Author: 颜凉雨 / Yan Liang Yu

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

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Chapter 46

Today, Lu Yiyao was returning to Group A.

Ran Lin had been restless since he woke up, repeatedly rehearsing in his mind how he would greet Lu Yiyao, what he would say, and whether or not he should bring up the incident of being secretly photographed. Although the controversy had subsided online, they had never discussed it between themselves.

Even as he got into the car to the set, Ran Lin had gone through over a dozen scenarios of their “reunion” in his mind. Yet, when he arrived on set and started makeup and styling, Lu Yiyao still hadn’t shown up.

Ran Lin then remembered that the scenes scheduled for filming today were between him and Tang Xiaoyu. Lu Yiyao and Xia Ruohan’s parts were to be shot later, allowing the male and female leads to rest a bit longer and arrive at the set later.

Tang Xiaoyu yawned again. Ever since makeup and styling began, his yawns hadn’t stopped.

Ran Lin couldn’t help but smile—no matter how bad his mood, seeing this lively character always made him forget his troubles, focusing only on their playful banter.

“Did you turn into a thief again last night?”

Tang Xiaoyu, struggling to keep his sleepy eyes open, replied amidst his yawns, which shimmered in the morning light. “It’s not my fault that I have too much energy.”

“……” Ran Lin decided to retract his previous thought. Forget about shimmering, this was pollution!

Understanding Ran Lin’s quick realization and seeing the makeup artist’s confused expression, Tang Xiaoyu felt quite satisfied.

Finding a co-star who was both compatible on set and had a similar wavelength was rare. Someone like Ran Lin, who was also a trustworthy friend, was even more precious.

Tang Xiaoyu, not one to keep things to himself, especially now that he was brimming with joy and saw the subtle sadness in his partner’s eyes, felt it was his duty to offer some solace.

As soon as the makeup artist stepped out, Tang Xiaoyu spoke up. “Lu Yiyao is coming today.”

Ran Lin, not understanding why Tang Xiaoyu suddenly mentioned Lu Yiyao, calmly replied, “Yes, I know.”

Tang Xiaoyu said, “You two haven’t talked much these past days, have you?”

Ran Lin instinctively explained, “He has been with Group B…”

“Come on, no need to hide things from me,” Tang Xiaoyu interrupted. “No interaction, no shared scenes, no meals together—even a fool would know there’s awkwardness between you two.”

Now that Tang Xiaoyu had brought it up so openly, it felt easier to discuss.

“I don’t want it to be like this…” Ran Lin sighed deeply.

“I understand.” Tang Xiaoyu stretched his arm to pat Ran Lin’s shoulder, almost falling out of his chair in the process.

Ran Lin couldn’t help but laugh. “I got your warmth. No need for the gesture.”

Tang Xiaoyu, ignoring Ran Lin’s response, retracted his arm and spoke from his own experience: “Being an artist like us, sometimes things are beyond our control. I had a friend before, a really good person, but he tended to speak too casually, always giving others a chance to pick at his words. His reputation was a mix of good and bad. Every time I posted a photo with him, a lot of fans would criticize. Later, when we worked together on a TV drama and it didn’t do well in ratings, our fans started fighting each other, blaming the other side for dragging down the show. The arguments got really intense, with a lot of back-and-forth…”

“Did you two end up parting ways?”

“Not exactly. We still interact on Weibo and talk normally when we meet…” Tang Xiaoyu looked at Ran Lin, his smile tinged with regret. “But the relationship has cooled.”

Ran Lin didn’t know who Tang Xiaoyu was talking about but felt an inexplicable sadness. “Have you thought about having a serious talk with him?”

“I didn’t just think about it; I tried, but he always declined.” Tang Xiaoyu sighed, forcing a smile.

Ran Lin disliked seeing Tang Xiaoyu this way; he preferred the lively fish.

“If my fans and your fans start arguing,” Ran Lin said firmly. “I definitely won’t abandon you.”

Tang Xiaoyu looked at him for a long moment, nodding vigorously. “Then please gain more fans quickly. Otherwise, it would just be a one-sided massacre right now.”

Ran Lin squinted, considering the feasibility of ending their friendship.

Tang Xiaoyu laughed again.

Relationships come and go, and while remembering them can be painful, having done one’s best, acceptance comes naturally. Life must move forward.

“Good morning.” A bright voice suddenly came from the doorway.

Both turned around to see Lu Yiyao standing in the sunlight, smiling warmly and energetically.

