The Only Choice - 63

Since filming began, it had coincided with Guan Yuanbai's busiest period, so he hadn't been able to visit the set.

Once he found some free time, he naturally wanted to come see his equally busy girlfriend.

On the day he arrived, the food arrived before he did.

As the morning shoot was winding down, a crew member walked in holding a cup of coffee.

"Fanfan, thank you! This is too much, really."

Zhou Fanfan: "Too much for what?"

"The extra treats for lunch."

Zhou Fanfan was confused. "I didn't order anything for lunch."

"Huh? But the restaurant staff outside said it was under your name."

Zhou Fanfan paused for a second, then suddenly understood. "Ah, I see. Let me go check outside."

She went out and sure enough, there were three catering trucks. The crew and actors eating and drinking nearby thanked her as she approached.

Zhou Fanfan nodded to them and pulled out her phone to make a call. "Hey, where are you?"

On the other end was Guan Yuanbai.

"Did the food arrive?"

Zhou Fanfan: "It's here. And you sent way too much!"

"You mentioned everyone was tired of the set boxed lunches. Seemed like a good time for a change."

Hearing this warmed Zhou Fanfan's heart, but she was more eager to see him. "So, are you almost here?"

Guan Yuanbai: "Are you finished up there?"

"Yes! Lunch break is almost starting anyway. Everyone's pretty much done."

"Mm. I'm here. Look to your right."

Zhou Fanfan started slightly, immediately turning her head to the right.

Sure enough, a familiar figure was approaching in the distance. He stood tall and handsome, like a pine tree in the winter sun.

A month apart made her heart skip a beat. She put down her phone and ran straight towards him.

"Guan Yuanbai!"

The short distance pushed the flutter in her chest to its peak. She threw herself into his arms, and he caught her steadily.

Guan Yuanbai gently patted her back, his voice soft. "Aren't you cold, dressed so lightly?"

"I wasn't cold inside just now. I rushed out and forgot my coat."

Guan Yuanbai: "Then let's get inside quickly."

"Okay!"

In her haste, she hadn't cared about the attention, but now, looking back, she saw many people watching them.

Most didn't know she had a boyfriend, leading to some surprise and curiosity.

Zhou Fanfan didn't purposely hide it either, introducing him to everyone quite openly.

"Xiao Wu is still filming, but she'll be done soon. Did she know you were coming today?" After greeting everyone outside, the two walked towards the interior shooting location.

Guan Yuanbai said, "She knew I was planning to visit, but not that it was today."

"Oh."

"Fanfan, who is this…?" On the way, they ran into Lu Mimi, an actress she got along with well. Only twenty years old and a newcomer, this was her first drama.

Zhou Fanfan said, "My boyfriend."

"I didn't quite believe it before when you said you had a boyfriend! So it's true." Lu Mimi looked Guan Yuanbai over a few times and said bluntly, "Your boyfriend is seriously handsome."

Zhou Fanfan waved a hand modestly. "He's… he's alright."

Lu Mimi: "Hello, handsome! I'm Lu Mimi. Are you… an actor? No, I haven't seen you before. Are you a model?!"

Guan Yuanbai gave a faint smile. "I'm not in the industry."

"Really? What a waste." Lu Mimi said, "Fanfan, you mentioned before how hard it was to find actors. Why didn't you ask your boyfriend? With his looks, he could definitely handle it."

Zhou Fanfan laughed. "I'd like to, but he can't act."

"Ah, what a pity, what a pity."

The three chatted as they walked inside. The shoot was in its final stages, the director still watching the monitor, so they didn't make a sound, just stood at the back watching the scene.

"Okay, good. That's a wrap for this scene." After a moment, the director said into his walkie-talkie. "Take a break first."

Everyone relaxed upon hearing this. The director stretched his neck and happened to glance back.

"Eh? President Guan, what brings you here?" The director was very surprised to see Guan Yuanbai standing there and quickly stood up. "When did you arrive?"

Guan Yuanbai shook his hand politely. "Just now. Just came to visit."

