Author: 颜凉雨 / Yan Liang Yu

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

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Chapter 30

“The trip to Thailand for all you First Love male gods is about to conclude on the beautiful beaches of Pattaya. Who will be today’s Curry First Love? Some of you might still be struggling with this decision. Don’t worry. The production team has prepared a lavish dinner for you. While enjoying Thai delicacies, our male gods can ponder over whom to cast that sacred vote for. Now, let the feast begin!”

Five guests were seated in a row, each with a small dining table in front of them. At the director’s signal, a long dining cart was rolled in, bearing four dishes covered with half-spherical, shiny stainless steel covers. The true appearance of the food was hidden, but the production team thoughtfully placed name tags beside each dish—

Tom Yum Soup.

Thai Curry Shrimp.

Coconut Chicken Soup.

Basil Chicken.

Five people, four dishes—the palpable malice was unmistakable.

But having been hungry all day, they started salivating at the mere mention of the dishes.

The director, off-camera, chuckled benevolently. “No need for me to introduce further. Everyone has seen the names of the dishes. So, as usual, one person will team up with our new member, Han Ze, and the remaining three will each be in their own group. After forming groups, you can choose your desired dish… But this time, we won’t draw lots for groups. Instead, our new member will choose his own partner!”

As soon as the director finished speaking, four pairs of eyes nervously fixed on Han Ze.

Han Ze was on the verge of tears. “You don’t have to be so obviously repulsed…”

More than obvious, Gu Jie had already raised an empty plate from his small dining table as a shield, as if to ward off the black hole vibes from Han Ze.

Han Ze, calm and composed, glanced left and right at his companions’ faces, each looking like death.

With a smile, Han Ze finally chose the only one who didn’t avoid his gaze. “Ran Lin.”

Their eyes met, and Ran Lin knew he couldn’t escape. Besides, after three days, he was the only one who hadn’t been paired with Han Ze, so it seemed fair for Han Ze to choose him.

The remaining three breathed sighs of relief, as if they had narrowly escaped death.

Based on previous results, Zhang Beichen got first pick, followed by Gu Jie and Ran Lin. Xia Xinran, who had been paired with Han Ze the most over the three days, came in last and had to accept whatever dish was left.

All four dishes sounded tempting, but after seven episodes, they knew there had to be a catch.

After pondering, Zhang Beichen cautiously made his choice. “Coconut Chicken Soup.”

Gu Jie didn’t understand his logic. “Can you get full on soup?”

Zhang Beichen shook his head slowly as if to say, “You don’t understand”. “Just something to fill the stomach. Dishes that sound light like this actually offer a sense of security.”

Gu Jie: “……” That made so much sense that he couldn’t argue!

The cover was removed, revealing the coconut chicken soup. The large, transparent glass container, wide at the top and deep at the bottom, was filled to the brim with fragrant, milky white broth brimming with chicken.

“Is this coconut soup or coconut chicken?”

The others, enviously watching Zhang Beichen happily receive the soup bowl, felt a mix of envy and resentment.

It was Gu Jie’s turn.

After much thought, Tom Yum Soup was too famous and risky, and Thai Curry Shrimp was too tempting and alarming. So, he went for the seemingly humble Basil Chicken.

“That’s my pick—Basil Chicken!”

The cover was lifted to reveal a decently presented dish of Basil Chicken with white rice.

Simple in appearance yet tantalizing in aroma.

As soon as the dish was served, Gu Jie devoured it like a storm, as if his insides were singing with joy.

Now it was Ran Lin and Han Ze’s turn.

Ran Lin eyed the remaining two dishes, swallowing hard, and sought his teammate’s opinion. “Which one do you want to eat?”

Han Ze rubbed his chin thoughtfully, then decisively said, “Tom Yum Soup.”

Ran Lin, looking into his colleague’s deep eyes, negotiated softly. “How about we choose Thai Curry Shrimp?”

