Author: 颜凉雨 / Yan Liang Yu
Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/
Chapter 92
In late April, as the screenings of <Dyeing Fire> and <Split Moon> drew to a close, Ran Lin finished the last of his promotional activities. <Dyeing Fire> had accumulated a box office of 370 million, while <Split Moon> reached 302 million. In the brutal battlefield of April, filled with several imported blockbusters, achieving these figures was no small feat.
Both films were equally matched in terms of critical acclaim, with similar ratings on movie websites. The difference in box office was determined by the style of the films themselves. <Dyeing Fire> was more suspenseful and intense, while <Split Moon> leaned more towards a plain and humanistic approach. Thus, for audiences looking to relax over the weekend, if they had to choose one, they were slightly more inclined towards the former.
On the day he completely finished his promotional obligations, Beijing was under a yellow smog alert. Driving on the overpass was like entering a mythical fairyland; no sky above, no ground below, and other cars invisible ahead or behind. The poor visibility made all vehicles tame, no matter how expensive they were, creeping forward slowly unless one wanted to rev the engine in neutral.
The promotion ended at 4:30 p.m., but by the time Ran Lin got back to his apartment, it was already 7:00 p.m. As the venue was close to Ran Lin’s place, the driver dropped him off first. When he alighted, Wang Xi and Liu Wanwan were still in the car.
Ran Lin had been contemplating all the way and finally made up his mind. So, instead of closing the car door after getting out, he turned around, leaned on it, and bent over to ask the others inside, “Shall we have dinner together?”
Wang Xi and Liu Wanwan hadn’t eaten yet. They were packed so close together that when Ran Lin asked them, they couldn’t think of a reason to refuse. Moreover, everyone was acutely aware that June was approaching, and the days they could dine together were dwindling.
The driver was happy to finish early and go home for dinner with his family. The three found a restaurant near Ran Lin’s apartment.
Wang Xi thought it was just a casual dinner, but just after a few bites, her comfort was disturbed by the “transfer explanation” of her artist.
“You’re going to Lu Yiyao’s company?!”
Ran Lin swallowed hard and said, “Xi Jie, I’m switching companies, not quitting the industry. You don’t need to look so desperate.”
“If you don’t want to run your own studio and prefer to sign with a company, there are many big companies out there. Why choose Lu Yiyao’s?” Wang Xi was aware that Lu Yiyao had started a company. Though it wasn’t publicly announced, it was no secret in the industry where many stars have more than one company under them. However, she hadn’t expected it to be Ran Lin’s choice.
“It’s all about signing with a company anyway…” Ran Lin said, recalling a line from a drama, and chuckled. “Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t.”
Wang Xi understood his point but still couldn’t help advising, “I know you and Lu Yiyao are close, but business and friendship are different things. Being close doesn’t mean you can work well together, especially when the relationship changes from friends to employer and employee. It can lead to awkward situations or even falling out, potentially ending the friendship.”
Ran Lin wanted to ask if it’s awkward when a friend becomes a boss, then what about when a friend becomes a boss’ wife? But Wang Xi was unaware, and her advice was not only faultless but also considerate. Ran Lin appreciated it.
Precisely because he understood, he hoped his agent could be at ease. “Guan Yu and Zhang Fei were brothers, but that didn’t stop them from helping Liu Bei conquer the world. There are cases of falling out, but there are also cases of mutual success.”
Wang Xi raised an eyebrow skeptically. “Do you think you can both succeed?”
Ran Lin smiled confidently. “It’s worth a try.”
Wang Xi sighed, not wanting to be too blunt but also concerned about Ran Lin being shortchanged. “Have you considered that the resources within a company are limited, and external resources are even scarcer. Who do you think those resources will favor first, you or your boss?”
“Me,” Ran Lin answered without hesitation.
Wang Xi held her forehead. “Where does your confidence come from?”
