Author: 颜凉雨 / Yan Liang Yu

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

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Chapter 74

Click.

Gu Jie, the first to enter, pressed the wall switch, and the entryway suddenly lit up.

The intertwined hands quietly separated.

The four of them changed their shoes in the entryway. The living room was still dark, with moonlight streaming through the window, mostly falling on the floor, with a few strands on the sofa, casting a cold light everywhere, like the frost of early winter.

“It’s warmer inside…” Xia Xinran was the first to change into slippers, fumbling in the dark along the wall to find the living room light switch.

“Warm? Just don’t complain about the cold tonight.” Gu Jie, the second to enter the living room, stepped forward and accurately turned on the pendant light. “Ran Lin is now wrapping himself in a blanket every day, even reading scripts wrapped up like a dumpling.”

The living room’s pendant light was an old-fashioned design, with three budding flowers, the petals formed by yellow-white frosted glass shades, and three light bulbs as the stamens. Although the bulbs were now energy-saving spiral ones, the white light through the frosted glass turned into a light with a hint of yellow, filled with a nostalgic sense of the times.

Ran Lin, the third to enter the living room, sighed at Gu Jie under the dim yellow light. “Why always use me as a bad example?”

“The example is too vivid. Can’t help it,” Gu Jie joked while picking up the remote to turn on the air conditioner. Soon, a slightly cool breeze accompanied by a humming noise blew out, gradually warming up.

“Wrapped in a blanket?” Lu Yiyao, who had entered without notice, now stood behind Ran Lin.

His voice was low and soft, not so much chatting with friends as murmuring to Ran Lin alone.

Ran Lin’s ears heated up, not turning back to address him but instead asking Xia Xinran directly. “Where do you want to sleep?”

During dinner, the two newcomers expressed their “eco-friendly” visit, so they didn’t book a hotel and decided to stay together. But how exactly they would fit wasn’t discussed in detail by Xia Xinran, who had given Ran Lin a knowing look. With Ran Lin feeling guilty, he didn’t dare to ask further. Lu Yiyao smiled and ate quietly, while Gu Jie didn’t even think it was an issue, nodding continuously. The floor was too cold, and the sofa wasn’t long enough. However, both bedrooms had large enough beds, so squeezing in wouldn’t be a problem.

But now the question of “how to sleep” was right before them, and Ran Lin decided to resolve it quickly.

Xia Xinran glanced at him with a teasing look, clearly saying, “You know the answer,” then, without waiting for a response, headed towards one of the bedrooms. In a moment, he leaned against the bedroom door frame with a considerate smile. “Of course, I’m staying with Gu Jie. I have so much to talk to him after such a long time.”

Ran Lin nodded, a flicker of gratitude in his eyes, but then a hint of helplessness. “If you want to chat with Gu Jie, why are you leaning on my bedroom door?”

Lu Yiyao, who was automatically heading towards Gu Jie’s bedroom, suddenly stopped, then nonchalantly turned around, pretending as if he hadn’t done anything.

Xia Xinran, embarrassed, hurriedly dashed towards Gu Jie’s bedroom and gave Lu Yiyao a look as they brushed past—Why didn’t you remind me I was going the wrong way!

Lu Yiyao raised an eyebrow—All the doors look the same. Who can keep track!

Xia Xinran—With that sense of direction, you shouldn’t even be allowed to date. Revoke your dating license!

Lu Yiyao—I’m dating, not driving¹. Why do I need a sense of direction!

Xia Xinran—Not driving? Are you sure?¹

¹Clarity: It’s referencing car which is a euphemism for sex/explicit content.

Lu Yiyao—…Goodnight.

Visually, Xia Xinran was like a whirlwind, disappearing into Gu Jie’s bedroom in the blink of an eye.

But inexplicably, Ran Lin felt as if in that brief moment of shoulder brushing and eye contact between Xia Xinran and Lu Yiyao, a lot of information was exchanged…

Was it just his imagination?

