DXXZL - 76

The corridor was quiet, with only the steady rhythm of Jiang Tu’s footsteps echoing. Zhu Xingyao clung to his neck, her eyes fixed on him. By the time they reached the fifth floor, she gently wiped the sweat from his jaw and squirmed slightly in his arms, saying with concern, “Put me down. You can hold my hand and we’ll walk up.” Though slender, she knew that with her thick winter clothes and heavy bag, she must weigh close to a hundred pounds.

Jiang Tu adjusted his grip on her, lifting her slightly higher, and looked down at her. “I said I’d carry you up this time.”

He took another step, continuing upward.

Zhu Xingyao bit her lip, hesitating for a moment before leaning in and pressing a soft kiss to his lips.

Jiang Tu paused mid-step, looking down at her. Zhu Xingyao tilted her head back and smiled. “A reward for you.”

Throughout the climb, Zhu Xingyao rewarded him three times, once every five floors.

When they finally reached the door of their apartment, Jiang Tu set her down briefly to catch his breath. “Open the door.”

Zhu Xingyao entered the code to unlock the door, and Jiang Tu carried her inside, sitting down on the couch. She grabbed a few tissues from the coffee table, kicked off her shoes, and turned around, straddling his lap. Jiang Tu leaned back against the sofa, closing his eyes as he regulated his breathing, his chest rising and falling steadily.

She carefully wiped the sweat from his face, her gaze lingering on his Adam’s apple, which bobbed with each breath. Suddenly, memories of that night came rushing back to her. Her movements slowed, and an inexplicable dryness filled her throat. Leaning close to his ear, she whispered softly, “Tu Ge… do you still have any strength left?”

Jiang Tu opened his eyes and turned to look at her, a sudden, mischievous smile tugging at his lips.

That smile—it was a little wicked, something Zhu Xingyao had never seen from him before. Her face flushed as she quickly lowered her head, scrambling off his lap. Trying to cover her embarrassment, she stammered, “I’ll go get you a glass of water…” With one last glance at him, she fled toward the kitchen.

Jiang Tu’s gaze followed her retreating figure. Once his breathing steadied, he stood up and removed his coat. In the kitchen, Zhu Xingyao pressed her hands against her burning cheeks, retrieving his cup from the glass cabinet. She returned to the living room and handed it to him.

After drinking the water, Jiang Tu placed the cup down. “I’ll go downstairs and fetch your luggage.”

Zhu Xingyao took his coat into the bedroom. Seeing the bed—now replaced with one featuring a padded headboard—she froze at the doorway, her face flushing. After a moment, she grabbed his pajamas and headed to the bathroom to shower.

As Jiang Tu returned with her suitcase, he heard the sound of running water from the bathroom. Standing by the door, he called out, “Do you need anything? I can bring it to you.”

Zhu Xingyao hadn’t worn makeup today, so there was no need to remove it. She used his body wash, its scent faint but familiar. Nervously, she replied, “No…” She remembered reading a scene in one of Lin Jiayu’s novels where the male protagonist would barge into the bathroom while the female lead was showering. Surely Jiang Tu wouldn’t do that?

Biting her lip, she quickly locked the door behind her.

Click.

A single, sharp sound.

Jiang Tu, who had just turned to leave, stopped in his tracks and glanced back at the closed door.

Was she… guarding against him?

Jiang Tu went to use the other bathroom, then stepped out to take a call and reply to a couple of emails in his study.

Half an hour later, he returned to the bedroom to find Zhu Xingyao sitting on the bed, chatting with Lin Jiayu on WeChat. A few days ago, Tang Xin—the renowned screenwriter Li Xixi had mentioned—had come to Jiangcheng and invited Lin Jiayu to dinner. Tang Xin had said, “I secretly loved my husband for four years, so I truly understand the feelings of unrequited love. I really adore Waiting for Stars. “

Her sincerity was palpable, and Lin Jiayu was almost convinced. She asked Zhu Xingyao, “Xingxing, could you help me ask Jiang Tu about this? Just gauge his reaction…”

Zhu Xingyao looked up at Jiang Tu, who had placed his glasses on the table and walked over. Meeting his dark, intense gaze, she quickly replied to Lin Jiayu: “Alright.”

