Author: 颜凉雨 / Yan Liang Yu

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

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Chapter 84

The buzzing of the clippers, like a lawnmower, neatly and uniformly trimmed the hair wherever they passed, leaving it short and orderly like a well-maintained lawn.

The hairstylist’s wrist was flexible, producing a naturally curved buzz cut. However, it was indeed very short, clinging to the scalp and revealing the round shape of the head without any place to hide.

Fortunately, Ran Lin’s good looks could still hold up under it.

In the mirror, the youth didn’t seem gloomy or like he had just come out of prison. Instead, when not making a sullen expression or simply smiling broadly, he resembled a good student in his rebellious phase, finally letting loose and rebelling.

“Looks good!” Jiang Yi had thought the shave would be disastrous, but upon seeing the finished result, she found that Ran Lin still looked refined. The haircut diminished his usual gentle vibe, replacing it with a hint of roguish charm, seemingly harmless yet likely to flash a mischievous grin when you’re not looking.

“Having good looks means being willful,” Gu Jie, who had been watching the whole process, commented wryly.

Only Ran Lin could pull off nearly being bald and still manage to look stylish; if it were Gu Jie, he mused, people would probably clutch their children and retreat indoors at the sight of him.

In late July in Wuhan, the heat was oppressive, like being in a steamer. The makeup area was a semi-open space, and even without direct sunlight, the temperature remained high.

Ran Lin had hoped shaving his head this short would be cooler, recalling the last time he did so in ninth grade as a pledge of dedication after poor final exam results. Then, it was winter, and stepping out of the barber shop without a hat, his head felt frozen solid. It took a long walk home and a long while indoors to feel like his head belonged to him again, making a woolen cap his best friend that winter.

However, the current heat was so intense that as the hair fell to the ground, he didn’t feel any cooler.

As the hairstylist finished sweeping up the cut hair, Ran Lin couldn’t help but reach up and touch his head, feeling the prickly stubble, a ticklish and curious sensation.

Gu Jie and Jiang Yi joined in, each taking their turn to feel his newly shorn head, satisfying their curiosity.

In the midst of a tight schedule, stealing half an hour of leisure was rare, but today the pace slowed for the entire crew because Jiang Yi was wrapping up.

Her joining the crew was like divine intervention; since then, the shooting schedule sped up as if on turbocharge, with her time with the crew only until July 25^th.

Today was July 24^th.

If not for wanting to see Ran Lin’s “kiwi head”, Jiang Yi could have caught an early flight back.

But since she was wrapping a day earlier than scheduled, she had half a day to enjoy the buzz, and the crew took the opportunity to throw her a small farewell party.

Coming to the rescue like a firefighter, Jiang Yi arrived with courage and left with grace.

After the farewell party that afternoon, Jiang Yi departed, and the crew resumed work. From now until the final wrap, it was all about Di Jiangtao’s scattered scenes right after his release from prison.

Almost all the delayed progress had been caught up during Jiang Yi’s 40-odd days of intense effort, marking a rare early wrap at six o’clock for the day.

Back at the hotel, Ran Lin immediately posted a selfie on Weibo. In the photo, he was bare faced, sporting the buzz cut, with a slightly mischievous look and a light smile hinting at defiance. The caption read, [Saving on shampoo now 🐰.]

Ever since the Qi Luoluo incident, Ran Lin’s Weibo had been buzzing with activity.

After showering, the comments were too numerous to keep up with—

[Burning Noodles Can Really Burn: The text is soft and cute, the selfie is seductively evil, the style is so inconsistent it kills people with OCD! 😟]

[Sad Donkey: With such a trendy hairstyle, shouldn’t we change the bunny emoji for this one 😎 to match…]

[Pear Blossom with Snow: Ahhh I really like the new hairstyle [Dead.jpg]]

[Huangfu Bai: What exactly did you go through? Having good looks doesn’t mean you can be this wild 😂]

[Lin’s Family Burning Noodles: Looking forward to <Dyeing Fire> more and more! 😀]

[Rising Burning Noodles: Just to inform, Ran Lin is currently filming a new movie in Wuhan, and this hairstyle is required by the script 🐰.]

[My Ran Lin Is the Best in the World: Want to touch.]

