Author: 颜凉雨 / Yan Liang Yu

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

---

Chapter 86

Ran Lin had seen the August 14^th fashion cocktail party on the schedule provided by Liu Wanwan, but he thought it was just a simple press release, not expecting to be pulled by his agent at noon for grooming, maintenance, and styling.

Although his buzz cut didn’t leave much room for creativity, considerable effort went into selecting and coordinating his outfit. During the fitting process, Ran Lin realized the significance of the cocktail party and confirmed with his agent that it was indeed organized by XX publication.

“Next time, Xi Jie, you should have Wanwan mark these important events with a red pen on the schedule,” Ran Lin said, standing with his arms outstretched for the stylist to work on his outfit, regretting not having watched his diet or slept well the past few days.

Wang Xi noticed his annoyance but reassured him after a close look. “Your skin looks pretty good.”

The afternoon of grooming did wonders for his skin, but Ran Lin still felt he could have been better, especially since this was a rare opportunity to elevate his status in the fashion scene.

The annual dinner hosted by XX publication is a major event in both the fashion and entertainment industries, attended by high-level executives from entertainment companies, major brands’ China heads, and many celebrities, creating a festive and warm atmosphere.

In comparison, the cocktail party was much simpler and more discreet, with limited invitations typically extended to heavyweights in the entertainment industry closely related to the magazine, heads of high-end brands in China, and a few media personalities. The celebrities invited were more about relationships than fame.

The relaxed and casual atmosphere made the cocktail party more like a gathering of friends and an easier setting for networking and fostering relationships, providing a unique opportunity for artists genuinely interested in penetrating the fashion circle.

“With <Chronicles of Winter> and <Dyeing Fire> releasing next year, you shouldn’t worry about resources for a while. But without making an impression in fashion, you’ll never get high-profile endorsements. So…” Wang Xi took a couple of steps back to appraise Ran Lin’s outfit from all angles, quite pleased. “Perform well tonight and outshine everyone.”

Ran Lin frowned at his dapper reflection in the mirror, feeling his agent’s target might be a bit off.

“By the way,” Wang Xi remembered something, making eye contact with Ran Lin through the full-length mirror. “I spoke with the Legend of Lantern Blossoms crew today; you’ll join them two days earlier, on August 16^th. It was initially set for the 18th, but earlier is better for the director and producer; it means they’ll be more accommodating.”

“Alright,” Ran Lin readily agreed, appreciating his agent’s thoroughness. “Joining two days early means wrapping up two days early.”

Wang Xi had anticipated his response; for Ran Lin, the joy of acting always came first, even for less acclaimed works.

Wang Xi often wished she had started working with Ran Lin earlier, but then she’d think it was better that they hadn’t met too soon. Ran Lin deserved better support, like a strong wind lifting a great roc. She doubted if she was even the wind that could lift Ran Lin now, let alone in the past.

The stylist eventually chose a light gray suit with a subtly striped white shirt for Ran Lin. From a distance, the shirt appeared plain white, but up close, the faint pattern was visible, understated yet textured. He wore no tie, and the suit was unbuttoned, creating a formal yet cool look perfect for the hot August weather. The clean gray and white color scheme complemented Ran Lin’s buzz cut, giving him a distinctively stylish look.

Ran Lin took a full-body selfie with his phone in the mirror.

Wang Xi chuckled. “Stop admiring yourself.” She checked her watch and added, “It’s about time to leave.”

As Ran Lin put his phone back into his suit pocket and followed Wang Xi out, he noticed a new watch on her wrist, the first one he’d seen her wear since she removed her Cartier last year.

As they eased into the evening traffic, Ran Lin casually inquired, “Xi Jie, is that a new watch?”

Wang Xi was momentarily startled before proudly showing off her wrist. “Yes. Do you like it?”

Ran Lin didn’t know much about watches beyond a few well-known brands and classic models, so he couldn’t tell if Wang Xi’s watch was a discreetly luxurious brand. Compared to the delicate femininity of her last watch, this one was more straightforward and clear, perfect for simply telling the time, with a high visual comfort rating.