Ran Lin thought for a moment and decided to reveal that Lu Yiyao was planning to change careers. After <Split Moon> Lu Yiyao would essentially retire from acting. The audience and fans would eventually realize this. Changing careers wasn’t a permanent secret, and he also wanted his agent to be reassured, especially since she was planning a global trip. There was no need for her to worry about these things constantly.
The news of Lu Yiyao’s career change left Liu Wanwan with her mouth agape, struggling to digest it. After all, Lu Yiyao was at the peak of his career, and it seemed unnecessary for such an abrupt exit.
After a moment of surprise, Wang Xi had an epiphany. She recalled a recent dinner with several investors where one mentioned wanting Lu Yiyao for a television drama with a strong investment and production team and generous payment, but he declined. She had thought Lu Yiyao might be aiming solely for movies, not television dramas anymore. It all made sense now; it wasn’t about choosing between TV dramas and films but a fundamental career decision.
“It’s such a pity…” Liu Wanwan sighed in disappointment.
“What’s a pity?” Wang Xi asked.
Liu Wanwan earnestly said, “He’s not even thirty yet and has already starred in two movies that were nominated for international film festivals. With a few more years, no, just with his current choice of scripts, he could have become a film emperor!”
“And then what?” Wang Xi tilted her head.
“Then…he could change careers,” Liu Wanwan replied after a pause, feeling it wasn’t right to go against someone’s wishes.
Wang Xi laughed. “If you can see that, Yao Hong must have analyzed it thoroughly with him already. He chose to retire at the peak, which means being a film emperor isn’t his goal. He’s aiming to be a business tycoon.”
“But he’s already succeeded in acting; changing careers could lead to failure,” Liu Wanwan argued.
Wang Xi gestured towards Ran Lin. “Here’s someone about to go over and help him make money.”
Ran Lin felt awkward.
Liu Wanwan chuckled, though she clearly wasn’t fully convinced.
Wang Xi directly asked, “If you had to choose, would you prefer being a film empress or a domineering female CEO?”
Liu Wanwan paused, pondering.
Wang Xi waited patiently.
Ran Lin was curious too.
After a long moment, Liu Wanwan finally realized that both options were appealing, and the choice depended on personal preference. Life is a struggle for one’s own goals.
As for the options Wang Xi presented, she believed, ‘Either is fine with me. I’m not picky, really.’
……
After finishing the meal, Ran Lin’s last bit of worries disappeared. His agent no longer needed to fret about selecting companies or agents for him; he could peacefully prepare for his own journey.
Wang Xi’s heart finally settled. Although she still harbored a cautious attitude toward the future of Lu Yiyao’s company, Ran Lin’s decision to join it was made after careful consideration. As long as Ran Lin was determined and knew what he wanted, all she could do was offer her support and blessings.
Only Liu Wanwan felt a bit of emotional complexity because it dawned on her on the way home in the taxi that if she followed Ran Lin to Lu Yiyao’s company, she would become colleagues with Li Tong. More importantly, Li Tong was the boss’ assistant, and she was the assistant to a signed artist, creating a hierarchical difference. She wondered if she should remove him from the “No Access to My Moments” list…
As the old saying goes, speak of Cao Cao, and he shall appear. Liu Wanwan hadn’t expected that merely thinking of someone could be unsafe too.
Two days after that meal, before she had the chance to unblock Li Tong from her social circle, she received a call from her boss, who was on vacation, informing her that they would go to a late-night movie screening with the future boss to avoid paparazzi rumors. She was asked to accompany them, along with Li Tong, to provide cover.
As an assistant, it was her duty to oblige.
……
The next morning, Ran Lin woke up before the alarm, not feeling tired or sleepy but quite spirited.
It reminded him of when he was a child, waking up early for school sports days or excursions, eager for the day ahead with a backpack full of tasty snacks.
He didn’t understand then, but as he grew older, he realized that excitement and anticipation are the best “alarms.”
Throughout the day, Ran Lin rolled around in the living room, bedroom, kitchen, sofa, dining chair, and bed, not remembering exactly what he did, until finally, at 7:30 p.m., he put on a new gray hoodie and a mask and left his apartment.
