After Secretly Marrying the Top Celebrity, I Fell in Love - Chapter 56

The sun set, and the amusement park’s hustle and bustle faded away little by little.

One adult and one child sat on the ground, side by side on a deserted stone staircase.

A child is a child. After a day of frantic play, Jiang Le’s self-reproach and sadness had almost completely dissipated.

It was supposed to be a day of hard study at school, but she had spent the whole day playing at the amusement park. Jiang Le hadn’t been this happy in a long time.

After playing enough, she was also hungry.

Jiang Le awkwardly rubbed her rumbling stomach and quickly glanced at Bo Yiyan next to her.

“Are you hungry?” Bo Yiyan turned her head to look at Jiang Le upon hearing the sound.

“Mm,” Jiang Le whispered.

“Then let’s go have dinner,” Bo Yiyan said. “What do you want to eat? Pizza, hamburger, or hot pot? Or anything else is fine.”

“Whatever.”

“Don’t say ‘whatever,’ think about it carefully.”

“Mm… hot pot it is.”

“Okay.” Bo Yiyan thought for a moment and added, “I’ll bring a jiejie (older sister) to eat hot pot with us, alright?”

“Mm-hm! Okay,” Jiang Le nodded heavily.

Bo Yiyan’s lips curled up slightly. She took out her phone from her coat pocket and sent a WeChat message to Ye Manqing.

Bo Yiyan: [Teacher Ye, Lele said she wants to eat hot pot tonight. Shall we go eat hot pot together later?]

As soon as the message was sent, the three characters “Teacher Ye” above their chat box changed to “The other party is typing.”

Ye Manqing: [Okay, then I’ll ask the secretary to reserve a private room.]

Ye Manqing: [I’ll send you the address and room name later.]

Bo Yiyan: [Mm.]

Bo Yiyan: [Are you done with your work there?]

Ye Manqing: [Done.]

Bo Yiyan: [See you later then (smiley face)]

Ye Manqing: [Okay, see you later.]

Ye Manqing had actually finished her work an hour ago. At this moment, she was shopping, preparing to buy some gifts for Jiang Le, as it was their first meeting.

She had almost finished buying the gifts. Behind her, Qingqing’s two arms were hung with shopping bags of various sizes. The gifts included stationery and clothes and shoes suitable for a girl her age.

The clothes and shoes chosen were primarily athletic brands suitable for students.

Bo Yiyan put away her phone, turned to look at Jiang Le beside her, and said softly, “It’s decided, we’re going to eat hot pot later.”

Jiang Le happily squinted her eyes and nodded. As if suddenly remembering something, her two thin eyebrows furrowed.

Bo Yiyan: “What’s wrong, Lele?”

Jiang Le hesitated and then asked, “Sister Bo, I’ve always had one question I don’t quite understand.”

Bo Yiyan: “What question? Tell me.”

Jiang Le: “Why did everyone start cursing you in all sorts of ways after they suspected you were an orphan?”

“You always told me since I was little that even though I’m an orphan, I’m no different from other children. Even though I don’t have a mom and dad, I still have family and a home. Grandma, you, and Aunt He, you are all my family, and the orphanage is my home.”

The little girl looked at Bo Yiyan with a pair of dark, round eyes, her eyes glistening with tears.

Bo Yiyan thought for a moment, reached out, and stroked the top of Jiang Le’s head, explaining, “That’s right! Our Lele is no different from other children. You must always remember what your jiejie (older sister) said, be confident and be brave.”

“Regarding this trending topic, there are many vested interests involved. Lele, you’re still too young now, you’ll understand when you grow up.”

Bo Yiyan didn’t want Jiang Le to feel self-reproach because of this incident, or even feel inferior about her “orphan” status.

Just last night, after Zhang Mingxiu posted on Weibo supporting Bo Yiyan, the whole public opinion began to shift. The public opinion showed a one-sided trend, and everyone stood by Zhang Mingxiu, firmly supporting Bo Yiyan.

After a night of fermentation, the entire situation was completely changed. Bo Yiyan’s fans came out one after another, condemning the netizens who were full of wild conjectures and randomly labeling others.

