Author: 颜凉雨 / Yan Liang Yu

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

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Chapter 100

On January 20^th, the filming for <Youth of Wuling> wrapped up.

On the day of the wrap, a thin layer of snow fell in Xi’an, quickly melting as it touched the ground. Ran Lin and Tang Xiaoyu squatted on the snowy street, munching on Roujiamo stuffed with vegetables. Tang Xiaoyu’s had green pepper and shredded potato, while Ran Lin’s had the secret recipe with dried flowers. They ate joyfully together, their breaths forming white mists in the cold air. A sense of liveliness and vigor emanated from them amidst what would typically be a dreary scene.

This was an early scene in the script, but since it takes place in winter, it was scheduled to be the last to shoot.

“Cut! That’s a wrap!” The director’s voice rang out like a melody. Ran Lin and Tang Xiaoyu jumped up in excitement, and the entire crew cheered and rejoiced.

After nearly four months of hard work, the project was finally complete.

At the wrap party, Tang Xiaoyu insisted on drinking with Ran Lin, a fitting celebration for the close brothers they portrayed from <Sword of Fallen Flowers> to <Youth of Wuling>. Ran Lin, who genuinely considered Tang Xiaoyu a good friend, happily agreed.

An hour later, Tang Xiaoyu realized challenging Ran Lin to a drinking contest was the biggest mistake of his life. Thankfully, Ran Lin, considerate of their friendship, didn’t push him too hard and eventually helped the unsteady Tang Xiaoyu back to the hotel, assisting his assistant in settling him in.

The next day, Tang Xiaoyu returned to Beijing, while Ran Lin flew straight home—just in time for Chinese New Year’s Eve, which he hadn’t properly celebrated at home for years. This time, planning a surprise, he didn’t inform his parents of his arrival.

Reaching his family’s bun shop around noon, the place was lively with a few tables of customers. Wearing a cap and mask, Ran Lin chose a corner table to sit.

The young waiter promptly handed him the menu, which listed various buns, sides, and drinks.

Ran Lin looked at the menu, and the waiter looked at Ran Lin, curiously wondering when this customer would remove his mask. After all, everyone comes to the shop to eat buns, and it’s unusual for someone to keep their mouth covered after sitting down.

Yet, this customer actually placed an order while still wearing the mask.

The young waiter, though full of thoughts, maintained a welcoming smile and quickly turned to place the order.

Ran Lin’s gaze followed the waiter, not really on him but looking towards the kitchen.

However, from the front, he couldn’t see into the kitchen at all; he could only see the waiter flashing by with the order, disappearing down the corridor leading to the kitchen.

Familiar tables and chairs, familiar scent of steamed buns.

As a child, Ran Lin often darted into the shop because it was surrounded by lively activities and lots of things to play with. He would usually pick an empty table to do his homework, then, after finishing, throw his backpack into the cashier area and run out to play.

Everyone in the street knew him, and his parents weren’t worried about his safety, so they let him be.

It can be said that this shop and this street carried all of Ran Lin’s childhood.

They say childhood experiences affect one’s entire life, but there wasn’t anything significant in Ran Lin’s childhood. So, the only lasting impact was his consistent breakfast of buns and soy milk.

Taking a deep breath, the familiar aroma seemed to have a calming effect, relaxing him inside and out.

It felt like coming home, shutting the door, and being at peace regardless of the storms outside.

Suddenly, he felt a stir of emotion.

Ran Lin took out his phone and took a picture of the shop’s interior, sending it to Lu Yiyao without any text, just the photo.

As the waiter brought the steaming hot buns, as if timed perfectly, Lu Yiyao’s reply came—[Is this your family’s shop?]

Ran Lin was surprised that Lu Yiyao could guess it was his family’s shop from a photo that didn’t show any buns, or anything explicitly related to a bun shop. They must have a special connection!

Ignoring the fact that he should have informed his partner he was safely on his way home from the airport, Ran Lin, caught up in the sweet moment, laughed, and took a second photo—this time with the buns.

Just as he was about to send the enticing photo of the hot, plump buns, his phone was suddenly snatched away.

Ran Lin looked up instinctively and saw his mother standing beside him, looking down with a frown, “What’s so interesting about our buns that you need to take pictures?”

