Sweet Gardenia - Chapter 29.2

Today was the long-awaited fan meet-up. She had been worried that promotion wasn’t enough, but as soon as she arrived at the convention center entrance, she saw a long line had already formed.

Lu Zhi was surprised. “So many people?”

Li Siyi remarked, “Have you seen how picky you were? You scoured almost half the country for handsome guys and ended up choosing just one amateur. The rest are all well-known cosplayers who already have their own fanbases.”

Lu Zhi walked with her toward the backstage area. “I have to consider how well the cosplayers match their characters. I wanted to pick the ones whose aura fits the best, so players who’ve experienced the game won’t feel disconnected, and newcomers will have a better experience too.”

She had prepared many segments, with each male lead character having a set of merchandise as a welcome gift.

Based on the storyline, each male lead’s gift was different: the one first met at the cinema received a movie ticket, the one encountered at the flower market got a dried flower bookmark, and the one met at the rainy bus station was given a ticket designed with water-stain patterns.

Li Siyi checked the merchandise and clicked her tongue in admiration. “This is going to drive them crazy.”

Of course, correspondingly, the merchandise packs also included holographic tickets with illustrations of each male lead, along with double-sided shiny badges, a favorite among players.

After confirming all the props were ready, Lu Zhi gave a final reminder to all the cosplayers about the importance of staying in character. Only then were they allowed on stage.

Soon, cheers erupted from the audience as the promotional trailer played on the big screen.

Each male lead had his own iconic line, designed to create a unique impression.

Her original intention in creating this game was “companionship.”

The kind of companionship you could get anytime, just by opening the game.

It was a dream she had fervently wished for as a child, and she wanted it to succeed more than anyone else.

The trailer CG played on a loop, and the handshake event proceeded in an orderly fashion. Worried that the female protagonist, or rather, the players might grow tired from standing in line for too long, she thoughtfully provided free water and a makeup touch-up station. After all, in a romance game, everyone wants to face their virtual partner in the best possible state for every date.

The on-site experience was excellent, and the preparations were so thorough that many players, as usual, recorded videos and shared them online. Unexpectedly, several posts went viral, and the hashtag #Trajectory# saw a sharp rise in views on the backend.

Lu Zhi spent a long time scrolling through the trending topics. As players expressed their excitement, her heart seemed to warm along with their exclamation marks. Sometimes, a thin screen could carry so much, even the transmission of affection felt tangible and vivid.

When she locked her screen midway, she realized she had been smiling for a long time.

She found a good angle in the backstage area, snapped a few photos of the bustling crowd, and sent them to Fu Yanshang.

She didn’t know what he was busy with, but he hadn’t replied yet.

For now, though, she had no time to dwell on him. Whether the praise was for the event, the game, or the male leads, it all essentially affirmed her abilities. The efforts she had poured in over the years had finally borne tangible results, something far more precious than mere popularity.

She felt even more motivated for the future.

Since it was just the beginning, she had kept the event simple. By evening, it was winding down. Standing at the exit, she drew an irreplaceable energy from the excitement and joy of every passing player.

She felt even more fulfilled than the players themselves.

Somehow, word had leaked out.  Perhaps from a staff member, and many players at the exit recognized her as the game’s producer. They stared at her in astonishment: “Someone as beautiful as you is making a romance game?”

Lu Zhi tilted her head and replied, “Aren’t you all the same? So beautiful, yet playing my game.”

The female players were overjoyed by her compliment. As one of them left, she waved and called out, “Sweetie, how about a pool party next time? I want to see my husband without his clothes!”

Cheers erupted at the exit. Lu Zhi turned to Li Siyi and asked, “Would that even be allowed?”

Li Siyi winked at her. “You’ll always find a way.”

–

Since the players had suggested it, ignoring the idea wasn’t her style.

Over the next few days, she was either busy with the convention or mulling over the proposal.

Fu Yanshang’s presidential suite had an outdoor pool. After five exhausting days, the promotional events concluded perfectly, three sessions in total. She slept straight through until 3 p.m. When she woke, the room was still pitch black, the blackout curtains so effective that it was impossible to tell whether it was day or night.

