Chapter 46: "You've slept with me now, you have to take responsibility."
Jiang Yi didn't say anything, but just chuckled softly, and then carefully started cooking the vegetables.
She didn't eat hot pot often, wasn't very skilled at cooking, and was a little afraid of burning herself. Gu Lai glanced at Jiang Yi, who had a serious expression, and followed her gaze to start cooking for her.
The bubbling red oil engulfed the fresh, juicy ingredients, and the rich aroma of the oil rose steadily towards the lamp at the top. However, Gu Lai could still clearly see Jiang Yi's expression—a mixture of anticipation and wariness.
Gu Lai's gaze fell back onto the soup pot.
This color has such a strong sense of déjà vu... Oh, it's like the Naomi rose I was just holding.
A bouquet of flowers is nothing to Jiang Yi. However, lately, Jiang Yi has been enjoying giving or sharing pretty things, sending whatever comes to mind or whatever he sees, without any particular pattern. More importantly, Jiang Yi seems to have lost the thoughtfulness he's developed over the past two years, failing to consider whether Gu Lai would like the gift or whether it would suit her.
The last thing they sent was a strange pair of sheepskin pants, supposedly a traditional garment from Ecuador, but Gu Lai couldn't pull it off at all. She looked like a barbarian in them, and Jiang Yi laughed for a long time while watching her in the video.
Gu Lai was filming on set, unlike Jiang Yi who was constantly traveling. She didn't send many things, but instead sent increasingly longer voice messages and took all sorts of photos. She took more than a dozen photos just of the hotel where she stayed while filming, some of which she took herself, and some of which she had her assistant do.
The assistant, a recent single college graduate, remarked with a mix of envy and sourness that her boss, married for seven years, was still like a newlywed couple. Gu Lai immediately retorted that it was different.
Back when we were deeply in love, I could send her 99+ messages, but she would wait with bated breath for each one. Now, it's more of a gentle, enduring affection, intentionally or unintentionally mending the small cracks and wounds of the past.
As Gu Lai was lost in her memories, Jiang Yi was also preoccupied, perhaps simply watching the bubbling hot pot. But Gu Lai didn't feel awkward; instead, she felt a peaceful joy.
She almost wanted to give up on bringing up the past.
“When I first talked to Director Kong, she mentioned you. She was feeling down for a few days, do you remember? It was last year.”
Seeing Jiang Yi nod, Gu Lai smiled and continued.
"Weren't we in a...cold war back then? That screenwriter Xu Rui was also trying to sow discord, or rather, using this method to create anxiety for me. Sometimes I can understand if someone inexplicably wants to get closer to me, but why do some people try to get closer to me by belittling me?"
Gu Lai suddenly stopped and tapped Jiang Yi's oil bowl with her chopsticks: "Give me your opinion."
Jiang Yi took a sip of tea and said, "You are kinder than me. People can tell at a glance that I have bullied you, so they want to bully you."
Gu Lai: "No way, I'm pretty good too."
Nobody claims to have a bad temper.
Jiang Yi laughed and said, "So they're essentially bad people? These days, upward manipulation, or 'managing upwards,' is all the rage."
Gu Lai laughed for a while after hearing what she said. After laughing, she was silent for a long time before saying, "I used to be so annoyed that I kicked out all those who liked to think about you, directly or indirectly."
Jiang Yi asked, "And now?"
Gu Lai lowered her head and turned down the heat. With a few beeps, her voice sounded even clearer amidst the somewhat noisy background noise.
"I'm getting tired of all of this now, all of this in this circle, or rather, in the world of fame and fortune."
Jiang Yi keenly noticed her choice of words.
She asked, "What are your plans after you finish filming 'Gansui' this year?"
"I think I should take a break for a year or two first. I'll also take the opportunity to further my studies, read some books, and exchange ideas with all sorts of people. There are still few good projects with middle-aged women as the main characters, whether it's movies or TV series. Besides, I don't want to play a young girl. I've been working non-stop for box office and awards these past few years. Now I feel that I should actually look back and relax."