“Morning.” Tang Xiaoyu stood up to greet him.

Ran Lin got up a bit slower, also uttering a “morning.”

Lu Yiyao’s demeanor was just as relaxed and friendly as before the incident, without any hint of change. His invitation was as casual as ever—

“Let’s have dinner together after work.”

Tang Xiaoyu felt as if time had rewound.

Ran Lin was completely baffled, repeating, “Dinner?”

Lu Yiyao, accommodating as always, offered an alternative. “If not dinner, we could go to the gym. The hotel gym is quite empty at night.”

“Why would we go to the gym after a tiring day?” Ran Lin asked, perplexed.

Tang Xiaoyu, curious, raised his hand. “Why do you know about the hotel gym’s situation at night?”

Lu Yiyao shrugged. “To maintain high popularity, you have to work harder than others.”

Ran Lin and Tang Xiaoyu, the “others”, exchanged glances, contemplating a group beatdown of the male lead.

“Jokes aside.” Lu Yiyao got back to the point. “Just a meal to catch up.”

Tang Xiaoyu realized he had nothing to discuss with Lu Yiyao and had plans for the evening. But he was curious about what Lu Yiyao had to say to Ran Lin after these three days. Missing such a chance to observe up close seemed regrettable. Yet, there was a lovely evening waiting…

“Sorry, I have plans tonight.”

Tang Xiaoyu, without hesitation, chose his girlfriend.

Ran Lin inwardly sighed in relief. He truly didn’t know what to talk about with Lu Yiyao. He knew he should act naturally, but his mind was too cluttered these days…

Lu Yiyao: “It’s fine. Then I’ll just have dinner with Ran Lin and chat. It won’t be an issue.”

Tang Xiaoyu: “…At least pretend to be polite and show some regret for two seconds.”

Lu Yiyao’s smile was sincere and open.

Ran Lin, however, was somewhat surprised. Lu Yiyao hadn’t contacted him for three days, which seemed to indicate he was bothered by the “scandal”. Yet now, he seemed more than happy to have dinner alone with him, a stark contrast to his previous behavior.

Lu Yiyao misunderstood Ran Lin’s hesitation. “You don’t need to worry too much. We just got off the hot search. Eating together now is a sign of our clear conscience. If we start avoiding each other, it will seem like we’re guilty.”

Tang Xiaoyu nodded in agreement. “Logical reasoning, can’t argue with that.”

Ran Lin blinked, suddenly feeling that all his worries over the past three days were unnecessary.

His concerns all stemmed from Lu Yiyao, but it seemed like Teacher Lu had no issues at all. He just spent three days with Group B, and now he was back, even more refreshed than before.

“Okay.” Ran Lin stopped overthinking and agreed readily, then added somewhat mischievously, “I’ll choose the restaurant.”

Lu Yiyao cooperatively nodded. “I’ll take care of the bill.”

Tang Xiaoyu watched in amazement, thinking he needed to learn from Ran Lin about “how to make a popular male star eagerly befriend you.”

As the time to start filming approached, Lu Yiyao went to get ready for his makeup and styling, while Tang Xiaoyu and Ran Lin headed to the set.

Once they were alone, Tang Xiaoyu spoke in a low voice to Ran Lin. “I take back what I said earlier.”

Ran Lin was confused. “What do you mean?”

Tang Xiaoyu: “Everything I said. About fans fighting, awkward relationships, fragile friendships… just pretend you never heard any of it before Lu Yiyao came.”

Ran Lin: “Why?”

Tang Xiaoyu: “Because I’ve realized that the conventional rules of interpersonal relationships in our industry don’t apply to you two.”

Ran Lin felt a bit flattered. “Are we special?”

Tang Xiaoyu: “No, you’re just weird.”

Ran Lin: “…”

As the clapperboard snapped, all the real-world troubles vanished instantly, and Ran Lin and Tang Xiaoyu became Fang Xian and Xu Chongfei again, unraveling the mysteries of a turbulent world.

When Lu Yiyao, already in costume, arrived on set, Xia Ruohan had been there for a few minutes, sitting quietly, watching Ran Lin and Tang Xiaoyu filming in another courtyard from a distance.

Unable to hear the dialogue, she could only see the figures of actors and crew members bustling about.

“Good morning.” Lu Yiyao hadn’t seen Xia Ruohan in three days and thought to greet her proactively, rather than waiting to be pestered.

Unexpectedly, Xia Ruohan’s usual enthusiasm was replaced by a simple reply. “Morning.”

