Chapter 4: Regret

I was starting to feel like things weren’t quite what I’d thought they were.

Especially when Shen Qiao suddenly called me.

He told me Fu Yanjun was drunk, and since he was filming somewhere else, he couldn’t get back to take care of his brother.

I hesitated for a few seconds.

But then I thought about how Fu Yanjun being completely wasted might mess with my idol’s filming schedule, so I immediately answered seriously, “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure he gets home safe and sound.”

Half an hour later, I was sitting face-to-face with Fu Yanjun in a bar.

His hair was slightly disheveled, his jacket carelessly draped over a chair, his long legs crossed, and empty liquor bottles scattered across the table.

There were also several women around him practically drooling over him.

I had my face completely covered by a mask as I boldly squeezed my way through.

“Move, move. I’m his sister.”

The bar manager looked at me suspiciously.

Clearly recognizing Fu Yanjun, he gave an awkward smile.

“Mr. Fu… she says she’s your sister.”

People around us immediately snickered.

“She’s wearing a mask and still has the nerve to make that claim?”

“Everyone knows Mr. Fu only has one younger brother.”

“I bet she’ll be kicked out in three seconds. Three… two…”

Right then, Fu Yanjun slowly lifted his head.

His drunken, unfocused eyes landed directly on me.

Then he smiled.

“She’s telling the truth. She’s my sister.”

Everyone: “???”

Me: “…”

Fine. The drunk guy gets the final say.

I couldn’t be bothered to explain, so I simply grabbed him and dragged him outside.

I’d rarely ever seen Fu Yanjun this drunk.

He was always the kind of man who stayed completely clear-headed. He knew exactly how much alcohol he could handle, and even at business dinners, he had never once let himself lose control.

Outside, the street was incredibly noisy.

Nearby, a couple was arguing.

The guy shouted, “I just want you to stay by my side. What’s so wrong with that?”

The girl’s eyes were red as she yelled back, “Do you even really like me?”

Right as the music from the bar swelled toward its climax, Fu Yanjun suddenly leaned down close to my ear.

His voice was low and husky, roughened by alcohol.

“I like you. I like you so much it drives me crazy.”

I froze.

But… I hadn’t even asked him that.

All I could do was force an awkward smile.

“Okay, okay. I know you’re drunk.”

Just then, the girl beside us angrily threw a bouquet into the trash.

“Stop giving me these stupid things! I only got close to you because I was trying to get to someone else! He’s the one I love, not you!”

Fu Yanjun’s entire body went rigid.

He loosened his tie, suddenly grabbed my wrist, and pinned me against the wall.

He was so close that I could smell the faint scent of alcohol on his skin.

His voice was hoarse.

“Tell me again… Who is it you really like?”

I was completely stunned.

What had I even said?!

Before I could explain, his hot lips landed on my forehead, then slowly moved down toward my mouth.

His hand shamelessly tugged at my clothes, pulling them down.

My mind went completely blank.

“Fu Yanjun… Have you lost your mind?”

My heart was pounding so hard it felt like it might burst out of my chest.

I tried to push him away, but a man nearly six feet tall who worked out regularly was basically a human wall.

There was no moving him.

Not even an inch.

One arm was braced beside my face, completely blocking my escape.

The first time I kissed him, it lasted barely a second.

This time, he kissed me for so long I thought I was going to run out of oxygen.

Finally, I covered my face in utter defeat, panting as I surrendered.

“I love you! You’re the one I love!”

…

After that kiss, I avoided Fu Yanjun for an entire week.

That afternoon, I went shopping with my cousin to clear my head.

I had just spotted an absolutely gorgeous handbag when a philosophical male voice suddenly came from beside me.

“You don’t need to waste money on stuff like that.”

He turned to his girlfriend and spoke with the tenderness of a relationship expert.

“Don’t become one of those materialistic girls. I like you simple and obedient.”

The girl clearly loved the bag.

But after hearing him, she could only force a smile.

“I wasn’t that into it anyway…”

“Exactly.”

Satisfied, he reached over and patted her head.

“I’ll buy you something else later.”

Then he turned around and immediately went off to buy himself a gaming setup worth tens of thousands of yuan.

Me: “…”

Men really are fascinating creatures. When they spend money on their own hobbies, it’s called passion. When a woman likes something, suddenly it’s materialism.

The poor girl beside him looked so devastated she was practically one step away from turning into a vengeful ghost.

I couldn’t stand watching anymore.

I put the bag down and turned to her boyfriend with a friendly smile.

“You’re absolutely right. Let me help you talk some sense into her.”

Ten minutes later, the two of them successfully broke up.

I felt like I’d just done society a great service.

And just like that, I completely forgot about buying the bag.

That is, until I got home.

There were shopping bags piled neatly outside my door.

So many that it looked like someone was preparing to open a retail store.

I didn’t need to guess who had sent them.

Fu Yanjun slowly came down the stairs.

The warm yellow light softened his usually cold features, making him look gentler than usual.

He did look a little tired, though.

His voice was low.

“I just wanted to apologize.”

I knew he was talking about what happened at the bar that night.

So I shook my head.

“It’s fine. I kissed you without permission once too. Let’s call it even.”

But the truth was…

Things between us had already changed.

Fu Yanjun had always believed that I was only with him because of Shen Qiao.

What he didn’t know was that reason had long since become only a very small part of it.

From beginning to end, he had never seriously told me that he liked me.

Just as I was about to close the door, his hand suddenly blocked the gap.

It got caught hard enough to turn red.

He frowned in pain but still refused to pull it away.

His voice was hoarse, helpless.

“We can’t call it even.”

I looked at him.

“Weren’t you the one who said you didn’t like me? You even told me not to show up in front of you again. And not to regret it.”

Fu Yanjun stayed silent for a long time.

Then he lowered his head and covered his eyes with one hand.

When he finally spoke, his voice was thick and painfully hoarse.

“Yeah. I said all of that.”

He paused.

“But… I regret it now.”