Against the Light - Chapter 72
Chapter 72: Asking for a Reward~
Hand in hand, the two strolled leisurely until they found themselves downstairs from Bai Yilan's apartment.
Gu Xinran looked reluctant to part, her fingers still hooked around Bai Yilan's.
"Won't you invite me up for a bit? My dear girlfriend?"
"I won't. Go home."
"Mmm~" Gu Xinran whined, shaking her hand in a blatant display of affection.
"Stop that." Bai Yilan's eyes crinkled with a smile, though she tried to keep a straight face. This woman was the type to take a mile if you gave her an inch; she couldn't let her get away with it!
"What about last night… Hiss!" Gu Xinran was cut off mid-sentence by a sudden pinch on her waist.
"Don't you dare mention last night again!" Bai Yilan threatened in a low voice, her hand still resting on Gu Xinran's waist, her gaze sharp.
"Alright, alright!" Gu Xinran quickly surrendered, taking Bai Yilan's hand and rubbing it against her waist, as if forcing her to soothe the spot.
Bai Yilan's annoyance melted away at the small gesture, and she began to rub the spot for her properly.
"Alright, stop messing around," Bai Yilan said. "Go on. Go home and get some proper sleep. You've been working too hard recently."
Seeing that Yilan had no intention of letting her stay the night, Gu Xinran sighed to herself and decided to drop it.
"I'll get going, then. You get some rest too. Can I come take you to work tomorrow?"
"You're so clingy. Now go," Bai Yilan chided with a smile, giving her a gentle push from behind.
"And don't look back."
Only after Gu Xinran had walked some distance away did Bai Yilan let out a soft, helpless laugh. That little rascal. In the past, she'd wanted to stick to her side every time she came home, just like Xiao Ye.
When Gu Xinran got home, she sent Yilan a text to let her know she'd arrived safely. Seeing a Weibo notification, she realized that a video of her public piano confession at the mall had been posted online by netizens. Her own Weibo page had been overrun by her fangirls.
【Ahhhh, Sister is so beautiful, I'm so here for it, I really am!!】
【Get together, ahhh—get together, I demand it—(voice cracking)】
【Remarry! Remarry! Remarry! Remarry! You have to remarry!】
【Sob, I want a multi-talented goddess like her too. Teacher Bai must have saved the world in a past life!】
【Ahhh! The CP I ship is finally together!!】
【Sob, I want a sweet romance too~】
Gu Xinran scrolled through the comments, took screenshots of the most over-the-top praise calling her multi-talented, beautiful, and sweet, and sent them to Yilan.
Bai Yilan knew at a glance that the woman was just fishing for compliments. She went to the Weibo post with the video and liked it, a move that was immediately spotted by sharp-eyed netizens. They went wild, exclaiming how sweet it was to get 'candy' straight from the source!
For the next week, Gu Xinran waited downstairs from Yilan's apartment early every morning to drive her to the studio.
And at night, no matter how late, Yilan would always see Xinran's car parked across the street the moment she left the building.
Their daily routine was simple, but for both of them, it was a source of immense happiness.
One day, after parking the car, Gu Xinran glanced over at Yilan, who was leaning back in her seat, dozing with her eyes closed.
Gu Xinran stayed quiet, simply turning her head to watch her for a moment.
Bai Yilan's head tilted, and the sudden lack of support caused her to stir. She blinked her eyes open and glanced out the window.
"We're here?"
"Mhm. You were sleeping so soundly, I couldn't bear to wake you."
Bai Yilan stretched. The past few days had been exhausting; to stay on schedule, she'd been working overtime until past ten every night.
"Let me walk you upstairs. I'll leave right after."
"Mhm."
Once they were inside, Bai Yilan pulled Gu Xinran down onto the sofa. She had her lie down, then settled beside her, resting her head on Gu Xinran's arm and nestling into her embrace.
Gu Xinran was still processing what had happened. She looked down to see Bai Yilan with her eyes closed, a serene smile on her lips. An unconscious smile spread across her own face as she adjusted her arm under Bai Yilan's neck, held her waist tighter, and patted her gently.
