Captivated by You - Chapter 18

Chapter 18

YOU ARE MY (HALF A) LIFE’S
LONG AWAITED UNOPENED GIFT

“Good evening everyone, I’m Secretly Captivated.”

The very articulate pronunciation and vocalised low voice sounded, so distinct that it was as if it chattered incessantly right next to your ear, somewhat indolent somewhat tender, it was Secretly Captivated’s style, the voice that made one lacked any resistance.

Hearing his voice, Mo Lan suddenly breathed a sigh of relief.

He finally arrived.

Fantasy Moon Frost with her somewhat surprised voice also followed closely: “Mi Da is here? It’s half an hour earlier than the time we agreed on before!”

Mo Lan heard Gu Ye Mi chuckled, his tone light and tender: “My work finished early, so I came earlier.”

Mo Lan supported her chin with a hand, and calmly listened to him talk, the recent still somewhat drifted and no-one-to-rely-on mood was appeased by his voice all of a sudden.

Regardless whether you believe it or not, this person’s voice, was really magical.

While in the headphones, Gu Ye Mi’s voice halted for a moment, then, only word by word, clearly and earnestly: “Moreover… today, I have something very important to tell all of you.”

As soon as his voice fell, the public forum which from the beginning had already filled Jinshan with water flared up even further, almost everybody was asking what was the important thing he wanted to say, the room administrator and management was instantly busy and under pressure, they continuously say “don’t flood”, the speed limit of 500s was basically useless.

It was rare to hear such an earnest voice from Secretly Captivated, Fantasy Moon Frost blanked for a moment, then for no reason, she intuitively moved everyone else from the mic, and her tone also followed seriously: “Okay… whatever is the matter, Mi Da you can now speak.”

“Thank you.” Gu Ye Mi spoke softly, very polite, with not even an extremely obvious sense of distance.

Mo Lan sat cross-legged on the sofa, reached out and pulled her headphones a little closer to her ears, her whole person suddenly inexplicably nervous. In her headphones, suddenly the sound of wind arised, and the clamouring of a few voices.

Gu Ye Mi… where was he now?

Amidst the somewhat noisy background, Gu Ye Mi spoke faintly, his voice not loud, but very clear, it brought about a bit of hazy misty tender rain: “Because of work, I’m practically the last one at every YY activity. Always having to make all of you wait, I truly deeply apologise.”

His final syllable was very light, little by little it blended into the dim light of the night, as soon as he opened his mouth, the heavens and the earth were instantly overshadowed, Mo Lan could not even hear that bit of wind and voice from just a moment ago, her whole heart and and eyes were filled with him, only him.

The public screen that had been quiet since the beginning suddenly began to scroll by incessantly, the fans seemed to mysteriously and inexorably had a premonition, they all started to comment.

“Suddenly don’t really dare to listen to your following words…”

“Male god, it’s too sudden, I’m really still not ready yet, could you please wait a bit more?”

…

In the headphones, Gu Ye Mi’s voice continued naturally and unforced, it sounded so good that people were unwilling to even breathe: “Previously… at Ninth Heaven’s anniversary, I’ve said before, the next time if I were to withdraw from the circle, I would probably never come back again. All good things must come to an end, I hope in the future, you would be able to hear even more and even better voices, then, replace my voice.”

Merely a few simple words, light as water, not any different from the past.

However, the content… was in fact to withdraw from the circle.

Mo Lan’s hand froze on the headphones, unable to moved for a very long time. There was a lot of incredible plaintive whine of the geese on the public forum, but she didn’t even want to see any of it.

She just only thought very seriously, Secretly Captivated, in the future… would he completely disappear from the Internet Voice Circle?

Now except for Gu Ye Mi, only Fantasy Moon Frost was on the mic, she seemed to be shocked by this fact, after a very long time, only then did her little nasally lucid and elegant voice slowly sounded: “Mi Da… even if there were to be even more and more beautiful voices in the future, it would be impossible for us to forget you. These two words Secretly Captivated, is the Internet Voice Circle’s legend, like a stamp… it would never be replaced by any person.”

Gu Ye Mi heard her somewhat childish voice, and seemed to laugh lowly, then he spoke, his tone very tranquiled, very peaceful, he faintly brought a little tenderness: “I am grateful for everyone’s deep affection for me up until now. As always, I don’t wish for everyone to substitute your 2D emotions with the 3D world, but tonight… borrowing the press conference for the new drama《Snow in JiangShan》, I would like to share something about myself with everybody, a very personal matter.”

Mo Lan straightened her legs, stretched her hands and hugged her knees, the night scene outside the window was slightly cooling, the moonlight gentle and soft, she gently exhaled, quietly listened to her headphones, that unique and unmatched person, the thick ink and heavy coloured* voice.