The cinema chosen by Lu Yiyao was close to Ran Lin’s apartment. Since it was past rush hour, the roads were relatively clear, and he arrived at the cinema entrance by 7:50 p.m.
The cinema was in an older shopping mall with a less favorable location, hence not very prosperous. The main entrance seemed to be under renovation, with scaffolding all around, forcing customers to use a side door. The side entrance was narrow, but luckily, there wasn’t much foot traffic.
Ran Lin suspected his boyfriend had scouted the location beforehand; otherwise, it was hard to explain how such a low-profile spot was chosen. Coupled with the fact that it was a quiet Tuesday, Ran Lin didn’t struggle much to find a parking spot once a car left.
After parking, he adjusted his hoodie and mask, leaving only his bright eyes visible, then darted into the mall like a thief in the night.
The first floor of the mall was almost deserted, with bored salespeople standing in their shops and some without any attendants at all. Some brands had even vacated the premises, leaving behind empty counters and partially removed logos, adding to the bleak atmosphere.
Ran Lin quickly found the elevator leading directly to the top floor, where the cinema was located.
He rode the elevator with three or four others, all seemingly there to watch a movie. Wrapped up like a ninja, no one paid him any mind, as even wearing a gas mask wouldn’t be out of place given the recent air quality.
As the elevator ascended, Ran Lin’s heartbeat accelerated, unsure why he was so nervous about just a date.
The elevator reached its destination, and as the doors opened, Ran Lin’s heart pounded like a drum, realizing that the cinema was probably the liveliest place in the mall.
Straight out of the elevator was the cinema’s waiting area. While not full, it was relatively busy with about a dozen or two people, and six or seven were checking in.
It was 8 p.m., a typically busy time for cinemas, and though the numbers were sparse compared to a busy night, it was lively compared to the rest of the mall.
The waiting area was spacious, and Ran Lin immediately spotted Liu Wanwan and Li Tong among the small groups seated apart from each other. While others whispered or cuddled quietly, the two were focused on their phones, fingers moving rapidly in the midst of intense gaming.
Ran Lin, with his hat and mask, scanned the area but couldn’t spot Lu Yiyao.
Feeling slightly disappointed, he walked to a discreet corner and texted Liu Wanwan.
The assistant looked up from her phone, and their eyes met. Ran Lin bent his eyes in a wave, and Liu Wanwan quickly approached him, handing over the tickets while whispering, “Li Tong said Lu Ge will arrive later.”
Liu Wanwan rarely communicated directly with Lu Yiyao and felt it inappropriate to use his full name or call him “President Lu”, so she followed Li Tong’s lead in calling him “Lu Ge”.
Ran Lin took the tickets and nodded. “Okay.”
Before they could say much more, the cinema announced it was time to enter the theater for the 8:10 p.m. movie, checking tickets ten minutes early.
A few couples got up and headed to the ticket gate. Ran Lin, holding his ticket, hesitated whether to go in or wait.
Sensing his indecision, Liu Wanwan grabbed his arm and whispered, “We’ll go in first, and Li Tong will wait outside. It’ll be more conspicuous if we all enter together after Lu Ge arrives.”
Her logic made sense, and Ran Lin followed her towards the entrance.
The ticket checker was more focused on the tickets than the patrons, not noticing anything unusual about the pair, one tall and the other short.
They were there to watch <Split Moon> which was nearing the end of its run with low screening numbers and attendance. Before them, only four people had checked in, and after them, aside from Li Tong waiting for Lu Yiyao, no one else was there.
Walking through the somewhat empty corridor of the screening hall, Liu Wanwan expressed her sentiments. “It’s kind of sad to sneak around to watch your own movie.”
Ran Lin chuckled. “It doesn’t feel sad when the paycheck comes in.” His words were both a comfort to the assistant and a straightforward truth.
