I'm Rich - 33
Chapter 33
Guan Yuanbai and Xiao Ran were going at their race with such gusto, they didn't notice a thing about what had just happened on the other side.
"I want some water. I, I'll get down." Guan Zhiyi really couldn't sit there any longer.
"Okay."
Qi Chengyan's voice came from behind her ear, and he turned the horse toward the stable.
Once they arrived, Guan Zhiyi hurriedly dismounted with Master Lin's help. She didn't dare say anything more to Qi Chengyan, just took off toward the residential area of Xiao Ran's house.
Xiao Ran's housekeeper was preparing lunch. Seeing her come in, she quickly asked, "Is there something you need, Miss Guan?"
Guan Zhiyi said, "I'm a bit thirsty. Could I trouble you for a glass of water?"
"Of course. One moment."
The housekeeper poured a glass and handed it to her. "Riding takes a lot out of you, doesn't it?"
Guan Zhiyi blinked. "Hm?"
"Your face is so red. You must be overheated."
Guan Zhiyi froze, then touched her face. It was a little hot... but not from the heat, but from nerves.
"I'm fine. Just a tiny bit warm."
"Then go rest in the living room. Lunch will be ready soon."
"Okay."
Xiao Ran's living room was enormous, the entire west wall was covered with a print of one of his artistic photos.
Guan Zhiyi scrolled on her phone in his living room for a while. Bored, she turned on the TV and pulled up an episode of Wandering the World. This was episode three where they'd made it to Croatia.
About halfway through the episode, it showed the group visiting a tie shop in Croatia. Every tie in the shop was one of a kind, very unique. All six of the cast members were interested, and both the men and the women started picking out ties.
When the camera cut to her, she saw herself carefully choosing a tie.
She remembered that back then, she'd been picking out a gift for Qi Chengyan...
Sure enough, a minute later, she selected the tie with a little rabbit at the bottom.
"That one's way too cute. Is it for yourself?" one of the other cast members asked.
On screen, she was beaming. "No."
"Ooh～ then it's for someone you like!"
The others nearby started teasing, then she heard herself say, "It's for family."
It really was family... In her heart, Qi Chengyan was as important as family.
"Zhiyi, how'd you get back so fast? I didn't even notice." Just then, Xiao Ran's voice came in from behind.
Guan Zhiyi turned and saw the three of them had already changed out of their riding gear and come back.
She stole a glance at Qi Chengyan. Seeing him look perfectly composed, she let out a small breath of relief.
She hadn't meant to do it. He probably hadn't taken it seriously either...
"Anyway, I'm not much of a rider. After a couple of laps I just came back."
Xiao Ran made a sound of acknowledgment. "What are you watching?"
"My travel show."
"Ah, Wandering the World. I caught the first episode a few days ago when I had time." Xiao Ran grinned. "That's also when I found out you were a top student."
The three of them sat down on the couch. Guan Yuanbai looked incredulous at the word. "Top student? You mean her?"
Xiao Ran said, "Yeah. She went to Jingda. How's that not a top student?"
Guan Yuanbai calmly took a sip of water. "That was the result of being forced through private tutoring during senior year of high school."
Xiao Ran propped his chin on his hand. "But there aren't many people in the entertainment industry who went to Jingda. Honestly, our Zhiyi's just got a sharp brain."
Guan Yuanbai raised a brow. "Sharp. Sure, sharp. She used to cry while doing her homework as a kid. Real sharp."
Guan Zhiyi: "..."
Xiao Ran was delighted. "For real?"
"If you don't believe me, ask Chengyan."
Xiao Ran immediately looked at Qi Chengyan.
Talking about the past helped Qi Chengyan push aside some of the tangled thoughts in his head. He thought back and said, "It was too hard. I remember she cried because it was hard."
"Hahahaha she cried because it was too hard???"
Guan Zhiyi's face went red. "I, I did not cry because it was hard!"
Qi Chengyan glanced at her. "Didn't you? Elementary school math olympiad problems. You came crying to my house with your homework."
Guan Yuanbai chimed in, "That was after I'd taught her a few times and she still couldn't get it. I got frustrated and told her to figure it out herself, so she took her homework and ran off to find you. Man, she cried like it was the end of the world."
Xiao Ran burst out laughing. "Hahahaha, Guan Yuanbai, is she really your own sister? You have zero patience—"
Qi Chengyan thought back on that scene and couldn't help but smile too. "I never understood why he had to make her cry. He probably didn't know I had to coax her for ages every time before she'd start writing again."
Guan Yuanbai nearly rolled his eyes. "You think I wanted to? She was just slow, teaching her gave me a headache, I couldn't help raising my voice a little."
Qi Chengyan disagreed. “You thought raising your voice would make her understand? Xiao Wu wasn’t very bright back then, sure, but your teaching methods had some serious problems too.”
Guan Zhiyi: "..."
"Hahahahaha!" Xiao Ran collapsed into the couch, howling at Guan Zhiyi.
Guan Yuanbai shook his head. "Fine, fine, fine. Call it my problem. Teaching a little brat is just really hard."
Qi Chengyan agreed with that. "It is."
Guan Yuanbai seemed to get on a roll once he started talking about the old days. He thought for a moment, then said, "Oh, do you remember that one summer break, her Chinese homework was to write forty diary entries, and she waited until the very last day to start?"