Han Ze’s hand slipped, nearly banging his chin on the table, then sat back up resignedly, nodding deeply. “Okay, I understand.”

Ran Lin announced loudly, “Thai Curry Shrimp!”

The stainless steel cover was lifted, revealing a large, pristine white circular porcelain plate containing… a single shrimp.

Zhang Beichen spat out a mouthful of soup.

Gu Jie nearly choked on his rice with laughter.

Xia Xinran, not to be outdone, laughed uproariously, pounding the table, his laughter echoing across half the beach.

Meanwhile, Xia Xinran’s Tom Yum Soup was unveiled—just as grand as Zhang Beichen’s coconut chicken soup and generously filled with shrimp, clams, and mushrooms.

Ran Lin slumped onto the table in despair.

Han Ze patted his shoulder consolingly. “Actually, think about it, you should be happy.”

Ran Lin looked up wearily at his teammate. “Where’s the happiness?”

Han Ze smiled: “I’m not a regular guest.”

Ran Lin: “……”

Not just Ran Lin, all the companions were suddenly enveloped in a sense of unexpected joy, tears welling up in their eyes.

Lu Yiyao, we miss you—

At the same time, Lu Yiyao, who was studying the performances of actors from past classic costume dramas in his apartment’s media room, shuddered, instinctively looking around, feeling as if someone was calling him.

But in the dark media room, except for the wooden frames on the wall reflecting faint light in the screen’s glow, there was nothing else.

Lu Yiyao pondered for a moment, paused the TV drama, and got up to turn on the light.

The room lit up, revealing its layout clearly.

It was a guest room converted into a media room. It wasn’t very large, with a 98-inch LCD TV almost covering one wall. On the remaining walls, one had a wooden-colored film rack and a vinyl record player, and the other two were adorned with framed photos—of Lu Yiyao in various roles: ancient, modern, contemporary, a refined swordsman, a noble young man from the Republic of China, a youthful and sunny boy, some aloof and cool, others gentle and kind. Different roles, different styles, but all had one thing in common—they were incredibly handsome.

Lu Yiyao was very pleased with the decor of the room and decided to keep updating the drama photos regularly.

The room was soundproofed, and the surround sound system installed ensured an immersive experience without disturbing the neighbors.

The room had no tables or chairs, just a double-seater English sofa in the center, with a small side table next to it for water cups or mobile phones.

The item Lu Yiyao went to grab when he turned on the light was his phone.

[The filming must have ended by now. I guess you all voted for Han Ze. 😂]

The last time he chatted with his friends was the day before yesterday, and considering today was the third day of filming, they should have wrapped up by now.

Lu Yiyao wasn’t sure if he was just bored or actually missing his friends, to the point where he had an auditory hallucination of being called, and couldn’t settle down, starting to wonder, ‘How did their filming go?’ He decided to grab his phone and ask.

After a while, the response came—

[Of course, it’s what the people want. 😏]

The reply was from Ran Lin, which made Lu Yiyao a bit happy but also surprised. Normally, the first to respond was usually Xia… Wait a minute.

Lu Yiyao’s eyebrows furrowed slightly, and he looked closely. His message wasn’t sent in the Chen Sheng Wu Guang group but in a private chat with Ran Lin.

The two chats were right next to each other, and he hadn’t realized which one he had entered. No wonder it took so long to get a reply—Ran Lin usually replied slower and having Xia Xinran’s chatter as a comparison made it more noticeable.

Since he got a reply, it wouldn’t be right to say he meant to send it to the group. Besides, Lu Yiyao also liked chatting with Ran Lin, so he decided to go with the flow and continued the conversation.

As night deepened, the VIP lounge at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, initially bustling, gradually became quiet.

Zhang Beichen and Xia Xinran, each with their agents, were sitting on sofas by the windows, but the sofas were far apart, almost from one end of the lounge to the other. Zhang Beichen was staring out the window at a landing airplane, lost in thought, while Xia Xinran was sprawled asleep, occasionally grabbing at something, as if still fighting in his dreams.

