Author: 颜凉雨 / Yan Liang Yu

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

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Chapter 41

In early autumn, the plum garden was verdantly filled with greenery with no flowers in bloom. Three young men entered through the Moon Gate, their figures slowly disappearing into the lush plum trees.

The scene shifted, and the trio stood in an open area of the garden. The youth in dark clothes, usually stern, now smiled warmly. The young man in moonlight white attire looked satisfied, while the nobleman in fine clothes frowned, looking around.

“Why choose this place?” Fang Xian, not content, looked around with a critical eye.

Tang Jingyu, unable to bear it, pulled him back. “A gentleman is like a plum blossom, standing proudly amidst frost and snow. What, isn’t that worthy of you, Young Master Fang?”

Fang Xian irritably shook off Tang Jingyu’s hand, looking mournfully at the greenery. “If it’s a plum garden, it should be in bloom. Now, we only see green branches, not a hint of proud, frost-resisting plum blossoms.”

Xu Chongfei, amused and helpless by their constant bickering, quickly took responsibility. “My fault, my fault. I should have chosen a winter day for this brotherhood ceremony.”

“Don’t mind him.” Tang Jingyu, used to Fang Xian’s quirks, believed such people shouldn’t be indulged. “I think this place is perfect. Chongfei, bring the incense burner.”

Xu Chongfei, well-prepared, quickly set up the incense burner and offerings, creating a makeshift altar on the open ground. Fang Xian’s criticisms were just for fun; he wouldn’t really wait until winter.

Under the open sky and kneeling on the earth, the three bowed their heads to the ground, forming a bond stronger than kin. Unaware of the future conspiracies, entanglements, and grudges that awaited, they were simply themselves, bonding with the brothers they resonated with the most.

“Pass!”

Director Chen shouted, and the set erupted in laughter.

Everyone was surprised that such an important scene passed in one take. Makeup artists rushed to touch up the actors’ foreheads, marred by kneeling, while other crew members busily prepared for the next scene.

Director Chen remained behind the monitor, but the assistant director secretly gave the three actors a thumbs up. They notice and feel a rush of excitement.

Acting can be exhilarating, especially when deeply immersed. Ran Lin had felt this before, but opportunities to experience it were rare. For Lu Yiyao, this feeling was new and thrilling.

From this day, the three were mainly involved in scenes together, mostly dialogue-driven. The main plot revolves around Tang Jingyu and Fang Xian, under Fang Huanzhi’s orders, coming to Liuma Town to investigate the whereabouts of the “Sword of Fallen Flowers” and eventually forming a brotherhood with Xu Chongfei, the young master of Hidden Sword Tower.

Other than that, some subsequent scenes were also filmed, but as the female lead hadn’t joined yet, these were minor transitional scenes.

Every evening, the trio rehearsed together, reminiscent of dormitory study sessions before exams. Thanks to their professionalism, the shooting progressed smoothly.

A busy week flew by, and on the evening of September 12^th, the female lead, Xi Ruohan, arrived at the hotel.

Xi Ruohan was slightly less popular than Lu Yiyao, but her fame and experience were no less. She rose to stardom as a leading actress when Lu Yiyao was just entering the entertainment industry.

From the beginning, Xi Ruohan was hailed for her natural acting ability. Now a woman, her aura had matured, and her acting skills had solidified. Despite rumors of diva behavior, she stood out as a naturally beautiful and talented actress in a sea of surgically enhanced faces.

Speaking through one’s work was an eternal truth in the industry. The drama that linked her and Lu Yiyao was <Yun Zhang>.

When the leads were announced, Xi Ruohan’s fans lamented the choice of Lu Yiyao, a popular but less skilled actor, instead of a male star matching their idol’s talent. At that time, Lu Yiyao’s <Ten Years of Rainy Nights> had just finished filming, and <Baihei Tree> wasn’t even completed. No one expected him to later be nominated for Best Actor. He took on the role of Yun Zhang amidst much skepticism.

The result was clear for all to see. <Yun Zhang> was a huge success, and Lu Yiyao, sharing the screen with Xi Ruohan, not only held his own but also shone brightly, different from his past roles. The audience praised the script, the actors, and the film’s quality.

