For two consecutive days, Song Chan threw all her energy into work.
Su Yicen cooperated fully. When she told him to stay quiet, he really did for two days, vanishing into thin air with no messages from him at all.
These days, Song Chan lived busily yet fulfillingly, shuttling back and forth between the hotel and the brand side with barely any free time.
With Su Yicen out of the picture, the unrelenting Weibo Hot Search #Chanyi Mianmian# finally dropped from the top spots.
Song Chan’s previous worries had been largely washed away by her hectic work.
She had even worried that Su Yicen might come looking for her, but reality proved otherwise. They seemed to have returned to the days before that passionate night.
No communication, no small talk.
In their respective domains, they continued to shine brightly.
This way of getting along felt comfortable, and Song Chan lived freely.
To promote the 20th Anniversary Issue, Song Chan prepared to post a business Weibo update when she spotted him again on the hot search—the “Next-Door Neighbor” whose chat had been buried at the bottom of her WeChat by various messages.
Su Yicen making the hot search was commonplace, and Song Chan meant to scroll past, but her finger accidentally tapped into it.
It was filled with raw fan photos from Su Yicen filming his first-ever variety show reality program.
The shots were taken from a distance, somewhat blurry, but even in thumbnail size, anyone could spot him instantly in the crowd.
Su Yicen truly had striking looks, his demeanor outstanding and radiant. Even surrounded by glamorous celebrities, he stood out at first glance.
Song Chan’s fingertip unconsciously tapped to enlarge one photo.
In it, Su Yicen looked down with a gentle smile, his pure and tender expression making her heart flutter wildly.
He was naturally handsome, his features carrying an enchanting allure that indeed captured many girls’ hearts.
Song Chan’s gaze lingered on Su Yicen in the photo, staring at that familiar yet distant figure. Her mind went blank, unsure what to feel.
‘Bzzz—’
A sudden message notification jolted her heart.
The pop-up at the top of the screen blocked half of Su Yicen’s face.
[WeChat: 1 contact sent 1 message]
Song Chan tapped it instinctively. Unexpectedly, it was from the “Next-Door Neighbor” she had just admired, who had been quiet for two days.
Just a simple sentence, like a schedule update.
Next-Door Neighbor: 【Variety show recording ended. I’ll head back to Hangbei today.】
Staring at the message in the chat, Song Chan didn’t know how to reply.
Should she say “Safe travels”?
Or send an emoji to acknowledge it?
Ignoring it would be rude, but after Su Yicen had tugged at the topic several times, she felt lingering apprehension.
She had just typed “Safe t…” in the input box.
When “Next-Door Neighbor” sent another message.
Next-Door Neighbor: 【So, Miss Song, want to head back together?】
As expected, she knew Su Yicen reaching out wouldn’t be so simple.
Song Chan’s face turned cold as she replied decisively.
Song Chan: 【No need, thank you.】
The other side seemed utterly unflappable and replied right away.
Next-Door Neighbor: 【Okay, Miss Song.】
Next-Door Neighbor: 【Then I’ll wait for you at home.】
Song Chan exited WeChat and turned off her phone screen. Not responding further was her final courtesy.
She wasn’t deliberately drawing lines; their relationship was one that needed clear boundaries from the start.
A relationship that began with ulterior motives wouldn’t change over time.
Besides, the brand side work wasn’t finished, so she truly couldn’t leave yet.
The easygoing illusion on her first day in Hangnan had misled Song Chan into thinking the business trip wouldn’t be too demanding, but reality hit soon enough.
Not only did she have a pile of tasks at the Hangnan brand side, but issues also cropped up with Hangbei company’s first-quarter journal.
Stuck in Hangnan, Song Chan still had to worry about Hangbei matters.
Fortunately, the problem was minor. She called Li Yuchuan and guided him step-by-step to resolve it.
Another busy day ended, and Song Chan lay on the hotel’s comfy king bed.
Since arriving in Hangnan, she hadn’t felt any of the leisure of a business trip again. No matter how soft the bed, it couldn’t dispel her workday fatigue.
Song Chan’s state could only be described as utterly dead tired.
After soaking in the bathtub for over half an hour, her physical exhaustion eased somewhat.
She had just blow-dried her hair in the bathroom when her phone rang with a WeChat video call from her mom, Lady Xu Wan.
Seeing Lady Xu’s call, Song Chan guessed the purpose right away.
With work so hectic lately, she had forgotten about the #Chanyi Mianmian# hot search. Lady Xu must have seen it ages ago.
For her to wait this long to ask showed restraint—not forgetting her daughter entirely.
The video connected, revealing a middle-aged woman beaming with a refined makeup look on Song Chan’s screen.
This elegant and gentle lady was Song Chan’s mother, Xu Wan.
A renowned domestic fashion designer, she had stepped back to the second line but still held considerable influence in both the fashion world and Entertainment Circle.
Song Chan’s career choice had been somewhat influenced by Xu Wan.
“Chanchan~,” Xu Wan cooed, smiling like she was coaxing a child, eyes crinkling into slits.
She chattered, “Aiyo, my good girl, why do you look even thinner?”
Song Chan touched her cheek with the back of her hand. Fresh from the bath, her skin glowed pink, making her complexion look much better on video.
If Lady Xu saw her right after work, who knew how heartbroken she’d be.