(浓墨重彩 nóng mò zhòng cǎi – idiom – to describe something in colourful language with attention to detail)

“About three months ago, on the train on the way home after working overtime, that day was a very ordinary day, the same as everyday before. Afterwards… at Xinjiekuo station, a meek looking girl came on. She held a cup of bubble milk tea in her hand, probably because the weather was too cold, her whole body was shivering, but, she still very politely stood by the side, waited until all the people had come on before she slowly entered the train. Can’t tell you why, at that time… I suddenly felt there was something a little different about her.”

“On the train, she chatted with her friend, she mentioned, that she really like Secretly Captivated’s voice, even though he had already withdraw from the circle for a very long time. The girl’s voice was very nice, sweet-tempered, gentle and agreeable, completely lacking aggressiveness kind of character.” Gu Ye Mi paused here, silent all of a sudden, then his voice brought a slight sense of self-mockery, “This type of feelings thing, have never been under a person’s control. At that time, I think, I probably fell in love with her at first sight.”

“Coming out of retirement, although I have been considering it beforehand, but on that night, only then did I finally decided and resolutely made up my mind. I wanted to find her.”

The somewhat light voice echoed word by word in the thin cool night, it reminded people of the first spring snow melting in Jiangnan, the cold brought a hint of warmth, blurred as well as tender, it made one unable to restrain one’s emotion to want to reach out to hold.

At this very moment the public forum, already completely thoroughly exploded.

In itself, to announce that he was withdrawing from the circle was already an exteremely sensational thing, as a result now in addition to the withdrawal of the circle… he actually also confessed on YY, not anyone else, it was unexpectedly still that always pure-hearted few-desire low-key in the circle for ten thousand years Secretly Captivated.

“Later, at that YY interview… as soon as she spoke, I recognised the voice straight away.” The sound of the wind in the headphones grew louder and louder, faintly brought a bit of noise, but Mo Lan could not hear it at all, she merely hugged her knees tightly, her heartbeat reached the peak the moment he opened his mouth.

Not sure how long she waited for, eventually, she heard that beautiful voice sounded clearly, that beautiful voice that was so nice that it made one’s hair stand, a little deep and low, but very gentle and soft.

He said, “At that time, she was called Ye Lanshan.”

Ye Lanshan…

Mo Lan closed her eyes, and finally understood why at the YY interview that night, after he heard her voice, he remained silent for more than ten seconds before he spoke.

The number of people online on the YY channel at present had already exceeded forty thousand, it was the first time Mo Lan had ever seen the greatest number of people at a YY event. Countless of people got stuck going out every second, then added in again… and in that way it circled around. Many of the great god-level figures in various fields of the Internet Voice Circle, once they heard the news the first thing they all did was to rush over, the scene was incomparable lively momentarily, while on the public forum, it was even more heartbreaking.

“It really was actually her.”

“Suddenly feels so romantic, my eyes are sour, what’s going on as I also kinda want to cry T^T”

“How did Mi Da like her so wholeheartedly… so blessed QVQ”

“No wonder both of the two dramas were allocated for her to write the script, Mi Da why are you so good….. damn, feel like unable to take off the fan’s hat.”

…

In the lower right corner of the computer screen, the little QQ group icon also flickered rapidly, Mo Lan glanced at it, it was the official Ninth Heaven Dubbing Group’s news.

She didn’t open to look at it, she merely quietly stared blankly, and pondered.

The train… the first encounter… love at first sight… YY interview…

Ye Lanshan.

Just when her brain was in a mess, in her headphones, the evil voice that confused one’s thoughts and befuddled one’s feelings as well as unknowingly confused the date and year, carried a little bit of dotingness, a little bit of affectionateness, he acted as if there were no one else present: “Secretly Captivated Fangirl….. No. 21008?” When he read this, he couldn’t help laughing, “Ohh… Momo, I’m now downstairs of your home, is it convenient for you to come out for a bit ma?”

“POP BANG”.

The last tensed string in her heart also eventually silently snapped.

From the third floor of her house to downstairs… altogether she passed by thirty flight of steps, bypassed two windows, and crossed over the threshold.

The moment Mo Lan walked out of the corridor, she saw standing right in front of her, the familiar figure’s every frown and every smile that was possibly from a painting, suddenly in that split second just felt, the light from the sky broke through, bright and dazzling.

Gu Ye Mi wore the navy blue down jacket that he draped over her shoulder that night, Mo Lan stared for a while, and finally understood why she felt that down jacket was familiar. It turned out… the train station that night, was actually their first meeting.

Fate, was indeed too wonderful for words.

Gu Ye Mi had a hand in his pocket, his earphones with the white cord plugged into his ears, he quietly looked at her, his clean distinct and aloof appearance gradually became vivid under the illuminated street lights, a vague smile also bit by bit emerged on the edge of his lips.

He unruffledly walked over, step by step he lessened the distance between the two of them, then, he stopped, and spoke softly, with a bit of tender charm and gentleness demeanour: “Momo… the night at Confucius Temple, when you lay on my back, you asked me a question. You said, an idol, should treat all fans equally favourably?”