"You should have told me earlier! Would you like to join us for lunch?"

"I know you're busy. No need to trouble yourself. I'm just here to see her."

The director knew about Guan Yuanbai and Zhou Fanfan's relationship and nodded understandingly. "Alright then, I won't disturb you."

"I brought some food. Feel free to try it."

"Great, great."

The director left cheerfully. Lu Mimi looked at Guan Yuanbai, shocked. How was he so familiar with the director? And the director seemed so respectful…

Well, their producer's boyfriend probably wasn't an ordinary person either.

"Bro! You came today?" Just then, Guan Zhiyi and Lu Mingfan, who had just finished their scene, walked over.

Guan Yuanbai glanced at Lu Mingfan before nodding. "Yes."

Guan Zhiyi said, "Did you come empty-handed?"

Guan Yuanbai smiled. "I brought food. Go outside if you want some."

"Hehe, okay, okay."

Lu Mimi's eyes widened even more. This was… Guan Zhiyi's brother??? Ah, right, the director called him President Guan.

She was new to the industry and didn't know much about the ins and outs, but she knew their female lead came from a prominent family background. So the producer's boyfriend was that President Guan from the Guan family.

"President Guan." Lu Mingfan also greeted him.

Guan Yuanbai gave him a slight nod. "Hello."

"Hello…"

After greeting them, Lu Mingfan looked at Zhou Fanfan. He had originally intended to tell her that his assistant had bought a new hot water bottle, the same effective model as his.

But seeing everyone gathered around, he decided not to mention it.

Lu Mimi's gaze shifted between Guan Yuanbai and Guan Zhiyi. She couldn't help but tug Zhou Fanfan's sleeve and say, "Fanfan, so you're Sister Zhiyi's future sister-in-law? I never heard you mention it before."

"Ah? Well, not quite sister-in-law yet…"

"Not sister-in-law yet, then what?" Guan Yuanbai suddenly turned to look at the two of them.

Zhou Fanfan: "…"

Guan Zhiyi chuckled softly. "She means you still have some work to do, brother."

"Oh, I see." Guan Yuanbai put his arm around Zhou Fanfan's shoulders and said to Guan Zhiyi, "Alright then, I'll keep working hard. I'll do my best to make sure you get this sister-in-law."

Guan Zhiyi gave him a thumbs-up.

Zhou Fanfan felt a little embarrassed and lightly patted Guan Yuanbai. "Let's not talk about this anymore… No one has eaten yet, and you haven't either, right? Let's all have lunch together first?"

Guan Yuanbai: "Sure, let's go."

Usually, Zhou Fanfan ate with the actors in the tent set up outside.

After they sat down, Zhou Fanfan first tried the food Guan Yuanbai had brought. It was from a Chinese restaurant she loved, but it was located very far away, usually out of delivery range.

Zhou Fanfan ate with evident delight. "This sweet and sour pork ribs are absolutely, incredibly delicious. I'm in love."

Guan Yuanbai laughed. "Is it that good?"

"Yes! It's been so long since I've had it." Zhou Fanfan glanced at his bowl and chopsticks. "Why aren't you eating? Why are you just staring at me?"

Guan Yuanbai took her free left hand. "It's nothing. I'm not very hungry yet. You eat."

"Oh…"

Guan Yuanbai squeezed Zhou Fanfan's hand a couple of times and found it very cold. "Wear more layers. Your hands are so cold."

"It's just really cold here. My hands get like this easily."

"Cold hands? Xiao Yang." It was almost a reflex for Lu Mingfan. He called out to his assistant behind him, "Bring that hot water bottle over."

Lu Mingfan's assistant quickly came over with a warm hot water bottle. Lu Mingfan handed it to Zhou Fanfan. "This is a new one."

Zhou Fanfan said, "A new one? It looks just like that super warm, long-lasting one you have."

"I bought another one. We can all… use it sometimes."

Zhou Fanfan understood. "Okay, I'll use it for now then. Thanks."

"You're welcome."

Everyone on set got along well, and this kind of thing was normal, so no one thought much of it.

