Showbiz Scandal: The Official Announcement of My Ex and Myself-Chapter 398: The Roses Are Yours

When the internet exploded, Yu Xia and Xie Qingci were out and about, hand in hand.

Because her phone was broken, she couldn’t receive any calls. The frustrated He Ci had to call Mei, who, by sheer luck, avoided a lecture and was able to focus all her attention on Xie Qingci.

After holding hands, they didn’t speak for a while, or rather, had so much to say but were too excited to know what to say to break the silence.

Yu Xia’s hand was starting to hurt a bit from his grip, and she tilted her head to signal him to relax.

But as soon as she turned her head, she saw his tense jawline and the bobbing Adam’s apple. He looked absent-minded, gazing down ahead, lost in thought.

Yu Xia found it amusing and shook his hand lightly, "What are you thinking about? Did you really come here alone?"

Xie Qingci snapped back to reality, flashing a carefree smile, "Nothing much. I came alone. I’ll have to trouble you to take me in tonight. I didn’t bring anything, sis."

Yu Xia smiled knowingly, "That happy, huh?"

Strolling around with their hands clasped for everyone to see meant they were out in the open, and the paparazzi following them had likely already leaked their relationship online.

Which meant they no longer had to keep their relationship a secret.

"Although it was unplanned, I was hoping to make it official sooner," he gradually relaxed, his tone returning to its usual laid-back vibe. Leaning close to her ear, he said, "I’m very happy."

"We were planning to make it public these days, but you’re the one who wanted to delay it."

Xie Qingci raised an eyebrow, "Exactly, even the heavens couldn’t wait any longer."

Yu Xia couldn’t help but laugh.

The feeling of holding hands openly in front of cameras and everyone was different. She couldn’t contain her elated mood and gently swung their clasped hands again.

But after a couple of swings, the friction between skin and the rough costume brought a faint pain.

She hissed softly and instinctively lifted her sleeve to prevent the fabric from rubbing against her bandaged wound.

Xie Qingci’s expression changed in an instant, "What’s wrong? Didn’t you say you weren’t hurt?"

Frowning, he rolled up her sleeve to reveal her scratched skin, his lips pressed tightly together.

"It’s nothing, the wall collapsed, and with just these scratches, it’s like I wasn’t even hurt," she dismissed it, reaching their destination and pulling out a small stool for him to sit on.

"The crew’s food isn’t bad. The boxed meals aren’t hard to eat, which one do you want?"

Xie Qingci, preoccupied with her injury and confirming there were only two minor scratches, finally looked at the boxed meals in front of him and showed signs of exhaustion.

"Not feeling like eating." His long limbs wrapped around Yu Xia, avoiding her wound, as he buried his head in her hair, his voice muffled.

Like a child, he was happy one moment and downcast the next.

Yu Xia was used to this side of him and wasn’t fazed, though a bit exasperated as she gently urged him to let go.

"There’s dust on your costume, and your hair is a mess. Yet you still want to hug me."

"I have dust too, the car ride here was smelly, and I feel a bit uncomfortable." He clung tightly without letting go, a tall person sitting curled up on a small stool, appearing quite aggrieved.

Yu Xia habitually comforted him, her voice dropping lower, carrying a tenderness she didn’t notice herself, "Uncomfortable? Motion sickness? You took a taxi all the way here? It’s several hours, with hilly roads and countless twists and turns—it’s easy to get motion sick."

Xie Qingci, nestled against her, simply grunted in agreement.

Yu Xia opened the boxed meal with one hand, "There’s steamed egg, want me to feed you some?"

Mei stood nearby, feeling a twinge of envy.

Though she was just recently thrilled by their romantic sunset rendezvous, she knew Xie Qingci was head over heels for Yu Xia, like a moth to a flame. But she didn’t expect them to be like this in private—Xie Qingci was way too clingy! And she was right there!

Unable to watch anymore, she turned and ran out to meet He Ci, knowing the love-dovey couple wouldn’t handle their own affairs, leaving her, the assistant, to worry more.