Ran Lin logged out of Weibo and messaged his lover, who had wrapped up shooting and returned to Beijing a few days ago. “How are you resting at home?”

……

In Beijing, Fan Li’s house.

Lu Yiyao lay in the bathtub, eyes closed in relaxation, the massage mode stirring the water, relaxing his back muscles in the streaming jets.

His body was in the tub, but his mind lingered on the selfie of his lover he’d seen just ten minutes ago.

He had intended to take a bath, but right before leaving the room, a casual scroll brought up that selfie. Ran Lin had never mentioned cutting his hair so short for the role, so when Lu Yiyao first saw the photo, he was a bit stunned.

After a moment, he recognized the person in the selfie as his lover, suspecting the surprise was meant to shock him.

But the more he looked, the more he liked it.

Now he just hoped Ran Lin’s hair wouldn’t grow back too quickly, so when his lover returned after wrapping up, he could still touch, kiss, and rub against it.

Ran Lin, with a buzz cut, exuded a cute sexiness.

After admiring for ten minutes, Lu Yiyao finally put his phone on charge and proceeded to his bath. He figured Ran Lin had probably just returned to the hotel, so he planned to video call him later.

The drama Lu Yiyao had just finished was his last one, and now he was only committed to a few endorsements. Some were expiring at the end of the year, others the next year, all of which he intended to fulfill naturally. For the few endorsements that were only halfway through, Yao Hong was already negotiating the termination fees. Thankfully, their ongoing good relationship with the brands meant that while surprised—since it’s more common to talk about renewals than terminations—they didn’t demand exorbitant fees for breaking the contracts. It was smoother than expected, with a couple of brands already considering Ran Lin as a possible replacement at Yao Hong’s suggestion.

But Lu Yiyao didn’t share these thoughts with Ran Lin.

Everyone has their own battles to fight. He would do his part and Ran Lin would do his; no need for many words, as a day of victory would eventually come when they’d meet again.

Turning off the massage mode and letting the water calm, Lu Yiyao slid down until he was fully submerged in water.

From the day he entered the entertainment industry, his world had always been noisy, but at this moment, under the warm water, he felt his heart and the world quiet down together.

Outside the door, eavesdropping ears were at work.

Lu Yimeng lay on the floor, sticking her buttocks out, enduring the soreness in her waist and legs, but she didn’t hear any suspicious conversation from the bathroom. Instead, the housekeeper passed by twice, her gaze growing increasingly complex, not understanding why a perfectly good girl would want to eavesdrop on her brother taking a bath.

It was a rare occasion for big brother to come home, and Lu Yimeng was frustrated at not uncovering any juicy information.

Suddenly, her wandering eyes seemed to hit upon an idea, and with a whoosh, she sprang up and silently ran towards her brother’s bedroom.

Lu Yiyao’s bedroom door wasn’t locked; he didn’t think to guard against his own sister. Firstly, his and Ran Lin’s communication always began cautiously before diving into content, and secondly, he was completely unaware of his sister’s suspicion. Being cautious outside, he naturally relaxed at home.

He didn’t know that his sharp sister had seen through everything… well, of course, with some minor inaccuracies.

Lu Yimeng successfully entered her brother’s bedroom and immediately saw the phone charging on the bedside table. She wanted to celebrate with fireworks!

She dashed over in three quick strides, her cheerful steps making no sound on the soft carpet.

As if sensing her entry, when she was just a step away from the bedside table, the phone suddenly lit up with a “ding dong” notification sound.

Lu Yimeng’s spirits lifted, and she pounced over, eyes wide, carefully reading the new WeChat message:

[Airport Superfan: How are you resting at home?]

Lu Yimeng crouched beside the bedside table, staring at this mysterious message, her brows deeply furrowed.

Airport Superfan… What in the world is that!

The screen soon dimmed again, and Lu Yimeng hurriedly picked it up and tried to light it up, but she couldn’t unlock it without the passcode.

In her twenty-something years of life, she never imagined her first phone snooping wouldn’t be to check on a cheating boyfriend but rather to see if her own brother needed to come out of the closet. The irony was not lost on her.

What made it worse was that she couldn’t get into the phone.

She tried all the four-digit combinations she could think of: brother’s birthday, dad’s birthday, mom’s birthday, her own birthday, the last four digits of the ID card, the last four digits of the phone number, brother’s debut day… After about ten minutes of trying everything she could think of, she got nowhere.

