Yu Shuman wasn't like a socialite attending a gala; she was more like a warrior headed to the battlefield. She wore the latest haute couture gown, a dress worth at least seven figures, and getting to wear it now required paying a premium.
The jewelry she wore also sparkled temptingly under the lights.
This was a set of diamond jewelry, and the size of the main diamond alone indicated that this set was incredibly expensive.
Tonight, she attended as the date of another actor from 99 Entertainment—Brother Hui, her first partner at such events. Brother Hui had a reputation as a good husband and father, and since he was much older than Yu Shuman, she didn't have to worry about any scandalous rumors.
Yu Shuman's gloved hand lightly rested on Brother Hui's arm. To avoid any misunderstandings, Brother Hui kept his arm straight, leaving a large gap between his side and her hand. Their posture highlighted one thing: politeness and distance.
Even before recognizing her feelings, Yu Shuman never got too close to other male artists, not wanting to be entangled in rumors. Now that she had acknowledged her feelings for Qin Ran, she was even more determined to avoid getting too close to anyone—male or female.
After walking the red carpet and signing their names, Yu Shuman and Brother Hui went their separate ways. He joined the other male artists, keeping his distance as a gentleman, while Yu Shuman headed straight for the waiting area. Her arrival caught the attention of many because, even among the wealthy socialites, it wasn't easy to match her level of opulence.
The other women could get the latest fashion week gowns and dazzling diamond jewelry, but Yu Shuman's consistent, head-to-toe wardrobe changes at every event were a different level of luxury. Not only did she change everything each time, but every outfit and accessory was shockingly expensive.
The socialites could easily tell if her clothes were borrowed or bought.
Ling Miaohan, who also noticed Yu Shuman, was particularly upset. After receiving a secretly sent video from Assistant Wu, she learned that the pink diamond Pei Qi had given her was initially meant for Qin Ran but had been rejected. This led to a heated argument between her and Pei Qi, but he had finally managed to calm her down. She attended tonight's event wearing the pink diamond necklace, which had drawn much attention. But now, Yu Shuman was stealing the spotlight.
Despite the high price of Ling Miaohan's pink diamond necklace, the moment Yu Shuman appeared, everyone couldn't help but remember the billion-dollar jade pendant she had worn previously, sparking envy: having a wealthy girlfriend was better than having a rich boyfriend.
A boyfriend might give you a pink diamond, but a wealthy girlfriend would take care of all your clothes and jewelry. How thoughtful must she be to ensure that every new outfit is perfectly tailored and the jewelry complements it, never repeating an accessory?
If Ling Miaohan noticed Yu Shuman, then there was no way Qin Ran wouldn't. She had been quietly sitting in a corner, sipping a non-alcoholic drink with a heavy heart. Even without alcohol, Qin Ran felt like she was getting drunk—drunk on her sadness.
But before she could wallow in it for long, she saw Yu Shuman walk in.
Startled, Qin Ran's body moved before her mind could react: she had to run, run somewhere Yu Shuman couldn't find her.
She started to move, but Yu Shuman spotted her immediately and, lifting her skirt, hurried after her. Despite all her training, Qin Ran, a self-proclaimed weakling, couldn't outrun the athletic Yu Shuman. In the end, Yu Shuman cornered Qin Ran.
Wearing the expensive haute couture dress Qin Ran had bought her, with her ears and neck adorned with costly diamond jewelry, Yu Shuman cornered Qin Ran against the wall.
Yu Shuman didn't waste time with pleasantries. She asked directly, "Do you like me?" She leaned in closer, effectively trapping Qin Ran against the wall.
Just before Yu Shuman spoke, Qin Ran had noticed how close she was, feeling her breath on her face.
Qin Ran felt a tickle in her ear, and when Yu Shuman spoke, it made her ear twitch. Instinctively, she pressed her back against the wall, her presence seemingly diminished compared to Yu Shuman's. With Yu Shuman in heels and Qin Ran in flats, Yu Shuman appeared slightly taller.
When she realized what Yu Shuman had asked, Qin Ran's face turned red, and she shook her head, unable to admit it. "You're talking nonsense! I don't!"
Yu Shuman scanned Qin Ran from head to toe—she didn't believe her for a second. Everything about Qin Ran, from her head to her toes, screamed, "Yes, I do!"
But Qin Ran, being stubborn, refused to admit it, even turning her head away to reveal just a sliver of her white neck, her flushed cheeks, and even the tips of her ears turning red. Yu Shuman wanted to laugh but also felt like teasing Qin Ran. If Qin Ran had been home on her first day back, she wouldn't have teased her.
But after these past few days, with her anger simmering and Qin Ran refusing to admit it, Yu Shuman couldn't resist her mischievous side.