The voice paused for a moment, Gu Ye Mi’s line of sight fixed on Mo Lan, his eyes tranquil and profound, “Perhaps, there are many people who like me, but -“

He looked at her, his distinct white and black eyes a faint somewhat misty peach blossom colour, as for his voice, it was brighter, more colourful and more moving than a flourished filled peach blossom tree in season, not locally produced.

“But, the person I like, is only you alone.”

The moment his words fell, Mo Lan seemed to have heard a laughter mocked her in the heart, it said, Mo Lan, look, this person is so good, you can’t escape.

Facing her, suddenly a burst of noise appeared in Gu Ye Mi’s earphones, people’s voices were noisy, a ball of confusion. Mo Lan watched him adjust the sound volume on the earphones as if nothing had happened, then suddenly realized later and reacted afterwards, the current him…haven’t logged out of YY.

So, in other words, all of the people, have all heard the words that he just said.

If this was a confession, wasn’t this a bit too earth-shattering?

The heart alike sitting on a swing, fluctuated sharply and could not be calmed down, the brain undoubtedly a blank sheet, the eyes bafflingly shed tears. Mo Lan pursed her lips, suddenly for the first time in her entire life she took the initiative and walked towards him.

When the distance between the two people was shortened until it could only be measured with just a finger, Mo Lan raised her head to meet his pair of deep jet-black eyes, and finally summoned the courage to start: “Gu Ye Mi–“

She just opened her mouth and wanted to say something, but suddenly saw Gu Ye Mi extended his index finger, and indicated a “shh” on her lips. Then he spoke, his voice unfathomably gentle: “That night, you were drunk, you didn’t let me talk, just listening to you was good enough. So… Momo, now, you don’t talk too, quietly listen to me, okay?”

Gu Ye Mi smiled, a pair of distinct white and black eyes, so beautiful that this ultimate eyes was currently incomparably cautious, “You once said on Weibo, Secretly Captivated’s future girlfriend would surely be very blessed, because she can fall asleep to his voice everyday. Momo, if I said, every day in the future… regardless of what you want to listen to, anytime and anywhere, I would say it for you, regardless of what you want to do, I will accompany you together. Are you willing… to be my girlfriend?”

It was as though magnificent fireworks were set off, the thousand lights all together brightly litted. Mo Lan stared at him, if everything that happened now wasn’t too real, she would almost think that these short phrase was her own fantasy.

Her line of sight drowned in tears, obscuring the figure in front of her. However, in her past twenty-four years of life, Mo Lan had never been so grateful to the heavens, for making her dream come true.

“I’m willing.”

She started to talk, her voice somewhat nasally, still sweet-tempered and beautiful just as in the past.

Gu Ye Mi’s lips suddenly burst into the utmost vivid smile, Mo Lan looked at him, and suddenly just thought of the Chinese crab-apple tree in《Snow in JiangShan》. Afterwards, she saw Gu Ye Mi extended his hand, and took off his earphones absent-mindedly.

All of the noise completely disappeared, everything became peaceful at last.

In the silence of the night, he once again took a step closer, under his inherent advantage of height, Mo Lan was blocked off to his side of the world, felt that she practically had nowhere to escape.

Gu Ye Mi blinked at her, then, stretched out his hand and hugged her in his arms, he moved extremely tenderly and carefully.

Mo Lan heard, in her ear, the voice that was so good that it had once made her feel a bit unreal, now softly spoke. He said: “Momo, I’ll give you the second half of my life, okay?”

Perhaps his voice was too pleasant to listen to, perhaps the moonlight tonight was too gentle and soft, Mo Lan palpitated for a moment, she eventually stretched out her hand, and cautiously and solemnly encircled his waist.

She had once thought her hidden wish would forever be incapable of being realised… finally, it was fulfilled overnight.

In this world, there may be many beautiful voices, but the only one that could make her feel a rush of excitement and to yearn for a catastrophe, could only be that one.

The purple street of the world of mortals, the fireworks of the earth*.

(紅塵紫陌，人間煙火 hóng chén zǐ mò, rén jiān yān huǒ – A metaphor of illusory glory (methinks))

Captivated by you.

Secretly Captivated had announced his withdrawal, this time, everyone knew, that he would not come back again.

There was no advance warning, no great fanfare, and also no separate YY announcement. He simply took the opportunity of the release for the new drama, a very serene and a very ordinary announcement, from now on and in the future, these two words Secretly Captivated, would forever fade away from the Internet Voice Circle.

He said, all good things must come to an end, he hoped that in the future, you would be able hear even more and even better voices, then, replace his voice.

But… everybody was well aware, would there ever be a voice, who would be capable of replacing him?

That night, for many people, it seemed like a sleepless night.