Qi Chengyan recalled it. "Mm. She cried pretty badly that time too. She ran around with the diary—"
"Stop it!" Guan Zhiyi reached over and clapped a hand over Qi Chengyan's mouth. "Are you two done yet? Why are you suddenly digging up my past?!"
Xiao Ran was laughing so hard his stomach hurt. "Don't stop, don't stop. I want to hear. Tell me, tell me."
Guan Zhiyi glared at Xiao Ran. "I don't want to hear it!"
Guan Yuanbai cleared his throat. "Alright, enough. I'm going to get some water."
Xiao Ran said, "Hahahaha me too, me too. Hey, you gotta tell me the rest in private..."
Guan Zhiyi watched the two infuriating figures walk off, gave a cold humph, then turned and glared at Qi Chengyan. "Xiao Ran just loves laughing at me! You're not allowed to say any more, got it?"
After all the teasing, she'd completely forgotten that she'd accidentally kissed Qi Chengyan earlier.
Now, meeting his deep gaze as she turned back, her palm still pressed against his soft lips, it suddenly hit her. Wasn't she still embarrassed about what happened with him?
Guan Zhiyi froze for a moment and pulled her hand back.
Qi Chengyan had also paused when she covered his mouth.
He knew what happened outside earlier was just an accident, which was why he was trying his best not to think about it. But now, with her suddenly getting close, and her scent filled his nose, all he could think about was how she'd felt in his arms on the horse.
Soft and fragrant, so small, small enough to wrap up with one arm...
"I'm going to see what they're doing." Qi Chengyan pressed his lips together and stood up.
Guan Zhiyi took a step back. "Oh..."
They brushed past each other.
Qi Chengyan let out a soft sigh. He understood now. He was completely and utterly done for.
**
After wrapping Emergency Room, Guan Zhiyi took some time off at home. She hadn't taken on any new variety shows or scripts. The Imperial Court was about to hold its press conference, and everything on her schedule would be tied to it from here on out.
The press conference was set for a Saturday in December, in the banquet hall of Nanjue Hotel.
On the day of the event, Guan Zhiyi had to appear in a cocktail dress from a partner brand. The dress emphasized her waist so at noon Liu Yun only ordered her a salad.
After eating, she did her makeup in a guest room upstairs at Nanjue Hotel.
Guan Zhiyi looked at herself in the mirror, being fussed over by everyone, but there was only one thing on her mind: food. Hot pot, fried chicken, milk tea...
She was so hungry.
"Where's the dress? Get the dress out and change. Careful, don't let a single wrinkle show."
"Hair and makeup, hurry it up. We still need to take photos. We're running out of time."
"Should we put some shimmer on her neck? Yes, yes, a little on the collarbone too."
"Mao Mao, check the schedule again."
...
Liu Yun was bustling in every direction, her voice filling the entire room.
Half an hour later, Guan Zhiyi's hair and makeup were done, and she was ready to go out into the hallway in her dress to take a few photos. The shots would be taken right in the corridor, edited, and posted straight to Weibo. Same routine as before a red carpet.
When the group stepped into the hallway, a party of people happened to be coming from the other direction.
Liu Yun recognized the man at the front immediately. She'd run into him before when she'd come to Nanjue for a meal with Zhao Zhihui. He was the person in charge of Nanjue Hotel, Guan Yuanbai, the famous third young master of the Guan family.
She hadn't expected him to be here today.
When the two groups met, Liu Yun greeted him politely. "Hello, President Guan."
Guan Yuanbai knew Guan Zhiyi's press conference was being held at his hotel today. Seeing the cameras and lighting boards, he asked, "Taking photos?"
Before Guan Zhiyi could answer, Liu Yun had already said, "Yes. We need a set of photos before the press conference."
"Here?"
"Mm. The hallway works."
Guan Yuanbai glanced at what Guan Zhiyi was wearing. A cocktail dress that didn't even reach her knees. Nice to look at, but just looking at it made him cold.
He frowned. "It's cold outside. Shouldn't she put something on first?"
Liu Yun paused, the other staff members nearby glanced at him in surprise too.
Liu Yun said, "Well..."
"We'll be quick. It'll only take about ten minutes to shoot," Guan Zhiyi said.
Guan Yuanbai made a sound of acknowledgment. "Then go shoot up at Yunting. The hallways there have better heating. I'll have someone bring an access card."
Yunting was the name of the presidential suites on the top floors of Nanjue Hotel. The nightly rate up there was staggering. Normally, entertainers doing work events wouldn't stay in rooms like that.
Liu Yun was startled. They did a lot of events at Nanjue. Logically, as the hotel's owner, Guan Yuanbai should know that celebrities and actors taking photos in the hallways was completely normal. Yet this time he was being so considerate...
"Has your boss arrived?" Guan Yuanbai asked.
It suddenly clicked for Liu Yun. Right. Guan Yuanbai was good friends with their President Qi. He probably knew that President Qi and Guan Zhiyi had a special relationship, which was why he was doing them a favor.
"The press conference is about to start. President Qi should be here soon," Liu Yun said.
Guan Yuanbai nodded. "Alright. Get upstairs quickly then. Don't catch a cold."
Liu Yun nodded repeatedly. "Yes, yes, of course."
---
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