“It looks good,” Ran Lin sincerely complimented.

The value of a watch for the wearer isn’t in the brand or price but in its suitability. Whatever feels comfortable is the best.

Wang Xi was evidently pleased with his comment, happily observing her watch for a moment longer.

Ran Lin had been on set for the first half of the year, so his interaction with Wang Xi was limited. Upon returning, he noticed she seemed more relaxed than before. This didn’t mean she was neglecting her work duties but rather that she appeared less tense overall, a subtle change perhaps not noticeable to others but quite apparent to Ran Lin and Liu Wanwan.

Privately, Ran Lin and his assistant agreed that the current Wang Xi was less imposing than before, and even from an outsider’s perspective, her usual hustle seemed to have a new ease and composure.

Looking at Liu Wanwan, the young girl was gazing out at the gradually lit street lamps, lost in thought.

Ran Lin lowered his head to quietly send a message—[There was a heavy rain in Beijing yesterday. How’s the weather in Shanghai?]

Lu Yiyao had flown to Shanghai the night after the party to film an outdoor sports program, which was considered charity and was expected to last a week. Ran Lin was prepared not to see his partner before joining the “Legend of Lantern Blossoms” crew.

About ten minutes later, a reply came with a vibration—[Sunny yesterday. Extremely sunny today.]

Ran Lin laughed and then felt a bit worried—[Be careful. Make sure to protect yourself from the sun and apply a soothing mask tonight.]

Lu Yiyao—[Image]

Ran Lin—[Speak properly, why are you sending a selfie…]

Lu Yiyao—[Just letting you know I can handle it with my looks.]

Ran Lin felt speechless and instinctively wanted to tease back, but looking at the face in the picture, he couldn’t bring himself to say anything disingenuous.

Lu Yiyao’s “narcissism” could almost be brainwashing; anyway, now Ran Lin felt there was no one more handsome than his boyfriend in the whole world.

As a gesture of reciprocity, Ran Lin also sent over the full-body selfie he had just taken.

Lu Yiyao immediately noticed—[Are you on an assignment?]

Ran Lin—[XX publication’s cocktail party. On my way there now.]

Lu Yiyao looked at the message thoughtfully, a bit surprised.

The threshold for the XX publication cocktail party wasn’t low. Although Ran Lin would have two movies released next year, he was currently just a rising star with some popularity from variety shows and dramas. Many celebrities with higher fame and popularity might not even be invited because breaking into this circle requires more than just popularity and fame; connections are crucial. Hence, many artists with both fame and popularity struggle to enter the fashion circle, whereas some with moderate works and public presence manage to make a significant mark and win over major brands.

Wang Xi’s years of networking were indeed impressive.

Lu Yiyao’s mind on serious matters didn’t stop him from teasing—[Next time you send a full-body selfie, you don’t need to be dressed so neatly.]

His experienced partner immediately countered with an emoji precision strike—[The other person doesn’t want to talk and throws a naked man at you.jpg]

Lu Yiyao chuckled, initially looking for a couple-themed emoji in his collection, but then he heard the announcement for boarding.

Forget it. Lu Yiyao turned off his phone and put it back in his pocket. Instead of sending emojis, why not send himself over for a face-to-face surprise.

……

Not getting a response to his emoji, Ran Lin figured Lu Yiyao must be busy with something, as it wasn’t even 6 p.m. yet and still early.

During rush hour, Ran Lin’s car nearly crawled to the cocktail party venue, arriving close to 8 p.m.

As night fell, the area outside the cocktail party was quiet. Even though several cars arrived behind him, there wasn’t the pomp of a red carpet or flashes from paparazzi cameras. Everyone entered orderly, like attending a private party. Only upon entering did Ran Lin see a beautifully designed wooden sign informing attendees that the cocktail party was on the second floor, starting at 8:30 p.m.

Ran Lin was early, and upon entering the second floor, the invited guests were still sparse, scattered around in small groups chatting.

The venue was warmly decorated, facilitating easy movement and providing quiet spots with sofas and chairs for conversations. The background music played soothing, light tunes, adding to the comfortable ambiance.