Jiang Tu switched off the main lights, leaving only the dim glow of a bedside lamp.

He sat beside Zhu Xingyao, pulling her onto his lap. Burying his face in the crook of her neck, he murmured, “You really like wearing my clothes?”

Zhu Xingyao nestled into his embrace, her voice soft. “You like me wearing them.” She felt him undoing the buttons at her collar, and fearing she might lose her voice soon, hurriedly spoke, “Tu Ge, about Lin Jiayu’s book… didn’t you say it’s up to her to decide? Would you care what happens to it?”

“Hmm?”

Jiang Tu lifted his head, his voice low. “What does she want to do?”

Most of Zhu Xingyao’s memories of that night were tinged with pain, yet she still felt tense, her body rigid. Strangely, wherever his fingers touched, warmth and softness spread. As Jiang Tu lifted her up, their two sets of pajamas sliding off onto the floor, Zhu Xingyao knelt astride him, gripping his shoulders as her voice trembled along with her legs. “She… someone wants to buy the film rights… Xixi and I think it’s fine. She’s afraid you’ll be upset…” She suddenly bit her lip, burying her blushing face in his shoulder.

Whether Jiang Tu chose not to intervene or became momentarily entranced, he didn’t respond to her words. Instead, he looked down at her, his eyes slightly red, and whispered in her ear, “Try it yourself?”

Zhu Xingyao froze, her lips tightening as her ears burned crimson.

How was she supposed to try?

Slowly, Jiang Tu guided her hips downward. She furrowed her brows, tears welling in her eyes as she looked up at him. Leaning against the headboard, Jiang Tu watched her, his pale, elongated neck marked by prominent veins, his gaze dark and molten. She felt as though she might melt under his stare.

But she couldn’t deny how much she loved seeing him like this.

Sensual, no longer cold.

It was as if only in these moments could he shed his usual aloofness and surrender entirely—to her alone.

________________________________________

The next day was Christmas Eve.

Zhu Xingyao sent Lin Jiayu a message: “Jiang Tu remained silent, so I assume he’s okay with you handling it however you see fit.”

After receiving the message, Lin Jiayu sent Lu Ji a text. Their last exchange had been when he’d responded with “Rise,” and now she asked, “Lu Ji, would you mind if this book were made into a movie?”

She waited for over half an hour.

Lu Ji replied, “I’ve already said, it’s your book.”

Lin Jiayu fell silent for a moment before responding, “If I make money from it, I’ll send you a red envelope. After all, you’ve taken quite a bit of flak because of it.”

It took a long time for Lu Ji to reply with a single word: “Okay.”

In the afternoon, Jiang Tu took Zhu Xingyao out. As they descended the stairs, he pulled her toward the emergency exit. Zhu Xingyao looked up at him pleadingly, and Jiang Tu tightened his grip on her hand. “I’m here with you. Don’t be afraid.”

Zhu Xingyao’s legs felt weak as she clung tightly to Jiang Tu’s hand, descending step by step like a snail.

After a few minutes, she looked up at him and whispered, “Tu Ge…”

Jiang Tu replied firmly, “No, you have to do it yourself.”

By the time they reached the tenth floor, Jiang Tu stood on the lower step, cupping her face and planting a kiss on her lips. “A reward,” he murmured softly. Zhu Xingyao blinked in surprise, her face flushing. “You’re copying me…”

Jiang Tu chuckled. “Mm.”

It took Zhu Xingyao nearly twenty minutes to descend fifteen flights of stairs, earning three rewards along the way. If Jiang Tu accompanied her every time she used the emergency exit, perhaps it wouldn’t seem so daunting after all.

Once they were out of the building, Zhu Xingyao suddenly remembered to ask, “Where are we going? It’s bound to be crowded and chaotic during the holidays…” They had been receiving a lot of attention lately, and there was always the risk of being mobbed.

