21. Drunk
After the banquet, the driver encountered some traffic on the way back to Mantingfang with the family of three.
It was well past Gu Sinan's usual bedtime, and the little girl kept yawning. Ye Zhenzhen hugged her and gently patted her until she fell asleep quickly.
With a ding-dong sound, the phone's message notification tone rang.
Ye Zhenzhen used her free hand to look through the messages; they were from Zhao Nanqiao.
"Tao Tao, did Bai Xue cause you any trouble just now? I was just about to go over when I saw your old Gu pull you away."
"It's nothing, she just said a few sarcastic things, don't mind her."
"It's good that you're not angry. I've noticed you've been much more rational lately. Keep it up. There are plenty of people like that in the entertainment industry; the more you pay attention to them, the more they get worked up."
"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."
"Su Lingfei is incredibly ruthless. Be careful when you talk to her," Zhao Nanqiao said after thinking for a moment, still feeling uneasy.
"It's alright. Miss Su looks very cool, but Ling Yun is still as cute and cuddly as ever. The two siblings are so different."
"You're the cutest and most adorable one. My sweet and innocent Peach, you need to be more careful." Zhao Nanqiao rolled her eyes as she read the message. What a waste of such a beautiful face; she has absolutely no shrewdness!
I can't help but admire Uncle Ye's foresight. If it weren't for Gu Tingshen protecting her, Ye Zhenzhen, with her carefree attitude, would probably be sold out and still be helping the seller count the money.
After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Ye Zhenzhen remembered Jiang Cheng's invitation and asked Zhao Nanqiao, "When we left, Jiang Cheng invited us to visit his family's horse farm in a few days. Are you going?"
"My brother is going, we'll see then, I might not have time."
She put down her phone and realized that the man beside her hadn't made a sound.
Gu Tingshen leaned back in his chair with his eyes closed. A faint smell of alcohol emanated from him, mixed with the aroma of cedar, which was not unpleasant.
Ye Zhenzhen couldn't tell how much he had drunk, but seeing him frown, she handed him a bottle of water.
Gu Tingshen took the water and tilted his head back to drink. As his Adam's apple bobbed up and down, Ye Zhenzhen felt the air temperature rise slightly.
She rolled down the car window and looked out. The night breeze ruffled the stray hairs at her temples, and a hand reached out and tucked them behind her ear.
Ye Zhenzhen turned her head, and Gu Tingshen had already withdrawn his hand. His bow tie was loose, and two buttons on his white shirt were undone. He was leaning back, pressing his temples with his hand raised.
He looked a little different than usual; it was the first time she had ever seen him show such a relaxed, tired expression.
In the original work, he is described as a perfectly functioning machine, always calm, efficient and precise, as if devoid of all human emotions, a tool only serving the plot.
The lingering sensation of the man's fingers brushing against her ear was a slight itch, yet undeniably present, slowly warming her ear.
Ye Zhenzhen stared blankly at the man.
She has always relied too much on the plot to define the characters, forgetting that this is a real world. He is a person with flesh and blood, not a real machine. How could he not be tired when he shoulders the responsibility of a huge corporation at the age of less than thirty?
The car stopped in front of the villa, and Gu Sinan woke up on her own and obediently got out of the car.
The driver offered to help Gu Tingshen, but he refused.
Gu Tingshen didn't like having too many people at home, so the housekeepers would usually disappear after finishing their work and never linger around them. At this time, Uncle Li and the housekeepers were already resting, and there was no one to help out.
Gu Tingshen's steps were a little unsteady when he entered the room. Ye Zhenzhen was afraid that he would fall, so she took off her high heels and went over to support him.
Gu Sinan was too short to help her father, so she bent down and lifted Ye Zhenzhen's skirt to prevent her mother from stepping on it.
The man was nearly a head taller than her and had a strong physique. When Ye Zhenzhen put his arm on her shoulder, she staggered under his weight and felt like she was using a human crutch.
Gu Tingshen didn't make a fuss, but he was too tall and heavy, making it difficult for her to support him.
After much effort, they helped him to the bedroom door and let Gu Sinan go back to her room to wash up.
She moved her feet and carried the man to the sofa, finally letting out a sigh of relief. But when she put him on the sofa, she was pulled down and accidentally fell on him. The man reflexively hugged her, and she couldn't get up.