Ran Lin, surprised, looked down at his new black long down jacket, touched his hat and mask, and wondered if there was any problem. Finally, he took off his mask and looked up, asking, “I’m covered up like this, and you still recognize me?”

Lu Qing rolled her eyes. “I gave birth to you and raised you. I could recognize a hair of yours on the barber’s floor.”

Ran Lin: “…Mom, one should be humble.”

Lu Qing pinched her son’s face and then, unable to contain her joy, turned and shouted towards the kitchen, “Lao Ran, our son is back—”

Lu Qing’s voice was melodious and clear. It was pleasant when she spoke softly but had strong penetrating power when she shouted.

Ran Lin wanted to tell his mother not to shout since there were other customers in the shop and it might affect the business, but as all four tables of customers looked over, he understood why his mother was so at ease.

“Auntie He, Uncle Wang, Auntie Zhang…” Among the four tables, three were old neighbors. Ran Lin quickly nodded and greeted each of them.

When he looked at the last table, which turned out to be new customers, two young men, he thought to just give them a smile, but to his surprise, they both exclaimed in astonishment—

“Ran Lin?!”

Ran Lin thought they recognized him as an artist, but one of them stood up and came over, expressing genuine fondness and admiration for him. They discussed his various roles from <Sword of Fallen Flowers> to <Chronicles of Winter>, then <Dyeing Fire>, and even talked about <The Legend of Lantern Blossoms>!

Ran Lin knew he had sister fans, but he didn’t expect to have brother fans as well. As the door remained open to welcome guests, the news of his presence quickly spread, and soon the shop was bustling with customers. Before Ran Lin could even see off his brother fans, more and more patrons entered, filling the shop with an energetic atmosphere.

Ran Yimin finally came out from the kitchen, hands cleaned of flour, to find his son surrounded by a crowd so thick he couldn’t even see his head. Although he couldn’t see his son, the extent of his popularity was evident, bringing a foolish grin to Ran Yimin’s face, glad that he hadn’t gone out for a drink with his friends.

With the surge in popularity came an increase in orders; after all, occupying a spot in the shop without ordering anything wouldn’t be proper.

Lu Qing quickly pushed the still gleeful Ran Yimin back into the kitchen and followed to help with the work.

Ran Lin, fully dedicated to his family’s business, eventually removed his hat and mask and sat behind the cash register like a mascot. With Ran Lin there, the shop’s popularity didn’t wane all day.

Even if the shop was full from morning to evening, they wouldn’t make a significant profit since it was a small business. However, Lu Qing and Ran Yimin were thrilled that their son was so well-liked, and Ran Lin was happy to make his parents proud.

All parents and children around the world are alike.

Parents always hope their efforts will lead to their children’s success, and children always wish to make their parents proud.

It wasn’t until the shop closed for the day that Lu Qing finally had a moment to ask, “Why didn’t you let us know you were coming? Why sneak back?”

“…What kind of words are those?” Ran Lin questioned his mother’s choice of words, suspecting she had been watching too many dramatic TV shows.

“Your mother is so happy she’s lost for words,” Ran Yimin interjected, floating past the mother-son duo with a comment.

Lu Qing, too busy to deal with her husband, focused on understanding her son’s situation. “How long are you staying this time?”

Ran Lin grinned at his mother. “Until the 15^th day of the first lunar month.”

Lu Qing was momentarily stunned, not expecting her son to stay for the entire Chinese New Year celebration. Her heart burst with joy, but the more excited she got, the less she knew what to say, eventually patting her son on the shoulder. “The company you signed with this time is quite considerate. I like it!”

Ran Lin smiled and decided to tell Lu Yiyao later that evening that, though he hadn’t made an appearance yet, he had already made a good impression.

But after his joy, he felt a bit nervous. This visit wasn’t just about celebrating the New Year; it was also about coming out to his parents. Ever since realizing he was gay, Ran Lin had been preparing for this moment, but now that it was here, he felt anxious.

By New Year’s Eve, Lu Qing had started bustling around in the kitchen early in the morning, while Ran Yimin, after finishing pasting up the couplets, wandered around the house restlessly, trying to help with this and that, a typical case of being too idle but wanting to contribute.