And during this time, the so-called “Airport Superfan” didn’t send any new messages.

Lu Yimeng sighed in despair and reluctantly placed her brother’s phone back on the charger, stealthily exiting the room as if she had never been there.

……

Lu Yiyao emerged from the bathroom at 7:40 p.m. The housekeeper offered to heat up dinner for him, but he declined, making a simple sandwich with two slices of toast before returning to his room.

“Today I went back to my mom’s place. Just got out of the shower and feeling revived. Where are you?” Lu Yiyao munched on the sandwich while sending a voice message to his lover.

“Hotel.” Came the quick reply.

Lu Yiyao finished his sandwich in a few bites and found his Bluetooth headset in the bedside drawer. After putting it on, he sent a video call invitation.

As the video connected, Lu Yiyao was still swallowing the last of his sandwich, his cheeks slightly puffed, his usual cool demeanor compromised by his eating, especially after seeing Ran Lin, which made him chew even faster.

Ran Lin had intended to surprise Lu Yiyao but ended up making him laugh instead. “Sneaking some food, huh?”

Lu Yiyao took a big gulp of water to wash it down before responding, “Sandwich.”

Ran Lin frowned. “That’s all you’re eating at home?”

Lu Yiyao replied, “Low oil, low calories.”

Ran Lin looked at him for a couple of seconds before saying, “Aren’t you not planning to take any more roles? Why still so strict?”

“Not taking roles doesn’t mean I can let myself go,” Lu Yiyao said. “Otherwise, what if you one day find me unattractive and leave me for someone else?”

Ran Lin glared through the screen. “Am I that superficial?”

Lu Yiyao considered seriously for a moment and nodded. “Kind of.”

Ran Lin was speechless. “……”

“Don’t move,” Lu Yiyao suddenly said in a low voice. “Let me see your hair.”

Ran Lin thought it was finally time to get to the main topic and sat up straight, playfully asking, “Cool, right?”

Lu Yiyao didn’t respond, just softened his gaze and stared intently.

Ran Lin expected Lu Yiyao to be shocked, but now felt he might be the one getting startled. “Say something.”

“How does it feel?” Lu Yiyao asked softly.

Ran Lin didn’t catch on. “Huh?”

Lu Yiyao moved the phone closer, murmuring. “What does it feel like when you touch it?”

Ran Lin frowned, feeling the question was a bit odd, but he instinctively raised his hand to touch his head again, feeling the same as earlier in the day. “A bit prickly.”

Lu Yiyao nodded slightly, then squinted his eyes, seemingly in a trance or satisfaction.

Ran Lin swallowed, feeling as if an invisible hand was touching his head…

Ran Lin got a jolt from his own imagination, grateful that <Dyeing Fire> would be wrapping soon, as long-distance relationships were making them both a bit peculiar.

“Jiang Yi wrapped today.” To steer the conversation away from an uncontrollable abyss, Ran Lin cleared his throat.

Lu Yiyao frowned, obviously not too pleased to be interrupted from his reverie, but after a moment of thought, he realized it was good news. “With her wrap, the whole film must be close to finishing, right?”

“Yeah,” Ran Lin said. “According to the current schedule, the entire film should wrap on August 8^th.”

August 8th was only half a month away, and Ran Lin’s <The Legend of Lantern Blossoms> was scheduled to shoot right after. Thinking of this, Lu Yiyao became a bit uncertain. “So will you be coming back to Beijing?”

“I will,” Ran Lin said without hesitation, then quickly remembered he hadn’t told Lu Yiyao about the delayed start of <The Legend of Lantern Blossoms> and hurriedly added, “Xi Jie coordinated with them for me. I’ll join the crew in Hengdian on August 18th, so I have ten days off in between.”

Lu Yiyao finally felt at ease, his eyes and brows softening as he whispered, “Perfect. Xia Xinran has been nagging about meeting up once you guys are back. I’ll set up a tentative date with him tomorrow.”

“Xia Xinran is available?” Ran Lin was surprised.

Lu Yiyao explained, “He’s been quite unhappy with his company lately, stopped many activities, and is feeling quite stifled.”

