Against the Light - Chapter 108
Chapter 108: Looking at Wedding Dresses
It was already evening when the two returned home. After a long day of travel, even Gu Xinran was feeling worn out. She tidied up a bit and went to bed early.
The next morning, Fang Yi came to pick up Gu Xinran for a show recording. She froze for a moment when she saw both of them getting into the car.
"Hey? Sister Lan, when did you get back? Sister Ran, you just went to visit the set, how did you end up spiriting the director away??"
"Hmm? She's the one who wanted to come back. I certainly didn't kidnap her," Gu Xinran said frankly.
Bai Yilan glanced at her and secretly pinched her.
Gu Xinran chuckled to herself.
"Sister Ran, did you know something happened to Wei Yi?"
"What?" Gu Xinran was startled, her expression instantly turning serious. Bai Yilan also looked at her.
"It's Bai Yiyue. Ever since she took charge, Wei Yi's daily losses have been in the tens of millions. The big boss couldn't stand it anymore and stepped in to have her removed."
"The big boss? Shi Qing?"
"Yes, Shi Qing is back! And do you know why she gave up power in the first place? While she was away, Bai Yiyue brought in a lot of her own people and even allied with the Ming and Xue families to completely shake up the Bai family, inside and out. I'm guessing the big boss did it just to lure out the moles hidden within the Bai family! The moment she came back, she took down everyone associated with Bai Yiyue! Even several people within the Bai family itself were forced to step down. She didn't spare anyone's feelings."
"And the big boss truly lives up to her name. As soon as the companies that had cut ties with Wei Yi heard she was back, they immediately came scrambling back, begging to collaborate. This time, she also dealt with Ming Qian and the younger members of the Xue family. I heard the head of the Xue family was on vacation abroad and couldn't even sit still—he flew back overnight to negotiate with her."
"I'm guessing it's not just the Bai family that's had a wake-up call; even the netizens understand now. It was never that Shi Qing couldn't leave the Bai family, but that the Bai family couldn't leave Shi Qing. Her name alone is a golden brand, respected everywhere. A lot of people are saying it wasn't Wei Yi that made Shi Qing successful, but Shi Qing who built Wei Yi into what it is today."
"Oh, right! Remember how people were spreading rumors that Shi Qing was a mistress who schemed her way into a wealthy family to fight for the inheritance? Now that she's made this move, a lot of the online spectators are thinking the story from back then wasn't as simple as it seemed."
Fang Yi was full of admiration as she spoke, unable to resist giving the big boss a mental thumbs-up.
"You have no idea. These past few days, she's become the hottest topic online, dominating the trending charts every day. A lot of netizens have become her fans, saying things like women her age are the most charismatic."
"…"
Gu Xinran and Bai Yilan exchanged a look. They had been worried about Shi Qing at first, but hearing the end of it, they both shook their heads with a sense of resigned amusement.
These netizens really knew how to follow the tide. A while ago, when Bai Yiyue was in power, they certainly didn't hold back on criticizing Shi Qing.
Bai Yilan gazed out the window, her brow slightly furrowed.
"What's wrong?" Gu Xinran looked at her, sensing she was a little uneasy.
"I'm thinking about Bai Yiyue. Now that she's lost her power, she definitely won't let this go."
"Hah, you don't need to worry about that. Bai Yiyue is under house arrest at the Bai residence. Besides, the entire Bai family, along with the Ming and Xue families, got dragged into this mess because of her. A lot of people are treating her like the plague, avoiding her at all costs. Even if she wanted revenge, she's a general without an army. There's nothing she can do."
"Mm, Fang Yi has a point," Gu Xinran nodded.
Bai Yilan thought for a moment and could only console herself with that for the time being.
During the show's recording, the guests in the studio noticed something very interesting.
Gu Xinran was in exceptionally high spirits today. She was incredibly focused during the recording, with a strong desire to put on a good show.
The moment everyone turned and saw Bai Yilan sitting off to the side, it clicked. The woman was putting on a good show for her wife.
The show's recording went very smoothly. After it was over, Gu Xinran turned down everyone's invitations and left with Yilan.
With no work scheduled, her mood lightened considerably. As they passed a shopping mall, an idea struck Gu Xinran. She had Fang Yi stop the car and then led Yilan into the mall.
She had been to this place a few times and knew her way around. Holding Yilan's hand, she walked quickly towards the 【Yi Ren】 clothing store.
The last time she was here, she remembered seeing a wedding dress, but her visit had been too rushed to appreciate it properly.
"Hello, welcome to Yi Ren. Please be aware that the items in our store are for display only and are not for sale." A staff member bowed respectfully.
"Okay," Gu Xinran replied, pulling Yilan along to stop and admire each design sketch for a while.
While the staff member was attending to other customers, Gu Xinran secretly tugged on Yilan's sleeve.
"You drew these when you were a child, didn't you?"
Bai Yilan didn't answer, but her eyes gave her away. It was true; the design sketches in the store were all things she had doodled as a young child. Her mother had discovered her talent for drawing back then and encouraged her to draw anything and everything. She remembered scribbling on the walls, and she must have unintentionally sketched some designs from her past life.