There is a common saying that you only see the thief eating meat, not getting beaten—the idea being that you only notice the rewards, not the punishments or hard work. But the reverse is also true. Thinking of the effort during times of gain and the potential rewards during times of sacrifice helps maintain a balanced mindset.
The vast cinema hall was eerily empty, so much so that a chill breeze seemed to blow through as they walked in. When they ascended the side stairs, the few people seated in the middle rows glanced up briefly.
But that was all.
Commercials began to play on the big screen. Its dim light was enough to guide the way, and the full sound effects dispelled the emptiness.
When they reached the fourth row from the back, Liu Wanwan turned in.
When they reached the last row, Ran Lin turned in.
The low attendance rate meant they had the luxury of choosing any seat, even comfortably settling in the middle of the last row.
One commercial followed another, featuring various products and new movie trailers, and finally, a public service announcement played. When it finished, the familiar green dragon logo appeared, and the lights in the cinema dimmed instantly.
The movie started.
Ran Lin leaned back, pressing tightly against the seat, as if sitting upright could make him feel less nervous.
Various production company logos flashed on screen—this company, that company, none of which Ran Lin really saw because his eyes were fixed on the entrance…
Right as the last financier’s logo faded from the big screen, Lu Yiyao’s figure appeared both on the screen and at the entrance.
Although the boyfriend on the big screen was clear down to every pore, the one entering was bundled up like a zongzi.
Ran Lin watched Li Tong and Lu Yiyao make their way up, then Li Tong turned into the fourth row from the back and Lu Yiyao into his row.
Ran Lin watched, twisting his neck up as the other man approached closer and closer.
By the time Ran Lin realized, he had eagerly flipped down a seat for the other, even dusting it off.
As his lover settled down, Ran Lin tried to retract his hand, but before he could pull it away, it was caught.
That hold never loosened.
Ran Lin allowed Lu Yiyao to hold it, his eyes on the big screen but muttering, “Why are you so late?”
On the big screen, Lu Yiyao was in a bathroom, looking into a mirror. The scene was silent and tense, making the entire cinema quiet.
Lu Yiyao leaned close to Ran Lin’s ear, his breath warm as he whispered, “Hard to find parking.”
Ran Lin was exasperated. “Couldn’t you come up with something more romantic…”
Lu Yiyao didn’t reply.
Just as Ran Lin was wondering why, his mask was suddenly pulled off with lightning speed, and the next second, his view of the big screen was blocked as Lu Yiyao accurately captured his lips.
A kiss somewhere between a peck and a French kiss, deeper than a peck but not as lingering as the French style. When they parted, Ran Lin’s lips felt tingly and warm, slightly itchy.
“Is that reason okay?” Lu Yiyao asked with a light smile.
“So you were late because you wanted to kiss me?” Ran Lin wanted to tease him but found himself charmed instead, noticing the twinkling eyes of his lover under the cinematic light.
Lu Yiyao flipped up the armrest drink holder, removing any barrier between their seats, then drew Ran Lin into his embrace, bending down for another peck. “Because if I’m late, I can do this without wasting words—kiss you directly.”
Ran Lin was speechless.
Though his lover was shameless as soon as the lights went out, it was a kind of shamelessness that won hearts. Deciding to enjoy the moment before contemplating resistance, Ran Lin relaxed, shifted to find a comfortable position in Lu Yiyao’s embrace, and settled down to watch the movie.
Lu Yiyao, with his arm around Ran Lin’s shoulder, occasionally caught the scent of the other’s hair. He had seen the movie more than a dozen times during promotions, knew every shot by heart, and thus found his attention drifting. As his focus wandered, his hand itched to touch, and soon he was gently caressing Ran Lin’s face.
Occasionally, if his touch distracted Ran Lin from the movie, his hand would be swatted away, but mostly, Lu Yiyao managed the balance well, making up for all the times they couldn’t touch during their online relationship.
<Split Moon> ended abruptly, leaving a lingering impression.
So, as the last shot faded and the credits began to roll, with the audience still recovering, Lu Yiyao quickly put the mask back on his partner. He, of course, was already prepared.
