Author: 颜凉雨 / Yan Liang Yu
Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/
Chapter 96
The award ceremony was broadcast live on television and online platforms. The moment the awards were announced, it wasn’t just Ran Lin and Gu Jie who were happy with Lu Yiyao’s win.
At Fan Li’s house in Xicheng, Lu Yimeng excitedly spilled her popcorn and immediately called her mother, who hadn’t returned from the company yet, to announce the good news.
In Dongcheng, Lu Guoming, who rarely came home early, was sitting on the sofa in the living room drinking tea, showing a trace of satisfaction while watching the television that he hardly turned on more than a few times a year.
On Weibo, fans of “God Lu” were overcome with emotion. Despite having been nominated twice at international A-list film festivals and returning empty-handed, this time, although it was just a domestic celebration, he had finally won the Best Actor award and could bring home the trophy.
Long after sitting down, Ran Lin still felt the warmth of his lover’s body.
Lu Yiyao elegantly ascended the stage, received the trophy from the presenter, and stood alone at the center of the vast stage as the presenters exited, leaving only the Best Actor.
Lu Yiyao adjusted the height of the microphone, then slowly raised his head, his smile fading to a calm and solemn demeanor. “I always wondered, while watching others receive awards, why everyone just thanks others. Can’t there be something fresh? But as I adjusted the microphone just now, I understood. There’s nothing new because, at this moment, only gratitude fills your mind…”
“…Thank you to the director for trusting me and choosing me for this role; thank you to the entire crew for your hard work, which made <Split Moon> possible and allowed me to bask in its glory…”
“…I also want to thank my friend. When I first joined the crew, I couldn’t find my bearings and called a friend who gave me a lot of insights…”
“Thank you.”
When Lu Yiyao said these final words, his gaze was fixed forward, seemingly giving a firm conclusion to his acceptance speech.
But Ran Lin knew, those words were meant for him.
That night they video chatted, they talked a lot about each other’s performances, not only Lu Yiyao’s <Split Moon> but also his <Chronicles of Winter>, as both were nearly entering their respective filming crews at the same time, both in the initial stage of finding their footing.
But what exactly had he offered Lu Yiyao that night in terms of constructive advice?
Ran Lin really couldn’t remember.
The only thing he remembered was that sentence—“My spirit is with you. If you miss me, just look up into the sky.”
……
The night after the award ceremony, Ran Lin and Lu Yiyao celebrated in the most primal way. The next morning, while Lu Yiyao energetically went to the company, Ran Lin continued to sleep off his aches and pains.
Two days later, Ran Lin boarded a plane with his luggage, heading to Xi’an to shoot <Youth of Wuling>.
Lu Yiyao really wanted to go and see for himself, but he was too tied up with work and had to send Yao Hong instead. Yao Hong’s main responsibility was to look after Ran Lin, while the producer was fully responsible for the shooting itself and would report directly to Lu Yiyao. This seasoned producer, brought in by Yao Hong and a friend for many years, was reliable in both his professionalism and character.
Not long after Ran Lin joined the crew, Lu Yiyao ran into Huo Yuntao at a cocktail party.
It was a charity cocktail party organized by a group closely related to the entertainment industry, attracting many industry leaders to support the event. Lu Yiyao, needing to familiarize himself with the circle and establish his transition from artist to business owner, attended to meet more people and assert his new role.
However, Rome wasn’t built in a day, especially since Lu Yiyao had recently been in the spotlight at the film festival, inevitably leading to some light-hearted ribbing. As soon as he appeared, someone familiar greeted him with, “Isn’t this Emperor Lu?”
The teasing wasn’t malicious, but it lacked a certain respect. Nonetheless, Lu Yiyao responded graciously, “President Sun.”
This President Sun’s company was small, without investments in any major productions, and had no prior collaboration with Lu Yiyao. They were merely acquaintances in the industry, looking to make light conversation at the dull event.
But unexpectedly, Lu Yiyao’s maturity and ease, despite being under thirty, somewhat embarrassed the other man, who then turned serious and said, “I heard your company’s first project has already started shooting?”
“Yes,” Lu Yiyao replied with a smile. “With so many mouths to feed at the company, we had to start shooting or drink the northwest wind*.”
*(喝西北风) Idiom referring to experiencing poverty or going through tough times without basic necessities. It suggests that if someone doesn’t work hard, manage their affairs well, or if a situation turns bad, they might end up with nothing to eat or no means to support themselves—essentially left with nothing but the northwest wind to ‘drink’.
