Author: 颜凉雨 / Yan Liang Yu

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

---

Chapter 28

[I really just asked casually at the time. Who knew your fans loved you so deeply…]

Ran Lin sent this irresponsible comment back, almost able to envision Lu Yiyao rolling his eyes.

Lu Yiyao never actually rolls his eyes, perhaps finding the action disrespectful to others. But after spending time with him, you’d realize that his eye-rolling happens internally, and the more polite his smile is, the higher the internal eye-roll meter.

Unexpectedly, Lu Yiyao didn’t retort but quickly replied with a short voice message: “Have you watched the show?”

Ran Lin was taken aback, then realized that Lu Yiyao probably thought he had given up on both the show and Weibo after being criticized in the first episode.

[Yes, I watched it.]

“The last two episodes weren’t bad. Although it’s unlikely to be a huge ratings hit, the reputation should improve as it goes.”

Lu Yiyao’s tone was very objective but Ran Lin could tell he was still trying to comfort him.

He thought Ran Lin was still troubled by the negative reception of the first episode, so sharing screenshots and discussing the show’s turnaround was meant to cheer him up.

Why worry about whether someone else is straight or not?

Just as a friend, this person was already one in a hundred.

Ran Lin suppressed the warmth stirring in his heart and responded seriously: [You said the reputation will start low and go high, so the ratings will definitely rebound too.]

If he cared about the reputation, then Lu Yiyao and his team must be concerned about the ratings, especially since this was Lu Yiyao’s variety show debut. If it didn’t take off, his future in variety shows would be difficult. Nowadays, variety shows are a tool for gaining fans and popularity. Compared to well-reputed works, variety shows are easier and more effective, and almost every popular young actor or actress needs to have at least one hot variety show.

“Ratings have their own patterns, and from what we see now, a big spike seems unlikely.” Lu Yiyao’s voice didn’t carry much regret but more the tone of an objective analyst.

Ran Lin asked with a learning spirit: [How so?]

“This program has aired three episodes, and the ratings have been stable, meaning neither the bad reviews of the first episode nor the good reviews of the third have significantly impacted the ratings. The only explanation is that, from the start, the show’s viewership has been primarily fans. After the first episode’s poor reception, non-fans left, but fans stayed due to their affection for the idols. The second episode’s reputation improved, which should have solidified the fan base and brought back previous viewers, not to mention attracting new ones. But the slight fluctuations in the third episode’s ratings show that non-fans play a negligible role in the audience. So, what really affects this show’s ratings isn’t its quality or reputation, but the stickiness of the fan base.”

[If a future episode performs exceptionally well and has a breakout moment, a surge in ratings isn’t impossible, right?]

“We’ve all only signed for one season of this show, eight episodes in total. Three have aired, five have been filmed, and I haven’t seen anything that could really explode. Even if there is, it’s likely in the last three episodes. But for an eight-episode series, a late surge only benefits a potential second season.”

Lu Yiyao’s reasoning was clear and well-founded, convincing Ran Lin.

But he still felt conflicted. [If it weren’t for your voice message, I would have thought I was talking to my agent. 💦]

After a while, a reply came from WeChat. Lu Yiyao’s voice was now tinged with amusement. “Okay, I admit, compared to artistic pursuits, I am more interested in studying industry patterns. But then again, don’t you think it’s thrilling to cut through the chaos and see the essence of things?”

[Being the only sober person in a crowd of drunks?]

“I like that analogy.”

…Narcissists always do!

Ran Lin admitted that most of the time Lu Yiyao was charming, but sometimes his self-satisfaction really made one want to slap him!

The problem was he was itching to continue the conversation, especially now when the atmosphere was so good that he couldn’t bear to ruin it.

His mind was filled with snarky comments, but what Ran Lin finally typed out was innocent: [If there’s a second season, would you join it?]

Unaware, Lu Yiyao honestly replied, “Probably not. I still find acting more meaningful. So I’m looking at a script right now. If I take this role, my schedule for the next year will be completely full.”

[I just looked at my schedule, and it’s so relaxed it’s like retirement…]

“Just do well in each assignment and project.”

[“‘You will definitely become popular’—isn’t that the normal way to encourage a friend?]

“Okay, you will definitely become popular.”

[Your calm tone makes me feel even more pessimistic about my future…]

Sitting in his study’s reading chair, Lu Yiyao couldn’t help but chuckle at his phone.

His study had a deep English style, decorated mainly in dark colors. Except for the door and windows, the remaining walls were filled with deep brown wooden bookshelves. The curtains were brown too, made of the thickest material for light blocking. The chandelier and carpet were the only decorative items in the room, both retro but not overly complex. The few patterns on the carpet were the only bright colors in the room.

The large, dark gray reading chair in the center was Lu Yiyao’s favorite spot to read when he had free time. Once the door was closed and the curtains drawn, the lighted lamp created an isolated tranquility, allowing one to immerse in the world of books.

However, Lu Yiyao hardly had any holidays this past year, so he could only occasionally enjoy some time here late at night.

Tonight was the same. He had planned to read the script to calm his mind before sleeping after watching the show and browsing Weibo. But just as he sat down, Ran Lin replied to his WeChat, and their conversation put the script reading on hold.

He sent voice messages, and Ran Lin replied with text, so their conversation had a constant time lag.

With nothing else to do while waiting for replies, Lu Yiyao went to check the comments under Ran Lin’s Weibo post again. Compared to after the second episode, Ran Lin’s comment section tonight was much more harmonious. Though the number of “Burning Noodles” was still far less than “non-fans + other fans”, the latter’s comments had shifted from sarcasm to neutral and objective.

In fact, this kind of comment was good—factual, calm, and rational. It wasn’t necessary to be overly passionate or excessively critical.

Lu Yiyao picked a few good comments to screenshot and was relieved to find that he almost didn’t need to blur any of them.

Even the occasional slightly harsh comment wasn’t as extreme as last time and nestled among a bunch of positive or neutral comments, he believed Ran Lin wouldn’t be too fragile.

As they chatted back and forth, by the time Ran Lin sent a “Good night”, Lu Yiyao had already taken eight screenshots.

The number couldn’t compare with the last time, but seeing Ran Lin’s good spirits in Dubai, Lu Yiyao thought there was no need for strong measures anymore. A gentle approach would suffice.

Humming an English song unconsciously, Lu Yiyao selected all the screenshots and sent them.

Ran Lin had just brushed his teeth when he heard his phone ring again. Logically, he knew the other side was probably just saying “Good night”, but he couldn’t help rushing back to the living room, foam still in his mouth, eager to check his phone.

There was a “Good night.”

But before the “Good night,” there were eight screenshots.

Ran Lin stared at the screenshots, only then remembering to tell Lu Yiyao that he had reinstalled Weibo.

To tell or not to tell, that was the question.

Telling him meant no more late-night comment screening and screenshot sending.

Not telling him meant Lu Yiyao might continue sending screenshots until the eighth episode.

Absorbed in thought, Ran Lin accidentally swallowed the toothpaste.

Amidst the tangy taste, he finally made a decision.

[Got the screenshots, but I’ve already reinstalled Weibo 🎆.]

It felt really good to have someone always thinking about you. But knowing that he had already gone through the comments while the other person was still diligently taking screenshots late into the night… he couldn’t feel at ease.

He expected Lu Yiyao to complain about not being informed earlier.

Instead, Lu Yiyao sounded genuinely happy for him. “That’s right. You don’t really need to worry too much about what others think. Knowing what kind of person you are is the most important.”

[Mm.]

Lu Yiyao sighed, realizing Ran Lin really preferred texting to voice messages.

Although talking to himself all night was a bit strange, Lu Yiyao always respected personal habits.

“Good night.” After sending this voice message, Lu Yiyao put down his phone and leaned back in his chair, fully relaxing.

“Good night,” Ran Lin whispered to his phone, but in the end, he still sent a text.

It wasn’t that he liked texting; he just feared his voice would betray his emotions.

Those feelings of excitement, shyness, and anticipation should remain unknown to others.

The discussions stirred by the third episode continued until the broadcast of the fourth episode.

It wasn’t that the third episode was exceptionally brilliant, but it left the audience with many unanswered questions:

First, what brand was Xia Xinran’s sunscreen?

Second, what was Lu Yiyao’s mood when the coconut husk fire was blown away?

Third, was Ran Lin’s apology really just about the fire-making, or was there a deeper meaning?

Fourth, was Lu Yiyao’s private residence an apartment or a villa?

Fifth, did the manly Gu Jie, who had no friends, have a girlfriend?

Ultimately, these questions never received official answers, and the enthusiastic audience and fans, after the fourth episode, completely forgot about them.

If the overall style change in the second episode was a pleasant surprise but still under observation; and the third episode’s more mature and stable guest performance and editing regained viewers’ confidence, making them slightly expectant; then the fourth episode of <National First Love Drifting Story> finally hit its first big moment since its debut.

“Lu Yiyao’s fear of heights” and “We owe Ran Lin an apology” simultaneously climbed onto the trending searches.

“National First Love Drifting Story”, “Disney”, “Lu Yiyao cosplaying Spider-Man”, “Chen Sheng and Wu Guang”, “Xia Xinran on the carousel” became hot topics.

This included some rhythm led by the program group and various celebrity teams.

But at the end of the day, it was the effectiveness of the program itself.

The pleasing amusement park, the youth-filled first love team, from the initial task-focused tension through the mid-episode stumbles and friction to the final understanding and unity, edited and post-produced for a smoother rhythm and richer emotions.

The ultimate collective decision to forgo voting and the director’s announcement of no Fairy Tale First Love but a Fairy Tale First Love Team brought the youthful spirit to its peak.

What viewers want from a program is this kind of psychological fulfillment.

When the process stirs their emotions and the outcome meets or even exceeds their expectations, the viewing pleasure doubles.

Lu Yiyao’s Weibo comments were torn between those scolding him, “If you’re paid, you should endure it. Don’t join if you’re afraid of heights,” and loyal fans arguing, “Standing and talking without back pain, physiological acrophobia can kill.”

Ran Lin’s Weibo, on the other hand, was flooded with Lu Yiyao’s fans, thanking him for understanding Lu Yiyao and apologizing for previous scolding.

Amidst the noise, an ordinary viewer’s post-viewing Weibo, short in words, unexpectedly stood out, receiving tens of thousands of replies and reposts, becoming the most dazzling scene in the hot topics:

Sad Eeyore: [I always called this program “National Male God First Love Story” and I couldn’t change it no matter how many times I tried. Today, watching them ride the carousel on TV, I understood—it was divine revelation.]

……

By the time the fourth episode aired, “National First Love Drifting Story” had already completed the filming of the sixth episode “France Romantic First Love”.

The romantic first love was awarded to Ran Lin, so as he watched Disney on TV, he was still thinking about the Champs-Élysées and the coffee aroma handed to him by Lu Yiyao.

But honestly, coffee was just for smelling; he still preferred soy milk.

That night in the group chat, Xia Xinran was still the most excited about Disney, clearly lingering on the memory. But Gu Jie obviously suffered a lot, so as Xia Xinran reminisced about a scene, he followed suit, recalling the same incident. However, the same event, as told by the two of them, appeared entirely different, like two sides of a coin—one side sunny and bright, the other dark and oppressive.

Ran Lin and Zhang Beichen also found moments to join in their discussions, adding a few comments.

It was a scene of joyful harmony.

This felt just like the atmosphere during the sixth episode’s filming, where both he and Zhang Beichen tacitly avoided mentioning Dubai, and the latter hadn’t caused any more troubling incidents.

Strangely, Lu Yiyao was silent all night.

Ran Lin was a bit tempted to send a private message to ask about the situation, considering that messaging Lu Yiyao had become quite normal for him. However, he also thought that Lu Yiyao might be busy with his tight work schedule, possibly even working overnight. Disturbing him at this time might be annoying.

His indecision led to Lu Yiyao remaining silent, but Zhang Beichen ended up sending a private message—

[There are a lot of people on Weibo saying they owe you an apology 😆]

Ran Lin was a bit surprised but replied jokingly—[I saw and burst into tears.]

[I owe you an apology too.]

Ran Lin didn’t expect him to bring up past issues or to be so direct.

[No need. It’s all in the past.]

[Still friends?]

[Of course.]

[I actually wanted to buy you a gift in Paris but considering the likelihood of not being able to give it, I decided not to waste it.]

[Smart choice. 👍]

[So, really no chance at all?]

[Ironclad straight.]

[That’s what I admire about you…]

Ran Lin smiled at Zhang Beichen’s response, his last bit of unease dissipating.

Everything’s easy once you talk it out.

With open communication, everyone feels comfortable.

In the end, Ran Lin didn’t send a message to Lu Yiyao.

In fact, this choice was correct, because that night Lu Yiyao was already overwhelmed by a barrage of calls from family and friends. Even if he received a message, he probably wouldn’t have the energy to reply.

…..

“You’ll die, you know that!?”

In the quiet VIP lounge of the airport, where even a pin drop could be heard, Lu Yimeng’s high-pitched scream pierced through the receiver, waking Yao Hong, who was dozing off nearby.

Lu Yiyao signaled Yao Hong to continue sleeping and then, covering his phone, moved to a corner to soothe his sister. “I know, I know. I didn’t go up in the end.”

“But you were seriously considering it! Don’t tell me you weren’t; I know what you’re thinking just by the way your eyes shift!”

“…”

“I’m telling you, buying a few bags won’t cut it this time. Mom said you must come over within a month for a face-to-face ideological education!”

Lu Yiyao, harangued by his little sister, felt his head spin. Lu Yimeng was only a fraction as formidable as their mother, the true master of devastating wit. Just thinking about facing both in the next thirty days drained Lu Yiyao of the will to go on.

“Brother,” Lu Yimeng finally softened her tone after venting. “Don’t take such shows next time. No one’s forcing you to be a big shot. Mom and I just want you to be safe.”

Lu Yiyao sighed, looking at the wall art. “If I had known about such tasks, I wouldn’t have taken it.”

“Nice try.” Lu Yimeng snorted, pausing before adding, “I know you’re trying to prove something to Dad, showing him your success. But there’s a limit to everything. Okay, even if you didn’t go on the roller coaster or join any dangerous activities, the fact that you’re too busy to sleep is still true. Do you know you can die from lack of sleep? If anything happens to you, what about me and Mom…”

“Stop.” Fearing being cursed to death by his sister, Lu Yiyao quickly interrupted, “I have my limits. Instead of persuading me, why don’t you persuade Mom to take a day off? She never stops working.”

“No way.” Lu Yimeng’s refusal was decisive. “I’d just hear, ‘If you’re worried about me, come help me in the company.’ I’m not digging that hole for myself.”

“You really should start helping Mom.” On this matter, Lu Yiyao stood with their mother. “After twenty-two years of fun, it’s time to be responsible.”