Gu Jie, who had filmed alone this time without his manager, had a few drinks at the bar and was now dozing off there.

Ran Lin, Han Ze, and Wang Xi sat together in another corner.

Wang Xi was curled up on a single-seater sofa, listening to soft music with earplugs, already asleep. She seemed tanner than when they arrived, especially with the white earphone wire contrasting against her cheeks, making the change in skin tone more apparent. She probably sneaked off to the beach while they were filming.

Next to her, Han Ze leaned back on the sofa, his head slightly tilted back, and his eyes closed.

Ran Lin couldn’t tell if he was dozing or sleeping, and as he was pondering this, Lu Yiyao sent a WeChat message.

After that, he was too engrossed in replying to pay attention to Han Ze, typing away.

The conversation with Lu Yiyao wasn’t long. The latter was just inquiring about the filming and some interesting tidbits. Ran Lin kept his replies short and sweet, and Lu Yiyao listened sporadically.

Seeing the conversation cooling down, Ran Lin took the initiative to say goodnight.

Lu Yiyao, as usual, quickly replied with the same.

Exiting WeChat, Ran Lin suddenly missed hearing Lu Yiyao’s voice.

“Do you have a good relationship with Lu Yiyao?”

The sudden voice startled Ran Lin, and his phone slipped onto his lap.

Han Ze picked up the phone and handed it back to him with an apologetic smile. “Sorry, I inadvertently saw your chat.”

Han Ze’s gaze was deep, seemingly encompassing everything, but devoid of the apology he expressed.

Ran Lin forced a smile and took back his phone. “It’s okay.”

Han Ze continued to look at him, seemingly casual, but his gaze was firmly on Ran Lin’s face. Then Ran Lin heard him say softly, “You haven’t answered my question.”

Ran Lin frowned slightly. The Han Ze in front of him, with a faint, gentle smile, inexplicably exerted a kind of pressure. This was a stark contrast to the Han Ze from the past three days of filming, overlapping with the always cold-faced First Brother* in Ran Lin’s memory.

*Refers to the (male) face of the company and who they spend the most resources and money on.

“Hmm?” Han Ze’s smile broadened, and his voice was almost a whisper.

Ran Lin was unnerved by his imagination, comparing it to the hissing of a snake. He broke into a cold sweat at his own thoughts, and Han Ze, who had dropped that unsettling smile, looked at him puzzled.

“Not really close.” Ran Lin shook off his jumbled thoughts and cautiously replied, “Just got along well after filming so many episodes together.”

He hadn’t discussed anything strange with Lu Yiyao, so whatever Han Ze saw was safe. Ran Lin didn’t want to make their work relationship awkward over a seemingly casual question, especially with Wang Xi involved.

“Rare.” Perhaps because Ran Lin’s answer matched what he had seen in the chat, Han Ze didn’t doubt it much. After commenting, he tilted his head to look at Ran Lin, then narrowed his eyes meaningfully and chuckled. “I thought Lu Yiyao would blacklist you after the way Wang Xi promoted you.”

Ran Lin avoided Han Ze’s gaze, instinctively picking up a water bottle in front of him and taking a sip.

Han Ze watched him calmly, silent with a smile.

Ran Lin put down the water bottle, still staring at the label, and said vaguely, “It’s a long story…”

“Then let’s not talk about it. You seem troubled just thinking about it.” Han Ze also opened his water bottle and took a small sip.

Ran Lin felt a bit flustered but was mostly relieved.

His interaction with Han Ze was different from that with Zhang Beichen. Facing an abnormal Zhang Beichen, although nervous, he knew the latter was just flirting, so his tension was about how to minimize the impact of rejection; but facing an abnormal Han Ze, his nervousness stemmed from not knowing Han Ze’s intentions, unsure if it was just casual conversation or something more.