"Go to sleep. Good night."
The two of them, nestled together on the small sofa, drifted off to sleep in a tight embrace.
A week later.
The biennial Xiyuan TV Festival held its grand opening.
The drama series Sisters received a nomination for Best Production.
Director Yu Hua, Gu Xinran, and the rest of the main cast were invited to attend the awards ceremony.
It was the first major reunion of the cast and crew since Sisters had premiered, and it was also Gu Xinran's first formal public appearance since the show's promotional tour.
Those who knew her were aware that she rarely wore backless dresses. But today, she did the exact opposite, appearing in a black, floor-length, backless gown that left her perfect figure on full display.
Gu Xinran sat in the audience, smiling calmly as the cameras frequently focused on her.
Meanwhile, back at the studio, Jin Shuang rushed in frantically, holding out her phone. "Sister Lan, look at the live stream, quickly!"
"Hm?"
"It's the Xiyuan City TV Festival awards today, and Sister Ran is there. Wait, she didn't tell you?"
Bai Yilan froze for a moment, then it dawned on her. Last night, the woman had called and hesitantly asked if she was free today. But the film was nearly complete, and everyone had been putting in extra hours. Bai Yilan had felt too guilty to skip work again, so she'd declined. So this was the event she was attending!
Bai Yilan's brow furrowed in annoyance at herself. How could she have forgotten something so important?
Bai Yilan turned her gaze to the screen, where the camera had just settled on Gu Xinran. When she saw the dress, Bai Yilan's eyes widened in surprise. It was a gown she had designed for her in their past life, specifically for an awards ceremony. Gu Xinran had actually had it made? And she was wearing it!
This had been her dream in their past life!
She had always wanted Gu Xinran to wear a dress of her own design to an awards ceremony. Since she couldn't be there in person, she'd wanted the gown to accompany Gu Xinran in her stead.
A dream that had gone unfulfilled in her past life had finally come true.
Bai Yilan was deeply moved, a gentle smile gracing her lips.
Onscreen, the cast and crew of Sisters were called to the stage.
Gu Xinran, walking at the rear, drew gasps from the audience as she gracefully ascended the stage.
The camera zoomed in. She had avoided backless dresses in the past because of a scar on her back. In order to conceal it, she'd never dared to wear anything too revealing. This time, however, she wasn't just showing off her back—she had turned the scar into a feature.
A small, delicate blue flower had been painted over the scar. It was an exquisite, elegant touch, perfectly placed to conceal the mark!
The host noticed the detail on the large screen, walked over to Gu Xinran, and peered at her back. "Is that an orchid? It's so exquisitely painted!"
"Yes, it's an orchid."
"It's lovely. What made you decide to have an orchid painted on your back?" the host asked.
A small smile played on Gu Xinran's lips as she looked straight into the camera. "Because the one I love is fond of them."
"Oof… so cheesy!" Before the audience could even react, the cast members on stage with her were all shaking their arms, rubbing away their goosebumps.
"Whoa—!" The people in the studio were far less composed. Most of them were Yilan's fangirls, and they were so excited by the comment they nearly jumped out of their seats.
Bai Yilan smiled, feeling a little embarrassed under everyone's gaze, and lowered her head.
That woman… was being far too conspicuous.
After interviewing each person, the host dismissed them from the stage.
Soon, it was time to announce the awards, and Bai Yilan and the others found themselves growing tense.
Not only had Sisters been nominated for Best Production, but both Gu Xinran and Qin Qiong had been nominated for Best Actress. If Gu Xinran could win the title of Best Actress, it would be a massive breakthrough for her.
The host held up the winner's card, glanced at it, and then looked out at the audience with a mysterious smile.
"This year, seventeen productions were nominated for the Best Production award. But one of them has left the competition in the dust, leading by a huge margin. And that production is—"
"Golden director Yu Hua's Sisters!"
Yu Hua went on stage to give her acceptance speech, thanking everyone for their hard work and expressing her hope to continue creating even better works for the public. Her words were met with thunderous applause.