Ran Lin frowned in confusion, puzzled.

Suddenly, a weight landed on his shoulder, and before he could look up, he was pulled into Lu Yiyao’s embrace.

The man didn’t hold back at all, and Ran Lin felt himself tightly clasped with one arm, his body pressed against Lu Yiyao’s side, his neck and shoulder constricted by an arm.

But to Gu Jie, it looked like a standard brotherly back-slapping moment, especially since Lu Yiyao was smiling brightly at him, obviously conveying a clear message.

Gu Jie immediately nodded understandingly. “Got it, it’s rare for you guys to get together; you must have lots to talk about.” After tossing his coat on the sofa and nodding towards the bathroom, he announced, “Then I’m going to shower, okay?”

Only Gu Jie would call a December shower a “shower”. Intimidated by his boldness, Lu Yiyao involuntarily nodded. “Please.”

Gu Jie strode into the bathroom, then closed the door behind him with a moderate thud.

Two seconds later, Xia Xinran peeked out from Gu Jie’s bedroom, sighing softly to the remaining pair in the living room. “I feel a bit guilty deceiving such an honest guy. What should I do…”

Before Lu Yiyao and Ran Lin could respond, the bathroom door suddenly opened again. “Oh, Xia Xinran—”

Gu Jie thought Xia Xinran was inside, so he called out loudly, only to realize the man was leaning out from the doorway, looking utterly bewildered.

“What?” Xia Xinran finally regained his senses, looking over irritably.

Gu Jie smiled, a rare display of friendliness. “I didn’t bring my sit-up equipment this time. Though I can still do it without equipment, it just doesn’t feel as effective…”

“So?” Xia Xinran had a bad feeling.

“So later, can you help me hold my legs a bit?” Gu Jie requested. “Don’t worry, I won’t do much, just two sets, very quick!”

Xia Xinran: “Weren’t you going to take a shower?”

Gu Jie: “I’ll do it after.”

Xia Xinran: “Who exercises after a shower!”

Gu Jie: “Just two sets, like walking a few steps, barely any effort; won’t even sweat.”

Xia Xinran: “But why do you need to exercise right before bed?”

Gu Jie: “Warm-up before sleep.”

Xia Xinran: “…”

Xia Xinran’s guilt popped like a soap bubble, leaving only a sense of powerless ridicule that lingered like a shadow.

Ran Lin and Lu Yiyao’s heads turned back and forth with the conversation, finally resting on Xia Xinran’s inexplicable face.

For safety, Lu Yiyao decisively took Ran Lin back to his room.

As the door closed behind them, Ran Lin thought he heard Xia Xinran’s sincere plea for a reconsideration of room arrangements.

Ran Lin’s bedroom was unlit, with the curtains tightly drawn. Once the door was closed, blocking the light from the living room, the world turned dark again.

Ran Lin blinked a couple of times, but opening or closing his eyes made no difference; it was pitch black.

The room was very quiet, so quiet that only Lu Yiyao’s breathing could be heard next to him.

The arm slung around his neck was heavy, and Ran Lin said irritably, “Hey, you can loosen…umph!”

Before Ran Lin could finish speaking, he was pressed against the wall by a great force, and then a fervent kiss landed on him.

At first, Ran Lin wondered if Lu Yiyao had brought night vision contacts, as he precisely captured his lips. But such mood-killing thoughts vanished in an instant under Lu Yiyao’s overpowering assault.

Lu Yiyao kissed forcefully, almost biting off his lips. Ran Lin wanted to respond, but the others didn’t need or allow any space for it. Whether he resisted or cooperated, nothing he did could disrupt or hinder the person ravaging him.

Not knowing how long they kissed, Ran Lin felt like he was about to collapse, his strength seemingly drawn out, his legs growing weak. If not for Lu Yiyao pressing him, he might have slid down the wall like a puddle of jelly…

Suddenly, the world spun around.

