Quick Travel to the Clouds

Chapter 578 The Little Demon 39

More than two months have passed in the blink of an eye, and the hit drama "The Palm and the Back of the Hand" has sparked a wave of heated discussions among viewers.

As one of the guests on the show, Yun Chu was finally able to watch the full replay during a break in filming. At first, he was just reminiscing about Yun Chu with longing for her, but he noticed something unusual in the lively scene.

Bai Muyuan's gaze towards Yun Chu was too profound. In several close-up shots, his unspoken words and secret protection all carried an imperceptible persistence.

Chi Jingchen's fingertip stopped on the tablet, the image frozen on the moment Bai Muyuan turned to block the crowd: his slightly lowered gaze gently fell on Yun Chu, like an invisible but undeniable declaration.

In an instant, ripples spread across Chi Jingchen's heart—this performance had already exceeded the expectations of the show.

That wasn't a scripted performance in front of the camera, but rather a man's most sincere and private emotional outpouring off-camera.

A feeling of alertness and urgency spread through my chest.

Yun Chu is an irreplaceable source of warmth in his heart, and if this subtle ripple is left unresolved, it will only spread further with the show's growing popularity.

As soon as the day's filming ended, Chi Jingchen canceled the leisure activities prepared by his team and flew back to Beijing overnight.

It was midnight when the plane landed. Neon lights and streetlights flowed like tear stains outside the window, but his heart was as restless and swirling as the fallen leaves in front of the community gate at dawn.

Pushing open the door, he was greeted by a pleasant surprise—a warm light shone faintly in the darkness—Yun Chu leaned against the sofa, reading a book by the light of a floor lamp, her long hair flowing over her shoulders like ripples in ink painting.

Hearing the key turn, the gentle smile that bloomed in Yun Chu's eyes the moment she turned her head instantly dispelled his fatigue of the past few months: "Jingchen? You... why did you suddenly come back?" Before she could finish speaking, Chi Jingchen had already stepped forward and pulled her into his arms tightly.

The cool breeze outside and the sandalwood incense inside enveloped the warmth of their embrace. Her hair cascaded over his shoulders and neck, gently tickling the deep-seated worry he held within. He whispered only, "I just wanted to see you, right now..."

After sitting down opposite each other at the small tea table filled with the aroma of tea, Chi Jingchen took a deep breath, gently took her hand, and frowned slightly: "Chu Chu, in the program... Bai Muyuan seems to be doing more than just what the camera needs."

He pushed the tablet forward, which displayed the same gaze captured by Bai Muyuan's lens. "If things continue like this, I'm afraid that the imaginations of others will be ignited and cause harm. How about we go public? We don't need to make a big fuss; we can just put each other at ease in our own way."

Yun Chu stroked the screen silently for a long time, then looked at the scattered lights outside the window: "Going public can indeed stop the rumors, but it will also attract too much noise. Fans, reporters... it might even affect your new drama's resource offers."

Yun Chu paused softly, then looked up with a gentle smile, "However, if this is something you want to protect with your actions, then I'm not afraid to walk with you into the sunlight."

At that moment, they exchanged a knowing smile: no need for grand vows, the warmth of their fingertips touching was enough to dispel all doubts.

As night deepened, the city outside the window was as silent as if holding its breath, except for the gentle ripples in their teacups.

Chi Jingchen gently embraced her, while Yun Chu leaned on his shoulder. Their breaths mingled in the moonlight, like a gentle breeze dispelling the dust in their hearts. "Take it slow," she murmured softly. "Trust doesn't need the weight of a declaration; after all—those who can sit and wait for tomorrow are each other's only way home."

Yun Chu's brief caption—"We saw the same sunset twice. @Chi Jingchen"—and Chi Jingchen's repost ten minutes later, "Yeah, more than twice in the future. @Yun Chu," were like two precisely launched signal flares at 10 p.m., instantly igniting the dormant social network.

At first, there was an unbelievable sense of suffocation. The comment section fell silent for a moment, as if a million eyes had frozen in shock. The next second, a huge uproar exploded:

Some longtime fans were instantly devastated: "You said you'd focus on your career until you were thirty! Why are you breaking that promise?"

"Who is this woman? There's no record of her, so what gives you the right?!"

"My faith has crumbled... Unfollow, goodbye!"

"@Chi Jingchen Studio, are you blind? Don't you even do vetting?!" Anger and disappointment erupted like lava.

Some people frantically searched for Yun Chu's background, trying to find "dirt" to criticize her;

Some people even flooded the few posts Yun Chu had made previously with insults and curses.

A few precious voices flickered amidst the mudslide: "Brother said he wanted to protect the people he truly cared about... and he did it. Blessings."

"This older sister has such a pure and clean aura. Standing next to the older brother, they look like a scene from an art film."

"The tenderness in his eyes wasn't faked; I believe him."

Passersby exclaimed, "So brave!", "A top male celebrity dares to go public with his relationship like this, respect!", "That's what you call decency!"

Some fans who were originally shipping Yun Chu and Bai Muyuan in "The Palm and the Back of the Hand" were devastated: "My moonlight has shattered! Mr. Bai, look at her!!"

"So, the main star himself broke up my couple pairing? Fine, Chi-ge is amazing!"

Another group quickly switched sides: "Holy crap! The official pairing is this sweet? 'More than twice' kswlkswl!"

Entertainment news outlets quickly followed suit, with reports of Chi Jingchen's first love instantly topping the trending searches, and the question of where Bai Muyi lost in the love triangle quickly becoming the subject of discussion.

Chi Jingchen's studio had a contingency plan. The statement that followed was brief and powerful: "Mr. Jingchen and Ms. Luo Yunchu are in a normal romantic relationship, and both are taking it seriously. We kindly request everyone to give them space and respect. The studio will take legal action against online harassment and malicious rumors."

Upon learning of this, Luo Yunshuang immediately offered her blessings.

The guests who recorded "The Palm and the Back of the Hand" also left messages of blessing.

Except for Bai Muyuan.

The Dawn Apartments, at the center of the storm, were peaceful.

The curtains were drawn, shutting out the outside world's disturbances.

Yun Chu leaned back on the sofa, scrolling through her phone. Her fingertips traced the harsh comments, her brows furrowed slightly but she showed no sign of panic.

Chi Jingchen wrapped his arms around her from behind, resting his chin on the top of her head, his deep voice carrying a hint of barely perceptible tension: "Don't look, Chu Chu."

"It's alright." Yun Chu put down her phone, instead taking his hand and turning back to give him a faint, reassuring smile. "I expected this. I was just counting how many voices truly love you and are worried that you're being misled. That's the part you need to listen to."

A few days later, when Chi Jingchen was recording a new song for a brand he had already signed a contract with, he did not shy away from the questions from reporters who had been waiting outside for days.

Within the small safety circle set up by staff, he stood still, nodded slightly to the camera, his eyes open and clear: "I heard all the voices. There was surprise, there was confusion, and there were blessings. Thank you all for your support over the years."

He paused, his tone becoming gentler yet firmer, "Regarding personal feelings, I will only reiterate two points."

"First, I have never broken my promise to anyone. Each stage of life has different priorities, and at this moment, her existence is an important foundation of my life."

"Secondly, respect is mutual. Protecting my loved ones from harm is my bottom line."

After he finished speaking, without waiting for any further questions, he politely bowed, turned around, and walked into the recording studio, leaving behind a tall but protective silhouette.

The faint strains of a piano prelude, played by the recording engineer during a sound check, drifted from inside the studio, creating a gentle sense of isolation.