She switched on the light, and blazing sunlight finally poured in through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

After finishing her lunch, Lu Zhi found herself eyeing the pool outside.

She had learned to swim a long time ago, but back then, she was young and only put in effort when adults were watching. The moment they left, she’d slack off in the pool, so she only ever picked up the basics, most of which she had since forgotten.

She ordered a swimsuit through a delivery app and, seeing that the water wasn’t deep, decided to test it out.

As the water rose to her chest, her heartbeat quickened involuntarily. She took a moment to adjust, waiting for her pulse to steady before practicing holding her breath.

Bubbles gurgled in her ears, and the already quiet top floor grew even more silent. For a while, the only sound was the water. Just as her lungs began to protest, she surfaced.

And found someone standing in the bedroom before her.

She was thoroughly startled, staring at the shadow for a long moment to confirm she wasn’t hallucinating from nearly drowning. “What are you doing here?”

A drop of water slid from her lashes, passing through her line of sight. She watched Fu Yanshang push open the partition door and lean casually against the side. “Can’t I come?”

“…”

“No, it’s just…” She propped herself up at the edge of the pool, carefully taking in the scene. “Why didn’t you say anything before coming?”

“If I had, I wouldn’t have gotten to see such an interesting sight,” he said, crouching down by the pool. “You’re not going home just so you can swim here?”

“I just finished work. I’ll be back in a couple of days.” Lu Zhi raised her hand. “Perfect timing.  Do you know how to swim? Teach me.”

It was all so sudden, and so was the arrival of her “teacher.” Soon, Fu Yanshang entered the water and asked, “You don’t even know how to swim, and you’re here alone? What if something happened?”

“I can hold my breath,” Lu Zhi reassured him. “I won’t die.”

“…”

She had always been drawn to unconventional paths, and learning to swim was no exception. After practicing well-known strokes like the butterfly and freestyle for a short while, she grew bored. Leaning against the edge of the pool, she searched for swimming videos on her phone, and her eyes suddenly lit up. Turning to him, she said, “Let’s try that.”

Fu Yanshang stared at her for a moment, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “Try what?”

“Walking underwater. It looks fun.” She tapped the screen and made her decision. “We just need to sink to the bottom. If I can’t hold my breath anymore, I’ll signal you, and you can lift me up.”

Before he could respond, she plunged headfirst into the water. After a few attempts, she quickly got the hang of it, paddling underwater like a penguin and even turning her head to show off her progress.

Tiny bubbles clung to her cheeks. She had tied her hair up for once, with only a few stray strands curling around her face. Her two-piece swimsuit revealed a slender, supple waist, and her legs moved in sync as she walked forward. For a moment, he couldn’t tell who was really testing their endurance.

Soon, she reached the deep end. She had genuinely held her breath for quite some time. Just as he was about to speak, she signaled that she had reached her limit, and he lifted her to the surface.

The deep end was farther than she had realized. Submerged, she hadn’t known she had walked that far. The journey from the bottom to the surface exceeded her expectations. As soon as she broke through the water, she gasped for air, pressing against his shoulder as if the oxygen in her lungs had been compressed into a thin sheet. She had to breathe deeply and rapidly to refill them.

She clung tightly to Fu Yanshang like a climbing vine, her fingers digging into his back with such force that her fingertips ached. Yet he seemed unfazed.

Pressed so closely together, she could hardly tell if her frantic heartbeat was pressed against his chest.

“Had enough?”

She shook her head. “It’s fun. Let’s go again.”

“…”

She was the classic case of being unskilled but loving to play. Anything within her comfort zone felt dull, she thrived on pushing boundaries.

After three rounds like this, emboldened by Fu Yanshang’s presence, she grew increasingly reckless, holding her breath until the very last moment before signaling. Each time she surfaced, she gasped for air desperately. On the fourth round, he smacked her bottom.

“No more. Go take a shower.”

Lu Zhi’s smile froze. “Why?”

“What do you think?” He tilted his head, his Adam’s apple bobbing intensely as he spoke. “You’ve been rubbing against me like this. I’m reacting. If we keep going, we won’t be playing this game anymore.”