“President Lu, you’re being modest,” President Sun changed his address. “Everyone knows that’s a big project for your company.”
“Only if it’s done with ease is it considered a big project. If it requires staking everything, then it’s a gamble.” Lu Yiyao sighed theatrically. “Maybe next year at this charity event, President Sun, you won’t find me.”
President Sun was amused by the joke but was internally surprised.
An artist turned businessman maintaining such poise and demeanor was likable but not unexpected. Yet, Lu Yiyao didn’t show even a hint of his former artist self; instead, he exuded the aura of a peer through and through, with every word and action suggesting seasoned business acumen. He knew Lu Yiyao as a former artist, or else he would have definitely mistaken him for a businessman through and through.
While President Sun was preoccupied with his thoughts, Lu Yiyao was unsettled.
He realized that in the moment of interacting with President Sun, he had been channeling his father’s spirit. His mannerisms and speech were highly reminiscent of Lu Guoming, as he remembered him.
Lu Yiyao didn’t often see his father in business mode, but the few times he did left a lasting impression. He vividly remembered his determination not to become a second Lu Guoming, leading him to forgo business school and secretly apply to study drama in defiance of his father.
Yet, after all the twists and turns, he found himself back at the starting point.
But Lu Yiyao had no regrets about these detours. Because life isn’t just about the outcome; it’s about the journey. If he had chosen business from the start, he wouldn’t have experienced all that followed: falling in love with Ran Lin, meeting friends like Xia Xinran, Gu Jie, and Tang Xiaoyu, and even solidifying his direction in life as he had now… If there was anything consistent in both paths, it would probably only be Huo Yuntao.
This person appeared too early, long before he even started to consider his life’s path, so whether he went into business or acting, it didn’t affect his relationship with this person. Thinking about it carefully, it really is a bad influence and a fateful bond between friends…
“Hello, do you really not see me or just don’t want to greet me?”
A familiar voice pulled Lu Yiyao back from his thoughts, and then he was stunned.
“Why are you here?” Lu Yiyao wondered if his mind contained a magic lamp like Aladdin’s, so as soon as he reminisced, the person would appear in real life.
Huo Yuntao, dressed in a thin suit and holding a wine glass, looked at his old friend with a sad face. “What’s with that expression? Are you that unhappy to see me?”
“It’s not about whether I want to see you or not; it’s just scientifically implausible for you to be here,” Lu Yiyao retorted with good reason.
“How is it implausible? The organizers have business dealings with my family… Wait.” Huo Yuntao finally realized the problem. “What do you mean it doesn’t matter if I want to see you or not? Do you want to or not?”
“I do, I’ve been dying to see you.” Lu Yiyao laughed, his earlier composure nowhere to be found, now just a childlike figure bantering with his buddy. However, he hadn’t forgotten that his friend was now a married man and looked around. “Where’s Panxi?”
“She doesn’t like socializing,” Huo Yuntao explained.
Lu Yiyao looked at his friend somewhat sentimentally. “You don’t like it either.”
“What can I do? It’s my family’s business. If I don’t carry it, who will? It’s all fate.”
Lu Yiyao clinked his glass with him. “Wishing you wealth and prosperity.”
Huo Yuntao glanced at him irritably before saying, “Wishing you consecutive Best Actor wins.”
Lu Yiyao felt a teasing itch. “Can’t your blessing be a little more heartfelt?”
Huo Yuntao was deliberately teasing, now enjoying making his friend squirm, but after his fun, he finally got serious. “Has <Youth of Wuling> started shooting?”
By this time, the two had moved to a corner where they could chat casually without attracting attention.
“Yes,” Lu Yiyao said. “It started last week.”
Huo Yuntao nodded. “How is it? Will it make a loss?”
Lu Yiyao: “……”
Only a buddy like him could ask this; with anyone else, it might end a friendship.
But precisely because it was Huo Yuntao, Lu Yiyao knew he was genuinely worried about him losing everything.
Lu Yiyao: “Hard to say. It depends on whether the final production meets expectations.”
Huo Yuntao: “And if it does?”
Lu Yiyao: “Then it won’t make a loss, and the ratings will definitely explode.”
Huo Yuntao: “And if it doesn’t meet expectations?”
Lu Yiyao: “Then the wife might not be kept.”
Huo Yuntao: “It’s not that bad, right?”
