Chapter 17

Zhu Xinyue stepped into the elevator first, positioning herself slightly behind and to Ji Linyu’s left. Once settled, she subtly glanced at him, quietly observing his reaction.
Ji Linyu held the elevator door open, waiting for them to enter, his expression calm and unreadable.
Following his gaze, Zhu Xinyue looked back at Ji Qingyuan, who was still standing outside.
Ji Qingyuan’s face was a picture of displeasure, but he still remembered his manners, calling out a meek and obedient "Brother" before following Zhu Xinyue into the elevator. He wanted to stand on the same side as her, so he moved toward Ji Linyu’s left.
The elevator had plenty of space. As Ji Qingyuan entered, Zhu Xinyue shifted her position, moving from behind Ji Linyu to his right side.
Ji Linyu released the door button.
The elevator doors closed again, their metallic surfaces reflecting the figures of the three as it began its descent.
The confined space was thick with an awkward tension, the air moving sluggishly.
Zhu Xinyue wondered, had Ji Linyu heard what Ji Qingyuan said earlier? Did he think Ji Qingyuan liked her? That idiot! He couldn’t even tell the difference between affection and possessiveness!
Infuriated, she shot Ji Qingyuan a glare across the small gap between them.
Ji Qingyuan had been watching her since he entered. When he noticed her looking his way, he turned to meet her gaze.
His eyebrows lifted slightly, and with his unfairly handsome face, he gave her a meaningful look, as if to say: Think about my proposal.
Zhu Xinyue rolled her eyes: Think about it? Not a chance! Get lost!
Their silent exchange, seen through the elevator’s mirrored doors by Ji Linyu, who stood facing forward, looked no different from flirting.
In the reflection, Ji Linyu stood between them, the other two positioned slightly behind him on either side. Their covert glances seemed intimate and synchronized, as if no one else existed, leaving no room for anyone else to interfere.
Annoying.
Ji Linyu lifted his gaze to the elevator’s floor display. Why was it descending so slowly today?
Just then, the doors opened midway, and a few foreigners stepped in.
To make space, Ji Qingyuan started moving toward Zhu Xinyue, but Ji Linyu, who had been standing slightly ahead, took a step back, right between the two of them.
Ji Qingyuan: "…"
Ji Linyu seemed to notice his aggrieved expression and turned to him, asking mildly, "What’s wrong?"
Ji Qingyuan sighed softly. "Nothing."
Crossing his arms, he retreated to a corner, leaning his head against the metal wall, sulking in silence.
It wasn’t his brother’s fault. How could he know what was going on between them?
Ji Linyu withdrew his gaze and stood beside Zhu Xinyue.
Zhu Xinyue pursed her lips into a smile, her eyes sliding away as she stopped looking at them and quietly waited for the elevator to reach the target floor.
The hotel’s buffet breakfast was complimentary with a room key, and staff at the restaurant entrance verified the cards.
Zhu Xinyue held her plate and sidled up to Ji Linyu, naturally greeting him, “Brother Linyu, you’re up so early.”
Ji Linyu kept his eyes forward as he picked up food with the serving tongs, “Mm.”
“Brother Linyu, could you grab a slice of bacon for me?” Zhu Xinyue held out her plate toward him, smiling as she looked at him.
Ji Linyu’s tongs were already holding a slice of bacon, which he had intended to put on his own plate. Hearing her request, he changed direction and was about to place it on Zhu Xinyue’s plate when another pair of tongs reached from beside her, swiftly picking up a slice of bacon and placing it on Zhu Xinyue’s previously empty plate.
 Ji Qingyuan clicked the tongs open and closed, looking like a large crab showing off its claws to an enemy.
 He said to Zhu Xinyue, “What else do you want to eat? No need to trouble Brother, I’ll get it for you.”
Zhu Xinyue watched helplessly as Ji Linyu’s tongs, suspended in mid-air, returned to his own plate. She gritted her teeth and lowered her voice, saying to Ji Qingyuan, “No need, thank you.”
The words seemed to be squeezed out from between her teeth.
Ji Linyu turned and walked toward another food section.
It seemed he had no intention of getting involved in their dispute.
Seeing him walk away, Zhu Xinyue pouted and decided to rely on herself, picking up the tongs to serve her own food.
Ji Qingyuan still lingered by her side. Noticing she had taken a lot of meat, he said, “I remember you didn’t used to like meat much. You said it was too greasy and preferred lighter foods.”
Zhu Xinyue looked down at the glistening meat on her plate, bacon, ham, smoked meat, paired with a fried egg, golden-brown toast, and a few vegetables to cut the grease. It was a hearty spread.
“I was pretending,” she said indifferently and continued walking forward.
Ji Qingyuan’s plate was almost entirely filled with vegetarian dishes. Staring at the meat on Zhu Xinyue’s plate, he couldn’t help but swallow, as if reminding her or perhaps himself, “As an actor, you have to manage your figure. Otherwise, you won’t look good on screen, and the audience will find it distracting.”
He hadn’t eaten carbs in a long time.
Zhu Xinyue turned around, plate in hand, and looked at Ji Qingyuan with an exaggerated expression of surprise. Placing a hand over her chest, she said sarcastically, “Oh my, are you actually concerned about me? Why didn’t you tell me before I signed the contract that actors aren’t allowed to eat meat?”
Besides, she had been exercising intensely every day at the training base. After so many days, this was her one decent meal, what harm could a few extra slices of meat do?
Ji Qingyuan pouted, looking hurt. His usual bright, cheerful smile was gone, replaced by a dull, lifeless look in his eyes.
He tugged gently at the hem of her clothes and whispered, “I’m sorry. I know I didn’t care enough about you before. I won’t be like that from now on.”