However, Ran Lin didn’t have much time to soak it all in as Wang Xi spotted an acquaintance and led him over to greet them. It was a senior editor of the publication and a close friend of Wang Xi’s for many years.

With this friend’s introduction, Ran Lin got to know almost everyone from the magazine there. By the time they finished mingling, it was 8:25 p.m., and the venue was now packed with guests, looking resplendent. Apart from a few familiar faces from the entertainment industry, he hardly recognized anyone else.

As the lighting in the venue softened, it became even harder to make out faces.

At 8:30 p.m., the venue quieted down for the host’s speech.

Ran Lin, unable to get close to the front, watched the blurry figure on stage from a distance and clapped along with the rest of the guests at appropriate moments.

After the welcome speech ended and the crowd dispersed, the cocktail party officially began. Ran Lin, holding a glass of champagne, followed Wang Xi around the venue. He hardly drank, but the faint fruity fragrance wafting from the glass was pleasantly uplifting.

“Ms. Wang.”

Just as Wang Xi and Ran Lin finished talking with a media person, a familiar voice called from behind.

Turning around, it was Ding Kai.

Ran Lin, turning with Wang Xi, was also taken aback. It seemed either they never saw this person or kept running into him. Today, Ding Kai was dressed in a black suit, exuding more stability and formality than their last casual encounter.

Wang Xi had caught a glimpse of Ding Kai earlier while mingling with Ran Lin but had expected to ignore each other given the “subtly aborted” collaboration between them. Moreover, since <Mint Green>, she hadn’t been in touch with him, figuring it best to avoid an executive who was too interested in her artist.

But with Ding Kai approaching, Wang Xi had to respond politely. “President Ding, long time no see.”

“With you, yes,” Ding Kai said, looking meaningfully at Ran Lin and smiling. “But not with him.”

Wang Xi looked confusedly at Ran Lin.

Ran Lin had no choice but to admit, “We bumped into President Ding a few days ago while dining.”

“It’s a pity we didn’t get a chance to talk much,” Ding Kai said with a sigh.

The last time they didn’t get to talk much, and now here they were at the cocktail party, finally an opportunity for a proper conversation. However, both Wang Xi and Ran Lin internally rolled their eyes, not taking the bait of his obvious lead.

Ding Kai was like a snake—maybe not poisonous, but his occasional slithering presence was unsettling and unpleasant.

Watching Wang Xi and Ran Lin stand together like a united front, nearly impregnable in their defenses, Ding Kai found amusement. He surmised the pair probably had their fair share of comments about him privately. But it didn’t matter to him; he enjoyed this kind of relationship where they visibly disapproved of him but were still unable to do anything about it, finding endless amusement in it.

“Yu Dai’s general manager of China is over there. I’ll introduce you to him,” Ding Kai suddenly said.

Wang Xi was quite surprised at the suggestion but became instinctively cautious afterwards.

Yu Dai is a well-known international brand, and only top-tier superstars or the new generation’s popular stars manage to establish connections with such a brand. Ran Lin’s current status was somewhat far from reaching this level.

“Relax,” Ding Kai said, not even glancing at Ran Lin but smiling at Wang Xi. “I won’t be asking for any referral fee from you.”

Wang Xi was surprised by Ding Kai’s frankness, which essentially meant—I am purely doing a good deed, with no ulterior motives for you.

With the conversation at this point, it wouldn’t be good for her to deny his face. “Then we thank you, President Ding.”

Ding Kai nodded and turned towards the general manager of Yu Dai.

Wang Xi gave Ran Lin a look, about to speak, but he spoke first. “I understand.”

One does not slap a smiling face, especially when someone is offering help without asking for anything in return. Ran Lin didn’t like Ding Kai, but he wasn’t ungrateful. If Ding Kai really had ill intentions, there would be many ways and means to do so without going out of his way to introduce him to a major brand.

Soon, Wang Xi and Ran Lin joined Ding Kai, who naturally introduced them to the general manager of Yu Dai’s China branch.

