After Secretly Marrying the Top Celebrity, I Fell in Love - Chapter 27

Inside the quiet car cabin, the starlight roof was like a spread-out river of stars. Pinpricks of light sprinkled down from overhead, the halo meticulously tracing and outlining Ye Manqing’s profile.

The woman wore an apricot-colored shirt, a dark brown small suit jacket draped over her shoulders, paired with black straight-leg trousers. Her sleek black hair was tied back at the nape of her neck, and she wore light makeup.

Ye Manqing was lightly closing her eyes, her two dense, long lashes slightly lowered, with obvious signs of fatigue beneath her lower eyelids.

“…!” Bai Yiyan looked intently, her heart racing for several beats.

Hearing the movement, Ye Manqing slowly opened her eyes, and the moment her gaze met Bai Yiyan’s, her originally smooth brows instantly furrowed.

Frowning, Ye Manqing asked with concern, “Yanyan, why is your hair wet?”

“It’s nothing,” Bai Yiyan sat down on the adjacent seat, lowering her eyes and whispering, “Got it wet during filming.”

Ye Manqing: “Filming a rain scene?”

“…Mhm.” Bai Yiyan was stunned for a moment, her first thought was how she guessed it.

Then she realized. Of course, how could anything escape Ye Manqing’s notice? She was an “old” actress; debuting at seventeen, she had been acting for eleven years now.

With that, Ye Manqing took off the small suit jacket she was wearing and draped it over Bai Yiyan’s shoulders. She gently pulled out the long hair that was caught under the jacket and smoothed it out.

Ye Manqing looked into Bai Yiyan’s eyes and asked, “How about going back to my place? It’s closer.”

Bai Yiyan slowly lifted her eyelids, meeting the woman’s fervent gaze, and lightly bit her lower lip before nodding.

“Okay.”

Ye Manqing turned her head, looked towards the driver’s compartment, and told the driver, “Uncle Zhang, let’s go.”

“Back to Palm Spring Villa.”

The car started.

Throughout the journey, Ye Manqing said nothing, silently reaching for and lightly holding Bai Yiyan’s hand. Her long lashes were lowered, seemingly preoccupied with something.

Beside her, Bai Yiyan felt hesitant to speak. She wanted to ask Ye Manqing why she was in the car. Did she come specifically to pick her up? Clearly, yes.

Just as Ye Manqing said, her home was not far from the set. The road conditions were excellent in the early morning, with hardly any vehicles on the wide road, and the journey was unobstructed.

About half an hour later, the luxury car stopped outside the villa’s main gate.

Getting out of the car, Ye Manqing led Bai Yiyan by the hand, walking along the path paved with pebbles, through the garden blooming with roses. A villa bathed in the hazy moonlight appeared before them.

They entered the villa’s main hall together and went straight up to the second floor, arriving at the master bedroom.

“Yanyan, go take a shower quickly,” Ye Manqing faced Bai Yiyan and said, “I’ll go find you a change of clothes.”

“Okay,” Bai Yiyan softly replied.

In the bathroom, white steam filled the surroundings bit by bit, and sparkling water droplets climbed onto the frosted glass.

Bai Yiyan filled the bathtub with water while taking off her clothes.

Just as the bathtub was full, a soft knock sounded on the bathroom door. At the same time, Ye Manqing’s voice came through.

“Yanyan, open the door.”

Bai Yiyan turned around, looking towards the bathroom door, then looked down at her exposed chest. Her gaze swept around quickly, and she immediately pulled a towel to wrap around herself.

After a short while, the bathroom door opened from the inside out.

Bai Yiyan, wrapped in a towel, appeared behind the door, her wet long hair draped over her shoulders, the ends slightly curled.

Ye Manqing stood outside the door, seeing Bai Yiyan only wrapped in a towel. Her heart pounded several times, and her breath hitched; for a moment, she forgot to speak.

Ye Manqing: “…”

Bai Yiyan’s cheeks showed a hint of delicate pink. She lifted her two moist long lashes, meeting Ye Manqing’s gaze, and lightly bit the inside of her lip.

“Teacher Ye.”

Ye Manqing quickly regained her composure and immediately handed over the stack of clothes she was holding.

“Here, a change of clothes.”

“Thank you,” Bai Yiyan took them with both hands.

The bathroom door closed.

Ye Manqing paused, turned and left, planning to take a shower in the guest room’s bathroom next door.

…

Bai Yiyan finished her shower and came out, her hair wet and emitting a faint floral fragrance. She couldn’t find a hairdryer in the bathroom, so she had to leave with wet hair.

Diagonally opposite, Ye Manqing, in a white bathrobe, was standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling window. Hearing footsteps behind her, the woman slowly turned around.

“I’ll go get you a hairdryer.” Seeing Bai Yiyan’s wet hair, Ye Manqing finally reacted.

Bai Yiyan stood still, softly replying “Mhm.”

Ye Manqing walked straight to the vanity table, bent down, and retrieved the hairdryer from the drawer. She looked up at Bai Yiyan, who was still standing, and called out gently.

“Yanyan, come over here.” As she spoke, Ye Manqing pulled out the chair in front of the vanity table, the meaning clear.

“I’ll dry your hair for you.”