Ye Zhenzhen was panting heavily. She patted the man's arm around her waist and called out, "Old Gu? Gu Tingshen? Can you go wash up by yourself?"
Gu Tingshen was still somewhat conscious. He felt as if he were holding a cotton candy in his arms, which was sweet and soft and he didn't want to let go.
Hearing Ye Zhenzhen's words, he reluctantly let go. After Ye Zhenzhen stood up, he stumbled to his feet and went to the bathroom by himself.
Ye Zhenzhen followed behind him with some unease, noticing that although the man's movements were a bit unsteady, he was still able to brush his teeth and wash his face by himself.
So she opened the bathroom door a crack, sat at the dressing table to remove her jewelry and change her dress, and listened to the sounds coming from the bathroom, afraid he might fall.
After a while, I heard the door open and quickly ran over. I saw the man with wet hair, wearing a bathrobe. The tie wasn't tight, revealing most of his muscular chest, and water droplets were rolling off his tanned skin.
Ye Zhenzhen blushed and went to support him, leading him to the bedside and tucking him into the blankets. Seeing that his hair was wet, she went to get a towel and a hairdryer to dry it for him.
After a long and tiring night, and covered in sweat, I went to the bathroom to wash up after seeing that Gu Tingshen was sleeping soundly.
He went to Gu Sinan's room, covered the child with a blanket, and turned off the light. When Ye Zhenzhen finally lay down on the bed, listening to the man's heavy breathing beside her, she couldn't help but give him a light kick.
Gu Tingshen woke up in the middle of the night, thirsty. He found himself lying in a bathrobe, holding Ye Zhenzhen in his arms.
He froze, realizing that not only was he not wearing underwear, but his bathrobe had also been pulled open, exposing large areas of skin that were pressed against the person in his arms. The sensation of skin against skin was too stimulating, and his body was quickly aroused.
Embarrassed, he stepped back, quietly got out of bed, took another cold shower in the bathroom, and came back in his pajamas.
After lying down, afraid that she would get cold, I warmed myself up for a while before going over to hug her.
Although he was drunk, he didn't black out. He remembered how she clumsily and adorably took care of him before he went to sleep, and his heart was filled with sweetness. He couldn't help but gently kiss her forehead.
The person in his arms probably felt itchy from his stubble and rubbed against his neck in annoyance.
Gu Tingshen patted her back reassuringly, recalling Su Lingfei's teasing words, and couldn't help but smile bitterly. He had been very irritable lately, and he always had to expend a lot of energy to exercise in the morning in order to ignore some physiological reactions. It was as if the desires he had suppressed for more than 20 years had all come over him, making him unusually restless.
A deep longing screamed of dissatisfaction; holding the person in his arms at this moment felt like self-torture. He wanted to hold her tighter, to press his skin against hers, to kiss her rosy lips, to have her respond to him with lucidity, yet he also wanted her to be lost in his love...
While Ye Zhenzhen attended the banquet last night, the first episode of "I Am a Traveler" aired on Apple TV.
Last night, she finally managed to wait until the father and son were both asleep, and then she fell asleep as soon as she lay down in bed, without having a chance to go online to check the situation.
The next day at the company, after finishing my work, I first opened a webpage on my computer to watch the replay, and at the same time opened my phone and saw unread messages on WeChat.
In the WeChat group for the "Travel" program, Jiang Wei had been sending out red envelopes non-stop since last night. Every time the ratings broke a certain point, he would send one to the group, making the group buzz all night.
Everyone was celebrating with flowers, and Ye Zhenzhen felt more confident. She opened Weibo and was surprised to find that, not only had it dominated the top three trending topics last night, but "Let's Go Traveling Together" was still very popular even after a whole night.
"Ahhh, the director has such a great eye for casting! They're all so good-looking!! It's so pleasing to the eye, I don't even know which one to look at!!!"
"Zhang Siqing, your special forces aura has shattered! Give me back my cool female captain!! Are you two trying to make me laugh to death? Hahahaha!"
"Where did Teacher Wang Liqing find such a perfect husband?! How come I can't meet such a good man?!"
"Director Zhou Haitao, you don't even dare let Lan Nuo and Jing Yi eat the food you cook. You're quite self-aware, much better than Liu Wei, hahaha..."
"What a divine combination Ye-Gu! Mom, I believe in love again!!! This travel reality show is sweeter than any idol drama!!"