Lu Yiyao: “To support me, Ran Lin acted this time without any remuneration.”
Huo Yuntao: “If I were him, I’d kick you out by now…”
Lu Yiyao smirked.
After hearing Ran Lin wanted to buy a villa and be his neighbor, he really thought about increasing his remuneration. But when it came time to talk money, Ran Lin refused even the original pay, and his reasoning was solid—considering his remuneration as an investment in the project, if it lost, he’d chalk it up to bad luck, but if it earned, he wanted a higher share of the profits.
Of course, Ran Lin wasn’t really after high risk, high returns; even someone as slow as Lu Yiyao knew this was his way of supporting the new businessman in his life.
If <National First Love Drift Story> opened up Ran Lin’s fame, <Sword of Fallen Blossom> brought him his first wave of popularity. Then <Chronicles of Winter> and <Dyeing Fire> were helping him ride a new wave of popularity, elevating his status and raising his value dramatically.
With Ran Lin’s current momentum, returning to TV dramas meant his remuneration would be much higher than during <The Legend of Lantern Blossoms>, and even then, his pay for <The Legend of Lantern Blossoms> had already doubled from <Sword of Fallen Blossoms>. Recently, Yao Hong had set Ran Lin’s TV drama remuneration to 400,000–450,000 per episode. Of course, this quote included some leeway, but even if the producers intended to negotiate down, 300,000–350,000 per episode was the baseline. Whether Ran Lin’s remuneration rose or fell in the future would depend on his career trajectory, but at this stage, that was the number.
<Youth of Wuling> was planned for 46 episodes, and if they hadn’t chosen Ran Lin but another actor of the same popularity, the over ten million in remuneration would be a normal expense. But now, because it was Ran Lin, that money was effectively saved.
They say talking about money hurts relationships.
But Lu Yiyao felt that real mutual trust in a relationship isn’t afraid of discussing money. Naturally, he turned to Ran Lin to be the male lead in his heavily invested drama, confident in Ran Lin even before the latter’s popularity surge. Conversely, Ran Lin, believing in his vision and capability, offered to act for free, essentially sharing the risk with him.
Would Ran Lin’s participation guarantee the success of the drama? Lu Yiyao couldn’t be sure.
Was every project Lu Yiyao invested in destined to be successful? Ran Lin probably couldn’t say for sure either.
But that was their love—trusting each other, striving together, sharing the losses, and enjoying the gains.
“Can you not act like ‘the luckiest guy in the world’ every time we talk about your significant other?” Huo Yuntao had had enough. He could bear being fed dog food when they were unmarried, but after marriage, this constant show of affection was unbearable!
“I know you’re married, and happily so. No need to keep flashing your wedding ring in my face.” Lu Yiyao irritably swatted away his friend’s hand so as not to be blinded by the diamond. “Besides, what’s a man doing wearing a diamond ring? Platinum is enough.”
“That’s sexist,” Huo Yuntao retorted, turning the ring on his ring finger, convinced the diamond ring he chose for himself was quite appealing.
In fact, Huo Yuntao’s ring was quite nice. Though it was a diamond ring, it wasn’t overly large. The diamond was small and elegant, set in the groove of a platinum band, slightly flat on the surface, giving a very gentlemanly and elegant look.
But to Lu Yiyao, this was as provocative as bragging about shampoo in front of a monk.
Actually, Huo Yuntao wasn’t unjustly accused, as he was indeed flaunting deliberately. Seeing his friend’s head in the clouds whenever Ran Lin was mentioned, he felt the need to bring him back to earth occasionally. “When do you plan to tell your family about your relationship?”
Lu Yiyao was daydreaming about the beautiful future when he and Ran Lin would wear matching rings when suddenly his friend brought him back to reality. After a pause, he replied, “I’ll tell them next week.”
Huo Yuntao was startled. His intention was to make his friend not be blinded by happiness in front of him, but he hadn’t expected him to act so impulsively. “There’s no need to rush; you need to plan this carefully. You can’t just rush into battle because I mentioned it.”
Lu Yiyao realized his friend had some misunderstandings about his plan to come out. “You think I decided just now?”
Huo Yuntao frowned. “Isn’t it?”
Lu Yiyao: “Am I someone who acts impulsively?”
Huo Yuntao spoke honestly. “You aren’t usually, but when it comes to matters involving Ran Lin, you’ve always been bold.”