In itself, announcing his withdrawal from the circle was already a world-shaking thing, yet… what was even more earth-shattering than this… was that at the same time as withdrawing from the circle he chose to, confess to a girl.

That night, from the beginning up untill the end Secretly Captivated did not leave YY, so, his confession, from the beginning to the end, was completely entirely broadcasted to the YY channel through the earphone cable, where it clearly fell into everyone’s ears.

Secretly Captivated this person, have always been a gossip insulator in the Internet Voice Circle, he did not like to communicate with people, he was not ambiguous with the opposite sex, he even more did not like to be involved in the 3D world. From the beginning to the end, no matter how much of the wind and rain went through the town*, how much of an uproar the outside world discussed spiritedly, but he seemed to be unaware, silent the whole time.

(满城风雨 mǎn chéng fēng yǔ – idiom – lit. wind and rain through the town, fig. a big scandal, an uproar, the talk of the town)

Nevertheless at the time of his withdrawal from the circle, such a rare and extravagant displayed for the first time.

That is after hearing his entire beyond expectation confession that night, everyone seemed to have finally react, Secretly Captivated, for four years in the circle, retired for one year, and came out of retirement in March. Actually, from the beginning to the end, he had never had whatsover any kind of disgraceful or negative news.

From beginning to the end, he came quietly, and left completely clean.

Did not disappoint anyone.

Ever since that night of excessive mysterious illusion, several days in the early morning, Mo Lan was woken up by the beep and vibration of her mobile phone.

When she took out her phone from under the pillow in a daze, she always saw the Weibo news that unceasingly jumped out from her mobile phone’s screen, she was a little curious why the phone that had been vibrating without stopping to sleep or to have a rest for so many days, why her phone had not broken down from all the vibration.

Tens of thousands of replies, furthermore there were countless of various @, Mo Lan’s consciousness sobered up bit by bit, and began to browsed through Weibo.

Maybe momentarily it was difficult to digest the fact that your idol was leaving the Internet Voice Circle, the fans actually had the hashtag #SecretlyCaptivated# on Weibo’s hot topic list, moreover for the consecutive three days, it rank not less than the top few.

Mo Lan clicked on the topic, the first thing that greeted her eyes was the rows of glistening yellow V users, the great gurus from every areas of the 2D ancient-style circle.

CV-SuQingmo: I have known Xiao Mi for many years, before Ye Lanshan, I’ve never heard any other girl’s name appeared from his mouth. Xiao Mi is a person who treats feelings very seriously, this point, I have never doubted. My good brother, I wish eternal happiness for you both.

SingerMysteriousInk: I wasn’t very surprised about him retiring from the circle, because all this while I’ve always felt that he has never put such a big weight on dubbing, but… the public confession did give me a fright, sure enough after being silent for a thousand years he still couldn’t help but speak up.

DregsOrganisingRanRan: Mi Da! I cried until it’s all snot and tears, wasted all my makeup T^T, Lanshan meizi truly was also a little too lucky, you’ve tamed the best man in the world… (weeping indirectly)

SmallNestOfFlowerBurial: @SecretlyCaptivated, I wish you happiness.

…

If you continued downwards, you would find comments from all kinds of fans.

The amount of Secretly Captivated fans was numerous, they widely stepped across all areas, until this moment, only did Mo Lan genuinely and worriedly experienced it. Those who wrote parting words for him, those who composed individual songs for him, and those who drew farewell pictures of him from imagination, all kinds of shapes and forms, appeared one after another. There was also a big touching event, actually taking all of Secretly Captivated’s dubbed characters, and exquisitely carved each and every one from wood.

The distinguished, accomplished and talented man from Yushu Lanfang, the young marquis on a horse that once passed by Chang’an City…

From the dust entered into a meditative state with no desire and no demands, but ended up forced to become a devil with just a chant, Jia Luo…

Originally the man above all the people, but did not hesitate to use his capacity of a chess piece to give as a present to him the beautiful Jiangshan, Li Cheng’en…

And there’s still the last one, a smile that was like a thousand rays of heaven in the vast space, forever calm and collected, graceful, calm, fearless, Rong Che.

With every frown and every smile, all the carvings were vivid and lifelike, exquisite and delicate down to the smallest detail.

And in that Weibo, the original blogger posted a very simple content, with only a short sentence: “Grateful that your voice ever existed in this world.”

That night during the first half of《Snow in JiangShan》’s YY press conference the fans had all kinds of adverse criticism towards Ye Lanshan, after experiencing Secretly Captivated’s world-shaking confession, one by one they also seemed to have accepted this fact, no matter if their hearts were willing or not, at least in the comments, all were practically identical in blessing the couple.

Mo Lan opened Secretly Captivated’s personal Tieba, the towering sticky forum thread post, called — do not first worry about the journey of ignorance, everyone in the world knew the king.

