I'm Rich - 64
Ever since their public announcement, plenty of people sent their blessings to Guan Zhiyi and Qi Chengyan, though a massive crowd of others naturally plunged into the abyss of "heartbreak."
Of course, they weren't heartbroken over their own romances, but rather over the romance of the ship they sailed.
Before the announcement, Guan Zhiyi and Xiao Ran had a sprawling fanbase of shippers. Now that the female lead had gone public with someone else, it was essentially a house fire in their own backyard.
As for Xiao Ran himself, he had been filming deep in the remote mountains lately and was rather cut off from the news, only finding out that Guan Zhiyi and Qi Chengyan had gone public once he wrapped up and arrived at the airport.
The moment he saw the notifications on his phone, he grilled several staff members to confirm whether it was actually true, only to receive affirmative answers across the board.
Xiao Ran felt a surge of irritation. Though he had known for a while that scoundrel Qi Chengyan would eventually win her over, he never expected the guy to be so capable! Actually sweet-talking her into going public this fast!
The second he stepped into the departure lounge, he dialed Guan Zhiyi's number for a video call.
When the call came through, Guan Zhiyi was over at Qi Chengyan's Xinghewan apartment. Since her place was empty today, Qi Chengyan had effortlessly whisked her away to his side of town.
Guan Zhiyi and Xiao Ran hadn't been in touch for quite some time, so seeing a video call pop up from him today caught her slightly by surprise.
"Hello?" Once she connected, Guan Zhiyi saw Xiao Ran's refined, handsome face pop up on her screen. "Xiao Ran, did you wrap up filming?"
Xiao Ran settled into his seat and replied, "You bet I did. If I hadn't wrapped today, I wouldn't even know you two had gotten together."
"Hehe, it all happened rather suddenly. We didn't actually plan on going public this early."
Xiao Ran narrowed his eyes. "Be honest with me, Zhiyi. Did that guy pressure you into it?"
"Ah..."
"Such a massive control freak. He was definitely terrified some guy would snatch you up in the entertainment industry, so he slapped a brand-name tag on you early," Xiao Ran said. "Tsk tsk, that guy is a complete beast in human skin. You need to see his true colors sooner rather than later!"
Guan Zhiyi gave a light cough. "Um... he's actually right next to me. Do you want to say hi?"
Xiao Ran: "..."
Guan Zhiyi flipped the camera angle, and a second later, Xiao Ran found Qi Chengyan's cool gaze staring right back at him from the screen.
"If you wanted to chew me out, why didn't you just call me directly?" Qi Chengyan asked.
Xiao Ran choked. "Like you would sit there and take it?"
Qi Chengyan thought about it for a moment. "Probably not."
Xiao Ran spat out a scoff. "Buzz off, buzz off. I'm video calling Zhiyi, not you."
Qi Chengyan raised a brow. Truth be told, he had been all ears ever since Xiao Ran called Guan Zhiyi, only holding back out of respect for her.
Given Xiao Ran's attitude just now, however, he deliberately decided to stir up trouble.
Qi Chengyan reached out and took the phone straight out of Guan Zhiyi's hand. "It's fine. We're a package deal now anyway, so anything you've got to say to her, you can say to me. It's the exact same thing."
"Qi Chengyan, have you zero shame?"
"Shame isn't particularly important when you compare it to a girlfriend."
"Oh my god... how did Guan Yuanbai not murder you when he found out you put the moves on his little sister? Is he just far too kind-hearted?"
Qi Chengyan offered a faint smile. "Save your worries. Yuanbai was thrilled when he found out I was with his sister. Mmh... anything else? If not, I'm hanging up."
"Hey—"
"Judging by your background, you're still at the airport, right? Too many busybodies around you anyway, so let's skip the chat."
"..."
"Bye."
Ignoring Xiao Ran's murderous expression, Qi Chengyan calmly hung up the video call.
Guan Zhiyi watched the whole exchange and couldn't help laughing. "What are you two even like?"
Qi Chengyan handed the phone back to her. "Don't answer if he video calls again."
Guan Zhiyi tossed her phone aside, scooted closer, and wrapped her arms around his arm. "My dear Ge, you aren't actually jealous, are you?"
Qi Chengyan glanced down at her. "What do you think?"
"Oh please, Xiao Ran doesn't even like me. I bet he just wanted to tick you off."
"Tick me off? He needs to have the capability for that first."
Guan Zhiyi thought about it and realized he had a point... Xiao Ran would be doing well just not dying in his hand.
"Right, Song Li said they're hosting dinner tonight. Do you want to go?" Qi Chengyan asked.