Ran Lin felt like he was being carried, but before he could understand what was happening, he was on the bed with Lu Yiyao’s body pressing down on him.

He instinctively wanted to embrace the other, but suddenly one wrist was pinned above his head, followed by the other, both hands crossed and pressed above the pillow.

Ran Lin was slightly resentful.

Because the other could suppress his crossed hands with just one.

“Hey…” Ran Lin tried to protest but kept his voice down, fearing being heard outside, so it sounded utterly weak.

“Shh.” Lu Yiyao blew air close to his face. “No talking.”

Ran Lin struggled a bit, but his wrists were pressed tighter, and he muttered resentfully, “Why…”

In the slowly adapting darkness, Lu Yiyao’s peach blossom eyes glowed with ambiguous desire, and his voice was husky and sexy. “Because you like me.”

The articulate always have the upper hand.

Having given up struggling, Ran Lin seriously considered whether to buy a book on sweet talk after going back.

The room was cold, with no heating, and the air conditioner in the living room was blocked, leaving only the cold night breeze seeping in.

But the room was also very hot. Ran Lin almost bit his lip to keep from making any noise.

Sensing Ran Lin’s imminent surrender, Lu Yiyao no longer suppressed his wrists but covered his mouth.

Almost the moment his hand covered Ran Lin’s mouth, Lu Yiyao’s other hand ventured without hesitation…

Bang bang.

A loud knock on the door echoed.

Then Gu Jie’s voice penetrated through the door. “I’m done showering. You guys can go next—”

His voice cut through the chaos like a divine intervention, bringing clarity.

Lu Yiyao jolted.

Ran Lin’s passion froze.

“Okay—” Lu Yiyao’s voice, feigning naturalness, carried a slight hoarseness.

But to the oblivious Gu Jie, it was sufficient. Receiving the response, he turned and left, completely unaware of the tiny gap beneath the door in the pitch-black room, let alone the high-end question of “why are they still in the dark after so long?”

As the footsteps faded, Lu Yiyao sighed in relief and frustration.

Ran Lin took down the hand covering his mouth, gently kissed it, and teasingly asked, “Want to continue?”

Lu Yiyao slapped his forehead irritably. “Be brave and provoke me when it’s time for action next time…” His voice dipped low again, drawing close to Ran Lin with a mischievous tone. “I’ll be more excited…”

Feeling the danger about to return, Ran Lin wisely kept quiet.

Lu Yiyao disdainfully glanced at his lover in the darkness, intending to scold him for only being brave with words, but his affection got the better of him. Eventually, he leaned in for a light peck, devoid of any desire, just filled with the joy of reunion.

The physical heat slowly subsided, while the emotional warmth was safely tucked away by Lu Yiyao.

He truly wanted to touch Ran Lin freely, to make him moan and beg under him, but the more he thought about it, the less he wanted to rush.

At least, not here.

Even if Gu Jie hadn’t knocked on the door, he hadn’t intended to go all the way.

Their first time, and every time after, he wanted it to be warm and completely relaxed, without having to worry about someone knocking on the door or Ran Lin having to suppress his voice.

He wanted to give Ran Lin the best of everything.

Turning on the bedroom light finally, the sudden illumination made Ran Lin instinctively shield his eyes.

Lu Yiyao returned to his side, enveloping him in his embrace to shield him from the light.

Ran Lin’s head rested against Lu Yiyao’s chest, his heartbeat reverberating through his skull.

Ran Lin unconsciously curved his mouth into a smile.

Even though his lover turned into a seasoned rogue when it came to intimacy, the heartbeat couldn’t lie.

Even after all this time, with the light on, his heart was still racing—rapid and fierce.

Bang bang bang!

“Teacher Lu, Ran Lin, if you’re not showering, I’m going first—” This time it wasn’t Gu Jie, but Xia Xinran.

