Can't Hide My Love for You - Chapter 44

After seeing off Feng Xianlan, Chi Yi looked toward the house across the way.

Cheng Yixin had arrived home an hour ago, yet not a single light was on in the house. It didn’t look like anyone was home. Had she already gone to sleep? No, it was unlikely at this hour.

Chi Yi walked to the door and rang the doorbell twice. No response. She pulled out her phone; the last message from Cheng Yixin was a cute cartoon deer emoji. After hesitating for a long while, she entered the security code to open the door.

In the entryway, shoes had been kicked off haphazardly on the floor, indicating the owner was home. Chi Yi bent down slightly, organized the shoes, and placed them in the shoe cabinet.

The hallway was lit by a warm-toned lamp. Chi Yi walked toward Cheng Yixin’s bedroom step by step, her pace steady. Each footfall made a soft thud, thud against the floor.

She wanted to ask if Cheng Yixin was asleep. Opening the bedroom door, she could see a figure lying on the bed by the amber light from the hallway. The duvet was bunched up, and the person lay facing away from the door, leaving only the back of her head visible.

Hearing the light footsteps approaching her, Cheng Yixin instinctively closed her eyes, trying to feign sleep. But she wasn’t sleepy at all. The moment she closed her eyes, she thought of the press conference—of the insincere answers she had given to the reporters.

She suddenly loathed herself. On one hand, she claimed being an actress was just a job and she could retire once she’d saved enough money; on the other, she was unwilling to give it all up for a romance scandal. She didn’t even have the courage to face the astronomical breach-of-contract fees that could leave her with nothing.

She hated this version of herself—cowardly, only capable of bringing unpleasant memories to those around her. Even their beginning had been… because of her own desire for revenge. Even if she didn’t lose everything after paying the fees, she just didn’t have the courage to face being “just another face in the crowd.”

At the end of the day, she felt like a rotten person who only consumed Chi Yi’s expectations.

As Cheng Yixin sank into a spiral of self-reproach and regret, her body was suddenly embraced. A familiar scent followed—a light jasmine mixed with woody notes, fresh and cool.

She opened her eyes reflexively. In the dim light of the room, she could make out the silhouette of a chair by the bed.

“You’re faking it, aren’t you?” Chi Yi’s voice rang in her ear. She felt the other’s chin rest gently against the side of her neck. “I caught you.”

Cheng Yixin froze. She instinctively wanted to pull her head under the covers, but Chi Yi’s chin was wedged between them. After a small movement, she gave up on the idea of escaping. Her hand, hidden beneath the duvet, gripped the bedsheet tightly.

“I’m sorry, Chi Yi,” Cheng Yixin whispered.

“What are you apologizing for?”

“The press conference…” She only said those few words before her throat went dry, and she didn’t know what else to say.

“Mhm, I saw the video,” Chi Yi replied. “I’m actually quite happy.”

“Didn’t you say I’m a very important person to you? That’s enough,” Chi Yi said. “I’m not angry, and I’m not unhappy. Regarding those photos, I actually wanted you to clarify them.”

“From a rational perspective, it really isn’t the right time for us to go public. Do you really want those marketing accounts spread rumors every day that you’re being ‘kept’ by me?” At this point, Chi Yi chuckled and nuzzled her neck again. “So, it’s fine to admit it later. I don’t mind.”

“I want to be someone who moves forward with you, not someone who holds you back.”

“You aren’t holding me back!” Hearing those words, Cheng Yixin sat bolt upright in bed, arguing her point: “From the moment we met, you’ve helped me so much. You saved me during the show, introduced me to opportunities, and even hosted my parents. So much of what’s happened is because of your help.”

“Exactly.” Chi Yi reached out to brush a strand of hair behind her ear. Even in the dim light, Cheng Yixin could see the smile on her face and the familiar, warm, clear gaze. “So, does it really matter if we’re public or not?”

“Ultimately, a relationship is between two people. As a public figure, having your news used as dinner-table gossip is common. The words belong to them, and we can’t control that. Caring too much about what others think makes life exhausting.”

“As long as you feel that your current life makes you happy, that’s enough.”

Cheng Yixin was comforted by Chi Yi’s words, yet she still felt aggrieved on her behalf. She felt a profound sense of conflict; the better Chi Yi treated her, the more she feared losing her. Even this time, when she was the one who caused the outcome, Chi Yi was the one coaxing her.