Zhang Mingxiu’s influence was fully recognized in this trending topic incident. He had been filming movies and TV series for over twenty years, proving his strength by winning numerous heavy awards. Furthermore, everyone knew what kind of person he was—he rarely spoke up for others.

The key to reversing the situation was Bo Yiyan’s audition video. This was the most powerful evidence, proving Bo Yiyan’s acting skills.

Thus, Bo Yiyan’s current public relations crisis was perfectly resolved. Not only did Bo Yiyan clean up the dirty water splashed on her, but she also benefited from the misfortune, gaining over two million followers in one go.

At 7 PM, the streetlights came on.

Bo Yiyan led Jiang Le to the hot pot restaurant. When they found the private room on the second floor, Ye Manqing had already arrived.

Ye Manqing wore a light blue small Chanel-style suit skirt, and her ears were adorned with a pair of enamel vintage earrings. The center of the earrings was studded with peacock green gemstones, which refracted dazzling fine flashes of light under the illumination.

The woman’s makeup was light, almost bare-faced. The lipstick was a rose-mauve close to her natural lip color, which, when lightly applied, made her lips look full and tempting, very kissable.

It wasn’t just Jiang Le who was stunned, but Bo Yiyan next to her as well.

“Come in and sit down quickly,” Ye Manqing waved at the pair, a smile more beautiful than moonlight gracing her lips.

With that, Ye Manqing walked around to the opposite side of the round table and pulled out two adjacent chairs one by one.

Bo Yiyan lightly “Mm’d,” held Jiang Le’s hand, and entered the private room. The two sat down next to each other across the table.

After the two sat down, Ye Manqing handed the menu to Jiang Le and said, “Lele, you order the dishes.”

Jiang Le carefully took the menu with both hands and politely thanked her, “Thank you, Sister Ye.”

Although it was their first meeting, Jiang Le, who wasn’t even a fan, recognized a big star like Ye Manqing. Moreover, Jiang Le clearly remembered that there was a poster of her in Sister Bo’s room.

Jiang Le checked off a few dishes that she and Sister Bo both liked, and then handed the menu to Bo Yiyan.

Bo Yiyan took the menu and lowered her eyes to look at the dishes checked on it. Thinking for a moment, she checked off a few dishes that Ye Manqing might like.

This was the first time the two of them were eating hot pot out together, so she didn’t know what dishes Ye Manqing liked.

After checking them off, Bo Yiyan handed the menu back to Ye Manqing.

Ye Manqing took the menu, holding a ballpoint pen with her fair, slender fingers. After a pause, the tip of the pen lightly rested on the menu, checking off a few more dishes, and also checking two snacks: deep-fried crispy pork and brown sugar glutinous rice cake.

“What drinks do you want?” The woman’s gaze lightly swept over the drink section as she asked.

Jiang Le whispered, “I… I’ll have coconut milk.”

Bo Yiyan: “I’ll also have coconut milk.”

Upon hearing this, Ye Manqing checked three cans of coconut milk in the drink section.

The hot pot restaurant was very busy, and they waited a while for the dishes to arrive.

Ye Manqing looked at the two quiet people across from her, smiled, and took the initiative to start a conversation.

“Lele, I heard your sister say you’re learning to dance? What kind of dance are you learning?”

Jiang Le immediately straightened up, as if being called upon by a teacher in class. She nervously swallowed and replied, “I’m learning Chinese folk dance.”

Ye Manqing: “I happen to know Shangguan Yi. I’ll find a chance to take you to meet her privately.”

“…!” Jiang Le’s large, dark eyes, like water grapes, widened. Surprise was unreservedly spread across her face.

Who was Shangguan Yi? She was a twenty-two-year-old talented dancer, the principal of the national opera and dance theatre, and she specialized in Chinese folk dance.

“Thank you! Thank you, Sister Ye,” Jiang Le suddenly stood up from her chair and bowed to Ye Manqing.

“…” Ye Manqing was slightly stunned. She reached out and pressed her palm down, “Don’t be so polite.”

“Quickly, sit.”

Seeing this, Bo Yiyan also chimed in, “Lele, sit down quickly.”

“You don’t need to be so polite with your Sister Ye.”