Since Ran Yimin wasn’t much help to Lu Qing, Ran Lin, even less so, was promptly shooed out of the kitchen. He wasn’t skilled with plants either, so he ended up sitting on the sofa with his phone, playing the part of a child waiting to be fed.

However, this “child” was brewing a significant matter. From the morning, he couldn’t calm down, his palms occasionally sweating.

[Were you nervous at the time?]—He reached out to his experienced partner for some moral support.

After a long wait, the reply from his partner was just two words—[It’s okay.]

Ran Lin squinted his eyes and typed back irritably—[What does ‘it’s okay’ even mean!]

After a bit of silence, the reply came—[Just like you are now.]

Ran Lin was frustrated; that clearly meant extremely nervous!

As if hearing his complaint, the phone vibrated again—[If I admit I was nervous, it would undermine my image as a business tycoon. 😊]

Ran Lin—[That image of yours with no public recognition can fall apart for all I care…]

Lu Yiyao—[I just want to pull you close and give you a big kiss regardless of what you say.jpg]

Ran Lin—[Why are you busy making memes on New Year’s Eve instead of working?]

Lu Yiyao—[Are you sure you want to talk about it today? It’s a big day after all.]

Realizing the conversation was getting back on track, Ran Lin paused, then replied.

Ran Lin—[The atmosphere is good during the New Year, and we have a saying here. You can’t hit children during the New Year. 😊]

Lu Yiyao—[Scheming boy.jpg]

Ran Lin saw this meme for the first time, featuring a figure with a cunning smile, looking utterly cheeky.

…What was his partner thinking when he made this meme!

Before Ran Lin could comment, his phone vibrated three times in quick succession—

Lu Yiyao—[Don’t worry, I’m with you.jpg]

Lu Yiyao—[As you say, parents are always at their children’s mercy.jpg]

Lu Yiyao—[Go for it, Xiao Ran Lin.jpg]

Memes are indeed weapons of mass destruction. At any rate, Ran Lin’s heart turned as soft as peach juice, and his nervousness sweetened by the sentiment.

Ran Lin—[Lu Yiyao.]

Lu Yiyao—[…Why so serious all of a sudden? 💦]

Ran Lin—[I love you.]

The phone was quiet for a long time, so long that Ran Lin wondered if his partner had just put down the phone and missed the message, until it finally vibrated again—

Lu Yiyao—[Yeah, I know.]

Ran Lin gritted his teeth at the response, deciding they needed to discuss “how to properly respond to a partner’s declaration of love” when he got back.

At 8 p.m., the Spring Festival Gala began, and the Ran family’s New Year’s Eve dinner officially started.

Ran Yimin, who only got to drink once a year without being scolded, happily took out the Maotai wine his son had gifted him and poured himself a glass.

After pouring his own, he attempted to pour for Ran Lin, but Lu Qing intervened. “If you want to drink, just drink, but don’t always lead your son down the path of alcoholism.”

Ran Yimin frowned, disagreeing with his wife’s comment. “I may be a drinker, but my son is not. He has a talent for drinking, but it’s always you holding him back. His talent is being buried!”

Lu Qing rolled her eyes. “What talent? It’s just genetics. If you had listened to me and quit drinking when we were trying for a child, Ran Lin wouldn’t be like this now.”

“……” Ran Lin really wanted to ask what his current situation was. Although he wasn’t particularly fond of alcohol, he quite liked his hidden talent of never getting drunk.

“Son, you see?” Ran Yimin, unable to win against his wife, turned to his son for support. Although he might seem quiet over the phone, whenever the family of three gathered, he became quite chatty—a performer who thrived on the spot. “Your mother always bullies me like this at home. It’s not easy for me to have endured until now.”

“It’s me who has it tough.” Lu Qing raised her voice by an octave, drawing her son’s attention back to her. “Marrying your father was the greatest hardship of my life…”

The Spring Festival Gala on TV dazzled with song and dance.

But the Ran family enjoyed their own harmony and joy off-screen.

This was the New Year’s Eve night Ran Lin missed the most: lively, festive, filled with the warmth of family. Even his parents’ bickering sounded cheerful to him.