(莫愁前路无知己，天下谁人不识君 mò chóu qián lù wú zhī jǐ, tiān xià shéi rén bù shí jūn – Don’t worry about your future, who knows nothing about you, who in the world is ignorant of the king. You can read about this poem in Baidu and tell me the meaning!)

That’s right… if you’ve ever heard such a beautiful voice, even if the owner of the voice left, you would also never forget it.

After browsing through Secretly Captivated news for an hour while lying in bed, lastly, Mo Lan’s phone vibrated again, but this time, it was a WeChat message.

Gu Ye Mi sent it, with only six simple words, but it instantly made her smile spilled over.

GYM: Want to have dinner together tonight?

After the two of them confirmed their boy-girl relationship that night, due to Gu Ye Mi’s work, he had to urgently worked overtime for three consecutive shifts, it caused the two of them to not meet all along.

But… every night, no matter what time Gu Ye Mi got off work, he would send a WeChat wishing her good night, if it was still early, he would also call.

As a veteran voice enthusiast, every night every day Mo Lan listened to his voice to work, to walk, to sleep, her cheeks practically streamed with tears.

After Mo Lan finished work at the magazine agency, she packed up and went directly to Drum Tower Hospital, because today, it so happened to also be the day Papa Mo was discharged.

When she walked into the lobby floor of Drum Tower Hospital, she suddenly ineffably felt a little nervous. Mo Lan reached out and patted her face, and confirmed repeatedly to herself in her heart: Although, he said to have dinner together tonight, but I came here truly just to pick papa up from the hospital… en, exactly this.

After all… with regards to the matter that she had already become Gu Ye Mi’s girlfriend, no matter how many times she repeatedly told herself, it was still very unreal, very difficult to digest.

When Mo Lan entered Ward 312, Papa Mo was humming a folk tune while packing his luggage, Xie Wan had gone to the first floor to handle the discharge procedure.

She walked over and helped tidied the bed, while teasing her own father: “Pa, you look to be in quite a good mood ah, you’re about to be discharged from the hospital, are you very excited?”

“Of course I’m excited ah, how long haven’t I been back in to take care of that pot of scarlet kafir lily.” Papa Mo replied very much in earnest, thought for a moment, and neared Mo Lan again, and continued long-windedly, “BaoBao, Dr. Gu have been accompanying me to play chess and to chat almost every day for the past few days, let me tell you, this young man truly is quite good, if you like him, papa indeed has no objection.”

Mo Lan 囧 for a moment, her expression couldn’t help but was a bit unnatural, her mouth still consciously perfunctory said: “You only played chess with him for a few days, how could you understand him particularly?”

Papa Mo listened to her, but he instantly changed to a serious expression, his tone was also serious immediately afterwards: “But Papa is serious, I’ve already said I could see his character from playing chess, the young man’s chess temperament is very upstanding, the person definitely can’t differ that much.”

See his character from playing chess…

If Mo Lan listened to her own father’s words, suddenly her heart felt a little teeny thrilled and proud, en… sure enough, her boyfriend was very awesome, he knows so many things QVQ

But… if she now told her parents that she and Gu Ye Mi are together, would it be a bit too early? Furthermore… would it seemed that she herself would be unusually unreserved?

On this side Mo Lan’s heart was still all tangled up, over there, not sure if it was telepathy or something, she turned around, and actually saw Gu Ye Mi in his doctor’s uniform walked in from the door with a smile in his eyes.

She definitely didn’t tell him that her father was leaving the hospital today…

Gu Ye Mi walked in, and first winked at her with a very natural expression, then turned around right away and chatted with Papa Mo, and when Papa Mo saw Gu Ye Mi, he had instantly completely forgotten about his daughter’s existence, he started gabbling forty to a dozen between the two, and looked extremely pleased as he chatted with a joyous and contented expression.

Consequently, Mo Lan had no choice but to continue helping him to pack his luggage.

This was simply just inverting the root and branch* all right… ergo who was actually his biological child T^T

(本末倒置 běn mò dào zhì – idiom – lit. to invert root and branch, fig. confusing cause and effect, to stress the invidental over the fundamental, to put the cart before the horse)

Not long after, Xie Wan finished going through the discharge procedures and returned. Gu Ye Mi carried the two heaviest suitcases in his hand, and walked down the stairs steadily and thoroughly.

(有条不紊 yǒu tiáo bù wěn – idiom – lit. with a specification without confusion, methodically arranged)

Mo Lan looked at her parents walking in front of her, and couldn’t help but gradually slowed down her footsteps, at the corner of the stairs, she looked left and right, after she confirmed there was no one, before slowly moving to Gu Ye Mi’s side, she lowered her voice and whispered asking: “Is it heavy? Do you want me to help you carry?”

Gu Ye Mi heard her, turned his head and looked at her somewhat helplessly: “Momo, I am now your boyfriend, when you talk to me, why are you being so sneaky?”

