Author: 颜凉雨 / Yan Liang Yu

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

---

Chapter 62

The celebration party for <Sword of Fallen Flowers> started in the afternoon and concluded successfully by evening.

These promotional events primarily revolve around the production team’s agenda, such as announcing viewership ratings and other metrics. Network representatives give speeches and set expectations, while the actors stand on stage primarily to support the event, participating in activities to liven up the atmosphere.

Lu Yiyao was well-acquainted with such events and remained calm throughout, cooperating when needed, speaking when it was his turn, and lightening the mood with jokes to elicit laughter from both the audience and other guests.

In contrast, Ran Lin was more invested, possibly experiencing for the first time the adulation for a project he participated in. He listened intently to every segment and every speaker, taking his turns to speak or participate very seriously.

Despite the heat from the stage lights, which caused even the composed Lu Yiyao to sweat, he noticed Ran Lin was faring much worse. Overwhelmed by his involvement, sweat trickled down Ran Lin’s temples, silently sliding into his shirt collar.

Ran Lin didn’t wear a tie today, opting for an elegant casual style. Under his blazer, the top two buttons of his shirt were undone, revealing a small patch of skin under the light, which glowed with a beautiful sheen. Lu Yiyao felt hopeless as he found himself wanting to bite into that skin, gently or hard, making Ran Lin gasp, cry out, or beg for mercy.

Daydreaming during work hours was something that had to be taken seriously for Lu Yiyao.

He knew he shouldn’t feel this way, but he couldn’t control himself. The person he thought about day and night was right beside him. Wanting to touch, to move, to be intimate was instinctual. And instinct was something that became more soothing the more it was indulged and more vigorous the more it was suppressed.

If he and Ran Lin weren’t celebrities, Lu Yiyao thought, things would be much more comfortable. However, if they weren’t celebrities, they might never have had the chance to meet, understand each other, and get to where they are today.

Amid these chaotic thoughts, the celebration came to an end.

As Lu Yiyao was heading back to the backstage rest area, he bumped into Huo Yuntao, who somehow had sneaked in. He was holding a brand-new handkerchief, asking Xi Ruohan, who had come down first, to sign it.

As Lu Yiyao approached, Xi Ruohan had just finished signing and left. Huo Yuntao stood there alone, admiring the handkerchief with satisfaction, not even noticing his old friend’s approach.

“If you had told me you were her fan, I would have gotten the autograph for you,” Lu Yiyao teased, only then noticing that the handkerchief Huo Yuntao held didn’t seem like a man’s. With its clean and elegant print, it was more like something for a young lady.

“I’m getting it for Panxi.” Huo Yuntao wasn’t surprised at being caught by Lu Yiyao; in fact, he was waiting for his brother. After putting the handkerchief away carefully, he looked up and seriously patted his old friend on the shoulder. “I’m only your fan.”

Lu Yiyao looked at his old friend’s eyes filled with a mischievous glint and suddenly remembered the saying—”Fan into the depths, naturally black*.”

*It’s a slang term that describes a situation where someone is a devoted fan of a celebrity or something that their obsession turns into nitpicking or overly critical behavior. The fandom becomes so intense that it paradoxically leads to negative or cynical attitudes towards the object of their adoration. In this case, the fan basically turns into a black fan (anti-fan).

“My car is downstairs. Tell your agent, and just come with me.” Huo Yuntao got straight to the point without any chit-chat.

Lu Yiyao was stunned for a moment. He had planned to meet at the restaurant and thought Huo Yuntao came over for something else, just happening to see him while getting an autograph and stopping to chat.

“Are you here to pick me up?”

“Otherwise?” Huo Yuntao rolled his eyes, looking around to ensure there was no danger, before whispering, “I’m not trying to shoot you down, but your wrap party is really boring. I wouldn’t come even if I was invited.”

Lu Yiyao had never enjoyed such considerate treatment, and his first reaction was suspicion, reflexively stepping back. “I have my own car.”

Huo Yuntao wanted to say more, but suddenly, he looked over Lu Yiyao’s shoulder and saw the main cast coming down from the stage. He closed his mouth, smiled, and nodded to the group, regardless of whether he knew them or not.