Rarely sticking to the tradition of staying up late, the family was unusually spirited and managed to stay awake until the clock struck twelve. At that moment, Ran Lin stood up from the sofa and loudly wished, “Dad, Mom, Happy New Year.”

Lu Qing and Ran Yimin’s smiles were filled with happiness, every wrinkle a testament to their joy.

As it was just family, there was no custom of exchanging red envelopes, so after the New Year’s greetings, the celebration was considered complete.

Lu Qing yawned, ready to get up for some rest, but she noticed her son, who had just finished his New Year’s greeting, still standing in front of them, motionless.

Lu Qing looked up, the smile slowly fading from her face, replaced by a slight confusion. “Hm?”

Ran Yimin, less sensitive than his wife, looked at her first, thinking she might have some instructions.

It was only when Ran Lin spoke that Ran Yimin realized it wasn’t his wife who had something to say, but his son—

“Dad, Mom, I have something to tell you.”

Seeing the serious expression on his son’s face, Lu Qing knew it was something significant and immediately muted the TV with the remote.

The living room fell into sudden silence.

“Speak,” Lu Qing said succinctly.

While the gala continued on the TV, the contrast only made the atmosphere in the room more solemn.

Ran Yimin looked at his son, then at his wife, confused about the situation.

Thump.

Ran Lin knelt down without warning. “Dad, Mom, I’m sorry.”

Lu Qing was stunned, speechless for a moment.

Ran Yimin was shocked, his voice trembling with concern. “Son, what are you doing? Did you do something wrong? Don’t scare your parents…”

“No!” Ran Lin quickly denied.

Before even coming out, he was nearly labeled a criminal by his own father.

“Then just spit it out already!” Lu Qing’s lifetime hatred was for unfinished sentences, and only her son was an exception. If it were Ran Yimin, she simply couldn’t tolerate it.

“I’m gay.” Ran Lin had rehearsed countless versions of coming out—subtle, roundabout, indirect, and full of hints. But now, facing his parents’ genuinely concerned eyes, all his tactics failed him, leaving only two dry words.

But isn’t that the core of it, just those two words?

It was hard to say, but once said, it was out there.

“I like men. I have since I was little. I’ve been hiding it from you. I’m sorry… Mom, you always hoped I’d settle down soon. I’ve found the person I want to be with. We’ve known each other for four years and been together for three. I know it’s hard for you to accept right away, but I promise, I haven’t gone bad. I’m still me.”

After pouring his heart out, Ran Lin looked at his parents with immense trepidation and a sliver of hope.

If Lu Qing and Ran Yimin were initially confused by the term “gay”, by now, even the slowest would understand.

But understanding didn’t make it any easier to speak.

Silence spread like wild grass, erasing the festive mood that filled the room just moments ago.

Ran Lin, watching his parents’ continued silence, felt his tiny hope extinguish, giving way to a prickling bitterness.

“Dad, Mom.” Ran Lin’s voice cracked, barely suppressing a sob. “Please, say something…”

Ran Yimin put his arm around his wife’s shoulder, patting gently, then finally spoke to his son with an unexpectedly calm voice. “What do you want us to say? You’re not asking for our opinion. You’re just informing us.”

“This isn’t something that can be discussed.” Ran Lin shook his head gently, pained by the hurt he caused his parents, yet feeling unjustly aggrieved. “It’s innate. I can’t change it… I used to write with my left hand, and you could make me change that because I have two hands. But I only have one heart. I just like men. I can’t switch this heart for another…”

“Enough.” Ran Yimin frowned, clearly uninterested in poetic explanations. “Just tell me, is this really something that can’t be changed?”

“Really,” Ran Lin replied without hesitation.

Ran Yimin’s chest heaved, obviously suppressing strong emotions, yet his arm still held Lu Qing’s shoulder, fearing any relaxation might lead to her breaking down.

“Why can’t you just let us have a peaceful New Year…” Lu Qing finally spoke, her voice slightly shaky, but she didn’t cry.

Ran Lin didn’t know what else to say, so he just kept repeating. “I’m sorry…”

“We don’t need your apology.” Lu Qing’s voice tightened. “We’re afraid you won’t be true to yourself. Two men can’t marry, have no children, no legal protections, no ties. If you break up, it’s over. You’re young now and unafraid, but what about when you’re old, old? When you’re alone, what will you do?”