“Why does it always turn into you lecturing me when I’m scolding you…”

Lu Yiyao smiled tenderly. “I’ve always been the good guy.”

Lu Yimeng “tsked” at her brother’s confidence, or rather, narcissism.

“By the way, I’m not doing this out of spite towards Dad; I genuinely like this line of work.” Lu Yiyao clarified at the end of the conversation.

Lu Yimeng’s reply was brief. “Who believes you.”

Just after hanging up, before Lu Yiyao could return to the sofa, his phone rang again.

Seeing the name on the caller ID, Lu Yiyao’s smile faded, and his expression and voice became serious as he answered, “Dad.”

“You must let me see you within two weeks.” Lu Guoming’s imperative sentence was enough for father and son. There was no need for pleasantries.

Lu Yiyao lowered his eyes, perhaps full of thoughts, but his reply was simple. “Understood.”

Lu Guoming hung up, satisfied, the call lasting less than a minute.

Lu Yiyao raised his eyes, looking at the inconspicuous painting on the wall in the corner, a promotional photo for the airport or this VIP lounge, featuring models depicting a happy family of three smiling at the camera.

His family might have had a similar portrait.

He said “might” because Lu Yiyao had no physical copy. There were only vague memories from his early childhood, hazy and unclear.

Facing a packed month and needing to find two days to face off against his parents, Lu Yiyao felt not just drained of the courage to live but utterly depleted.

……

This week, Ran Lin had double joy.

The first was, of course, the turnaround in reception from the fourth Disney episode. The marketing accounts that had previously joined the bandwagon in criticizing him now flipped sides, praising him. His team also steered some narratives, and he watched his popularity steadily rise. If the online ranking of celebrity attention wasn’t clear enough, being recognized on the street for photos and autographs truly gave him a taste of fame.

Even at the peak of his early “popularity”, the number of times he was recognized on the street was few and far between. And those who did often struggled to call him by the right name, “that school heartthrob” and “Young Master Linghu” being the most common. But now, those who recognized him could accurately call out his name and express their fondness for his performance in the show. Some adorable girls even recounted specific moments from particular episodes that they couldn’t forget.

The second joy was that Wang Xi finally, after careful selection, helped him land his first advertisement in his acting career—a men’s shampoo newly launched by a certain hair care brand.

Although the brand was not the industry leader, it had a stable market share and was well-recognized among the public. The new product was advertised as a pure and non-irritating natural formula, targeting young consumers. Therefore, in choosing a spokesperson, the brand preferred someone youthful and energetic, ideally a male star who hadn’t endorsed similar products before, as this would more easily bind the star’s image with that of the brand.

Youthful and clean image, limited endorsements, high topicality recently, and cost-effectiveness—after searching around, the brand settled on Ran Lin.

The agency was also satisfied with the brand’s reputation and image. So, after several rounds of negotiations, all contract details were finalized, and the contract was successfully signed this week.

On the day the contract was signed, Ran Lin treated the whole team to a big meal.

Wang Xi teased him for spending money before even getting paid, especially since he would only receive thirty percent of the endorsement fee, with the remaining seventy percent going to the company. Ran Lin’s response was to serve Wang Xi as much food as he could, hoping that the lavish meal would temporarily distract her from her worries.

The advertisement hadn’t started shooting yet, so Ran Lin restrained himself and didn’t tell his family. After all, anything could happen before the ad was actually broadcast, and he didn’t want to give his parents false hope.

Keeping secrets was hard, especially when his parents kept calling to check on him.

Fortunately, it wasn’t long before he was immersed in a new round of work—the seventh episode of <National First Love Drifting Story> set in Thailand with the theme of “Curry First Love”, was about to start filming.

As usual, he checked into the hotel arranged by the production team the night before, and the camera crew would shoot some behind-the-scenes footage.

Ran Lin was already familiar with the routine. So, after settling his luggage and tidying up briefly, he went to greet his teammates in their rooms.

For the other four rooms, the following camera crew would give him the numbers directly, but from the second episode onwards, the production team wouldn’t tell him who was staying in each room. So, he didn’t know whom he would meet when he opened the doors.

The first door Ran Lin knocked on was Gu Jie’s. When the door opened, Gu Jie was shirtless, his muscular body glistening with sweat.

Ran Lin was startled, and so was Gu Jie, who quickly turned to put on a T-shirt, explaining, “I thought it was room service.”

Ran Lin didn’t know whether to comment on the awkward timing or Gu Jie’s casualness. Knowing that teammates could knock at any time, what meal was he ordering? No, wait, what did ordering a meal have to do with being shirtless?

“Come in,” Gu Jie said, now dressed, inviting Ran Lin and the camera crew standing at the entrance.

Upon entering, Ran Lin immediately noticed the dumbbells and push-up bars on the floor and understood where the sweat had come from.

“Life is all about exercise,” Gu Jie said enthusiastically, noticing Ran Lin’s gaze on the equipment. “Wanna try? It’s really satisfying.”

Faced with such an enthusiastic invitation, Ran Lin had no choice but to reluctantly join in.

In the past, Ran Lin might not have been able to do many, but his recent visits to the gym weren’t in vain, and he managed several sets of push-ups with ease.

Gu Jie didn’t expect Ran Lin, who appeared “frail” by his standards, to be quite skilled, not only able to do the exercises but also with proper form and no shortcuts.

Excited, Gu Jie picked up the dumbbells and started lifting them energetically.

Since Ran Lin and the camera crew didn’t close the door when they entered, Xia Xinran pushed it open and walked in, finding himself in the midst of a bustling fitness scene.

“Is there a task already, and it’s not even tomorrow?” Xia Xinran asked, bewildered, wondering if he, lacking upper body strength and agility, could get away with jumping rope.

He could do 200 jumps in a minute, even fancy ones!

“No, we’re just playing.” Ran Lin finally managed to get up from the ground, grateful for Xia Xinran’s arrival.

Gu Jie wasn’t happy about the interruption; he was enjoying his lifting.

“Playing?” Xia Xinran looked at the equipment on the floor and asked seriously, “Isn’t this recreational activity a bit… strenuous?”

Seeing Gu Jie about to enthusiastically explain the virtues of exercise to Xia Xinran, Ran Lin quickly interjected, “We can explore these later. I still need to greet the other teammates.”

“I’ll join you,” Xia Xinran said. “I’ve just arrived and haven’t seen anyone yet.”

Ran Lin looked at Gu Jie, clearly asking for his opinion.

Gu Jie shrugged. “I met the others an hour ago…”

Ran Lin nodded, not wanting to delay further, and left with Xia Xinran to knock on the next door.

It was Zhang Beichen who answered. He welcomed Ran Lin and Xia Xinran warmly.

The three didn’t chat much. Ran Lin just mentioned he had seen Gu Jie, and Xia Xinran was eager to meet the next teammate. Ran Lin, having no choice, followed along, while Zhang Beichen didn’t mind and only gave a meaningful smile as he saw them off. “There’s a surprise behind the next door.”

The only one left was Lu Yiyao.

Zhang Beichen’s mention of a “surprise” made Ran Lin a bit apprehensive.

Knock, knock—

It was still Ran Lin knocking, while Xia Xinran called out, “Yaoyao, open the door—”

Ran Lin almost choked on his laughter at this nickname, wondering how Lu Yiyao inside the room would react. As the door slowly opened, it wasn’t Lu Yiyao’s face that appeared.

“Han Ze?!” Ran Lin exclaimed in surprise, completely unguarded.

Han Ze, twenty-eight this year, had a face that suited both ancient and modern looks—handsome in historical dramas and dashing in modern attire. He rarely acted cute or youthful, always portraying a mature man. Unlike Lu Yiyao, who had a similar style, Han Ze always carried a subtle aggressiveness in his demeanor, which was both dangerous and attractive to female audiences.

At that moment, he was casually dressed, leaning against the entrance wall, smiling at his friends. “I thought I would be a surprise, but it seems more like a shock.”

Ran Lin was at a loss for words. Although he joined the company with Han Ze, they weren’t close. Soon after signing them, the company, seeing Han Ze’s potential, had Wang Xi, who had just transferred, take him under her wing. After that, Han Ze and they barely crossed paths, and as Han Ze rose to fame with idol dramas, they drifted even further apart.

“Xi Jie really didn’t let slip a word,” Ran Lin said, using someone they both knew well to start the conversation, feeling awkward about being overly familiar.

“This is something you’ll have to ask the program team about. They’re the ones who wanted it kept secret,” Han Ze replied naturally. “Don’t just stand at the door. Come in and sit down.”

Xia Xinran was a bit surprised by the distance between Ran Lin and Han Ze. Although he wasn’t close to Han Ze either, he knew they were from the same company and had the same agent. The only explanation he could think of was that Ran Lin had been too inconspicuous in the company previously.

“Welcome, newcomer,” Xia Xinran said as they entered, extending his hand warmly. “Right now, you might think life is wonderful, but tomorrow the program team will make you regret coming on this trip to Thailand.”

Unlike Xia Xinran’s beauty and Ran Lin’s youthfulness, Han Ze smiled faintly, his eyes and brows exuding steadiness and maturity. “Hearing you say that makes me look forward to it even more.”

They exchanged pleasantries harmlessly for a while. When the conversation turned to tomorrow’s activities, Ran Lin casually said, “Since there are six of us again, maybe we’ll be divided into two groups like we were at Disney.”

Xia Xinran was nodding in agreement when Han Ze expressed confusion. “Six people?”

“Yes,” Xia Xinran said, thinking Han Ze was unfamiliar with the lineup, and immediately began to enthusiastically inform him. “There’s us three, plus Gu Jie, Lu Yiyao, and Zhang Beichen.”

Han Ze seemed to understand where the misunderstanding lay. “Lu Yiyao isn’t participating in this shoot. Didn’t the program team tell you?”

Xia Xinran shook his head, bewildered.

Ran Lin blinked, feeling a mix of emotions—somewhat lost and with a faint, very faint hint of sourness.

The program team hadn’t informed them.

Lu Yiyao hadn’t told him either.

Of course, Ran Lin thought objectively, Lu Yiyao had no obligation to tell him, just like he hadn’t thought to specifically inform Lu Yiyao about his advertisement deal.

After all, they were just ordinary friends who had spent about a dozen days together, and even that was in intervals.

Ran Lin understood all this logically.

But emotions don’t follow logic; they have their own whims. When they’re down, they just sulk.

---

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

Author: 颜凉雨 / Yan Liang Yu

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

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Chapter 27

During the broadcasts of the first and second episodes, Ran Lin was seated in front of the TV, ready and serious, almost to the point of performing a ritual bath and burning incense. But by the third episode, it couldn’t be said that he was entirely calm, but he definitely felt more relaxed.

On the surface, it wasn’t obvious. Ran Lin was still Ran Lin, the sofa was still the same sofa, even the posture—sitting upright with his legs crossed—remained unchanged.

Yet, as the person experiencing it, Ran Lin was acutely aware of the subtle shift in his attitude.

During the first episode, his heart was a mix of extreme nervousness and excitement, both anticipating surprises from the program and worrying about his performance. Hence, even a simple caption or voice-over would have him wide-eyed and breathing rapidly.

By the second episode, the excitement had almost vanished, leaving only unease and pessimism. Every time he appeared on the screen, he would think to himself, ‘Watch, there’s going to be another point of criticism.’

Now, it was finally the third episode.

The excitement and anticipation had receded somewhat, and the unease and pessimism had been swept away a bit, replaced by a sense of nostalgia and warmth for revisiting memories. He watched like one would a mystery movie, guessing the editing, post-production, and the director’s thought process, feeling secretly pleased when right and criticizing the director when wrong. He also watched like viewing a family video, issuing belated sighs at those past joyful moments.

It was a strange and enjoyable experience.

Ran Lin couldn’t pinpoint the origin of this change, but he was enjoying it.

“Why do we have sunscreen when we’re stranded on a deserted island and even struggling for food?”

Lu Yiyao on TV looked baffled, as if Xia Xinran was an alien.

“Right, I-I got stranded. Everything was washed away by the sea, and only it remained. Isn’t that strange?”

Xia Xinran’s unreasonable argument left earthlings defenseless.

“Can I give it back to Xia Xinran now?”

The screen showed Ran Lin, looking confident but a bit foolish.

“No.”

“Why?”

“Since it’s a treasure… then I also want to try some.”

After Lu Yiyao spoke, the subtitle team added a caption for Ran Lin in a flowery font—[What should I do if my teammate is crazy? Urgently waiting online*!]

*It’s a meme, basically meaning urgently waiting online (for a reply/answer to the question I’m asking).

Ran Lin was so amused he couldn’t close his mouth, wishing he could award the post-production team an “Understanding Sister” medal.

This was the first time Lu Yiyao joked with everyone, Ran Lin thought uncertainly. It seemed from here on, the atmosphere among the drifting team slowly moved away from awkwardness towards warmth and friendliness, although occasionally marred by love-hate moments.

On TV, Gu Jie found a coconut!

The camera shifted, and Lu Yiyao was still circling a cactus.

The subtitle team gave the cactus a line—[Little demon, you can’t escape my grasp!]

Lu Yiyao on screen radiated a desire to uproot the cactus.

Ran Lin laughed mercilessly at the TV.

No one could hear him anyway.

But as much as he mocked, his eyes couldn’t leave the screen. The directionally challenged guy on TV was adorably cute, especially when everyone finally gathered together, acting as if nothing had happened, making one want to pinch his pretentious face.

Then it was everyone working together to build a shelter out of coconut leaves.

Followed by trying to start a fire.

On screen, Lu Yiyao was focused and meticulous, while Ran Lin, assisting him, looked on in admiration.

When filming, Ran Lin hadn’t felt it, but now, seeing his own fanboy face on screen, he couldn’t imagine what Lu Yiyao would think.

Worse, the post-production team added a voice-over for him—[Wow, serious men are the most handsome…]

Just when Ran Lin thought the show’s team was fixed on cuteness and couldn’t help but feel amused, a second voice-over popped up—[I also want to become a man who stands tall and proud!]

What is this!

Ran Lin wanted to cry. Even if his face looked the youngest among the five, they didn’t have to create a vibe of a father taking his son camping…

“It’s lit!”

“Hoo—”

‘Well, if it’s a son, then let it be,’ Ran Lin thought, watching on TV as he accidentally blew out the spark in the coconut husk, suddenly finding the preschooler persona quite appealing.

After all, God forgives the mistakes of little children…

“Actually, I think… we don’t necessarily need fire… Um, do you like sashimi?”

Ran Lin on screen asked innocently.

Lu Yiyao on screen looked disheartened, but the subtitle provided a different tone—[Eh? That’s not a bad idea (⊙ o ⊙)!]

The crazy contrast brought a particularly adorable comedic effect.

Ran Lin felt that Lu Yiyao’s persona in this variety show could be established—a shy boy with rich inner thoughts.

