The Only Choice - 47

The room door closed again. Zhou Fanfan stood in the bathroom, seeing in the mirror that she looked like a cooked Argentine red shrimp.

Her heart was still racing wildly, as if it might leap out of her chest. Her hands trembled slightly, a reaction to the bold thought that had surged within her just moments before.

She had wanted to kiss him.

But maybe… she wasn't the only one? Had he started to lean in too?

If Song Li hadn't knocked… maybe they would have…

"Song Li says it's time to cut the cake soon. We should head down," Guan Yuanbai's voice came from outside the bathroom door.

Zhou Fanfan hurriedly pressed closer to the door. "Okay! I-I just need to fix my hair and change my clothes! You can go down first!"

"Alright."

Since they were staying the night, they had both brought a change of clothes. When Song Li assigned them to the same room, he'd also had their luggage placed inside.

Guan Yuanbai changed his clothes outside, then walked back to the bathroom door. "I'm changed. I'll head down first. You can come out now."

"Ah… got it."

Zhou Fanfan opened the bathroom door. Seeing her emerge, Guan Yuanbai cleared his throat slightly. "I'll go then."

He seemed a bit awkward, even slightly dazed, perhaps due to his momentary loss of control earlier.

Zhou Fanfan was taken aback for a second. Without thinking, she suddenly called out, "Guan Yuanbai!"

"Hm?"

Zhou Fanfan swore she hadn't planned to tell him her feelings here, right now.

She had wanted to find a private place and tell him properly, seriously.

But perhaps the near-kiss had ignited a fervor in her heart, or maybe his expression just then made her soften, not wanting him to be disappointed again…

So, she suddenly couldn't suppress the impulse anymore and blurted it out.

"Were you going to kiss me just now?"

"…………"

Instantly, Zhou Fanfan wanted to die of embarrassment. But gritting her teeth, she pressed on. "I… I actually wanted to kiss you too."

Guan Yuanbai froze.

Zhou Fanfan: "I-I mean, I like you too!"

"…Say that again?"

The hand Zhou Fanfan had on the doorknob trembled. "You told me to think it over. Well, I've thought about it. I think I like you. I think dating you would probably be really fun. So… let's give it a try."

Silence fell.

They stood there facing each other, both rooted to the spot like statues.

Finally, Zhou Fanfan couldn't bear his gaze any longer. She pushed him directly out the door. "Okay, I've said it! I need to change clothes! You can go now!"

Slam!

The door was shut firmly behind him.

Zhou Fanfan let out a silent scream, dashed to the bed, and fell face down onto it.

Help!! This is so much more thrilling than confessing to a celebrity idol!!!

—

Downstairs, the party was in full swing, reaching the cake-cutting segment. Song Li, as the ‘host’, mingled and socialized after performing the duty.

He had been circulating for a good while before finally spotting Guan Yuanbai.

"What took you so long? The cake's already cut."

Guan Yuanbai just made a noncommittal sound, his reaction muted.

Song Li didn't catch on at first. "Where's Fanfan?"

"Changing."

"Still not done changing… You two really take your time."

"Mn."

Why did his replies sound so stiff?

Song Li gave him a strange look. "What's up with you?"

A slight, almost imperceptible smile touched Guan Yuanbai's lips. "She likes me."

Song Li: "?"

Guan Yuanbai inexplicably smiled again, his eyes bright. "She said she's thought it over. She likes me."

Song Li: "??? "

"Never mind. You wouldn't understand," Guan Yuanbai said abruptly, brushing past him and walking away.

Song Li stood there, utterly bewildered. What was wrong with this guy? Acting so weird??

What did he mean, 'he wouldn't understand'? What 'like'? He had someone who liked him too, okay?!

What was there for this guy to be so smug about?

—

Zhou Fanfan changed her clothes and applied a light touch of makeup before finally leaving the room.

Hesitating at the top of the stairs, she thought about her impulsive confession. What should she say or do when she sees Guan Yuanbai later? They were really, truly together now…

"No wonder I couldn't find you! You've been up here all this time instead of coming down?" Footsteps approached; it was Xu Xiaoqian coming to look for her.

Zhou Fanfan: "I… I was doing my makeup. It got a bit messed up in the water earlier."

"Are you done now?"

"Done. I was just about to head down."

Xu Xiaoqian came up and linked arms with her. "Then hurry! The fireworks start in five minutes! They're supposed to be gorgeous! You can't see ones like these in the city."

"Oh… okay."

The fireworks were set off from a clearing in the distance. The pavilion at the far end of the garden offered the best unobstructed view.

When Xu Xiaoqian brought Zhou Fanfan out, the fireworks display had just begun.

Tiny points of light shot into the night sky, exploding with a bang into massive, colorful blossoms. As they fell, they resembled a cascading river of stars, a true visual feast.

"Wow!! Perfect timing! Fanfan, hurry, let's go to the pavilion! The view is completely clear there!"

Zhou Fanfan thought Guan Yuanbai was probably already at the pavilion. She'd see him as soon as she got there…

But she hadn't followed Xu Xiaoqian more than a few steps when she suddenly spotted a man standing by the pool. He wasn't looking towards the fireworks but towards the exit they had just come from.

Against the backdrop of dazzling colors, his gaze met hers, brighter than the fireworks themselves.

He had been waiting for her.

Zhou Fanfan immediately slowed her pace.

Xu Xiaoqian also noticed Guan Yuanbai waiting there. She gave Zhou Fanfan a light push, smiling. "Alright, your escort is here. I'll go find Song Li then. You watch them with him."