Lu Yiyao followed his gaze, saw it was the drama crew, and also nodded in greeting.

The crew recognized Lu Yiyao but not Huo Yuntao. Still, since he could get in here, they assumed he must be a staff member or related person, so no one paid special attention. Soon, they brushed past the two and continued down the corridor.

Once the surroundings quieted down again, Huo Yuntao lowered his voice. “I know you have a car, but when have you ever driven alone? You always need at least one person with you. Times have changed; you’re not alone anymore. You need to double the safety, understand?”

Lu Yiyao hadn’t expected this from Huo Yuntao. He was shocked but felt a warm complexity. It’s a friend worth having who thinks about these things for you, touching anyone. As for the complexity…

Lu Yiyao glanced at the excitement on Huo Yuntao’s face, feeling that the other seemed to enjoy this cat-and-mouse game with the paparazzi.

In fact, Huo Yuntao didn’t know that today Yao Hong didn’t come. Only Li Tong accompanied Lu Yiyao. So Lu Yiyao called Li Tong, telling him to follow the driver back first without waiting.

Then, Lu Yiyao followed Huo Yuntao to the elevator and into the underground parking lot. As they stepped out, Huo Yuntao’s car was parked in the nearest spot, just a few steps away from the elevator. Unless the paparazzi had cameras right at the elevator door, they wouldn’t catch anything.

As he settled into the back seat and closed the door, he heard Huo Yuntao’s sigh from the driver’s seat. “I wish I was a celebrity…”

Lu Yiyao thought to himself that his playful friend was indeed enjoying the thrill of outsmarting the paparazzi.

But he didn’t respond, instead greeting the girl in the passenger seat. “Panxi, you’ve been waiting long?”

“No, we just got here.” The girl in the passenger seat was petite and delicate, dressed in a soft, plain-colored dress that wasn’t flashy but very comfortable and homely. Her bobbed hair wasn’t overly styled, just naturally refreshing, and her voice was as gentle and cute as her appearance.

“You don’t have to be polite with him; we’ve been waiting for ages.” Huo Yuntao always felt irked seeing his wife being so tender towards Lu Yiyao.

Lin Panxi glanced at him with a hint of complaint, about to speak, but Huo Yuntao quickly pulled out the handkerchief signed by Xi Ruohan and handed it to her with a grin.

Lin Panxi seemed genuinely fond of Xi Ruohan, her eyes lighting up at the sight of the autograph, forgetting all about coaching her future husband on social etiquette.

Lu Yiyao felt a bit peculiar. After all, he was a drama actor himself. The fact that “female viewers prefer the female lead” was a bit shocking.

……

Yao Hong wasn’t accompanying Lu Yiyao, but Wang Xi was there with Ran Lin. When Ran Lin received a message from Lu Yiyao, he was with Wang Xi and Liu Wanwan, preparing to take the elevator down to the underground parking lot where the company car was parked.

Ran Lin had already briefed Wang Xi about the gathering, mentioning it was with Lu Yiyao and a few other friends, but he hadn’t mentioned leaving together after the celebration. Thus, Wang Xi had intended to have the company car drive him.

As the elevator descended, with the red floor numbers changing rapidly towards B1, Ran Lin had to gather his courage, trying to sound casual. “Xi Jie, Lu Yiyao just messaged me that his friends have all arrived, and we’re leaving together, so we won’t need the company car. You and Wanwan can head back directly.”

Wang Xi was preoccupied with work matters, but she paused, digesting the information. Once she understood, she was a bit puzzled. “Your relationship with Lu Yiyao is that good?”

She had thought the dinner Ran Lin mentioned was just a symbolic gathering with fellow cast members to maintain good relations. So, when Ran Lin briefed her, she hadn’t thought much of it. But now it seemed more like a private friends’ gathering, indicating Ran Lin had made it into Lu Yiyao’s inner circle, which was a good thing.

“Uh, well, after almost half a year in the same crew, we get along quite well.” Ran Lin thought about his and Lu Yiyao’s relationship, realizing he had to be somewhat truthful yet cautious with Wang Xi, who was well aware of his schedule.

Wang Xi was satisfied with the answer, nodding thoughtfully.

Suddenly, Ran Lin had a realization and hurriedly said, “Xi Jie, please don’t hype this up.”