Ran Lin was still immersed in the storyline until Lu Yiyao covered him up, bringing him back to reality.
As the credits rolled and the lights came on, the two couples in the front row didn’t hesitate and quickly left, seemingly forgetting there were still four people behind them.
Ran Lin turned to Lu Yiyao with proud admiration. “You acted really well.”
Since <Split Moon> was nominated for a film festival, Lu Yiyao had heard countless praises, online and off, from fans and peers, elaborate analyses, and simple compliments. But hearing “You acted really well” from Ran Lin felt entirely different.
At that moment, Lu Yiyao realized he had been nervous. The reason his mind couldn’t settle into the movie, aside from having seen it too many times, was the anxiety over his performance. It felt not like watching a movie but a live broadcast, where any moment could reveal a flaw.
“Really?” Lu Yiyao found himself asking.
Ran Lin didn’t reply but earnestly suggested, “Maybe we shouldn’t watch the next one.”
Lu Yiyao paused. “Why?”
Ran Lin: “Watching your performance then mine makes me feel a bit insecure.”
Lu Yiyao: “……”
Despite suspecting that Ran Lin was just being modest or trying to cheer him up, Lu Yiyao couldn’t help but feel delighted.
They would, of course, watch <Dyeing Fire>, which Lu Yiyao had been looking forward to ever since he visited Ran Lin on set.
As it approached 10:00 p.m., returning to the ticket gate from the exit, the waiting area was even less populated with all new faces. The previous audience had gone to watch their respective movies, not staying back for a second screening like them.
At 10:05 p.m., <Dyeing Fire> was starting, so they could proceed directly to ticket checking and entry without waiting.
Only the four of them were there to watch <Dyeing Fire>; it seemed the others in the waiting area were there for a Hollywood blockbuster starting five minutes later.
As they approached the empty cinema hall for the second time, Liu Wanwan, with starry-eyed admiration, expressed her appreciation for <Split Moon> and her admiration for Lu Yiyao’s acting skills.
Li Tong, standing aside, sighed silently. Foolish, thinking she was here just for the movie! Couldn’t she have a pair of discerning eyes in the back of her head?!
The screening hall for <Dyeing Fire> was smaller than for <Split Moon>, and with only the four of them, they all moved forward a few rows without changing their positions.
This time, Lu Yiyao wasn’t distracted, intertwining his fingers with Ran Lin’s with one hand and sitting upright, watching the movie intently.
In <Dyeing Fire>, Ran Lin was no longer himself but Di Jiangtao—pale, gaunt, and weakly—his appearance so transformed that even his familiar face, thanks to his completely different demeanor, seemed like that of another person. Even as the movie’s truth was revealed and the criminal brought to justice, with Di Jiangtao finding his true path in life, the character retained a hint of unshakable rakishness, distinctively Di Jiangtao.
<Dyeing Fire> was longer than <Split Moon>, and by the time the credits rolled, it was past midnight.
Seeing Liu Wanwan and Li Tong getting ready to leave without offering any comments, Ran Lin became anxious and initiated, “How was it?”
Lu Yiyao, slowly putting on his mask, replied somewhat muffled, “Nine points…”
Ran Lin, hearing clearly, immediately asked, “Where’s the one point deducted?”
Lu Yiyao instructed, “Put on your mask first.”
Ran Lin obediently did as told, then stared expectantly at his partner.
Lu Yiyao held up five fingers. “Out of five.”
Ran Lin was flabbergasted. “…So you’re just adding in the extra points for sentiment!”
Exiting through the departure channel, the four of them took the elevator down.
In the elevator, with only the four of them present, Lu Yiyao directly asked Ran Lin, “Did you drive or take a cab?”
Ran Lin responded, “Drove.”
Lu Yiyao nodded. “Alright, then Li Tong, you drive Ran Lin’s car to take Wanwan home later, and then take the car back to your place.”
“No problem,” Li Tong replied promptly and clearly.
