The digital storm around Su Yue’s performance erupted without warning. A video, seemingly inoccent at first, became an overnight sensation. Netizens, captivated by her ethereal beauty, lauded her as a “fairy” and the “most beautiful Yazi in pure school drama.” The comments section exploded with comments like , “Licking the screen like crazy,” “So beautiful and immortal, it’s just a clue to my life, and I crazily ask for contact information.” Even the slight “blackheads” among the comments, suggesting dermabrasion or plastic surgery, were swiftly buried under a wave of praise. The video quickly racked up hundreds of thousands of retweets and likes, solidifying its place at the top of the hot search rankings.
Su Yue, initially pleased by the news from Jin Mingyuan, who called to congratulate her on her newfound fame, soon found herself baffled. As swiftly as it had appeared, her presence on the internet vanished. The hot search, the videos, the photos—all meticulously scrubbed, leaving behind only remnants of old discussions about B University’s school flower. “Strange,” she mused, tossing her phone aside. “Didn’t Jin Mingyuan say she saw me on the hot search? How could it be withdrawn so quickly?” Accustomed to the transient nature of online fame, she shrugged it off and headed for a bath.
Meanwhile, Jiang Ci, with a predatory gaze, watched Su Yue’s slender form disappear into the bathroom. He retrieved his phone, clicking on the video his assistant had sent. His fingertip lingered on the paused image of Su Yue, the hat fallen, her expression a delicate blend of daze and vulnerability. Her dark eyes, wide and overwhelmed, held a captivating innocence. He lightly rubbed the screen, then swiped to a photo, blurred by netizens but still stunning. A slight smirk touched his lips. These little university boys made him unhappy. How could he allow Su Yue’s photos to leak, creating rivals and adding to his troubles?
Later, Su Yue emerged from the bathroom, a vision in a blue crow-colored silk nightgown. Her wet hair clung to her snow-white skin, and under the warm yellow light, the flowing fabric cascaded around her, embroidered with delicate beige flowers. She exuded a pure, breathtaking allure. Jiang Ci, still holding his phone, his dark eyes deep and intense, observed her.
“Come here,” he commanded, his voice a lazy rumble, as he licked his lips.
“Doing what?” Su Yue questioned, already at the dresser, towel in hand, twisting her hair.
“Let me give you a hug,” Jiang Ci replied, his tone utterly natural.
A blush crept up Su Yue’s neck. “No, I’m going to blowdry my hair.”
Jiang Ci’s eyebrows arched, his eyes narrowing. “Come here, I’ll blowdry it for you.”
Su Yue’s eyes lit up. “Are you going to help me?” She handed him the hairdryer, adding, “Take it easy later, don’t tug at my hair, it hurts.” She relished the rare opportunity to have Jiang Ci serve her. She pulled a small stool from the dressing table, sitting primly before him. “Jiang Ci, You can start now.”
With a dissatisfied snort, Jiang Ci reached out, pulling her off the stool and onto his lap. This, he thought, was far more comfortable.
“Sitting like this, how can you blowdry my hair?” Su Yue protested, noting his recent increase in affection. As she’d landed on his lap, water droplets from her hair had fallen on his cheek, and his lips, wet and cool, had lightly brushed hers. He’d then slowly licked the water from his lips. Su Yue’s cheeks flushed. He didn’t think it was dirty? She turned her back to him, settling on his lap. “Okay, you can start.” Tomorrow she had classes early in the morning , and she needed her rest.
Jiang Ci made no sound, his slender fingers meticulously separating her wet hair, carefully blowing it dry. The ends were impossibly soft, and as his fingers wove through the dark strands, letting them brush his palm, the back of his hand, his arms, a subtle softening entered his usually cold gaze. Compared to the first time, when he’d pulled her hair painfully, Jiang Ci’s touch was far more gentle now. Su Yue felt a wave of relief.
She shifted slightly, her feet apart, resting her hands on his knees for balance, then yawned. After a while, she turned her head to check his progress, only to find him focused, eyes cast downwards.
“Turn your head back,” Jiang Ci murmured, picking up another section of her hair. Her hair was thick, taking over half an hour to dry on her own. Jiang Ci’s careful pace meant it would take almost an hour, a testament to his unusual patience.
Outside, the moon was half-hidden, and the city seemed to fall into a peaceful slumber. Jiang Ci allowed the sleepy Su Yue to lean back against his chest, enveloped in her warm scent. He pursed his lips, satisfied.