After a pause, as if realizing something, she added, “Well, not so early anymore. It’s almost ten.”

Lu Yiyao smiled, feeling a rare sense of ease in her presence.

But just as he was about to leave, Xia Ruohan stopped him. “I need to talk to you.”

Lu Yiyao hesitated, considering the unsuitability of the setting for a private conversation. But before he could decide, Xia Ruohan’s assistant brought over another chair, indicating for him to sit.

Figuring she wouldn’t dare to do anything drastic in public, Lu Yiyao reluctantly sat down.

As soon as he settled, Xia Ruohan spoke in a low voice. “You don’t have to avoid me anymore. I’ve given up.”

Those words, among all the pleasant things Lu Yiyao had heard in his life, ranked in the top three.

In that moment, everything seemed brighter.

He wanted to know who had enlightened her or who had taken his place in her “affections”, but he feared asking too much might make her change her mind. So, despite his curiosity, he restrained himself and replied calmly, “That’s good, that’s good.”

Xia Ruohan looked at him quietly, feeling a sense of peace.

Strangely, after being infatuated with Lu Yiyao for so long, it only took her three days to separate “Lu Yiyao” from “Yun Zhang” in her heart.

Now, looking at Lu Yiyao, she felt nothing, just like when she saw Ran Lin without makeup—no ripples in her heart.

The man who had haunted her dreams remained rooted in her heart, but he had nothing to do with the Lu Yiyao before her.

“If you keep staring at me like that, I’ll have to run,” Lu Yiyao joked, feeling uneasy under her gaze.

Xia Ruohan, slightly embarrassed, turned away and looked at the courtyard outside the door, her expression gradually calming down. She mused, “If I were Zhao Buyao, I wouldn’t fall for Tang Jingyu.”

Lu Yiyao, following her gaze to where Ran Lin, portraying Fang Xian, stood, asked with interest, “Do you prefer Fang Xian?”

Xia Ruohan nodded seriously. “Fang Xian is great. He’s straightforward about his feelings, and even after being rejected, he doesn’t harbor hatred but wishes for Zhao Buyao’s happiness. Even when deceived by Tang Jingyu, he still risks his life to save her when she’s trapped in the Liuhua Palace. How could you deceive and use someone so good? Doesn’t your conscience hurt?”

Xia Ruohan’s indignation grew as she spoke, turning abruptly to glare at him.

Lu Yiyao chuckled, raising his hands in surrender. “I can’t take the blame for that; you should send your complaints to the scriptwriter.”

Xia Ruohan paused, realizing she had momentarily immersed herself in the story again.

Lu Yiyao was used to this from their last collaboration—she would often get lost in the plot while discussing it. He actually envied her ability to immerse herself so fully.

“Speaking of which,” Xia Ruohan said, returning to reality, “I liked Xu Chongfei the most when I read the script, but now, without any changes to the script, my favorite character has inexplicably become Fang Xian.”

“It’s not inexplicable,” Lu Yiyao said, glancing at Ran Lin’s figure in the distance. “Ran Lin’s performance is good.”

Xia Ruohan agreed. “Yes. And I think it’s amazing how he transforms into a completely different person when filming starts, suddenly becoming very handsome.”

Lu Yiyao smiled, about to respond, when Xia Ruohan added, “Don’t tell Ran Lin what I’ve said.”

Lu Yiyao, puzzled. “Why not?”

Xia Ruohan: “I’m afraid it’ll go to his head.”

Lu Yiyao: “…Okay.”

The male and female leads of <Sword of Fallen Flowers> were thoroughly invested in protecting Ran Lin’s path as an actor.

……

On a busy and tense day, Lu Yiyao and Ran Lin hardly had any chance to talk until the end of the shoot. Lu Yiyao caught up with Ran Lin, who was about to return to the hotel, and said, “Don’t go back yet. Let’s go have dinner.”

Ran Lin could sense Lu Yiyao’s urgency but couldn’t fathom the reason.

It wasn’t until they sat down in a private room of a high-end, secluded restaurant and ordered food that Lu Yiyao locked the door temporarily, showed Ran Lin the photos on his phone, and played the recordings.

Lu Yiyao always preferred to be direct and to the point in important matters. He disliked beating around the bush, which was why he always found it frustrating whenever a story’s protagonist was about to reveal the truth but got interrupted, leading to various misunderstandings and complications.

After seeing and hearing everything, Ran Lin understood it all.