His abrupt statement made sense to Wang Xi immediately. “Understood. Even though you’re rising, your status isn’t high enough yet; showing off would only bring criticism.”

“It’s not that,” Ran Lin replied without hesitation. “Even when my status does rise, I don’t want to show off. I don’t need people to know how close I am with Lu Yiyao. I’d rather have them focus on my work, not my personal life.”

Wang Xi looked at her artist, half amused, half admiring, and finally nodded in agreement. “Alright, you’re not even a big star yet, but you already have the demeanor of one.”

Ran Lin felt he might be speaking too boldly, though it was his genuine desire. But whether he could truly rise to fame was still uncertain. To Wang Xi, he probably seemed overconfident.

“Not bad,” Wang Xi suddenly patted his shoulder firmly, approvingly. “You have much more presence than when I first started managing you. I like it.”

Ran Lin didn’t know what to say to his manager’s unpredictable taste.

With a ding, the elevator reached B1.

Ran Lin let Wang Xi and Liu Wanwan exit first, then followed, choosing the opposite direction before circling back near the elevator to approach the black Porsche.

The tint on the car windows was dark, obscuring the view inside, but from two meters away, Ran Lin heard a click as the rear car door opened a crack.

Without a word, Ran Lin quickly stepped forward, opened the door, and got in.

Even after he settled into the car and closed the door, his heart was still pounding, praising his own cleverness while feeling the bittersweet nature of his love affair.

Unable to help himself, Lu Yiyao reached out and ruffled Ran Lin’s hair, praising, “Brilliant acting. When you brushed past the car window, I almost thought you didn’t see the car.”

Ran Lin laughed. “You sent the photo, and such an understated luxury car parked right by the elevator—how could I not see it?”

“Good eye.” Huo Yuntao, pleased with the praise for his car, didn’t forget the introductions. “This is my fiancée, Lin Panxi. Panxi, this is Ran Lin I told you about.”

Ran Lin wasn’t sure how much Huo Yuntao had shared about him, leading to a moment of hesitation.

Lin Panxi reached out first with a gentle smile. “Hello.”

Her smile was soothing, and Ran Lin naturally reached out, gently shaking her hand. “Hello.”

He expected a brief handshake, but when he tried to withdraw, she didn’t let go. Her grip was light but firm, and before he could wonder why, Lin Panxi softly asked, “Could you… sign something for me?”

Ran Lin couldn’t help but feel amused and flattered, this being the first time a friend asked for his autograph. “Of course.”

Lin Panxi immediately let go and carefully took out a neatly folded handkerchief and a pen from her bag, handing them to Ran Lin.

The handkerchief was a plain color, making the autograph stand out. Ran Lin took it, recognizing the familiar handwriting already on it, and looked at Lin Panxi, momentarily perplexed.

She quickly flipped the handkerchief to its clean side. “That’s Xi Ruohan’s autograph. Could you sign here? I really like <Sword of Fallen Flowers>.”

Ran Lin understood now, having all the actors from the same drama sign the same handkerchief was indeed more meaningful.

Without hesitation, Ran Lin signed his name, admiring his work for a second before unfolding the handkerchief a bit, curious if Lu Yiyao’s signature might be hidden inside.

As soon as Lin Panxi mentioned wanting an autograph, Lu Yiyao felt like he’d been shot in the knee. Seeing Ran Lin’s “in-depth observation”, he knew he was looking for his signature, feeling a mix of emotions.

“Don’t bother looking. Lao Lu isn’t there.” Huo Yuntao took the handkerchief from Ran Lin’s hands, handing it back to his wife, explaining, “She’s an ‘Immortal Elixir Party’ member.”

Ran Lin was embarrassed, while Lu Yiyao finally understood.

The “Immortal Elixir Party*” meant fans of the Fang Xian and Zhao Buyao CP. In Lu Yiyao’s view, it was practically a cult within a cult!

*Clarity: Immortal Elixir is [Xian Yao] (仙药). It sounds similar to Xian (闲) Yao (摇) from Fang Xian and Zhao Buyao, thus the CP name.

With her preference revealed, Lin Panxi glanced apologetically at Lu Yiyao.