“Okay,” Jiang Ci finally announced.
The whirring of the hairdryer ceased, jolting Su Yue awake. She rubbed her eyes, realizing she had dozed off in his arms. Her hair felt warm and fragrant, a feeling she cherished. She turned to face him, her red lips curving into a smile. “Thank you for your hard work, Jiang Ci.”
Jiang Ci’s eyes met hers. Her dark eyes, still hazy with sleep, were moist and irresistibly charming. He remembered the photo on his phone, and a strange, unfamiliar flutter stirred within him—not hatred, but something else entirely. He tossed the hairdryer aside, his hands finding her impossibly soft waist, pulling her closer. Su Yue gasped softly as his cool, thin lips descended upon her eyes. The moist heat on her eyelids made her long eyelashes tremble like tiny fans.
“Jiang Ci,” she whispered, her hands unconsciously gripping her skirt. She felt a strange sensation, as if he wanted to consume her eyes. Slowly, meticulously, he kissed each closed eyelid, even touching them with the tip of his tongue before he pulled away.
“Sleep!” Jiang Ci commanded, lifting her into his arms. Such beautiful eyes belonged to him. Such a beautiful face belonged to him. Su Yue belonged to him. No one else should touch or even look at his private property.
The internet, having churned with Su Yue’s viral moment, began to quiet. The videos and photos, once omnipresent, were now untraceable, leaving little trace of her fleeting popularity. Most of the online fervor dissipated, as curious but not fanatical netizens moved on.
Su Yue, however, found a different kind of trouble brewing. Boys from other classes and even other grades began to loiter outside her classroom, peering in. Some even sent gifts through her classmates. On her way to school, she was frequently stopped by boys eager to confess their admiration.
Upon returning to the Jiang family estate that evening, the setting sun bathed the front yard in an orange-red glow. The housekeeper informed her that Jiang Muhang, wished for the family of three—Su Yue, Jiang Ci, and Xiao Haohao—to dine together. Jiang Ci was already in the hall.
Su Yue entered the dining room, the tantalizing aroma of a sumptuous meal already filling her nostrils. Jiang Ci sat at the far end of the long table, Xiao Haohao beside him. The elder sat opposite Jiang Ci, Jiang Muhang to his right, with Jiang Xuan next to him. To the elder’s left sat Jiang Ci’s father, Jiang Luohui, and beside him, Song Xiaoqing. The atmosphere was stiff, a palpable awkwardness hanging in the air.
Su Yue smiled, greeting everyone. “Just finished the class?” the elder inquired, his recent attitude towards his granddaughter-in-law, who had undergone such a remarkable transformation, notably pleasant.
“Well, there are more classes in a few days,” Su Yue replied, pulling out her chair and settling beside Jiang Ci. The trio now occupied one end of the table, while the rest of the family sat at the other, creating a sense of two distinct groups dining together.
The elder nodded. “It’s almost summer vacation.”
“Yes, but there are still two weeks before the final exam and then we have the vacations ,” Su Yue politely answered . The elder offered a few encouraging words, not expecting a married granddaughter-in-law to excel academically or professionally.
Su Yue then served Jiang Ci some soup and placed several dishes in the small, golden-carved bowl beside him. Song Xiaoqing, observing her actions from across the table, wore a slightly more satisfied expression.
“Xiaoyue,” Song Xiaoqing began, her voice suddenly cutting through the silence. “Yesterday, your school’s celebration was very lively. I didn’t expect you to participate in the performance. I saw a lot of news about you on the Internet.” The fact that Su Yue had transformed from a plump girl into such a striking beauty didn’t bring her much joy. Too beautiful, too attractive. No mother-in-law truly desired an overly beautiful daughter-in-law, especially with Jiang Ci now blind and disfigured.
Song Xiaoqing offered a seemingly kind smile. “It’s a good thing to participate in some performances like this in the school. It’s healthy, and you can make more friends. However, our Jiang family doesn’t need to rely on performances to make money, so you can participate occasionally.” She was clearly referencing the recent hot search, where many netizens had clamored for Su Yue to debut in the entertainment industry. The Jiang family already had one daughter-in-law in show business; a second would be unthinkable. What would society say about the Jiang family having two actresses as daughters-in-law?
Su Yue looked at Song Xiaoqing, unsure of her underlying meaning.
“Mom, Yueyue is not interested in acting,” Jiang Xuan interjected softly, kindly coming to Su Yue’s rescue.