But he didn’t remove his headphones right away, staring blankly at the phone screen.

Lu Yiyao waited for a moment, then gently helped him remove the headphones, asking, “Are you okay?”

Ran Lin came back to his senses, handed the phone back, and managed a weak smile. “I’m fine.”

Lu Yiyao didn’t believe him.

For the first time, he somewhat regretted his blunt approach.

Ran Lin absentmindedly picked up a cup of tea and was about to drink when Lu Yiyao suddenly grabbed his wrist. The tea spilled onto his pants, the hot droplets seeping through the fabric.

“The tea is freshly brewed. It could scald you…” Lu Yiyao, trying to sound gentle and caring, took the cup from Ran Lin’s distracted grasp and put it back on the table.

Ran Lin let him take the cup away, looking down, lost in thought.

Lu Yiyao sighed and began to put various dishes into Ran Lin’s bowl until it was piled high, then nodded satisfactorily. “Eat first, and we’ll discuss after.”

Ran Lin finally looked up. “Why didn’t you wait until after we ate to let me hear the recording?”

Lu Yiyao sighed with a look of “you’re still too naïve” on his face. “Too many things can happen during the night. What if we get called back to the set midway through dinner? What if Zhang Beichen calls you? What if the paparazzi barge in…”

“I was wrong,” Ran Lin admitted. “I didn’t think it through.”

Lu Yiyao felt reassured. “I appreciate your understanding.”

Ran Lin smiled wryly but thinking of what he had just seen and heard, his smile faded quickly.

After a deep breath, Ran Lin finally opened up to Lu Yiyao. “I’m a bit upset.”

Once the first sentence is spoken, the rest of the emotions unfold.

“I suspected something before…” Ran Lin paused, struggling to find the right words.

He wasn’t devastated, just feeling choked up with a mix of sadness, disappointment, and other gloomy emotions.

Lu Yiyao understood. “What you think may not be what others think.”

Ran Lin looked into Lu Yiyao’s eyes, still holding a sliver of hope. “At least he could have called me.”

Lu Yiyao asked plainly, “Did he call you?”

Ran Lin’s eyes dimmed, and after a long pause, he asked, “Would you have called me?”

Lu Yiyao disliked hypotheticals and shook his head. “If it were me, I wouldn’t have done such a thing in the first place.”

Ran Lin: “What if you did it impulsively?”

Lu Yiyao: “I would apologize profusely and admit my mistake. A phone call isn’t enough.”

Ran Lin: “……”

Lu Yiyao: “Why are you laughing?”

Ran Lin: “You’re crazy.”

Lu Yiyao felt bemused, sensing his heartfelt efforts had hit a snag, but seeing a smile on Ran Lin’s face made it worthwhile.

Ran Lin often felt Lu Yiyao belonged to a different era. This person should wear a long robe and recite the Four Books and Five Classics.

“What do you plan to do?” Ran Lin asked after a deep breath.

Lu Yiyao realized this was a classic question, and so his answer was standard. “Not much. I told you just so you’d be cautious in the future.”

Ran Lin: “Don’t worry. I will be.”

…Can’t you follow the outline!

Ran Lin, seeing Lu Yiyao’s expression, asked uncertainly, “Isn’t that what you wanted me to do? To be cautious? Is there anything else?”

Lu Yiyao smiled at his friend. “No, nothing else.”

He couldn’t very well say he was frustrated because Ran Lin’s quick agreement didn’t give him a chance to share his prepared life philosophies.

Ran Lin gave Lu Yiyao a puzzled look but didn’t press further.

He took out his phone, opened a chat group, and silently stared at the members’ icons.

Lu Yiyao leaned in to look and suddenly commented, “The group name isn’t great.”

Ran Lin understood—the uprising of Chen Sheng and Wu Guang ultimately ended in failure and division.

A knock on the door interrupted them.

Lu Yiyao was startled and put away his phone, getting up to open the door. It turned out to be a waiter bringing a complimentary dish for spending a certain amount.

The waiter’s arrival broke the heavy atmosphere in the room. Once he left, Ran Lin turned off his phone and put it back in his pocket.

Lu Yiyao raised an eyebrow. “I thought you would call him.”

Ran Lin: “Would you have stopped me?”

Lu Yiyao: “Yes.”

Ran Lin: “Do you think I’m naive?”

Lu Yiyao: “No, that’s too kind a term. It would be foolish.”