“…” Lu Yiyao found himself at a loss for words. Whether it was realizing his feelings for Ran Lin, coming to terms with his own identity, or even his confession, it seemed just as Huo Yuntao said: once he decided, he acted decisively. Looking back, he wanted to give himself a pat on the back for his boldness.
Unable to refute, he skipped the topic and went straight to the point. “Next week is my lunar birthday. I had promised my mom and sister to go home, so…”
“So you’ve also been considering coming out during this occasion?” Huo Yuntao began to understand his friend’s line of thought.
Lu Yiyao nodded. “The birthday atmosphere is just right.”
Huo Yuntao imagined the scene and felt his friend’s twenty-eighth birthday might be a disaster. “Are you sure you don’t want to reconsider? A thunderbolt from the blue amidst all the happiness might be too much of an emotional gap, making it even harder to accept.”
Lu Yiyao shook his head, obviously having thought it through. “There’s never a perfect time for these things. If I wait for everyone to be in a bad mood, the gap won’t be as big, but that would just add to the gloom.”
“That’s true,” Huo Yuntao admitted, not wanting to say more since his friend had considered it thoroughly. But then he thought of something else. “Isn’t Ran Lin going with you? After all, this involves both of you.”
Lu Yiyao looked down at his crystal-clear wine glass for a long while before responding, “I want to make sure everything at home is settled before I bring him over.”
Huo Yuntao pursed his lips. He understood his friend’s logic but couldn’t help feeling sorry for him.
After a while, he finally spoke up to advise. “Facing it together as a couple can make you stronger than just 1 + 1 > 2.”
Lu Yiyao slowly looked up, his eyes calm but determined. “I want him to face only sunny days.”
Huo Yuntao watched his friend for a long time, then suddenly pulled out his phone and held it to his face. “Hello, police? There’s a guy here crazy in love throwing dog food around. Are you going to do something about it or not—”
……
Ran Lin had been shooting for over a week now.
Even disregarding his relationship with Lu Yiyao and objectively evaluating, this was one of the most cohesive TV drama crews Ran Lin had been part of. Similar to <Dyeing Fire>, <Youth of Wuling> didn’t have many stakeholders and interest groups involved. The entire crew was controlled by Lu Yiyao, led by the producer, and decided by the director, creating a unified team rather than a collection of various parties. This kind of team felt more like a collective, with everyone working towards a common goal.
Moreover, <Youth of Wuling> was less worrisome in terms of actors compared to <Dyeing Fire>. Besides Ran Lin and Tang Xiaoyu, the rest of the actors were carefully selected, prioritizing professional skill and reputation over popularity. Furthermore, as a modern urban drama, <Youth of Wuling> inherently had lower acting demands than <Dyeing Fire>. Thanks to the director’s casting control, many actors could perform naturally, adding a fresh and authentic feel.
All these factors led to a stable shooting progress, allowing the director more time to refine scenes and actors to spark more intense performances, making the acting more thrilling and satisfying.
This particular day was about shooting a scene where Ran Lin and Tang Xiaoyu, playing best friends, were wandering around the Bell and Drum Tower Square, reflecting on their perplexing lives, when they happened upon a pickpocket targeting a bystander. Acting heroically, they intervened, but their good deed unexpectedly resulted in retaliation from the pickpocket’s gang. However, these two weren’t easy targets and quickly called for backup, turning a simple act of bravery into a gang fight. Though the police intervened as soon as it started, the incident still disrupted public order, landing both the friends and the thieves in jail. Fortunately, the initial victim stood up to testify, clearing their names, albeit they still received a stern lecture from the police.
For shooting in such busy, open areas, the crew usually aimed for quick, decisive action. As actors, they would get ready and travel to the location, starting the shoot promptly upon arrival.
Ran Lin and Tang Xiaoyu were the leads, while the pickpocket and the victim were played by extras. From makeup to setting off, they were separate from these actors until they arrived on set, where they saw a group already gathered, listening to the assistant director’s instructions.
“Are you ready?” the already present director asked them.
It was a weekday morning around ten o’clock. The shops around the square were all open, though it wasn’t yet the peak of customer traffic, creating a bustling yet orderly scene perfect for filming.
Ran Lin and Tang Xiaoyu knew the director wanted to make quick work of it, so they nodded in unison.
The director was pleased and said, “Let’s walk through the entire thing first to familiarize yourselves with the positions and paths.”
In the scene, Ran Lin and Tang Xiaoyu needed to chase the pickpocket, so the running paths and directions were important.