"Don't like me? Then why do you buy me clothes, jewelry, and a different set every time? Other artists don't get this kind of treatment." The closer Yu Shuman got, the more she spoke, her breath brushing against Qin Ran's neck, sending a shiver down her spine.
Qin Ran had no choice but to turn back and meet Yu Shuman's gaze. She saw the seriousness in Yu Shuman's eyes but heard her say, "So, are you trying to be my sugar mommy? Do you want to keep me?"
Qin Ran's face instantly paled. How could her feelings for Yu Shuman be reduced to such a dirty term?
All she could do was admit, "I like you."
Her voice was soft, like a whisper, and after she spoke, she lowered her head, filled with embarrassment. But Yu Shuman just laughed. Her laugh made Qin Ran look up at her, and suddenly, her fear melted away as words tumbled out of her mouth like a waterfall: "Senior, if you hate me, I'll move out right away. You stay in the house—it's a nice place, bigger, and the neighborhood has great amenities. Plus, I've prepared all the functional rooms, and I won't fire Auntie. She's a great cook; I learned from her, and she's very efficient…"
But Yu Shuman silenced her with a kiss.
Qin Ran froze, unable to comprehend what was happening. When Yu Shuman pulled away, Qin Ran instinctively touched her lips, and when she looked at her fingers, she saw a hint of warm red.
Yu Shuman, dressed to the nines, had naturally applied lipstick, which transferred onto Qin Ran's lips during the kiss—of course, it made sense…
But why did it make sense? Why would Senior kiss her? How could this happen?
Qin Ran's mind went blank, unable to process anything. She stared blankly at Yu Shuman, even asking, "Senior, what are you doing…"
Yu Shuman, seeing Qin Ran's dazed expression, couldn't help but find it amusing. "Don't you understand what I'm saying? I'm saying I like you too, and since you like me, that means we both like each other. Given that, I think we should date."
When Yu Shuman finished speaking, Qin Ran was utterly dumbfounded, unable to react, just staring at Yu Shuman in disbelief.
Qin Ran couldn't stay at the gala any longer, and neither could Yu Shuman. She took Qin Ran's hand, asked a staff member for directions, and they left through a special exit. As they walked, Yu Shuman called Sister Li to arrange for a driver.
When they reached the entrance, Yu Shuman's car was already waiting. She lifted her skirt and climbed in, then reached out to pull Qin Ran in with her. Only then did Qin Ran, still in a daze, finally follow Yu Shuman and sit down.
It wasn't until the car arrived at their building's lobby that Qin Ran's brain finally started working again.
But as soon as she processed what had happened, her mind went blank again. All she could think was: We like each other, we're in love, we'll become partners immediately!
Yu Shuman, seeing Qin Ran's silly expression, watched as it shifted from a dazed look to a goofy smile after a few seconds of calm.
Realizing that communicating with Qin Ran was futile, Yu Shuman took her hand and led her home. Yu Shuman's dress was a grand gown, almost like a wedding dress, and she had to lift it to walk. Otherwise, it would drag on the ground like a mop. But since she was holding Qin Ran's hand, she could only lift the skirt with one hand, so it still dragged a little.
Fortunately, the building's cleaning staff kept the floors spotless, so her dress didn't get dirty. And even if it did, it wouldn't matter—it was her dress, after all. If it got dirty, she could just wash it. If it couldn't be washed, she could throw it out and get a new one next time.
When they got home, Yu Shuman saw that Qin Ran was still grinning foolishly. She settled her on the living room sofa, then went to her room to change out of the dress, remove her makeup, wash up, and change into loungewear. When she came back, she found Qin Ran had finally returned to normal.
Yu Shuman asked, "Are you calm now?"
Qin Ran blushed with embarrassment but nodded. She couldn't help but ask, "Senior, were you serious about what you said earlier?" Yu Shuman, drying her hair, sat down on the sofa beside her and looked at Qin Ran. "I was serious. If you want to hear it again, I'll say it again."
Qin Ran's face turned red. "I want to hear it again."
Yu Shuman put the towel on her lap and looked seriously at Qin Ran. "I like you, and since you like me, that means we both like each other. Given that, I think we should date." This time, before Yu Shuman could do anything, Qin Ran pounced on her, pinning her to the sofa.
Yu Shuman's slightly damp hair spread out on the sofa as she looked up at Qin Ran, who was blushing and leaning over her. Earlier, Yu Shuman hadn't felt embarrassed. But now that she had lost the upper hand, with Qin Ran on top of her, her face began to heat up, making her think it was the steam from the shower turning her cheeks red.
She heard Qin Ran ask, "Senior, can I… can I kiss you?"