And right after that came the most thrilling moment of the night.
"I know everyone has been eagerly awaiting the next award. This year, there are four nominees for Best Actress, two of whom are from the cast of Sisters."
"This person… she is a powerful dark horse. Not long ago, she was enduring slander and attacks online. Her career was in decline, and she was at a low point in her life. But she refused to be defeated. She has been working tirelessly to prove herself, wanting to show everyone through her actions that you can't believe online rumors. The kind of person she is… is something you need to see with your own eyes to judge."
Hearing the host's words, the other nominees on stage all turned to look at Gu Xinran.
Qin Qiong began to applaud. In her heart, she had long believed that Gu Xinran was a truly deserving actress. Movie Queen, Best Actress—she was worthy of them all.
Gu Xinran looked at the host, slightly surprised.
The host was looking right back at her and nodded. "That's right. It's you. Gu. Xin. Ran!"
In the audience, Yu Hua led the applause, beaming like a proud mother, her smile so wide it couldn't be contained. She had watched Gu Xinran's rise—from negative to zero, and from zero to one. She had weathered every storm, taking each step with unwavering resolve.
Gu Xinran took a deep breath, looked at the other nominees beside her, and gave them a small, respectful bow.
The host came to her side and offered her the microphone. "Our new Best Actress, is there anything you'd like to say?"
Gu Xinran accepted the microphone, looking uncharacteristically nervous.
"I want to thank Teacher Yu for giving me the opportunity to be a part of this show. I want to thank the entire crew. It's a group full of energy, unity, and friendship. It's more like a big family, with Teacher Yu as our matriarch, embracing all of us for who we are."
"Thank you," Gu Xinran said, bowing toward Yu Hua in the audience.
"I also want to thank… thank Yilan." Gu Xinran paused, and the audience once again felt that familiar pang of sweet jealousy.
"Thank you to her for being like an angel by my side when I was at my most helpless." Gu Xinran smiled, her eyes shining. She was filming this show right when the incident with Ye Ting's plagiarism occurred. If Yilan hadn't made that phone call to her on the program, giving her unspoken encouragement and support, she couldn't guarantee that her mood wouldn't have been affected enough to disrupt filming.
"And finally, I want to say…"
Gu Xinran's throat bobbed. She took a few deep breaths to compose herself.
"My glory is yours to share." She looked into the camera, her gaze intense. She was certain Yilan was watching her right now.
Certain.
"Ahhhhh! Sister Lan, did you hear that?! Her glory is yours to share!" Jin Shuang went absolutely wild, grabbing Bai Yilan's hand and shaking it.
What kind of epic romance is this! What kind of epic romance, ahhh!
Everyone in the room clutched their chests, moved speechless by Gu Xinran's public declaration. It was too romantic! Just too romantic!
Bai Yilan pressed her lips together, her heart stirring. A soft, unconscious smile touched her face.
"Go! Go now! Go to the venue and wait for her to come out. Be the first person she sees!" Jin Shuang urged, grabbing Bai Yilan's shoulders and pushing her toward the door.
"Wait, but…"
"I'll watch the footage. Don't worry about a thing. Go! Go and respond to her!"
"That's right, Sister Lan! Don't worry, we'll finish the work today even if we have to pull an all-nighter! Just go see her!"
"You all… then you should all leave early too." Bai Yilan couldn't argue with them. She nodded, grabbed her bag, and left.
Back at the venue, the guests had been unexpectedly force-fed another round of public affection. They all had smiles plastered on their faces, but inwardly they were cursing up a storm.
Gu Xinran gave a faint smile, bowed slightly to the audience, and handed the microphone back to the host.
The host's eyes were practically sparkling as she looked at her. "That was so romantic. A public confession is just the most romantic thing… sob…"
"Ahem." Gu Xinran cleared her throat. She hadn't expected the host to be a fangirl.
The audience, amused by the host's reaction, burst out laughing, which seemed to snap her back to reality.
"My apologies, ahem…"
At the host's signal, Gu Xinran and the others elegantly descended the stage and returned to their seats.