Only Lu Yiyao knew that good acting was nurtured.

He learned a lot about acting from Xi Ruohan, a fact he was well aware of. Acting with her was different from Ran Lin. With Xi Ruohan, he was acutely aware of acting and observed her performance to learn and apply. However, with Ran Lin, he would forget the existence of Lu Yiyao and Ran Lin, as if they were meant to be Tang Jingyu and Fang Xian.

Xi Ruohan and Ran Lin were great partners, the former perhaps a bit too aggressive.

“How come you’re guarding like against a thief? I’m not going to eat you.” Xi Ruohan, carrying a pretty paper bag, stood at Lu Yiyao’s door. The host didn’t move after opening the door, so she hesitated to enter, frowning sadly.

Xi Ruohan looked thinner than before, enhancing her already delicate features. Dressed in comfortable casual wear, she seemed freshly arrived and not overly calculating.

“I’ll accept your gift.” Lu Yiyao extended his hand warmly, asking for the bag. “But I won’t invite you in; the room is too messy.”

Xi Ruohan narrowed her beautiful almond eyes, holding the gift but not handing it over. Lu Yiyao watched amusedly, unmoving.

He had experience dealing with Xi Ruohan and now could handle it with ease. Xi Ruohan, frustrated, shoved the gift bag into Lu Yiyao’s hands and stormed off to her room.

The top floor of the hotel was quiet, so her angry footsteps left a clear, muffled sound on the carpet.

Watching Xi Ruohan swipe her card and slam the door at the end of the hallway, Lu Yiyao felt relieved and closed his door.

Frankly, he didn’t dislike Xi Ruohan. She was talented and beautiful, but more importantly, she was serious and professional about acting. This alone scored high with Lu Yiyao. Moreover, she was straightforward; her pursuit of him almost caused a scandal with the paparazzi—knocking on his door at night and being turned away. For him, it was positive news, but for Xi Ruohan, even as a single woman, such news could be damaging. After all the fuss, only a few speculative gossip articles emerged, and they didn’t push hard, so Lu Yiyao’s attitude towards his fellow actress had always been polite and mild.

Inside the gift bag was a selection of exquisite Jiangnan pastries, along with a handcrafted mandarin duck comb. Xi Ruohan’s late arrival to the set was due to her busy schedule filming another major female lead role in a drama set in a town in Jiangnan. The story revolves around a family that has passed down the art of comb-making for generations. This tale is based on a real family, whose collateral branches still live in that town today. The thoughtful and detailed gift Xi Ruohan chose showed her meticulous care.

Sighing, Lu Yiyao repackaged the comb but didn’t put it back in the original paper bag. Instead, he switched it to an opaque makeup bag, making it look like a newly purchased cosmetic product. He then called over Li Tong, handing him the pastries and the makeup bag containing the comb.

“The pastries are for you to eat. Give this bag to Xi Ruohan’s assistant to pass on to her, and say it’s from me,” Lu Yiyao instructed clearly.

Li Tong was confused. “Where do I find Xi Ruohan’s assistant?”

Lu Yiyao gave him a sideways glance.

“Alright, I got it.” Li Tong stopped playing dumb but still had a question. “Lu Ge, weren’t you always… Have you changed your mind now?”

Lu Yiyao looked at his assistant with exasperation. “With your gossiping skills, it’s a pity you’re not a paparazzo.”

Li Tong took the hint and went downstairs with the gift bag. He certainly knew Xi Ruohan’s assistant. In fact, during the <Yun Zhang> period, she approached him first, trying to get information about Lu Yiyao.

Later, he realized that it was Xi Ruohan who was interested in Lu Yiyao. A handsome man and a beautiful woman—if they could be together, it would make a good match. But since Lu Yiyao showed no interest in Xi Ruohan, Li Tong didn’t really act as an undercover agent.

However, Xi Ruohan was persistent, so her assistant occasionally contacted him to probe Lu Yiyao’s intentions. Both working in the same industry, Li Tong understood her and maintained a cordial relationship without revealing any useful information.

Now that Xi Ruohan had just arrived, her assistant had already contacted him. He thought Lu Yiyao was unaware, but his boss had seen through everything without pointing it out.

