Chapter 159: Meeting Again at the Gathering

Perhaps it was because he was busy preparing his new album, but Xia Yan did not show up for any of the subsequent promotional events.

It wasn't until the very last promotion before the broadcast that Xia Yan finally made a belated appearance.

The moment she saw him, Bai Chenxi called out, "You've finally decided to show up. During every single promotion, our second male lead has been practically nonexistent. Your fans were about to lose their patience."

Bai Chenxi walked over with a smile, but Xia Yan kept a flat and distant expression throughout. "I've been a bit busy lately."

Seeing the exhaustion etched across his brow, Bai Chenxi felt a deep sense of sympathy and decided not to bother him any further.

Just as Bai Chenxi turned to leave, Xia Yan finally spoke up. "Are you... together with him?"

Bai Chenxi paused for a moment as if processing the question, then turned back to Xia Yan and nodded with a smile.

Xia Yan forced a bitter smile onto his lips. "I wish you happiness."

"Thank you! You too!" Bai Chenxi replied with a playful smile.

Xia Yan clenched his hands into tight fists, yet failed to utter another word to make her stay.

Not far away, Mi Mu took in the entire scene, her eyes burning with resentment. *Bai Chenxi, what gives you the right? Why does everyone adore you? You just stand there pretending to be innocent, acting as though you know nothing.*

*Sooner or later, I will tear off your mask and let everyone witness your hypocritical face.*

"Xia Yan, I heard you're preparing a new album. Could you tell us how that's coming along?"

"It's in the works. It will be out for everyone to see very soon."

"Bai Chenxi and Chu Muyun are together now. Do you have any thoughts on that?" Xia Yan felt as though the expression he had painstakingly maintained was on the verge of cracking.

The person he had wanted to confess his feelings to had suddenly gone public with her relationship, and they actually expected him to have comments.

"I've been tied up with my new album, so I had no idea. I just congratulated her in person a moment ago."

Fortunately, Tang Ziyu had a clear grasp of the situation and smoothly steered the conversation away from the awkward topic.

Ah, poor Xia Yan! His first love had ended before he even had the chance to confess, and to top it all off, he hadn't even been in on the secret.

"Bai Chenxi!" Just as the group was about to part ways, Xia Yan couldn't help but call out to her.

Bai Chenxi turned around and looked at him. "What is it?"

Meeting her gaze, Xia Yan involuntarily averted his eyes. "I just wanted to say... my song is coming out soon. Would you like to listen to it?"

"Yes, of course I would." Bai Chenxi nodded in pleasant surprise.

"Really?"

"As if I'd turn that down! Are you free? Can I listen to it right now?" Bai Chenxi found herself growing impatient just thinking about it.

"I'll send it to you later. There's also another track, and I want you to hear that one too."

"Alright!" Bai Chenxi agreed without a moment's hesitation.

True to form, Xia Yan hurried away the moment he finished speaking. Bai Chenxi couldn't help but think that he really must be extraordinarily busy.

However, she didn't have the luxury to dwell on it for long, as she had to hurry and get ready for a charity gala.

The banquet was organized under the auspices of several prominent figures and was a star-studded affair, drawing numerous wealthy elites and socialites.

Countless minor celebrities would break their necks just for a chance to attend, treating it as an opportunity to gain exposure. If someone managed to forge connections with high society at such an event, they wouldn't even need to worry about marrying into wealth; a single word from the right person could spare them a lifetime of struggling in the entertainment industry.

The only reason Bai Chenxi was able to attend was thanks to hitching a ride on Chu Muyun's coattails. Now that Chu Muyun had made their relationship public, it would be unthinkable to show up at an event like this without her.

This could be considered their first reunion in half a month. The moment she stepped into the car, Bai Chenxi unabashedly began looking Chu Muyun up and down. Her starry-eyed gaze was so shameless that even Sister Wang found it hard to watch, thoroughly embarrassed on her behalf.

While Bai Chenxi had never doubted Chu Muyun's good looks, she hadn't seen him dressed up in a formal suit like this since the last awards ceremony.