Ran Lin: “……”

Lu Yiyao, watching Ran Lin’s frustrated yet helpless reaction, finally felt a bit of joy in the heavy dinner.

Ran Lin knew Lu Yiyao was doing it on purpose. In the end, he helplessly rolled his eyes at him and finally started eating.

Lu Yiyao’s concerns were eased.

Ran Lin was calmer and more insightful than he had imagined.

It wasn’t like he wasn’t angry or hurt—just too understanding of the industry. Like Fang Xian in the drama, who understood why Tang Jingyu did what he did despite knowing his father was the culprit behind the Tang Clan’s tragedy.

But Tang Jingyu, like Zhang Beichen, received the same treatment—understood but unforgiven.

The only difference was that Fang Xian took a more drastic approach, while Ran Lin kept his feelings buried deep inside. If Zhang Beichen called now to explain, would Ran Lin forgive him? Lu Yiyao didn’t know because that ‘if’ didn’t happen.

Suddenly, Ran Lin asked, “When did you find out about this?”

Lu Yiyao looked up at Ran Lin and answered truthfully, “Yesterday.”

Ran Lin frowned, realizing he had overlooked an important question. “How did you get the photo and the recording?”

Lu Yiyao replied, “I have my ways.”

Ran Lin narrowed his eyes.

Lu Yiyao smiled candidly.

Ran Lin was suddenly puzzled. A question had been lingering since Lu Yiyao showed the photo and recording, but he was confused just now and didn’t bother to ask. “Aren’t you angry?”

After thinking for a moment, Lu Yiyao said, “I was very angry when it first happened, but by the time I knew the truth… not so much. Maybe I was already over it.”

Ran Lin looked at him intently. “What about feeling sad?”

Lu Yiyao pondered before slowly shaking his head.

Ran Lin was about to speak, but Lu Yiyao preempted him. “If it were you who did this, I would be very angry and sad.”

Ran Lin was taken aback, not sure why, and was afraid to hear more.

But Lu Yiyao was waiting for a response. “Aren’t you going to ask why?”

Ran Lin was in agony, clenched his teeth tightly, and silently reminded himself that impulsiveness is the devil.

“Alright, I’ll tell you.” Without waiting for a question, Teacher Lu answered himself. “Because you, Ran Lin, are my, Li Yiyao’s, friend. It doesn’t matter what tier either of us is in, or whether we are artists or not. Even if one of us was a taxi driver and the other a traffic officer, if you gave me a ticket, I would still be very upset.” 

“But… issuing a ticket for a traffic violation is justified.”

“…It’s just a metaphor!”

Ran Lin watched Lu Yiyao’s serious expression and felt as if his heart was filled with sweetness, melting away the bitterness.

Lu Yiyao then said, “Besides Zhang Beichen’s issue, I also wanted to talk about us today.”

Ran Lin was sipping soup when he heard this and dropped his spoon back into the bowl with a clink.

Lu Yiyao was puzzled. “I’m not going to eat you. Why such a reaction?”

Ran Lin’s mind was filled with thoughts of being “eaten”, feeling he might go insane.

Lu Yiyao, oblivious to Ran Lin’s thoughts, continued, “I don’t have many close friends in the industry. You’re the first, so I hadn’t encountered these problems before and took some time to analyze and gather information…”

Ran Lin braced himself to hear a lecture on the nuances of friendships in the entertainment industry.

Unexpectedly, Lu Yiyao asked, “If I become embroiled in scandals tomorrow, fall from grace, lose all fans, and no one wants to work with me, would you still consider me a friend?”

Ran Lin was startled by the bleak scenario. “Of course. How could I kick you when you’re down?”

Lu Yiyao sighed. “I’m not looking for sympathy.”

Confused, Ran Lin said, “Just say what you want to say. Questioning might not suit you.”

Lu Yiyao, resigned, got straight to the point. “What I’m saying is, I consider you a friend regardless of your popularity or line. So, do you only consider me a friend because I’m famous?”

Without hesitation, Ran Lin replied, “Of course not. There are many more famous than you.”

“Thank you.” Lu Yiyao breathed deeply, feeling calmer, then continued, “So, don’t worry about public opinion or what fans say. Our life is ours, and so are our friends. We don’t need others’ understanding or explanations, being comfortable with each other is what matters.”

Ran Lin stared at Lu Yiyao, beginning to grasp his meaning, feeling turmoil in his heart.

Feeling something is one thing, but expressing it is another. Ran Lin hadn’t expected Lu Yiyao to be so candid.

