined fingers, and wiped them one by one.

"Shu," Da Bai said through a mouthful of rib, shaking his head in admiration. "Even sitting at a barbecue stall, you look that good."

Yu Jiashu tossed the napkin in the trash. "Not the best out there, but definitely way better than you."

"…" Da Bai couldn't argue at that, scowling as he tore the meat off the bone. "So what? I have a wife. You don't."

Yu Jiashu raised an eyebrow lazily. "Then why aren't you home at this hour?"

"…Because I'd get yelled at." Da Bai muttered in defeat.

Yu Jiashu's lips curled in a relaxed smile. He leaned back in his chair, watching a German Shepherd wandering down the street, stopping and starting, its ears flicking about, until it circle around his pant leg.

Zhou Qi was typing furiously on his phone while eating, still dishing out insults. "You don't get it. For good looking guys like us, true love comes late. How would a married thirty year old like you understand the joys of single life?"

"Yeah, right. You think refreshing the streaming app every day waiting for your goddess's drama updates is gonna find you true love?"

The dog sniffed Yu Jiashu's pant leg, scraped its front paws on the ground twice, then tentatively grabbed the hem of the fabric before letting go again.

"Hey, you just don't get it." Zhou Qi got defensive, turned his phone screen sideways and shoved it in their faces.

"You see this? Nothing compares to the ocean, no cloud rivals the peak. When you've liked someone like this, how could you ever like anyone else?"

Childish bickering. Not interested.

Better to watch the dog.

Yu Jiashu couldn't be bothered to look at them and glanced down. The dog had a collar. He bent over, picked up the leash, looped it loosely around his hand, and picked a few chunks of meat from Da Bai's plate to toss to the dog, earning a furious roar from Da Bai.

The German Shepherd didn't eat at first. Its black eyes fixed on him without blinking, locked on Yu Jiashu in a standoff.

Pretty smart dog. Yu Jiashu snorted.

"See him?" He pointed at Da Bai, who was currently devouring a skewer of lamb with his whole face."He can eat. So can you."

Yu Jiashu picked a rib skewer with no seasoning and dangled it loosely.

This time, the dog moved, lifting its rear off the ground and taking it gracefully. 

"Damn it! What's your problem?"

Zhou Qi was cracking up, finally tearing his eyes from his early-access drama to enjoy Da Bai's humiliation. 

But then his whole body jerked to a stop.

"…Holy shit," he whispered.

His gaze flicked from the phone screen to the scene in front of him, then back again, repeating several times.

The person in the drama was standing right in front of him.

To be precise, standing in front of Yu Jiashu.

"Am I so lovesick I'm hallucinating?"

Qi Yao was dressed casually. A loose gray knit sweater, one corner tucked into high waisted white wide leg pants with a beautiful drape. She looked like she'd just showered. No makeup, bare-faced, her skin pale and translucent, the ends of her hair still slightly damp. Her long, soft light chestnut hair fell loose down her back.

The kind of beauty you'd spot in a crowd in an instant.

The German Shepherd was focused on gnawing its rib, crude yet meticulous, swallowing all the meat first, then crunching noisily through the bone.

The street was loud. People chatting, yelling, tearful confessions. Voices boiled over.

Yu Jiashu seemed to sense something and looked up at her.

The second their eyes met, Qi Yao froze.

The world around her seemed to went vacuum in an instant. Everything slammed to a stop. Voices, car horns, clinking glasses,. All of it floating somewhere far away, then near, then gone.

Silence stretched.

"Your dog?" he asked after a long moment.

Qi Yao's mind was still blank, but her body reacted before her brain. She gave a soft “mm”.

Yu Jiashu reached out and gently stroked the German Shepherd's neck, the small mole on his middle finger disappearing into the soft, warm fur. He lowered his head to speak to the dog. "Is that your mom?"

He looked a little lazy, his voice very soft, the ending syllables floating vaguely in the air, casual yet unexpectedly alluring.

The dog didn't even turn its head. After finishing the rib, it just rubbed against his pant leg again, acting like it barely knew Qi Yao.

Yu Jiashu considered for a moment. The girl didn't seem like a liar. "Try calling it?"

Qi Yao hesitated noticeably, opened her mouth, and called out uncertainly, "…Doggy."

All three men frowned simultaneously, looking at her with strange expressions.

Not only did the German Shepherd not respond, but the whole table went silent.

Da Bai: "…Is this really your dog? It doesn't even have a name?"

Qi Yao thought: You think I don't know its ridiculous name? I just can't bring myself to say it.

She paused for a long moment, then called out, "Son."

The German Shepherd remained unmoved. It scraped its hind paws back and started circling Yu Jiashu's chair.

The seated man didn't speak. Tapped his fingers on the table twice, then leaned back with an air of leisure.

This girl had to be messing with him.

They stared at each other for a long time.

At the skewer shop next door, young girls had started sneaking glances their way, even discreetly holding up their phones to take pictures.

Time ticked by.

Zhou Qi watched his goddess's expression stay perfectly composed as the tips of her ears turned slowly red, a blush spreading to her cheeks. Then she said softly:

"…Husband."

One second. Two seconds. Three seconds.

Dead silence.

The air went completely still. The three men froze mid-action like someone had hit pause. Da Bai's meat rolled from his open mouth to the ground as he stared in shock at the man being nuzzled by a dog.

Zhou Qi looked at Qi Yao's face, her peach blossom eyes shimmering like rippling water, a shy innocence peeking through. His soul left his body for a good two seconds. Then he felt something wet on his upper lip. He swiped at it with his hand and came away with a smear of sticky red.

Holy shit.

He got a nosebleed!

---

Author's Note:

Ye Qingman: I calculated. My son would attract romance for you.

Yao: I'd like to thank you. (Fists together in salute) 

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