It was a pity that their relationship back then had been on such rocky terms that she never truly got to appreciate this breathtaking beauty.

When Bai Chenxi climbed into the car, Chu Muyun was equally struck by her appearance. Departing from her usual understated style, the makeup she wore today lent her an entirely different, captivating allure that held him utterly spellbound.

Still, he managed to mask his reaction far better than Bai Chenxi's blatant staring. Chu Muyun reached out a hand to help her up, and whether due to the restrictive cut of her dress or something else, Bai Chenxi remained remarkably quiet the entire time, genuinely projecting the aura of a goddess.

It wasn't until the car doors were shut and the vehicle pulled away that Bai Chenxi finally broke character.

"Chu Muyun, I'm suffering so much! I haven't eaten a single thing all day!" Seeing that Sister Wang was no longer around, Bai Chenxi seized the opportunity to pour out her grievances to him.

"Just bear with it a little longer, and I'll let you eat your fill later!" Chu Muyun chuckled. This was the real Bai Chenxi, through and through.

Bai Chenxi swallowed hard, pulling a pathetic face. "I can't, I'll get a food baby!"

Even though she loved to eat, her gown was skintight, and she had no intention of embarrassing herself in front of a crowd.

"I'll take you out to eat afterwards!" At Chu Muyun's words, her eyes lit up instantly.

"Is that okay?"

If Sister Wang found out they had snuck off, she would tear a strip off her. Still, with Chu Muyun joining her, even if trouble arose, it probably wouldn't be anything major.

"A few of my brothers heard I was seeing someone and wanted to meet my girlfriend. You understand."

Bai Chenxi made an OK gesture with her fingers. "I understand! I'll definitely cooperate fully."

As the time approached for them to walk the red carpet, Bai Chenxi's nervousness became visibly palpable, her hands involuntarily gripping the fabric of Chu Muyun's sleeve.

It wasn't until she publicly confirmed her relationship with Chu Muyun that she truly understood how the attention she had received previously was merely a drop in the ocean compared to the relentless spotlight of being Chu Muyun's girlfriend.

No matter how interviewers tried to steer the questions during recent promotions, reporters always managed to find a way to pivot the conversation back to her romance with Chu Muyun.

After years of being a spectator to other people's gossip, she had finally become the gossip herself. It was no wonder she now felt a twinge of panic every time she laid eyes on a journalist.

Noticing her tension, Chu Muyun reached out and took her hand, guiding her gaze to meet his.

"Don't worry! I've got everything covered. You're my girlfriend now, so all you have to do is stand beside me, smile, and nod. Leave it to your boyfriend to shield you from the wind and rain."

Chu Muyun's reassuring smile had a calming effect on her fluttering nerves. Suddenly, everything else felt insignificant—with Chu Muyun by her side, there was simply nothing left to fear.

The two of them walked onto the red carpet hand in hand, accompanied by the ceaseless flashing of cameras. True to Chu Muyun's instructions, Bai Chenxi kept a graceful smile on her face the entire way.

Then, right in the middle of smiling, she suddenly sneezed. Before Bai Chenxi could even process what had happened, a chorus of gasps erupted from the surrounding crowd.

*Inside Bai Chenxi's mind: Have they really lost their minds to this degree? I literally just sneezed.*

The next second, a wave of warmth enveloped her shoulders as Chu Muyun's suit jacket was draped over her.

He leaned in close, whispering softly in her ear, "Be careful not to catch a cold."

The moment the words left his lips, a fiery blush rushed up Bai Chenxi's neck and settled all the way to the tips of her ears.

Footage of Chu Muyun putting his jacket over Bai Chenxi was later uploaded online, sending netizens into a frenzy and further fueling the popularity of their shipping pairing.

Seeing the genuine affection between the two, a portion of the fan base gradually began to accept their relationship.

Upon entering the banquet hall, Bai Chenxi remained glued to Chu Muyun's side, practically refusing to take a single step away from him. The guests mingling around the room were the kind of titans whose names usually only appeared in the financial pages of her father's newspapers.

Seeing them all gathered right before her eyes imparted a surreal, almost dreamlike sensation.