Ran Lin expected to face fundamental rejections like “two men together isn’t normal,” but instead, every word from his mother was for his consideration.

Tears couldn’t be held back anymore.

Ran Lin wiped his face, but tears kept coming. He tried to breathe deeply, but it was of no use.

Seeing her son cry, Lu Qing’s own long-held tears fell. “Why are you crying? If anyone should cry, it’s your dad and me…”

Her words might have sounded harsh, but said through tears, they lost all their force.

Ran Yimin watched his wife and son crying together, his heart a mess. He couldn’t hold back his own tears, but fortunately, neither his wife nor his son noticed. He blinked hard and managed to push the tears back.

“Say something!” Lu Qing, on the verge of breaking down, snapped at Ran Yimin, who seemed as silent as a gourd.

Ran Yimin felt wrongly accused but understood that his wife needed someone to vent on. With their son, a grown man, crying like that, of course, she couldn’t bear to scold him.

With a heavy sigh, Ran Yimin resignedly said to Lu Qing, “This can’t be changed. I can’t even quit drinking myself, and this is something intrinsic to him. How can he change it.”

“I’m not forcing him to change.” Lu Qing sniffled, taking several deep breaths to steady her voice, but it choked up again as she continued, “But how will he manage in the future? People expect to have a companion in their old age. Who will take care of him when he’s old?”

“Mom…” Ran Lin cried it all out and felt as if the heavy stone pressing on his chest had been shattered by tears. It hadn’t completely gone away, but at least the suffocating pressure was no longer there. “Even married people get divorced these days, it’s so easy now. Having a marriage certificate doesn’t guarantee anything. Besides, you have to trust my judgment. Lu and I… we’ve been together for three years now. He’s even told his parents, and they said they want to invite me to dinner…”

“His parents want to invite you for dinner?!” Lu Qing exclaimed, eyes wide.

“Yeah.” Ran Lin wiped his face again, finally stopping the flood of tears.

“My precious son, how can you be so naive!” Lu Qing shook off Ran Yimin’s arm, got up, and walked over to fiercely tap her son’s forehead. “That’s them wanting to meet you in person to talk seriously. Mark my words, they’re probably going to tell you to stop bothering their son.”

“……” Ran Lin looked up at his mother, deciding he definitely needed to monitor her drama-watching list in the future. What a bunch of convoluted plot twists!

“Get up. It’s the New Year. What are you kneeling for.” Lu Qing grabbed her son’s clothes, pulled him up, and tossed him onto the sofa. Then she leaned in close, staring into his eyes as if she were a lie detector. “You’ve really been together for three years?”

Ran Lin nodded firmly.

Lu Qing watched him silently, her eyes reddening again, but this time she didn’t cry. “Mom doesn’t understand all this, but I just want you to be happy.”

Ran Lin hugged his mother tightly. “I am happy, very happy.”

……

For half a month, Ran Lin followed his parents like a little helper, visiting relatives, meeting friends, acting as a mascot when the shop was open, and trailing home after closing. Occasionally, he even showed his mother the impressive figures in his mobile banking app.

Finally, on the night of the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, after eating a glutinous rice ball, his mother, tired of his explanations, waved her hand impatiently. “Okay, I understand now. I’m not stopping you from pursuing your dreams and freedom. Can you just sit down and eat a glutinous rice ball quietly?”

Ran Lin chuckled, scooped up a black sesame one, and popped it into his mouth, only to burn his tongue.

At first worried, Lu Qing rolled her eyes when she saw he was okay. “Serves you right, talking non-stop all day.”

Ran Yimin chimed in, “Your son’s been talking for half a month, you’ve been nagging for a life…” The last “time” was cut off by his wife’s sharp glare, swallowed back down.

The bowl of glutinous rice balls didn’t take long to eat, but with everyone silent, just the sound of spoons clinking against the bowls, the minutes stretched out unusually long.

