Can't Hide My Love for You - Chapter 27

The orange felt heavy in her hand. Cheng Yixin carefully peeled the skin, revealing the plump segments inside.

She took a tissue and peeled away the thick white pith. From the rearview mirror, Chi Yi caught a glimpse of her and thought with a smile that “Teacher Cheng” was quite meticulous even when peeling an orange.

As she thought this, something cool pressed against her lips, accompanied by the faint, fresh scent of citrus.

“Eh?” Chi Yi was surprised. The first segment Cheng Yixin had finished cleaning was being fed to her.

“Hmm?” Cheng Yixin nudged the segment toward her mouth. Chi Yi cooperatively opened up and ate it.

“Is it sweet?”

“It’s sweet.”

Cheng Yixin peeled two more segments and continued to feed her.

“You should eat some too,” Chi Yi said, her voice muffled by the fruit in her mouth.

“I peeled these for you,” Cheng Yixin replied.

“Do you not like oranges?”

“No, I just want you to have them.”

Cheng Yixin kept feeding her, segment after segment, with no intention of eating any herself. By the last piece, they had reached a red light. Chi Yi stopped the car and skillfully shifted gears with her right hand. She held one end of the orange segment between her lips, not rushing to swallow it.

Cheng Yixin was busy wrapping the discarded pith in a tissue to throw away later when she suddenly felt Chi Yi leaning toward her.

As she turned to look, Chi Yi cupped her face. She saw those beautiful hazel eyes just before a cool sensation touched her lips, carrying the fragrance of the orange.

Chi Yi passed the final segment to her, lip to lip.

Cheng Yixin’s heart skipped a beat. By the time she snapped out of it, Chi Yi was already back in the driver’s seat.

Cheng Yixin blinked rapidly, her heart racing. With the whole orange segment in her mouth, she bit down blankly; the sweet, fresh juice burst across her tongue. She glanced at the rearview mirror and caught Chi Yi’s gaze. Seeing the clear smile in the other woman’s eyes, Cheng Yixin quickly looked away.

Damn, how is she so good at flirting!

The Zoo Trip

It was a workday, so the zoo wasn’t crowded. The ticket booth was empty of other tourists, and the staff members were passing time on their phones.

“Two adult tickets, please,” Cheng Yixin said, handing the money through the window.

The staff member lazily took the cash, but when she looked up at the person outside, she instantly bolted upright.

“Ah! You’re—!” She had heard celebrities were filming nearby a few days ago, but she had been stuck at work and couldn’t see them.

“Shh.” Cheng Yixin, who wasn’t wearing a mask, pressed a finger to her lips and smiled. “It’s a private trip. Please keep it a secret for me.”

“Of course, of course!” The staff member quickly processed the tickets. “Two adult tickets. Here’s your change, and here is our park map!”

As she handed everything over, the staff member’s hands were shaking with excitement. “I definitely won’t tell anyone! Could—could I get an autograph? I’ve been watching The Moon’s Journey recently and I love you!”

“Sure. Where should I sign?”

The staff member scrambled to find something, finally offering her phone case.

“Is the park crowded today?” Cheng Yixin asked as she signed.

“Not at all. Our peak hours are on weekends. Today is the quietest day of the week! If you aren’t in a rush, I suggest walking instead of taking the tour bus—it’s more fun. Also, if you want souvenirs, the shop at the exit has a better selection and slightly cheaper prices.”

“That’s great. Thank you for the tip.” Cheng Yixin handed back the phone and pen.

She passed a ticket to Chi Yi with a grin. “Intelligence gathered! We’ll hit the exit shop for souvenirs later.”

The Peacock and the Deer

The weather was perfect—overcast enough that it wasn’t too hot. As they walked through the Marine Life Pavilion, they marveled at sharks swimming overhead and took photos for an elderly couple. In return, the couple offered to take a photo for them.

Standing side-by-side against a backdrop of blue light and coral, Chi Yi was stiff. Cheng Yixin boldly wrapped an arm around Chi Yi’s waist, pulling her close.

“What’s wrong? You don’t like taking pictures with me?” Cheng Yixin teased, manually adjusting Chi Yi’s smile with her fingers. “Smile sweet for me, Little Deer Chi.”

Further into the park, Cheng Yixin tried desperately to get a peacock to fan its tail. She chirped and coaxed, but the bird ignored her.

“Peacocks usually only fan their tails during courtship or when they see something dazzling,” Chi Yi explained. “And it’s not spring yet.”

“Am I not dazzling?” Cheng Yixin pouted.

But as soon as Chi Yi stepped closer, the peacock suddenly flared its magnificent feathers.

“How?! It only did it because you walked over!” Cheng Yixin turned to the bird and scolded it, “You little peacock, how dare you try to court her in front of me! No discipline at all!”

Eventually, they reached the Deer Park. Cheng Yixin found the small female deer she had met during a previous shoot. To her surprise, the deer seemed “jealous” and ignored her until she shooed the other deer away.

“Don’t you think you two are alike?” Cheng Yixin asked Chi Yi. “The way you sulk… and those bright, round, obedient eyes.”

“Are you saying I’m easy to coax?” Chi Yi asked.

Cheng Yixin suppressed a laugh. “I didn’t say that.”

Sunset Reflections

As evening fell, they stopped by a lake where swans drifted on the water. Cheng Yixin took a candid photo of Chi Yi bathed in the golden sunset.

“Why are you taking pictures of me?” Chi Yi asked softly.

“Because you look beautiful,” Cheng Yixin replied. She looked at Chi Yi’s face and added, “It’s a waste you aren’t in the entertainment industry. But… I’m also glad you aren’t. If you were, our paths might have never crossed like this.”

Chi Yi looked down, a shadow of melancholy crossing her face. “Sometimes I feel… like I’m an unlucky person who brings misfortune to others. Hearing you say that makes me happy.”

Cheng Yixin flicked Chi Yi’s forehead firmly. “Don’t think like that. Since I’ve met you, I haven’t felt a single bit of misfortune. You bring warmth and kindness to people. I’ve never been more grateful to meet someone. You hear me, Chi Yi?”

“I hear you, Yixin.”

The Souvenir and the Gala

Before leaving, Cheng Yixin bought a sandalwood deer keychain labeled “Safe Travels” (a pun on ‘Deer’ and ‘Road’ in Chinese) and attached it to Chi Yi’s car keys.

“Isn’t this a bit childish for a CEO?” Cheng Yixin teased. “Won’t your business partners laugh?”

“It’s fine,” Chi Yi smiled. “If I tell them my girlfriend gave it to me, they’ll understand.”

As they drove back, Cheng Yixin showed Chi Yi some dress options for a major gala next month. Chi Yi pointed out a vibrant, high-end piece that suited her best.

“I like that one too,” Cheng Yixin sighed, “but that brand is a ‘Top Luxury’ label. They rarely lend dresses to celebrities they don’t have a formal partnership with, even if you pay. But it’s okay, my manager will figure it out. If I can’t get it, I’ll just pick something else.”

She dismissed it with a smile, though it was clear that her influence in the fashion world wasn’t quite where she wanted it to be yet.