Ran Lin, busy with his schedule, hadn’t been in touch with Xia Xinran and was unaware of the situation. “What’s going on?”

Lu Yiyao detailed, “His company wants to renew the contract, but the new offer is only a slight improvement on the original. Xia Xinran can’t accept it, wants to terminate, and talks have broken down.”

Ran Lin asked, “Are the terms that bad?”

Hearing Ran Lin’s question, Lu Yiyao realized his partner was completely unaware of the critical aspect. “Xia Xinran’s contract, the one he signed at his debut, is about to expire. It’s finally coming to an end, and the company has offered a new one that’s hardly different—just minor improvements in certain clauses. Isn’t that bad?”

Ran Lin was astonished. This wasn’t just bad; it was vampiric.

Xia Xinran debuted through a talent show, and contracts signed under such circumstances are usually like indentures: long-term and stringent. Ran Lin thought Xia Xinran would have renegotiated his contract by now, given his fame and leverage, but to persist until the contract’s end was unexpected!

Ran Lin shook his head in disbelief. “What is his company thinking? With Xia Xinran’s current popularity, they still expect to retain him with a talent show contract?”

“It’s probably just a negotiation tactic.” Lu Yiyao analyzed. “They think by offering an outrageous contract first, they’ll have more room to maneuver later. If they start with a generous contract and Xia Xinran isn’t satisfied, demanding even more, the company would be at a disadvantage.”

Ran Lin rolled his eyes. “If Xia Xinran were like that, he wouldn’t have stuck with his debut contract for so many years. With his popularity over the years, countless companies must have approached him, wanting to poach him. If he weren’t loyal, he would have left long ago.”

“This contract was a cold shock for Xia Xinran. I think he probably never even thought about leaving before this.” Lu Yiyao said, “So, I support him terminating the contract. After all these years, the company still doesn’t understand its own artist’s character. It’s not worth wasting emotions on.”

“Right.” Ran Lin firmly sided with his partner. “How is he doing now, mood-wise?”

Lu Yiyao responded, “He’s fine. He says he went out drinking all night with friends right after, cursing the company from night till dawn, and then warmly embraced the sunrise feeling completely refreshed.”

Ran Lin was bemused. “Yep, that’s his style.”

The two continued talking until almost eleven, then reluctantly said goodnight.

As Lu Yiyao took off his Bluetooth headset, his ears were a bit warm.

Fan Li hadn’t returned yet, and the entire villa was lit only by night lights, casting a dim, cool glow.

Lu Yimeng struggled to her feet, stretching her stiff muscles and criticizing her own silliness for eavesdropping for so long.

Throughout, her brother never mentioned the other person’s name, cleverly avoiding using the speakerphone. What made it even more infuriating was their lengthy discussion on “work”, starting from “Xia Xinran’s contract renewal” and branching into various aspects including acting techniques, public relations strategies, and how profound impressions from variety shows can affect an actor’s role-shaping. If not for occasionally switching to the love channel to whisper sweet nothings, she would have thought her brother was chatting with his agent…

Is this really how you do romance, brother?

But whether or not the name was mentioned didn’t matter to Lu Yimeng anymore. With all the gathered information—the actress just wrapped up, mutual friend Xia Xinran, and previous incidents—if the person wasn’t Gu Jie, it would be a real surprise.

Her eavesdropping today was just to understand more about Gu Jie, as public personas can be quite different from private ones. With her brother rarely home, her anxiety got the better of her.

Back in her room, Lu Yimeng filtered through all the “life talks” and finally picked out two useful snippets:

[She’s wrapped up, so your whole movie must be wrapping up soon, right?]

[Perfect, Xia Xinran has been nagging about meeting up once you guys are back. I’ll set up a tentative date with him tomorrow.]

Piecing it all together, the conclusion was clear—Gu Jie’s movie would soon wrap up, and once he’s back in Beijing, her brother and Xia Xinran are planning to meet up immediately!

……

On August 8^th, <Dyeing Fire> wrapped up.

On the day of the wrap, Wuhan experienced a downpour, breaking the continuous heatwave and bringing a refreshing coolness.

The movie was tough to shoot, and at the wrap party, the producer, now relieved of his stress, got emotional and even shed a few tears.

