My Landlord is an Idol Singer - Chapter 147

The fireworks show had come to an end. The lights in the park were gradually going out, and Gu Zhinan and Xia An’ge had arrived at their stop.

Xia An’ge walked quickly, her short steps wide and hurried, leaving Gu Zhinan behind in an instant. Her hand was clenched tightly, and her whole body felt hot, especially her ears and cheeks. She couldn’t believe she had actually leaned against Gu Zhinan’s chest for so long, only realizing it when the Ferris wheel finally came to a stop.

That brute even smiled at her when she looked up, teasing that her makeup was smudged. She wasn’t even wearing any makeup! How could anything be smudged?!

Stepping out of the place called the “The Luminous Amusement Park,” Xia An’ge glanced back at the entrance, where a slow stream of people was still leaving. The colorful lights inside were completely switched off now, with only a few street lamps standing dutifully at their posts.

“If you want to come again, we can. You still want to do the haunted house again, right?”

That annoying voice of Gu the Brute came from beside her. He casually reached out, removed the bunny headband from Xia An’ge’s fisherman hat, and took off his own devil horn headband too. A silent declaration that tonight’s amusement park trip had officially come to an end.

Xia An’ge had been feeling a little reluctant to leave, but the mention of the haunted house instantly killed that mood. Her face paled slightly as she glanced around at the dim surroundings, feeling as if something was lurking in the shadows.

Gu Zhinan was a little surprised to find that the landlord was actually holding onto his arm.

“Let’s hurry back.” Without looking at his annoying face, Xia An’ge spoke tensely. She suspected that she now had a psychological shadow towards anything that felt eerie or creepy.

Gu Zhinan chuckled. All he did was mention the haunted house and she immediately turned into such a coward. Seems like the landlord had a very “memorable” time there.

“Alright.” He agreed easily and led Xia An’ge to the passenger area below. The amusement park had special late-night buses, but they were packed full at this hour.

But of course, with a big celebrity by his side, Gu Zhinan wouldn’t squeeze into the crowd. Instead, they walked to the taxi stand and waited for over ten minutes before finally getting a cab. After telling the driver their destination, the taxi slowly started moving.

Gu Zhinan glanced at the time, it’s now 12:30 AM. Another late night.

Xia An’ge was watching him, her eyes on the two headbands in his hands, her mind replaying everything that happened tonight. A faint blush crept over her face as she subconsciously touched her ear, the skin there was still burning hot.

Sensing something, Gu Zhinan turned to look at her. Startled, Xia An’ge quickly jerked her head away, staring out the window. Gu Zhinan was speechless. Her usual cold and aloof self had returned, and the lively, playful side from earlier had disappeared.

“Did you have fun?” He asked softly.

“Mm.” Her response was barely above a whisper. Gu Zhinan smiled faintly.

The scenery outside kept changing as the taxi drove on. When Gu Zhinan glanced at her again, he noticed she was dozing off, her small head gently bobbing with the motion of the car. Unconsciously, he scooted closer.

Her head drooped lower. Gu Zhinan reached out and lightly nudged the other side of her head, guiding it onto his shoulder. Her soft, even breaths came through the mask.

Running around to events all day, then coming out to play at night, really impressive.

“Young man, we’re here.” The kind taxi driver pulled up to the hotel entrance, glancing at the sleeping Xia An’ge in the backseat, unwilling to raise his voice and wake her.

“Alright.” Gu Zhinan paid the fare, then sighed softly as he looked at the peacefully sleeping landlord, who showed no sign of waking. She was still wrapped in his jacket.

Carefully, he scooped her into his arms. Xia An’ge instinctively curled up closer against him. Gu Zhinan smiled apologetically at the taxi driver for the trouble, but the man just waved it off with a knowing smile.

Walking into the hotel, he called over a night-shift staff member to help hold the elevator doors.

Straight to the 20th floor, where the landlord’s room was. Inside the elevator, Gu Zhinan felt a headache coming on. But then, unexpectedly, the person in his arms stirred, as if trying to turn over in her sleep but couldn’t. Under the brim of her hat, her sleepy, peach-blossom eyes cracked open in confusion.

“Where… am I?” Xia An’ge’s mind was still half-asleep. This didn’t feel like the taxi, and her posture was wrong. Shouldn’t she have been in the car heading back to the hotel?