Ran Lin, puzzled, glanced at Lu Yiyao but hesitated to ask in front of Liu Wanwan.
Lu Yiyao, as if sure Ran Lin wouldn’t dare to ask, simply stretched out his hand. “Car keys.”
Ran Lin, while Liu Wanwan wasn’t looking, rolled his eyes at him but still fished out the keys from his pocket and handed them over amidst the jingling sound.
Li Tong took the keys, offering what he thought was a simple smile to Liu Wanwan.
Liu Wanwan, feeling a chill, held back her barrage of questions. Seeing Ran Lin equally perplexed and yet not asking made her wonder why.
Catching Lu Yiyao’s confident and authoritative gaze, Liu Wanwan figured it out.
Being an overbearing boss indeed had its own aura, not to mention that Lu Yiyao seemed to have Ran Lin, the future employee, completely wrapped around his finger!
As they left the elevator, some latecomers for the midnight show hurried past them into the elevator, while the group exited into the dimly lit and deserted ground floor of the mall.
“Make sure to get Wanwan home safely,” Ran Lin sternly instructed Li Tong.
Li Tong thumped his chest in assurance. “Consider it done.”
Ran Lin then turned to Liu Wanwan. “Send me a message when you get home.”
Liu Wanwan nodded.
Li Tong gave a woeful look to his boss—They don’t trust me!
Lu Yiyao glanced at him—I think your gaze towards Liu Wanwan is a bit too floaty.
Li Tong—…Wishing you a successful night.
Lu Yiyao—You’re essentially a good kid.
Li Tong stopped engaging with his unprincipled boss and asked Liu Wanwan directly, “Where’s the car parked?”
After bidding farewell, Liu Wanwan led Li Tong to the car.
As Li Tong started the engine, sitting in the back, Liu Wanwan finally vented her pent-up questions. “What’s Lu Ge taking Ran Ge to do? Any other plans?”
Li Tong, driving out of the parking spot and onto the road, vaguely responded, “Not sure. Maybe discussing work or something…”
Liu Wanwan: “Discussing work in the middle of the night?”
Li Tong glanced at the rearview mirror at his future colleague’s indescribable expression and continued to fabricate, “Time waits for no one, right? Both Lu Ge and Ran Ge are so busy, who knows when they’ll get to meet again. By the time Ran Ge joins our company, it’ll be too late for discussions. Work planning is something you have to do in advance.”
Liu Wanwan frowned, feeling something was off.
Li Tong’s heart fluttered with pity, nearly spilling the truth several times but ultimately swallowing it back down.
Let the boss and his wife deliver such a thrilling surprise themselves…
……
“Where are we going?” Ran Lin, sitting in the passenger seat, watched as Lu Yiyao calmly sped, keeping within the speed limit. The steadier Lu Yiyao’s driving was, the more uneasy Ran Lin felt. “Not to your place, right? Didn’t you say your neighborhood is always swarming with paparazzi?”
Lu Yiyao kept his eyes on the road, driving safely but with a content smile creeping onto his face. “So going back to my place is also on your date agenda?”
Ran Lin: “……”
Why did he always feel like he was being led astray?
As the night stretched on, Ran Lin couldn’t discern the road signs nor understand where Lu Yiyao was heading. But seeing the unmistakable “I have a surprise for you” radiance on his lover’s face, he didn’t want to spoil the mood by pressing for answers.
About twenty minutes later, Lu Yiyao suddenly pulled over to the side of the road.
Ran Lin tensed up, instinctively saying, “This isn’t a good spot, right? There are road cameras everywhere, and your window tint isn’t dark enough…”
Lu Yiyao grabbed his phone from the dashboard compartment with a complex expression, holding it while looking at his partner. “Are you rejecting me or hinting at something…”
Ran Lin, looking at the phone in the other’s hand, also realized that he might have, well, misunderstood the situation.
But why would Lu Yiyao suddenly stop driving to use his phone?