On August 9^th, Ran Lin returned to Beijing, first visiting Dreams Without Limits as per Xi Jie’s advice, reporting the shooting progress to the CEO, who happened to be there, and expressing his determination to do well in the upcoming <The Legend of Lantern Blossoms>.

The CEO, pleased with his dedicated artist, felt comforted. After Ran Lin left, he praised Wang Xi over the phone for managing such a sensible artist and mentioned Ran Lin’s contract expiring next June, suggesting they start discussing renewal.

When Wang Xi received this message, Ran Lin was sitting in her office. After hanging up, she closed the door and blinds before telling Ran Lin about the CEO’s praise.

Ran Lin was perplexed; he had just left five minutes ago, and the CEO was already commending him.

“But being too sensible can be troublesome.” Wang Xi sighed softly. “The CEO finally remembered to discuss renewal.”

“Finally?” Ran Lin didn’t understand her phrasing. There was still a year left; why did it feel like they had been waiting for a long time?

Wang Xi explained, “Your projects run until the end of November, and many appearances are scheduled until next year. If we don’t start talking about renewal now, the company won’t be able to book any more jobs for you.”

“But…” Ran Lin hesitated.

Wang Xi nodded, speaking softly. “I know you don’t want to renew. We talked about it before, but those were just intentions. Now it’s time to get into specifics.”

“How should we proceed?” Ran Lin asked.

Wang Xi replied, “I will help you delay the renewal discussion until the end of the year. You’re busy shooting <The Legend of Lantern Blossoms> anyway and genuinely don’t have time to talk. Then, by the end of the year, even if we start negotiating with the company, such matters won’t be concluded quickly. By the time the company presents a concrete contract, it’ll probably be late February or early March next year. By then, your payment for <The Legend of Lantern Blossoms> will have been settled, and you can formally propose to terminate the contract. The company won’t have anything to hold you back. Just follow the contract terms.”

Ran Lin was stunned, not expecting Wang Xi to have considered his situation so thoroughly.

“What about after terminating? Have you decided whether to sign with another company or establish your own studio?” Wang Xi suddenly asked.

Ran Lin felt a stir in his heart but kept a neutral face, replying, “I’m leaning towards signing with another company.”

“Okay, then I’ll also help look out for suitable companies for you,” Wang Xi said.

Ran Lin blurted out, “No need…”

Wang Xi raised her eyebrows quizzically. “Hm?”

“I want to think about it more,” Ran Lin said vaguely. “I haven’t completely made up my mind yet.”

Wang Xi chuckled. “Worried I’ll be wasting my time?”

Ran Lin hesitated, then nodded.

Wang Xi smiled. “I’m your agent; it’s my job to worry for you.”

Ran Lin felt a bit guilty.

Thinking he was still pondering those things, Wang Xi continued, “Don’t worry, I’m not too busy right now. Even if I wanted to scout for you, I’d have to wait until <Chronicles of Winter> and <Dyeing Fire> are released next year. By then, companies interested in poaching you will be lining up. No need for me to search.”

With his agent saying so, Ran Lin felt somewhat excited for the next year.

The next day was sunny.

Ran Lin changed clothes eight times at home before finally putting together an outfit he was satisfied with. As he stepped out, the night was already falling, with the moon and sparse stars in the sky.

But he didn’t have much time to gaze at the stars because Gu Jie’s car was already waiting downstairs. He had barely taken a few steps out of his apartment before entering the car.

Gu Jie was still wearing his camouflage pants and T-shirt, but the colors were different from the last few times Ran Lin had seen them. Previously, they were mostly deep green, but this time they were yellow-green. Ran Lin suspected his friend’s collection of camouflage pants might cover all terrains, possibly even jungle and desert camo.

The two had just returned to Beijing on an early flight yesterday and didn’t need much in the way of pleasantries. So, as Gu Jie started the car, he said, “You should buy a car, too. It’s inconvenient to always take taxis when you’re not working.”

Had someone else said this, Ran Lin might have wondered if they were reluctant to pick him up. But with Gu Jie, he took it at face value.

After fastening his seatbelt, Ran Lin responded, “I thought about buying one last year but got too busy to follow through.”

Gu Jie looked ahead. “Oh, let me know when you decide to buy one. I can help.”

Ran Lin looked at him. “You can get a discount?”