With one hand resting on the steering wheel, Jiang Tu casually remarked, “To buy a house.”

Zhu Xingyao gasped, staring at him in astonishment.

The car came to a stop at a red light, and Jiang Tu turned to look at her. “The current place belongs to the company. I’ve never bought a house before, so let’s go buy one. We’ll move somewhere else. The master bedroom’s bathroom is too small—it can’t fit a tub like the one in your room.”

Warmth flooded Zhu Xingyao’s heart, bringing tears to her eyes. She gazed at him, her voice soft. “Tu Ge, you don’t have to accommodate me so much. Things are fine the way they are.”

Jiang Tu looked at her. “We’ll need one eventually, for when we get married.”

Zhu Xingyao froze, and Jiang Tu calmly turned back to face forward, driving onward.

Another piece of her heart softened completely, melting away any resistance. She realized that whatever Jiang Tu wanted to do or give her, she should simply accept. Rejecting him would only make him feel worse.

The property Jiang Tu had chosen was near Hexi Stadium—a spacious, 250-square-meter flat.

He had already paid the deposit and brought Zhu Xingyao along to finalize the paperwork and sign the documents.

Coincidentally, the person handling their transaction was Zhou Xiaoyu, one of their former classmates. Zhou Xiaoyu asked enviously, “Are you two really preparing to get married?” Back in school, Jiang Tu had promised to host a banquet if he ever tied the knot.

Zhu Xingyao turned to look at Jiang Tu.

His expression remained calm. “More or less.”

Zhu Xingyao smiled faintly, and Zhou Xiaoyu sighed with envy. “How wonderful.”

The process was quick, taking just over an hour.

By the time they left, Zhu Xingyao officially owned another property.

As soon as they were gone, Zhou Xiaoyu pulled out her phone and hastily posted a message in the class group chat: “Jiang Tu and Zhu Xingyao just bought a marital home! Everyone, start preparing your red envelopes—we might be attending their wedding soon!”

The entire class was stunned.

The class representative asked, “Really? So soon?”

Zhou Xiaoyu replied, “Of course it’s real—they just left.”

She even shared a sneakily taken photo of the couple in the group.

“So, you guys already bought a marital home?”

That evening, after finishing work, Li Xixi saw the group message and immediately called Zhu Xingyao.

Zhu Xingyao chuckled. “Looks like it.”

Li Xixi asked, “So, did he propose?”

Zhu Xingyao was taken aback. “No… I don’t think proposing is that important, right?” After a pause, she added, “Though, Jiang Tu will probably propose, won’t he? After all…”

“After all, he loves you so much! Back in high school, he went through the trouble of creating an entire sky of starlights—not even as a confession, just to show them to you.” Li Xixi was thrilled. “A proposal is definitely coming. If it doesn’t happen, don’t marry him. Let me think—maybe he’s waiting for Valentine’s Day.”

Zhu Xingyao found Li Xixi’s reasoning convincing.

She began to feel a sense of anticipation.

At midnight on January 1, 2018, Xu Xiangyang posted a message in the group: “Happy New Year! Wishing everyone a brighter year ahead.”

The group erupted in well-wishes, buzzing with excitement for a while.

Zhu Xingyao, feeling unwell due to her period, lay drowsily on her pillow. Jiang Tu’s phone, resting on the bedside table, flashed a few times. Glancing at it, she saw a message from Ding Xiang: “Tu Ge, wishing you and your goddess happiness and an early marriage.”

A second later, Ding Xiang sent another message: “Zhou Xiaoyu said you bought a marital home. So, are you still planning to propose on your birthday?”

Zhu Xingyao froze.

Was Jiang Tu planning to propose on his birthday?

Just then, the door opened, and Jiang Tu walked in with a cup of ginger tea. Zhu Xingyao quickly turned away, pretending she hadn’t seen anything.

________________________________________

A few days later, Zhu Xingyao headed to Beijing for an advertising shoot, accompanied by Lin Jiayu, who was attending a script meeting. Tang Xin was a woman of action, backed by Time Light Pictures, and the project team had been assembled with astonishing speed.

