Huayu: Traffic is king

Chapter 130 I like you the most
When Gu Jingyi was half asleep, he felt a warm touch on his lips.

His mood was completely different from before; he felt no aversion whatsoever. In fact, the kiss made him feel a little more relaxed.

It was as if knowing she was there on the other side allowed him to trust her without reservation. A wandering heart was enveloped in a sense of security. His mood relaxed, and drowsiness almost overwhelmed him.

When Lin Ze, carrying the car keys, entered the private room, he saw Gu Jingyi sleeping soundly with her head on Liu Haojian's shoulder.

She seemed to straighten her back to make Gu Jingyi more comfortable. Liu Haojian's long-term dance training had given him an indescribable, captivating charm.

Lin Ze was completely bewildered by this display of affection, his lips trembling as he tried to retort about the person's unseemly posture.

She was stopped by Liu Haojian, who reacted quickly, shaking his head and putting his finger to his lips in a "shh" gesture.

Lin Ze subconsciously swallowed the words he hadn't said and shook his head silently.

"He didn't sleep all night," Liu Haojian mouthed.

Lin Ze nodded, becoming more careful with his movements. He cautiously sat down on the other side, placing his briefcase down only after it had touched the table, his movements so light that there was no rustling sound.

His movements were just like the slow-motion "Flash" from Zootopia, extremely cautious.

Lin Ze glanced at the few remaining foods in front of him and guessed that this was where Liu Haojian had initially sat.

Girls generally don't eat much, so it seems that the plate on the other side is what Gu Jingyi ate today.

With just one glance, Lin Ze knew what was going on.

He glanced at the time on his watch, hesitated for a moment, and then asked in a low voice, "Shouldn't we call Jingyi for dinner?"

Seeing that Liu Haojian was a little confused, he added in a low voice, "Jingyi's appetite is not that small. He usually eats more than this."

Liu Haojian quickly shook his head slightly: "He just ate something, so he shouldn't be very hungry yet. He can eat later. Right now, the most important thing for Jingyi is to rest. He can eat after he wakes up. Let him sleep a little longer."

In Cantonese teahouses, shrimp dumplings, shrimp siu mai, and poached chicken are mostly semi-finished products, so they are served very quickly.

If Gu Jingyi really wakes up and wants to eat some more, he won't have to wait long.

Liu Haojian knew best whether Gu Jingyi had slept well last night or not; he could tell from Gu Jingyi's dazed appearance when they reunited.

Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains onto Gu Jingyi's face, revealing faint dark circles under his eyes.

Liu Haojian gently touched it with his fingertips, his eyes filled with unconcealed heartache.

Gu Jingyi's head shifted slightly due to her movement, sliding off her shoulder.

Like a startled rabbit, Liu Haojian quickly regained his composure and sat up straight. She gently stroked his face with her hand and then lifted him onto her shoulder.

"How about we switch seats?"

Her back was ramrod straight, like a young poplar tree facing the wind.

Maintaining this posture for a long time must be very uncomfortable, Lin Ze asked in a low voice, feeling a little reluctant.

"No need, it's fine."

Liu Haojian smiled, his tone completely devoid of any reluctance.

Seeing her insistence, Lin Ze didn't say anything more.

He simply took out his tablet and started looking at the documents one by one with a stylus.

Liu Haojian also took out his Kindle and started reading the script page by page.

Time passed little by little, and when she was tired, she would glance at Gu Jingyi beside her.

Gu Jingyi was very quiet when he slept.
It neither snores nor grinds its teeth.

His breathing was steady and even, so he didn't seem to be having a nightmare.

He also has a very good sleeping posture; when he's quiet, Gu Jingyi looks quite docile. He's the kind of person who could be photographed into a poster at any moment and posted on Weibo, causing fans to exclaim, "My husband is flirting again!"

Liu Haojian stared at Gu Jingyi, somewhat lost in thought, his brows relaxed.

This was probably the closest she had ever been to him.

Once asleep, Gu Jingyi seemed less unapproachable, and the sense of distance disappeared completely.

This wasn't because Gu Jingyi had a bad temper or seemed unapproachable. Rather, it was because his appearance was so striking, his natural handsomeness creating a sense of distance.

But once you get to know him, you'll find he's not difficult to get along with. He even has a very gentle temper and is very polite.

Even though their first meeting was so dramatic, he remained magnanimous.

Upon returning, Liu Haojian initially did not contact Gu Xuanxuan. He simply couldn't bring himself to put the matter aside and act as intimately as usual.