In the program, the poor Drifting Team finally enjoyed a seafood feast. It was evident on screen that Xia Xinran loved shellfish, while Lu Yiyao preferred shrimp.

On screen, Ran Lin seemed to have discovered something. The camera followed his gaze, giving a close-up of Lu Yiyao’s full palm.

The blistered skin under the high-definition camera looked even more painful.

Ran Lin, beside the bonfire, watched Lu Yiyao for a long time, and the post-production team spoke for him—[That must hurt a lot.]

Lu Yiyao finally glanced over, which Ran Lin saw as somewhat puzzled; clearly, Lu Yiyao didn’t know what he was looking at then, but the post-production team still completed the narrative—[It’s alright. I’m a man.]

‘Lu Yiyao would definitely complain about the added drama,’ Ran Lin thought with amusement.

After thinking about it, he was a bit worried whether Lu Yiyao would notice his gaze.

At that time, it was purely admiration and sympathy.

But now… he wasn’t so guilt-free.

Lu Yiyao: “When I was in middle school, I joined the scouts; these were essential skills. Later, in college, I’d occasionally go camping with friends. It’s cheaper than traveling.”

Ran Lin: “Oh right, you studied abroad.”

Ran Lin: “Have you ever encountered a bear while camping?”

Lu Yiyao: “…”

Lu Yiyao: “Are you serious?”

Ran Lin: “Of course I’m joking.”

Lu Yiyao: “…”

Post-production voice-over—[If being serious is a mistake, then I’ll change it!]

Ran Lin was utterly charmed by the bewildered Lu Yiyao.

Who could resist this natural flirt, which left him feeling up and down? Such wicked straight-guy flirting should indeed leave someone feeling forlorn a few times!

The sun set, and the moon rose. The stars filled the sky, and waves lapped the shore, bringing a cool night breeze.

Xia Xinran was quietly called away, leaving the remaining four with new tasks assigned shortly afterward.

In the following ten minutes, Ran Lin understood what luxury meant.

Xia Xinran’s experience was akin to “a night in heaven”!

A luxurious and spacious hotel suite, a wide variety of late-night snacks, from Chinese to Western to Japanese cuisine, all for Xia Xinran, the food lover, to indulge in. Then, a relaxing, exotic spa treatment, followed by a blissful sleep in a king-sized bed.

In contrast, they spent the same ten minutes working hard—smoke and fire, fanning, grilling skewers, cooking pineapple rice—demonstrating all kinds of skills just to earn money for the person fast asleep.

Even the subtitle team couldn’t bear to watch, providing a rare, conscientious voice-over—[One night in Sanya, you’ve suffered so much…]

The scene shifted to Xia Xinran, fast asleep, with a special effect word cloud above his head—[The pineapple rice is so delicious, it’s making my mouth water…]

Clearly, Xia Xinran’s foodie character, even in dreams, was unchallenged and stood proudly.

The production team kept their promise, not revealing any exterior information about Lu Yiyao’s private residence. The scene cut directly to the villa’s living room with post-production special effects transitioning the shot.

Then came the highlight—Truth or Dare.

Ran Lin quickly sat up, not wanting to miss a single scene. As he watched, he realized the director had cut out the part where Xia Xinran asked Zhang Beichen if giving up first place in the first episode was intentional.

Ran Lin was a bit surprised. He thought that even if everything else was cut, this segment would be kept because it seemed like a topic that could ignite discussions or even controversies. Even though Xia Xinran later defused it as a joke, fans’ tendency to overinterpret wouldn’t be quelled by the idols’ clarification.

Moreover, the production team could have used crafty editing and guiding subtitles to intensify the topic and steer public opinion.

But there was none of that.

It was simply cut out, clean, and straightforward.

This kind of editing and post-production that avoided sensitive points and emphasized team spirit seemed to have started in the second episode and became clearer in the third. Ran Lin could only think of one possibility—the feedback from the first episode was so damaging that the production team decided to thoroughly change their approach.

Regardless of the truth, this blend of passion and humor was indeed much more enjoyable than competition and conflict.

“Do you believe in love at first sight?”

The sudden question pulled Ran Lin back to the present.

On the TV, Zhang Beichen was staring intently at him.

Ran Lin almost forgot about this segment, his body jolting in realization.

Zhang Beichen had already been sending signals back then, a discovery that made Ran Lin break out in a cold sweat.

Zhang Beichen had protected himself too well.

Despite a harmonious recording, he hadn’t shown much enthusiasm on the program. This could be just his personality, as not everyone is as outgoing as Xia Xinran, not to mention that they just recorded a theme song together, barely more than an acquaintance.

But now, Ran Lin tended to think he was being cautious, not necessarily of him but of everyone, of the entire program. Any hint of risk, and he wouldn’t show his hand.

The person on screen asking about love at first sight was the same, appearing so natural. In comparison, the one being asked, himself, seemed oddly uncomfortable, quickly turning the question to Lu Yiyao, fearing a follow-up.

At that time, he was only waiting for Lu Yiyao’s question and didn’t look at Zhang Beichen again.

Now, through the lens, he clearly saw the fleeting complexity in Zhang Beichen’s eyes.

There might have been disappointment, but it wasn’t just that; there were other indescribable emotions.

But that light disappeared too quickly, and the Zhang Beichen on screen remained natural, flawless, and impeccable.

When Zhang Beichen flirted in Dubai, Ran Lin thought for a moment that he had been taken over by a different soul because his behavior was completely different from the Zhang Beichen he knew.

But now, putting together these previously unnoticed details, the two Zhang Beichens seemed to overlap.

Yet this overlapped figure was still just an outline, like looking through frosted glass.

People who protect themselves too much are always hard to see through.

Being propositioned in the circle wasn’t new to Ran Lin. He wasn’t sure if it was because the proportion of gays in the circle was high or if the field itself was more open to such things. As long as mutual radar confirmation was established, most would come over to flirt, not talking about love or affection, just seizing the time between schedules to enjoy a night together—just as Zhang Beichen said, a mutual understanding, simple and not too complicated.

Ran Lin’s rejection was always consistent—sorry, I’m straight.

It was both a refusal and a way to protect himself. Like those who approached him, seeing him as someone without fame or temper and seemingly tight-lipped.

But not everyone can be as straightforward as Zhang Beichen.

Some, who persistently harassed him via WeChat or phone, Ran Lin simply blocked.

With the examples of his seniors, Ran Lin actually didn’t dislike Zhang Beichen. Even if he flirted and realized there was no hope, the man withdrew cleanly, retreating back to a comfortable friendship. If this was also due to a self-protection mechanism, then Ran Lin quite liked it—protecting oneself without causing trouble to others.

But love at first sight?

He didn’t believe in it.

Despite Zhang Beichen’s unprecedented tenderness in his eyes and tone when asking the question, Ran Lin still felt something was off. The tenderness came too quickly and left in a hurry, as if it was meant for the question itself, or the “shadow” in that question.

There must be someone who made Zhang Beichen fall in love at first sight.

Ran Lin didn’t know who it was, but it definitely wasn’t him.

“I’m sorry.”

The result of thinking aimlessly and too much was that Ran Lin had already apologized to Lu Yiyao on screen.

The jokes and banter from the companions delayed a few minutes, also lightening the atmosphere suddenly.

Then came Lu Yiyao’s response. “Forget it.”

Revisiting this scene, Ran Lin felt increasingly that this person was gentle.

He didn’t need to speak softly or smile like a gentleman; his gentleness came from within, a kind of warm kindness that everyone around could feel.

If this man were married, he would surely spoil his wife to the heavens.

Even after the program ended, Ran Lin still envied the hypothetical lucky lady.

“How do you feel?” Wang Xi’s call was almost inevitable, usually within fifteen minutes after the program’s end.

“It was okay…” Ran Lin typically reserved his true feelings when talking to his agent to avoid being criticized too harshly.

“It really got better with each episode. If you had performed like this in the first episode, you wouldn’t have been torn apart so badly. What a waste of your good looks.”

Although it was meant as a compliment, it always sounded like criticism when it came from Wang Xi.

“But what was that apology about?” Wang Xi’s tone grew serious. “If it weren’t for the other guests and the subtitle team diverting to the daytime fire-making, fans would definitely have linked it to previous speculations.”

Ran Lin: “…”

Wang Xi: “Are you passively resisting?”

Ran Lin, flustered, quickly said, “I had no excuse. I could only admit my fault.”

Wang Xi sighed. “Do you really feel so sorry for Lu Yiyao that you apologized on camera?”

Looking back now, Ran Lin also felt he had been impulsive, but perhaps the atmosphere was too good at the time, and he unconsciously spoke his heart…

“Lucky Lu Yiyao didn’t react weirdly, and he actually let it go.” Wang Xi couldn’t stand it. “You two naive sweethearts are a perfect match; even meeting at the airport seems like fate.”

Ran Lin grinned sheepishly, his voice sweet. “Really?”

Wang Xi detected the laughter but was confused. “What are you laughing about?”

Ran Lin came back to his senses, cleared his throat, and changed the subject without answering. “Xi Jie, I’m planning to reinstall Weibo.”

Wang Xi was surprised. “Oh, recovering so soon? Aren’t you afraid of being shattered by haters* again?”

*Black powder. Note: Powder refers to fans/fandom, while a black powder is an anti-fan.

Ran Lin held his forehead and said, “Sister, considering I’ve just painstakingly pieced together my glass heart, could you be a bit gentler with your teasing?”

“You shouldn’t have uninstalled it in the first place—such a small matter.” Wang Xi scoffed.

But Ran Lin knew she was happy, remembering her understanding when he had uninstalled it.

“Thank you for all your help these days,” Ran Lin sincerely said.

“There weren’t many Weibo posts. Besides, we’re all working towards the same goal. Don’t think it’s because we love you.”

Ran Lin chuckled. “Using love as motivation is so cute.”

Wang Xi didn’t want to talk to her artist anymore; it was a strain on her IQ.

Ran Lin didn’t lie to Wang Xi. After ending the call, he immediately redownloaded the Weibo app.

The familiar big eyes appeared on his phone screen, and Ran Lin found himself actually missing it.

The new messages and @mentions on the homepage weren’t many, probably because Wang Xi had checked the comments during the program’s broadcast.

Skipping the comments—too unpredictable and risky, best saved for last—Ran Lin first opened his own profile.

Having been away for half a month, aside from the regular reposts of trailers and behind-the-scenes from the program, there were actually four real interactive Weibo posts. Arranged in chronological order from oldest to most recent—

The day before the fourth episode’s filming:

[I’ve already made a secret strategy 🐶 #NationalFirstLoveDriftingStory# @XXTV @Gu Jie @Lu Yiyao @Xia Xinran @Zhang Beichen]

Five minutes after the second episode’s broadcast, with a picture of panda babies from Chengdu Panda Base:

[“Tumbling” through the red dust. 😏 [Image] #NationalFirstLoveDriftingStory# @XXTV @Gu Jie @Lu Yiyao @Xia Xinran @Zhang Beichen]

The day before the fifth episode’s filming:

[What tasks await us in the desert~~ Ah, just thinking about it feels so thrilling. 🐶 #NationalFirstLoveDriftingStory# @XXTV @Gu Jie @Lu Yiyao @Xia Xinran @Zhang Beichen]

Nine minutes after the third episode’s broadcast, just before Wang Xi’s call:

[Someone sneakily enjoying a dreamy night doesn’t get photo edits. 🐶 //Xia Xinran: Can’t you edit it before posting!!! //Lu Yiyao: [Image] #NationalFirstLoveDriftingStory# @XXTV @Gu Jie @Ran Lin @Xia Xinran @Zhang Beichen]

These few posts should have taken just a glance to go through, but Ran Lin stared at them for a long time.

He thought his Weibo would be dismal except for the promotional posts for the program, but surprisingly, there was a bit of prosperity.

The last post was clearly reposted by Wang Xi, with her favorite dog-head icon. In this post, the picture Lu Yiyao uploaded was a group selfie they took at the beach villa after filming the third episode. Birthday boy Xia Xinran, wearing a paper crown, was flanked by his four guardians, laughing like a kid, devoid of his usual beautiful looks.

Ran Lin hurriedly checked Xia Xinran’s Weibo to see if it was just him or if the others had also spoken up.

Sure enough, every post could be matched on Xia Xinran’s page.

[I strongly request to go to Disneyland. 🤪 🤪 🤪#NationalFirstLoveDriftingStory# @XXTV @Gu Jie @Lu Yiyao @Ran Lin @Zhang Beichen]

[I love spicy hot pot so much. 🥲 #NationalFirstLoveDriftingStory# @XXTV @Gu Jie @Lu Yiyao @Ran Lin @Zhang Beichen]

[Rich guy, let’s be friends! 🤑 #NationalFirstLoveDriftingStory# @XXTV @Gu Jie @Lu Yiyao @Ran Lin @Zhang Beichen]

[Can’t you edit it before posting!!! //Lu Yiyao: [Image] #NationalFirstLoveDriftDiary# @XXTV @Gu Jie @Ran Lin @Xia Xinran @Zhang Beichen]

But there was also a new post, just two minutes ago—

[I also feel sorry for your blister just like @Ran Lin 😭 😭 But then again, why didn’t you say anything at the time? Did you think you are Captain America or something? 😠 @Lu Yiyao”

Compared to the previous posts tagged with the show’s name and TV station, this one had turned into a casual interaction and teasing among friends, especially evident when compared to the earlier posts—the format was more relaxed and the tone more familiar.

Ran Lin’s heart started beating faster.

Taking a deep breath, he sneakily clicked into Lu Yiyao’s Weibo.

[Shanghai, here I come! #NationalFirstLoveDriftingStory# @XXTV @Gu Jie @Ran Lin @Xia Xinran @Zhang Beichen]

[Of course, a visit to Chengdu must include Wuhou Shrine and Du Fu Thatched Cottage 👐#NationalFirstLoveDriftingStory# @XXTV @Gu Jie @Ran Lin @Xia Xinran @Zhang Beichen]

[Hearing that I’m going to Dubai, my family has already sent me a shopping list and style pictures 🤷 #NationalFirstLoveDriftingStory# @XXTV @Gu Jie @Ran Lin @Xia Xinran @Zhang Beichen]

[[Image] #NationalFirstLoveDriftingStory# @XXTV @Gu Jie @Ran Lin @Xia Xinran @Zhang Beichen]

When Ran Lin saw the third post, he instantly remembered Lu Yiyao’s desolate struggle with packing, which was hilariously pitiful.

Seeing the fourth post, his smile faded a bit, feeling a warmth in his heart.

Clicking on the image in the fourth post again, Ran Lin somewhat understood why Xia Xinran was so frustrated. The photo wasn’t just about being barefaced; due to the angle needed to fit everyone in, the image was somewhat distorted, reducing everyone’s handsomeness by a factor of four. Plus, with everyone laughing unrestrainedly, even Xia Xinran had a rare appearance of a double chin. It was a testament to their friendship that he didn’t throw a metaphorical dagger at Lu Yiyao.