It was evident that Ding Kai had a good relationship with the manager. Instead of platitudes, he expressed regret while introducing Ran Lin. “Last year, I had a project that could have worked with him, but due to some unfortunate circumstances, it didn’t happen. Looking back, it’s quite a pity.”

With a few words, he turned a formal introduction into a casual meeting of friends. The manager, not familiar with Ran Lin, became curious after Ding Kai’s introduction and chatted quite a bit with Ran Lin, not just about his personal endeavors but also about fashion and brand topics, until the manager was called away by other friends.

Ding Kai didn’t mind and went on to introduce Wang Xi and Ran Lin to some of his other friends, all of whom were brand executives.

Even if Wang Xi was slow to catch on, she now realized that Ding Kai wasn’t just messing around; he was genuinely trying to help.

From all the introductions made by Ding Kai that evening, if she had tried her best, she might have managed to make connections with one or two of them.

After making the rounds, before Wang Xi could offer any polite words of thanks, Ding Kai was called away. Watching him mingling eagerly with others from afar, Wang Xi muttered to Ran Lin, “What do you think he’s up to?”

Ran Lin didn’t answer, as his attention wasn’t really on Wang Xi but was rather drawn to a corner of the venue—when they passed by earlier, he had spotted an acquaintance.

“What are you thinking about?” Wang Xi asked, lightly tapping her artist.

Ran Lin shook his head. “Nothing.”

“Now that you’re finally free,” the editor, who was close to Wang Xi, approached them, “come with me quickly, or our editor-in-chief will disappear again.”

The editor-in-chief she referred to was the new head of XX publication, who had just taken the position last month. Wang Xi hadn’t had the chance to meet them yet.

It’s better to make first-time connections with magazine editors without the artists; otherwise, it seems more like discussing work. So Wang Xi said to Ran Lin, “I’ll go over there for a bit. Don’t wander off.”

“Don’t worry,” Ran Lin said, feeling a bit like he was being treated as a child.

As he watched his agent and her friend leave, Ran Lin took a piece of pastry to a quiet corner with an empty sofa and paired it with his champagne.

He was getting hungry and realized that socializing was quite draining.

After quickly finishing his snack, Ran Lin wiped his mouth and looked again in the direction where he had spotted the “acquaintance”. From his current position, he couldn’t see clearly due to the crowd, but he still tried to look through, as if he didn’t need to physically see, just looking in that direction would allow him to see through all obstacles and discern the other’s face.

“Are you looking for me?” A familiar voice with a light laugh suddenly came from behind.

Even though it had been a long time since they had seen each other and hadn’t been in contact, Ran Lin could immediately recognize the voice.

Before Ran Lin could turn around, the person had already sat down opposite him.

The last time they met was for the audition of <Mint Green>. He hadn’t had the time to look closely just now, but now Ran Lin noticed Zhang Beichen had lost a lot of weight. Despite the dim lighting, the fatigue on his face was evident.

“Long time no see.” Ran Lin heard himself say.

“Yes.” Zhang Beichen smiled faintly. “I always seem to miss your gatherings.”

Ran Lin was at a loss for words.

There was never a definitive point when he and Zhang Beichen’s relationship clearly broke down, just a gradual distancing on his part, which Zhang Beichen never addressed. Over time, it led to their current estrangement.

He felt Zhang Beichen owed him many explanations, but then again, maybe from Zhang Beichen’s perspective, there was no obligation to provide them.

“Are you so reluctant to talk to me now?” Zhang Beichen’s smile faded, turning slightly bitter. “Are you still upset about <Mint Green>?”

Ran Lin instinctively wanted to deny it.

Indeed, he had been upset when <Mint Green> was snatched away, but the competition was never the breaking point of their relationship. If anything, it was the earlier “paparazzi incident”, where Zhang Beichen shifted the scandal from himself to Ran Lin and Lu Yiyao. At that time, Ran Lin considered him a friend and was deeply hurt by the truth.

Yet, Zhang Beichen never directly addressed the incident.