Lu Yiyao didn’t blame Lin Panxi but glanced at Ran Lin instead.

The latter innocently spread his hands. “It’s not my fault I’m too charming.”

Lu Yiyao gave him a look before suddenly leaning in for a firm kiss.

Ran Lin was caught off guard. He was pressed against the seatback, unable to move. For a moment, it felt like Lu Yiyao wasn’t just kissing him but was about to devour his lips entirely.

Fortunately, the other party retreated after getting his fill, fierce and swift.

Still dazed, Ran Lin heard Lu Yiyao whisper in his ear, “It’s unhygienic to keep kissing the phone screen. Consider this disinfection.”

It wasn’t until the car was on the elevated road that Ran Lin’s brain, which had been blank, slowly started to recover.

He felt warmth from his hand and looked down to find that Lu Yiyao had taken it, interlocking their fingers without asking for permission.

Ran Lin gently leaned against his shoulder, feeling calm and secure, as if all the day’s fatigue had dissipated.

……

The dinner location was chosen by Huo Yuntao, a top-floor restaurant in a hotel. The spacious terrace was divided into separate spaces where diners could enjoy a quiet and private meal, feel the night breeze, and gaze upon Beijing’s nightscape.

By the time the four arrived at the restaurant, it was already dark. Ran Lin had taken off his suit jacket and was now in his shirt. As he stepped onto the terrace, he felt the cool breeze through his shirt, refreshing and pleasant.

The lights just began to illuminate the cityscape, offering a view of countless homes lit up at night.

“This place isn’t bad, right?” Huo Yuntao couldn’t wait for praise and had to ask himself.

Lu Yiyao stopped gazing into the distance and turned to affirm his old friend, “You always find the best places for food and fun in any city the fastest.”

Huo Yuntao had returned less than three months ago but already lived up to that reputation.

However, Young Master Huo didn’t want to take the responsibility because he immediately turned to explain to his wife, “Don’t listen to him. I wasn’t all fun and games abroad. I was studying hard!”

Lin Panxi was much smaller in stature. When she sat in her chair, she was dwarfed by Huo Yuntao, who seemed to lose all his imposing presence in front of her.

As they settled down, Huo Yuntao first asked, “What would you like to drink?”

Ran Lin wasn’t picky, so he replied, “Anything’s fine.”

“Anything’s fine” is often the most challenging request, but Huo Yuntao liked it. “Then I’ll recommend something. This restaurant has a special cocktail that’s really great and worth trying.”

Lu Yiyao could tell from the way Huo Yuntao looked at Ran Lin that he already had a recommendation in mind. One of Huo Yuntao’s hobbies was sharing his discoveries with friends, including but not limited to food and drink.

The special cocktail was just the beginning; the dishes that followed were also recommended by his friend, and they were just responsible for nodding in agreement.

Fortunately, his friend rarely made a mistake in his recommendations, so soon a joyful dinner commenced.

Lu Yiyao wasn’t a fan of drinking, indifferent to red, white, or yellow liquors, but he tolerated cocktails. Surprisingly, the recommended cocktail tasted great—almost like a soft drink. Unknowingly, Lu Yiyao had finished one glass and then asked the waiter for a second.

Huo Yuntao initially wanted to stop him, but thinking of his plans for the evening, he held back and continued telling Ran Lin about their glorious past—

“I knew him when he wasn’t as tall and mighty as he is now. He was quite short and was bullied by his classmates every day. I was ostracized in our class too, not just by the white kids but also by local Chinese, but unlike him, I didn’t back down. I always fought back. Still, I was outnumbered, so I thought I’d find an ally. In our whole grade, we were the only two Chinese, so I had to choose him. The first time I went to his dorm, he was being bullied by some bastards. I immediately stepped in, and from then on, we became best buddies…”

Huo Yuntao was animated in his storytelling, and Ran Lin listened intently.

This was a version of Lu Yiyao he didn’t know—smaller, quieter, studying abroad—and the stories, just like Huo Yuntao’s narration, were tinged with nostalgia.

Lu Yiyao put down his half-finished glass and looked at Huo Yuntao. “What do you mean we became best buddies right away? You helped me out, and then what, skipped the rest? You painted yourself as a hero.”