That photo was shared in their WeChat group that night, so everyone had it.

But Ran Lin didn’t expect Lu Yiyao to post it, tagging all four of them.

Although it still looked like a promotional format, he felt that there must be some camaraderie formed over several episodes.

Ran Lin spent more time on Lu Yiyao’s Weibo than on his own or Xia Xinran’s combined.

He was so engrossed that when he finally remembered to go back to his homepage and refreshed it, two new posts with Lu Yiyao’s avatar appeared—

[Is it me you pity, or my blister? 💦 //Xia Xinran: [I also feel sorry for your blister just like @Ran Lin 😭 😭 But then again, why didn’t you say anything at the time? Did you think you are Captain America or something? 😠 @Lu Yiyao]

[Here, let you have a good look [Image] @Ran Lin @Xia Xinran @Zhang Beichen @Gu Jie]

Ran Lin was stunned by the two fresh Weibo posts. Especially the last one, where he was the first to be tagged, different from the usual order. Normally, it would mean Lu Yiyao wasn’t particular about the order, just casually tagging four people, regardless of sequence. But in a more imaginative interpretation, he felt Lu Yiyao really wanted to tag him first, hence only typing “you” instead of “you all” in the original text, and later perhaps thought it was too conspicuous, so he tagged everyone.

Ran Lin was startled by his own thoughts, feeling like he’d go crazy if he continued this way.

Not knowing what to do, he clicked on Lu Yiyao’s picture…

And all thoughts vanished.

It was a close-up photo of a hand with a ruptured blister. The fresh skin underneath streaked with blood, making it truly heart-wrenching to see, and made one want to scold the person who posted it.

Refreshing the homepage again.

Sure enough, one of their friends had already expressed what everyone was thinking—

[Crazy, I just finished my late-night snack!!!! //Lu Yiyao: Here, let you have a good look [Image] @Ran Lin @Xia Xinran @Zhang Beichen @Gu Jie]

Through the phone screen, Ran Lin could imagine Gu Jie’s fiery reaction.

Refreshed again, and Xia Xinran and Zhang Beichen chimed in—

[Do I have company to beat him up? //Crazy, I just finished my late-night snack!!!! //Lu Yiyao: Here, let you have a good look [Image] @Ran Lin @Xia Xinran @Zhang Beichen @Gu Jie]

[😏 //Xia Xinran: Do I have company to beat him up? //Crazy, I just finished my late-night snack!!!! //Lu Yiyao: Here, let you have a good look [Image] @Ran Lin @Xia Xinran @Zhang Beichen @Gu Jie]

Ran Lin couldn’t help his lips curling up and finally decided to contribute to the group’s effort—

[Count me in 🤖 //Zhang Beichen: 😏 //Xia Xinran: Do I have company to beat him up? //Crazy, I just finished my late-night snack!!!! //Lu Yiyao: Here, let you have a good look [Image] @Ran Lin @Xia Xinran @Zhang Beichen @Gu Jie]

The homepage finally calmed down.

The number of new messages had multiplied several times.

Ran Lin didn’t delay any further, took a deep breath, and opened all the new messages—

Muxi Clan Society: [After three episodes, I’ve turned into a fan of yours. Keep it up!]

For You Alone: [Time reveals a person’s heart. You’re truly a warm-hearted man!]

Staying Up Before Exam Watching Variety Show: [Been a fan since the first episode. Idols who love to laugh can’t be bad people!]

Angel’s Little Wings in Summer: [Thank you for choosing Xiaxia’s favorite Black Forest cake ❤️ ❤️]

Lu Manman’s Eternal Heart: [Thank you for accompanying God Lu in fire-making. Being under the sun for hours, even though you blew out the spark of hope in one breath, since God Lu said it’s okay, then it’s okay. I criticized you before, but you did ride God Lu’s coattails. Let’s call it even, from black to fan~]

Heart Flying in Burning Noodles: [I just want to ask those who previously criticized Ran Lin, shouldn’t you come and apologize?]

Beauty Like Jade: [Climbing over the wall to ask, what brand is Xiaxia’s sunscreen? Really want to know 😂]

No More Shopping or I’ll Chop My Hands Off: [Replying to @Beauty Like Jade: I knew I wasn’t the only one curious about the sunscreen! The program’s pixelation was too cruel, torturing my OCD! 🤪 🤪 🤪]

A Man Who Doesn’t Strip: [So is the Green Forest CP over? Why were the last two episodes all about righteous camaraderie? 😭]

My Idol Definitely Doesn’t Weigh 200 Pounds: [What’s the Green Forest CP?]

A Man Who Doesn’t Strip: [Replying to @My Idol Definitely Doesn’t Weigh 200 Pounds: Green (Lu 陆) Forest (Lin 霖)*, you know 😃]

*Clarity: The Lu from (陆) Lu Yiyao and Lin (霖) from Ran Lin doesn’t actually mean Green Forest. This person is referencing Green Forest [Lu Lin] (绿林) which is a homophone [Lu Lin] (陆霖).

No Fun Without Lu: [Replying to @A Man Who Doesn’t Strip: CP fans, get lost! Was about to turn from black to fan, but seeing you guys, I won’t. Forever black for CP shippers!]

My Idol Definitely Doesn’t Weigh 200 Pounds: [Replying to @No Fun Without Lu: No need to get so angry…]

Treasure Green Forest and Nestle in My Heart: [Replying to @No Fun Without Lu: Sorry, didn’t manage well. I’ll take them back to the forums. Please don’t involve the idols. Turn into a fan as you should, muah.]

Wishing Lantern: [I’m a sole fan of Ran Lin and also don’t support CP shipping, but why do I feel a little sorry for the CP fans quietly returning to their corner…]

Wind Blows Clouds Moving the Unmoved Heart: [Anyone with clear eyes can see the main characters’ relationship is getting better. Fans continuing to fight will only be embarrassing.]

Little Fan of Burning Noodle’s House: [Replying to @ Wind Blows Clouds Moving the Unmoved Heart: Right, right, everyone should just support their own favorites. As long as there’s no malice, and the celebrities themselves have a good relationship, it’s all taken as a joke. On the contrary, hurtful words are the worst. Kind words warm for three winters, harsh words chill to the bone.]

Ran Lin felt particularly fond of the ID ” Little Fan of Burning Noodle’s House” as if he had seen it before.

Thinking for a moment, Ran Lin exited Weibo, opened WeChat, and indeed found this ID in the photo shared by Lu Yiyao.

It really was a little fan who had been supporting him all along.

“Good,” Ran Lin announced solemnly to his phone screen. “You’ve successfully caught my attention.”

As soon as he finished speaking, before he could laugh, a new message came from Lu Yiyao.

Ran Lin, staring at Lu Yiyao’s chat window, was startled when the message appeared, feeling as if he’d been caught red-handed.

Lu Yiyao sent another picture, but this time it was just one, without any mosaic, revealing all the details. The moment Ran Lin opened the enlarged image, he was startled by the imposing formation of Yiyao’s fans—

Love Yao for Life: [God Lu, your bewildered expression when Ran Lin asked if you had ever encountered a bear was so adorable!!! So, did you ever encounter a bear while camping? 🐶]

Dreaming of Iceland: [God Lu, did you encounter any bears while camping? 🐶]

Mr. Lotus-Mouthed: [God Lu, did you encounter any bears while camping? 🐶]

Hail Comes Lalala: [God Lu, did you encounter any bears while camping? 🐶]

Black Coffee: [God Lu, did you encounter any bears while camping? 🐶]

……

As the initiator of this question, Ran Lin felt deeply guilty.

But—

The fans, with their devilish charm, had the idol take the blame!

---

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

Author: 颜凉雨 / Yan Liang Yu

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

---

Chapter 26

Finding an excuse to return to his own room, Ran Lin threw himself into bed and rolled around in various ways.

The natural charm of Lu Yiyao was too enchanting. Every word he spoke was as clear and honest as water under the moonlight, but Ran Lin felt utterly beguiled by it, and what’s more, this water turned out to be quite sweet.

Why hadn’t he noticed this trait in Lu Yiyao before?

Or was it something he only showed to friends?

If he was the only one who felt it, did it mean he was special to Lu Yiyao? Wait a second.

Ran Lin suddenly sat up in bed, realizing he might have entered a misunderstanding.

Just because he felt Lu Yiyao was charming didn’t necessarily mean Lu Yiyao was intentionally being charming. Maybe it was just his own… gaydar that was overly sensitive?!

That was a sad realization.

But having an answer, Ran Lin’s heart rate began to slow down.

Thankfully, Lu Yiyao was straight. Ran Lin thought with some relief; otherwise, it seemed all too easy for him to lose control and fall for him. It made sense why Star Lu was popular…

Wait.

Ran Lin, sitting on the bed holding the blanket, looked serious and furrowed his brows. After a while, he swallowed hard, as if frightened by his own thoughts.

Lu Yiyao… He’s definitely straight, right?

Usually, gay people are quite sensitive to each other, and in most cases, a glance is enough to know if someone is part of the community. But after all, one can’t be absolutely certain about these things. What if, maybe, just maybe…

Ran Lin felt he was suffering from “trying desperately to categorize Lu Yiyao as gay syndrome.”

This wild speculation wasn’t helping. Ran Lin decided to use his ultimate move—summoning the paparazzi.

The hotel’s Wi-Fi was as fast as an F1 car. Ran Lin opened a web page on his phone and typed in Lu Yiyao’s name. The dropdown menu suggested “Lu Yiyao’s girlfriend”, showing how many fans searched for it daily.

Ran Lin felt conflicted because that’s what he wanted to search for too…

The page refreshed with the keyword, but all he saw were either promotional articles from drama production or actresses, or clickbait titles from websites. The patterns were similar—”Lu Yiyao’s Night Meeting with XXX”, “Lu Yiyao and XXX Fall in Love on Set”, “Lu Yiyao’s Past Girlfriends PK*”. But none of them were concrete evidence.

*Term usually used in gaming for player killing but has now expanded colloquially to mean a comparison or contest between people or things.

Ran Lin thought he must be crazy because he then returned to the homepage and entered the keyword “Lu Yiyao’s boyfriend”, a wildly outrageous search.

When the page refreshed, apart from one generic article, the rest were unrelated.

The article’s title was—”Lu Yiyao and Ran Lin Sweet Dog Abuse* at the Airport”.

*Metaphoric way of describing one’s envy of seeing couples PDA. Basically, those who are single are referred to as “single dogs” and when they see other couples showing off PDA (dog food), they become abused dogs (a reminder that they are single).

The harsh reality, like a bucket of cold water, awakened Ran Lin from his wild fantasies.

Tossing aside his phone, he turned over and lay on his back, surrounded by the illusion of numerous invisible hands slapping his face. Ran Lin completely cut off his fanciful thoughts.

“People take you as a real friend, and here you are, overthinking your relationship.” Ran Lin looked up at the beautiful ceiling of the hotel room as if it were a mirror reflecting another version of himself, earnestly accepting criticism.

Overthinking can be scary, especially when things are unclear, tormenting one’s heart. But once you have clarity, you feel at ease. Besides, having calmed down, Ran Lin realized that his feelings for Lu Yiyao were not to the extent of being unable to live without reciprocation. He admitted his crush, but it was possible to be just friends.

Just like he realized Lu Yiyao’s fear of heights and quietly accompanied him without pointing it out, and Lu Yiyao noticed his likes and quietly kept them in mind when getting gifts. Such a friendship was already heartwarming and satisfying.

Not to mention those screenshots.

Lu Yiyao was truly exceptional with friends. No matter how Ran Lin thought about it, he felt like he was the one benefiting.

With the clouds dispersed, Ran Lin felt much lighter. He sat up, reached for the perfume, and began excitedly unpacking it.

Soon, the plastic outer wrapping was stripped away, and Ran Lin opened the box, taking out the perfume. The bottle was small and exquisite, identical in design to the larger milliliter versions, only proportionally reduced in size. This made it less of the stable luxury typical of men’s perfumes and added a bit of delicacy. The cool, clear glass felt comfortable in his hand.

Ran Lin suddenly wanted to act like those in the movies, spritzing the perfume into the air and then stepping forward into the mist, waiting for the tiny fragrance particles to fall and permeate.

But staring at the 30ml bottle for a long time, he ultimately couldn’t bear to waste it and just dabbed a bit on his wrists and neck.

Just as he finished, before Ran Lin had time to savor it, the doorbell rang.

Feeling guilty as if he was doing something wrong, Ran Lin quickly stuffed the perfume under the pillow and went to open the door naturally, only to find it was Zhang Beichen.

He was stunned upon opening the door, remaining so until Zhang Beichen joked, “Aren’t you going to let me in?”

Zhang Beichen always gave Ran Lin a feeling of being sunny, gentle, and kind. Even when he was playful, it was a warm and cheerful openness, like the caring male lead in a youth film who loved to ride bikes with the female lead. He was uncompetitive and quietly protective. If Lu Yiyao’s honesty came from his principles, Zhang Beichen’s came from his gentle nature.

But now, this slightly teasing Zhang Beichen seemed a bit unfamiliar.

Suppressing his unease, Ran Lin quickly stepped aside, gesturing for him to enter. “You’re the only one who would wait politely for me to invite you in. If it were Xia Xinran, he would just barge in.”

Zhang Beichen entered the room with ease, closing the door behind him, then said, “I’m not like him.”

Ran Lin, who had been waiting to close the door, found himself with nothing to do but stand there awkwardly with Zhang Beichen.

Feeling uncomfortable, Ran Lin turned to walk further into the room, joking as he went, “Of course, you’re different. One Xia Xinran is already enough of a headache. If there were a few more, the director would probably cry.”

“I came to see you, but you keep talking about others. That’s quite heartbreaking.”

Ran Lin had just pulled up a chair, intending to invite Zhang Beichen to sit, when he heard this remark.

Looking up, the other person had a bright smile, appearing very natural, as if he was merely commenting on the pleasant weather.

Ran Lin wasn’t sure if he was overthinking or if it was something else. “Did you come to see me for something?”

Zhang Beichen raised his eyebrows slightly, countering, “Can’t I come to chat with you if there’s nothing urgent?”

“Of course, you can,” Ran Lin felt somewhat pressured by the standing Zhang Beichen and simply pointed to another chair, inviting him directly. “Have a seat.”

Zhang Beichen didn’t sit but stood there for a while, looking at the chair Ran Lin was sitting on and the one left for him, and said with a laugh, “Why does this feel like a formal discussion?”

Ran Lin felt that this partner was not making any conversation easy today. He didn’t hold back and retorted jokingly, “The room is only this big. If you don’t sit on the chair, you can only sit on the carpet.”