Ran Lin wasn’t even sure if Zhang Beichen was aware of his role in the whole affair. If he was, how could he act so nonchalantly to this day? If he wasn’t, had Ran Lin wrongfully accused him?

In comparison, the fact that <Mint Green> was snatched away didn’t seem so hard to accept. After all, it’s “competition,” where everyone relies on their own skills. Even if the role was taken away at the last moment, and even if certain tactics were used, it’s within an understandable range. The only thing that saddened him was that if it were a friend who did it, they should have at least told him, even if it’s just a heads-up saying, “I’m going to snatch it,” or some cursory consolation afterward.

But there was none of that.

As Xia Xinran once said, for Zhang Beichen, “career” always seemed to take precedence over “relationships”, whether it’s love or friendship. Those always looking towards the peak won’t notice the flowers and grass they tread on.

Taking a deep breath, Ran Lin decided to lay everything out. Since Zhang Beichen preferred silence, he would make it clear, like lancing an inflamed wound to let the pus drain and heal. “Actually…”

“Actually, you should thank me,” Zhang Beichen almost said simultaneously.

Ran Lin’s words were choked back, and in his confusion, he could only repeat what the other had said, “…Thank you?”

“Yes.” Zhang Beichen shrugged. “If I hadn’t taken <Mint Green>, how could you have the schedule to act in <Chronicles of Winter>? <Chronicles of Winter> is much bigger in investment than <Mint Green>.”

“……” Ran Lin was dumbfounded by this twisted logic, finding himself at a loss for words.

Zhang Beichen brought his glass of wine to his lips, took a sip, and then gently placed it on the coffee table in front of the sofa. The deep, rich red of his drink contrasted starkly with the clear, pale gold in Ran Lin’s glass.

“But there’s one thing I really admire about you,” Zhang Beichen said, looking up at Ran Lin with a smile that had lost its bitterness, leaving only a trace of coldness. “You didn’t get to act in <Mint Green>, but you managed to win over the investors. Isn’t that a case of a thief making off with a good haul?”

Ran Lin’s eyes widened, not just at Zhang Beichen’s harshness but also at his conclusion.

“Glaring at me won’t help.” Zhang Beichen laughed, though his eyes didn’t share in the mirth. “Everyone saw Ding Kai escorting you around the party…”

As he spoke, he leaned forward, his eyes ambiguously close, his voice dropping to a whisper. “You might as well have had a ‘Private Property’ label on you.”

Ran Lin just looked at him, suddenly not wanting to say anything.

There might have been misunderstandings, mishaps, and helplessness between them, but that’s just how it was. They couldn’t be friends, and perhaps… they never could have been.

“Lao Qin has poor taste.” A male voice suddenly floated over.

Both men looked up. Before they could see clearly, the newcomer had already seated himself on another of the empty armchairs.

Three armchairs were arranged around the table, each equally spaced, maintaining a uniform distance between each person without any sense of closeness or distance.

But the dynamics of presence were different.

Ding Kai narrowed his eyes, glancing at Zhang Beichen with a hint of disdain, and shook his head slightly. “I should have a talk with him sometime. Taste also represents a person’s quality, and low quality is laughable.”

Zhang Beichen’s previous bravado vanished in front of Ran Lin, his face alternating between red and white, until he finally stood up and said, “President Ding, I won’t disturb your conversation.”

As Ding Kai watched Zhang Beichen make a hasty retreat, he smiled and looked down at the table. “He forgot to take his wine.”

Ran Lin didn’t care about the wine; his mind was bombarded by the mention of “Lao Qin” and he forgot all about courtesy, directly asking Ding Kai, “Who is this ‘Lao Qin’ you¹ just mentioned?”

Ding Kai looked at him with interest, asking softly, “Not using pleasantries¹ anymore?”

¹Clarity: Ran Lin switched to the informal you [ni] (你). He was previously using [nin] (您) which is a polite and respectful way to say “you”.

Ran Lin couldn’t help but roll his eyes. “You added me on WeChat with an alias, and we’ve talked about life and aspirations. Any more politeness would be fake.”