More importantly, Han Ze, at this moment, had an almost undisguisedly condescending attitude towards him.

Ran Lin knew this feeling all too well. As an extra, he had often seen this kind of look from lead actors in the crew towards someone of his minor status. The only difference was that those people didn’t even bother to feign a smile.

“This industry is quite strange,” Han Ze said, crossing his legs and leaning comfortably back into the sofa. “Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, fame doesn’t come. Other times, an accident happens, and you’re suddenly famous.”

“Yeah…” What else could Ran Lin say? He was that “accident”.

“The drama that made me famous was like that. I wasn’t the original lead. Someone else was, but he dropped out, and it fell to me. One show, and I was up there,” Han Ze said, looking at Ran Lin with a barely there smirk. “But you’re luckier than me. Just standing at the airport, and opportunity knocked at your door.”

Ran Lin finally understood the discomfort that had been bothering him.

It was mockery.

And it was condescending mockery.

“Wang Xi said she sees potential in you and that fame is just a matter of time for you.” Han Ze shrugged with a faint smile on his face, but the smile didn’t reach his eyes. “I have mixed feelings about that.”

Apart from mockery, there was hostility.

“If Wang Xi’s optimism could make me famous, I wouldn’t be waiting until now.” Ran Lin wasn’t as optimistic as Wang Xi, nor did he think he was a threat to Han Ze.

“She’s more optimistic than you are. These days, I’ve been rushing around to appointments on my own. Whenever I ask, she’s with you.”

Han Ze said it lightly, but it gave Ran Lin a splitting headache.

“I don’t understand a lot of things. Maybe Wang Xi is afraid I’ll mess up if she’s not with me.”

Han Ze looked at him, amused. “You won’t. You know exactly what you’re doing.”

With that, Han Ze suddenly extended a hand towards Ran Lin in a gesture of friendship. “We’ll probably be seeing a lot of each other in the future. Let’s learn from each other.”

Ran Lin hesitated before shaking his hand.

Han Ze’s fingers were long and pale, like those of a pianist, exceptionally beautiful.

But the palm was cold.

Ran Lin suddenly realized that what was abnormal was the “Game Black Hole” during filming—the new guest who got along well with everyone.

This person in front of him was the real Han Ze, the First Brother of Dream Without Limits.

……

The fifth trip to Dubai for “National First Love Drifting Story” sparked a second wave of high ratings and good reviews.

The increasingly in-tune five guests in Dubai, the city built on a desert, experienced the mysterious charm of a foreign land and the unique blend of ancient and modern. The audience also enjoyed a splendid journey abroad with them.

Ran Lin’s Weibo followers continued to grow rapidly, and the comments increased day by day.

Wang Xi, watching this, was quite satisfied. Although her usual attitude was more suppressive to prevent him from becoming conceited, she occasionally relaxed and envisioned a bright future for him.

Ran Lin didn’t mention what Han Ze said at the airport to Wang Xi. For one, it was difficult to bring up, as they shared a manager, and despite their different statuses, there was inevitable resource sharing and competition. Secondly, he didn’t think Wang Xi needed his hint. If he, as Han Ze said, was clear-headed, then Wang Xi was even more astute, surely aware of Han Ze’s subtle attitude.

Once interests were involved, unless one party withdrew, the conflict couldn’t be resolved.

All he could do was work hard, be kind to others, and true to himself.

The final episode of “National First Love Drifting Story” was set in Iceland. When Ran Lin saw Lu Yiyao at the airport, he wasn’t as excited as he expected, but his expression was more uncontrollable, his lips curving into a smile.

“Safe and sound, and in good shape.” Xia Xinran circled Lu Yiyao, giving his appraisal.

Lu Yiyao didn’t think any of those words were complimentary.

Ran Lin, Zhang Beichen, and Gu Jie stood together, restraining their desire to get closer.

That’s how people are. When you don’t care, it’s natural to get close. When you do care, you’re always afraid of making a mistake.