Zhang Beichen smiled faintly, his gaze deep and meaningful. “Isn’t there also a bed?”

His tone was light, almost to the point of being flirtatious.

Ran Lin looked up at his backlit face, experiencing a moment of mental blankness.

But then Zhang Beichen sat down, his actions as natural as if the flirtation just now hadn’t come from him.

Well, Ran Lin couldn’t be sure if it was flirtation, considering he had just let his imagination run wild not long ago. Maybe he was still in a cycle of overinterpretation.

Lost in thought, Ran Lin suddenly felt something pushed into his hand—a square box, its edges pressing into his palm.

He looked down, almost thinking he had traveled back in time.

The box was exactly like the one he had opened not long ago, only twice as big.

Confused, he looked up. Zhang Beichen was smiling gently.

“For you,” he said.

Ran Lin suddenly really wanted to go back and see his own expression when sniffing the perfume paper; otherwise, why would one after another send him perfume?

No, the one from Lu Yiyao was a freebie. If the store hadn’t had that promotion, Ran Lin doubted Lu Yiyao would have bought one to give him.

But the bottle from Zhang Beichen was genuinely bought at full price.

“Well, actually, I’m quite indifferent to perfumes. I was just curious, so I smelled it a bit more…”

Without reason, Ran Lin reflexively headed down the path of refusal. This was different from accepting something from Lu Yiyao, which was given casually and received easily. As for the subsequent fantasies, they were purely personal, harmless behind closed doors. But facing Zhang Beichen, he felt a strange pressure.

“You better not say you want to return it.” Zhang Beichen looked hurt; his expression measured, not overly dramatic, but with a tinge of intimacy. “I bought two bottles. If you don’t take it, I can only keep it.”

Ran Lin was stuck.

The gift wasn’t that expensive, but pushing it further would seem awkward. Yet accepting it made him genuinely uncomfortable. Compared to Lu Yiyao’s freebie, this one felt too obliging!

“Try it.” Zhang Beichen, seeing his hesitation, added softly, “I like this scent too.”

The air in the room grew ambiguous with Zhang Beichen’s murmured suggestion.

Ran Lin pursed his lips, no longer hesitating, and firmly pushed the perfume back to the giver, his voice gentle but tone decidedly firm. “I actually don’t like this scent.”

Zhang Beichen frowned briefly but quickly regained composure, sighing softly while looking at the returned gift. “Some things lose their meaning when said out loud. It’s better left unsaid.”

Ran Lin’s heart skipped a beat, looking steadily at Zhang Beichen, trying to maintain a calm façade, but his eyes betrayed his panic.

Zhang Beichen put down the perfume, seemingly realizing Ran Lin’s resistance, and his smile returned to its usual gentle brightness. But his words became more transparent. “The first time I saw you, I knew.”

Ran Lin was at a loss for words.

To deny? Even he felt it was self-contradictory.

To admit? Facing Zhang Beichen, who exuded such a dangerous aura, he couldn’t bring himself to do it.

The only thing Ran Lin was sure of was that his gaydar needed fixing. It blared warnings for the straight Lu Yiyao and remained silent for fellow member Zhang Beichen. Could it get any worse?

In the delicate silence, Zhang Beichen suddenly leaned forward, locking eyes with Ran Lin at an extremely close distance. His eyes sparkled with amusement; his voice deliberately lowered. “It took me until the fifth episode to find a chance to be alone with you. It was really hard.”

The barely perceptible warmth brushed Ran Lin’s cheek, leaving him rigid, daring not to move. He wanted to say that he was also struggling, having recorded five episodes, none as difficult as this moment.

Zhang Beichen, perhaps misunderstanding his stiffness as an unspoken invitation, gently curved his lips and moved in for a kiss.

Zhang Beichen’s lips were moderately thick and light in color, appearing soft and clean.

But this was an objective appreciation from a purely aesthetic point of view.

If they misbehaved, no matter how beautiful, Ran Lin would still avoid them at all costs…

Bang!

The carpet’s substantial friction was nearly infinite. Ran Lin had intended to scoot back with the chair, but the chair legs didn’t budge, and he, along with the chair, toppled backward to the ground.

Thankfully, the highchair back created some distance between Ran Lin and the floor, and the chair’s soft, thick padding minimized the impact. Other than the shock, Ran Lin was unharmed.

Zhang Beichen was equally startled.

Only when Ran Lin struggled to get up did Zhang Beichen react, immediately standing to help.

Ran Lin didn’t resist, as the instigator should bear full responsibility, and he accepted Zhang Beichen’s help to stand.

But once up, he quickly let go and turned to steady the chair. “I’m not sure how you see me, and you don’t need to explain. Just know that I consider you a friend.”

Zhang Beichen watched Ran Lin’s adorably composed demeanor, determined in his words but struggling with the chair, looking more and more like someone who needed teasing.

“I consider you a friend too.” Zhang Beichen couldn’t help but chuckle. “Your reaction makes it seem like I was proposing to you.”

Ran Lin thought Zhang Beichen had finally come to his senses, grateful beyond words, and turned around to solidify their friendship. But as he turned, he found Zhang Beichen had already moved behind him, and their sudden closeness nearly brought them face-to-face.

Ran Lin instinctively stepped back, but Zhang Beichen naturally moved closer. Before he could take half a step back, Ran Lin bumped into the chair he had just straightened, and due to inertia, he sat down in it.

Zhang Beichen took advantage of the situation to hold both ends of the chair, trapping Ran Lin in it from a higher position.

The ambiguity, initially subtle, became pronounced.

Zhang Beichen gazed at him quietly, his eyes slowly revealing desire as he breathed in and out. “Friends can do many things together. An exotic country, a seaside hotel, such a rare good atmosphere. You’re happy, I’m happy; it’s not that complicated.”

Ran Lin watched Zhang Beichen unblinkingly, finally understanding.

This man was propositioning him…

This realization brought him relief, yet also amusement. Relief that sexual harassment without emotional attachment was easier to deal with, and amusement that he had actually thought Zhang Beichen was about to seriously confess his feelings. He had vastly overestimated his own charm.

Without further courtesy, Ran Lin pushed Zhang Beichen away and stood up.

Though slightly shorter and leaner than Zhang Beichen, Ran Lin still carried a tall and upright stature. He didn’t seem at a disadvantage, especially now that he had sorted out the situation and exuded confidence.

“No hook-ups.” There was no need for euphemisms at this point; Ran Lin was direct.

Zhang Beichen felt the sudden shift in the atmosphere but couldn’t find the reason and could only follow up with, “Why?”

Ran Lin stood tall and firm, his refusal complete. “I’m straight.”

Zhang Beichen paused for two seconds and then laughed heartily, without any reservations.

Ran Lin let him laugh, as sticking to this identity was the right choice. After all, if his radar could malfunction, why couldn’t Zhang Beichen’s? There’s no concrete evidence in these matters; it’s all about how the individuals define it.

Zhang Beichen gradually contained his laughter, his tone revealing undisguised disappointment. “Do I really have no charm?”

Ran Lin breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that Zhang Beichen was backing down.

He didn’t feel attracted to Zhang Beichen but appreciated his “unclingy” approach. If the proposition was accepted, both would be happy; if not, they’d return to a normal distance. Not everyone could be so straightforward.

But it also indicated that Zhang Beichen was experienced.

There’s never a shortage of like-minded people in the entertainment industry, and Ran Lin suddenly became very curious about who Zhang Beichen had approached before…

“It seems like a difficult question to answer.” Zhang Beichen suddenly sighed weakly.

Ran Lin blinked, quickly regaining his composure, and offered a belated answer. “Who said you have no charm? You’re handsome, charming, and especially sunny when you smile… but I’m straight.”

Zhang Beichen watched him with a mix of annoyance and amusement for a long time, finally giving up.

People who play hard to get can be pursued persistently, but there’s nothing one can do with someone blatantly lying.

“Fine, be straight. But you should keep this,” Zhang Beichen said, referring to the perfume still on the table, “as a thank you for your guidance in the recording studio.”

“It’s been so long since then.” Ran Lin chuckled. “Besides, you already thanked me then. If I remember correctly, you even treated us to a lavish working meal.”

Zhang Beichen smiled, his eyes lowered, and after a moment, he suddenly asked, “I’ve never stood up for you on Weibo. Are you upset with me?”

Ran Lin didn’t expect this sudden topic but warmed up to Zhang Beichen’s frankness, replying honestly, “Why bring that up? We’ve been together for so long; you know what kind of person I am. It’s enough that you consider me a friend. It doesn’t always have to be shown off.”

Zhang Beichen watched him silently for a long time, then said, “Has anyone ever told you you’re very gentle?”

Ran Lin grinned. “Someone once told me I’m particularly timid.”

Zhang Beichen shook his head. “You’re not timid. You’re soft but firm.”

Ran Lin felt awkward, finding the phrase somewhat strange…

“By the way.” Zhang Beichen suddenly remembered something. “I saw your debut photo the other day, the one in the white shirt. You looked incredibly beautiful.”

Ran Lin felt overwhelmed by the compliments he had received that night and joked, “That compliment should be for Xia Xinran.”

“Not giving it.” Zhang Beichen refused readily. “Even if I did, he wouldn’t appreciate it.”

Ran Lin pondered for a moment, then decided to ask frankly, “What exactly did you do to him?”

Zhang Beichen looked exasperated. “That’s the problem. I never did anything to him. We debuted together, from the same company, with different positions and no competition in our paths. There’s even no intersection between us. If you insist on a reason, I can only say our stars are not aligned, and it’s his one-sided incompatibility with me.”

Ran Lin was bewildered, not expecting it to be an unsolved mystery. As he thought about analyzing further, Zhang Beichen suddenly sniffed the air, puzzled. “Do you smell perfume?”

Ran Lin tensed up, fearing Zhang Beichen would discover the truth. Although he didn’t know why he felt the need to hide the fact that Lu Yiyao gave him perfume, his mouth moved faster than his brain, and he lied, “Oh, I tried it at the counter. Maybe the scent lingered on me.”

Zhang Beichen tilted his head, then leaned in to smell Ran Lin’s neck as accurately as a drug-sniffing dog.

Ran Lin was about to push him away for the second time, but Zhang Beichen beat him to it, pulling back and announcing his findings. “Indeed, it’s the same scent.”

Ran Lin rolled his eyes helplessly. “Why would I lie to you?”

Zhang Beichen nodded, appearing casual. “Lu Yiyao’s freebie was also this one.”

Ran Lin’s heart skipped a beat, but he responded naturally, “Oh, seems like it.”

“No wonder you didn’t accept it. This scent is indeed too common,” Zhang Beichen said, taking the perfume back into his possession, indicating he no longer intended to give it.

Ran Lin was pleased with this outcome but couldn’t help but argue. “Being popular doesn’t necessarily mean it’s bad. It shows that its scent is indeed well-liked.”

“But being popular means it’s not special.” Zhang Beichen put the perfume back in his pocket, his smile brightening. “Next time, I’ll give you something different.”

Ran Lin felt perplexed, about to dissuade Zhang Beichen, but the doorbell rang again.

Ran Lin suspected there must be a “welcoming” sign hanging outside his room.

The door opened to reveal Lu Yiyao standing outside. As soon as he saw the door open, he said directly, “Xia Xinran wants to go for late-night snacks and a night tour of the Dubai River…” He paused mid-sentence, stunned, because through Ran Lin, he could see another person inside the room.

Zhang Beichen smiled at Lu Yiyao. “Sounds good.”

Lu Yiyao was a bit confused, glancing inside the room and then back at the door. “What’s going on with you two…”

“We thought of going together,” Zhang Beichen answered naturally before Ran Lin could think of an appropriate response. “We were also discussing where to go for late-night snacks.”

Lu Yiyao suddenly understood. “Then what are we waiting for? Let’s go together. I heard the buffet on the night cruise is great, full of local specialties.”

Ran Lin wasn’t surprised by Lu Yiyao’s gullibility. Under normal circumstances, anyone would have thought the same. What truly surprised him was Zhang Beichen’s quick response. It was almost immediate, as if they had rehearsed it. If Ran Lin didn’t know the truth, he might have believed it too.

It was an instinctive protective mechanism that required no thought.

Ran Lin suddenly remembered his failed radar detection on Zhang Beichen, perhaps due to this.

It wasn’t that his radar was malfunctioning, but that Zhang Beichen was too well-hidden.

Perhaps in this circle, self-protection is the primary condition for survival. With this thought, Ran Lin felt relieved.

“Then I’ll go back and change clothes. Shall we meet in ten minutes?” Zhang Beichen asked Lu Yiyao, stepping past Ran Lin.

“Sure,” Lu Yiyao agreed readily. “I’ll go tell Xia Xinran and Gu Jie. See you in the lobby downstairs.”

After watching Zhang Beichen leave, only Ran Lin and Lu Yiyao remained, staring at each other.

“Are you going to change clothes too?” Lu Yiyao asked.

“Oh, I don’t need to,” Ran Lin replied. “Just need my phone and wallet.”

Lu Yiyao was relieved. It was just a late-night snack, not a rush to a show, so there was nothing to fuss over.

Back in his room, Zhang Beichen changed into fresher clothes and adjusted his hair in the mirror until he was satisfied. Just as he was about to leave, he returned, took the ungiven perfume from the clothes he had just changed out of, looked at it quietly for two seconds with a self-mocking smile on his lips, and then threw it in the trash.

The trash can was empty, and the perfume bottle landed with a thud.

……

The Dubai River meanders inward, dividing Dubai into two halves. The east side is Deira, the west is Bur Dubai. Traveling on an Arabian-style wooden boat on the river, the colorful lights on both sides were like a scene from “One Thousand and One Nights”.

The buffet on the boat was indeed good. Though it couldn’t completely match the taste nurtured by five thousand years of Chinese cuisine, trying each dish was a delightful experience.

The boat was large, but not very crowded. Besides them, there was only a table of Westerners and a few Indians. After some simple conversation with Lu Yiyao, it was learned that they were working for local construction companies, including designers and project managers, all new to Dubai, and taking the chance to enjoy some tourist fun after work.

On the first day of filming the task, Ran Lin heard Lu Yiyao speaking English with a pure British accent, precise and particular, but to Ran Lin, it sounded incredibly sexy. He realized for the first time that the same person speaking different languages could make such a big difference. In Chinese, Lu Yiyao seemed upright and reliable; in English, he exuded a restrained sensuality.

However, the tasks later became so draining that, by the end of the day’s filming, all he wanted to do was go to bed and sleep. Even if ten Lu Yiyaos surrounded him speaking English, it wouldn’t be more pleasant than the company of the mythical Duke of Zhou in his dreams.

The dining area was on the deck, but food was served inside the cabin, allowing guests to enjoy the view while eating without being surrounded by the mixed scents of food.

As the boat drifted leisurely on the river, Ran Lin finished his plate and got up to get seconds, only to find Xia Xinran also heading to the cabin.