Although his mother didn’t want him to keep talking, Ran Lin was still uneasy and was about to say something more when he was preempted—

“After the fifteenth day of the first month, the New Year’s celebrations are considered over.” Lu Qing looked up at her son, her voice grave. “So from now on, let’s not bring up last year’s issues. You live your life well, and that will be the greatest filial piety to your father and me.”

Ran Lin felt a warmth in his heart and a sourness in his eyes. A myriad of emotions condensed into a single word. “Yeah.”

“And…” Lu Qing put down her spoon, deciding to give a final lecture. “Next time you have something to say, just say it. Don’t flop to the ground and kneel at every turn; we’re not in a TV drama…”

“Of course, ideally, there won’t be a ‘next time’.”

“Oh right, we made you switch from using your left hand to your right because we were afraid of you smudging your homework with pencil lead and ink. We thought if we didn’t push you to change, the school teachers would. It’s not like we were full and had nothing better to do than worry about which hand you used! That’s an old matter from years ago, and you’re still bringing it up. Why do you hold grudges…”

On New Year’s Eve, Ran Lin came out, and by the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, his mother was dredging up old grievances.

…But who’s really holding the grudges here!

……

On the sixteenth day of the first lunar month, Ran Lin returned to Beijing, first going back to his rented apartment, and only when night fell did he drive to Lu Yiyao’s villa.

As he opened the door, the house was pitch dark; neither the main lights nor the night lights were on, and it was eerily quiet, as if no one had been there.

Ran Lin frowned. He and Lu Yiyao had agreed to spend the night here, and Lu Yiyao had said he’d come straight here after work.

Could he still be working overtime?

Puzzled, Ran Lin naturally moved to turn on the entrance light, but before his hand could touch the switch, he was suddenly pinned against the wall, and the next second, lips claimed his.

The familiar scent calmed Ran Lin down. He wrapped his arms around the other’s neck, deepening the kiss.

The chill of just entering was gradually dispelled by the fervent kiss, but as Lu Yiyao’s hand slipped under his shirt, Ran Lin shivered anew.

“Welcome home.” The kiss finally ended, and Lu Yiyao whispered with a smile.

As his eyes adjusted to the darkness, Ran Lin stared unblinkingly at him, guessing, “Is there good news?”

Lu Yiyao lightly nipped his nose. “Doesn’t successfully coming out count?”

Ran Lin raised an eyebrow. “I told you on New Year’s Eve, aren’t you a bit too prolonged in your excitement?”

Lu Yiyao’s smile widened, leaning close to whisper in his lover’s ear. “<Youth of Wuling> has been sold.”

Ran Lin was surprised. “Already? The post-production isn’t even done yet.”

Lu Yiyao explained, “Two satellite TV stations we talked to the year before just confirmed the deal yesterday. It’s actually considered slow. Some dramas are sold right when they start filming, stations don’t even look at the content, just the cast.”

Ran Lin: “Are you implying I still need to work harder…”

“……” Lu Yiyao was speechless. Thinking too much can indeed be worrisome.

Ran Lin didn’t know much about TV series distribution, but seeing Lu Yiyao so happy, he knew it must be a good result. But when he asked about the selling price…

“So you’re still going to lose a few million?”

Lu Yiyao shook his head. “That’s just satellite TV. There’s still online platforms. It won’t be a loss.”

Ran Lin breathed a sigh of relief. “That’s good.”

Lu Yiyao held Ran Lin tight, nuzzling his neck gently. “It’s already very good. I originally planned for the show to be a loss leader, but now we’re not just breaking even. We’ve made a profit. It’s an unexpected joy.”

Ran Lin shared his happiness. “You really are suited for business…”

Lu Yiyao lightly bit his neck. “Mainly because I chose the right lead actor…”

Ran Lin wanted to be modest, but the gentle biting on his neck made him weak and relaxed.

By the time he came to his senses, he was already being carried upstairs by Lu Yiyao.

Ran Lin hadn’t had dinner yet, so he indulged Lu Yiyao first. By the end, he didn’t have the energy to move a finger.

Lu Yiyao, however, was full of energy, turned on the light, and went down to make a late-night snack for his lover.

Ran Lin felt like a human-shaped power bank, exclusively for Lu Yiyao.

