Chapter 11

When they drove into the beautiful Roseville garden which housed Liu Xinyi's home, Xinyi decided to ask her housekeeper to prepare something light for them both since it was already late.

The flower beds on the pathway consisted of several kinds of flowers and each one had its unique scent.

Liu Xinyi had always loved flowers since she was a child and immediately her grandmother willed the house to her as a birthday present, Liu Xinyi had it renovated to her taste and specially planted more flowers in the backyard and also at the front yard.

Just like every other night, as she walked through the wide pathway that led up the front door, Liu Xinyi tilted her chin in the air and sniffed, loving the aroma in the air as the different sweet combinations tickled her nostrils and caressed her face delicately.

"Welcome back young miss." Aunty Yang greeted with a doting smile. "How was your outing? Third miss is here too. Should I make some warm tea for you both?"

"Hello aunty Yang. You look so lovely this evening." Liu Zi-xin praised with a smile and aunty Yang smiled a little. She knew how buttery Liu Zi-xin was since she was a child. She was always full of mischief but she also loved complimenting others. She had one or two nice things to say about everyone she met, be it their hair or looks.

"Thank you my dear. You look lovely as well. Uhm, what would you like me to prepare, young miss? You shouldn't sleep on a stomach full of wine and desserts alone. I can make you something really light." Aunty Yang insisted as she moved her gaze over Liu Xinyi and Liu Zi-xin's outfit.

It was obvious they were coming from an event and since homemade foods weren't served at events, so they would have to eat something good if not what if the young miss got hungry in the middle of the night?

Liu Xinyi opted for chicken soup and a little amount of rice, knowing it was quite late but she instructed aunty Yang to make sure they had some vegetables to go along with it so Liu Zi-xin would at least stomach something solid.

Roughly forty minutes later, the meal was ready. They'd both had their showers and were looking refreshed as they eat at the dining to eat quietly.

Like other days that she'd spent at the company reading scripts and perfecting her lines, Liu Zi-xin couldn't stomach much food even though she hadn't eaten homemade food for more than five hours after she'd finished the shooting. Watching her, Liu Xinyi chuckled helplessly.

"You should eat more at work." She sighed.

"I try to. But whenever I'm working, I don't usually have much appetite." Liu Zi-xin replied, smiling at her cousin as if not having an appetite was a great thing.

"Hmm...it's understandable knowing how you can sometimes get carried away with reading the script and working constantly at the location but you should try to eat a little more when you have the chance."

Zi-xin nodded but after taking two more spoons of rice and a gulp of the chicken soup, she couldn't force herself anymore and dropped the spoon, giving Xinyi a shy smile.

"You have to take care of your body. Don't you know this better than anyone?" Liu Xinyi scolded when she saw the amount of food that was still left in the plates.

"I know. I'm just a bit tired. Let's go to bed early."

"Let's chat a bit more. Tomorrow is Sunday so it's not like you have anywhere to go." Xinyi told her, wanting to chat with her for a bit because they hadn't seen each other in days.

Zi-xin didn't have anything on her plans till the following week and besides, she needed the rest since the past few days had been full of activities and she'd spent several hours on set on most days.

"You're right. We'll just sleep in."

Liu Xinyi nodded. "Exactly. So how was the little celebration you went for? Did you get to socialize with the cast and crew members?"

Xinyi's question instantly brought a smile to Zi-xin's face.

"Yes. They were all very polite towards me, especially when Emmy asked about you and if you would be visiting uncle soon. The cast and some of the crew were curious about you."

Xinyi frowned and gently wiped the corners of her lips with the handkerchief, pushing her plate aside. "Emmy asked about me in front of all of them?"

Emmy was Liu Zi-xin's good friend.

He was an American born and based Chinese actor. While his name was Emmanuel, he was popularly called Emmy because Liu Zi-xin had gotten used to calling him that since their high school days and he'd decided to also go by that name in the movie industry as well.

Emmy and Liu Zi-xin met in high school. He was transferred over in his senior year and they'd instantly clicked so even after going to the university and starting their careers, they were still very close and did so many things together.

Liu Xinyi and Liu Zi-xin had both agreed that Zi-xin's identity wouldn't be revealed to anyone but it seemed that wasn't the case anymore.

Sure, they knew people would find out about Liu Zi-xin's identity sooner or later but if possible, no one would casually know about it except they investigated her family background or linked her to the prestigious Liu family.

This way, Liu Zi-xin would be able to properly make a name for herself without people trying to favor her because of her background and how her family would repay them.