“Lu Yiyao said when he went to find you, and Zhang Beichen was there too?”

Ran Lin knew Xia Xinran wanted to talk. His suspicious glances on the deck were a giveaway. As expected, as soon as they entered the cabin, Xia Xinran began.

The boat suddenly rocked, and Ran Lin quickly steadied himself against the long table with the dishes, preventing a fall.

Xia Xinran was also startled, his eyes wide.

Seeing those big eyes, Ran Lin suddenly remembered his message on WeChat: “You’re not gay too, are you?”

The question that had been troubling Ran Lin was finally answered in that sway—the “too” Xia Xinran referred to was Zhang Beichen!

“You two really got together?!” Xia Xinran, taking Ran Lin’s silence as affirmation, instantly looked like it was the end of the world.

Ran Lin wanted to cover his mouth, afraid that any gesture would seem even more incriminating. He could only whisper urgently, “No, we didn’t! He just came to have late-night snacks with me!”

Ran Lin didn’t want to lie to Xia Xinran, but saying Zhang Beichen came for a hookup would be even harder to explain.

Xia Xinran clearly didn’t believe the late-night snack excuse and leaned in close, their noses almost touching, his expression unusually deep and serious. “There are no eternal secrets in this circle. What’s done is done and will eventually be exposed.”

Ran Lin felt like crying, realizing how hard it was to defend his innocence.

At the same time, he found Xia Xinran’s way of speaking strange, like a reminder to himself or a warning to someone else through him.

“We haven’t done anything.” Ran Lin clarified. “I just see him as a friend.”

Xia Xinran narrowed his eyes, scanning him up and down.

Ran Lin felt the sadness of being forced into a corner. He sighed, speaking with utmost sincerity, “Really, trust me.”

“Alright, I’ll trust you this time,” Xia Xinran conceded.

Ran Lin wanted to set off fireworks in celebration.

“But I’m also serious,” Xia Xinran said somberly. “If you want to survive and thrive in this circle, you can’t always follow your impulses.”

Ran Lin laughed. “That coming from you… feels a bit off.”

Xia Xinran pouted, his face expressing woe. “I endure even when it’s a matter of life and death. Shouldn’t I indulge myself when I can?”

Xia Xinran complained in a way that was quite amusing.

Yet, Ran Lin could hear the helplessness in it.

However, once immersed in the food, Xia Xinran’s sorrows seemed to drift away with the Dubai River. Ran Lin waited left and right and seeing that the other party had no intention of stopping, he decided to take his own plate and return to the deck.

Only two people were left at the dining table.

Ran Lin returned to his seat and asked Lu Yiyao beside him, “Where’s Zhang Beichen?”

Lu Yiyao had just opened his mouth to respond when Gu Jie from across the table already answered, “He went to the bow to enjoy the breeze.”

“Oh,” Ran Lin acknowledged, and he didn’t inquire further.

However, Lu Yiyao kept looking at him, and his body was moving increasingly closer. Their seats were already next to each other, and with just a slight lean from Lu Yiyao, their shoulders would touch. But now, not only did their shoulders touch, Lu Yiyao’s head also leaned closer to him, sniffing around like a large dog.

Ran Lin was so scared that he didn’t dare to move.

Lu Yiyao sniffed confidently and retreated decisively after getting the answer he wanted. He sat back properly and said earnestly, “Just like the salesperson said, the middle note smells better than the top note—it’s fresher.”

Ran Lin: “…”

A statement that could have led to endless speculation, yet when it came from Lu Yiyao, it was filled with uprightness!

How he hoped Lu Yiyao could be like Zhang Beichen, flirting blatantly and sincerely…

No, wait.

Ran Lin held his forehead, realizing that such thoughts were dangerous, my friend!

Lu Yiyao looked at Ran Lin’s changing expressions, completely clueless.

Gu Jie also watched the inexplicable atmosphere between the two across the table, feeling that he should join Zhang Beichen and enjoy the breeze instead.

……

The third episode of <National First Love Drifting Story> arrived as scheduled the weekend after everyone returned from Dubai.

---

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

Author: 颜凉雨 / Yan Liang Yu

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

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Chapter 25

The initial shock brought tears, but as the excitement gradually subsided, warmth began to fill him.

Ran Lin hugged his phone, lying on the bed, and smiled foolishly for half an hour. He meticulously went through the screenshots again from start to finish, feeling incredibly fulfilled and empowered.

If the sky were to fall at that moment, he felt he could be the first to rush out to evacuate the crowd, standing there ready to hold up the sky.

[Received all the screenshots. Thank you, really.]

Ran Lin looked at the reply he had painstakingly crafted and sent, feeling inexplicably annoyed at himself for sounding like a primary schooler.

He had so much gratitude in his heart, wanted to hug Lu Yiyao and weep in a whirlwind of emotions, but when it came to typing it out, it became a back-and-forth of deleting and retyping, ending up as this awkward message.

Still not right.

Too stiff!

Ran Lin sat up abruptly, ruffling his hair in frustration, and finally, with unprecedented seriousness and care, he carefully typed a second message—

[Also, the mosaic was really bold🤭]

After sending it, Ran Lin felt much more satisfied, contentedly lying down and turning on the WeChat notification sound, staring at the ceiling while waiting for a reply from his friend.

Ran Lin waited for an hour.

There was no response from the other side.

He then realized that, given Lu Yiyao’s workload, he was probably rushing to another appointment, and his phone was likely left with his agent or assistant, not with him.

However, considering Lu Yiyao had sent those pictures at three in the morning the day before, if he was working now, had he even slept at all?

After a wild bout of speculations, Ran Lin could only hope that Lu Yiyao wasn’t working and was just sleeping in after a late night.

Hengdian Film & Television Studios, Qin Palace.

In the gloomy light, the suddenly aged Lu Yiyao, dressed in a black robe with crossed collars and a belt at the waist, adorned with gold patterns on the neckline and wide sleeves, was silent, just quietly gazing at the low table on the ground, as if reminiscing about the man who used to sit there and debate statecraft with him but was ultimately executed by himself. They had known each other for half a lifetime, both as sovereign and subject and as close friends, yet in the end, they couldn’t end well.

Never mind, he had killed too many people. In the face of his great cause, this was neither the first nor the last.

The camera gradually zoomed out, showing Lu Yiyao walking alone up the steps, slowly moving towards the depths of the palace garden, leaving only a dark and desolate silhouette behind…

“OK, pass!” The director, watching the monitor, finally said with satisfaction.

Lu Yiyao stopped, and his tense nerves finally relaxed. The old-age makeup made him quite uncomfortable. Fortunately, the last shot was zoomed out, and only his back was filmed. Otherwise, his micro-expressions might have caused the director to retake the shot.

With this shot, Lu Yiyao had completed all five of his scenes.

Today, four of the scenes were solo shots, and only one was with another actor. However, the lead male actor, citing scheduling conflicts, didn’t make it, so the director had no choice but to use a stand-in, focusing the camera solely on Lu Yiyao.

Lu Yiyao was only a secondary character in this movie. When he accepted the script, <Yun Zhang> had just finished airing, and <Beihai Tree> hadn’t been released yet. His most prominent role on the big screen was still the third male lead in a campus youth film he debuted in. No one knew if the popularity on the small screen could truly translate to box office appeal on the big screen, especially with the artistic nature of <Beihai Tree>. His agency was eager for him to take on a real commercial blockbuster.

So even as a secondary character, Lu Yiyao and his team still took it very seriously.

The movie had wrapped up filming at the end of the previous year. Afterward, Lu Yiyao started filming the reality show until early February, when the director personally called to discuss reshooting some scenes.

Lu Yiyao could have refused, as per the contract, he had completed the agreed content within the stipulated work period. This reshoot wasn’t in the script, but he also understood the director’s pursuit of perfection, so he still managed to free up a day from his schedule for the reshoot.

The director reviewed the reshoot content to ensure there were no errors, then stood up from behind the monitor and walked over to Lu Yiyao.

This director was actually quite renowned in the industry, having made several award-winning films in his early years. But as movies became more entertainment-oriented and the audience younger in recent years, he had to start compromising with capital, transitioning towards commercial filmmaking. However, artistic preferences and thought processes aren’t developed overnight, and this transition was quite challenging, leading him into a strange cycle of critical acclaim but box office failure.

But Lu Yiyao respected him greatly because the director respected all actors, never abused his seniority, and was meticulous and serious at work. To put it in an exaggerated way, when the director was focused in front of the monitor, Lu Yiyao felt like he could see the man burning with passion—burning his life and effort for his artistic pursuits.

Lu Yiyao envied such intense and pure dedication.

“It’s been tough.” The director patted his back, both relieved and grateful. “Especially coming all this way, it must have been hard to coordinate your schedule.”

“It’s nothing.” Lu Yiyao downplayed it, not dwelling on these issues. “This is naturally my duty. It’s the job I chose*.”

*Bowl of rice. It’s a colloquialism referring to one’s livelihood or profession in a particular field. When someone says they are “eating this bowl of rice” (as in this case), it means they are implying they are dedicated to their profession and take it seriously.

The director seemed surprised by his response, pondering for a few seconds, then suddenly pulled him to a corner. “Let me talk to you about acting.”

Lu Yiyao was puzzled, not knowing why the director wanted to talk about acting when the lighting and photography crew were already packing up their equipment.

Soon, the director led him to a relatively quiet corner. Crew members were still bustling around, but everyone was busy wrapping up, and no one paid attention to the director and actor having a heart-to-heart.

“I admire your work attitude, so I’ll be straightforward with you. Don’t mind my directness.” The director looked at him as if he were a junior, with a bit of kindness but more expectations. “Having the right attitude is good, but your acting skills indeed need more polishing.”

Lu Yiyao didn’t expect to receive such a comment. Throughout the filming process, the director often suggested, “You can try feeling like this,” and then would elaborate on the character, conflicts, and body language.

However, he had never directly told any actor that their performance wasn’t good. Even for those performances Lu Yiyao himself could tell weren’t up to par, the director was incredibly patient. Lu Yiyao had thought this was just the director’s temperament, but now it seemed more like he was considering the actors’ emotions, as criticism wouldn’t solve problems and might instead hinder progress.

Seeing Lu Yiyao didn’t react negatively, the director opened up and kept speaking. “Acting, for some, relies on perseverance, for others on aura—some on experience, and others on their looks…”

“Those who rely on perseverance push themselves into their roles. They don’t stop until they feel like they’ve gone mad. This is the most admirable; those who rely on aura shine brightly with roles that resonate with them but falter with those that don’t. Such actors are lucky. As long as they find the right role, they can achieve astonishing effects with little effort. But aura is very fleeting; I won’t say much about those who rely on experience, as they are the most common. Their performances are formulaic, mediocre, and their brilliance depends entirely on the script. As for those who rely on looks, I’ll be frank; don’t take offense, but young actors like you in the industry nowadays are mostly about their looks. The audience can’t remember your characters, only the actors themselves, and that’s not good…”

Seeing Lu Yiyao remain silent, the director suddenly laughed self-deprecatingly. “Do you think my old-fashioned ideas are outdated…”

“No.” Lu Yiyao had listened intently. “I’ll seriously consider what you said.”

The director nodded with satisfaction. “I appreciate your attitude towards acting—serious and professional—but it’s not enough love.” He paused, looking at the busy crew members, watching them slowly clear the once fully decorated palace, leaving behind an empty shell. “There’s no passion for acting in your eyes. If you can’t fall in love with this line of work, you’ll always be just a star.”

“Of course,” the director’s gaze returned to Lu Yiyao, “If that’s what you’re aiming for, then ignore what I just said.”

Lu Yiyao moved his lips as if to speak but didn’t know what to say. Someone called the director, who responded and patted Lu Yiyao’s shoulder one last time before leaving without saying more.

Lu Yiyao stood still, deep in thought.

Not enough love.

What does it take to truly love it?

“Lu Ge—”

Li Tong’s lively voice brought Lu Yiyao back. He looked up to see his assistant and Yao Hong coming over. They had been on set during the reshoot, and if the director hadn’t spoken to him, they probably would have come over sooner.

“Yao Jie.” Lu Yiyao greeted his agent.

“Mm.” Yao Hong didn’t say much, only, “Hurry up and remove your makeup. The car is waiting outside.”

Lu Yiyao nodded and quickly went into the makeup room.

Soon after, Lu Yiyao emerged from the past and returned to the present. He said goodbye to the director and crew and left the film base. His schedule was tight, and his cooperation was appreciated; everyone understood the rush.

Inside the car, Lu Yiyao finally breathed a sigh of relief.

The astute assistant immediately offered coffee and a phone. Lu Yiyao set the coffee aside and unlocked his phone. Sure enough, there was an unread message notification on the green app icon.

Lu Yiyao’s lips unconsciously curled up as he opened the message, but then he heard Yao Hong ask, “What did the director talk to you about just now?”

Suppressing his curiosity, Lu Yiyao put down his phone and answered seriously, “He gave me some advice on acting. Quite enlightening.”

Yao Hong seemed relieved and satisfied. “It seems he likes you.”

Lu Yiyao thought about it and cautiously said, “Should be okay.”

“Mm.” Yao Hong said with significance, “You don’t lack popularity now. What you need is to accumulate works and reputation. Popularity can’t support you forever. Steady progress is key for longevity.”

Lu Yiyao looked at his agent earnestly, nodding in an “I really get it” way.

Yao Hong met his gaze, and seeing no intention to continue the conversation, finally said, “Alright, that’s all too far ahead. Just rest for now.”

Lu Yiyao watched Yao Hong settle back, leaving only the back of her head, and then relaxed into the seat, picking up his phone again.

The screen had already turned off.

Lu Yiyao unlocked it, and the WeChat interface he had opened earlier reappeared, showing “2” on Ran Lin’s icon.

[Received all the screenshots. Thank you, really.]

[Also, the mosaic was really bold🤭]

Lu Yiyao looked at the two messages from a few hours ago and then opened one of his own sent screenshots. The mosaic was indeed startling. Lu Yiyao blushed, surprised by his own hasty work from the night before, which didn’t seem so rough at the time. However, Ran Lin’s emoji response was lively; Lu Yiyao could almost see him covering his mouth, laughing.

[Please don’t focus on details other than the message.]

After sending this somewhat dry response, Lu Yiyao didn’t know why he felt so pleased—just inexplicably happy.

The reply came quickly, almost instantly—[Were you busy just now?]

[In Hengdian, reshooting some scenes.]

[Chaos in Qin Palace?]

[You know?]

[After all, I was your diehard fan. 😂]

[Not anymore?]

[I thought I had already successfully ascended. 😲]

Lu Yiyao looked at the little emoticon with hands on its face, wishing he could reach in and knock on it.

[Yes, you can put down your light sign now. Friend.]