It was late at night, and Lu Yiyao didn’t make anything too complicated—just two bowls of noodles. He brought them into the bedroom, setting up a small, foldable table on the bed to eat with his lover.

While slurping noodles, Ran Lin detailed the entire coming-out process to Lu Yiyao.

After he finished, Ran Lin genuinely reflected. “That tactic of ‘fatigue bombardment and brainwashing popularization’ that Mengmeng used should be promoted.”

Lu Yiyao smiled. “You can tell her yourself.”

The dinner date had already been set for this weekend.

Ran Lin pursed his lips and, after a while, softly said, “I’m a bit nervous.”

Lu Yiyao knew that Ran Lin wasn’t nervous about Lu Yimeng and held his hand, saying, “Don’t worry, my parents are very…”

Lu Yiyao considered words like “kind,” “gentle,” “good-tempered,” each with its calming effect, and finally chose—

“Very reasonable people.”

“……” Ran Lin felt like he hadn’t received much comfort.

The day of the dinner quickly arrived.

Before meeting Lu Yiyao, Ran Lin had never imagined sitting down to eat with his boyfriend’s parents, but when the day actually came, he imagined countless scenarios of how it might unfold.

In pessimistic moments, he envisioned endings with arguments or even overturning the table. In optimistic moments, it was awkward silence or subtle verbal sparring.

But, like with his coming out, none of the imagined storms happened. It was just a very normal dinner, casual eating and chatting, as if friends were visiting.

Ran Lin didn’t know how much groundwork Lu Yiyao had laid behind the scenes, but as the beneficiary of these efforts, he felt as happy as he had told his parents.

Of course, the “casual chatting” wasn’t entirely without substance. In fact, Lu Yiyao’s parents, like his own, were worried and uneasy, though they masked it in seemingly casual conversation—

“What are your plans for the future?” Lu Guoming asked.

Ran Lin answered honestly. “I love acting, so I’ll probably continue to act until I can’t, or no one wants me anymore.”

“And in life.” Lu Guoming paused. “I mean, about the two of you.”

Ran Lin saw Lu Yiyao about to speak and pressed his hand under the table, knowing his parents were clear about their son’s thoughts and now wanted to hear what their son’s partner really thought.

“Our relationship can’t be made public for now,” Ran Lin said calmly. “Maybe in the future, if the environment allows, we might, or maybe not. But it won’t affect our life together.”

Lu Guoming asked, “Hiding it for a lifetime, won’t it be too hard?”

Ran Lin pondered for a moment. “It will be, but it’s worth it.”

Lu Guoming had no further questions, just looked steadily at him, as if he could see his son’s future in his face.

Fan Li hadn’t spoken much, but she listened intently when her ex-husband spoke. She wasn’t thrilled, but at least she felt more grounded. Ran Lin gave her a clearer picture and direction for her son’s partner’s “wild thoughts”. Ran Lin’s “honesty” and “stability” also steadied her wavering heart a bit.

Lu Yimeng, unable to hold back any longer, leaned in with the most gossipy question of the meal—

“Ran Ge, what do you like about my brother?”

Ran Lin, who was sipping soup, almost choked at the question.

Of course, he could list what he liked about Lu Yiyao, but it felt a bit awkward in front of his parents.

Seeing Ran Lin’s hesitation, Lu Yiyao felt a slight pang. “Is it that hard to answer?”

Ran Lin, feeling helpless, glanced at Lu Yimeng, then at Lu Yiyao, seeing both siblings full of anticipation. He took a deep breath and began listing his lover’s qualities for his future sister-in-law. “Your brother is upright, open, diligent, dedicated to his work, ambitious, and self-reflective, which is actually quite rare. He might not seem very warm to friends, but he holds them in his heart, says less but does more, and…” The more he praised, the smoother he got, even recalling their first meeting, that Lu Yiyao who managed a smile despite being furious, felt like just yesterday. Thinking of this, Ran Lin couldn’t help but smile. “He’s got a good temper.”

“Mm,” Fan Li, who had been quiet, suddenly agreed. “He got that from me.”

Lu Yiyao: “…”

Lu Yimeng: “…”

Lu Guoming: “…”

Feeling the sudden silence, Ran Lin decided it was safer to remain quiet and continued drinking his soup quietly.

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