The host delivered the closing remarks, and the TV festival awards ceremony came to an end.
Gu Xinran left the venue with the others, chatting with Qin Qiong for a bit.
As she exited, she saw Qu Qi and Fang Jinghai waiting in the distance, a sight that warmed her heart.
She said goodbye to Qin Qiong and headed straight for them.
"That was amazing! Now that our studio has a Best Actress on its roster, our reputation is going to skyrocket!"
"Totally! Sister Ran, you're the best! Want to grab a late-night snack? My treat!" Fang Jinghai declared, patting her chest.
"No, thanks, I'm not hungry yet. Where's Fang Yi? I haven't seen her for the past couple of days."
"Oh, Er Gou went broke. She's thinking about selling a kidney."
"???"
Just as they were about to get into the car, Gu Xinran suddenly frowned. She felt a pair of eyes on her, and the stare made her deeply uncomfortable.
Following the feeling, her eyes landed on a woman leaning against a car not far away. She was dressed in a sharp business suit, her hair tied up, and she wore glasses. With her arms crossed, she was staring right at Gu Xinran. When their eyes met, the woman's lips curled into a smirk. The expression sent an inexplicable wave of unease through Gu Xinran, and her brow furrowed.
"What is it, Xinran?"
Qu Qi, who was already in the car, poked her head out.
"Do you know that woman?"
Upon seeing Qu Qi, the woman opened her car door and got inside.
Qu Qi frowned. "Get in the car first."
Gu Xinran did as she was told. Seeing the look on Qu Qi's face, her unease grew.
"Do you know who that was?"
"That person has a grudge against you." Qu Qi signaled for Fang Jinghai to drive, glancing at the other car as they passed.
"Hm?"
"Yang Xue. Remember her?"
"Of course." Gu Xinran nodded. The culprit who had claimed they were having an affair, forged intimate photos to send to Yilan, and tried to destroy their relationship. The one whose career she had ruined after a public confrontation on A Good Show.
"That was her manager at the time, Zhang Xian."
Gu Xinran narrowed her eyes, glancing back through the rearview mirror.
"The manager who abandoned Yang Xue after realizing she couldn't make a comeback, and even kicked her while she was down?" Gu Xinran asked.
"That's the one. The woman is notoriously ruthless. She'd invested a lot in Yang Xue—her entire team was built around her. After what you did, Yang Xue was completely finished, and Zhang Xian's team nearly went bankrupt. I heard they were recently signed by Le Tao, so she works for them now."
Gu Xinran was taken aback. "Le Tao? Lin Guo's former agency? The company behind Liu Ping's film?"
"Yes, the same company that's always making trouble for us. Heart Entertainment has been growing too quickly, and Le Tao has been trying to suppress us from the start. Now that they've joined forces with a vicious person like Zhang Xian, it would be all too easy for them to play dirty. I've already warned our artists to keep a low profile and stay out of trouble."
"Tsk, this is bad," Qu Qi suddenly muttered.
"What?"
"Why was Zhang Xian here? And out of everyone, how did she spot you so easily? Something doesn't feel right," Qu Qi mused.
"Maybe one of the artists she's managing was also at the ceremony?" Fang Jinghai guessed.
"It's possible. But my biggest worry is that she was here specifically for Xinran."
"You mean she's spying on Sister Ran?" Fang Jinghai blurted out, nearly slamming on the brakes.
"We can't rule it out. After all, Xinran destroyed her livelihood."
"And now that Xinran has won Best Actress, Le Tao is bound to pay even more attention to her. Xinran, you need to keep a low profile for a while. Take people with you when you go out, and don't go anywhere alone. Better safe than sorry. The people we've crossed this time aren't upstanding citizens; they're a bunch of despicable villains," Qu Qi added, her tone serious.
"Okay, I understand," Gu Xinran nodded.
"But don't worry too much. I'm here," Qu Qi added.
"Mhm."
"So, are you going home or to Yilan's place? After that grand public confession, aren't you going to go find your master and ask for a reward?" Qu Qi asked with a grin, changing the subject.
