Whoever I Like
It had rained all night.
By the time Mu Wan woke, Liu Qianxiu was already out of bed.
She rolled around twice, only for the ache in her waist to stop her.
Supporting her lower back with one hand, she climbed out of bed.
The oversized shirt she wore fell past her hips, leaving only her long bare legs exposed.
Her shoulders drooped sleepily as she made her way toward the kitchen.
Liu Qianxiu was cooking with his back to her.
Mu Wan walked over and wrapped both arms around him from behind.
After they finished talking last night, they had done it once more.
Mu Wan had not eaten dinner, and now she was hungry.
As Liu Qianxiu moved around the counter, she followed behind him like a little tail, swaying wherever he went.
Finally, after putting the sandwiches into the oven, he turned around and lifted her.
Mu Wan immediately wrapped her legs around his waist.
Still barely awake, she let her head droop against his chest while her fingers idly played with an undone button on his shirt.
The oven timer ticked softly.
The kitchen window was open.
A breeze carrying the damp scent of last night’s rain drifted inside, deepening the tenderness between them.
Liu Qianxiu tucked her hair behind one ear.
Then he bent down and kissed her cheek.
Her hair brushed against her neck, making it itch slightly.
The scent of toasted bread began drifting from the oven.
Mu Wan opened her eyes and laughed softly.
Still lazy with sleep, she turned toward the window.
Outside, everything was gray, as though the city had been covered in a veil of mist.
Tall buildings disappeared into the haze, making the world look almost otherworldly.
Her slightly curled hair was fluffy from sleep, brushing beneath Liu Qianxiu’s chin.
He lowered his head and kissed the top of it.
Mu Wan softened even more in his arms.
Her cheek settled into the hollow of his collarbone.
“After you finish filming this afternoon, we’ll have dinner at the Mei residence.”
Liu Qianxiu stroked her hair as he looked out the window.
Mu Wan froze.
She immediately raised her head.
A flash of alarm crossed her eyes.
“So soon?”
She was completely unprepared.
The corner of Liu Qianxiu’s mouth lifted.
He lowered his gaze toward her.
“It isn’t that soon.”
“They already know about you.”
He had been enjoying the little amusement of letting her think she was supporting him.
Mu Wan had simply been the only one who did not know.
As they spoke, a meow came from the kitchen doorway.
Mu Wan turned.
Datou stood there with Zhongfen and Ertong behind him, all three kittens calling toward them.
Suddenly remembering something, Mu Wan asked,
“Who is Xingkong’s husband?”
“Huai Jing.”
The name was familiar.
Mu Wan remembered hearing it on financial news.
If Huai Jing had been home when she visited Xu Xingkong, she probably would have seen through Liu Qianxiu’s identity immediately.
She looked at him.
“Did you deliberately keep him from appearing in front of me?”
“No.”
Liu Qianxiu denied it.
The oven gave a soft ding.
The sandwiches were ready.
“Only the last time was deliberate. Before that, something really did come up each time.”
Through one coincidence after another, the secret had somehow lasted until now.
It was rather extraordinary.
If Mu Wan had not seen Mei Yaozhi, and if she had never happened to meet him before, she might still have had no idea.
There was no point dwelling on the past.
Mu Wan climbed down from Liu Qianxiu’s arms.
Standing beside him, her small body nearly disappeared inside his oversized shirt.
Concern filled her face.
“So when I meet your family… what should I bring?”
She looked up at him.
“They don’t lack anything,” Liu Qianxiu answered patiently.
Right.
Of course.
The Mei family was that wealthy.
What could they possibly need?
Mu Wan remained anxious.
She scratched at her fluffy hair.
Then looked up at him again.
“What kind of woman do they like?”
She hesitated.
“I mean, what style should I dress in?”
Before she could finish, Liu Qianxiu bent down and kissed the corner of her mouth.
The kiss carried the freshness of morning.
Then, slowly and patiently, he smoothed her messy hair into place.
His dark eyes held faint amusement and indulgence.
“They like whoever I like.”
He looked at her.
“And I like you.”
It was as though honey had been poured directly over Mu Wan’s heart.
She lowered her head.
Her lips curved.
Her ears turned red.
They had already been together long enough to do everything lovers did.
Yet his sweet words could still make her shy.
Could still make her heart race.
It did not rain that day.
The sky remained heavy and overcast.
The morning mist dispersed around noon, only to gather thickly again by afternoon.
Mu Wan had plenty of scenes to film.
Even rushing through them, she did not finish until after four.
Once filming wrapped, she went to the makeup room to remove her makeup.
Several other supporting actresses were there, and Mu Wan chatted casually with them.
She could not tell whether it was simply psychological or whether things had genuinely changed.
Ever since she confirmed Liu Qianxiu’s identity yesterday, everyone on the production seemed unusually polite toward her.
The director.
The producer.
The supervising staff.
Even Mi Yu.
Mi Yu still spoke as bluntly as ever, but somehow her words sounded much gentler than before.
Mu Wan had sensed something strange during filming yesterday morning.
Only today did she fully feel the difference.
The drama was being financed by a company under the Liu Group.
Liu Qianxiu had covered his tracks well.
When Mu Wan first saw the company’s name, she had never realized it belonged to the Liu family.
But thinking about it now, how could such a small company have forced Shen Entertainment to withdraw its investment unless there was something powerful behind it?
At the time, she had been too consumed by romance to think about any of that.
After removing her wig, Mu Wan went to the costume room to change.
She happened to run into Mi Yu.
Mi Yu still had night scenes to film and was changing costumes.
Because the clothing fitted closely, she was changing by herself.
When Mu Wan entered, Mi Yu glanced up once before lowering her eyes again and tying the back of her red dudou.
“I didn’t know you were in here.”
Mu Wan glanced at the red undergarment and explained.
Mi Yu pulled on a thin outer robe.
“What is there to avoid?”
Then she added casually,
“If anyone should be avoiding someone, it should be me avoiding you.”
Ever since Mu Qing had been removed from the role yesterday, Mi Yu had said several things to Mu Wan that carried hidden meaning.
She had spent years surviving in the entertainment industry and had developed sharp instincts.
Perhaps she had realized the truth yesterday.
Perhaps even earlier.
They belonged to the same agency.
Their acting niches were different.
There was no conflict of interest between them.
So there was no need to pretend.
— To be continued in Part 2 —
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2Dsimp. 28 years old. Died of dog food.
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