Lu Yiyao felt the two were doing it on purpose, always appearing just when the mood got better… Were they like warning bullets for high-energy scenes?

“Go ahead and shower.” Lu Yiyao, less polite to the insider, directly sent him off.

Outside, Xia Xinran was like a mischievous groundhog.

The sound of water from the bathroom reached them despite the distance, clear and continuous.

Lu Yiyao sighed helplessly. “There’s no soundproofing at all.”

“Just keep your voice down,” Ran Lin advised, experienced. “As long as we don’t speak loudly, they can only hear that we’re talking but not make out the words. Otherwise, with all the video calls we’ve had, we would have been caught long ago.”

“Actually… perhaps not.” Lu Yiyao’s mood was complex.

Ran Lin, thinking of Gu Jie’s earnest face, couldn’t help but agree with his lover. “Indeed.”

Misdeeds are always done under the cloak of darkness, but now with the lights brightly on and the room clear, the two of them lay quietly together, their hearts gradually settling and ceasing their restlessness.

“Didn’t I just hold you like this last time and fall asleep while talking?” Lu Yiyao suddenly remembered a painful memory.

Ran Lin couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Why didn’t you wake me up?” Lu Yiyao still resented the past.

Last time everything was perfect—mood, environment, soundproofing, bed, even the bedside table was stocked with considerate little items and props. They could have tried all sorts of things.

Instead, he fell asleep.

The memory still made him beat his chest in frustration!

“You were sleeping so soundly, I didn’t have the heart to,” Ran Lin murmured quietly.

Unprepared for such a response, Lu Yiyao’s heart softened, and he hugged Ran Lin a bit tighter.

Actually, that night, Ran Lin had secretly pinched Lu Yiyao twice, but the man just turned over and continued sleeping.

But he couldn’t tell Lu Yiyao that; it would make him seem too unreserved.

So, Ran Lin decided to maintain his “gentle and considerate” persona to the end.

“Did you ask Xia Xinran to come with you?” Suddenly, Ran Lin remembered a question that had been nagging at him.

At dinner, Xia Xinran had claimed they both spontaneously decided to visit the set, a story believable only to Gu Jie.

Sure enough, Lu Yiyao straightforwardly admitted, “Yeah, I just wanted to try asking him if he was free and willing, and he agreed immediately, seeming even more eager than me.”

Ran Lin could easily imagine it.

Xia Xinran was both someone who loved being in the thick of things and a truly loyal friend. While outsiders might only see his more prominent trait, as a friend, he had the right to speak.

“We should really thank him,” Ran Lin sincerely said.

“Don’t worry about him,” Lu Yiyao replied. “He had already negotiated his compensation before coming.”

Ran Lin was puzzled. “What compensation?”

Lu Yiyao: “Can’t say.”

Ran Lin: “…”

Why was there an ominous feeling that Lu Yiyao had agreed to an unfair treaty?

“Actually, even if he hadn’t agreed, I would have come by myself.” Lu Yiyao turned the person lying against him to face each other, looking deeply into Ran Lin’s eyes. “I couldn’t wait that long. Ever since I wrapped up my filming, I’ve been thinking about seeing you every day.”

“I missed you too.” Ran Lin’s eyes tinged with the ache of longing—those four words carried so much unspoken emotion.

Lu Yiyao gave back his own four words. “Didn’t look like it.”

Ran Lin was speechless, the rising warmth in his eyes forcefully pushed back.

Teacher Lu continued to complain, “When I was filming <Split Moon>, you didn’t even mention visiting the set. As time went on, we even talked less. I thought you had moved on.”

Ran Lin was incredulous. “Who would I move on to?”

Lu Yiyao had a ready blacklist. “Tang Xiaoyu.”

Ran Lin: “……”

Lu Yiyao: “You shot an advertisement for the <Sword of Fallen Flowers> game with him, and then you started interacting a lot on Weibo…”

Ran Lin: “Teacher Lu, are you sure you were fully invested in your film?”