Gu Xuanxuan remained as lively and cheerful as ever, so much so that even if Liu Haojian didn't reply, she could still chat for two pages in the chat box all by herself.

When she gave only a polite reply, the little girl's phone rang.

It's not audio, but video that more concretely expresses emotions and allows people to perceive feelings.

Liu Haojian hesitated until the ringing was almost over before answering the call.

Gu Xuanxuan didn't know, and indeed she didn't know.

Just as he had said before, Gu Jingyi did not tell his sister about that embarrassing past.

Contrary to his sharp and somewhat inhuman appearance, it's hard to believe that this is Gu Jingyi's way of doing things.

Liu Haojian sometimes felt that this "distant" facade was a good thing for Gu Jingyi.

Gu Jingyi is like a candy wrapped in tin foil; beneath his sharp exterior lies a soft heart that makes one's heart flutter with sweetness.

Every girl automatically transforms into a detective in front of her crush.

Liu Haojian tilted his head and continued to deduce from him.

Gu Jingyi must have discovered the illegitimate child not long after he came out of the shower with a towel draped over his shoulders.

She had no hairstyle and was completely without makeup.

His personal style is also casual and comfortable. There aren't many designs, and it even looks a bit plain.

But a truly handsome man can be so strikingly handsome in any natural state.

Gu Jingyi is a top-tier handsome man in the industry; his good looks are beyond question.

The smoky gray hair color was just dyed during the recent tour. Although it doesn't look as sophisticated as it did at the concert after fading slightly, it still exudes a sense of everyday life.

He has a lot of hair, and is known as the "king of hair volume". His hair is soft and not frizzy, and looks very fluffy.

A few stray strands of hair fell down because of the previous little incident, obscuring his handsome, almost sharp, eyebrows and eyes.

Liu Haojian tilted his head to look at Gu Jingyi, just like a painter admiring a painting she had created.

If she were an artist, Gu Jingyi would undoubtedly be her most vibrant and colorful oil painting. Her style is striking and full of life.

Just looking at that face made her feel great.

Some handsome men are stunning at first glance, but upon closer inspection, they seem unremarkable.

Like a soulless painting, a flower without fragrance.

But Gu Jingyi was different; whether he was in motion or still, he had a strong attraction for Liu Haojian.

No matter how many times you watch it, you'll never get tired of it; you'll only become more engrossed and addicted.

Some people possess a certain charm; even if you can't see them in person, the longing for them lingers like the wind, popping into your mind from time to time and making your heart itch.

Having spent these days together, Liu Haojian had already noticed it.

For her, Gu Jingyi was like catnip to a cat.

I've heard that some cats have an anti-addiction mechanism; when they're being petted by their owners and feeling incredibly comfortable, they'll gently nip at them. This way, they don't get too embarrassed or too addicted.

So, does she, as a human, also possess this?
Liu Haojian's mind went blank, and one idea after another popped into his head.

Like bubbles, they fill my mood with joy.

Suddenly, Gu Jingyi's brow twitched slightly. He seemed about to wake up, and Liu Haojian quickly averted his gaze.

As if to cover something up, she took out her AirPods from her pocket and put them on.

Several minutes passed, but Gu Jingyi showed no signs of waking up.

Liu Haojian chuckled to himself, no wonder Gu Jingyi could become the undisputed number one influencer.

He only frowned slightly, yet it stirred up a storm in her heart.

She had only known him for a little over a month, but she had already fallen for him.

Liu Haojian started reading the script again, line by line, looking at the play that would be performed that evening.

That's right, she was calculating in her mind the date when Milkball Sen would finish his tour.

I took leave precisely on time, no more, no less, until the day after the end of Milk Foam Forest's tour concert.

The thought of his scenes tonight made Liu Haojian feel pressured.

When focused, one is fully engaged in work mode.

Gu Jingyi blinked twice, seemingly adjusting to his surroundings. His brain was still a little groggy from sleep, and he hadn't quite processed the unfamiliar environment yet.

As soon as he opened his eyes, he saw a long, slender, fair neck.

Moving upwards, you see Liu Haojian's pure and beautiful face.

Gu Jingyi raised his head and sat up straight again, rubbing his neck, which was a little sore from sleeping for so long.

Did he just fall asleep? How long did he sleep?

Gu Jingyi subconsciously picked up his phone to check the time and found that it was already past three in the afternoon. He couldn't help but widen his eyes slightly, somewhat incredulous.

Is this for real? I arrived for dinner at just past 11 a.m.