Song Chan smiled but before she could speak, the bespectacled middle-aged man nearby set down his book and leaned over.
He advised, “Good girl, don’t work as desperately as your mom did when she was young.”
“If you’re too tired, take some annual leave and rest properly for a few days.”
This middle-aged man was Song Chan’s father, Song Qiwen, a professor in the archaeology department at Hangbei University. From a scholarly family, he was knowledgeable, steady, and reliable—the neighborhood’s famous nice guy.
Three minutes into the video, Song Chan hadn’t said a word when Lady Xu and Mr. Song started bickering.
Xu Wan: “Song Qiwen, what do you mean? What do you mean my daughter can’t be like me?”
Xu Wan: “Is it wrong for the child to work hard? If not now, when?”
Song Qiwen spread his hands: “I’m just worried about our girl. I don’t want Chanchan working too hard.”
Xu Wan ignored him: “You’re worried, but I’m not?”
With the incessant chatter in her ears, Song Chan was long used to it. Her parents had a great relationship but couldn’t stay quiet for minutes without bantering.
Head aching from the noise, Song Chan interrupted.
“Mom, Dad, is there something up?”
“If not, I want to rest early. Things here should wrap up tomorrow.”
The arguing stopped abruptly. Xu Wan turned back, smile returning.
She asked, “Chanchan, Mom saw the Weibo Hot Search a couple days ago. You and Yicen were on a show together?”
“I saw lots of netizens saying you two look like a couple, super sweet and all…”
Xu Wan probed, “So, are you two planning to go public?”
Song Chan sighed inwardly. She knew this call was tied to the hot search.
No choice, she pushed the blame to Su Yicen like before.
“Mom, I told you before—because of Yicen’s work, we can’t go public yet.”
Xu Wan wasn’t buying it. She knew plenty of Entertainment Circle stars and understood the ins and outs.
“Don’t fool me. Normally, with such positive buzz, Yicen could just ride the wave…”
“Mom!” Song Chan cut her off. “We have our own plans.”
Mother and daughter shared the same fiery tempers—decisive and swift, igniting at a spark.
Mr. Song Qiwen chimed in to persuade Xu Wan: “Little Wan, the kids have their own arrangements. We should respect them.”
“Always the nice guy,” Xu Wan huffed aside. “Auntie Li called today asking about Chanchan and Yicen.”
“I didn’t dare spill the truth, just said I didn’t know—it was probably just young people working together.”
Hearing that, Song Chan quickly agreed: “Mom, that’s exactly right.”
“Right, you say?” Xu Wan fumed. “What if I slip up and it affects Yicen’s career?”
Song Chan shook her head helplessly. Back then, Xu Wan’s constant nagging about marriage had annoyed her into agreeing to fake it with Su Yicen.
Xu Wan wanted to keep lecturing when a call rang on her phone. She had to pause.
Seeing this, Song Chan tried to escape: “Mom, handle your thing. I’ll rest now.”
“Wait.” Xu Wan stopped her and angled the screen.
The words “Good Son-in-Law” glared obviously.
Xu Wan said, “Chanchan, hold on. Perfect timing—I’ll ask Yicen…”
“Hey! Mom, what are you asking?!”
Song Chan’s panicked voice cut off as Su Yicen’s voice emerged.
His tone cool and low, he said, “Mom.”
Xu Wan’s face lit up like a flower as she replied on speaker.
“Ai, good son-in-law.”
Song Chan slapped a hand over her face, blocking it, as she heard Xu Wan say.
“Yicen, Dad’s here too.”
Su Yicen immediately greeted, “Dad, good evening.”
Song Qiwen replied, “You too.”
Xu Wan spoke again, glancing deeply at her face-hiding daughter on screen.
“Yicen, we’re videoing with Chanchan right now.”
“Uh…” His voice hesitated clearly; he probably hadn’t expected this.
After a pause, he called, “Chanchan.”
The low, cool tone turned utterly gentle, making Song Chan’s hidden body tremble involuntarily.
Xu Wan laughed mercilessly, exposing her: “Chanchan got shy.”
“Mom!” Song Chan’s voice held a complaint, stubborn yet soft, all the more alluring.
She heard a faint, almost imperceptible chuckle from the man on the line, her face burning hotter.
Caught up in greetings, Xu Wan nearly forgot her question and hurried: “Yicen, I saw the Weibo Hot Search—tons of people like you two. With the current online buzz…”
“This should be the best time to go public, right?”
Silence lingered. Su Yicen didn’t answer. As Xu Wan grew anxious and Song Chan tried to change the subject, his low, steady, husky voice finally sounded.
“Mom, I signed a contract with the company. Going public now would be a breach…”
Su Yicen spoke sincerely, uttering words he disliked, but he knew he had to—for Song Chan’s sake.
“I understand…” Xu Wan’s smile faded, her voice quieter. Though she said it, her disappointment was obvious.
Hopes dashed, Xu Wan lost interest and wrapped up with a few caring words for them both before hanging up.
Song Chan lay in bed, Su Yicen’s face flashing frame by frame in her mind, lingering inescapably.
Thinking back, he always accommodated her—no matter when, no matter what.
Her phone buzzed by the pillow. Song Chan picked it up.
Two WeChat messages.
Next-Door Neighbor: 【I have a gig tomorrow and will leave Hangbei for a few days.】
Next-Door Neighbor: 【So stop hiding. Come back.】