Lu Yiyao: “Everyone needs a break now and then.”

Ran Lin: “So you spent your breaks stalking my Weibo?”

Lu Yiyao: “It’s ‘loving observation from the shadows’.”

Ran Lin: “……”

Clearly, during their long separation, his lover had accumulated endless grievances.

Ran Lin irritably took Lu Yiyao’s hand and brought it to his mouth. “Listen carefully…”

“I, Ran Lin, only like Lu Yiyao.”

After saying so, he pressed a kiss to Lu Yiyao’s hand.

Continuing—

“In my eyes, Lu Yiyao is narcissistic, repressed, over-imaginative, says too little, is always caught up in his inner drama, and even makes his own memes to the point of boredom…”

“Hold on!” Lu Yiyao swallowed, earnestly interrupting. “If there’s a ‘but’ coming, I’ll keep listening. If not, can I request we end this conversation early?”

Ran Lin drawled out, “But—”

Lu Yiyao’s heart finally settled.

“He’s serious…”

A kiss on the hand.

“He’s professional…”

Another kiss.

“He’s responsible to others and himself.”

“He may not be warm to everyone, but he’ll never kick someone when they’re down.”

“He might compromise with reality, but he always has his principles.”

With each phrase, Ran Lin kissed Lu Yiyao’s hand.

Finally, he pressed a gentle kiss on the other’s lips—

“He’s the best person I’ve ever met.”

……

Xia Xinran, who had just had a quick wash and was now sneakily eavesdropping at the door, was disappointed. He had expected a fiery encounter, but all he got was a quiet conversation with indistinct words.

Are you two here to discuss life?

Close the door and get on with it!

After enduring a few more minutes and seeing no end to their “night talk”, the frustrated single classmate Xia Xinran finally straightened his aching legs and begrudgingly returned to his room.

As for Ran Lin and Lu Yiyao, after exchanging long pent-up sweet nothings, they reluctantly parted to freshen up in turns.

Lu Yiyao was the first to shower and immediately dived into the bed, using his body heat to pre-warm the cold sheets.

By the time Ran Lin got back into bed, it was already warm.

He obediently lay down, clinging to Lu Yiyao like an octopus, turning the warmth into coziness.

Ran Lin was already feeling sleepy, but he didn’t want to waste their limited time together sleeping. Lu Yiyao was only here for three days, and the only time they had to themselves was at night.

Lu Yiyao, on the other hand, had far more complicated thoughts.

He had intended to ease his longing with some intimacy today, leaving the real matter for tomorrow. But now, in the stillness of the night, he suddenly couldn’t hide his words anymore.

The urge to pour out his heart came suddenly and fiercely, almost unable to wait another minute. He wanted to share all his thoughts with Ran Lin right then and there.

Suddenly, his frown was smoothed out by gentle fingers.

Lu Yiyao snapped back to reality to meet Ran Lin’s bemused face. “If you really don’t like me hugging you like this, I won’t do it. You don’t have to endure it as if you’re bearing a deep grudge.”

Lu Yiyao pulled the blanket tighter, cocooning Ran Lin more securely, before whispering, “I’m thinking about starting my own company.”

The topic suddenly became serious. Ran Lin, momentarily taken aback, moved aside from Lu Yiyao to allow for a better face-to-face conversation. “Don’t you already have your own studio?”

The blanket, disturbed by Ran Lin’s movement, let in a draft of cold air.

Lu Yiyao quickly closed the gap before explaining. “Not a studio. I mean an entertainment company. I’m thinking about becoming a boss.”

“……” The weight of this revelation hung in the air, leaving Ran Lin momentarily stunned.

Lu Yiyao pinched his lover’s cheek, finding Ran Lin’s bewildered look endlessly adorable.

“No more acting?” Ran Lin managed to pick out the most immediate question amidst his scattered thoughts.