Gu Jie, a bit flustered, replied, “No. I mean, I know quite a bit about cars.”

As they spoke, the car merged onto the main road.

Suddenly, a ding dong sound echoed twice in the car.

Ran Lin took out his phone to see a WeChat voice message from Xia Xinran saying, “I’m already here!”

The melodious voice of the beauty lingered in the car for a few seconds before fading.

Ran Lin grinned, remembering that Gu Jie was driving, and another ding dong likely meant a message on his phone too. He asked, “Do you need me to check it for you?”

“No need,” Gu Jie replied without hesitation. “It’s probably the same message as yours.”

“…That makes sense.” Ran Lin found himself at a loss for words.

The gathering had been planned since the beginning of the month, as the drama was nearing its end with no likelihood of further issues. Thus, Lu Yiyao and Xia Xinran had set the date for today.

Gu Jie had agreed immediately when Ran Lin asked, also offering a ride since his place in Beijing wasn’t too far from Ran Lin’s.

“We’re on our way.” Ran Lin sent a voice message back to Xia Xinran.

About ten minutes later, Xia Xinran sent another message. “Teacher Lu is also here, and he’s dressed up really handsome today.”

Ran Lin couldn’t help but smirk and glanced at Gu Jie, who was focused on driving. Clearing his throat, he said very formally, “No picture, no truth.”

Ding dong.

Xia Xinran’s speed in sending a stealth photo was lightning-fast.

Ran Lin opened the picture. Lu Yiyao was looking out at the yard lights through the window, his hair apparently freshly cut, a little shorter than in the video but looking more spirited. A small table lamp cast shadows on his side profile, accentuating his handsome features.

Ran Lin didn’t reply with a voice message but typed instead—[Tell him he looks handsome.]

Xia Xinran responded not with a voice message but with a playful GIF—[Go eat your dog food!.gif]

Ran Lin laughed silently, his eyes curving into smiles. After a while, he contentedly put his phone back in his pocket. When he looked up, he realized the car had stopped at a persistent red light not far away.

In the corner of his eye, he felt someone looking over.

Ran Lin tensed up instinctively and turned, meeting Gu Jie’s curious gaze.

“What are you chatting about, looking so happy?” Gu Jie had stopped for the long red light and, a bit bored, tried to strike up a conversation, only to see his friend seemingly bubbling with joy.

Ran Lin couldn’t bear to keep it from his friend any longer and took out his phone, showing Gu Jie the photo of Lu Yiyao that Xia Xinran had sent. “Xia Xinran just sent me this.”

Gu Jie’s eyes widened.

Ran Lin bit his lip.

“Lu Yiyao is also here?” As the light turned green, Gu Jie quickly shifted gears. “Then we better hurry!”

Ran Lin: “……”

Coming out is a very difficult thing, especially when friends are completely uncooperative.

The gathering place was chosen by Lu Yiyao, a private club favored by many in the industry for its discretion. Many business and personal gatherings occur there, and the frequent comings and goings of celebrities mean that their small group wouldn’t attract attention, especially for a casual gathering like theirs.

“Why are you both so early—?” Gu Jie pushed the door open, his voice entering before him.

Ran Lin followed Gu Jie, peering over his shoulder to see his lover.

Xia Xinran, catching the exchange of glances between Lu Yiyao and Ran Lin, held his forehead, clearly overwhelmed by their style of romancing.

But what else can be done?

Even popular male and female artists have to hide their relationships, let alone the two of them.

That was also why Xia Xinran was willing to play the third wheel for these two friends—despite complaining, it was heartbreaking to see how hard they tried to keep it a secret.

“What’s with that expression?” Gu Jie sat down next to Xia Xinran, frowning at the other’s complicated expression. “You don’t welcome me?”

Xia Xinran sighed and smiled. “You’re mistaken; I’m just envious of you.”

Gu Jie was puzzled. “Envious of what?”

Xia Xinran: “Silly…”

Gu Jie: “Huh?”

Xia Xinran: “Nothing… No worries.”

“Learn more from me.” Gu Jie patted “Brother Xia’s” shoulder.

Xia Xinran rolled his eyes, no longer wanting to deal with him.

Ran Lin had already sat down next to Lu Yiyao. At a round table for six, four people would naturally sit close together, so it wasn’t odd.