After the meal and a short break, filming resumed. Guan Yuanbai didn't disturb them, just sat by Zhou Fanfan's side, waiting for her to finish work.

Around 6 PM, Zhou Fanfan planned to go out for dinner with Guan Yuanbai.

"Wait for me a moment. I need to give them some instructions before we go."

Guan Yuanbai nodded. "Go ahead."

Zhou Fanfan jogged off to find the screenwriter. Guan Yuanbai waited where he was and happened to see Lu Mingfan passing by.

"Mr. Lu." Guan Yuanbai stopped him.

Lu Mingfan nodded. "President Guan."

"Fanfan and I won't be eating here tonight. We'll see you back in the Imperial Capital another time."

Lu Mingfan said, "You're not coming tomorrow?"

"I have some matters to attend to. My flight is tomorrow morning."

"I see… Okay then. See you in the Imperial Capital."

"Mm." Guan Yuanbai walked over and stood in front of him. "Oh, by the way, here, this is yours."

Lu Mingfan looked down and saw the hot water bottle he had given Zhou Fanfan earlier.

Guan Yuanbai smiled faintly. "Mr. Lu, thank you for looking after my girlfriend on set."

Lu Mingfan's eyes flickered slightly as he looked up at him.

In that moment, their faces were calm, but the turbulent undercurrents in their eyes were palpable to both.

Lu Mingfan's throat felt dry. Finally, he said, "No need for thanks. Miss Zhou takes very good care of all us actors."

"Yes, she's a thoughtful person, very concerned about all of you. She often mentions you to me. She says you have a very promising future." Guan Yuanbai wore a smile, but his gaze was cool. "I hope you won't disappoint her, Mr. Lu."

A chill ran through Lu Mingfan's heart. Under Guan Yuanbai's gaze, the subtle thoughts he'd harbored over this period were almost instantly shattered.

Clarity came in an instant.

"…I will work hard."

"Mm. I expect great things."

---

After leaving the set, Zhou Fanfan got into Guan Yuanbai's car.

"Are you hungry now?" he asked.

Zhou Fanfan said, "Not very yet. But what would you like to eat? I'll look it up and take you somewhere."

"I'm not very hungry either right now."

"Then…"

"Then let's go back to the hotel first," Guan Yuanbai said.

Zhou Fanfan's finger, scrolling through a food app, stopped. "Back to the hotel so early…"

"We have nothing else to do. I can see where you've been living."

"Oh, alright then. I'll give you the grand tour."

"Good."

Although they called it a tour, the moment the hotel room door closed behind them, they instinctively fell into each other's arms, kissing as if they couldn't get enough.

They had both known what was implied from the moment they suggested returning to the hotel.

After all, the longing had been hard to bear, both physically and emotionally.

They kissed their way further into the room.

The room was quiet, but the air was charged with restless energy.

Zhou Fanfan leaned back against the edge of a desk pushed against the wall, the wooden rim pressing into her lower back, preventing retreat, while the man in front of her gave no quarter.

She arched backward, the corners of her eyes tinged red, a tingling sensation near her ears spreading throughout her body.

Perhaps it was because they hadn't seen each other for so long, but he seemed exceptionally insatiable.

Outside, the sky had darkened completely. It was impossible to tell how much time had passed before soft whimpers and tearful, pleading murmurs finally brought him to a stop.

…

"Are you hungry? Do you want to go out to eat?" After coming out of the bathroom, he lay back down beside her and asked.

Zhou Fanfan lay limply on the pillow. "Don't wanna move…"

Guan Yuanbai said gently, "Shall we order delivery then?"

"That works too." Zhou Fanfan opened her eyes. "But you rarely get to visit, and I haven't even taken you around properly."

"It's fine. I didn't really come here to sightsee."

"Then why did you come?" Zhou Fanfan humphed lightly and poked his waist. "To do indecent things?"

Guan Yuanbai caught her finger and said in a low voice, "Not entirely. To be precise, it was to… consolidate my position.”

---

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