Ding Kai raised an eyebrow. Their only real interaction was at that dinner, and subsequent idle chats on WeChat didn’t count, nor did their brief encounter a few days ago. Today was their second formal meeting. But Ran Lin seemed different to him, more confident and willing to express his personality—he was more lively and charming than before.

“President Ding?” Ran Lin, seeing Ding Kai lost in thought, was a bit embarrassed. He had only spoken the truth; surely it wasn’t that shocking. And considering how Ding Kai was willing to introduce him and Wang Xi to those brand executives, this person didn’t seem to hold grudges, matching his behavior of giving Ran Lin a fair competition for <Mint Green>. The persona seemed consistent.

So Ran Lin figured that the president must have gotten distracted by something else.

Drawn back by the call, Ding Kai focused and said, “You’re asking about Lao Qin? He’s my friend, a very good friend.”

Ran Lin nodded, understanding, and didn’t press further about Lao Qin’s full name or company. He just wanted to know the answer to the second question.

“The second question…” Ding Kai drawled and, after a moment, tossed him out. “You should be able to guess.”

Ran Lin felt a surge of frustration, like waiting for a lottery draw only for the last number to get stuck. But as Ding Kai said, it wasn’t hard to guess. Zhang Beichen’s hasty departure and everything said already made it clear. Ran Lin didn’t want to believe it, but he couldn’t think of any other explanation.

Wait.

He’s my friend, a very good friend…

Ran Lin felt like he had heard this description from Ding Kai before, a deliberate emphasis on friendship…

With a sudden realization, Ran Lin looked at Ding Kai in surprise. “<Mint Green>?”

Ding Kai showed a satisfied smile. “You’re still as smart as ever.”

A chill ran down Ran Lin’s spine.

Ding Kai’s nostalgic tone sounded not like they had met two days ago but like old school friends reuniting after many years.

But right now, Ding Kai wasn’t the focus.

The focus was Zhang Beichen.

Ran Lin had thought of many possibilities when <Mint Green> was snatched away, but never this one. Male actors being kept by male bosses isn’t unheard of in the industry, but when it happens to someone you know, it feels entirely different.

And Zhang Beichen, with every word dripping with venom and harshness, was in a terrible state, thin and haggard, almost unrecognizable from the jovial youth he once knew.

“How long have they been together?” Ran Lin wondered and asked, then immediately realized it might be inappropriate and added, “If you’re comfortable telling me.”

“It’s no inconvenience, as long as you don’t go leaking stuff to the paparazzi,” Ding Kai said nonchalantly, sipping his drink. “Lao Qin can handle it, but it’ll still be annoying.”

“You’ve already told me the most important part, and now you’re telling me to keep it secret when I ask how long?” Ran Lin found Ding Kai’s priorities hard to grasp.

Ding Kai chuckled. “Consider it locking the barn after the sheep have fled, applicable to the previous part as well.”

Talking to this person was too exhausting. Ran Lin considered just dropping it, especially since the exact duration of their relationship wasn’t important…

“About two years,” Ding Kai said casually, then something seemed to occur to him, and he looked at Ran Lin. “Oh right, it was around the time you landed <Sword of Fallen Flowers>. Around then.”

Ran Lin didn’t want to ask why Ding Kai was so familiar with his career timeline, feeling intuitively that it wouldn’t be a pleasant topic. However, he felt a sinking feeling at the mention that Zhang Beichen had been with Lao Qin around the same time.

It wasn’t like he had snatched the role from Zhang Beichen, but he did beat him in competition for it. Could Zhang Beichen have harbored resentment since then? If so, why not say it directly instead of congratulating him when he reached out? Ran Lin didn’t need Zhang Beichen’s congratulations; he wanted honesty between friends.

Like when Lu Yiyao insisted on befriending him, nearly baring his soul, that kind of honesty was almost irresistible to him.

He didn’t expect Zhang Beichen to go to the lengths of Lu Yiyao, nor could he himself reach that extent. But others like Xia Xinran and Gu Jie didn’t need to constantly be open with him, yet they still became good friends.