“Cough… really?” Mo Lan heard the way he put it, and her face flushed instantly.

Was it sneaky? It seemed… that indeed there was a teeny bit…

Gu Ye Mi saw Mo Lan’s flushed cheeks, and suddenly pursed his lips while revealing a vague smile, his delicate face instantly brightened a bit.

“Anyhow, you just blur blur nicely stay right next to me.”

His voice faint, his final syllable rose slightly. Mo Lan was utterly clear about Gu Ye Mi’s speaking habits, when his final syllable rose slightly, this meant that at this very moment, his mood was awfully content, very delighted.

A group of people walked to the door of the hospital, barely talked about the weather, when the taxi had already arrived. After Gu Ye Mi settled the luggages in the boot, Mo Lan as it should have been by rights* was just about to get into the taxi to send them off at the airport, as a result just as she put one foot in, the next second her own father mercilessly* pushed her out.

(理所当然 lǐ suǒ dāng rán – idiom – proper and to be expected as a matter of course, inevitable and right)
(怜香惜玉 lián xiāng xī yù – idiom – to have tender, protective feelings for the fairer sex)

Mo Lan widened her eyes and stared at him incredulously, practically just somewhat wished to cry without tears, she almost cried tearlessly, have you ever seen such a dad who pushed his own biological daughter out without the slightest hesitation…

Here Mo Lan was still silently disagreeing in her heart, while over there Papa Mo stably sat in the car and looked up at her, he showed a rather aged eyes with an entirely undisguised doting love and affection. He carefully and meticulously looked at Mo Lan for a while, under the urging of the taxi master*, he then finally sighed and said: “BaoBao, you’ve grown up, papa can’t keep up.”

(师傅 shī fu – master, qualified worker, respectful form of address for older men)

After he finished speaking, he turned to look at Gu Ye Mi, the always previously amiable and approachable until he sounded slightly like a child, yet suddenly a little more serious and solemn, “Momo this child is particularly stubborn, she just won’t rashly change her mind after setting her mind on a person. Xiao Gu, I will now hand over my daughter to you, you have to remember what you told me last night… treat her well.”

Who’s gonna tell her, what’s happening now…

Mo Lan somewhat amidst the clouds and mist* listened to her father’s words, although she haven’t realised what happened, but her eyes were already disappointingly somewhat sour.

(云里雾里 yún lǐ wù lǐ – mystified/puzzled)

Suddenly, she felt a hand softly rested on her shoulders, the strength not heavy, warm as well as safe. The person next to her unknowingly drew near, just stood to her side, he spoke, somewhat in a light tone, cautious and earnest.

He said, “Uncle, rest assured, I am very serious about Momo, I also believe, that this is the first time in my life, and also the last time I would be this serious.”

Word by word phrase by phrase, powerful and resonated*.

(擲地有聲 zhì dì yǒu shēng – lit. if thrown on the floor, it will make a sound, fig. (of one’s words) powerful and resonating, to have substance)

Xie Wan, who sat in the front seat and had not spoken yet, heard this sentence, reached out her hand to wipe her eyes, and exposed a smile.

Up until the taxi swept away in the smoke of the dirt without a second thought for those left behind, Mo Lan still stood there palpitating, completely unable to react to the situation from just now.

And Gu Ye Mi who was beside her looked at her, his clearly white and black eyes couldn’t help but just brought a bit of pamperedness, he smiled, and stretched his hand out and tidied Mo Lan’s hair which was blown all messily by the wind, his tone indolent and tender: “Let’s go, what do you want to eat?”

Not until Mo Lan stood at the door of a supermarket chain near her home, she still wondered why she blurted out a sentence “I’ll cook for you”….

As a newly promoted girlfriend for a few days, this kind of performance was simply just a sign of fleeting pride all right T^T

But… if she seriously looked at it, from a long time ago, she had already owed him a meal.

Mo Lan stood in front of the supermarket door as she freely and aimlessly emptied her mind, after a while, she then saw Gu Ye Mi who had parked his car wandered over from a distance.

Tall, slim and straight. One of his hand in the pocket, his posture a little bit indifferent, his whole person just looked like he came out of a brutish ink painting, so good-looking that it took one’s life.

Gu Ye Mi walked to Mo Lan’s side, and incomparably naturally pulled her hand along, then without waiting for Mo Lan to realise he took her into the supermarket, while walking, he inquired indifferently: “What were you thinking about just now?”

His voice was low, a little hoarse, word by word just like a feather floated into your heart, it blew and tickled one’s heart. Mo Lan listened to his voice, her heart beat went disorderly all of a sudden.

“Not thinking about anything… I just felt… it’s very incredible.” Mo Lan was led astray and was all confused and distracted by his voice, that she didn’t even know what she was talking about, she turned her head and saw Gu Ye Mi’s feeble smile on the corner of his lips, she couldn’t help but was a little embarrassed, hence she cleared her throat and quickly changed the topic, “Cough… well, let’s go to the seafood area over there to buy a crucian carp, my crucian carp tofu soup is quite good.”