Huo Yuntao frowned, slightly irritated at being interrupted. “I’m trying to fill in Ran Lin on your background, so the focus is on you. My part isn’t important.”

“It’s not important, yet you make yourself out to be a savior.” If it was just the two of them, Huo Yuntao could exaggerate, but with Ran Lin there, Lu Yiyao felt the need to set the record straight. He turned Ran Lin’s shoulder to face him directly and narrated the actual events. “The first time he came to my dorm, I was indeed being bullied. When he arrived, it turned into both of us getting beaten up. Midway through, he ran off in the chaos. That’s when I learned I had such a fellow countryman.”

“What happened after that?” Ran Lin asked, touched by the lightness of Lu Yiyao’s story but sensing that those days were much harder than they were letting on. “Were you always bullied?”

“For the first few years, yes,” Lu Yiyao said, “but then we started growing and eventually settled all the old scores.”

“We were late bloomers!” Huo Yuntao interjected, clearly still bothered by it to this day.

Ran Lin was more interested in the aftermath. “How did you settle it?”

Lu Yiyao suddenly fell silent, a trace of embarrassment crossing his face.

Ran Lin was intrigued and about to probe further when he heard Huo Yuntao say, “Don’t ask. It’s all underhanded tactics. If you hear it, you might break up with him.”

“Let’s drink instead.” Clearly, the “revenge years” were indeed quite a story, so Lu Yiyao, feeling a bit flustered, raised his glass and clinked with Huo Yuntao.

Huo Yuntao reflexively raised his glass, clinking it before realizing, resulting in Lu Yiyao drinking while he didn’t. He then added to Ran Lin, “He only pretends to act properly in front of you.”

Lu Yiyao downed the rest of his drink and realized Huo Yuntao hadn’t even sipped his, still needling him. “Don’t listen to him; he’s never complimented me.”

Huo Yuntao sighed as he looked at his silly friend. “Lao Lu, do you understand what ‘psychological expectation effect’ means? If you make yourself out to be perfect from the start, your image can only go downhill later. So, you need to expose your flaws early on, so that Ran Lin will feel you are getting better later.”

Lu Yiyao was stunned, then suddenly felt that… maybe there was some sense to it?

Ran Lin watched them both with a smile, feeling that no entertainment was needed for the evening; just listening to their banter was joy enough.

Lu Yiyao turned to face Ran Lin’s smiling eyes and couldn’t help smiling back. “What are you smiling at?”

“I envy your friendship,” Ran Lin admitted honestly. The Lu Yiyao arguing with Huo Yuntao was so real and lively, and he found it very attractive.

“It’s all karma.” Lu Yiyao sighed. “Back then, he was the only fellow countryman in our grade. If there had been anyone else, I wouldn’t have bothered with him.”

Thinking of Lu Yiyao, only twelve years old and alone in a boarding school in a foreign land with a foreign language, Ran Lin felt sorry for him.

“Why did you have to go abroad so early?” Ran Lin couldn’t understand. “Couldn’t you have gone for high school or university instead?”

The table suddenly fell quiet.

Ran Lin sensed a momentary freeze in the atmosphere.

The lighting on the terrace wasn’t very bright, the kind of ambient lighting from chandeliers and floor lamps creating soft shadows, enough to see the table and companions but not too clear.

For instance, Lu Yiyao’s profile was obscured in the light and shadow, and Ran Lin struggled to see his eyes clearly.

The expressions on Huo Yuntao and Lin Panxi’s faces were also subtly altered.

When Ran Lin inadvertently met Lin Panxi’s gaze, she shook her head slightly, a small movement but clear to him, indicating his casual question was a sensitive topic for Lu Yiyao.

Thinking back, Ran Lin realized that there had been a similar situation when they first met, involving family, which Lu Yiyao was reluctant to discuss, clearly resisting the topic.

Ran Lin suddenly regretted it.

The atmosphere was so good tonight that he had let his guard down, or maybe the recent good times with Lu Yiyao made him feel they could share anything. He thought they no longer needed the caution and consideration he’d always exercised, but evidently, it wasn’t so simple.