“…” Bai Yiyan was slightly stunned, then walked over. Arriving at the vanity table, Bai Yiyan looked at the hairdryer in the woman’s hand, then sat down.

In front of the dressing mirror, Ye Manqing held the hairdryer, bent down to plug it in, then adjusted the wind speed to medium, aiming the nozzle at Bai Yiyan’s scalp from a distance.

Accompanied by a gentle, delicate warm breeze reaching her scalp, Bai Yiyan comfortably closed her eyes.

The woman’s jade-like fingers ran through Bai Yiyan’s soft strands, wrapping a wet, cool lock of long hair around her knuckle, then directing the hairdryer’s outlet toward the long hair. Instantly, warm and comfortable air gently blew out from the nozzle.

This was the first time Ye Manqing had been so patient and gentle while blow-drying someone else’s hair.

As the hairdryer hummed, outside the window, a light drizzle began to fall. The rain gradually thickened, dotting the glass.

Once Bai Yiyan’s long hair was dry, Ye Manqing turned off the hairdryer and placed it on the vanity table, then looked at Bai Yiyan in the mirror.

“You go to bed first. I’ll make you a bowl of ginger soup.”

Bai Yiyan turned around, looking up at Ye Manqing, and in a moment of urgency, she grabbed the other person’s wrist, saying, “No need to trouble yourself!”

“It’s too late.”

Ye Manqing smiled softly: “It’s no trouble.”

“Be good. The more we delay, the later it gets.”

“…” Bai Yiyan’s fingers tightened on Ye Manqing’s wrist when she heard the word “be good.” Realizing her improper behavior, she immediately blushed and released her hand.

…

Bai Yiyan sat on the edge of the bed, waiting for the bowl of ginger soup. As she waited, she began to feel sleepy. The weariness crept up on her, and her eyelids grew heavier and heavier.

Following the impulse, Bai Yiyan leaned against the headboard and lightly closed her eyes.

So, when Ye Manqing finished boiling and slightly cooling a bowl of ginger soup, and returned to the bedroom holding it, she saw Bai Yiyan asleep, leaning against the headboard.

Ye Manqing brought the ginger soup to the bedside and gently called out to Bai Yiyan, attempting to wake her.

“Yanyan, let’s drink the ginger soup before you sleep.”

Although very tired, Bai Yiyan was a light sleeper and groggily opened her eyes. She took the bowl of ginger soup Ye Manqing offered with both hands, lowering her gaze, and quickly drank it all in one gulp.

“Sleep,” Ye Manqing took the empty bowl from Bai Yiyan’s hands, leaned in, and lightly kissed Bai Yiyan’s forehead.

“Good night.”

“…Good night,” Bai Yiyan’s bright, moist red lips moved slightly.

Bai Yiyan’s sleep was restless. She dreamed all night, struggling to wake up several times, but her eyes wouldn’t open.

After an unknown duration, Bai Yiyan suddenly heard someone calling her name. Bai Yiyan wanted to answer, but no sound would come out.

In her haze, she heard someone making a phone call; it was Ye Manqing’s voice.

“She has a fever.”

“She won’t be able to make the dinner engagement tonight; please inform Director Zhang.”

“Mhm, I will take good care of her.”

On the comfortable large bed, Bai Yiyan’s eyes were tightly shut, her cheeks flushed unnaturally, and her eyelids were hot.

Dense, curled lashes rested quietly on her lower eyelids, and her breathing was heavy and deep. Her lips were unusually rosy, with the lip lines showing.

A hot towel was suddenly placed on her forehead, making Bai Yiyan feel much more comfortable. Gradually, Bai Yiyan’s breathing became even and steady.

While waiting for the family doctor to arrive, Ye Manqing took Bai Yiyan’s temperature again. The temperature not only hadn’t dropped but had risen by $0.2^{circ} text{C}$, reaching $39^{circ} text{C}$.

Ye Manqing sat sideways on the edge of the bed, one hand gently holding Bai Yiyan’s hand, gazing at Bai Yiyan’s pale and sickly face.

At this moment, the emotion of deep concern for someone filled Ye Manqing’s entire being.

Suddenly, Bai Yiyan squeezed her hand back, mumbling something softly. The voice was very low, making it hard to hear clearly.

Ye Manqing leaned closer, and only then did she distinctly hear what Bai Yiyan was saying.

“Director, I beg you…” Bai Yiyan’s brows were tightly knit, and she quietly repeated this sentence. Her tightly closed lips trembled uncontrollably, and every word spoken came out with a tremor.

“Please, sign the document.”

Ye Manqing’s eyes were filled with confusion. Her other hand also gently covered Bai Yiyan’s hand.

She read “fear” in Bai Yiyan’s expression.

“Yanyan, don’t be afraid,” Ye Manqing comforted her softly.

Abruptly, a tear welled up from the corner of Bai Yiyan’s eye, silently sliding past her flushed tear duct.

“…!” Ye Manqing’s heart gave a violent tremor. This was the first time she had seen Bai Yiyan cry, even if only in a dream.

Ye Manqing leaned in and kissed the corner of Bai Yiyan’s eye, kissing away her tear.

“Yanyan, don’t cry. I’m here.”

Ye Manqing didn’t know what Bai Yiyan had gone through. She speculated that the “Director” Bai Yiyan mentioned must refer to the director of the welfare home.

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