Without hesitation, Ran Lin and Tang Xiaoyu positioned themselves in front of the camera and started their “casual stroll.”
The director watched from behind the monitor, occasionally giving directions.
Once they had “strolled” enough, the director had the assistant notify the assistant director to bring over the “pickpocket” and the “victim” for the heroic intervention part of the scene. The “beating” and “retaliation” were to be shot later.
Ran Lin watched as the assistant director brought over three people. Two wore baseball caps, obscuring their faces, but with backpacks and dressed in casual sportswear, they looked like young tourists; the other was in a jacket, unremarkable and lost in the crowd, but with eyes darting around, vividly embodying the term “shifty-eyed”.
The trio stopped a few meters away from them, where the assistant director briefed them. Strangely enough, the “pickpocket” looked up attentively, while the two “tourists” kept their heads down, hiding their faces under the brim of their caps from Ran Lin and Tang Xiaoyu’s view.
Tang Xiaoyu didn’t notice anything amiss, busy rehearsing his lines and actions in his mind.
But the more Ran Lin watched, the more suspicious he became—no, extremely suspicious…
Without warning, Ran Lin briskly approached them, bent down, and looked up under the caps, indeed finding a pair of all-too-familiar eyes beneath!
“Damn—” Gu Jie was the first to react, snatching off his baseball cap. “You recognized us just like that?!”
Xia Xinran rolled his eyes and reluctantly looked up but didn’t address Ran Lin, first glaring at Gu Jie. “I told you your walk is distinctive!”
Ran Lin laughed heartily, quickly coming to Gu Jie’s defense. “Don’t blame others. I recognized you two by your figures as soon as you came over!”
Finally, Xia Xinran turned to Ran Lin and hugged him. “So, you also really do keep us in your heart—”
Gu Jie frowned. What’s with the “also”? But before he could dwell on it, he locked eyes with the smiling Ran Lin across Xia Xinran’s back and promptly said, “We’re here to visit the set!”
“And make a friendly cameo?” Tang Xiaoyu walked over, having grasped the situation, delighted like Ran Lin.
“Since we’re here, of course we should make a cameo,” Xia Xinran released Ran Lin, chuckling. “It’s not easy to owe Teacher Lu a favor; gotta seize the opportunity!”
“So it was Lu Yiyao who invited you?” Tang Xiaoyu guessed, following Xia Xinran’s logic.
But was immediately half-denied by Beauty Xia. “We just wanted to visit the set, and it happened that Teacher Lu wanted us to make a cameo, so it was a perfect match!”
Ran Lin looked towards Gu Jie.
The latter nodded. “Yep.”
Ran Lin grinned. If Gu Jie confirmed it, then it must be true.
Xia Xinran frowned. “Why do you need his confirmation after I’ve said it…”
Because you don’t seem reliable. The assistant director, who had witnessed the whole scene, couldn’t help but chuckle internally, yet also noticed these people truly had a strong bond. But with limited time, he had to be the party pooper. “Shall we run through the scene now?”
Reminded by the assistant director, everyone immediately became professional, ready to work.
Ran Lin and Tang Xiaoyu moved to sit on some nearby steps, pretending to be bored and looking at the sky, while Xia Xinran and Gu Jie positioned themselves in front of the camera, donning their baseball caps and exuding youthful vibes. The pickpocket waited not far behind them, ready to strike.
At the clap of the slate, Gu Jie and Xia Xinran walked shoulder to shoulder, Xia Xinran opening a map on his phone, discussing the surroundings with Gu Jie, stopping now and then as if they were pure and innocent tourists visiting for the first time.
The pickpocket, following closely behind, approached the two. As they huddled over the map, he opened Xia Xinran’s backpack and swiftly swiped a wallet…
“Hey—”
With a shout for justice, Ran Lin leaped into action!
The thief turned to run, and Ran Lin chased after him like a whirlwind, while Tang Xiaoyu rushed to the bemused Xia Xinran and Gu Jie, who hadn’t yet realized what was happening.
“Your wallet!” Tang Xiaoyu, too rushed to be eloquent, pointed in the direction Ran Lin was chasing.
Xia Xinran blinked, still bewildered.
Gu Jie looked back, saw Xia Xinran’s opened backpack, and instantly understood, slapping Xia Xinran on the head. “Your wallet—”
Xia Xinran finally snapped out of it. “Then why hit me! Chase the thief!”