Guan Zhiyi replied, "Since they went out of their way to invite us, of course we have to go."
"We don't have to if you don't feel like it," Qi Chengyan said. "They're just curious about us getting together."
"Let's go, it's fine."
Qi Chengyan asked, "You actually want to go?"
"Mm, going to show off."
"Hm?"
Guan Zhiyi offered a mysterious smile. "Going to show everyone that you belong to me now."
Around seven in the evening, Guan Zhiyi and Qi Chengyan attended Song Li's dinner gathering.
There were plenty of people present, not all of whom Guan Zhiyi knew, but since Qi Chengyan and Song Li hung out constantly, he was well-acquainted with everyone in the room.
Seeing the two of them walk in, Song Li hurried forward to greet them.
Ever since that drunken video call with Qi Chengyan a few days ago, his brain had remained in a foggy haze. When he woke up, he figured those images must have been nothing more than a weird dream, which was why he hadn't bothered calling Qi Chengyan to verify it.
That was until he saw the news break online later on.
It had completely blown his mind. Not only were the scenes he saw in that video not a dream, but the girl in question turned out to be Guan Zhiyi!
Who didn't know that girl was practically held in the palm of Qi Chengyan's hand and raised by him personally? And yet, he had somehow upgraded his own pampered little sister into his girlfriend?!
Total animal!
As Song Li walked over, he hooked an arm around Qi Chengyan's shoulder. "Look at that! I wasn't joking the night we were drinking. I genuinely saw Qi Chengyan with a girl on video!"
Someone chimed in, "Man, if I'd known you were serious, I would've taken a peek too."
"Still not too late to look now." Song Li waved the two of them over to sit down. "Xiao Wu, look here, you've gone too far. How are you not going to give us a heads-up after letting your Chengyan-gege trick you away?"
"Not true," Guan Zhiyi countered. "I'm the one who tricked Ge."
Song Li threw his hands up. "Look at that, still covering for him."
Someone else at the table put in, "Of course she's covering for him. This girl's been on Chengyan's side since she was knee-high; you get used to it."
"Fair point."
Song Li turned his attention back to Qi Chengyan. "Still, not telling us and letting us find out through the internet was seriously uncalled for. You owe us a proper apology tonight, and drinks are on you."
Qi Chengyan chuckled. "Do I really need to apologize to you for this?"
"At least you owe Yuanbai an apology!" Song Li declared. "Since he's not here today, I'm acting as his official representative. You sneaking around with his sister is unforgivable!"
Though everyone was talking trash on the surface, they were genuinely happy for the two of them underneath. Take Xiao Ran, for instance—even while grumbling curses out loud, he had still turned around and texted her his best wishes.
Watching everyone chat and drink merrily, Guan Zhiyi felt a strange, overwhelming sense of fulfillment. Sitting right beside him at this moment, she was finally more than just a little kid tagging along.
Buoyed by her good mood, she ended up drinking quite a bit along with everyone else.
Halfway through the evening, after managing the crowd, Qi Chengyan came back and sat down beside her. "How is it? Are you getting tipsy?"
Resting her chin in her hand, Guan Zhiyi stared straight at him. "I'm fine, barely had anything~"
"Whenever anyone tried to toast you, you shoved them off onto me."
Since they were the guests of honor tonight, everyone kept trying to toast them, but the brunt of it had fallen on Qi Chengyan. Guan Zhiyi shook her head. "No way, if you get drunk I can't possibly carry you back. I still remember that one time."
Qi Chengyan smiled, keeping to himself the fact that he'd figned drunkenness that night. "You won't have to carry me, don't worry."
Having learned her lesson from the past, Guan Zhiyi didn't believe a word he said, so when occasional guests wandered over later on, she accepted every single drink handed her way. Besides, it was a room full of people she knew, with someone right beside her treating her like a precious treasure, so she wasn't worried in the slightest.
By the end of the night, however, she was undeniably a little drunk.
Unwilling to let her keep drinking, Qi Chengyan decided to take her and leave early. Song Li and another friend walked the two of them out to the parking garage.
Qi Chengyan first coaxed Guan Zhiyi into the passenger seat, then turned back to exchange a few final words with Song Li and the others.
Sitting in the passenger seat, Guan Zhiyi felt her face growing pleasantly warm. Deciding to roll down the window, she rested her chin against the frame while waiting for Qi Chengyan to return.
As she glanced sideways, her gaze inadvertently caught sight of someone holding a camera in a nearby car.
They looked like they were taking pictures of her...
Guan Zhiyi blinked in a daze, then pushed the car door open and ambled straight toward that vehicle.
