Trending topic alert: The mysterious fan site administrator of a top celebrity has been exposed.

The intense work finally came to an end, and Zhou Ai felt like a taut bow that could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

The first thing he did was to solemnly find Xu Yang, pat him on the shoulder, and announce: "For the next week, unless the sky falls, absolutely, absolutely do not contact me."

Xu Yang nodded "seriously," looking completely at ease, and said while suppressing a laugh, "Got it, got it. I'll strictly control the criteria for what constitutes a 'sky falling down,' like an alien invasion or something? Go ahead and enjoy your 'reward'!"

Zhou Ai spent the entire afternoon turning the walk-in closet upside down.

He took out outfits one by one to compare, only to reject them with a frown.

"This outfit is too over-the-top..."

"This outfit is too casual..."

"Is this color not sophisticated enough?"

Ultimately, he chose a perfectly tailored, high-quality smoky gray cashmere sweater, paired with black casual trousers, and topped with a well-tailored dark long coat.

Although it's not too different from his usual casual style, it's fortunate that it's neither too formal nor contrived, and it perfectly accentuates his physique, exuding a low-key yet sophisticated feel, adding a touch of composure and restraint.

Clothes alone weren't enough. Zhou Ai also went to an antique jewelry store and carefully selected a platinum tie clip inlaid with black onyx.

The design is simple yet classic, with a cool sheen, much like the feeling Chu Yi gave him—calm, self-possessed, yet revealing an undeniable quality in the details.

He carefully put the gift box into his pocket, imagining Chu Yi pinning it to his crisp shirt, and couldn't help but smile.

Even on the eve of everything being ready, Zhou Ai tossed and turned in bed, and finally couldn't resist calling her mother.

The background noise on the other end of the phone was a bit loud, seemingly coming from a card table. Zhou Ai's mother paused for a moment when she heard her son's unusually hesitant and nervous inquiry, then told her card-playing friends to "wait a moment" and went to the relatively quiet balcony.

"What should I be aware of when dating?" Zhou's mother pondered for a few seconds on the other end of the phone, seemingly seriously considering her son's question.

Then he asked Zhou Ai in detail about the personality traits and occupation of this "mysterious person".

Finally, she gave what she considered the most insightful and pertinent advice: "Son, listen to your mother, tone it down. Don't be so loud and boisterous. If you're going to pretend, at least pretend to be deep and composed. Maturity and stability are the most important things. He's an educated person, a doctor, so he'll definitely prefer someone steady and reliable."

Zhou Ai held her phone and gave a heavy "hmm," firmly engraving the seven words "act profound, be more mature" into her mind.

All is ready except for the opportunity.

Zhou Ai took several deep breaths to calm her pounding heart, took out her phone, and after much deliberation and revision, finally sent the WeChat message:

[Teacher Chu, I've finished my work. May I come and collect my reward?]

After successfully sending the message, he immediately pressed the phone screen to his chest, waiting anxiously, feeling that every second was incredibly long.

Fortunately, Chu Yi's reply came quickly, and it was direct and practical:

What would you like to eat? Are there any dietary restrictions?

Zhou Ai's eyes lit up when she saw the reply, and she immediately responded, trying her best to create an image of a sensible child who is "easy to raise and not picky about food":

No, I'm easy to feed and never picky about food.

When he uttered those words, he selectively forgot his discerning palate and the headache Xu Yang had when he created the recipes for him.

In fact, Chu Yi had already started selecting restaurants several days ago.

Given Zhou Ai's special status, privacy was the primary requirement. He checked almost all the high-end and discreet restaurants in the city and finally settled on "Yunding".

This Cantonese private restaurant is highly regarded in Beijing for its exquisite cuisine, elegant ambiance, and absolute privacy. Seats are hard to come by, especially private rooms, which usually need to be booked well in advance.

Chu Yi used some unusual connections to barely manage to book a small private room in a relatively good location, and the timing was just right.

Even though he had made thorough preparations, Chu Yi still habitually sought Zhou Ai's opinion, which was a basic sign of respect.

But to his surprise, Zhou Ai's reply skipped all the specific options and simply stated:

I'll eat anything as long as I'm with you.

These words were so direct they almost sounded like a coquettish plea, causing Chu Yi's fingers, which were holding the phone, to pause slightly. He ignored the strange feeling in his heart and continued to calmly consider the practical issues.

Are there any special requirements regarding privacy? Will being photographed by paparazzi have any impact?

This time, Zhou Ai replied even faster.

[Has Professor Chu forgotten that paparazzi are afraid to photograph me?]

Chu Yi looked at the line of text and was slightly taken aback. He realized that he had indeed been overthinking it.

He lowered his eyes, his fingertips tapping the screen to finalize the arrangements:

Okay. See you at Genting Highlands tomorrow night at 7 PM. I'll send you the address later.