Such was their way; the fact they managed to travel safely at all was a miracle. Tang Xiaoyu, no longer caring to explain, chased after Ran Lin!
Gu Jie and Xia Xinran promptly followed, sprinting away!
As everyone exited the frame, the take was successfully completed.
As soon as “cut” was heard, Xia Xinran immediately retaliated by slapping Gu Jie’s head.
Tang Xiaoyu quickly intervened. “Don’t do that. It’s part of acting.”
Xia Xinran looked aggrieved. “There was no such action in the script. It was his improvisation!”
Gu Jie insisted, “That’s the character’s personality. The action makes it closer to the character’s inner world.”
Xia Xinran was speechless. “You’re just making a cameo! What inner world?”
Gu Jie shrugged. “The script doesn’t write it, but you can explore it yourself, that’s an actor’s self-cultivation.”
“……” Tang Xiaoyu looked at Ran Lin beside him and suddenly understood why he was closer to these two than himself. He didn’t try to mediate because this illogical bickering wasn’t about reason but enjoyment.
‘Different strokes for different folks*’, Tang Xiaoyu thought; friendship indeed comes in all sorts and shapes.
*One kind of rice provides for one hundred kinds of people (一样米养百样人) Idiom referring to everybody thinks and acts a little differently even when we’re all in the same environment.
Xia Xinran and Gu Jie were only there for a day’s cameo, so after the morning’s outdoor shooting, they immediately moved to the police station’s interior set for the afternoon.
Ran Lin hadn’t seen Xia Xinran act before, let alone act with him. Even the morning’s chase scene didn’t require much acting from Xia Xinran and Gu Jie; being startled, then following in pursuit was the extent of it, with the focus still on Ran Lin and the thief.
But the afternoon’s “victim coming to the police station to testify” scene required real acting.
As the slate closed, Ran Lin and Tang Xiaoyu stood dejectedly on one side, Gu Jie waiting as an observer rather than a victim, while Xia Xinran, having explained the situation to the police, came over to them. His eyes lifted, filled with remorse, so convincing that Ran Lin nearly softened, ready to say “it’s okay” before Xia Xinran even spoke.
“I’m sorry…” Xia Xinran’s usual liveliness was gone, his face reflecting a complex mix of annoyance, shame, relief at having apologized, and apprehension for what was to come.
Ran Lin was surprised by Xia Xinran’s nuanced portrayal of emotions, instantly getting into character. “It’s okay.”
“Next time, don’t put your wallet in the backpack. Keep it close to your body,” Tang Xiaoyu also reminded, but he had to murmur under his breath due to the presence of the police officer.
“Alright, you can go now.” The police officer finally stood up, his tone earnest. “Remember, it’s good to act bravely for a just cause, but violence should not be met with violence.”
“Cut—”
With that, their cameo appearance was wrapped up.
Xia Xinran couldn’t wait to run to the monitor to see how well he performed.
Ran Lin was also curious and followed, only to find Xia Xinran standing beside the monitor, staring blankly at the director.
As Ran Lin approached, he realized that Xia Xinran wasn’t fixated on the director but rather on the person sitting next to the director, who was also intently looking at the monitor, casually dressed and wearing a fisherman’s hat.
“Teacher Lu?!” Xia Xinran finally found his voice.
Having already experienced many surprises that day, Ran Lin was relatively calm by this point. However, while his face remained composed, his heart was blooming with joy, as if surrounded by fragrant flowers and buzzing bees collecting nectar.
Lu Yiyao took off his hat and looked up graciously.
Xia Xinran slapped his shoulder. “You kept it well hidden!” Realizing the change in status, he immediately regretted his familiarity, especially in front of so many people. It was important to preserve Boss Lu’s dignity as a boss, so his hand quickly retreated, pretending the patting and playing were not his doing.
Lu Yiyao, seeing through his thoughts, chuckled softly and then slowly turned his gaze to Ran Lin.
Ran Lin’s heart blossomed like a garden, politely addressing him, “Boss Lu…”
It was the first time Lu Yiyao heard Ran Lin call him that, unexpectedly pleasant, making him feel almost light-headed.
“Teacher Lu, I knew it was you the moment you walked in, but I didn’t blow your cover. Considerate, right?” Gu Jie’s voice reached them before he even approached.
Just like that, any sense of floating or charm dissipated, crashing Lu Yiyao back to reality.
