Chapter 106/107: So what is Gu Qichen to her? A secret she can't reveal?

A news photo, taken by a passerby at the hospital and posted online, showed Chen Yu holding Xia Yangyang, his face etched with worry. Xia Yangyang appeared asleep. The photo fueled speculation; her identity was revealed as the "Princess of Starlight," Chen Yu's agency. The relationship seemed plausible, and the news was widely accepted. However, Chen Yu's fans reacted with outrage, flooding online forums with protests. The story trended, and the fans' cries were everywhere.

Xia Yangyang sighed after seeing the report. This was a significant problem. As she switched off the TV, she saw Gu Qichen standing behind her, watching the screen.

"When did you get here? I didn't hear you," she exclaimed, startled.

Gu Qichen's voice was flat, "Just as the news reported you two were living together."

Xia Yangyang was silent. This was deliberate—he knew the news was false, yet he was taunting her. She pouted, checking the time: nine a.m.

"Don't you have work today?" she asked, knowing his demanding schedule. As far as she could remember, he'd never taken a day off.

Instead of answering, he said, "Come have breakfast."

Xia Yangyang then noticed a wooden food box in his hands—elegant, not a typical takeaway container. Pleasantly surprised, she asked, "Did you make this?"

He snorted. "I bought it."

It was her favorite chicken porridge. After a bite, she declared dramatically, "Did you apprentice with their chef? It tastes exactly the same!"

A sly smile played on her lips. Gu Qichen calmly replied, "Xia Yangyang, are you asking for punishment?"

She continued eating, feeling strangely happy. He clearly made it but wouldn't admit it. She ate heartily, but he didn't touch his food. Looking up, she found him staring intently at her.

His intense gaze, coupled with his handsome features, was captivating. Feeling uncomfortable, she asked, "Why aren't you eating?"

Suddenly, he said, "Wife, let's go public."

Xia Yangyang choked on her porridge. He'd never used that term of endearment so affectionately before; past instances were usually playful or teasing. She always felt an imbalance in their relationship—a seven-year age gap, and a vast difference in life experience. He stood at the apex of success, while she was just one among many. She usually felt like a junior, a child, a subordinate, or even a pet around him. This sudden intimacy left her speechless. She coughed, tears welling up. He patted her back, helping her catch her breath.

He'd only been testing the waters about going public, and this was her reaction.

So what was he to her? A secret she couldn't share with the world? For the first time, Gu Qichen felt both anger and defeat.