The adaptation of Waiting for Stars was officially underway.

Seated next to each other, Zhu Xingyao turned to Lin Jiayu. “So, you’ll be staying in Beijing for a while?”

Lin Jiayu nodded, leaning in with a mischievous grin. “Can you share some details about your romance with Jiang Tu? It might inspire our crew.”

Zhu Xingyao blinked. “What kind of details do you want to hear?”

Lin Jiayu smirked knowingly. “If you’re willing to share, I’m all ears.”

“Jiang Tu might plan to propose to me on his birthday,” Zhu Xingyao admitted, realizing she might have misunderstood something. Lowering her voice, she whispered in Lin Jiayu’s ear, “Before, when he came over for dinner, I asked him what gift he wanted for his birthday. He said he wanted me, and I thought… he meant making love. Now that I think about it, given his personality, he wouldn’t say something like that on such an occasion. He probably meant marriage…”

Lin Jiayu was momentarily stunned, then burst into laughter.

Zhu Xingyao flushed with embarrassment, covering her face with her hands. “Stop laughing. Just thinking about it makes me cringe.”

“Well, he got lucky—he already has you. The proposal is just a formality.” Lin Jiayu continued to chuckle. “I originally planned not to return for his birthday, but now that you’ve said this, I’ll definitely come back to witness it.”

On January 19th, Li Xixi returned to Jiangcheng with her team to prepare for the concert. Lin Jiayu also came back, and the group gathered in a private dining room. Ding Xiang, supported by his wife and leaning on a cane, limped in. Glancing around, he joked, “You’re all here so early. It feels like we’ve gone back ten years, except… oh wait, Jiang Lu isn’t here.”

As if on cue, Jiang Lu pushed the door open, followed by Lao Yuan, whom he had run into outside.

Jiang Lu sat beside Lin Jiayu and leaned in to whisper, “Is it true that my brother plans to propose tonight? I was supposed to be busy, but Lin Jiayu said he’s proposing, so I had to come and see for myself.”

Lin Jiayu nodded. “Yes, it’s definitely happening. Not here, though—probably later at the club.”

Throughout the evening, Zhu Xingyao felt tense, unsure when Jiang Tu would propose. Sensing her distraction, he leaned in and murmured, “What’s wrong? You seem distracted.”

Zhu Xingyao quickly forced a smile. “Nothing… I’m listening to Xixi sing.”

She couldn’t very well tell him she was waiting for a proposal.

Li Xixi found it strange, too. It was getting late—why hadn’t it happened yet?

She approached Ding Xiang, who was equally confused. “No, Tu Ge initially asked for my help, but later said not to rush it. I even asked him about it on New Year’s Day, and he said it wasn’t urgent—they’d wait a little longer.”

Li Xixi pulled Zhu Xingyao into the restroom. After hearing the explanation, Zhu Xingyao was dumbfounded. “Did I misunderstand?”

Li Xixi pinched her cheeks teasingly. “You seem disappointed. Isn’t dating fun enough? Who needs marriage!”

Zhu Xingyao shook her head. “It’s not disappointment… just that Jiang Tu might have changed his plans again to accommodate me.”

That night, Jiang Tu unwrapped her like a birthday present, over and over again.

________________________________________

The next afternoon, Zhu Xingyao woke up to find Jiang Tu already gone to the office. The dry-cleaning service delivered their clothes to the building entrance, and she buzzed them in. Lately, she and Jiang Tu had been living together part-time; whenever she returned from performances, she stayed at his place first. His apartment now held many of her belongings, mostly clothes.

Deciding to tidy the wardrobe, Zhu Xingyao began taking out Jiang Tu’s suits one by one, laying them on the bed. Suddenly, her hand paused. Something in the pocket of one suit felt bulky, like it was hiding something. Curious, she reached in and pulled out an exquisite black velvet box.

Her lips pressed together as she opened it.

Inside was a diamond ring.