Before Ran Lin could figure it out, Lu Yiyao reached out to turn on the car’s electronic screen. Soon, following his phone’s operation, a map appeared… on Amap.
Who gets lost while planning a surprise for their boyfriend!!!
“Turn left at the second traffic light ahead…”
“Turn left…”
“There’s a speed camera 300 meters ahead…”
“Right turn at the traffic light ahead…”
Ran Lin, hopelessly leaning against the car window, listened to the sweet voice of the navigation, his mind void of any romantic thoughts.
Lu Yiyao was equally flustered. He naturally struggled with directions and, apart from driving to his apartment, his office, and his parents’ home in Beijing, was unfamiliar with the rest of the city. But he didn’t show any signs of distress on his face, keeping his head high and speeding the car as if forgetting the route was a very natural occurrence.
Despairing, Ran Lin followed Lu Yiyao without paying much attention to the route until he heard the navigation announce, “You have arrived at your destination.” Recognizing the familiarly luxurious retro style of the security room, the small fountain, and even the uniform of the security staff emerging from the security room, Ran Lin finally realized this was the same Aobei Villa area he had been brought to for the Republic-era party by Xia Xinran!
There couldn’t be another party, could there…
As Ran Lin pondered, he noticed Lu Yiyao’s car approach, and the gate automatically opened with the security guard saluting after recognizing the license plate.
Ran Lin instinctively held onto the seatbelt, feeling like he might be in for a roller coaster ride.
Lu Yiyao, puzzled by Ran Lin’s silence since he should recognize the place by now and expectedly ask something, glanced sideways and saw his partner looking as if he was about to be robbed or assaulted. He figured with Ran Lin’s intelligence, he must have already deduced the answer.
Like last time, they drove through layers of tall green trees, but this time they stopped in front of a different villa.
The villa’s exterior looked similar to the others, except for the many little gnomes on the lawn in front of this one, each with a unique, endearing look, like tiny guardians of the lawn and garden.
Lu Yiyao parked the car and turned to his partner, unable to resist asking, “Don’t you have anything to ask?”
Ran Lin looked deeply at him and decided to plunge in. “Whatever the surprise is, just throw it at me. I can take it.”
Seeing Ran Lin’s blissfully silly smile, Lu Yiyao couldn’t help but grin, his heart swelling with warmth.
As Lu Yiyao opened the villa door, a refreshing fragrance of flowers greeted them. Once Ran Lin stepped into the foyer, the scent became subtler, replaced by the fresh smell of greenery.
Lu Yiyao closed the door and turned on the lights.
The room lit up brightly.
Ran Lin was stunned, mesmerized by the beauty of the living room.
The décor was simple yet artistic, primarily in light colors, making the space feel more expansive. Brightly colored accessories and furniture added a pop of color, while strategically placed plants and flowers lent a layered look to the space, creating a comfortable and warm atmosphere. The pale ice-blue curtains covered the floor-to-ceiling windows tightly, but one could still imagine the beauty of the room filled with sunlight when the curtains were drawn during the day.
“It was renovated last year, but I’ve been airing it out since then because I was worried about the air quality right after the renovation.” Lu Yiyao walked up behind Ran Lin, gently embracing him. “My apartment has become a hotspot for paparazzi, but this place won’t be.”
Although Ran Lin had suspected as much when Lu Yiyao’s car passed through the gate without issue, hearing it directly still felt surreal.
“So we won’t have to be in a long-distance relationship anymore?” Ran Lin’s voice tightened.
“Mm.” Lu Yiyao nuzzled Ran Lin’s neck, murmuring. “In June, when you break your contract and sign with my company, we’ll release an announcement, letting the whole entertainment industry know you’re mine.”
Despite it not being a true public coming out, Ran Lin couldn’t suppress the warmth welling up in his eyes…
Suddenly, a warm drop fell on the back of his hand. Lu Yiyao was taken aback, not even looking before he raised his hand to cover Ran Lin’s eyes, leaning close to whisper, “You’re not allowed to cry anywhere but in bed.”
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