“I don’t think so.” Lu Yiyao had thought it through clearly, so there was no hesitation.

“What about guest appearances?” Ran Lin asked, then immediately realized how trivial this question was in the grand scheme!

Lu Yiyao found the question refreshing, considering it seriously for the first time since deciding to change careers. After a while, he answered, “It depends on how deep the friendship is.”

Ran Lin didn’t expect him to actually ponder the question, giving a sense of reality to the notion of his lover switching careers. But the bigger question loomed. “Why don’t you want to be an actor anymore?”

“Isn’t being a boss good?” Lu Yiyao grinned. “Still in the entertainment industry, I’d say it’s a triple jump in class status.”

As Ran Lin’s thoughts began to order themselves, he understood that being a boss was naturally better, both in terms of profit and personal satisfaction. If the entertainment industry was a pyramid, then the bosses with capital and influence were certainly at the top.

But—

“Don’t you find it a waste? You’ve been acting for so long, to just give it up?” Ran Lin’s query was not out of skepticism or opposition but a personal reflection. If it were him, he would find it a regrettable loss.

“What if I tell you I don’t find it a waste, and I’m actually relieved to have finally found what I want to do?” Lu Yiyao asked, “Would you think I’m frivolous about my career?”

Lu Yiyao’s voice was calm and firm, but Ran Lin still detected a hint of apprehension.

It wasn’t apprehension about his new career path, but whether his partner could accept such a sudden change in direction.

But was it really a sudden change?

Ran Lin didn’t think so.

No one knew his boyfriend better than he did—Lu Yiyao was never one to make rash decisions. Everything he said and did was thoroughly considered beforehand, ensuring he could bear the responsibility.

“When did you decide?” Instead of answering Lu Yiyao’s question, Ran Lin asked another.

“Before shooting <Split Moon>,” Lu Yiyao candidly replied.

Ran Lin: “Have you talked to Hong Jie about it?”

“Yes, she’s stopped taking new contracts for me,” Lu Yiyao said. “I’ve also told my mom and sister; it’s all good. My family has always wanted me to go into business. I haven’t told my dad yet, but I think he’ll be singing Peking opera out of joy when he finds out.”

Ran Lin noted that Lu Yiyao always found a chance to sardonically mention his father.

“If this is truly what you want to do,” Ran Lin turned serious after a smile, “then I’m happy you’ve found it. I don’t think you’re being frivolous about your career. I believe you’ll do well, whether in acting or running a company…”

“But?” Lu Yiyao anticipated the turn in conversation.

Caught off guard by the accurate prediction, Ran Lin gave him a slight glare. “But there has to be a catalyst for such a change. You can’t tell me you just sat there one day, thought it over, and suddenly found the path you want to pursue, right?”

Lu Yiyao looked intently at him. “What if I said that catalyst was you?”

Ran Lin was taken aback, struggling to respond. “I can’t bear that responsibility…”

Lu Yiyao leaned in close, so close Ran Lin could see the flutter of his eyelashes. “I would have found this path eventually; you just helped me find it sooner. So, you don’t need to bear anything. It’s my life, my path. I’ll bear it myself.”

Ran Lin met his gaze, half convinced.

Lu Yiyao continued, “Don’t renew the contract when it’s up; sign with my company.”

“…?” From half-belief to complete doubt, Ran Lin frowned deeply. “So it’s still all for me.”

Lu Yiyao, unruffled, simply said, “What if I say that even without you, someday in the future, I would have found out on my own that what I really wanted wasn’t to be an actor in the entertainment industry, but to do business in it? How would you feel about that?”

Ran Lin: “……”

The question felt like a trap because the mere thought of it was quite unsettling!

If it were predestined for Lu Yiyao to change careers, then having himself as the catalyst seemed preferable, at least making him feel somewhat significant…

“You might indeed be naturally suited for business,” Ran Lin grumbled, glaring at Lu Yiyao. “You’re quite the smooth talker.”