Lu Yiyao thought Ran Lin would give him a hug, or at least a couple of pats like Xia Xinran, checking in warmly. But Ran Lin just stood two steps away, smiling at him.

Ran Lin’s teeth were neat and white, his smile bright and sunny.

Lu Yiyao decided to walk over to him, for the sake of that smile. But before he could move, Yao Hong called with reminders—Yao Hong didn’t accompany him this time, staying back to handle affairs. By the time Yao Hong finished, it was time to board.

During the flight, Ran Lin and Xia Xinran competed in sleeping, as if vying for the title “Best Sleeper”. Gu Jie and Zhang Beichen excitedly discussed Iceland’s scenery, but Lu Yiyao, listening in, didn’t absorb a word.

Upon landing and stepping out of the airport, they were greeted by a snowy landscape.

Summer is the peak tourist season in Iceland, known for its beautiful and vivid scenery. In contrast, Iceland’s winter is more monochromatic but gives a more authentic feel.

Perhaps because it was the last episode, the production team finally showed some conscience, setting more enjoyable tasks and fewer hardships. Everyone had fun, like it was their last school trip.

But the legendary Northern Lights never appeared.

Until the third afternoon, during their last activity, ice cave exploration.

Ice caves are cavities formed inside glaciers. They grow and disappear as glaciers ebb and flow. Only in winter, when glaciers are stable, can one enter to witness that dreamlike world.

The production team brought in a local guide. The moment they entered the cave, everyone was stunned.

An incredible, massive glacier below, a kingdom of ice blue.

As if that wasn’t enough, when dusk fell and they emerged from the cave, still mesmerized by the enchanting blue, the sky was sprinkled with the Northern Lights.

The camera crew reacted first, setting up their equipment to capture the scene.

The five stood at the cave entrance, gazing in awe.

After a while, the production team prepared a spot for them to sit and enjoy the view.

A camera circled behind them, capturing both the Northern Lights and their silhouettes, like in a drama.

They weren’t sitting in a row, but in a staggered circle. Ran Lin sat towards the back, with Lu Yiyao in front of him at an angle, gazing into the distance. From Ran Lin’s angle, only Lu Yiyao’s profile was visible.

His nose was quite prominent, and from the side, he appeared less gentle and more angular.

Suddenly, Lu Yiyao turned his head.

Ran Lin couldn’t avoid his gaze in time, and their eyes met directly.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Lu Yiyao, thinking he was admiring the Northern Lights, asked with a smile.

Ran Lin didn’t know where he got the courage from, but he nodded vigorously. “Yes, very handsome.”

Lu Yiyao tilted his head to look at him, then turned his gaze back to the distant view.

Ran Lin pulled his scarf up to cover half of his face, trapping the warm breath inside, heating his neck, and warming his heart.

He liked Lu Yiyao.

Yes, he had fallen for him, which explained the push and pull, the anxiety of gain and loss.

Initially, the Northern Lights spread across the sky, but at some point, they split into several bands.

Ran Lin counted the bands one by one, and with each count, he silently wished in his heart, ‘Bent, straight, bent, straight…’

The bands were even in number, ending on straight.

Ran Lin was startled when he realized this.

Not by the result, but by himself.

He had actually fantasized about Lu Yiyao being gay. And then what? Even if he were, what could he do?

In the mainland entertainment industry, there were no openly gay popular stars. Even a hint of a same-sex scandal, if not handled well, could ruin a career.

Moreover, Lu Yiyao had never shown any signs of being gay; all the ambiguity was in his own imagination.

The man saw him as a friend.

Was he fantasizing about him here?

If Lu Yiyao knew, he would probably run a mile in the opposite direction.

The colorful bands of light illuminated the sky and the surrounding ice and snow. Ran Lin reached out and grabbed some snow outside the mat. The snow slowly melted in his palm, first bone-chillingly cold, then gradually numb, leaving only a faint coolness.