With admiration for Lu Yiyao, Li Tong arranged to meet the assistant on the same floor and handed her the makeup bag as instructed. The assistant, aware of Xi Ruohan’s preparation of the gift, didn’t connect the makeup bag with the returned gift.

She assumed Lu Yiyao had finally reciprocated and excitedly ran upstairs to Xi Ruohan’s room, delivering the “gift of love.”

Lu Yiyao, listening at the door, timed his WeChat message perfectly—[The pastries were delicious 😊.]

Xi Ruohan’s frustrated scream echoed through the hallway, clearly having received the returned gift and WeChat message before even closing her door. Lu Yiyao exhaled, feeling returning the comb was a wise decision. Had it been a regular comb, he might have kept it, but a mandarin duck* comb… he didn’t want to give Xi Ruohan any false hope.

*Clarity: In China, mandarin ducks are believed to be lifelong couples and hence are regarded as a symbol of conjugal affection and fidelity. Such a gift would have too many undertones (whether intentional or not).

When Lu Yiyao initially saw Xi Ruohan’s name on the proposed cast list, he did have his concerns. However, on one hand, she was indeed a skilled and professional actress, and on the other, they hadn’t been in contact for a long time, leading him to optimistically believe that Xi Ruohan had given up on pursuing him.

After all, he had explicitly and implicitly rejected her advances many times before, and Xi Ruohan did seem to quiet down for a while.

Little did he know how tenacious and persistent she was, much like the character Zhao Buyao, the daughter of the Liuhua Palace’s master, whom she was set to portray in this role.

As the screams in the hallway gradually subsided, Lu Yiyao began to worry about their future scenes together. There were many scenes between Tang Jingyu and Zhao Buyao, including several intimate ones. It seemed that waiting for Xi Ruohan to lose interest in him would be a long and challenging task.

His phone suddenly rang, startling him. He thought it was Xi Ruohan calling to confront him, but it was Ran Lin, his die-hard fan.

“Hello?” Lu Yiyao didn’t realize it, but the moment he saw the caller ID, his worries about Xi Ruohan vanished, replaced by a warm, melting feeling.

“Are you resting?” Ran Lin asked.

“No. What’s up?” They didn’t have a rehearsal planned for the night since tomorrow’s scenes were mostly with the female lead.

Ran Lin, now more casual in his calls and messages with Lu Yiyao, got straight to the point. “Zhang Beichen has arrived and wants to invite us out for late-night snacks.”

Lu Yiyao then remembered seeing in a group chat that Zhang Beichen was coming to Hengdian for filming. He had seen it but hadn’t paid much attention.

Lu Yiyao’s feelings towards Zhang Beichen were lukewarm—not very close but not distant either. Their most familiar time was during the reality show, but after the show ended, they gradually lost contact. Even with occasional interactions in group chats, they maintained a polite distance.

Zhang Beichen must have sensed this, which was why he approached Ran Lin and not Lu Yiyao directly.

Thinking of this, Lu Yiyao curiously asked, “Did he invite both of us?”

Ran Lin, amused, replied, “What else? Oh, he only invited me, and then I dragged you along for a free meal.”

Lu Yiyao laughed but still playfully said, “If he invited both of us, why did he only contact you and not me?”

Ran Lin was exasperated. “Then I’ll have Zhang Beichen call you right now, saying you’re upset because he didn’t personally invite you, our proud God Lu.”

Lu Yiyao felt refreshed and satisfied amidst Ran Lin’s “I can’t stand you” tone.

Fifteen minutes later, Lu Yiyao and Ran Lin met at the hotel’s side entrance under a dark, windy night.

Ran Lin wore dark gray sweatpants and a navy blue hoodie, completely covering his face with the hood. Lu Yiyao was in black pants, a black T-shirt, a black cap, and a black mask, revealing only his eyes, which were also black.

Ran Lin couldn’t help but tease him. “Why didn’t you bring sunglasses? That would have been foolproof.”

Lu Yiyao shrugged, seriously explaining, “It’s too dark.”

Thus, two suspicious-looking young men stood under a streetlamp, trying to hail a taxi. After being ignored by several cautious drivers, one finally stopped.

