"It was indeed a disconnected number—most likely a disguised one,"
Gu Lili mused inwardly. Anyone who went to the trouble of masking their caller ID was clearly not an ordinary person. "I understand," she said quietly.
She told Long Yubei about it. As her husband, there was little she kept from him—everything worth mentioning, she shared without reservation.
He urged her to take more bodyguards with her. "Though your skills are formidable, it's always wiser to err on the side of caution."
"Alright."
"Take the next two days off. Liang He's wrapped up her scenes and has been begging for a little camping getaway. Come with us—it'll be a nice change of pace."
Gu Lili glanced at him. "Is Shen Congmo not joining?"
"He flew abroad today," Long Yubei said with a low laugh. "She tore into him, furious he promised to go but then skipped town."
"Alright then, I'll start packing—just the essentials we'll need for the trip."
He nodded.
When Long Yubei returned to the bedroom, he found her with a suitcase already prepped. "What have you packed?"
"All the necessities. It's just two days, but I intend to enjoy every moment to the fullest," Gu Lili said, nudging the suitcase aside and wrapping her arms around him. "Let's head out early tomorrow—the mornings are cooler."
"Alright."
At six the next morning, Liang He arrived punctually at Qinyuan, her agent Shi Xiaotian in tow.
The four of them set off together in one car, driving toward a coastal villa district.
It was a location chosen by Liang He.
The upscale resort charged by the day, with a minimum daily rate in the tens of thousands.
Once the luggage was settled, the sun was already blazing high in the sky, and the temperature had soared.
The four of them changed into swimsuits and boarded a yacht for an ocean outing.
The carefree leisure of the day brought Gu Lili an overwhelming sense of peace and joy—from the inside out, she felt utterly unburdened. She loved moments like this.
After a full day of fun, they set up tents by the sea at dusk.
Seated together with grilled meats and cold beers, the atmosphere was light, refreshing, and joyful.
Liang He's phone kept buzzing with WeChat messages. After glancing at one, he looked toward Long Yubei. "Our President Su asked me to check—has your company finalized a spokesperson for the chain department stores?"
"Not yet."
Liang He nudged his chin. "What do you think of Sun Qianqian?"
"She's got good name recognition. Same agency as you, right?"
"Right. She's starring as the female lead in both dramas and films now—a proper A-lister," Liang He added. "I think she's got a fitting image. You might want to give her some thought."
Long Yubei raised a brow. "Noted."
Liang He clinked his beer bottle against his. "What a shame about our little sister-in-law. If she ever entered the entertainment industry, she'd sweep the scene. And with your skills, you'd be amazing in action films."
"She won't be entering the industry," Long Yubei replied, fingers brushing gently through Gu Lili's hair. "That world's a stage of vanity and calculation—not for someone like Lili. Besides, as the Long family's young madam, whatever she does will always be overshadowed by that title. People would see only her aura, never her effort. Isn't that exactly why you've kept your own identity a secret—so people focus on your acting, your strength, not your family?"
"The entertainment industry is treacherous, no doubt," Liang He admitted. "The reason I never leveraged my background is because I wanted to be recognized as an actor, not just a celebrity. And I've done it—but the journey was anything but easy. Only I know what it truly cost."