"No, no, no, don’t worry about me. I can’t handle it." Zhu Xinyue waved her hands repeatedly, refusing to even glance at Ji Qingyuan. This man was exceptionally skilled at using his handsome face to say sweet, charming words that easily softened people’s hearts.
As they stood at an impasse, a young girl nearby asked softly, "Excuse me, are you Ji Qingyuan?"
The girl looked to be in her teens, holding a notebook and pen, gazing up at Ji Qingyuan with sparkling eyes.
Ji Qingyuan, accustomed to the adoring looks of his fans, forgot he was still pretending to be pitiful in front of Zhu Xinyue and instantly switched back to his professional persona.
When he lifted his head, a gentle smile graced his face, and his voice shifted into a magnetic, idol-like tone. His expressive eyes curved slightly as he asked kindly and patiently, "Would you like an autograph?"
It was as if he had two different faces.
The girl nodded eagerly, her eyes filled with nothing but the star before her. She added apologetically, "I’m sorry to bother you. Is this a private schedule? Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone…"
While Ji Qingyuan was speaking with his fan, Zhu Xinyue picked up her plate and went to find Ji Linyu. Scanning the room, she spotted him sitting alone at a two-person table by the window, having breakfast.
Zhu Xinyue walked straight over and took the seat opposite him.
Ji Linyu wiped his lips with a napkin, took a sip of the coffee beside him, and seemed indifferent to who was sitting across from him.
"You have a drink? Where’s the coffee? I didn’t see it earlier." Just as she sat down, Zhu Xinyue realized she hadn’t gotten a drink and made to stand up again.
Ji Linyu set down his coffee and glanced toward the buffet area behind him. "See the chef wearing the white hat? It’s right next to him."
Zhu Xinyue looked over, the area was filled with chefs in white hats.
"Um... let me look," she said, standing up and heading toward the food section.
After circling around without success, she was about to turn back when someone lightly grasped her wrist, not too tight, just enough to get her attention. A slight tug would have freed her.
"This way." Ji Linyu led her in another direction.
Zhu Xinyue followed behind him. After a couple of steps, once he saw she was keeping up, he released her wrist.
She rubbed her wrist, her emotions fluctuating.
She knew he was just guiding her, and she knew he was being cautious to avoid misunderstandings.
Unlike Ji Qingyuan, who was forceful and left no room for argument, Ji Linyu’s every touch was reasoned and restrained, always leaving the decision in her hands.
What was he really thinking?
Did he feel even a little bit of affection for her?
Or did he simply see her as his friend’s younger sister?
Zhu Xinyue followed him to the beverage area.
Ji Linyu took a warm white mug from the cabinet and asked her, "What would you like to drink?"
The various drink dispensers were labeled in English. Besides "Juice," the easiest to recognize was "Milk."
Zhu Xinyue: "Milk."
Orange juice can vary in sweetness and sourness, but milk should be pretty much the same everywhere.
Ji Linyu poured her a cup of warm milk.
Zhu Xinyue clasped her hands behind her back, walking beside Ji Linyu, deliberately letting him carry the milk for her.
Ji Linyu didn’t seem to expect her to take it herself either, holding the cup of milk naturally as they returned to their table for two.
Zhu Xinyue picked up her knife and fork and began to enjoy her breakfast.
Ji Linyu had almost finished eating and sat across from her, sipping coffee while gazing out the window.
The two seemed to share some unspoken understanding, neither choosing to speak at that moment.
The one who finished first could have left, but he didn’t.
The one still eating could have started a conversation, but she didn’t.
The morning sun was a bit glaring. Next to the restaurant was a rectangular swimming pool, where some people were sunbathing and others were swimming. When the sunlight shone down, shimmering golden ripples danced across the water’s surface.
Zhu Xinyue swallowed the last bite of her toast and picked up the mug to drink her milk.
Across from her, Ji Linyu also lifted his coffee cup at that moment, but it was empty, so he set it back down.
Zhu Xinyue had actually noticed his coffee cup was empty when she picked up her mug, but he hadn’t left.
This meant… he was keeping her company during breakfast!
Zhu Xinyue set down her mug, unable to suppress a secret thrill of happiness.
"Brother Linyu, do you have any plans for today?" she asked.
Ji Linyu adjusted the watch on his wrist and looked at Zhu Xinyue across the table. "What’s up?"
"The clothes I brought don’t seem quite suitable for the wedding. Could you come with me to pick out a new dress?" As if afraid he might refuse, Zhu Xinyue added, "My dad and brother’s flight doesn’t land until this afternoon. If we finish shopping in the morning, I can go pick them up afterward, the timing would be just right."
Zhu Xinyue had only asked tentatively. She thought someone as busy as the big boss probably wouldn’t have time to accompany her dress shopping, but what if?
Asking didn’t cost her anything.
Looking into her bright eyes, Ji Linyu didn’t know what came over him. The words he had held back all morning slipped out just then:
"Qingyuan would probably be happy to accompany you."
He didn’t refuse but brought up someone else instead.
Zhu Xinyue slowly straightened from her slightly leaning posture and blinked slowly.
She bit her lower lip, afraid a smile would escape.
Ji Linyu curled his fingers slightly. Her smile was quite intriguing, as if she had seen through his unspoken thoughts even before he had.
Something beyond his control was growing recklessly.
Pressing her lips together, she turned to look out the window, as if hiding something, then quickly turned back. The look in her eyes was bolder and more intense than before, the shimmering gold in the pool outside paling in comparison to the brilliant light in her gaze.
She said, "But I’d rather be with Brother Linyu." So clear, so firm, so taken for granted."