If Xinran hadn't reminded her of her past life, she would have almost forgotten that she had drawn these things as a child.
What was even more unexpected was that these drawings had been preserved and even made into finished products to be displayed here.
"She's quite thoughtful," Gu Xinran said.
Bai Yilan raised an eyebrow slightly. "Did she pay you to speak so highly of her?"
Gu Xinran laughed. The two of them walked over to the pure white wedding dress. The style of the dress was relatively simple, without overly complicated designs, but it gave off an ethereal, fairy-like feeling.
Gu Xinran looked at it for a while, then suddenly frowned, her eyes gradually turning red.
"Yilan!"
"Mm." Bai Yilan also took a deep breath. Although the dress had been altered quite a bit, she could still vaguely recognize the silhouette. It was the wedding dress Xinran had designed for her when they got married in their past life.
"Huh? Ahh!! It's Gu Xinran and Teacher Bai!!" A customer in the store recognized them. A soft cry immediately drew a crowd.
The two were still looking at the wedding dress, and in the blink of an eye, they were surrounded by customers.
"Ahh, they're looking at a wedding dress! They're looking at a wedding dress!!!"
"Sister Xinran, Teacher Bai, are you getting remarried?!"
"Aww! It's really them!!"
The staff saw the commotion and were stunned for a moment. Someone immediately ran out to call for mall security.
Gu Xinran and Bai Yilan exchanged a look. They had planned on a low-key stroll through the mall, not expecting to be recognized so quickly.
"Sister Xinran, I love you guys so much!!"
Faced with the fans' enthusiastic confessions and cheers, Gu Xinran was a bit overwhelmed. She greeted the crowd, "Thank you, thank you for your support."
"Are you and Teacher Bai preparing to remarry?!"
"Remarry quickly! Chop-chop!"
Gu Xinran didn't answer directly. Instead, she turned to look at Yilan and openly intertwined their fingers.
"AHHHHH!!!" Waves of screams, each louder than the last, erupted from the shop, attracting staff from other stores to come out and see what was happening.
Gu Xinran raised her hand, signaling for everyone to quiet down a bit.
"Will Sister Xinran continue to act in the future?"
"Will Teacher Bai give up her career for her family?"
The crowd asked questions all at once, turning a chance encounter into a full-blown press conference.
Gu Xinran pressed her forehead, patiently picking a few questions she wanted to answer.
"Of course I'll continue to act. Acting is something I love. At least for now, I have no plans to retire."
"I'll answer that question for Yilan. She will do whatever she wants to do. If she wants to rest at home, she can rest as much as she likes. If she wants to work, she can go for it. No matter what she chooses, I will support her."
Bai Yilan nodded, endorsing Xinran's answer.
Gu Xinran thought she could slip away after answering those questions, but she had clearly underestimated the situation. The fans kept asking questions as they moved closer, backing the two of them into a corner and getting more and more excited.
"Aww! Has Sister Ran proposed yet?!"
"When are you remarrying?"
"Will you have children in the future?"
"Have you thought of a name for the child?!"
"How about Gu De Bai!"
"…"
Gu Xinran opened her mouth, then closed it again.
Gu De Bai? Are you guys serious?
"I can't reveal too many details. Please wait for the official announcement, okay?"
Before long, the security guards ran in. Seeing the five or six of them rushing in aggressively, Gu Xinran quickly went over to explain the situation. Then, under the guards' protection, they left the store.
The two had just gotten into the car when Fang Yi held out her phone. Well now, in less than ten minutes, the two of them had landed right at the top of the trending list.
【Remarrying! Gu and Bai spotted looking at wedding dresses hand-in-hand, looking incredibly sweet!】
【Gu and Bai's happy occasion seems to be approaching】
"Not bad, Sister Ran. When did you propose?" Fang Yi also had a gossipy look on her face.
"It's embarrassing to say, but I haven't proposed yet." Gu Xinran touched her forehead awkwardly. She still hadn't figured out how to propose.
"Remarrying without a proposal? That won't do. Sister Lan, I'm putting my foot down for you—don't say yes. She has to at least come up with a creative proposal before you grant her the honor," Fang Yi said.
"? Whose side are you on?" Gu Xinran raised an eyebrow.
"I'm… I'm just being impartial…" Even Fang Yi felt a little sheepish saying that. She obviously just wanted to watch the fun~
"Mm, Fang Yi has a point. There's no sense in remarrying without a proposal. I don't agree to this," Bai Yilan spoke up.
"I…" Gu Xinran was speechless. Just a moment ago in the store, Yilan had intertwined their fingers in response. How could she change her mind now!
The more Gu Xinran thought about it, the more she blamed Fang Yi. She turned her head and saw the woman was still snickering.
Gu Xinran gestured for Fang Yi to pull over.
"What's wrong, Sister Ran?"
"Get out and buy me a bottle of water."
"Eh?" Fang Yi paused. "Oh, okay." She obediently got out of the car.
"And then walk back to the company yourself." As Gu Xinran spoke, she locked the car doors, moved into the driver's seat, and slammed on the gas pedal without a single look back, looking incredibly cool and carefree.
"??????"
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