“Who are you chatting with?” The continuous WeChat notifications were hard for Yao Hong to ignore, especially with the suspicious and dangerous smile on Lu Yiyao’s face.

Lu Yiyao instinctively put down his phone, vaguely saying, “A friend.”

As soon as he finished speaking, his phone dinged again.

But he couldn’t check it now, as Yao Hong clearly wasn’t satisfied with that answer—

“Someone from the industry?”

“Mm.”

“A girl?”

“A guy.”

Yao Hong finally relaxed, not because she was against Lu Yiyao dating, but because it was indeed not the right time at this stage of his career. Seeing his agent finally at ease, Lu Yiyao was satisfied with his response, waiting for her to turn away so he could continue chatting with his friend. However, she kept looking at him with increasingly furrowed brows…

“Who is it? A man… who?”

Lu Yiyao sighed, knowing evasion was futile. Yao Hong had a keen eye and probably realized he was reluctant to share. But he didn’t like lying, so when pressed, he had no choice but to tell the truth. “Ran Lin.”

Yao Hong’s expression changed subtly. It wasn’t anger, but certainly not happiness either; more like unexpected surprise, then slowly, a layer of disapproval surfaced. “Have you forgotten how you met him and how he used that for publicity?”

Her tone wasn’t harsh, but her stance was clear.

Lu Yiyao pondered for a moment before calmly responding, “Since the reality show started, he hasn’t used me for publicity anymore.”

“That’s because it’s already been overdone. He knows continuing would only result in backlash from your fans.” Yao Hong sighed, not so much criticizing as hoping to reason with her artist. “And even if he’s stopped now, can we just ignore what he did before?”

“He has already apologized for what he did before.”

“If apologies were enough, there wouldn’t be so many broken friendships in the circle.” Yao Hong looked helplessly at her naively optimistic charge. “And besides, you were never even friends to begin with.”

“We are now.” Lu Yiyao, after much deliberation, revealed this harsh truth to his agent.

Yao Hong was stunned, not just by the development of their relationship but also because this was the first time Lu Yiyao had acknowledged a friend in the industry.

In almost four years with him, she had seen him transition from a nobody to a star, working with countless artists. But whenever asked about these people, Lu Yiyao would at most say, “Yeah, quite familiar.” He never once said, “This person is my friend.”

She had thought Lu Yiyao simply didn’t plan to make friends in the industry.

“What kind of magic potion has Ran Lin fed you…” Yao Hong, unable to fathom the situation, resorted to a light-hearted remark.

Lu Yiyao tilted his head, pondering. “It is strange. But I do find him easy to get along with and comfortable to be around.”

“As long as you’re happy.” Yao Hong knew she couldn’t persuade him otherwise. “But remember, always be cautious, no matter the situation.”

Lu Yiyao appreciated his manager’s concern. “I understand.”

Yao Hong leaned back in her seat, rubbing her temples. The child was grown and beyond her control; she could only watch over him as best as she could. Li Tong, who had been eavesdropping for gossip, had been ready to give up when Lu Yiyao said, “a guy.”

But after listening to the whole conversation and seeing Lu Yiyao happily continue his chat, he felt something was off. He really wanted to hold a mirror up to his boss. With such a tender expression, one could believe he was chatting with a mistress.

What does it feel like to be friends with Lu Yiyao?

Ran Lin couldn’t describe it but seeing the word “friend” in Lu Yiyao’s message, he felt like running laps.

And that’s precisely what he did, though not downstairs but in the gym.

The personal trainer, seeing Ran Lin exercise so vigorously for the first time, didn’t need to push him. Changing into workout clothes, Ran Lin started running like a man possessed on the treadmill. The trainer, concerned, slightly slowed the pace for him and couldn’t resist asking, “Encountered some good news? You seem so excited.”

Running hard, Ran Lin still managed to laugh radiantly. “I made a really good friend today!”

The trainer nodded and then let it go.

How hard is it to make a friend? Going to grab a bunch of skewers can earn you a bunch. But thinking again, he seemed to understand. The world of celebrities is always more complex than that of ordinary people.

Just a few days after establishing their friendship, the fifth episode’s recording began. Ran Lin had always felt this reality show nearly filled his life. Recording ended just days before airing, and soon after watching, they were back to recording. Every day, he had to think about the show—his performance, audience reactions, teammates’ attitudes—so much that his head ached. The pressure was relentless.

But this time, for some reason, he almost looked forward to the filming, especially seeing his companions at the airport. His body suddenly felt light, as if stepping on a cloud.

He and Lu Yiyao didn’t mention the screenshots again because they had already discussed everything on WeChat, even unrelated topics. So when they met again, they just greeted each other naturally, without further conversation.

But Xia Xinran keenly sensed a subtle change between the two and directly asked if they had been meeting privately when not recording the show. Before receiving an answer, they were rushed to board the plane, and then the matter was forgotten.

The theme of the fifth episode was “Desert First Love”, and the program group, with typical ruthlessness, took them to Dubai.

Of course, this was known when signing the contract—eight episodes in total, the first four in China, the last four abroad, with different filming periods: two days in China, three days abroad.

Wild camels in the yellow desert, skyscrapers that settled along the blue bay, desert and ocean, primitive and modern, intertwined to form a postcard of the United Arab Emirates.

The originally planned three-day filming ended in just two and a half days due to coordination issues at the last location, and since there was enough footage, the director decisively called an early wrap.

But with plane tickets and hotel bookings scheduled for an early departure the next day, and with so many people in the program group, changing plans was a hassle. So the director simply gave everyone half a day off for free time.

The five companions were utterly bewildered by this sudden holiday. Seeing most of the program crew heading towards shopping, they followed their seniors’ lead and headed straight to—Dubai Mall!

Dubai Mall, the largest shopping center in the world. Basically, any luxury item you can think of, you’ll find here, and even those you can’t imagine. The first thing that catches your eye as you enter is a gigantic aquarium, reminiscent of an oceanarium, with sharks swimming inside, declaring the mall’s grandeur. As you wander, you’ll also encounter an ice rink.

Maintaining an ice rink in a desert region requires an unknown amount of human, material, and financial resources. It’s just like the lush green trees outside, sustained by unimaginable costs.

But people entering the mall don’t care about these things; shopping is their main focus.

For five male celebrities, it was a rare chance to experience freedom and joy. Nobody cared who they were; even if compatriots passed by, most were uninterested and busy with their tour groups. Occasionally, some young fans excitedly asked for an autograph or a quick chat before leaving.

Xia Xinran was overjoyed, restrained only by his agent, or else he’d be broke by the end of the year. In contrast, Gu Jie and Zhang Beichen were more practical, selecting only useful items and gifts for relatives and friends.

But even Xia Xinran’s extravagance paled in comparison to Lu Yiyao. He bought two Hermès and two Chanel women’s bags, two Chopard women’s watches, and four bottles of different brands of women’s perfume, among other miscellaneous items. The amount spent was staggering, especially since he bought everything in pairs.

“You’re too good to your girlfriend,” Xia Xinran joked, overwhelmed by the sheer volume of purchases.

Lu Yiyao just smiled noncommittally. Ran Lin didn’t say anything but admired Lu Yiyao’s ability to keep his privacy. His girlfriend could be Nezha, yet Lu Yiyao could still remain tight-lipped.

Wang Xi also joined them this time, buying two Cartier watches, one for men and one for women. Ran Lin was surprised, having never heard of her having a boyfriend, but Wang Xi quickly packed up her purchases without a word, so Ran Lin felt it was inappropriate to pry.

Shopping could inadvertently reveal secrets. So, for “safety”, Ran Lin barely bought anything. He did smell a men’s perfume that Lu Yiyao picked, liked it, but then decided against buying it. Lu Yiyao, who bought four bottles, got to choose a 30ml bottle as a gift and picked the one Ran Lin liked. Ran Lin was pleased, appreciating Lu Yiyao’s taste.

They shop until nightfall, reluctantly ending their shopping spree. Despite the production team’s lavishness, they didn’t stay at the Burj Al Arab Hotel, a regret for Ran Lin.

Back at the hotel, watching Lu Yiyao unpack his spoils, Ran Lin forgot his regret. Their rooms were adjacent and Ran Lin could easily see into Lu Yiyao’s room with the door open.

Entering someone else’s room uninvited was impolite, unless invited—

“Stop sneaking peeks,” Lu Yiyao said while packing, not looking up.

Ran Lin was amazed. “Do you have eyes on the back of your head?”

“Ah, near vermillion you turn red*,” Lu Yiyao replied, continuing his task or reorganization to make room for his new purchases.

*The full idiom is: Those close to vermillion get stained red, those near ink get stained black (近朱者赤，近墨者黑). It refers to the idea that proximity to something (or someone) can influence a person’s character or behavior. 

Ran Lin, feeling awkward to sit on the bed, pulled up a chair. “Need help?”

“No need,” Lu Yiyao said, organizing his clothes to the side of his suitcase. “I just don’t want to crease the bags. If they get damaged, the ladies would be upset.”

Ran Lin now understood why Lu Yiyao didn’t want help but was surprised he was mentioning the recipients, considering he avoided such topics during the day.

Lu Yiyao stopped packing and looked up with a resigned expression. “Xia Xinran is nice, but he’s just too lively.”

Ran Lin leaned back in his chair with his chin resting on his arms. “Worried he’ll spill your secrets?”

Lu Yiyao said each word in a deep tone, “Not worried, sure.”

Ran Lin laughed. “Should I close the door? If someone hears, you won’t have peace.”

Lu Yiyao pondered solemnly. “I think you should.”

Ran Lin, unable to suppress a smile, got up to close the door. Just as he shut it, he heard Lu Yiyao say, “I bought these for my mom and sister.”

Ran Lin froze, taking a moment to recover before looking at Lu Yiyao in surprise.

This was the first time Lu Yiyao had spoken about his family. If Ran Lin remembered correctly, Lu Yiyao had always avoided talking about his family or background during filming. Clearly, he didn’t like discussing these matters.

But now, as he mentioned “my mom” and “my sister”, his eyes were uncharacteristically tender.

Unsure how to respond, Ran Lin decided it wasn’t appropriate to probe further. He walked back and sat down, maintaining a natural tone and demeanor. “I guess the Chanel is for your sister?”

Lu Yiyao shook his head.

Ran Lin was surprised. “Then, Hermès?” He wasn’t very familiar with brands, but he thought the Chanel style seemed younger.

Lu Yiyao shook his head again.

Ran Lin had an ominous feeling. “Don’t tell me you got one of each brand for each person.”

Lu Yiyao: “Not the perfumes.”

Ran Lin: “…Right, two brands of perfume for each.”

Lu Yiyao: “Can’t be uneven.”

Ran Lin: “Are you sure you studied in Manchester, England, and not in Confucius’ hometown in Shandong?”

Lu Yiyao was taken aback and blurted out, “That’s my dad’s influence.”

After saying this, his smile faded, as if mentioning it brought an abrupt change in the atmosphere.

Ran Lin disliked sudden silences, feeling a bit panicked, especially since the mood had been so good before…

“I noticed you didn’t buy much.” Lu Yiyao changed the topic, getting busy again.

Ran Lin immediately followed up. “There wasn’t anything special I wanted to buy. If I had to think of something, chances are I wouldn’t like it once I got it. It’d be a waste.”

“That makes sense,” Lu Yiyao said, arranging the bags in his suitcase. He then took the perfumes, placing them in the right spots. The 30ml bottle, however, he didn’t put in the suitcase. Instead, he handed it to Ran Lin. “This is for you.”

Ran Lin didn’t take it immediately, his mouth slightly agape. After a moment, he managed a startled “Ah?”

Lu Yiyao, feeling his arms getting tired, placed the item on the bed within Ran Lin’s reach and continued packing. “Didn’t you like this scent?”

Ran Lin was baffled. “How did you know?”

Lu Yiyao glanced at him. “Your expression when you smelled that perfume strip was the same as when you took a photo with Iron Man.”

Ran Lin was speechless.

Lu Yiyao didn’t think much of it and urged, “Don’t be polite with me. It was just a free gift. I have so many perfumes at home they could be used for bathing. Taking it back would just gather dust.”

With that said, Ran Lin couldn’t refuse anymore and silently reached for the gift. The 30ml perfume box was delicate. Its sharp edges tingled in his palm—a sensation that traveled to his heart and then to his cheeks, warming them.

Ran Lin didn’t understand why his heart was racing. To cover it up, he coughed lightly and mumbled, “Had I known, I wouldn’t have smelled the perfume strip. I should have smelled a Hermès…”

---

Kinky Thoughts:

I would be sniffing all the Birkins.

---

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

Author: 颜凉雨 / Yan Liang Yu

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

---

Chapter 24

What are the basic principles of human interaction?

Lu Yiyao might not be able to list them all, but respect is certainly one of them. He believes that if respect is coupled with some understanding and tolerance, anyone would be willing to interact with such a person.

Ran Lin was exactly that kind of person.

Of course, this was Lu Yiyao’s subjective judgment. He didn’t impose it on anyone but kept it to himself.

Throughout his life, Lu Yiyao has heard too many such remarks:

“Just try it. You’ll know it’s not that scary.”

“Just accompany me this once. See, I’m not scared.”

“It’s just you we’re missing. Just bite the bullet and do it. Everyone is watching. Don’t you feel embarrassed?”

“If you’re a man, go for it. I don’t believe you’ll really die!”

When he was younger, Lu Yiyao would indeed waver, often embarking on these ventures with shame and guilt. But invariably, the outcomes were terrible enough to be classified as childhood traumas or adolescent nightmares.

At best, it was embarrassing; at worst, it led to breathlessness. Those who previously encouraged him either laughed at his disheveled state or panicked at his near-death experience. Like the time in his freshman year when he was blindfolded and tricked into a Ferris wheel. The prankster had to call an ambulance because Lu Yiyao nearly fainted from lack of oxygen when the Ferris wheel landed.

Compared to roller coasters, the slow climb of a Ferris wheel was more terrifying, like Lingchi*, excruciating but not fatal.

*Also known as death by a thousand cuts, was a form of torture and execution used in China from roughly 900 CE up until the practice ended around the early 1900s. In this form of execution, a knife was used to methodically remove portions of the body over an extended period of time, eventually resulting in death.

After that, no one mocked or pranked him about it again. The British classmate who tricked him into the Ferris wheel was beaten up by Huo Yuntao and didn’t utter a word.

Shaking off these memories, Lu Yiyao looked at Ran Lin, who had fallen asleep as soon as he boarded the plane. His previously cold gaze softened.

When sleeping on the plane alone, Ran Lin could sleep in all sorts of positions. But now, with someone sitting beside him, he slept peacefully and obediently. Occasionally, if his head tilted to the side, he seemed to sense it, vaguely nudging himself awake, straightening his neck, and continuing to sleep.

The sunlight above the clouds was blinding, shining in through the window and making Ran Lin frown in his sleep.