Can he really sleep that much? That can't be...

He slept for more than four hours, from a little after 11 a.m. to a little after 3 a.m.
Gu Jingyi blinked, beginning to question the meaning of life.

"Don't think about it, you just slept for that long."

A somewhat irritating voice rang out, and Lin Ze's familiar face froze on the other side.

Gu Jingyi scoffed, as if Lin Ze would always suddenly appear and ruin the atmosphere, no matter when.

"Aren't you eager to ask me when I arrived? When you were sleeping soundly on someone's shoulder like a log."

Lin Ze, that bastard, is still as infuriating as ever when he opens his mouth.

Gu Jingyi certainly wouldn't let him be so arrogant, so he simply ignored Lin Ze and jumped over him.

He turned his head, frowning and asking with some confusion, "Strange, did you just hear something? I think I heard Brother Ze's voice, but I don't think he's that annoying."

Liu Haojian laughed at his joke and covered her mouth. Her gaze shifted back and forth between Gu Jingyi and Lin Ze, and she laughed heartily.

Lin Ze immediately broke down, "Hey, Gu Jingyi!!! I'm right in front of you, you want to ask her?"

"Sorry, the Ze Ge I know never talks so cheekily. I thought I mistook him for someone else, sorry (Zhu Dan's tone)."

Gu Jingyi spread his hands and spoke with an air of seriousness.

"I'm really impressed by your mouth. Gu Jingyi, why don't you just become a handsome mute?"

Lin Ze's expression was quite interesting, changing from one look to one of helplessness.

"That won't do. After all, a good actor can't sing."

After a few jokes, the two got down to business.

After #Gu Jingyi's illegitimate child# became a trending topic, angry fans rushed to the hotel.

The hotel acted quickly and has already taken initial steps to address the situation.

The cleaning staff were not careful enough and spilled a lot of trash; the security team neglected their duties.

The staff member responsible for the accident has already left the company, causing such a huge uproar. To quell the fans' anger, the hotel must also take this matter seriously.

Since they created a dangerous situation, it would be impossible for them to stay in the hotel and continue working.

Celebrities are public figures, let alone a phenomenal top star like Gu Jingyi.

If the hotel simply brushes this off, fans will give it more than just negative ratings on the group-buying platform.

If they really want to take it seriously, they can totally go through the offline registration process and then cause trouble.

Moreover, any hotel must protect the privacy and safety of its customers.

If the hotel handles the situation leniently, it may lose a group of loyal customers who no longer trust its credibility.

The hotel made a clean break without hesitation, demonstrating a clear and thorough understanding of the situation.

Moreover, every company needs rules and regulations. If this deep-seated problem isn't addressed decisively now, the entire hotel will be in a mess if similar incidents occur again.

Although the cleaning staff said it was unintentional, it cannot be forgiven for all this based on a subjective explanation.

Anyone working in a hotel, from the moment they step into the hotel area, must provide excellent service to customers, and protecting personal privacy and safety is the most basic requirement.

She didn't even do that; she left the door unlocked when she went out, giving stalkers an opportunity.

The hotel's announcement nominally stated that the employee resigned voluntarily due to serious negligence, but in reality, she was fired. She was the one who directly created the risk, and therefore bears direct responsibility.

Regarding the illegitimate child, the hotel also contacted the child's parents.

The hotel sent Uncle Hat directly to their door, citing a theft as the reason.

They took the illegitimate child away and took a statement from him along with the legal director of Huace and Lin Ze.

While in Uncle Hat's car, the young illegitimate child made a phone call home.

Every call went unanswered; the other party either didn't answer or hung up.

The phone rang for a long time before a middle-aged man answered it.

"Hey?"

When the phone finally picked up a voice, the stalker breathed a sigh of relief.

"Dad, you finally answered the phone. I'm now..."

"I'm in a meeting right now. If you need money, I'll have my secretary transfer some to your card later."

The other party hung up the phone without even listening to the whole thing.

The situation was quite similar when she called her mother.

"I'm at the beauty salon right now, getting a treatment. Don't call me. If you need money, ask your dad. How old are you? How can you never be so tactless?"

He left a few words and then hung up the phone.

Only the illegitimate child remains, bewildered in the wind.

She didn't even wipe away the tears from the corners of her eyes before lowering her head and remaining silent.

Seeing this, even the Huace team couldn't say anything harsh.

After the oranges arrived, Uncle Hat mainly focused on mediation.

Just like what the supervisor said when we checked the surveillance footage before.

