Chapter Fifty-Four: Encountering Gossip on the Road

The two of them carried their things into the residential complex, and from a distance, they saw a man carrying a woman on his back, moving slowly forward.

"Look, aren't they sweet together!" Bai Chenxi gazed at the couple ahead, her eyes nearly turning into hearts.

Chu Muyun leaned in and whispered, "What, are you envious?"

"It's a pity, you don't have a boyfriend. All you can do is watch and be jealous." Bai Chenxi gritted her teeth. "If you don't speak, no one will mistake you for a mute."

With that, she tossed all the items in her hands to Chu Muyun. "You carry them yourself!"

Watching Bai Chenxi storm off in a huff, Chu Muyun shook his head and hurried after her.

"Go, Mo Li! Our Ali is the best!" The girl being carried spoke with a clear, ringing voice that echoed in Bai Chenxi's ears, making her pause in surprise.

Then the man's voice, deep and slightly teasing, followed: "Yu Qing, you really need to lose some weight."

Yu Qing, hearing this, tightened her arms around his neck. "Yu Qing, let go, do you hear me?"

"I won't! How dare you say I've gained weight!"

They bantered playfully and turned around, coming face to face with Bai Chenxi's astonished gaze.

The three stared at each other, wide-eyed, until Bai Chenxi finally broke the tension.

"Hi!"

Feeling it wasn't quite appropriate, she quickly added, "I didn't see anything, really."

Just as she was about to turn and leave, Chu Muyun caught up. "Bai Chenxi, what are you doing standing here?"

He glanced ahead, noticing the pair.

Yu Qing, upon seeing Chu Muyun, flashed a momentary embarrassment on her face, and tapped Mo Li's shoulder to signal him to let her down.

Mo Li carefully helped Yu Qing off his back, and Bai Chenxi then noticed Yu Qing's injured foot.

Chu Muyun spoke in a low voice, "Mo Li."

Mo Li looked at him. "Chu Muyun, it's been a while."

Bai Chenxi watched their exchange and asked, "You know each other?"

Chu Muyun replied, "We used to work together."

Mo Li glanced at them and asked, "Were you and Miss Bai out shopping?"

Before Chu Muyun could answer, Bai Chenxi blurted out excitedly, "You know me?"

Mo Li smiled, "Miss Bai has been trending so often lately—how could I not?"

The words could have sounded sarcastic, but from Mo Li's lips, they held no trace of mockery, as if he were stating the most ordinary of facts.

Bai Chenxi laughed awkwardly.

Chu Muyun never liked to lose out.

"So, are you and Miss Yu heading home?"

Yu Qing had been watching Chu Muyun and Bai Chenxi, wanting to say something, but hesitated.

Mo Li answered readily, "Yes, we're heading back."

He glanced at Yu Qing, then continued, "Xiao Qing was a bit thoughtless before, and her words caused trouble. Sorry for that."

This statement was loaded with meaning. Bai Chenxi's eyes lit up instantly, darting between the three of them, searching for clues.

Chu Muyun, seeing her expression, knew she must be imagining all sorts of things in her mind.

He nodded. "Then we'll be off."

Without another word, he pulled Bai Chenxi away.

Watching their retreating figures, Yu Qing said, "They won't tell anyone, right?"

"You think everyone is as careless as you, speaking without thinking?"

Yu Qing bristled at the remark. "Li, you’ve gotten bold! Now you’re lecturing me?"

She leapt up as if to hit him, only to aggravate her injury.

Mo Li immediately scooped up the protesting Yu Qing.

Yu Qing stared at him in surprise. "What are you doing? Someone might see!"

"You weren't worried about being seen when you asked me to carry you."

Mo Li glanced at Yu Qing, who was nestled in his arms. "Now it’s a princess carry, and suddenly you act shy like a princess."

Yu Qing glared fiercely at him and thumped his chest. "Hurry up and go!"

At the elevator, Bai Chenxi tried to calm her excitement, sneaking glances at Chu Muyun.

Suddenly, she felt a sharp pain on her head. She covered it, complaining, "You knocked me on the head again. It hurts, you know?"

"If I don't knock hard enough, how else can I scatter all those wild thoughts in your mind?"

Bai Chenxi's eyes sparkled. "Then tell me, what wild thoughts do you think I have?"

Chu Muyun looked at her seriously. "There's nothing complicated between us. Don't overthink it."

"Really?"

Seeing Chu Muyun nod, Bai Chenxi immediately relaxed.

"You scared me. I thought maybe there was some hidden emotional drama between you!"

Chu Muyun regarded Bai Chenxi with a complicated look. "Why, were you worried?"

"Of course! Otherwise, how could I gossip with you so freely?"

Bai Chenxi was oblivious to the shift in Chu Muyun’s expression, still clinging to his arm with excitement.

"Did you see? It's Mo Li and Yu Qing! One is a rising star with real acting chops, the other is the queen of scandal and fame in the entertainment industry."

Bai Chenxi was still full of disbelief. "They're actually together!"

Chu Muyun kept his face slightly dark. "You’re so invested in other people’s business?"

When your own affairs are still a mess.

"They’re not just anyone—Mo Li is my idol!"

"Idol?" Chu Muyun slowly savored the word, as if chewing it to pieces.

Bai Chenxi, caught up in excitement, wanted to introduce her idol to Chu Muyun.

"I have countless favorites, but Mo Li is truly unique among them."

She counted off Mo Li’s virtues: "Handsome, a great actor, no scandals."

"And now, I just found out he’s devoted to someone—he’s even more charming for being so loyal!"

As Bai Chenxi grew increasingly enraptured, Chu Muyun’s tone became tinged with jealousy.

"If you like him so much, why didn’t you ask for an autograph, maybe even a photo?"

Bai Chenxi brightened. "How did you know I was thinking exactly that?"

Chu Muyun’s expression cracked a little: You actually did think that?

"But it just wasn’t the right moment! His girlfriend was there—how could I be so clueless and disturb them?"

Bai Chenxi was quite pleased with her own tact.

Chu Muyun thought silently: Hah! Is anyone more clueless than you right now?

After that, Chu Muyun became cool and distant, for reasons unknown.

Normally, Bai Chenxi might have wondered what set him off this time.

But now, her head was filled with the earth-shattering gossip she’d just uncovered, leaving no room to notice Chu Muyun’s mercurial mood.

As a result, Chu Muyun’s expression grew darker and darker, while Bai Chenxi remained utterly bewildered.