Zhang Beichen’s hotel was close to theirs, and the restaurant wasn’t far either. A ten-minute taxi ride later, they arrived.

The restaurant was small but looked clean. Lu Yiyao and Ran Lin told the waiter their reserved private room number and were led inside. The waiter glanced at Ran Lin a few times, seemingly recognizing him but unable to place where from. As for Lu Yiyao, with only his eyes visible, identification was impossible.

However, encountering celebrities was a common occurrence for those working in Hengdian’s catering industry. The waiter, unable to recall Ran Lin’s identity, didn’t press the matter and simply brought them to their room before going to fetch tea.

Ran Lin was surprised that Zhang Beichen hadn’t arrived yet. After sitting down, he sent a WeChat message—[We’ve arrived.]

He looked up after sending the message to find Lu Yiyao staring at him curiously.

“What’s up?” Ran Lin asked, feeling a bit uncomfortable under the gaze, and instinctively checked himself for anything amiss.

“It’s just a bit strange,” Lu Yiyao said honestly. “I didn’t feel like you two were that close during the show, so it’s surprising he contacted you as soon as he got to Hengdian.”

Ran Lin, thinking Lu Yiyao was still in his “tsundere” mode, quickly reassured, “He invited both of us, okay?”

Lu Yiyao smiled and shook his head. “The invitation was just a formality. I know what my relationship with him is like.”

Ran Lin didn’t expect such directness from Lu Yiyao. His surprise gave way to a different feeling. If Lu Yiyao merely considered him a collaborative partner or a familiar colleague, there was no need for such openness.

In the industry, many relationships were superficial; even amidst intense behind-the-scenes competition, they had to maintain a courteous facade. Lu Yiyao had no need to openly share his true feelings about Zhang Beichen.

The fact that he did, and so naturally, suggested one thing—Lu Yiyao not only considered him a friend but a completely unguarded one. Wang Xi said Lu Yiyao was naïve and sweet. Ran Lin agreed only with the last part.

Lu Yiyao was neither naïve nor innocent; he understood the stakes and saw through the industry’s facade, but he was sincere with friends he valued. Even if the person wasn’t gay, Ran Lin thought, being friends with Lu Yiyao was his good fortune.

“You can’t avoid the topic by looking at me with such admiration.” Lu Yiyao tapped the table lightly, noticing Ran Lin’s dreamy gaze.

Ran Lin shook his head, snapping out of his reverie, and objectively explained his relationship with Zhang Beichen. “We’ve been in touch since the reality show ended. Our relationship is pretty good.”

Lu Yiyao frowned, recalling details of the reality show, and reserved judgment. Ran Lin didn’t want to delve too deep, fearing he might inadvertently mention Dubai and land in hot water. He quickly changed the subject. “I heard Xi Ruohan arrived today.”

The waiter arrived with tea at that moment. Lu Yiyao took a cup, blowing on it lightly. Once the waiter left, he casually mentioned, “She’s already arrived and came to greet me.”

Ran Lin, having seen their rumored relationship articles online, took Lu Yiyao’s casual demeanor as confirmation of their professional relationship. He commented, “That’s the treatment of a male lead.”

Lu Yiyao sipped his tea, setting down the cup with a light sigh. “Ah, it’s hard being so popular.”

Ran Lin, unimpressed, joked, “We should invite the media to see you now.”

Lu Yiyao immediately shook his head. “No way.”

Ran Lin felt somewhat reassured. “So you know you’re being arrogant?”

Lu Yiyao seriously replied, “I’m not photogenic without makeup.”

Ran Lin: “…”

Where the hell is Zhang Beichen?

Lu Yiyao didn’t hear Ran Lin’s internal scream, but he too hoped Zhang Beichen would arrive soon. For some reason, he didn’t want to discuss Xi Ruohan with Ran Lin, as he avoided lying to friends and feared being asked about Xi Ruohan’s pursuit of him.

Being pursued by a girl isn’t shameful; it could even be seen as proof of charm. But firstly, Lu Yiyao didn’t need such things to boast about his appeal, and secondly, it involved a girl’s reputation. Regardless of her feelings, he wouldn’t divulge more than necessary.