Discussions about popularity and fans’ criticisms were perhaps the most sensitive topics between them, or maybe among all artist friends.

But with Lu Yiyao, nothing was off-limits. There were no grudges or hidden issues. Everything was out in the open, straightforward, and refreshing.

Ran Lin suddenly remembered what Tang Xiaoyu had said earlier that day. “This morning, I was talking to Tang Xiaoyu. He said that being an artist sometimes means being controlled by external circumstances, even affecting relationships between artists. Even close artist friends could grow apart due to factors beyond their control…”

“There are no external factors. All external factors work through internal reasons,” Lu Yiyao said, pointing to his heart. “The ultimate reason is always here.”

Thump, thump…

Ran Lin looked at where Lu Yiyao was pointing but heard his own heart beating.

Loud as a drum.

He suddenly felt unworthy of Lu Yiyao’s honesty.

Friendship is about mutual understanding and sincerity, yet he was harboring different feelings while wearing the guise of “friendship”.

“Do you think I’m very handsome?” Lu Yiyao asked jokingly, watching Ran Lin’s dazed expression. “Are you falling for me?”

Ran Lin involuntarily nodded.

Lu Yiyao felt a strange sensation. Before he could examine it further, he suddenly heard Ran Lin say—

“I don’t just see you as a friend.”

Lu Yiyao was stunned and confused. “Then, as what?”

Ran Lin swallowed hard, suddenly losing his courage to continue.

Lu Yiyao’s brows furrowed, sensing something unusual in Ran Lin’s gaze.

Ran Lin, struggling to breathe under his gaze, finally came up with a response. “…As a very good friend!”

Lu Yiyao pursed his lips in thought, unsure whether he was overthinking or if something was indeed odd.

Ran Lin, cursing his own cowardice, breathed a sigh of relief and began to serve Lu Yiyao food, filling his plate more than his own. “Hurry up. It’s getting cold.”

Lu Yiyao slowly narrowed his eyes, finding his friend’s attentiveness suspicious.

This strange feeling lingered all the way back to the hotel elevator. Ran Lin could feel Lu Yiyao’s confusion and wished he could drown his foolish self in a teacup.

As the elevator reached their floor with a ding, Ran Lin had never found the sound so pleasant.

“Blame Gu Jie for the unlucky name of the WeChat group,” Ran Lin said as he stepped out, leaving those words behind.

Even someone as straightforward as Lu Yiyao sensed the awkwardness and discomfort.

Watching the elevator doors close, Lu Yiyao felt as if another door in his mind was slowly opening.

Meanwhile, Gu Jie, filming in Dalian, sneezed unexpectedly during a scene, resulting in an NG.

Back in Hengdian, Li Tong received a summons from Lu Yiyao.

But after his boss summoned him, he didn’t say anything. He just looked at him, hesitant to speak, as if he was having a fierce ideological struggle in his thoughts.

Li Tong, feeling uneasy under his boss’s gaze, finally spoke up. “Lu Ge, just ask. Whether it’s about million-followers on Weibo or acting, I’m ready for anything!”

Lu Yiyao appreciated his assistant’s professionalism but, after much thought, decided to let him go. “Never mind, you can go back.”

Li Tong left with curiosity and disappointment, suspecting his boss had ventured into a new territory of questions but didn’t trust him enough yet.

After sending off his assistant filled with curiosity and regret, Lu Yiyao messaged Huo Yuntao on WeChat:

[Are you there? I need some advice¹.]

Huo Yuntao’s quick but unfriendly reply came: [If you keep using such archaic language¹, I really won’t be here.]

¹Clarity: Lu Yiyao uses (有事请教) which basically means, “Can I ask you for advice?” but it’s a more polite and formal way of saying it. Given that these two are close friends, Huo Yuntao is teasing him with the way he was asking it.

Lu Yiyao ignored his comment and sent the long-contemplated question: [If a very close same-sex friend says to you, “I don’t just see you as a friend”, how would you interpret it?]

There was no response on WeChat, but a voice call came through.

Upon answering, Huo Yuntao’s first words were, “Even if you spoke classical Chinese, I’d forgive you. Go on, I’m bored lately!”

Some friendships are built on life-and-death experiences.

Some on mutual understanding and connection.

Some on progressing together.

And some on the soul of gossip.

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Kinky Thoughts:

Lu Yiyao felt as if another door in his mind was slowly opening.

…Yes honey, it’s the closet door.

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