Zhou Fanfan stood still, feeling a little at a loss.

Guan Yuanbai walked towards her step by step.

The closer he got, the faster her heart beat, to the point where she almost felt she couldn't take it.

"Shall we go watch from over there?" He stopped in front of her, his voice soft.

Zhou Fanfan gave a slight nod.

So they walked side by side towards the pavilion. By now, almost everyone was gathered there. Some were drinking and chatting, others were watching the fireworks.

No one paid any special attention to this particular couple. After all, them being together wasn't anything new.

But Zhou Fanfan knew it was different this time. Before, they had only been pretending. Now, he and she were truly together.

They reached the edge of the pavilion. Qi Chengyan, standing nearby, saw them approach and shifted over, making space.

"Would you like something to drink?" Guan Yuanbai asked her.

The fireworks were still booming loudly in the sky. Zhou Fanfan didn't quite catch his words and looked at him questioningly.

Seeing this, Guan Yuanbai leaned down, close to her ear, and said, "Do you want something to drink?"

Just like in the haunted house during the day, his proximity sent a jolt through her, paralyzing her ear.

Zhou Fanfan flinched slightly, exhaling quietly to steady herself. "I'll have something later."

"Okay."

It was an ordinary conversation, but infused with the words "I like you," its flavor had completely changed.

Zhou Fanfan's heart hammered against her ribs. She forced herself to look up at the night sky. Above was a spectacle of brilliant lights, the sparkling display making the moment feel like a fantastical dream world, incredibly beautiful.

Gradually, she became captivated. Until… the hand hanging by her side was gently taken.

She started, turning to look at Guan Yuanbai.

He wasn't looking back at her. He had simply held her hand, his fingers lacing through hers, intertwining them completely.

The surroundings were noisy, filled with scattered voices and laughter, a lively scene.

And they stood there quietly, hand in hand, completely unnoticed.

The party wound down around ten p.m. as people grew tired and headed off to rest.

"Are all the rooms assigned?" Guan Yuanbai asked Song Li as the crowd dispersed.

Song Li: "Yeah, why?"

Guan Yuanbai said, "There are still vacant rooms, right? Have the staff prepare another one."

"I can do that, but… why?" Song Li glanced towards Zhou Fanfan, who wasn't far away. "Did you have a fight? You seemed fine together just now."

Qi Chengyan, walking a bit ahead, heard this and also turned back. "A fight? Why?"

Song Li: "I don't know either."

Guan Yuanbai was silent for a moment, then said, "We didn't fight. I'm just asking you to prepare an extra room. Why do you have so many questions?"

"If you didn't fight, why separate rooms…" Song Li suddenly paused, as if he'd stumbled upon a monumental secret. "Ah! You two wouldn't be—"

Before he could finish, Guan Yuanbai clamped a hand over his mouth.

"Shut up."

Song Li blinked rapidly, nodding in quick succession.

Guan Yuanbai released him. "Just go do it."

Song Li looked profoundly meaningful. He exchanged a glance with Qi Chengyan, then patted Guan Yuanbai's shoulder conspiratorially. "You dog. Quite the self-restraint you've got."

Guan Yuanbai said flatly, "Song. Li."

"I'm on it!"

Song Li went off happily to make the arrangements. Guan Yuanbai looked at Qi Chengyan, who also patted his shoulder. "Not bad."

Guan Yuanbai: "What's 'not bad'?"

"You're slightly better than I imagined. Not entirely an animal."

"…"

—

By 10:30 p.m., Zhou Fanfan was back in her room, having washed up and removed her makeup.

After changing into her pajamas, she curled up under the covers. Everything that had happened today felt surreal, leaving her unable to fall asleep.

The moment she closed her eyes, she remembered the embrace in the haunted house, the two of them under the fireworks, and the kiss that had almost happened.

"Go to sleep already…" Zhou Fanfan patted her cheeks, trying to force her restless heart to calm down, and buried her face in the pillow.

Ding—

Her phone, which she'd forgotten to silence, chimed with a new message.

Zhou Fanfan lifted her head from the pillow and clicked the screen on.

Guan Yuanbai: [Are you asleep?]

Her heart, which had just begun to settle, started racing again. [Not yet.]

Guan Yuanbai: [Why not?]

Zhou Fanfan: [A little hard to sleep.]

Guan Yuanbai: [I can't sleep either.]

Zhou Fanfan: [Oh…]

Guan Yuanbai: [Want something to eat?]

She had eaten quite a bit at the party and wasn't really hungry. But looking at his message, she could imagine where this might lead.

If she said yes, would he come to take her to get food? Or bring something to her? Would she get to see him again?

They had only parted a short while ago… but thinking about it, they'd been under everyone's watchful eyes earlier. They hadn't really had a proper chance to talk.

Zhou Fanfan sat up in bed. [Maybe a little.]

Guan Yuanbai: [Wait for me a moment.]

The moment she read this message, Zhou Fanfan practically threw her phone aside and threw back the covers.

A mix of panic and delight sent her scrambling out of bed. It took her two tries to get her slippers on properly.

She rushed into the bathroom, tidied her messy hair, and smoothed out her clothes.

Her bare face looked a bit plain, so she hurriedly found a brow pencil and a tube of dusty rose lipstick, applying just a touch to enhance her features.

After doing this, the person in the mirror looked much more lively.

Ding-dong—

The doorbell rang right then. Zhou Fanfan took a deep breath, walked to the door, and opened it.

---

Author's Note:

Qi Chengyan: You're not that much of an animal.

Guan Yuanbai: If I had a choice, no man wants to be the 'proper gentleman'.

---

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