Perhaps hearing their calls, Zhang Beichen finally arrived—

“Sorry for being late. Today’s meal is on me. Order whatever you want. Don’t be shy.”

His voice arrived before he did. The tall, handsome young man entered the private room. Lu Yiyao and Ran Lin stood up—a sign of respect for the host, regardless of their respective statuses.

But as soon as they saw each other, all three paused. Zhang Beichen was wearing grey sweatpants and a deep blue hoodie, almost identical to Ran Lin’s outfit, looking like a uniform or couple’s attire at first glance.

What could have been a light, passable joke somehow led to a moment of awkward silence among the three.

Fortunately, it didn’t last long. Ran Lin broke the ice with a laugh. “Matching outfits aren’t scary. It’s only embarrassing if you’re the uglier one.”

Zhang Beichen didn’t find it awkward; his pause was more out of amusement.

“Who said it’s matching? This is called a couple’s outfit,” Zhang Beichen said naturally, so casually that it couldn’t be taken as anything but a joke.

But Ran Lin knew Zhang Beichen was just seizing the opportunity for a quick jab. With Lu Yiyao there, he couldn’t react too strongly and simply poured a cup of tea for Zhang, offering it seriously. “Here, have some tea.”

Zhang Beichen didn’t really have any ulterior motives. His invitation to Ran Lin and Lu Yiyao today was simply to foster good relations. With Ran Lin’s role as Fang Xian already confirmed, there was no point in dwelling on the past for Zhang Beichen; it was important to look forward. Moreover, he wasn’t directly replaced by Ran Lin. Although there might be some feelings of reluctance and jealousy, he couldn’t really blame Ran Lin for it. It was better to maintain their relationship, as having more friends meant having more paths open.

Moreover, he hadn’t expected Ran Lin to actually bring Lu Yiyao along. Indeed, the scent he had picked up on in Dubai wasn’t an illusion.

Did the two get together?

It didn’t seem so, at least from Lu Yiyao’s natural demeanor and gaze.

But as for Ran Lin…

“Did you invite us for supper or to read our fortune?” Ran Lin, both annoyed and amused, handed the menu to Zhang, who was still intently observing them.

Zhang Beichen regained his composure and confidently said, without even glancing at the menu, “I used to eat here all the time when I was filming in the area. I know what to order with my eyes closed.”

Ran Lin laughed. “Then let’s see you do it.”

Zhang Beichen, of course, didn’t actually close his eyes but ended up calling the waiter and smoothly listing several dishes.

Once the waiter left and they were alone in the private room, Zhang Beichen casually asked, “How’s filming been this past week? Tough?”

His question seemed directed at both friends, but his gaze was fixed on Lu Yiyao.

Lu Yiyao understood the implication and responded nonchalantly, “It’s been okay, mostly shooting dialogue scenes.”

Ran Lin chimed in with a bit of teasing. “Of course, he’s not struggling. In the drama, he doesn’t have any martial arts or inner force. All his character does is scheme and plot—a real mastermind.”

Lu Yiyao disagreed. “How can you call it scheming? It’s just taking revenge and settling scores, a common practice since ancient times.”

Ran Lin didn’t bother to argue and turned to Zhang Beichen, saying seriously, “In the drama, I’m the one who gets outsmarted by him.”

Zhang Beichen smiled lightly. “I know.”

Ran Lin suddenly realized he had misspoken.

Of course, Zhang Beichen knew—he had auditioned for the role of Fang Xian… Ran Lin, you fool!

“If you want to praise me, just say it. No need to beat around the bush,” Zhang Beichen joked, helping Ran Lin out of the awkward situation and casually ruffled his hair.

They were seated around a round table, which normally would mean they sat some distance apart. However, Lu Yiyao and Ran Lin had casually taken seats next to each other with an empty chair between them, and Zhang Beichen had directly taken the spot next to Ran Lin, close enough to easily ruffle his hair without it seeming out of place.

Lu Yiyao subtly frowned.

It wasn’t about Ran Lin’s hair being touched; he wasn’t Ran Lin’s guardian after all. But Zhang Beichen’s display of affection seemed out of place for mere friends, more flirtatious and clingy, making him uncomfortable.