The people inside that car were indeed snapping photos of Guan Zhiyi. Ever since her relationship went public, they had been tailing her in secret, hoping to unearth some juicy dirt.
They certainly hadn't expected to be caught red-handed tonight. Seeing Guan Zhiyi suddenly walking right up to their car door, everyone inside froze in panic.
As she drew closer, the paparazzi figured she was bound to start screaming at them, so instead of hiding their camera, they kept it raised. After all, they lived for chaos; the hotter the celebrity gossip, the better the story.
To their absolute shock, however, this particular female celebrity walked right up to their window and flashed them a smile. With her pure, lovely features and such an entirely harmless expression, the cameraman sitting inside actually blanked out for a second.
"Are you guys taking pictures of me?" Guan Zhiyi tilted her head, staring with curious eyes at the person holding the camera.
The paparazzo let out an awkward cough, answering a question with a question. "Were you just at a gathering with friends?"
Her mind swimming with alcohol, Guan Zhiyi answered with complete honesty. "Mmh, yep."
"Was that Qi Chengyan who walked you to the car just now?"
"Of course it was." Guan Zhiyi smiled brightly. "Ah... he's just going back to say goodbye to his friends, he'll be right back."
Having never encountered a celebrity who would casually stroll over and strike up a conversation, the paparazzi were momentarily flustered. "When did the two of you actually get together? Can you give us a hint?"
Get together...
Guan Zhiyi's thoughts drifted lazily. "We've been together since we were kids."
"Huh?"
"How long have you guys been following me anyway? Have you eaten?" Guan Zhiyi lowered her gaze to dig around in her pockets, suddenly fishing out a handful of candies that she shoved toward them. "Here, take these to keep your energy up."
The paparazzi stared blankly at the offerings in their hands.
Guan Zhiyi solemnly explained, "I grabbed these on my way out. They're really good, you should try them."
"Uh... thank you, thank you."
Guan Zhiyi bowed a full ninety degrees. "You're welcome! Thanks for all your hard work~ Keep it up!"
"..."
"Xiao Wu."
Right then, a familiar voice cut through the exchange. Hearing it, the few paparazzi inside the car looked up to see a man hurrying over from not far away.
"What are you doing wandering out here?"
When Qi Chengyan returned and saw the passenger door open while Guan Zhiyi was standing by a random car chatting with strangers... he had initially assumed she ran into someone she knew, only to walk up and realize they were total strangers.
"Nothing much, I was giving them candy." Guan Zhiyi grabbed his hand and gave a little hiccup. "Say, did Song Li and the others leave?"
"They did." Qi Chengyan said, shifting his gaze to the people inside the car. "Reporters?"
Under the weight of his glance, the men felt their chests tighten, and none of them dared to speak.
"Oh, right! If you guys want to take pictures, just take them of me! You're not allowed to take pictures of him!" Guan Zhiyi suddenly grew fiercely protective, giving Qi Chengyan a hard yank backward as she warned the paparazzi. "Even though he's super handsome, no photos!"
Qi Chengyan: "..."
Whether charmed by Guan Zhiyi's adorable antics or terrified by Qi Chengyan's stare, the paparazzo hastily lowered his lens. "Rest assured, rest assured, we didn't capture anything inappropriate."
"Mhm mhm, good then~" Guan Zhiyi started to attempt another ninety-degree bow, but halfway down, she was reeled back in by Qi Chengyan.
Steadying her against him, Qi Chengyan looked at the figures inside the vehicle, his voice dropping to a cool register. "Pardon me, but if there's anything inappropriate in those frames, please delete it."
It sounded polite enough, but the underlying sentiment of otherwise, bear the consequences was unmistakable.
The group of reporters nodded vigorously.
Only then did Qi Chengyan lead Guan Zhiyi back toward his car.
"Didn't I tell you I'd be right back and asked you to stay put?"
"But Ge, it's kind of stuffy in the car..."
"Guan Xiao Wu, the window was rolled down."
"Was it?"
"You just wanted an excuse to wander out, didn't you? Walking up to talk to strangers you don't even know?"
"I didn't... they looked like they'd been staking us out for ages. I figured since I wasn't doing anything wrong, I might as well go pose for them so I could go home."
Qi Chengyan's stern expression nearly cracked. "...You're definitely wasted."
"I am not wasted!"
...
Their voices gradually faded as the two of them finally climbed back into the car.
The group of reporters stared at one another in silence. The one holding the camera finally asked, "So... do we still upload what we just shot?"
"Was there anything inappropriate in there?"
"Not really." The cameraman replayed the footage they had just recorded, unable to hold back a soft snort. "Hah... this girl is actually kind of adorable."
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