The conversation then shifted to Lin Panxi, a violinist in a symphony orchestra about to go abroad for a performance. Huo Yuntao insisted on accompanying her, but she thought it wasn’t convenient for her boyfriend to follow her work trips, so Lu Yiyao and Ran Lin were pulled into the discussion for advice and suggestions.

The awkward question wasn’t raised again.

Ran Lin wasn’t sure what to feel, not really remembering what was discussed afterwards, only recalling Lu Yiyao loosening his tie and asking for more drinks, which Huo Yuntao eventually stopped.

“You can’t drink anymore,” Huo Yuntao said with an unusual sternness. “Any more will cause trouble.”

Lu Yiyao, slightly tipsy, looked at his friend, not understanding, “What trouble…”

Huo Yuntao rolled his eyes inwardly, not wanting to say more.

Ran Lin was surprised at Lu Yiyao’s low tolerance for alcohol; had he known, he would have stopped him sooner. Now it was too late, so he joined Huo Yuntao in a united front to prevent Lu Yiyao from drinking more.

When the meal was nearly finished, Huo Yuntao suddenly said to Ran Lin and Lin Panxi, “You sit here for a bit. I’ll take him to rest.”

After saying so, he helped Lu Yiyao up.

Although Lu Yiyao was a bit unsteady, his mind was still clear, and he asked confusedly, “Where are you taking me…”

Huo Yuntao, too exasperated to respond, just carried him off.

Ran Lin watched, baffled, as the two disappeared through the terrace door, then turned to Lin Panxi with a look full of questions—what is going on?

Lin Panxi didn’t speak, but a hint of shyness flashed in her eyes.

Ran Lin thought he might have misread her expression, but before he could ask, she gently said, “You and Lu Ge… Do you plan to continue like this?”

It didn’t take long for Ran Lin to realize Lin Panxi was fully aware of their situation, so there were no reservations in their conversations or jokes.

However, most of the conversation was dominated by Huo Yuntao, with Lin Panxi mostly listening and yielding to him, so Ran Lin hadn’t really spoken much to her directly.

Now suddenly asked, Ran Lin wasn’t quite sure what she meant. “Continue how?”

“Continue being so…” Lin Panxi tilted her head, thinking, then cautiously chose a word. “Hard.”

Ran Lin saw the concern in her eyes, similar to how Huo Yuntao treated Lu Yiyao, and realized that from the moment of the handshake, she had accepted him as one of her own.

“I don’t know.” Ran Lin smiled wryly. “At this stage, it seems there’s no better way. As for the future… who knows?”

Lin Panxi looked down before raising her eyes to say, “Don’t listen to Yuntao’s nonsense. Lu Ge is a really good person. When he’s committed to something, he’ll stick to it, so I believe he truly hopes to be with you forever.”

Ran Lin suddenly understood what Lin Panxi meant.

With a soft smile, he affirmed, “I will work hard with him, not letting him bear the hardships alone.”

Lin Panxi smiled back, her one-sided dimple making her look particularly interesting and adorable.

“If I were Lu Ge, I’d like you too,” she said.

Ran Lin chuckled, then thought about Lin Panxi, who had been in a long-distance relationship with her boyfriend for years, wondering how she seemed to understand Lu Yiyao so well.

When he voiced his curiosity, Lin Panxi let out a slightly annoyed laugh. “If you’ve been in a long-distance relationship for ten years, you’ve probably talked about every person and thing around a hundred times.”

The frustration was palpable.

It turned out this girl also had a bit of a temper.

Ran Lin raised his glass, lightly touching it to Lin Panxi’s. “To hardship.”

Lin Panxi tapped his glass back. “To the sweetness in hardship.”

When Huo Yuntao returned with a room card, Ran Lin finally understood what he meant by “trouble”.

“You take the elevator on the left. Go straight to the seventeenth floor. The room is on your left as you exit the elevator, and this entrance is a blind spot for the surveillance camera,” Huo Yuntao said with a conspiratorial expression like a successful villain in a drama. “The room was booked under Panxi and my name. Absolutely safe and perfect.”

Ran Lin’s heart skipped erratically.

But he calmly took the room key, which seemed to pulse with electricity in his hand.