Especially since Ran Lin clearly didn’t like it. He didn’t move away, but his smile wasn’t natural.

Zhang Beichen only ruffled Ran Lin’s hair briefly, but his gaze lingered between the two, finding the situation more interesting than he had anticipated. This meal was proving to be worth it.

The waiter began serving the dishes. They were mostly snacks, small in quantity but exquisite, fitting for a late-night meal. Lu Yiyao didn’t seem to have much appetite. Despite Ran Lin’s genuine praise for the dishes, Lu Yiyao only picked at his food, spending most of the time listening to him and Ran Lin chat.

Zhang Beichen’s intention wasn’t just to chat with Ran Lin; he wanted to connect with Lu Yiyao. But that was his original plan, and now he was more curious about something else…

“Teacher Lu.” Zhang Beichen suddenly called out to Lu Yiyao, a habit from their reality show days which made them feel closer.

Lu Yiyao raised an eyebrow. “Hm?”

Zhang Beichen tilted his head, asking uncertainly, “The female lead in your drama is… Xi Ruohan?”

Lu Yiyao sensed a trap and didn’t respond immediately.

Ran Lin, not understanding the silence, thought Lu Yiyao didn’t want to talk to Zhang Beichen and answered to avoid awkwardness, “Yes, it’s Xi Ruohan.”

“I remember she worked with Teacher Lu before in <Yun Zhang>, right?” Zhang Beichen continued.

Ran Lin nodded promptly. “Yes, she’s a great actress and very beautiful.”

He had watched <Yun Zhang> even before he developed feelings for Lu Yiyao and revisited it twice after. The drama’s story and quality were genuinely good, independent of his feelings for Lu Yiyao, leading to a positive impression of the female lead.

Seeing Lu Yiyao not responding and Ran Lin being so proactive, Zhang Beichen turned to Ran Lin. “I also heard… she pursued Teacher Lu?”

Ran Lin was momentarily stunned.

Zhang Beichen watched him calmly, not seeming in a rush for an answer. Ran Lin blinked slowly, coming back to his senses, and looked at Lu Yiyao unconsciously.

Lu Yiyao sighed inwardly, further solidifying his lack of rapport with Zhang Beichen. But now, with one asking and the other waiting, he had to acknowledge with a brief smile that barely lingered. “Yes, she did.”

Ran Lin almost blurted out, “Why didn’t you mention this when we were just talking about Xi Ruohan?” but stopped himself in time.

He had no right to demand Lu Yiyao to share such things. Even as friends, there was no obligation to disclose everything.

“Everyone says it’s easy for a woman to pursue a man, so how come you didn’t take a liking to her, Teacher Lu?” Zhang Beichen still seemed genuinely curious.

Ran Lin quickly looked down and took a sip of tea to avoid the ongoing conversation. The tea was light but tasted bitter in his stomach.

Zhang Beichen glanced subtly at Ran Lin, noting his subtle emotional fluctuations. Then he looked back at Lu Yiyao, whose face no longer showed discomfort but rather a colder, more pronounced smile. “It’s just a matter of fate, I guess. If you find her attractive, I can introduce you.”

Zhang Beichen’s expression soured slightly. “We know each other.”

Despite the difference in their status, Zhang Beichen’s popularity wasn’t inferior to Xi Ruohan’s. They had crossed paths at various events, even without direct collaboration. Lu Yiyao’s suggestion seemed a bit disdainful, almost like a subtle jab, which he regretted a bit after saying it.

After all, Zhang Beichen was just being nosy, a trait that, while annoying, wasn’t a major fault.

“Today I’ve been honest with you both. If any rumors come out, I’ll know who to blame,” Lu Yiyao suddenly joked, his face and eyes alight with humor.

Zhang Beichen’s tension eased.

If he had annoyed Lu Yiyao just to satisfy his trivial curiosity, it would have been a poor trade. Things were just right now—he hadn’t really offended Lu Yiyao and had confirmed Ran Lin’s feelings for him.

Although Lu Yiyao hadn’t realized it yet, there was always time. As a melon eater and colleague, Zhang Beichen always enjoyed watching drama unfold.