Lu Yiyao’s heart settled, and his expression relaxed unconsciously. “Then let’s settle on that.”

Ran Lin blinked in confusion. “Settle on… what?”

Lu Yiyao: “Sign with my company when your contract expires.”

Ran Lin: “That’s a whole new topic!”

Lu Yiyao: “…”

His attempt to fish in troubled waters* failed, and Lu Yiyao sighed, barely audibly, but soon rallied himself.

*(浑水摸鱼) Idiom referring to someone taking advantage of a chaotic or confusing situation for personal gain.

Pulling Ran Lin back into his embrace, he switched to a gentler tactic. “Think about it. If I want to grow and strengthen my company, not only do I need to have a good eye for investment, ensuring that the projects I invest in have more gains and fewer losses, but I also need artists under my label who can stand firm and support themselves. Good projects and good artists are the two most important pillars of a successful entertainment company. I’ll take care of having a good eye; the risk lies with the artists. Of course, I want to sign someone whose background I know well and who has a promising future…”

Knowing full well that these were sugar-coated shells that he should avoid, Ran Lin found himself delightfully hit, body and soul, with only a sliver of rationality remaining in his brain, unable to even command a single finger.

“You don’t want to renew your contract with your current company either, right? Since you have to switch anyway, why not jump to your own place…”

“Once you come over to my side, no one will force you to take on roles you dislike anymore. Your future prospects, popularity, market response… none of that will be your concern. You just need to focus on acting well…”

“Plus, I prefer to independently produce dramas to create quality works. So in these projects, if there’s a suitable role for you or if you feel the urge to act, it will be yours. But just because you’re the boss’ wife, don’t slack off…”

“What?” Ran Lin, who had been quietly listening, suddenly spoke up. “What did you just say?”

Lu Yiyao was startled. His first thought was he misspoke, considering he had just rattled off a lot in a row. “…slack off?”

Ran Lin frowned. “Backtrack a bit.”

Lu Yiyao strained his memory. “No one else… it’s you?”

Ran Lin glared. “After that.”

With his brain nearly overheating, Lu Yiyao finally identified the suspect phrase tentatively. “Boss’ wife?”

Ran Lin suddenly grabbed the blanket, covered his face, and started rolling around the bed.

Exposed to the cold air unexpectedly, Lu Yiyao sneezed and then watched the “blanket ball” rolling around, feeling an almost uncontrollable urge to pounce on it…

Next time, he would find a place where they could freely indulge!

……

The next morning, Ran Lin woke up to a long-missed warmth and saw Lu Yiyao fiddling with his phone.

Ran Lin yawned sleepily. “Are you checking if I have any inappropriate same-sex relationships?”

Lu Yiyao didn’t even glance at him, still struggling with the phone, his voice tinged with irritation. “I’m turning off the insane eight alarms someone set.”

“Right, why didn’t the alarm go off?” Ran Lin finally sensed something amiss.

“Who says it didn’t?” Lu Yiyao finally turned off the last alarm, his eyes dark with circles. “I woke up at the first ring.”

Ran Lin: “And then you angrily turned off all the alarms as revenge?”

Lu Yiyao: “I wanted you to sleep a little longer.”

Ran Lin: “…”

Lu Yiyao: “If you don’t come and kiss me, it’s going to be a bit awkward.”

This was the first time he had seen someone take advantage of someone so openly.

Ran Lin rolled his eyes but gave his partner a morning kiss, adding a touch of flavor to the gesture.

They had talked late into the night, naturally resting as the conversation wound down. Lu Yiyao had been so preoccupied with discussing the career change and how to pull Ran Lin over to his side that he hadn’t considered the reverse problem.

Now, watching his lover put on clothes, he blurted out without warning. “What if my company doesn’t do well and, instead of elevating you, drags down your accumulated popularity? What then?”