His phone suddenly vibrated, breaking his train of thought.

He pulled it out and saw the caller ID, his face flashing with surprise, before he quickly answered, “Hello?”

“Don’t talk. Turn around,” Lu Yiyao’s voice was very low and serious.

Ran Lin startled, quickly did as told, and then saw his partner in the crowd about ten meters away.

To others, Lu Yiyao might have been lost in the crowd, but to Ran Lin, his partner stood out vividly, as if highlighted with a fluorescent pen.

“I was waiting for you to turn around on your own, but you were too engrossed in your conversation,” Lu Yiyao paused, then added in a slightly sulky murmur, “especially with Ding Kai.”

Ran Lin now understood why Lu Yiyao didn’t want him to speak. He didn’t know what to say.

The person who was supposed to be in Shanghai suddenly showing up at the party, not explaining how he got there, first being jealous—it left Ran Lin unsure whether to be speechless or sympathetic.

“I was at the airport waiting for my flight when I texted you. I came straight here after landing.” As if reading Ran Lin’s mind, Lu Yiyao explained.

Ran Lin finally understood.

While he was stuck in evening traffic, his partner was zooming through the sky.

Lu Yiyao, watching his partner’s dumbfounded expression from afar, hung up the phone, satisfied.

Although the surprise didn’t unfold as planned, the effect was good. And for him, seeing Ran Lin today was a surprise; he had thought they wouldn’t meet again until visiting the set of Lantern Blossoms.

Ran Lin turned back to face Ding Kai.

The latter tilted his head slightly, waiting for an explanation or statement.

Ran Lin smiled and said, “My agent is looking for me.”

Ding Kai pointed to Wang Xi, who was busy chatting nearby. “She’s over there. Doesn’t seem like she was on the phone.”

Ran Lin was caught off guard.

Ding Kai, seeing Ran Lin’s flustered expression, was pleased and finally waved him off. “I’m just teasing you. Go ahead.”

Ran Lin mentally imagined stretching Ding Kai like dough into a long strip and frying him, finding some relief in the sizzling thought. He then left the venue with a light step—first making a round to the restroom, then meeting his partner, to make it less obvious.

Ding Kai watched Ran Lin leave the hall, curious about who was waiting outside or who was on the other side of that phone call, but he wasn’t the type to stoop to following. He preferred to let things be, believing what’s his will be his, and what’s not won’t be, without leaving regrets.

If only Lao Qin could see things as clearly as he did.

Ding Kai sighed almost imperceptibly, finished the last of his drink, and stared at the empty glass, lost in thought.

If Ran Lin had left two minutes later, he might have said more, because he could tell Ran Lin was quite concerned about Zhang Beichen. His inquiries about Lao Qin seemed less like gossip and more like concern for a friend. Although Ding Kai felt it wasn’t worth it for someone who presumed the worst of him.

Lao Qin was generous with his “companions”, willing to pave the way for them and secure good resources as long as they behaved. But one thing about Lao Qin was his bad habits in bed, which were almost unbearable for many. The longest one lasted just over a year with him, and Zhang Beichen’s endurance for two years surprised Ding Kai.

But it should be over by now. Zhang Beichen’s current state was visibly bad. From Ran Lin’s perspective, it might just look like weariness, but to someone who knew more, it was clear Zhang Beichen was emotionally unstable, and continuing on this path was risky.

Ding Kai pondered whether he should find an opportunity to remind Lao Qin to let go when it’s time.

---

Kinky Thoughts:

You know, Ding Kai seems quite sensible. He’s not vindictive of being turned down by Ran Lin, but I get the apprehension. He’s definitely a snake but compared to other villain bosses in other showbiz novels I’ve read, he’s quite alright.

He gave Ran Lin a fair chance despite the rejection. He didn’t defend Ran Lin when his friend stepped in, but weighing the pros and cons, him souring a good business relationship isn’t worthwhile (considering Ran Lin isn’t anything to him). Though had he defended Ran Lin, he probably could have snatched some brownie points.

I mean I’ll take him. Me whenever he’s mentioned: this.

---

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