The message was sent successfully. Chu Yi put down his phone and looked out the window. The city lights were just coming on, and a hint of expectation, unnoticed even by himself, was reflected in the glass.

And the inexplicable anxiety I had been feeling all this time finally settled down at this moment.

Meanwhile, Zhou Ai, on the other end, excitedly jumped up from the sofa, hugged a cushion, and screamed silently for several seconds before seriously considering how to perfectly execute her mother's supreme instruction to "act profound and mature" tomorrow.

---

As evening fell the following day, the city lights began to twinkle, adding a touch of hazy warmth to the chilly early winter of Beijing.

Zhou Ai arrived at the area where "Genting" was located a little early. He deliberately disguised himself today, wearing a black baseball cap pulled low and a black mask that covered half of his face.

Wearing a carefully chosen smoky gray knit sweater and a dark coat, she exuded a calmer demeanor and blended into the wealthy and powerful crowd heading to Genting Highlands without standing out too much.

After Zhou Ai handed the car keys to the valet, she noticed several children, who looked about seven or eight years old and were dressed in thick clothes but whose little faces were still red from the cold, selling flowers to passersby in a corner near the entrance.

Most people who come to eat at this kind of place are in a hurry or busy talking, and few people stop to eat there.

Zhou Ai slowed his pace. His gaze fell on a little girl with two braids and big, bright eyes, who was holding several bouquets of wrapped roses.

He walked over, squatted down in front of the little girl, and lined up with her. His voice came through his mask, sounding a little muffled, but he deliberately kept it soft: "What is this?" He pointed to the flowers in his arms.

The little girl blinked her big eyes, looked at the handsome older brother in front of her who was still very good-looking even though his face was covered, pointed to the rose in her hand, and answered very seriously, "Brother, are you talking about this? This is a Roselle Rose."

"The Rose of the Rose Goddess?" Zhou Ai repeated softly, finding the name of the flower beautiful.

He reached out and very carefully pulled one from her bosom, examining it closely in his hand. The flower was in full bloom, its color delicate and its fragrance subtle and elegant.

Zhou Ai looked up at the little girl, a slight smile curving his lips beneath his mask. His voice held a hint of shyness and earnestness: "Brother wants to give this to his sweetheart. Do you think it's appropriate?"

Upon hearing the words "sweetheart," the little girl immediately covered her mouth with her slightly reddened hands, her eyes crinkling into crescent moons with laughter, and nodded vigorously: "Perfect, brother! This hibiscus rose symbolizes 'waiting love'!"

"Waiting for love?" Zhou Ai's heartstrings seemed to be gently plucked.

"Yes!" The little girl nodded firmly, trying hard to recall what the adults had taught her, counting on her fingers, "Yes, faith, restraint, waiting, hope, and... the romance of love! It's all of these~"

She tilted her little face up, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Zhou Ai. "This is the perfect gift for my sweetheart, brother!"

Looking at the rose of the hibiscus in his hand, which symbolized "waiting, hope and romance," and then at the remaining roses in the little girl's arms, Zhou Ai said gently, almost without hesitation, "Then you can wrap them all up. I'll take them all."

The little girl's eyes widened in surprise, as if she couldn't believe it, and she asked, "Brother, all of them?"

"Yes, all of them." Zhou Ai nodded, her tone certain.

The little girl immediately cheered and busily began tidying up the remaining flowers.

Her little hands were a bit clumsy but very earnest. With great effort, she carefully wrapped all the remaining rosebuds in a large sheet of kraft paper, tied it with a pretty ribbon, and then solemnly handed it to Zhou Ai. Her little face was even redder from excitement and the cold: "Brother, here you go! I wish you happiness~"

Zhou Ai accepted the large bouquet of roses, which might not have been perfectly wrapped. With her other hand, she took out her wallet from her coat pocket, pulled out a sum of money far exceeding the price of the flowers, and stuffed it into the little girl's hand. She gently said "thank you," and ruffled the little girl's hair. "Go home early, it's cold outside."

Love is waiting. He hopes that his waiting will have a romantic continuation tonight.

At this moment, Chu Yi had already arrived at the private room a few minutes earlier. The environment was quiet and elegant, with excellent privacy.

He was looking down at his phone, checking the time, when the door to the private room was gently knocked on and pushed open by the waiter.

Chu Yi looked up and saw Zhou Ai standing at the door, holding a large bouquet of roses.

He seemed to have rushed over, still slightly out of breath, and his eyes under the brim of his hat were surprisingly bright as he stared straight at him.

The large bouquet of flowers created a strange yet surprisingly harmonious contrast with his deliberately composed demeanor.

Zhou Ai saw that Chu Yi was already there and seemed a little embarrassed. She quickly walked in and handed the bouquet forward slightly. "I saw it at the door. I thought it suited you well, so I'm giving it to you."

Chu Yi was somewhat taken aback by the huge bouquet of roses that Zhou Ai had unexpectedly handed her. She slowly took the roses from his hands and said, "Thank you."