[It’s the last episode. I feel a bit reluctant to let go.]—This was a casual message Ran Lin sent to Lu Yiyao on WeChat before gathering in Iceland.

Lu Yiyao had replied—[The show is ending, but our friendship isn’t. When I have time, I’ll definitely find you to hang out.]

That was the first suggestive message between Ran Lin and Lu Yiyao in all their private chats.

And the last one.

The first time seeing such beautiful Northern Lights.

The first time liking such a wonderful person.

The first time giving up on a confession, accepting an unrequited love.

……

In a makeshift hut, there was only Lu Yiyao, the director, and a staff member present, with the camera fixed on a stand, capturing the guests’ most subtle expressions.

Lu Yiyao picked up a piece of paper with questions from the table in front of the director. There were only two questions: 1. Please share your most genuine feelings about this season. 2. Give a one-sentence comment about each companion.

Lu Yiyao sat in the chair, recalling each episode from the initial awkwardness to later harmony, his serious expression slowly turning into a smile.

He said, “The biggest feeling from this whole season is that interpersonal relationships are a fascinating thing. Usually, because of busy work, it’s hard to spend so much time with the same group of people. So often, interactions with people stay at first impressions. But first impressions are rarely accurate. As you get to know people better, you discover they’re not what you thought. Like our Drifting Team, from the initial awkwardness to now being like brothers, it’s a great feeling. I’m also grateful to the production team for letting me meet these companions.”

“One sentence for each person… Xia Xinran is like a little sun, always burning brightly, enjoying himself and warming others; Zhang Beichen, youthful and vibrant, I think he’s the most like a campus first love among us; Gu Jie, a tough guy, it’s a pity this season didn’t have real-life CS or tactical-style games; otherwise, he would have been unbeatable; Ran Lin…”

Lu Yiyao thought hard before looking up at the camera. “He’s someone who makes you feel comfortable being around. His care and consideration for friends are instinctive, a natural reaction without much thought, a rare and precious quality…”

Lu Yiyao praised him for three minutes in front of the camera.

Then he asked the director, “Is that enough?”

The director nodded in satisfaction and signaled the staff member to call in the next guest.

Gu Jie was the second to enter. The director patiently waited for him to read the question paper and reminded, “For the one-sentence comment, one sentence is enough.”

Gu Jie was bewildered.

He was struggling to come up with one sentence, let alone more!

……

When the group arrived at the Capital Airport, fans who had received the news had already crowded the exit. Lu Yiyao and Xia Xinran’s fans were the most numerous, followed by Zhang Beichen, then Gu Jie and Ran Lin. Gu Jie, having become more low-key after gaining fame and shifting towards movies, didn’t cultivate a fan base or chase trends, and Ran Lin simply didn’t have many devoted fans.

The five of them were scattered upon emerging, with Lu Yiyao and Xia Xinran looking like they were in for a long haul. Zhang Beichen wasn’t in a rush either, signing autographs in the crowd, while the security guards protecting him were so anxious they almost wanted to carry him away.

Ran Lin and Gu Jie, shoulder to shoulder, finally made it to the edge of the crowd. Most fans who got their autographs turned back to surround Lu Yiyao and Xia Xinran.

“The advantage of not being too popular is evident now,” Gu Jie said, out of breath but radiating genuine happiness.

Ran Lin glanced at the harried Lu Yiyao in the distance and suddenly felt a sense of déjà vu. “The first time Lu Yiyao mistook me for a fan was here.”

Gu Jie also glanced over and joked, “Back then, you were the only one holding a light board. It’s not his fault for mistaking you. Try it now. He probably can’t even see you in the crowd.”

Ran Lin quietly withdrew his gaze and smiled faintly. “Yeah.”

The two teams walked away, while three remained behind. The distance between them grew, one side increasingly crowded, the other increasingly quiet, like two different worlds.

<National First Love Drifting Story> had wrapped up.

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