Zhong Ruanxing heard her heart thump loudly twice in the quiet, leisurely corridor, standing out clearly.
But before she could savor the feeling, Song JinXing had already walked over and taken her luggage from her. "Where's Fu Ling?"
"I told him to wait for me in the lobby."
Zhong Ruanxing took the breakfast, gave it a sniff, and took a sip of the soy milk. Sweetly, she said, "Where did you get this so early?"
Song JinXing said, "I had the hotel prepare it in advance."
At a five-star hotel, they can do anything if you can think of it. Zhong Ruanxing smelled the fragrant pan-fried buns and felt her earlier drowsiness dissipate. She followed Song JinXing into the elevator and turned her head to look at him, "Aren't you tired?"
"I'm alright." He placed the luggage at his feet and took a card out of his pocket, handing it to her.
Zhong Ruanxing looked it over and felt this card looked a bit like the legendary black card she'd heard about.
Whoa! The elusive black card! What's this for?!
She shot Song JinXing a confused look. He said in a low voice, "Use this card for any socializing expenses in the future."
Last night, he had seen the exquisitely packaged gift bags in her room, clearly meant to be given to others. Given her current status, the recipients couldn't be her own family or friends, only people from the Song family.
She had spent quite a bit of money on gifts for the Song family these last few times, but she hadn't thought much of it or expected anything from him. She didn't expect him to be so thoughtful.
With this black card, visiting her grandparents would be much more affordable. So she accepted it readily, "Then I'll take it, thanks!"
He smiled and nodded.
The elevator arrived on the first floor. Fu Ling was already waiting at the elevator entrance. Seeing the two of them emerge together, he was stunned for a moment before a delighted look filled his eyes. But with the boss present, he remained composed, "Ms. Zhong, good morning!"
Song JinXing felt this assistant was looking at him more and more strangely.
The car had stopped outside the hotel's revolving door. Zhong Ruanxing halted and said, "You should go back and rest."
Song JinXing shook his head. "I'll take you to the airport."
Zhong Ruanxing laughed softly, lowering her voice, "I'm not a little girl anymore. It'd be more dangerous for you to see me off and then return alone."
Song JinXing wanted to say more, but she suddenly leaned in and hugged him.
It was a very light, fleeting embrace, like a breeze gently stirring the petals of a budding flower, pulling away as soon as it made contact. But it was still enough to leave Song JinXing frozen in place. Smiling radiantly, she said, "Alright, bye!"
Song JinXing's expression was blank, standing motionless like a mountain, but a storm raged within as he stiffly nodded slightly.
Until Zhong Ruanxing got into the car and could see him through the window, still standing in place, watching her direction. Zhong Ruanxing lowered the car window and waved at him.
Song JinXing also raised his hand and waved.
The car gradually drove away in the mist, and she looked down at her arm, muttering to herself that the hug had felt quite nice.
Fu Ling, who was witnessing this overt CP action, could barely restrain his excited, screeching feelings. Perhaps because his boss had become more affable lately, he occasionally dared to chat a little.
As the number one fan of this CP, he sincerely said, "Boss, Ms. Zhong is so good to you."
Zhong Ruanxing was still immersed in that hug, "Is that so?"
Fu Ling said, "Yes! Few people would get up so early to see someone off!"
Boss! Don't keep being so wooden! Please open up your heart!
Ai, this little assistant was worried sick.
...
After Song JinXing returned to his room, he did not fall back asleep.
The light outside grew brighter. When Ran Ting came to knock on his door, he pinched the bridge of his nose, got up to brew a cup of black coffee to perk himself up. After Ran Ting went to return the tuxedo to Evans, it would be time to head back to Hangzhou.
While checking out, he received a WeChat message from Zhong Ruanxing: I'm home.
He replied: I'm also about to head back to Hangzhou.
Zhong Ruanxing sent a "Drive Safely" emoji pack. She always had many quirky, cute stickers.
Song JinXing smiled slightly.
Kou An'an's business car arrived at the hotel entrance. As soon as he got in, he heard her ask, "Didn't sleep well last night?"
There were faint dark circles beneath her cold, aloof face, accentuating her sense of detachment.
Song JinXing nodded, and Kou An'an said, "You can sleep in the car later."
The car set off into the morning light. Song JinXing sat behind Kou An'an. At one point when he lifted his head, he saw Zhong Ruanxing's photo appear on her phone screen.
It was his red carpet photo from last night.
Kou An'an swiped left through the photos one by one - all of them were Zhong Ruanxing's red carpet photos.
She had even saved two of them.
Song JinXing: ...?
He leaned back without looking any further.
Kou An'an was unaware her online browsing had been seen. She first admired the red carpet photos for a while before continuing to browse the fan club. She discovered that in just one night, the fan club membership had already grown from a few thousand to fifty thousand.
The official "Zhong Ruanxing Nationwide Fan Support Group" account had also appeared in the fan club, actively recruiting members.
Fan group names were usually closely related to the celebrity's name. The options included "Starlight", "Morning Bell", and "Starry Sky". There was even a bizarre "Soft-Bodied Organisms".
Kou An'an voted for "Starlight".
She didn't want to be called Soft-Bodied Organisms!
Fortunately, after voting, the poll showed "Starlight" was far ahead. Zhong Ruanxing's fans would likely be called "Starlight".
After voting, she continued browsing, and her expression gradually grew serious.
What was going on? Why were there suddenly so many shippers? Who was Yu Liang?
In just one night, ship photos and fanfiction of the Cosmic Superstar ship had flooded the fan club. Some top editors even made a video montage of their scenes together in the drama Drunk Under the Peach Blossoms Laughing.
Though completely unrelated in the drama, the two looked impossibly sweet in the fan edit.
This editor was quite skilled, using a theme of past and present lives. The past life was their ancient costume look in the drama. Since Zhong Ruanxing's character died tragically in the end, the past life clip was a poignant, heart-wrenching BE ending!
The present life was their elegantly dressed encounter on the red carpet last night, a destined crossing of paths at first sight, set to a moving OST. It was sweet enough to make the shippers scream.
Thanks to this video, the Cosmic Superstar ship showed signs of gaining momentum.
With both Yu Liang and Zhong Ruanxing being small-time celebrities lacking a large fanbase, and Zhong Ruanxing's fan club and support group just getting started, the shippers ran wild, unafraid of backlash from sole stans. They shipped deliriously.
Kou An'an: How ominous!
Hm? Heart at Ease? Who's that?
It was the ship name for her and Zhong Ruanxing!
Kou An'an's serious expression relaxed.
Not bad, good taste.
She gave it a like and commented urging: Edit more ship videos, I love watching them.
The blogger replied: I want to as well! But there's too little material! Star and An'an have never collaborated before!
Heart's Peace: They're collaborating now, pay attention.