Ran Lin put on his hoodie, fully dressed, and turned back, looking bemused at Lu Yiyao. “What else can be done? I’m the boss, so of course, I’ll share the company’s fate.”

Lu Yiyao frowned slightly. “If I’m not mistaken, it should be the boss’ wife, right…”

Ran Lin walked over, patted his still-confused partner’s shoulder, transferring the warmth of his palm. “Then you remembered wrong.”

Lu Yiyao watched the figure heading to the bathroom, both amused and exasperated.

Why run if you’re not guilty!

Meanwhile, Ran Lin in the bathroom was also restless.

Because Lu Yiyao’s question had given him a wake-up call—what if he ends up dragging down Lu Yiyao’s company?

Lu Yiyao wanted to protect him from the storm, but he wished even more to make Lu Yiyao proud.

So starting now, he had to work even harder, to be a sturdy, proud-standing, robust money tree!

“Do you have to be so intense about brushing your teeth?” Xia Xinran, also in the bathroom for his morning routine, was startled by Ran Lin’s vigor.

Ran Lin gurgled and spat out the water, shaking his head at his friend. “You wouldn’t understand.”

“How could I not?” Xia Xinran retorted, his mouth curling despite not getting the juicy details the night before. He could guess. “Isn’t it just that you got all fired up¹ and couldn’t go all the way?”

Ran Lin: “…”

What he had been thinking and what his friend said seemed to be on completely different wavelengths.

Ran Lin mused, somewhat unsure.

“What’s this ‘all fired up¹‘ about?” Gu Jie asked, who happened to pass by the bathroom.

Ran Lin froze.

Xia Xinran was momentarily speechless.

Gu Jie suddenly understood on his own. “Ah, reminiscing about that time in Sanya trying to start a fire, right? That episode was indeed a pit. Despite all the friction, no fire was seen¹.”

¹So Xia Xinran was using (擦出火) which literally means “create fire” but in the context, it was more like “You got all fired/worked up last night.” Gu Jie, being so oblivious, thought they were actually talking about creating fire instead metaphorically, which is why he responded like so (referring to the variety show where Lu Yiyao failed to light a fire..

Ran Lin: “…”

Xia Xinran: “…”

“What are you all chatting about here?” Lu Yiyao, coming out of the bedroom, curiously joined in.

“Good morning,” Gu Jie greeted him enthusiastically, “Talking about that ‘Drifting’ episode in Sanya.”

Lu Yiyao wondered, “Why suddenly talk about that?”

Gu Jie shrugged, looking towards Ran Lin and Xia Xinran. “You’d have to ask them.”

Lu Yiyao’s gaze turned quizzically to them.

Ran Lin: “It’s just…”

Xia Xinran: “On a whim!”

……

The three days flew by, and with the departure of the visiting friends, the days seemed to speed up even more.

Mid-December arrived in a blink, and Ran Lin needed to return to prepare for <Chronicles of Winter>. Gu Jie, without any appointments, decided to stay a bit longer.

Before leaving Wuhan, Ran Lin, Gu Jie, and Director He had a meal together. This time, Director He treated them to a banquet of authentic Wuhan cuisine in the city center.

Again, they opted for tea, but this time the conversation wasn’t limited to <Dyeing Fire>. They chatted about everything under the sun, and Director He even inadvertently revealed some industry secrets.

As the meal concluded, Ran Lin, substituting tea for wine, toasted Director He.

Director He rarely accepted such gestures, so he obliged and included Gu Jie in the toast.

The three teacups clinked together—

“See you in April!”

April was still far off, but January was just around the corner. Back in Beijing not long after, Ran Lin, having just transformed from a disheveled youth back into a clean and tidy male artist, began shooting the film version of <Chronicles of Winter>.

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Kinky Thoughts:

I totally ship Gu Jie x Xia Xinran… Preferably with Gu Jie being the shou. I can imagine he’d be a great power bottom… though Xia Xinran could too TBH.

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