Since the other party is a minor, the approach is mainly verbal reprimand. Their guardian is called in, and they must write a guarantee.

The other party's father simply sent his butler over, citing that he couldn't spare the time.

When faced with the claim that the guardian of the "hat uncle" must be a relative, the man retorted, "My child calls me 'Grandpa Butler' every day. He's heard it so many times. How can he not be a relative? He's a grandpa, no doubt about it!" leaving the "hat uncle" speechless.

When the housekeeper arrived, he immediately handed the stalker's phone to Huace, indicating that Huace should keep it to avoid them assuming the stalker had kept the photos. Later, when Gu Jingyi's photos were leaked, they couldn't explain themselves.

He also expressed a deep apology, and his actions were relatively objective.

After copying the photos from his phone, Lin Ze transferred them to a USB drive.

This is also for backup purposes, so that the data can be found later.

This matter was handled fairly well, considering the other party was a minor. However, they insisted they didn't recognize the brand of the clothes and had no concept of price.

The butler from the other side also came over and tried to comfort her.

The other party demanded ten times the value of the clothes as compensation and pleaded with Huace to show leniency. They also stated that they had not disciplined the child properly and would have the illegitimate child write a formal letter of repentance.

The events unfolded roughly as follows, which Lin Ze recounted vividly.

“Jingyi, here’s the card that paid him ten times the value of the clothes.”

"No need, you can take it and donate it in my name."

"The self-criticism is finished, it's in my briefcase. Do you want to take a look? That girl was crying while writing it."

"No need, you can handle it yourself."

Gu Jingyi didn't care much about these things; he didn't care about compensation or the written apology.

In his view, whether the other party is truly remorseful has nothing to do with these things.

He will not forgive because of these things, nor does he intend to forgive.

"However, it's not all bad news. The news that your personal clothing was stolen by a sasaeng fan during your tour has already made fans and casual observers feel incredibly sorry for you. They've been writing love diaries and hotel posts, and even your fan page has been filled with heartbreaking stories."

"In other words, you are now accumulating legal troubles. Even if you suddenly find yourself embroiled in scandals, you can still find great scholars to defend you without you doing anything."

"Pah, pah, pah, if you can't speak properly, don't talk nonsense. Pay the taxes you should pay, and don't sleep with people you shouldn't sleep with. What could I possibly need armor for? You're just spouting nonsense again."

Gu Jingyi looked at Lin Ze, speechless and not wanting to say anything.

"Of course there are, and there's more than one."

Lin Ze gave Liu Haojian a meaningful look and smiled slyly.

"Tch," Gu Jingyi said, and immediately moved on to the next question.

"You must have more good news than just this one, tell me what else there is."

Actually, Gu Jingyi felt a little guilty. If Lin Ze had dared to tease him like that before, Gu Jingyi would have already retorted. He wasn't some kind of person who was obsessed with sex.

What's wrong? Can't there be a pure friendship between men and women?

However, today, Gu Jingyi was genuinely feeling guilty.

"I've already kissed you, so those things don't count~"

Gu Jingyi vaguely remembered hearing those words.

The warm touch on his lips was even more real and terrifying; he never expected that his relationship with Liu Haojian would change.

Who understands? He really didn't intend to be a jerk in the first place!
The world calls him a scumbag, which is a huge misunderstanding of Gu Jingyi, this pure-hearted boy.

He wouldn't feel comfortable giving it to someone else, so he'd rather keep it by his side.

As for the rest, let nature take its course.

Liu Haojian's gentle kiss severed their pure friendship.

Gu Jingyi didn't pretend to be something he wasn't; he knew Lin Ze had figured it out. Otherwise, given Lin Ze's personality, he wouldn't discuss serious matters in front of a third party.

Lin Ze's words, seemingly joking, were actually a test. He wanted to consider his future attitude towards Liu Haojian based on Gu Jingyi's reaction.

She acts like a sister-in-law, but treats her friends the same way.

No top agent is a simple person!
"And another thing, Jingyi. CK invited you to be their Asia-Pacific brand ambassador. They originally wanted to promote Jackson Wang, who was officially announced as their brand ambassador in China last year, to the position after his two-year term. But after your underwear was stolen by a stalker, that picture of the largest size European underwear really went viral."

"They all say you're perfect for Dior, your Dior is so spectacular it's gone viral."

"Thank you so much. I don't even know whether I should be happy or what to say."

Gu Jingyi covered his forehead, looking somewhat conflicted.

He was naturally proud to be praised for the grandeur of Dior, but Gu Jingyi felt somewhat disgusted by this kind of publicity.