After saying goodbye to Huo Yuntao and Lin Panxi, he felt like a thief going down to the seventeenth floor. He swiped the card to enter the room, and indeed, everything went smoothly. He was, of course, grateful for Huo Yuntao’s thoughtfulness, but the glint in Huo Yuntao’s eyes when he spoke made him feel like the other man was getting more than just the joy of helping a friend from this clever arrangement.

Lu Yiyao was lying on the bed, his suit off, the top two buttons of his shirt undone, and his tie loosely hanging around his neck.

The room was quiet except for the faint sound of air from the central air conditioning vent.

Ran Lin swallowed hard, suddenly feeling nervous.

Lu Yiyao’s eyes were closed, and it was unclear if he was squinting or sleeping. His brows were furrowed as if struggling with someone in his dreams.

Ran Lin held his breath, walking softly to the bed. The carpet was so plush it made no sound.

Finally, Ran Lin gently sat on the bed’s edge, lying beside him, propping his head up with one hand to closely observe his idol.

Lu Yiyao was also lying on his side, so now they were face to face.

Despite having drunk, Lu Yiyao’s breath carried only a faint smell of alcohol and more of the refreshing scent of his cologne.

Ran Lin moved his face closer, inch by inch, until his lips touched Lu Yiyao’s nose.

Suddenly, the man moved, startling Ran Lin, who reflexively thought to pull back but was then enveloped by an arm and saw Lu Yiyao slowly open his eyes, still slightly tipsy but somewhat clear.

“Flirt and run, is that your style?” Lu Yiyao murmured with a hint of drowsy nasal tone.

Ran Lin, pressed against him, felt the heat through the shirt, sending shivers down his spine.

“So you were pretending to sleep?” Ran Lin’s voice trembled.

Lu Yiyao suddenly turned over to pin him down, pressing his hands above his head and biting down on his neck.

Ran Lin shivered, forgetting to struggle, letting him nibble and bite.

Eventually, Lu Yiyao didn’t bear to use too much force, satisfying his craving with a mix of bites and licks before reluctantly moving away, his breath erratic from the intense restraint.

“You’ll have to wear a scarf tomorrow with that mark.”

Ran Lin heard Lu Yiyao mutter, seemingly considerate but sounding more like a complaint.

“Will it be winter the next time I see you?” Ran Lin knew it was a mood killer to say this now, but he couldn’t help it, thinking of Lu Yiyao soon starting a new project.

Lu Yiyao nuzzled Ran Lin’s face, almost coquettishly. “You could visit me on set.”

“As what?” Ran Lin, tickled by the rubbing, tried to push his face away.

“Stop moving.” Lu Yiyao grabbed his wrist, pressed it down, and rubbed his face against him a few more times before he was satisfied. “A bad influence.”

Ran Lin struggled, realizing he couldn’t free his wrist from Lu Yiyao’s grip. Being overpowered by another man dented his pride, his voice growing muffled. “That’s Huo Yuntao’s role, not mine.”

Lu Yiyao leaned in to nibble on his chin before getting an idea. “Then ‘close friend’.”

Ran Lin liked the title but didn’t intend to tell Lu Yiyao.

He always thought Lu Yiyao had eyes like peach blossoms, but actually, Lu Yiyao felt Ran Lin did. Especially now, pressed down, Ran Lin’s eyes shone with unwillingness, like rain-drenched peach petals, subtly fragrant and enticing.

“Why didn’t you keep asking?” Lu Yiyao suddenly asked.

Ran Lin, rendered weak by the gaze and thinking he was about to be devoured like sweet water, was momentarily dazed when he suddenly heard Lu Yiyao’s question.

Lu Yiyao repeated it for a second time, “Earlier at dinner, you asked why I went abroad so early for school. Why didn’t you continue asking?”

Ran Lin’s memory slowly revived. He had just buried this knot in his heart, thinking it might unravel at the right time or perhaps never, which he’d try to gradually forget, albeit difficultly.

Yet Lu Yiyao brought it up so quickly, not even letting it last the night.

Looking at the person on top of him, Ran Lin blinked and admitted, “It seemed like none of you wanted to talk about it. We don’t get to meet often, and I’m not dumb enough to ruin the mood.”

