Chapter 25: Candid Shots

Qiao Yanxin's friends were all taken aback by her words and exchanged surprised glances. Fearing she might wander off alone, they flocked after her.

I raised an eyebrow. I knew Qiao Yanxin was drunk and had mistaken someone else for me. After all, I was dead; how could she possibly see me?

Qiao Yanxin chased after the man, only coming to a stop once she had reached him. She pouted, looking deeply aggrieved. "Qiao Yunzhou, you actually deigned to come back? I thought you were going to stay away forever. Don't think that just because you've returned, I'll forgive you. I'm telling you, that’s impossible! Where on earth have you been?"

The man standing before her didn't move. Qiao Yanxin reached out to tug at his clothes, somewhat annoyed. "I'm talking to you, did you hear me?"

The man turned around, his unfamiliar face etched with confusion. He was clearly a total stranger. Qiao Yanxin stared at him, stunned. "You... you aren't Qiao Yunzhou? No, you aren't. You look nothing like him."

The man looked disgusted. "Excuse me, you've mistaken me for someone else."

Her friends caught up and guided her away, apologizing profusely as they walked. "Sorry, so sorry. She’s had too much to drink and is acting out."

"Yanxin, you're drunk. Let's go home."

Qiao Yanxin frowned. "What nonsense are you talking about? I’m not drunk."

With that, she began to yell inexplicably, "Qiao Yunzhou, how dare you betray me! I won't let you get away with this! Just you wait, I'm going to Xicheng tomorrow to find you. Once I find you, you're dead!"

Listening to her childish outburst, I couldn't help but find it amusing. Qiao Yanxin, I am indeed dead.

Secretary Zhang hurried over, phone in hand. "President Qiao, President Qiao, let me take you home. You've had too much."

"I'm not going home! I’m going to find Qiao Yunzhou! He hasn't come home, so why should I?"

Secretary Zhang coaxed her as if she were a child. "Have you forgotten? You've already booked a flight to Xicheng for tomorrow. You'll see Young Master Qiao then. Go home and get some rest tonight; otherwise, how will you have the strength to see him tomorrow?"

Hearing this, Qiao Yanxin nodded in agreement. "You're right. I should go home and rest properly. Otherwise, how will I have the strength to catch Qiao Yunzhou? When I see him, I’m going to ask him exactly why he betrayed me!"

Supported by Secretary Zhang, a reeking-drunk Qiao Yanxin returned to her bridal chamber. Upon opening the door, she saw a familiar figure. Gu Tingchu looked at the intoxicated Qiao Yanxin with a hint of surprise. "Yanxin, what happened? Come in, hurry, come in."

He reached out to take her, but Secretary Zhang dodged him. "Why are you here?" Secretary Zhang asked, eyeing him warily.

Gu Tingchu chuckled. "Naturally, I was worried about Yanxin and came to check on her. It’s a good thing I did; otherwise, there would be no one to look after her in this state." He then tried to dismiss the secretary. "That’s enough. I’m here now, and that’s plenty. It’s getting late—you should head home and rest."

Secretary Zhang looked at Qiao Yanxin, who was lying on the sofa, dead to the world, and looked concerned. "But..."

I knew what she wanted to say. With Qiao Yanxin in such a state, it was indeed inappropriate for Gu Tingchu to be the one caring for her.

"President Qiao is so drunk, I'm afraid you won't be able to take care of her alone. Perhaps I should stay..."

"I told you to leave. Are you deaf?" Gu Tingchu’s expression turned cold, cutting her off. "Do you know my relationship with your President? If you don't do as I say, I'll have her fire you tomorrow. Do you want to test me?"

Secretary Zhang, always a cautious person, panicked and hurried out the door. The sound of the door slamming shut startled Qiao Yanxin awake. She lifted her head and looked at the person standing in the room. His features were blurry, but he looked incredibly familiar.

"Yunzhou, is that you?" Qiao Yanxin’s voice was filled with delight. "You finally came back!"

She lunged forward and threw her arms around Gu Tingchu. He didn't resist, and the two of them tumbled together. I stood to the side, watching the scene with cold eyes. Qiao Yanxin kept calling my name, yet she couldn't even distinguish who was standing right in front of her. Did she have any feelings for me? Perhaps, but not many.

To her, a stranger in a video could be me, and Gu Tingchu, who shared not a single resemblance with me, could also be me. Was I really such a generic face in her eyes?

However... I shifted my gaze to a figure crouching on a large tree outside the window. The person was shouldering a camera, their cold lens silently recording everything.

The next morning, the two woke up. Qiao Yanxin looked on in shock to find herself naked, with Gu Tingchu beside her. "Tingchu? How are you here?"

Gu Tingchu pulled the quilt around himself, looking deeply aggrieved. "I was worried you were upset, so I came to check on you. I didn't expect you to mistake me for Brother Yunzhou, and then we..." He lowered his head, looking dejected. "I'm sorry, Yanxin. I know you can't let go of Brother Yunzhou. I didn't mean for this to happen; I really just came because I was worried about you."

Qiao Yanxin clutched her head in pain, though she muttered, "It's fine. It's not your fault."

She looked devastated. If I hadn't known what happened last night, I might have truly believed she loved me to death. But how could someone who was genuinely drunk have so much energy? When she was with Gu Tingchu last night, she had seemed quite lively—nothing like the despondent figure before me today.

Qiao Yanxin glanced at her watch and her expression changed instantly. She had intended to go to Xicheng to find me today, but the time for her flight had long since passed. With a dark expression, she dialed Secretary Zhang.

"Secretary Zhang, what is the meaning of this? Why didn't you wake me up?"

Secretary Zhang’s aggrieved voice came through the phone. "But last night, you..."

"Enough! If you can't even handle such a small task, don't bother coming in anymore!"