He's really despicable for getting endorsements in this way because his private information was leaked by his sasaeng fans.

"CK offered 300 million yuan a year for the endorsement, covering 46 cities."

Seeing Gu Jingyi's expression, Lin Ze started to increase the stakes.

"300 million is just average."

Gu Jingyi remained unmoved; this price was really cheap for him.

His current endorsement fee in China is around 1200 million yuan per year.

Of course, this is just a quote.

But after the actual agreement was reached, his endorsement deal was worth around 1000 million.

Unlike some young celebrities who initially quoted millions but then snatched endorsements for hundreds of thousands, thus pioneering the trend of "low-price endorsement grabbing," he won't do the same.

"It's in US dollars, which translates to about 1800 million a year. Gu Jingyi, you've really turned misfortune into blessing."

Lin Ze stood up, patted his shoulder, and looked excited.

A price of 1800 million per year is indeed something that cannot be offered domestically at present.

"You'll be shooting a CK ad, and you'll be on the cover. I think with your looks, it'll be a real eye-catcher."

Lin Ze smiled happily; his salary was based on a profit-sharing system. Although his contract was with Huace, he received his salary from Gu Jingyi.

Gu Jingyi ate meat, and he drank the soup along with him.

After everything was discussed and settled, Gu Jingyi raised his hand and waved it in front of Liu Haojian.

He gestured for her to take off her headphones and get ready to go home.

"Are you done talking?"

Liu Haojian took off his headphones and then looked at him.

"I've also memorized my lines, what a coincidence."

"Oh right, Gu Jingyi, could you wait a little longer?"

Seeing that Gu Jingyi was about to get up and leave, Liu Haojian opened his mouth slightly and spoke.

"Can"

Although Gu Jingyi didn't understand what she was up to, he still sat down.

"Hello, guest. Your meal has been packed for you."

The waiter also came over with the packed meals.

Liu Haojian accepted it, saying, "Thank you."

"You're welcome," the waiter said with a smile and left.

After the other person left, she placed the bag directly into Gu Jingyi's hands.

"Is this... what you're talking about?"

Gu Jingyi was somewhat surprised, not expecting that what she meant by having something to do earlier was this.

Even through the insulated bag, you could sense the food inside. It was obvious that Liu Haojian had secretly gone out to do this while he was engrossed in his conversation with Lin Ze after he woke up.

Lin Ze gave her a somewhat approving look, not expecting that this girl had actually taken the phrase "not Jingyi's normal appetite" to heart.

"Yes," Liu Haojian nodded, smiling somewhat naively.

Oh right, here you go.

Liu Haojian slapped his forehead and decisively took out his AirPods from his pocket, handing them to Gu Jingyi to keep.

These compact Bluetooth earbuds are no bigger than half the size of a palm, making them very convenient to carry around.

Gu Jingyi shook his head and waved his hand.

"no need"

The sudden rejection startled Liu Haojian. She assumed Gu Jingyi was disgusted that she had worn his belongings without permission. Her germaphobia kicked in, and she simply refused.

Today's joy has vanished.

Liu Haojian lowered her head, somewhat at a loss. Her high emotional intelligence seemed to vanish at that moment.

"Don't overthink it," Gu Jingyi's voice rang out.

“These AirPods are clearly out of power, but you still can’t bear to take them off.”

Liu Haojian felt a little guilty. She only realized she had been caught again when she met Gu Jingyi's smiling eyes.

So when he talks about work, does he really feel at ease having me by his side?
Not afraid of myself, I went back to what I was doing before...

While lost in thought, Liu Haojian felt his head being touched.

"Don't overthink it, I know you won't."

Gu Jingyi looked at her, his tone very firm.

"it is good"

Liu Haojian heard himself say this.

On the way to the airport, Lin Ze was driving. She and Gu Jingyi sat side by side in the back seat. She hesitated for a moment and asked in a low voice, "When did you find out that the AirPods were out of power? I could actually hear you talking."

"Do you really want to know?" Gu Jingyi asked.

Seeing her serious expression, Gu Jingyi gave the correct answer.

"I knew it when I woke up on your shoulder and couldn't hear the music coming through my headphones."

Liu Haojian suddenly realized, "Why didn't you tell me sooner? How embarrassing..."

“Because you didn’t ask,” Gu Jingyi raised an eyebrow.

"Gu Jingyi, you're so annoying!"

Liu Haojian pouted, but what he really wanted to say was, "I like you the most..."

(End of this chapter)