“Okay.” He didn’t have any objection at all, Gu Ye Mi conveniently pushed a trolley over, amd followed alongside Mo Lan to the seafood area on the right.

Mo Lan walked next to Gu Ye Mi, her heart practically was just like all kinds of storm surging* unable to be calm and collected. She had never ever thought… that one day, she together with Gu Ye Mi, with a family appearance would appear in the supermarket….. buying groceries…..

(风起云涌 fēng qǐ yún yǒng – idiom – to grow by leaps and bounds)

When the two walked over to the freezer, Mo Lan excercised restraint and began to conscientiously and carefully select a crucian carp, while Gu Ye Mi just stood next to her not far away and looked at her, his eyes calm and gentle.

Mo Lan chose for quite a while but still couldn’t make up her mind, so without any better option she turned around somewhat distressed and asked for Gu Ye Mi’s opinion: “Gu Ye Mi, would you prefer to eat crucian carp or carp?”

The other person smiled slightly, and answered not really minding: “Make whatever you like to eat.”

As a result, Mo Lan became even more confused, she stared at the freezer for a while, and then said, “Haven’t you been working overtime lately, your mental state is definitely not very good, I wanted to make the crucian carp soup to boost up your health, but I just suddenly thought… the crucian carp has too many bones, which makes it a bit more troublesome to eat.”

Her tone was cautious and in earnest, it seemed that this was really an absolutely important thing, Gu Ye Mi listened to her gentle and quiet tone, his eyes somewhat softened all at once, he just wanted to say something, but then heard Mo Lan already continued muttering minding her own business: “Although the carp is also delicious, but using it for soup is not as fragrant as using the crucian carp… but if it was simmer-fried, a lot of nutrition would be lost…”

Her eyes were very clear, slightly somewhat bewildered, her tone hesitated over what move to make, she couldn’t help but brought a little unchanging sense of dependence.

It was indeed… since the cheongsam became a smiling shop, wash one’s hands to make soup for the gentleman.

(自此長裙當壚笑，為君洗手作羹湯 zì cǐ cháng qún dāng lú xiào, wèi jūn xǐshǒu zuò gēng tāng – describes the bride is willing to give up wearing the silk and satin gauze for the groom, cooking giving up superior life condition/circumstances, willing to bow before him to cook, shows the woman would do a anything for love. The phrase comes from Zhuo Wenjun’s mouth to describe her deep love for Sima Xiangru.)

From beginning to the end Mo Lan couldn’t make her mind up, she frowned and thought for a long time, and still could not help but glanced up at Gu Ye Mi. At this very moment, the distance between the two of them was so close that they could nearly hear each other’s heartbeat, Mo Lan saw Gu Ye Mi was right in the middle of staring at her, his pair of original black as ink eyes became all the more jet-black and bright. Until… she could even possibly see the miniature version of herself in the pupil of the other person’s beautiful eyes.

The corner of Gu Ye Mi’s lips lifted up bit by bit, suddenly, he leaned down slightly, and as if there were nobody else present, in the bustling supermarket with people coming and going, as the dragonfly touched the water lightly* he lightly made contact with her lips.

(蜻蜓点水 qīng tíng diǎn shuǐ – idiom – superficial contact)

His lips were somewhat cold, yet when it touched her lips, it unintentionally made her feel warm.

As if… it was born to fit in this way.

“Just make crucian carp soup ba.”

He spoke in a low voice, his tone somewhat undisciplined, it unfolded bit by bit, just like the horizon was shrouded by the misty flowing cloud, it faintly carried a bit of hazy tenderness.

His appearance faintly decided on behalf of Mo Lan, following which, Gu Ye Mi left as if nothing had happened, he took a few steps, took out a vacuum-packed crucian carp from the freezer lazily, and threw it into the trolley.

His whole set of motions moved like clouds and flowed like water*, as he did it all in one go*.

(natural and unforced)
(flow smoothly)

Mo Lan dazedly stared at him, after a good while, she still couldn’t react, just now did he… kiss her?

Only if, the two pair of lips that mutually touched could also be counted as a kiss.

After Mo Lan finished being shocked, realised that Gu Ye Mi had already walked to another area, she quickly sped up her pace to keep up with him.

She turned around the corner towards the snack area ahead of her, when she just turned around, the next second, she inadvertently saw at the condiment area, less than a meter away from herself, there were two girls who looked 17 or 18 years old who was right in the middle of unobtrusively sizing her up, while they took measure of her, they whispered.

A warning light suddenly lighted up in Mo Lan’s heart, it wouldn’t be–

She couldn’t help but slowed down her steps, and at the same time she pricked up her ears and cautiously eavesdropped on their conversation.