“Chi Yi…” she frowned, wrapping her arms around Chi Yi’s waist and resting her forehead against her heart.

Chi Yi smoothed her long hair, her other hand resting on her shoulder. The warmth in the room lasted for a long time.

“The little bird’s wound is all healed. Do you still want to come with me to release it this weekend?”

“Yes!” Cheng Yixin said immediately, her voice loud. “I want to go!”

“What if we’re photographed?” Chi Yi asked teasingly.

“I don’t care!” Cheng Yixin nuzzled into her chest. “They better not let me catch them! Or they’re dead! I’ll kick their camera over!”

“That’s the spirit. I’ll help you kick it,” Chi Yi laughed. “Even if you clarified things to the public, it won’t affect our relationship. We’ll just be a bit more careful from now on.”

“So…” Chi Yi paused. “Sister Wenjing said you haven’t eaten anything since this afternoon. Want to go out for dinner? We could see a movie, too.”

“Is… is that okay?” Cheng Yixin asked hesitantly.

After the romance scandal broke, Cheng Yixin had looked at the Weibo comments. Most of Chi Yi’s fans were focused on her career; since Chi Yi wasn’t a celebrity, they generally had a supportive attitude toward her dating, whether it was a man or a woman. Her own fans, however, were a broad group, likely mixed with rival anti-fans. The comments were a mess, with plenty attacking Chi Yi’s looks and character.

“Ah. But you look like you’re about to sleep.” Chi Yi glanced at her, stepping back slightly from the bed. “Maybe we should forget it.”

Cheng Yixin was still in her regular clothes; she hadn’t changed since she got back.

“No, I’m going!” Cheng Yixin said, though she remained kneeling on the bed, unmoving.

Chi Yi stood by the bed, watching her steadily. After a few seconds, she opened her arms wide. Like a child, Cheng Yixin lunged forward and clung to her like a piece of sticky candy.

“Are you really… not angry? I want you to tell me honestly if you’re even a little bit sad,” Cheng Yixin’s voice was muffled against Chi Yi’s chest.

“You used to be a lucky goddess I could only admire from afar. Now that I’ve won your favor, what more could I be dissatisfied with?” the President said emotionally.

Cheng Yixin burst out laughing. “You’re so cheesy, Chi Yiyi.”

Chi Yi laughed as well. Cheng Yixin would never truly know how special she was in her heart.

After a while, Cheng Yixin looked up, still clinging to her. “I’m going to reward you. Tell me, what gift do you want?”

“Anything?” Chi Yi asked.

Cheng Yixin nodded. At this moment, even if Chi Yi asked for her payment password, the moved and “love-brained” Teacher Cheng would likely give it up.

“Then I want you to kiss me.”

Cheng Yixin didn’t hesitate. She straightened up and gave Chi Yi a peck. Mwah, mwah, mwah. She kissed her several times in a row.

The serious atmosphere slowly began to shift. The dim lighting was the perfect aphrodisiac. She thought: With Chi Yi here, the sky won’t fall.

What was supposed to be a dinner outing turned into a late-night snack; the movie was out of the question. The malls had closed at 10:00 PM, leaving few options. After scanning the map, they chose a relatively close bar. The photos showed a nice environment, and the reviews agreed it was quiet with few customers.

As the white Volvo slowly drove out of the neighborhood, the person in the car hidden in the shadows snapped awake. He grabbed his long-lens camera from the passenger seat and began taking a rapid-fire series of photos.

“Brother Fei! We’ve got tomorrow’s front page!” the man said excitedly. “The headline: Cheng Yixin Appears Again After Lesbian Scandal, Meets Scandal Partner at Night, Both Emerging from the Same Neighborhood! A clarification in the afternoon, and the two female leads are in the same frame again at night! This is a guaranteed hit! Man, I was waiting for someone else, I didn’t expect a headline to drop in my lap! This month’s bonus is in the bag!”

In the backseat, the veteran “Brother Fei” calmly wiped his face. “Take the photos. Take as many as you want. We can’t publish them anyway.”

“Huh?” the newcomer’s face fell. “Why not? It’s such good material, it’s a waste not to make a story out of it!”

Brother Fei lit a cigarette, took a long drag, and exhaled. “As long as a celebrity adamantly denies it and there’s no ‘smoking gun’ evidence, rumors will just be rumors. They blow away with the wind. But if we release a blind leak just for views, that’s an open declaration of war.”