Gu Lai rarely showed a hint of melancholy and confusion.
As she said, she has always strived for these "achievements" recognized by the general public, and nothing has ever interrupted her. Even her high-profile public marriage did not hinder her; as a pioneer who benefited from the policy, she even starred in a tribute film back then.
Jiang Yi didn't try to dissuade him: "Okay."
Gu Lai gently kicked her: "You've been so quiet tonight."
Jiang Yi stared at the hot pot for a while, then sighed: "There are some things that can be said or not said, but are also a bit hard to say, so I don't know how to say them."
"What kind of tongue twister are you reciting?" Gu Lai said. "Don't frown. Tell me, I'm listening."
"It's a bit annoying. I came to see you happily, but I ran into those scoundrels. And now I know there are a lot of scoundrels like that."
Jiang Yi sighed at this point, unsure how to continue.
She mentioned those people, calling them disgusting scoundrels, but now she had to admit that it was these scoundrels who had caused her to start to feel insecure and worried about the future, which was something she found hard to accept.
Because Gu Lai's previous words were based on speculation, and what she heard with her own ears now is a different concept.
While Jiang Yi paused in silence, Gu Lai waited there. She didn't put any pressure on him; she was paying with her phone, as if it were just casual conversation. Heaven knows she was listening intently, not wanting to miss a single sigh from Jiang Yi.
As she got up to pack her clothes, she heard Jiang Yi say, "To put it bluntly, I'm worried about repeating the same mistakes. I feel like I owe them something from the past, and I'm also a little angry—being born rich isn't my fault. Oh, and the last one isn't directed at you, but at those prejudices."
Gu Lai straightened her hair and collar, then intimately took her arm as they went out: "You told me to prioritize your words over others', and that's what you said in Guizhou Province. How can you be so insecure now?"
The area around the university town is a large commercial district, which is also lively at night. Car lights, streetlights, and advertising lights compete to shine, and the shadows of the two people become one, running back and forth, shrinking and lengthening in a loop.
Jiang Yi deliberately stepped on the shadow, lazily letting Gu Lai lead her: "My confidence fluctuates, and besides, I always feel that you are easy to fool and very outstanding, as if you could be tricked away from me at any time."
Gu Lai retorted softly, "I'm not that easy to fool."
Jiang Yi turned his head and looked at her intently. Gu Lai could see her own reflection in her dark, deep eyes.
"Some people become more mature after thirty, but I've become more timid as I've gotten older. Now that I think about it, it's unbelievable that I just went up to you and started chatting with you the first time we met, without even considering whether you would punch me."
Gu Lai asked, "Is it impossible now?"
Her words seemed to have a deeper meaning, but Jiang Yi wasn't in a very good mood tonight. He had drunk a bit too much alcohol earlier, and he said listlessly, "No, it's not impossible, it's certain. It's just that the process might change, but the result will be the same. Sometimes people can't escape their predetermined fate."
Gu Lai leaned closer and sniffed, finding the aroma of alcohol to be quite strong.
Gu Lai muttered in confusion, "We shouldn't have ordered baijiu earlier. You seem to have drunk a bit too much. Drunkards often turn into philosophers."
Unfortunately, it was very quiet at the moment, and Jiang Yi heard what she said clearly. She said in a languid tone, "I'm probably just a little tipsy. I'm not conscious when I'm drunk."
Gu Lai: "Oh...so you still get emo after drinking a little alcohol?"
"Yeah, you see, you've missed out on so much of my growth."
After Jiang Yi finished speaking, he gave Gu Lai a reproachful look.
Her eyes were different from Gu Lai's. If Gu Lai's eyes combined the clarity of glass with the depth of the sea, then Jiang Yi's eyes were a blend of allure and sharpness. At this moment, her languid demeanor softened that intimidating sharpness, and her glances were like mist and clouds reflected on the water.