“For real? Are you certain you didn’t hear it wrong?”

“How could I have heard it wrong, it’s absolutely Secretly Captivated SAMA! It’s impossible for me to have misheard his voice in my lifetime OK!”

“And so… the girl he kissed in the supermarket just now, it wouldn’t be Ye Lanshan ba?”

“Pretty sure* it is… I simply don’t understand even after thinking it over a hundred times*, the life of that Ye Lanshan is just so good, she could make my male god like her so wholeheartedly.”

(八九不離十 bā jiǔ bù lí shí – lit. eight nine not far from ten – pretty close, very near, about right – have never heard of this before but sounds pretty cool)
(百思不得其解 bǎi sī bù dé qí jiě – idiom – to remain puzzled after pondering over something a hundred times, to remain perplexed despite much thought)

“En… I think she’s pretty good, she looks very virtuous*, being together with her Mi Da should be well looked after.”

(贤慧 xián huì – (of wife) wise and kind, perfect in her traditional roles)

…

The conversation between the two people became more and more enthusiastic, so enthusiastic that Mo Lan’s face was simply so red till it nearly bled.

She sped up her footsteps and walked to Gu Ye Mi’s side, she looked at Gu Ye Mi once more, not sure why, suddenly felt there was a secret love affair kinda feel = =.

She sneaked a few glances to the side, and confirmed that the two girls did not follow over, Mo Lan then deliberated and started considering, if she should tell Gu Ye Mi that his fans managed to see through him.

Over here she hasn’t figured it out yet, yet over there she saw Gu Ye Mi took a packet of lozenges from the shelf, while he turned his head to look at her, with a smile yet not a smile in his eyes: “I heard… you’re very virtuous?”

Consequently, Mo Lan blanked, after finished blanking couldn’t help but widened her eyes and looked at him.

That is to say, the conversation between the two girls from just a moment ago, he heard it all?

He was still so calm after he heard it all…

Cough, all right, it was she herself who wasn’t too calm.

However, she was still quite curious– Mo Lan stared at his delicate side profile for a moment, and finally still couldn’t help but curiously asked: “Gu Ye Mi, when the fans recognised your voice before, what did you do?”

“Oh… just don’t admit it.” He opened his mouth, his appearance indifferent, his facial features exquisite.

Although she wasn’t really convinced, but Mo Lan thought it over, it seemed that this was indeed justified. As long as the main owner doesn’t admit it to death, even if the fans were certain, in the situation where they couldn’t get any proof, they could only settle a matter by leaving it unsettled*.

(不了了之 bù liǎo liǎo zhī – to end up with nothing definite)

Once Gu Ye Mi’s car stopped at Mo Lan’s residential carpark, Mo Lan couldn’t help but started recalling back for the 101st time whether was her home currently very messy, and whether were things thrown around.

However, when she opened her door somewhat apprehensively, the scene that greeted her eyes, made her felt instantly… that her worries were simply just compelete nonsense.

Because… she saw, in the not that large living room, Bai Yu Luo Bo on the floor tore open a bag of potato chips, An Xiaoluo hugged a pillow and retreated into the sofa, the one who sat next to her was that unflustered man, Su Qingmo. And on top of that there was Mysterious Ink with the incessant helpless and I-surrender-shaped face who spoke something or rather, as well as… sitting beside him, a lovable cute girl with a very obvious pouted mouth who was precisely right in the middle of a temper.

En… under such a precisely simply inexplicable inconceivable situation, Mo Lan unexpectedly still had the mood to guess whether was this girl Fantasy Moon Frost.

All right, the main point should be– why did these people all appeared in her house right now?

When everyone by the door heard the main door opened, they practically turned their heads simultaneously in uniform and stared at them.

The scenario sunk into a strange silence.

When their line of sight fell onto the supermarket bag that Gu Ye Mi carried in his hand, finally it seemed like they suddenly saw the light, they agreed by chance* and showed a… so-it-was-like-this type of implied facial expression.

(不约而同 bù yuē’ér tóng – idiom – taking the same action without prior consultation)

Meanwhile on the sofa An Xiaoluo looked at Mo Lan with an unfathomable expression, somewhat embarassed and showed a fawning* smile: “Xiao Lan, that… Su Shen came to see me today, so happened that the few of them were in Nanjing, so I invited them over to have fun.” After she finished speaking, at lightning speed she glanced at the indifferent Gu Ye Mi who stood beside Mo Lan, and again immediately afterwards added very sincerely, “I swear, if I knew Mi Da would also be coming today… I would definitely not bring them home!”

(讨好 tǎo hǎo – to get the desired outcome, to win favour by fawning on somebody, to curry favour with, a fruitful outcome to reward one’s labour – two words vs 4-7 words)

An Xiaoluo’s words barely fell, the people by the door looked at her and Gu Ye Mi’s expression, in an instant they were even a bit more ambiguous.