Hearing both of them say so, Jiang Le quickly obeyed and sat down. Her heart was incredibly excited, and she began to imagine what it would be like to meet her idol.

Next to her, Bo Yiyan’s gaze shifted and met Ye Manqing’s sticky eyes.

Their gazes collided in mid-air, intertwining and clinging.

“…!” Bo Yiyan’s face instantly flushed. She quickly withdrew her gaze and pretended to be composed, looking down at her phone.

Only Bo Yiyan herself knew how fast her heart was beating at that moment. Her heart hammered like a drum, threatening to burst out of her chest.

Ye Manqing rested her hand on her chin, watching the two, one large and one small, with a gentle smile as delicate as a lotus flower. The older one was pretending to look at her phone, and the younger one looked distracted, lost in thought.

…

The hot pot dinner lasted over an hour.

After the meal, Ye Manqing accompanied Bo Yiyan to drop Jiang Le back at school.

Half an hour later, the luxury car stopped near the school, less than a hundred meters from the gate.

Jiang Le’s personality was actually quite lively. In just the span of one meal, she had become much more familiar with Ye Manqing. But when she saw Ye Manqing had bought her so many gifts, Jiang Le immediately shook her head.

Jiang Le’s tone was firm: “Thank you, Sister Ye, but I can’t accept the gifts.”

Ye Manqing looked at Bo Yiyan next to her, giving a clear signal with her eyes.

Bo Yiyan understood. She turned her head to look at Jiang Le and gently persuaded her, “Lele, these gifts are from Sister Ye’s good intentions. Just accept them.”

“…” Jiang Le blinked her big eyes. Although she was very curious, since Sister Bo had spoken, she would accept the gifts.

“Thank you! Thank you, Sister Ye.”

There were quite a few things, so Bo Yiyan accompanied Jiang Le back to the dormitory first to drop them off. Then, Bo Yiyan watched Jiang Le’s figure enter the teaching building.

Against the late autumn breeze, Bo Yiyan stood in place for a while before turning to leave.

In the car, Ye Manqing was on a phone call.

The car door was deliberately left unlocked.

As the call finished, Bo Yiyan returned. She opened the car door, bent down, and slid into the luxury car, sitting down next to Ye Manqing.

“Dropped her off at school?” Ye Manqing put away her phone and turned her face to look at Bo Yiyan.

“Mm,” Bo Yiyan lightly nodded.

“Where are you going in a bit?” Ye Manqing pulled one of Bo Yiyan’s hands and gently held it.

“I need to go back to the welfare home first to pick up my luggage,” Bo Yiyan hesitated for a moment under Ye Manqing’s expectant gaze, but still spoke the disappointing words.

“And then… to the airport.”

“What time is your flight?” Ye Manqing asked calmly.

“Eleven o’clock,” Bo Yiyan replied.

It was nine o’clock now, so she still had two hours. However, Bo Yiyan had to go back to the welfare home first, get her luggage, and then go to the airport, so time was not abundant.

…

10:30 PM, Beijiang Airport in C City, travelers dragging suitcases moved ceaselessly through the airport.

Before getting out of the car, Bo Yiyan deliberately put on a mask.

Bo Yiyan’s lips moved under the mask, saying, “Teacher Ye, I’m leaving.”

Ye Manqing: “Remember to text me when you land.”

Bo Yiyan: “Okay.”

Ye Manqing: “There are too many people, so I won’t see you inside.”

Bo Yiyan: “Mm.”

Bo Yiyan lightly lowered her eyes. She should have put the baseball cap she was holding onto her head, but instead, she took off the mask on her face.

Leaning in, Bo Yiyan captured Ye Manqing’s lips, kissing her forcefully.

Then she quickly pulled away.

Bo Yiyan put her mask and hat back on, opened the car door, and got out.

Outside the car, the driver retrieved a black suitcase from the trunk and handed it to Bo Yiyan.

“…” Inside the car, Ye Manqing’s face was flushed. Her fingertips gently rubbed her lips, where the lipstick had slightly smudged.

Through the car window, the woman’s reluctant gaze closely followed Bo Yiyan’s receding figure.

Support