Gu Lai was startled by her gaze, and when she realized what was happening, she hurriedly and intentionally led her forward.
Oh my god, I'm still like a girl in her early twenties, so fragile...
Gu Lai didn't think much of it. She led Jiang Yi into the hotel elevator, and as the silver-gray elevator doors slowly closed, Gu Lai turned around and hugged Jiang Yi tightly.
"You drank, but I didn't drink much. I don't like drinking baijiu (Chinese liquor)." Gu Lai tilted her head. "Oh, what a coincidence! Perfect timing for me to get to know you better?"
Jiang Yi took a few steps back because of her, and his first reaction was to worry about his back: "Don't make me lean against the elevator, it's too dirty."
Gu Lai sighed: "Okay, okay, you germaphobe... I never noticed before that you could be such a spoilsport."
“She used to be the older sister, now she’s a ghost,” Jiang Yi said, deliberately lowering his voice. “I don’t even dare to think about what will happen in the future.”
She sounded quite aggrieved.
Before Gu Lai could figure out how to reply, Jiang Yi poked her waist: "We've arrived."
Gu Lai trembled slightly. Turning her head again, she saw Jiang Yi, who had taken the opportunity to slip away, give her a flamboyant and glamorous smile.
"The room key is here." Jiang Yi left her with his back turned, without turning around, but simply held up the card between two fingers and waved it, "Just like you."
Gu Lai gritted her teeth and glared at her. When she bent down to pick up the roses that had been placed in the corner of the elevator, she couldn't help but smile.
The person was gone when she stepped out of the elevator, but Gu Lai still remembered where her room was. She had been planning how to take advantage of his drunkenness the whole way, but before she knew it, she had reached the door, and as soon as it opened, she was pulled inside.
Gu Lai was so startled she almost jumped up, but the familiar scent calmed her down.
When Jiang Yi kissed her, he heard Gu Lai making excited "mmm" sounds, to the point that Jiang Yi even felt that if he had drunk another bottle of wine, he would be woken up by the noise.
She knew why, but at that moment she really wanted to see Gu Lai jump up and down in anger.
He was being unreasonable and disruptive because he was drunk; it was really awful.
Jiang Yi absentmindedly reprimanded himself, took the large bouquet of flowers sandwiched between the two of them from Gu Lai's hands, and tossed it onto the sofa.
Gu Lai finally found an opening and struggled free, her face flushed, and said angrily, "My flowers!"
“Your flowers are here,” Jiang Yi said calmly.
Gu Lai took a deep breath and mimicked Jiang Yi's previous sentence, saying, "Being slightly tipsy allows one to unleash their true nature, but I dare not even imagine what it would be like to be completely drunk."
Jiang Yi slowly began to undress Gu Lai: "After ten years, you still haven't gotten used to my nature? I'm really going to be heartbroken."
Although Gu Lai sensed that Jiang Yi didn't seem sad, she observed him for a moment and couldn't see any happiness in him either. She cautiously threatened, "I know you're not drunk, but be careful I don't do the same thing... Wait, why are you only taking off my clothes?"
Jiang Yi swiftly pulled out his tie and tied it around Gu Lai's wrist, saying politely, "I'll take care of you first. Sorry, I'm not as strong as you, and I'm probably even weaker after drinking, so I'll have to be a little more flexible... Hmm, is this tight enough?"
"You...you'd better take it off! How could someone be so cunning!"
"Oh, may I offend you, you cunning one?"
"If you've already offended them, don't ask any more questions!"
…………
Jiang Yi lay down next to Gu Lai and reached out to whine, "Ah Lai, my arm hurts, and my wrist hurts too."
Gu Lai sighed resignedly and massaged her: "Then why were you so forceful just now? Hmm?"
Jiang Yi didn't answer, but instead suddenly looked up and kissed her.