"Which clever little devil came up with this idea? Four handsome guys blindfolded, each carrying a different kind of beauty, running around in bizarre ways—this scene is absolutely amazing, hahaha!"
"When they were transporting coconuts, Ye Zhenzhen whispered in Crown Prince Gu's ear. Did anyone notice their ears? They were so red! Are they really that innocent? I'm dying of sweetness from them!!!"
"The way Prince Gu calls Ye Zhenzhen to wake up is so sweet, it's making my ears tingle! Sisters, put on your headphones and listen!!! I've already recorded it and set it as my alarm!"
"I'm sorry, I'll never criticize Ye Zhenzhen's acting again. It's clearly the director's fault for not being able to film it!!! Sister Zhen is so beautiful even without makeup! From now on, I'm joining the Peach Blossom family!"
"I'm dying of laughter at this variety show! The part where Ye Zhenzhen and Gu Sinan were chased by geese, their terrified expressions were so funny, it's hilarious! Who made that? They're so talented!!"
Many netizens were charmed by the children and became devoted fans, finding them completely irresistible to adorable kids.
"There were so many memorable moments, I was laughing like a goose in front of the TV!! After finally winning the house selection contest, I lost to luck and drew a shabby house with long hair. Nan Nan was heartbroken, but she didn't say anything!"
"Princess Jingyi is so adorable. She looks delicate and fragile, but she's not spoiled at all. She even knows how to take care of her seasick father. Director Zhou is truly a doting father!"
"The contrast between the twins is so adorable! Lele is a little tomboy, and Kang Kang is such a cutie, always following his sister around and helping out. I really want a cute baby!!!"
"These adorable kids are so cute, I want to kiss and hug them all!!! Where can I adopt such cute children?? My maternal instincts are overflowing, I need to kiss all the babies!"
"It's been so long since I've seen such a heartwarming and hilarious variety show! No drama or catfights, just relaxation and fun! Hurry up, director!! I want to see episode two!! Don't make me beg you on my knees!!"
The supertopic was flooded with screenshots and memes, and it went viral overnight. One hardcore fan even edited the highlights of the first episode into a three-minute montage video, which garnered tens of millions of views and spread across various platforms, attracting countless organic viewers and discussions. "Travel" became a complete hit!
In the "Peach Blossoms" group, everyone was still immersed in joy and excitement.
"Zhenzhen made the right decision to give up 'The Actor' to participate in a travel variety show! After the first episode of 'The Actor' aired a while ago, Bai Xue and those popular celebrities were almost criticized to death."
"Without Zhenzhen to generate buzz for her, her acting skills are exposed! Her fans keep praising her, and she actually thinks she's a great actress!"
"Zhenzhen's fan count skyrocketed by 3 million last night, and it's almost 20 million now!!"
"Zhenzhen is so beautiful, she's reached a new level of beauty. Others look bland when they're dressed too simply, but she looks even better when she's dressed simply!"
Gradually, they also started discussing Gu Tingshen.
"My daughter has found a great husband. He's handsome, capable, gentle, and considerate. She doesn't have to lift a finger when it comes to cooking or packing."
"I was worried that President Gu wouldn't perform well, that he was too chauvinistic, and that he would hold Zhenzhen back. I was being narrow-minded. Why do I feel a little like swooning?"
"I heard that the apron that President Gu wears when he cooks has sold out online, and the sponsors are laughing all the way to the bank."
Online discussions consist mainly of tagging the production team and director, urging them to release the next episode.
The production team is so cunning; they ended the first episode by stopping at the moment when Ye Zhenzhen was changing into her swimsuit in her room and then called Gu Tingshen to help her.
Gu Tingshen was wearing a tight-fitting top, revealing his muscular physique. Just as the audience was getting into it and eagerly anticipating Ye Zhenzhen's appearance in a swimsuit, the first episode abruptly ended.
The comments section was filled with angry criticism of the production team, with many saying, "Airing one episode a week is too slow! I can't wait any longer!!"
Ye Zhenzhen watched last night's program alone in front of her computer. Although she had personally experienced many of the events, the program's editing gave it a fresh perspective. She watched with great interest until Song Chengcheng knocked on the door and came in.
"Mr. Ye, the production team of 'I Am an Actor' invites you to participate in the recording of the second episode this afternoon."
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