Lu Yiyao tried not to look out the window. He carefully reached over Ran Lin and pulled down the window shade halfway.

The sunlight vanished from Ran Lin’s face, along with the slight frown. Ran Lin’s long eyelashes now cast beautiful shadows on his face in the dim light.

Over two months ago, he thought this person was desperately craving fame, using such low tactics that even becoming a D-list celebrity would be a stroke of luck.

More than two months later, by coincidence, they ended up on the same flight back after a recording, and he found himself inexplicably in a good mood.

In front of Disney’s Tron Lightcycle Power Run, Ran Lin had spent half an hour preparing with him. During those thirty minutes, Ran Lin had every reason to get angry or question him, but he didn’t.

Perhaps Ran Lin didn’t just realize Lu Yiyao’s fear of heights in the thirtieth minute. With his keenness, he might have connected it to the high-altitude bridge and spicy noodles from the first episode and concluded that Lu Yiyao was acrophobic. Yet, he pretended to be oblivious and quietly accompanied him.

Lu Yiyao believed that if he had followed the path Ran Lin laid out, Ran Lin would never have exposed the truth. If the episode was edited by a devilish editor, it might have been portrayed as “Lu Yiyao giving up the task to accompany his teammate to watch the parade.”

Post-production was always unpredictable.

Ran Lin, once tricked, still chose to be considerate of his friend. Only those who have been shown such consideration can understand its value.

Then there was Xia Xinran, Gu Jie, and the others’ loyalty.

Before signing up for this variety show, Lu Yiyao never thought he could make friends on a job. But now, Xia Xinran was snoring in the row behind them, and Gu Jie, who didn’t return to Beijing but flew straight to another job, had shared a selfie of the six of them taken after the recording in their group chat.

All six faces were squeezed into the frame, making it a little distorted.

Less handsome, but more amusing.

When the plane began to descend, Ran Lin woke up. Lu Yiyao remained in the same position, making Ran Lin suspect he hadn’t moved during the entire flight.

The window shade had been opened by a flight attendant, but Ran Lin was unaware. To him, it had always been open, with the clouds looking refreshing and the sun shining brightly.

Most people tense up during a plane landing, especially at the jolt of touchdown, since statistics show that takeoff and landing are the most accident-prone times.

But Lu Yiyao was the opposite.

At the moment of the jarring touchdown, he relaxed completely. Ran Lin, sitting closest, saw it most clearly. Lu Yiyao’s normally erect posture slackened. His back was no longer straight, and even his clenched hands loosened, radiating a sense of “Thank God.”

When Lu Yiyao opened his eyes, he saw Ran Lin’s smiling face.

“What’s up?” Lu Yiyao asked, puzzled.

“Nothing.” Ran Lin shook his head, his eyes still smiling.

Lu Yiyao quickly realized what Ran Lin was laughing at and openly admitted, “I told you, I still get nervous on planes.”

Seeing him so honest, Ran Lin decided to express his true feelings. “I know you’re nervous, but your reaction is different from when facing roller coasters. It’s more… cute?”

Lu Yiyao had no words for this description.

Ran Lin derived sweet joy from teasing a paper tiger.

The joy Ran Lin got from Disney and Tigger continued until the weekend night, when the second episode aired.

Wang Xi, as usual, called him in advance, reminding him to remember to watch the show on time and communicate any issues bi-directionally. However, Lu Yiyao had a feeling—perhaps it was just an illusion—that Wang Xi seemed a bit less stern and gentler than during the first episode.

This uncertain feeling was confirmed after the broadcast of the show.

When Wang Xi called again, she only asked one question. “How was the feeling of recording the third episode compared to the second?”

Ran Lin didn’t know how the final presentation of the third episode would turn out, but regarding the recording, he felt he had a say: “Yes, I think it was better.”

This “better” didn’t just refer to their growing chemistry but also because Lu Yiyao had offered his private villa for the third episode, making the program with surprises even more appealing.

“That’s good.” Wang Xi seemed relieved and mentioned another matter. “This week, several brands contacted us, wanting you to shoot commercials for them. But after some consideration, the company still feels these lesser-known brands are too low-end. Now, the company prefers to find you brands that are younger in their positioning, not necessarily well-known or prestigious, but definitely with a healthy, positive, and sunny image. So, I wanted to discuss this with you first. There’s no rush on this matter. The variety show has only aired two episodes, and more sponsors will approach you in the future.”

Ran Lin was a bit surprised, not expecting the reality show’s effect to manifest so quickly, especially considering his still controversial reputation.

“I’m not in a hurry. I’ll follow the company’s arrangements,” Ran Lin responded calmly and honestly.

Wang Xi was pleased and briefly talked about some fitness and beauty maintenance matters before hanging up.

Ran Lin sat on the couch, blankly watching the commercials on TV.

Coincidentally, just a few seconds into watching, the previous commercial ended, and the next one was the latest one that Lu Yiyao shot for a men’s cosmetics brand. On the screen, Lu Yiyao looked radiant and spirited, his face clean yet sexy, and his peach blossom eyes smiling, charming the camera throughout the commercial.

Ran Lin felt a bit tempted to buy the product.

After the commercial ended, XX Satellite TV began replaying the second episode.

Ran Lin, not feeling sleepy, decided to watch it again.

This time he watched more carefully than the first time, knowing what would happen and how the post-production would edit and subtitle it. Therefore, he was less anxious and expectant and calmer and more detailed.

Surprisingly, the style of the second episode was completely different from the first. The director seemed to have changed his approach, not forcibly creating misunderstandings or selling fan service. The entire program shifted from the pink-bubbled male god style of the first episode to a straightforward and youthful style, shedding the idol baggage. The post-production also appeared rejuvenated, with subtitles and background music leaning towards a passionate and exciting direction, focusing on building a sense of team spirit.

Although the interactions between the five guests still showed politeness and some segments revealed the production team’s lack of consideration, compared to the first episode, there was a noticeable improvement.

Combined with the beauty of Jiuzhaigou and the irresistible charm of the baby pandas, the second episode felt more fluid and natural. Although it didn’t reach the level of hysterical laughter or blood-pumping excitement, it was comfortable enough for casual viewers and delightful for fans.

Of course, there was still conflict.

Even in the most popular variety shows, and even if the guests had become as close as one person, die-hard fans could still find discordant hints to exploit.

But these things didn’t concern Ran Lin.

He was now a happy ostrich, burying his head in the sand, neither seeing nor hearing. Although curious about the outside world, the thought of not just the gentle breeze, bright moon, mountains, and streams but also the raging wars and gunfire was enough to suppress his curiosity.

At the same time, in a certain hotel.

“Lu Ge, if you have another cup of black coffee, you might as well forget about sleeping tonight.” Li Tong held a freshly brewed cup of black coffee, hesitating to put it down on the table, trying to make a last stand.

Lu Yiyao didn’t even glance at him, his eyes still fixed on his phone screen, only tapping the table with his other hand.

Li Tong knew his words fell on deaf ears again. Not bothering to argue further, he just put down the coffee and sat back in the corner to stay awake.

Lu Yiyao took a sip of coffee and seemed to finally remember there was another person in the room. He put down his phone and rubbed his brow lightly. “Don’t worry about me. You can go rest.”

Li Tong muttered under his breath, “No more coffee refills?”

Although he depended on Lu Yiyao for his salary, because Lu Yiyao was usually approachable and good-natured, Li Tong dared to be a bit bold with him occasionally.

As expected, Lu Yiyao wasn’t angry at the teasing and even seriously replied, “I can refill it myself.”

Li Tong was speechless, realizing Lu Yiyao intended to continue drinking coffee.

When work got hectic, Lu Yiyao liked to drink black coffee. If possible, he would carry a simple filter coffee pot and ground coffee in his luggage, which Li Tong knew.

But firstly, Lu Yiyao usually drank coffee in the morning and afternoon, as sleep was the first guarantee of health—one of his life principles. So, unless he was working overnight, he rarely drank coffee in the evening to stay awake. Secondly, Lu Yiyao didn’t have any work that required staying up late today!

They had flown here today to shoot additional scenes for a movie Lu Yiyao had already wrapped up. In fact, a body double could have been used for this scene, but the director had just contacted Lu Yiyao to explain the situation, and he immediately agreed. The reshooting was scheduled for the next day.

This meant that what Lu Yiyao should be doing now was reviewing the scenes for the next day and then resting.

But in reality, he had completed the scene review in the afternoon and spent the entire evening watching the second episode of the variety show he participated in while drinking coffee and scrolling through his phone, seemingly ready to do so all night.

Li Tong, unable to stay up, decided to obediently go to sleep. But as he reached the door, curiosity got the better of him, and he turned back to ask, “Lu Ge, what exactly are you scrolling through?”

Lu Yiyao, who had just picked up his coffee again, took a leisurely sip before realizing the question, looked up at his assistant. “Hm?”

Li Tong sighed and decided to rephrase the question for better understanding. “Lu Ge, you’ve been watching TV and scrolling through your phone all night. Your thumb hasn’t stopped. What exactly are you scrolling through?”

“Oh.” Lu Yiyao finally understood the question, casually putting the coffee back on the table and lifting his phone screen towards his assistant at the door, as if that was enough explanation. “Something meaningful.”

Li Tong: “…”

Unable to see the phone screen clearly or understand the answer, Li Tong stood dazed for a moment, then turned, opened the door, and considerately closed it from the outside for his boss.

……

After watching the rebroadcast and going to sleep, Ran Lin didn’t wake up until nine o’clock the next morning.

The double-layered curtains in the room only blocked one layer of gauze, leaving the heavy fabric curtains parted at the sides. The sunlight easily penetrated through the thin gauze, illuminating the refreshing bedroom.

The first thing he did after getting up was to grab his phone, check the time, look for any missed calls, and finally turn on the data connection and Wi-Fi.

Ran Lin didn’t turn off his phone when sleeping, but he liked to disconnect from all networks. This way, if someone urgently needed to reach him, they would call, and the automatic pop-up messages from apps or communication software wouldn’t disturb his sleep.

Once the data was turned on, he casually clicked on WeChat, thinking that since the show aired last night, Chen Sheng and Wu Guang might have stayed up late discussing it in the group chat.

And he was right.

As soon as he entered the group chat, the delayed messages flooded in due to the network connection. Fortunately, Ran Lin had turned off WeChat notifications, so he quietly watched the messages scroll up, patiently waiting until all eighty-plus discussions appeared, finally stopping at Xia Xinran’s “Going to sleep” and Gu Jie’s “Hurry up”.

Ran Lin scrolled back to the first message and read them one by one.

It started with Xia Xinran at around two in the morning, praising the overall style change of the second episode and then complaining about why it was still awkward even in the second episode. Then Gu Jie jumped in to retort. Later, Lu Yiyao also briefly appeared, but only exchanged a couple of words and then disappeared.

The conversation finally ended with Xia Xinran and Gu Jie’s “goodnight”, timed at 2:59 a.m.

Ran Lin read through the entire conversation with a smile, then exited the chat group and returned to the WeChat list. He suddenly noticed that Lu Yiyao’s avatar had appeared in the recent list, right below the pinned Chen Sheng and Wu Guang group, with a red number “58” in the top right corner.

Ran Lin had never privately chatted with Lu Yiyao outside the group chat after exchanging WeChats. It was already shocking enough that Lu Yiyao sent a one-on-one message, let alone dozens of them. Ran Lin thought it was likely a sleepy mistake made in the middle of the night.

Curiously, he opened it and scrolled to the top. All fifty-eight messages were images, and the thumbnails looked very similar.

But the small images were too blurry, so Ran Lin opened the first one, which was sent at 3:20 a.m.

The clear, full-screen image quickly loaded…

Ran Lin was stunned and took a long time to recover.

They were screenshots of comments from his Weibo, selectively retained through a mosaic effect.

The mosaic was so crude it was almost like an abstract painting, obviously drawn directly with a finger in some software, but the information the creator wanted to preserve was very clear.

The one Ran Lin randomly opened had two comments retained:

Lin’s Little Burning Noodles: [I like the boy who took his friend who couldn’t ride in Yangshuo, the boy who was witty during the quick Q&A on the Li River, the boy who got distracted by the scenery in Jiuzhaigou and had his spoils stolen, the boy who gave the last skewer of Bobo chicken to his friend in Kuanzhai Alley. Ran Lin, I like you, and many others do too. You don’t need to respond to us. Just continue to be happy.]

When Will Beautiful Xia Show Up Again: [What you sow is what you reap. As long as you are guilt-free, there’s nothing to fear from slander. Xiaxia went through the same. You can learn from him 233333*.]

*Internet slang that represents laughter (like lol or hahaha). The number 233 refers to the 233^rd emoticon on Baidu Teiba, which depicts a character laughing. Adding extra 3’s to it just extends the laughter (like lololol).

His eyes brimming with tears, Ran Lin quickly closed the image and opened another.

Still Weibo comments:

Gargamel’s* Cat: [Honestly, the show isn’t that great, but the second episode was much better than the first, so I’m still looking forward to the third. Also, I like your awkward yet sincere manner. There’s no need to fake familiarity. Relationships take time to develop 🐱🐱]

*A fictional character and the main antagonist of the Smurfs show and comic books. He is a wizard and the sworn enemy of the Smurfs. His main goals are to destroy the Smurfs, eat them, or transform them into gold.

Kihara’s Family¹ Scummy Top²: [Thank God the post-production finally stopped forcing the issue. But why does the passionate second episode feel more heart-fluttering to us old ladies than the romantic first episode? How do you match with everyone? What’s going on?!]

¹Referencing the Kihara Family from the anime Toaru Majutsu no Index.
²(渣攻) This is a specific term in Chinese BL that is basically referring to a scum gong/seme/top.

All fifty-eight images.

Lu Yiyao must have sifted through countless comments to select these for him.

[I uninstalled it… If our show turns the tables in the future, you can help me check the comments, haha.]

The joke made in the Disneyland hotel had been taken seriously.

Ran Lin couldn’t imagine how long it must have taken to sift through thousands of negative comments to find these, or how much time it took to blur out upsetting comments, leaving only the ones that would amuse him. He was afraid to think about it, worried that his emotions would become uncontrollable.

No, they were already uncontrollable.

“Nutcase.”

Ran Lin smiled and cursed, wiping away the water stains on the screen.

Keeping the full-screen view, he swiped through each image, not knowing how much time passed until he finally reached the last one.

This image was completely different from the others—not a Weibo comment but a screenshot of a personal memo with only two lines—

[Block out rumors and you might miss encouragement and praise. The above comments are what I found meaningful, and I would like to share my encouragement with you.]

Looking at the last magical part of the sentence, Ran Lin couldn’t help but repeat the curse again—

“You’re such a nutcase!”

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Kinky Thoughts:

Seems like he’s crazy about you. But for real though, that’s super sweet and they’re not even together yet.

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