“How are you not dumb? You’re completely foolish.” Lu Yiyao sighed softly, moving off him to lie beside him, then pulling him close so Ran Lin’s back was against his chest and his chin rested in the crook of Ran Lin’s neck and shoulder, lightly rubbing. “Remember, anything related to me, if you want to know, just ask. Don’t worry about whether I want to answer.”

Ran Lin wanted to turn and see Lu Yiyao’s expression, but he was held too tightly, almost immobile. Lu Yiyao’s force contradicted his tender voice; the gentler he spoke, the firmer he held, and Ran Lin felt like he was being pulled into the other’s body.

“I didn’t choose to go abroad myself…”

Without warning, Lu Yiyao began, his warm breath spraying on Ran Lin’s nape, heating his earlobes, neck, shoulders, everywhere.

“My dad forced me out… When he and my mom divorced, custody of me went to him, and my sister’s to my mom. My mom disagreed and wanted to keep fighting, so he just sent me abroad. I was only twelve then, skinny as a bean sprout, and the white kids in class were two or three heads taller, bullying me every day. I called my dad, saying I didn’t want to study anymore, I wanted to come back…”

Ran Lin listened, his heart clenching involuntarily.

Lu Yiyao took several deep breaths to calm down, his voice low and bitter. “After that, every time I called, it was his assistant who picked up. He would buy me anything I needed or send money, but he would never put my dad on the phone. So every time I came back for the holidays, I would obediently listen to him talk about Chinese studies and traditional culture. Then, as soon as he let his guard down, I’d try to run away and stay in the country. But he always managed to send me back out again…”

“Later, as I grew older and could meet my mom whenever, he couldn’t control me anymore, and I didn’t insist on coming back as much. Do you understand that feeling? It’s like when you realize the thing you’ve been yearning for isn’t that hard to get, you suddenly don’t want it anymore. When he thought I could come back, I insisted on studying abroad, and when he wanted me to go to business school, I chose drama instead, always contrary…”

“Brat.” Ran Lin wanted to turn around and hug him, but he was the one being hugged instead. He felt distressed for him, yet his words came out teasing.

Lu Yiyao, however, seemed to enjoy his teasing, taking it as sweet nothings. “The bear was forced out of me.”

“So, have you still not forgiven your dad?”

“It’s not about forgiving or not forgiving. I used to hate him as a child, but now I don’t feel that way anymore. I still have resentments, but thinking about it, even though he did it out of spite against my mom, he still provided me with good educational opportunities and a comfortable life. Compared to many kids who have suffered, I’ve had much more fortune…”

“It’s just…” Lu Yiyao yawned softly, finding that sharing his feelings wasn’t as painful as he’d thought, rather a kind of liberating stretch. “My dad has a bad temper, and I hold grudges, so we still don’t get along…”

Ran Lin felt a softness in his heart.

He’d fallen for someone who was like a husky, intimidating and stoic at times but always showing his belly to loved ones. Even when bullied, he’d only howl foolishly, ultimately not willing to bite.

“Still calling me foolish.” Ran Lin sighed lightly. “You’re the silly one…”

……

No response came, just even breaths against his neck and ear.

Ran Lin widened his eyes in disbelief and turned to look. Indeed, the person holding him had fallen asleep.

Ran Lin looked up at the ceiling, internally debating but ultimately not having the heart to wake Lu Yiyao.

But he was inwardly annoyed—with that kind of tolerance for alcohol, better stick to lemonade!

He had promised Wang Xi to sign the contract for <Mint Green> early the next morning at the office, and he certainly couldn’t go in the previous night’s clothes. He had planned to return home in the middle of the night after their time together.

Now, well, there was plenty of time.

Quietly accompanying Lu Yiyao, or more accurately, Lu Yiyao sleeping while he stayed awake, Ran Lin finally got up when he had to leave, gently removing Lu Yiyao’s hand from himself.

Lu Yiyao seemed to sense something, his eyebrows furrowing and his hand groping around where Ran Lin had been lying before finally grabbing the blanket and pulling it into his embrace, then continuing to sleep contentedly.

Ran Lin stood by the bed, observing his face in the dim night light, and sighed softly. “Your driver’s license was definitely bought.”

With that, he gently kissed Lu Yiyao’s forehead, tidied himself up, slipped out of the hotel, and became a swift shadow in the night.

---

<<< || Table of Contents || >>>