Ask for a reward? What kind of suggestive talk was that!
"No, just take me home. She's been busy with editing these past few days, working overtime constantly. She's exhausted."
"My, my, aren't we considerate?" Qu Qi teased.
Fang Jinghai snickered along with her.
Gu Xinran shot them a look. And whose fault is it that she's so overworked, you black-hearted boss? What's so funny!
As they spoke, the car pulled up to Gu Xinran's apartment complex. "Huh?" Fang Jinghai murmured.
"Well, well. If that isn't telepathy, I don't know what is," Qu Qi said, having also spotted the figure standing by a car across the street. She turned to Gu Xinran with a mischievous grin.
"Ahem." Gu Xinran cleared her throat, a delighted surprise on her face. Ignoring the other two, she opened the door and got out.
By the time she reached Yilan, she couldn't suppress the smile spreading across her face.
"Didn't you say you were too busy today?" Gu Xinran asked, looking up at the sky and feigning annoyance.
Bai Yilan smiled softly. "I'm sorry. It's been a little hectic, and I completely forgot about such an important awards ceremony."
"Did you… watch it?" Gu Xinran asked, her eyes full of anticipation.
"Mhm." With her hands in her pockets, Bai Yilan slowly shuffled closer. She tilted her head and noticed Qu Qi and Fang Jinghai in the car behind Gu Xinran, staring at them with eyes practically glowing with gossip-hungry excitement.
"Ahem." She cleared her throat, unconsciously smoothing down her hair.
Gu Xinran glanced back as well. What were those two third wheels doing? She waved her hand, shooing them away.
Gu Xinran turned back to Bai Yilan, her lips parting slightly as if to speak.
"Hm? What is it?" Bai Yilan prompted.
"Um… was I good?"
"Not bad."
"Then… can I ask for a reward?"
"Such as?"
"Well…" Gu Xinran glanced around. The third wheels were gone. She tilted her head, offering her cheek.
Bai Yilan smiled. This old rogue.
"No," she said, turning her head away.
"Then I'm getting angry!" Gu Xinran huffed. Everyone's allowed to have a little temper, right?
"Fine. Be angry."
"…" Gu Xinran pouted. "Alright, I'm leaving then."
She took a few tentative steps, glancing back. Sob, my wife isn't even chasing me!
Bai Yilan fought to hold back her laughter. Seeing the genuinely dejected look on Gu Xinran's face as she walked away, she hurried to catch up. She wrapped an arm around her neck from behind and held a closed fist in front of her face.
"Hm?"
"Here."
Bai Yilan opened her hand, and a purple crystal pendant fell, dangling in the air.
She gave it a little swing.
"You always used to wear collared shirts, so I never noticed, but seeing you in that gown tonight, I felt like something was missing from your neckline."
Gu Xinran's face lit up with surprise. The pendant was shaped like a key—small, delicate, and utterly charming.
Gu Xinran turned to her, an irrepressible smile spreading across her face.
"Will you put it on for me?"
"Mhm."
Bai Yilan lifted her hair out of the way and carefully fastened the necklace for her.
Gu Xinran looked down. It was beautiful! She touched the pendant, instantly enamored.
"Does this key have a special meaning?" Gu Xinran asked, blinking innocently, though she already knew the answer.
Bai Yilan caught the sly glint in her eyes. She took her arm and began walking into the complex. "Of course. It's to lock up your heart. You're so exceptional—beautiful, with a sweet voice, multi-talented, a perfect dream girl. I can't afford to lose you."
Hearing such direct praise from Yilan, Gu Xinran was practically bursting with joy.
"So you're not going home tonight?" Gu Xinran asked with a grin.
"…" Bai Yilan shot her a look. This woman could be so unromantic.
She turned as if to leave, but Gu Xinran caught her in an embrace and steered her toward the apartment building.
"What's there to be shy about? Honestly~"
"Hey! You really know how to take a mile when you're given an inch!"
"Mhm, mhm. That's why you should never have let me get away with it in the first place~"
"…!"
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