“…”

His words were audacious, making Lu Zhi realize just how unrestrained she had been moments before, still clinging to him now, her body limp and boneless, exerting no effort at all.

Instinctively, she tried to pull back, but the movement came too abruptly. Her body couldn’t keep up, and a sudden cramp seized her ankle.

Panic flared in her chest, only to be soothed as someone steadied her again. “Don’t move.”

Fu Yansheng set her down by the pool’s edge, positioning her to lie face down. With her back to him, Lu Zhi could only feel her ankle being gently manipulated forward, cradled in a pair of large hands. The water that had been her playful companion moments before now lapped at her collarbone, stirring a completely different kind of tingling sensation.

His other hand rested on the edge of the pool, veins and knuckles sharply defined, water trails meandering down his skin.

How had she let things get to this point…

Almost there. She finally regained control of her body and couldn’t wait to climb up. With a little jump, she didn’t have enough strength and ended up pressed against him, sliding back down.

Fu Yanshang: “…”

Lu Zhi refused to give up. She braced her arms and jumped again, only to slide right back to her original position. Another jump, another slide.

Behind her, she repeatedly rubbed against his front, even feeling the warmth of her skirt brushing against him.

Finally, on her fifth attempt, someone held her down.

Fu Yanshang: “Can you use the ladder?”

…

His voice behind her was noticeably hoarse. Startled, she realized just how recklessly she had been acting again.

The warmth between her legs grew hotter.

Blushing, she reached for the nearby handrail, finally gripping it with trembling hands. As she prepared to move toward it, she hesitated and glanced back: “…Are you okay?”

He answered honestly, “Not really.”

…

She dryly explained, “I didn’t mean to.”

“I know.”

“Go on up,” he said.

But the person in front of him didn’t move.

“You… that…” For the first time, even speaking felt incredibly difficult. Her words came out one syllable at a time, her fingertips turning pale as she gripped the handrail. “Just…”

“What?”

Fu Yanshang truly had no idea what she was talking about. Worried she might be short of breath, he leaned in closer to listen carefully. The moment his cheek brushed against hers, it felt like touching a freshly baked apple. He paused abruptly, realizing something.

Lu Zhi’s ability to articulate had completely shut down, as if fried by high temperatures, sizzling with the white smoke of “strike and refusal to work.” The pitiful remnants of her language system scrambled around, knocking on every door like a desperate plea.

Suddenly, she heard a voice beside her, carrying a leisurely, unhurried tone.

When he suppressed a laugh, that faint, almost imperceptible sound became especially clear. His fingers, resting on the cool tile floor, didn’t move an inch: “Does my baby mean she wants to… help me?”

In that instant, even the white smoke in her mind stopped. A precise missile obliterated her inner theater, leaving nothing but a blank slate. How could he be so direct… How could anyone talk like that…

Her eardrums began to vibrate in response.

She had never felt herself speak so quickly: “I didn’t say that!”

A warm touch covered her skin as he said, “Your heart is beating so fast.”

Lu Zhi: “Because I’m not as shameless as you. I get easily… embarrassed just saying anything.” She nodded, as if affirming her own words. “Yeah, embarrassed.”

He chuckled along with her.

After working nonstop for over thirty hours, just an hour before coming here, he never would have imagined that something so simple and quick could bring him such joy.

It had nothing to do with sex, nor with whether he would gain anything later.

He gently pinched her cheek and said, “How can you be so adorable?”

“What are you doing…” Lu Zhi pushed him back with her elbow. “Talking nonsense…”

He loosened his grip on her tense wrist and said, “Don’t be nervous.”

“You like roller coasters, and you like feeling suffocated?”

The sudden shift in topic made it hard to guess what he was really after. Lu Zhi realized she still didn’t understand him well enough. Where was he going with this? Why was he talking about something else again?

“Not really… I mean, some things scare me, but they also make me feel excited…”

He seemed to have a sudden epiphany and succinctly concluded, “Baby likes it exciting, doesn’t she?”

She suddenly realized he wasn’t as hard to understand as she thought, because the conversation was circling back in a strange way…

He leaned in close, tilting his head to ask, “Then how about using your legs in the pool during the day?”