The Volvo followed the navigation to the bar. The location was a bit remote, surrounded only by a few late-night food stalls; no wonder the reviews said it was quiet.

Walking inside, there was a small stage in the center with a piano. A singer was playing guitar and singing love songs. Looking around, there were only two or three tables of customers. At the bar, blue light strips glowed beneath the counter, casting a ghostly blue light on the barstools. The booths were lit by a somewhat more intimate rose-red overhead light.

The menu had both alcohol and juice, along with snacks and BBQ. They ordered a pitcher of orange juice, some skewers, and a fruit platter. Accompanied by the live music, the atmosphere felt a bit like a scene of “debauchery.”

The singer finished a few songs and went off the clock. The live music was replaced by a playlist.

“This is so bad. They’d be better off playing light music,” Cheng Yixin remarked when a tacky, loud song came on.

“Should I go talk to the owner?” Chi Yi asked.

“Never mind.” Cheng Yixin paused, looking at the now-dimmed stage. Propping her chin on her hand, she looked at Chi Yi and suddenly smiled. “Why don’t you go up and sing one? You sounded great when you sang ‘Zhong Wuyan’ for me before.” She remembered Chi Yi could play piano, too.

“You want to hear me sing?” Chi Yi hummed along. “Then I’ll go talk to the owner.”

“Wait.” She grabbed Chi Yi’s hand. “Don’t sing ‘Zhong Wuyan,’ it’s too tragic. I want something sweet.”

The talk with the owner went smoothly. Having a customer willing to perform was actually a plus for the atmosphere, even if there were fewer than ten people in the bar. It was all about the vibe.

Seeing Chi Yi walk toward the stage, Cheng Yixin quickly put down her skewers and moved to the seat closest to the stage. Chi Yi sat on a high stool in the center. A spotlight hit her, and holding the microphone, she naturally exuded the aura of a singer.

A familiar piano intro began to play from the surround speakers. It was familiar, but without the lyrics, she couldn’t quite place the song.

Chi Yi’s slightly low, cool voice came through the mic: “I hear winter’s departure…”

It was “Meeting” (Yujian).

Cheng Yixin swayed her head gently to the rhythm of the piano, her gaze fixed on Chi Yi’s face.

“My meeting you is the most beautiful accident…”

Even without alcohol, Cheng Yixin felt intoxicated by Chi Yi’s voice, her eyes turning into “starry eyes.”

The diners at other tables glanced at them, thinking she was a singer hired by the owner. After a moment, they looked again and recognized the person below the stage as Cheng Yixin, the frequent trending star, and the other as her “scandalous girlfriend” from today, Chi Yi.

When Chi Yi finished, Cheng Yixin clapped enthusiastically, and everyone else in the bar joined in.

Back at the booth, a couple came over to greet them, hoping for a photo with the star.

“Sure,” Cheng Yixin smiled, standing up.

The girl in the couple looked at Chi Yi and added, “President Chi, can we have a photo together too? We’ve seen you on the search rankings so often lately, we didn’t expect to see you in real life!”

So, the two stood on either side of the girl while the boyfriend took several photos. The girl was very satisfied.

“I saw the recent rumors, I thought you’d be avoiding each other and wouldn’t be seen together,” the girl said, being a “5G surfer” of gossip. Then she felt a bit embarrassed. “Ah, is it bad of me to say that? I don’t mean anything by it, I’m just curious.”

“Not at all. We’ve always had a very good relationship,” Cheng Yixin smiled.

“Then do you mind the internet saying you’re a couple? I saw your clarification, but the CP fans still think you’re real.”

Cheng Yixin thought for a moment and said, “As long as it doesn’t affect our lives, I can accept them projecting their beautiful imaginations onto us.”

“Okay, okay!” The girl nodded like a chick pecking at grain. In her head, a brainstorm was already recording the conversation; she planned to return to her seat and immediately post about meeting the celebrity on Little Red Book!

After the couple left, Chi Yi looked at Cheng Yixin with a mix of helplessness and amusement.

“The CP fans are definitely going to take what you just said as tacit permission to ship us,” Chi Yi paused. “You have no idea how much fanart, fanfiction, and edited videos are in the Super-Topic right now.”

“I love watching them,” Teacher Cheng gave a thumbs-up. “The more, the better.”