Lu Yiyao’s hand moved under the table.

Ran Lin saw it and thought he would reach out and hold his. Instead, the next second, he saw Lu Yiyao’s hand lift.

Ran Lin was confused, but before she could speak, he felt a firm pat on his head.

It wasn’t just a pat but a back-and-forth stroke, causing his head to sway.

“It’s quite prickly.” Lu Yiyao smiled with amusement, feeling all the irritability from waiting, longing, and not being able to meet dissipate with the slight itchiness in his palm.

“That’s enough,” Ran Lin said, seeing his partner still not stopping after a sigh of sentimentality. “This is a head, not a ball.”

Lu Yiyao chuckled, his voice deep and pleasant.

Ran Lin grabbed his hand from his head and pressed it under the table. Before he could let go, he held it back.

Xia Xinran withdrew his gaze, resting his chin on his hand, feeling utterly defeated by the display of affection.

Gu Jie looked at Ran Lin and Lu Yiyao, who were gazing into each other’s eyes, then at Xia Xinran, who was staring at the ceiling, not quite understanding. “Aren’t you guys going to order food?”

As the dishes were served and drinks opened, the four clinked glasses, and the atmosphere gradually warmed up amid the crisp sounds.

To say it was warm wasn’t quite right; it was more carefree. Four people who barely see each other throughout the year, yet they talked and laughed like old friends, unconcerned and enjoying their food and drink.

After a few drinks, they started discussing Xia Xinran’s current contract issues. Xia Xinran was troubled and emphatically declared, “I won’t renew. Even if the terms were a mountain of gold and silver, I wouldn’t!”

Ran Lin could see, just as Lu Yiyao said, Xia Xinran had grown cold-hearted about it.

He asked, “So where will you go after you terminate your contract? Have you found another place?”

Xia Xinran smirked and shook his head.

“How about joining my company?” Lu Yiyao suddenly said.

Ran Lin was startled, instinctively looking at Lu Yiyao, almost thinking he had misheard—Are you serious?

Lu Yiyao’s lips curled up, and suddenly he scooped Ran Lin close with one arm, openly hugging him while addressing Xia Xinran. “Ran Lin has already agreed to join my company after his contract ends. How about you consider it?”

Xia Xinran was so shocked he dropped his chopsticks.

Even Gu Jie, usually oblivious, was stunned.

After a while, Xia Xinran incredulously asked, “You’re starting a company to sign artists?”

“And produce films and TV series,” Lu Yiyao added. “It’ll be officially registered by the end of the year.”

Xia Xinran: “What about your studio?”

Lu Yiyao: “It’ll merge into the company.”

Xia Xinran: “Can you manage it all?”

Lu Yiyao: “I’ll be a full-time boss, so I’ll manage.”

Xia Xinran: “…”

Watching Lu Yiyao happily hugging Ran Lin, Xia Xinran believed he was serious.

But…

“Teacher Lu, you’re successful as an artist and a reliable friend, but as a boss…” Xia Xinran spoke his mind. “I’m not very confident.”

“Don’t worry.” Lu Yiyao seemed to have anticipated this. “Wait till the company is set up by the end of the year. I’ll show you more detailed information.”

Ran Lin finally believed Lu Yiyao was serious about recruiting people.

His partner had already entered business mode. Though still in the artist’s seat, his mind had flown to the next stage.

The air conditioning in the private room was a bit cool, but Lu Yiyao’s body was warm.

Ran Lin, rarely having the chance to openly be close to his partner, let him hug him, looking like he was supporting the recruitment efforts of Boss Lu.

However, in the end, Xia Xinran still shook his head. “No.”

Lu Yiyao was a bit disappointed. “Why?”

Xia Xinran: “I’ll never be the First Brother in your company.”

Lu Yiyao: “……”

Ran Lin laughed, breaking free from his partner’s embrace, and patted the shoulder of the disappointed Boss Lu as a consolation.

“Full-time boss?” Gu Jie suddenly slammed the table, shocked. “Teacher Lu, are you not planning to act anymore?!”

All three pairs of eyes turned to Gu Jie with complex expressions.

After a long silence—

Xia Xinran spoke for everyone. “Is the chair you’re sitting on in a different time zone from ours?”

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