……
Though Lu Yiyao was resolute and even confident when discussing coming out with Huo Yuntao, the contemplation alone in his somewhat empty room back at the villa brought an inevitable nervousness. Rehearsing and foreseeing the possible outcomes, he had to admit, there was trepidation.
This apprehension was different from when he defied his parents to choose drama and performance. That was just a rebellion on the path of growth, meant to irk his father intentionally. The more infuriated Lu Guoming got, the more satisfying it felt to him.
But this time was different.
Choosing to spend the rest of his life with Ran Lin, or, more broadly, choosing to be with a man, was like taking a sharp turn in the second half of his life. It meant dismantling and reassembling all his parents’ expectations and plans for his marriage and life. But “reassembling” wasn’t the hardest part; the challenge was getting his parents to accept this “dismantling”.
For him, the hardest thing to face was never his parents’ “anger” but their “sorrow”. So, whenever he imagined his parents’ disappointment and sadness, it suffocated him.
People tend to avoid or delay confronting foreseen difficulties, but Lu Yiyao didn’t. He would still celebrate his birthday and come out on that day as planned. However, to ease his mind, he decided to bring forward the set visit, including Gu Jie and Xia Xinran’s cameo, originally scheduled for next month—if hard times awaited him post-coming out, he wanted to enjoy some happy memories first for sustenance during the tough times ahead.
But these arrangements were unrelated to Ran Lin and his visiting friends that day.
So, when the five of them gathered for dinner that evening, Gu Jie asked him why he came without notice. He replied, “To surprise you.”
“It’s to surprise Ran Lin, right?” Xia Xinran teased. “You made me and Gu Jie surprise him first, then you came in for a follow-up, layering the joy… Clever. Becoming a boss really changes a person.”
“Do you regret not signing with my company?” Lu Yiyao joked.
“Thank goodness I didn’t.” Xia Xinran shuddered at the thought. “You’re almost raising Ran Lin to the heavens.”
“Boss Lu, how about considering me?” Tang Xiaoyu volunteered earnestly. “My contract expires the year after next!”
Gu Jie nearly choked on his tea, exasperatedly saying, “You can bring that up after two years!”
Tang Xiaoyu shrugged. “Just getting a head start. I think this company has a bright future; better book my spot early.”
“I have to admit that,” Xia Xinran rarely gave such positive feedback, “You can tell a lot of money has been poured into this drama.”
Lu Yiyao was amused, accepting all the teasing with a smile.
He relished these light-hearted gatherings, occasionally looking at Ran Lin, feeling even more grounded.
Ran Lin felt there was something unusual about Lu Yiyao today. A surprise visit was definitely delightful, but there seemed to be something else flickering in his lover’s eyes. Ran Lin couldn’t discern what it was and wasn’t even sure if it was real or just his sixth sense ringing false alarms.
Shaking his head, Ran Lin decided not to dwell on it and to simply ask later when they were alone.
With this in mind, he recalled what Xia Xinran had mentioned on the way to the restaurant that it was a rare trip to the area not for work, so he and Gu Jie planned to be proper tourists the next day before flying back to Beijing.
Ran Lin was curious about what constituted a “proper tourist” for them. “So, what’s your plan for tomorrow?”
Xia Xinran, who had been inquiring about the drama crew’s logistics and shooting plans from Tang Xiaoyu, wanted to understand just how extravagant Teacher Lu was.
Thus, Gu Jie responded to the question. “In the morning, eat roujiamo with liangpi, lamb stew with bread for lunch followed by a steamer of soup dumplings. Dinner is undecided, tossing between biangbiang noodles and saozi noodles, but I also want to try the meatball hulu soup. For late-night snacks, we’ll stroll around and maybe buy some persimmon cakes…”
Ran Lin: “…Is there any activity outside of dining? Just eating all day?”
Gu Jie: “I’m just starting with the meals. Can you call it a proper tourist visit without hitting the scenic spots? We plan to start early with the Terracotta Army, Qin Shi Huang’s Mausoleum, Mount Li, Huaqing Pool, then move on to the Stele Forest, Small Wild Goose Pagoda, Big Wild Goose Pagoda in the afternoon. If there’s time after the Big Wild Goose Pagoda fountain show, we might visit Tang Paradise…”
“There won’t be time.” Ran Lin brutally cut off his friend. “I personally think you guys will be ready for late-night snacks and persimmon cakes after coming back from Huaqing Pool…”
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Kinky Translations 