“I’ll keep it a secret.” Ran Lin’s voice, still full of energy but somewhat forced, rang in his ears.

Zhang Beichen inwardly understood, raising his glass to Lu Yiyao with a loud voice. “Here’s to you, and if anything leaks, it’s on me.”

He then downed his drink.

Lu Yiyao didn’t really care whether they spread rumors or not; he was just giving Zhang Beichen a way out, so he cooperatively raised his glass, smoothly transitioning the late-night meal into the next inconsequential topic.

They dined until half past eleven. Lu Yiyao was the first to suggest leaving, citing an early filming schedule the next day as a valid reason.

Zhang Beichen promptly settled the bill without any intention of prolonging the evening. The dinner had achieved more than its intended purpose—not only did it help build relationships, but it also led to an unexpected discovery, which was enough for him.

Ran Lin, meanwhile, was still pondering over Xi Ruohan. He wasn’t sure why he was so preoccupied with the actress, who had pursued Lu Yiyao but hadn’t succeeded. But he couldn’t help it; his mind was filled with images of Xi Ruohan from <Yun Zhang> and her scenes with Lu Yiyao.

Ran Lin realized he was still bothered that Lu Yiyao hadn’t mentioned her pursuit. It didn’t matter whether Lu Yiyao should have told him or not.

The sudden realization that someone you thought you had connected with was keeping things from you was still a bit painful. But then again, he hadn’t told Lu Yiyao that he was gay either. Pretending to be just a friend while earnestly treating someone, when compared, he seemed more at fault.

“What’s wrong?” In the taxi, Lu Yiyao finally found the opportunity to speak with Ran Lin alone.

“What do you mean?” Ran Lin asked, puzzled.

Lu Yiyao sighed. “You haven’t said a word since we left the restaurant.”

Ran Lin realized he might have been overly gloomy and quickly made up an excuse. “Maybe I’m just tired from eating too much at the late-night meal.”

Lu Yiyao was incredulous. “How strenuously can one eat?”

Ran Lin chuckled and then looked out the window.

Theoretically, this was a signal that he wanted some quiet, but Lu Yiyao didn’t pick up on it because he was preoccupied with a question, “Did you find Zhang… uh, him, a bit strange?”

Ran Lin glanced at the taxi driver, who was focused on driving with the window down, the radio on, and completely oblivious to their conversation. Still, it was better to be cautious.

Without mentioning Zhang Beichen’s name, he asked, “What do you mean?”

After a moment’s thought, Lu Yiyao said softly, “I think he might be… gay.”

He said the last word quietly, but Ran Lin heard it clearly. He couldn’t hide his shock and disbelief as he looked at Lu Yiyao.

Lu Yiyao thought Ran Lin’s shock was about the revelation itself and further explained his reasoning. “I’ve met many in England, and I have a few friends like that, so I’m usually not wrong in my judgment.”

Ran Lin swallowed hard, expressing his deep skepticism about this. But what concerned him more was, “Do you… have an issue with it?”

“Of course not,” Lu Yiyao replied without hesitation. “It’s a personal choice, and I fully respect that.”

A still confused Ran Lin hurriedly nodded in agreement. “Yeah, I respect it too.”

Lu Yiyao gave him a look of exasperation. Ran Lin, feeling cornered yet defiant, asked, “Since we both respect it, is there any other issue?”

Lu Yiyao looked at him with a mix of frustration and disappointment, lowering his voice. “There’s no one more oblivious than you. He’s interested in you. Didn’t you notice?”

Ran Lin was stunned for the second time. His mind went blank. Lu Yiyao had figured it out? But then, if Lu Yiyao could even discern Zhang Beichen’s interest in him, then…

“I’m telling you this so you can be more cautious,” Lu Yiyao said earnestly after taking a deep breath. “Men are generally insensitive to these things. Don’t be naive and let yourself be taken advantage of.”

Looking at Lu Yiyao, Ran Lin felt a surge of emotions. Finally, he firmly grasped Lu Yiyao’s hand, saying sincerely, “Let’s both be mindful.”

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Kinky Thoughts:

Correction, it’s not a “personal choice”. Though I get where you’re coming from Lu Yiyao.

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