Just as she rushed out, she ran into the anxious He Ci.

He Ci, wary of being taken advantage of, stepped back to brace against her rush, asking, "What are you doing? Is Yu Xia’s situation serious?"

He couldn’t wait any longer and barged into the tent, only to see his artist and her boyfriend cuddled up, feeding each other affectionately.

...It’s so damn uncomfortable to watch.

The last time he saw something this eye-blinding was when the two were shamelessly making out at their doorstep.

He knew it! When their relationship was secret, Xie Qingci couldn’t get enough of Yu Xia. Now that it’s accidentally public, Xie Qingci, the charming fox, wouldn’t show off to the world!

He Ci gruffly called for a stop to their eye-piercing act, "What are you doing? Cuddling in broad daylight, what a public display!"

Xie Qingci glanced over, then continued, snugly wrapped around Yu Xia, looking upset.

Yu Xia chuckled lightly, "He’s a bit uncomfortable."

He Ci: I feel uncomfortable, too! My eyes hurt watching!

He disinterestedly looked away from Xie Qingci and sat down, first asking Yu Xia, "Are there still scenes to shoot tonight?"

"There shouldn’t be any today; everyone got injured this afternoon. Is there news online yet? What’s the sentiment like?"

"Not bad." That was good news, really, because the video released by the paparazzi was so romantic that everyone was gaming on it.

Discussing further, they planned to announce the relationship officially in a blog post soon. Xie Qingci, who hadn’t moved, suddenly straightened up, saying, "Let’s do it a bit later, at eight. Is that okay?"

He Ci glanced at his phone; it was a little past six, "Do you have plans?"

He nodded, looking at Yu Xia, "I have something to give you. At eight, alright?"

Yu Xia felt what he was about to gift her, and though her heartbeat was stable during their hand-holding and hugging, it inexplicably quickened.

"Okay."

After forcing herself to eat a few bites, Yu Xia went to greet the crew and returned to the hotel, while Xie Qingci went off somewhere unknown.

On her way back to the hotel, Yu Xia kept wondering, where could he be going?

Xie Qingci ran around the market near the film set. The place was remote, and it was getting late. He ran several kilometers and couldn’t find a decent flower shop.

Finally, in a newly opened boutique, he found two grand opening flower baskets and bought a few relatively fresh roses from the owner.

Afraid the flowers would wilt quickly, he insisted on taking a block of green floral foam and hurried back, flowers in hand.

Unlike how he felt coming earlier, despite the same urgency, this time he was filled with anticipation and excitement for his wish’s impending fulfillment.

The exhilaration nearly left him light-headed. By the time he sprinted to the hotel and knocked on the door, he felt a dazed sense of an important moment in life approaching. As he waited for the door to open, the hand behind his back clutching the bouquet started to sweat.

Creak—

Yu Xia, now in a pretty dress, stood before him, smiling as she asked, "Where’s my gift?"

Slowly, Xie Qingci revealed the roses he had hidden behind him, like offering something incredibly precious.

"I, there were no flower shops nearby... They might not be very fresh..." Taking a deep breath to suppress the slight tremor in his voice, he softly said:

"Yu Xia, two years ago I didn’t ask you, even when we met again I didn’t, because it never seemed formal enough. Now I want to ask, will you be my girlfriend?"

His eyes were bright, forehead glistening with perspiration. His hand holding the rose bouquet was slender and beautiful, and the effort revealed prominent wrist bones.

His entire being seemed to be anxiously yearning for her answer.

Feeling a bit tearful, Yu Xia accepted the roses, then picked the freshest, most beautiful one and tapped his chin with its petals.

"Now, the rose is yours."

Three hours after their relationship was outed, the long-awaited responses from countless netizens finally arrived.

[Yu Xia: my @Xie Qingci]

[Xie Qingci: my @Yu Xia]

With the official stamp of approval from the main parties, the relationship was set in stone, and the couple’s fans began their celebrations.