“The hotel elevator. Good thing you woke up, or this would’ve been awkward.” Gu Zhinan lowered his head, amused at the landlord rubbing her eyes.

As Xia An’ge rubbed her eyes, realization suddenly hit. She looked up into his deep, dark eyes. “P-put me down!” Flustered, she squirmed in his arms.

“Sure.” Gu Zhinan gently set her down. Xia An’ge quickly backed into the corner of the elevator, bumping her back against the wall in her haste.

Gu Zhinan was startled. Why was the landlord reacting so strongly after just waking up?

Ding.

Perfect timing, the elevator reached her floor. The doors slowly opened, and seeing that she was fully awake, Gu Zhinan felt relieved. “This is your floor. Can you make it back to your room on your own?”

“I’m not a kid!” Xia An’ge’s face flushed red as she glared at him, as if accusing him of treating her like a child who couldn’t do anything by herself.

Even when buying water, he told her not to wander off! Did he really think she was just a kid?! She was even a year older than him!

“Well then… goodnight?” Gu Zhinan pointed at her. “My jacket. Give it back.” 

Xia An’ge froze, then angrily yanked off the jacket and shoved it at him, so roughly that he staggered back two steps.

“Goodnight!” She practically shouted before storming out of the elevator.

“Uh…” Gu Zhinan held his jacket in confusion, instinctively stepping out as well. He watched as Xia An’ge quickly swiped her card and disappeared into her room without even looking back. He chuckled helplessly, wondering what he’d done this time to make her so mad. Sighing, he pressed the elevator button to return to the 16th floor.

Meanwhile, Xia An’ge stormed into her room, ripping off her mask and fisherman hat, and threw herself onto the bed. She grabbed a pillow and imagined it was Gu Zhinan, furiously punching it until she finally flung it to the end of the bed.

Jerk!

After cooling off a bit, she glanced around the dim room, suddenly feeling uneasy as memories of the haunted house flashed in her mind. She shivered, bolted off the bed, and ran next door to Ruan Ying’s room, knocking frantically on the door.

Within two minutes, a sleepy Ruan Ying opened up, looking confused, especially seeing Xia An’ge in her tracksuit.

“An’ge-jie, you…?”

Seeing her, Xia An’ge immediately grabbed Ruan Ying’s hand, her tone a little embarrassed. “I can’t sleep alone. I want to sleep with you tonight.”

“Huh?” Ruan Ying was puzzled. Every time they’d shared a bed before, her bad sleeping habits had tormented Xia An’ge.

But Xia An’ge ignored her and marched inside on her own, somehow this room just felt better than hers.

“An’ge-jie, why are you in sportswear? And your hair’s a mess?” Ruan Ying didn’t get it. Xia An’ge usually wore matching pajamas when she slept. And this outfit was definitely not sleepwear. Did she actually change clothes just to come over and sleep here?

Ruan Ying wasn’t that gullible.

“I… I got hungry just now, so I went down to the hotel restaurant for a late-night snack!” Xia An’ge forced a casual tone, suddenly remembering that the hotel restaurant was open 24 hours, that could work as an excuse.

“Oh? Why didn’t you call me? You only came to get me after you were full!” Ruan Ying put her hands on her hips, buying the story without further suspicion.

Xia An’ge played dumb, kicking off her shoes and changing into the hotel slippers. She suddenly remembered her pajamas were still in her room, so she dragged little Ying with her to grab them before returning. Even while showering, she made Ruan Ying talk to her the whole time, she couldn’t bear even a minute of silence.

Ruan Ying thought it was strange. After just one night, Xia An’ge felt like a totally different person, so lively and chatty.

By the time Xia An’ge finally came out of the bathroom, it was nearly 2 AM. She checked her phone briefly and, to her surprise, there really was a message. From Gu the Brute.

“If you’re scared, go sleep with Xiao Ying. Don’t forget this time. Sweet dreams.”

Xia An’ge climbed into bed beside Ruan Ying again. Ruan Ying wanted to ask more questions, but Xia An’ge hugged her tightly.

“Goodnight, Xiao Ying! Sweet dreams!” Xia An’ge smiled softly, even reaching out to pinch Ruan Ying’s cheek, usually Ruan Ying was the one doing that to her. 

Ruan Ying was left deep in thought, feeling like Xia An’ge really had become someone else overnight.