Gu Lai sighed helplessly, "You get more delicate as you get older. Were you like this before? I'll have someone make a strength training plan for you later."
"Ah, you're disgusted with me," Jiang Yi said in a low, soft voice. "You weren't saying this just now. It turns out that people only speak the truth during the refractory period."
"Oh dear! How could you interpret things so badly?"
"Oh, so you mean one more time?"
Gu Lai quickly reached out and covered Jiang Yi's mouth.
Her eyes were still a little wet, and the skin at her temples was taut from the tears. She raised her hand to wipe them. This gesture, seen by Jiang Yi, easily evoked memories of the beautiful scene from just moments before.
Gu Lai didn't notice the change in Jiang Yi's gaze, but her sixth sense told her to quickly change the subject: "Why do you like to bring up your age so much now?"
A hint of understanding flashed in Jiang Yi's eyes, but she didn't continue teasing. She said in a worried tone, "Because you have a lot of young men around you. You wrongly accused me and that Hong before, but it turns out they just wanted to latch onto you."
Gu Lai was baffled: "What red? How come I don't know that?"
"Hmm? Not red? Then yellow? Blue? Anyway, it's the one you used to criticize me with a photo."
"...His name is Fan Zi, Zi as in hometown, and he's changed careers now. Besides, I didn't criticize you, did I?"
Jiang Yi rolled over and knelt up, staring down at Gu Lai with a half-smile. Gu Lai instinctively tried to get up as well, but her back ached and she lay back down.
Jiang Yi swallowed back what he wanted to say and reached out to touch the back of Gu Lai's head: "You didn't hurt yourself, did you?"
Gu Lai remained silent, slowly turning her head and burying her face in the soft pillow, withdrawing into herself.
Jiang Yi chuckled softly in her ear.
Gu Lai raised her hand and slapped her: "Let's continue with the previous topic."
“It’s a bit of a mood killer to say this. Ah Lai, back then you sent a photo without saying a word, and I immediately knelt down, didn’t I? Later I heard that someone used her as a concubine for you.”
"...I refused."
"Of course I know you refused."
"...You're quite the ladies' man too. Do you remember when your photos with Camilla trended on social media? A bunch of people were calling me a cuckold."
Jiang Yi had forgotten everything, but still obediently said "Oh".
Gu Lai said, "Luckily I didn't actually film 'Full House of Spring,' otherwise I don't know how many times you would have told me that story over and over again."
Jiang Yi: "Let's not talk about the past, let's talk about the present. You slept with me now, so you have to take responsibility."
Gu Lai stared at her expressionlessly for a while, then looked away and said, "For the last show of my upcoming memorial concert, I'll be inviting other female celebrities to sing with me."
"who?"
"Chi Ning".
Jiang Yi blankly searched his memory for names.
I've never heard of eating lemons and spitting them out. Maybe it's because I never look up the artists when I listen to music... I'll look it up later.
Gu Lai reached out and retrieved the phone, opened the document, and handed it to Jiang Yi: "Here, arrange it."
Jiang Yi watched for a while and said, "It seems like I won't be able to go to the last one."
"Yes, any show is fine. I'll reserve a seat for you."
“Oh right,” Jiang Yi suddenly remembered, “I remember you said you would send me a song.”
Gu Lai looked at her for a while, a smile gradually appearing in her eyes, before turning her head and burying her face in the soft pillow again.
Concert... A song dedicated to me...
How did this concert controversy start? Oh, I said I wanted her to take responsibility.
A surprising guess suddenly popped into her mind.
She stared at the last bit of Gu's skin not covered by the soft pillow. Gu's face flushed easily, and the previous blush had not completely faded.
Jiang Yi lowered his head and kissed Gu Lai's slightly damp temples.
"I have plenty of people to do my work, but I can't do anything else," the fickle capitalist declared with a smile. "I won't miss the final show."
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Thanks to tutu and cxx for the landmine.
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