"No. Of course not. I already told him I didn't want people to find out about me and he also agreed it was better that way. Actually, he only casually asked about you while we were chatting but the new girl that was used to replace Ou Lili in the movie suddenly asked aloud if I knew the infamous Liu Xinyi and then she connected the dots herself, realizing we indeed had the same surname. My plan to be low-key was somehow ruined but it has happened anyway so I can't bother much about it." Liu Zi-xin thought about how hard she'd been working all along but shrugged because the deed had already been done and there was nothing more she could do about it.

"It's okay. Don't worry, it has happened so let's just take it that way." Liu Xinyi comforted.

"Will we hold a press conference to make the announcement?"

"No. We won't even be publicizing it except it happens by chance where someone mentions it. Keep being the way you are and focus on your acting career. Anyway, how is Lili?" Xinyi asked.

"Lili is getting better. She should be done with all her treatments next week."

"That's nice. It's really been three months since it happened. Wow, how time flies." Liu Xinyi walked over to the chair and sat, crossing her legs over it as her eyes flashed with something bold. Before Liu Zi-xin could notice it as she joined her in the living room, the thing had cleared.

"I was really scared that something would happen to her." Zi-xin murmured and randomly rubbed her upper arm together.

Ou Lili was the young lady playing the role of Liu Zi-xin's sister in the historic film they were acting but she'd suddenly got attacked at a club where she was partying with friends so after getting rushed to the hospital, her role had to be eventually taken up by someone else because they'd just started the shoot at the time.

Also, after the attack, Ou Lili's family had immediately expressed their concerns that they would prefer their daughter to relax after investigations about the sudden attack were fully conducted. Because they knew it could cause casualties if the full production was put on a hold because of her, Ou Lili had to be taken off the cast.

Not wanting to keep thinking about the bad omen that had befallen her good friend, Liu Zi-xin chose to pick another topic of interest for discussion.

"You mentioned that you would introduce me to a friend of yours who's also respected in the industry. Who's that?" She asked mindlessly.

Liu Xinyi paused for dramatic effect, knowing her cousin would definitely react wild to this information. "Yes...His name is Fu Rusheng."

Liu Zi-xin's brows shot up. "Wahhh! You know Fu Rusheng?" She asked while blinking and constantly gaping like a fish in need of water.

Liu Xinyi merely nodded though she had an idea about why her cousin could be so surprised that she knew Fu Rusheng. He was a 'nation's husband' material, very influential in the industry and also low-key which sadly meant that he wasn't fond of befriending people.

Ruo Nan, who was both Liu Xinyi and Fu Rusheng's common friend had often complained about this to her and that was why even Xinyi had been very surprised when Fu Rusheng treated her well when they first met.

To make things more interesting, Liu Xinyi had even been added to their Weibo group chat which they titled 'Besties'.

Liu Xinyi, who was occupied with the thoughts of their silly group friendship, paused when she suddenly heard a loud scream and instantly blinked, bringing her thoughts back to the presen from the fond memory of when she first met Fu Rusheng.

"Ahhhh! Really? You know Fu Rusheng my husband?! How, how, how, ahhhhhh!"

While Liu Xinyi was still nodding, her ears were suddenly assaulted by Zi-xin's constant screams and she quickly blocked her ears, wincing at the pitchy note of Liu Zi-xin's voice.

"Why did you scream so loudly?" Liu Xinyi frowned and Zi-xin jumped off the chair to squeal, giggling and patting her cheeks while blinking like a cute bunny.

"Fu Rusheng is your friend?! You mean the almighty Fu Rusheng, the King of the movie industry?!"

Liu Xinyi merely nodded again.

"I think I'm going to pass out. He's my husband. He doesn't know it yet but we are married and have two cute bunnies and he's totally in-love with me! Sis, you have to introduce us properly so we can begin our love story ASAP." Liu Zi-xin gushed with a dreamy look in her eyes, pacing as she imagined all sorts of scenarios where she would hug Fu Rusheng and call him senior with a doting smile.

Fu Rusheng was indeed the King of the movie industry. He was loved by many, envied by some but respected by most. Still, he maintained his privacy and rarely went for events except it was very compulsory.

Liu Zi-xin turned to her cousin who looked quite bored as if it wasn't a big deal to know the great Fu Rusheng. She pressed her palms together in a praying gesture and blinked cutely at Liu Xinyi as if she was the current savior of mankind.

Liu Xinyi on the other hand, patted her forehead pitifully, mentally berating herself for mentioning Fu Rusheng because she'd totally forgotten he had an irresistible charm that made women— both young and old— pant after him like he was a delicious piece of meat that they needed to hungrily devour.

'What have I done? Ugh...' Liu Xinyi thought with a helpless shrug.