After Zhou Ai handed over the flowers, she took off her hat and mask. It was the first time that Chu Yi, who was opposite her, had seen his latest black hair look up close in real life.

The two sat facing each other, and the atmosphere at the meal was initially subtly reserved.

Zhou Ai tried her best to follow her mother's instructions to "act profound and mature." She sat upright, chewed silently, and even slowed down her chopsticks movements, attempting to create a steady and reliable image.

Chu Yi broke the silence first. He scooped a small bowl of warm soup and placed it in front of Zhou Ai, saying in a natural tone, "I've seen your new GG video, the final product is pretty good."

Zhou Ai was carefully eating a shrimp dumpling when she heard this and suddenly looked up, her eyes instantly lighting up with surprise. She almost forgot about "pretending to be profound": "You read it? I thought... you were too busy to read these things."

Chu Yi lowered her head and wiped her mouth with a napkin, her tone calm but firm: "I will read it. I will read it when I have time."

Zhou Ai swallowed the last bite of shrimp dumpling, put down her chopsticks, hesitated for a moment, but couldn't help but ask the question that had been swirling in her heart for a long time. Her voice unconsciously lowered a few decibels: "I thought... you would be annoyed with me."

He was always worried that sending messages so frequently and sharing those trivial daily moments would be a disturbance.

Upon hearing Zhou Ai's words, Chu Yi paused in her act of picking up food.

He slowly put down his chopsticks, raised his head, and calmly looked at Zhou Ai across from him, who seemed a little uneasy.

The private room was quiet for a moment, with only the faint sound of the air conditioner running.

"Zhou Ai," Chu Yi said, her voice as cool as ever, yet with a rare seriousness, "Sometimes I might express myself in a cold way, and my responses to you might not be very enthusiastic."

He paused, seemingly choosing his words carefully, "But that doesn't mean I'm unhappy or annoyed."

Chu Yi seemed to be considering what to say next. She lowered her eyes slightly, her long, thick eyelashes casting a small shadow under her eyelids. Her tone revealed a hint of barely perceptible honesty, or even clumsy explanation: "It's just... I'm used to it. Because of my family, I might not be very good at... expressing my thoughts and needs."

Therefore, when he received such a direct, enthusiastic, and unreserved approach and response from Zhou Ai, he was momentarily at a loss as to how to respond in the "correct" way.

He received that kindness and enthusiasm, and his heart was not unmoved, but what he expressed was probably less than one ten-thousandth of what the other party felt.

He needs time, and he also needs Zhou Ai's patience.

These almost candid words, spoken by someone as aloof and restrained as Chu Yi, carried far more weight than a thousand sweet words.

Zhou Ai was stunned; he had never expected to receive such an answer.

"I...I didn't think you were being cold," Zhou Ai said hastily, her voice urgent, but her eyes shining brightly. "I just...I was just imagining things. You don't need to change, really! Do whatever makes you comfortable!"

He was afraid that Chu Yi would misunderstand him, and he was even a little annoyed that he had asked that question earlier.

He felt completely full, as if his heart was filled with something warm.

Seeing his eagerness, Chu Yi smiled and gave a soft "Mmm," then picked up her chopsticks again: "Let's eat, the food's getting cold."

The atmosphere became noticeably more relaxed and warm afterward.

Zhou Ai no longer tries to appear profound and has regained some of her true nature. She shares anecdotes about filming GG with Chu Yi and complains about how many props are used, but she keeps the tone just right and no longer talks incessantly.

Although Chu Yi still doesn't talk much, she listens attentively and occasionally responds with a word or two, or turns the dishes she thinks are delicious to Zhou Ai.

The meal ended in a subtle and harmonious atmosphere.

As they left "Genting Peak", the cold winter wind swept over them, and Zhou Ai instinctively turned to the side to shield Chu Yi from the wind.

He looked at Chu Yi's slightly thin coat, his heart pounding at the prospect of her next suggestion.

"Um..." Zhou Ai tried to make her tone sound natural and considerate, "It's getting late, and it might be difficult to get a taxi around here. Shall I take you home?"

After he finished speaking, he carefully observed Chu Yi's expression, his mind racing with calculations: on the one hand, he could find out where Chu Yi lived, and on the other hand, this was a rare opportunity to spend more time alone with him!

Upon hearing this, Chu Yi turned to look at him. Zhou Ai's car was parked not far away, its black body sleek under the streetlights.

Chu Yi simply stared at him silently for two seconds, her gaze calm and unwavering, yet seemingly able to see through all the thoughts he was carefully hiding.

Just as Zhou Ai thought she was about to be rejected and her heart sank, Chu Yi nodded calmly:

"Okay. Thank you for your help."

After saying that, he took the lead and walked towards the car.

Zhou Ai stood there, stunned for a second, then a surge of immense joy rushed to his head. He quickly followed, his lips curving upwards in a wild, uncontrollable smile.