Hearing his voice, Jiang Jingning’s expression changed slightly. He knit his brows and reached out to grab Wu Yan’s collar, but Xu Yike caught his wrist and pushed him back. Jiang Jingning stumbled a few steps before managing to steady himself.
“Don’t play dumb with me! Why didn’t you say you didn’t know me when you hired people to take secret photos of me?”
Hearing this, Wu Yan finally reacted. He realized that the person before him was the protagonist of the original novel and the cannon fodder’s arch-rival: Jiang Jingning.
He truly didn’t know what kind of “bad luck king” he was to encounter the protagonist so quickly.
“Oh? Do you have evidence?” Wu Yan wasn’t angry; his tone was perfectly calm.
Jiang Jingning was stunned. He felt like the person in front of him had changed. The old Wu Yan would have turned red and cursed him out by now. Why was he so calm, even asking for evidence?
“You’re always targeting me, what evidence do I need?” Jiang Jingning retorted.
“So, no evidence then.” Wu Yan sneered, his tone somewhat helpless. “How unlucky. To run into a brain-dead person in such a quiet place.”
Jiang Jingning felt a surge of rage. Realizing he had been insulted, his face darkened, especially with several of his friends watching. He gritted his teeth, squeezing the words out: “Have you forgotten what happened when we were kids? You still dare to oppose me?”
Wu Yan’s expression remained unchanged, but his words were merciless: “I haven’t forgotten. You were the kid who hugged a tree and said you’d marry it when you grew up.”
On the surface, it seemed harmless, but those who knew the context couldn’t help but laugh. For someone as prideful as Jiang Jingning, this was a critical hit especially coming from someone he considered a “mad dog” who just bites at random.
Watching the protagonist’s retreating back, Wu Yan whispered to himself: “Truly, anyone can be a protagonist these days…”
Feeling the encounter was bizarre, he turned to leave, only to see a familiar figure at the stairwell corner. He spoke in surprise: “Pei Jin?”
By logic, Pei Jin should be at the film set right now. He had never heard that the man had a hobby of drinking tea.
Hearing the familiar voice, Pei Jin looked up at Wu Yan. His sharp, cold face remained indifferent and calm. He didn’t speak. For a moment, the surroundings were silent. Wu Yan felt a bit lost, followed by a mysterious surge of guilt. He wasn’t sure if Pei Jin had heard the commotion he just caused.
Wu Yan immediately deflated, muttering softly: “He was the one being aggressive first…”
Before he could finish, he heard Pei Jin’s voice.
“Your health isn’t fully recovered. Why did you come out?” Pei Jin asked.
This bit of concern acted like a powerful sedative. Relieved, Wu Yan hurried down the stairs to Pei Jin’s side. He spoke softly: “It’s because Brother is too busy; you’ve pushed me into a corner.”
Pei Jin was usually rational and composed, rarely finding himself in a situation he couldn’t handle. Because he was a young Movie Star, few in the industry dared to complain to his face like this. But Wu Yan’s status was special, and he couldn’t get angry.
Furthermore… Wu Yan’s face was indeed a bit too captivating.
“Did you come specifically to find me?” Wu Yan blinked, his tone excited.
Meeting those burning eyes, Pei Jin spoke concisely: “Your mother asked me to look after you.”
“Wow!” Wu Yan was delighted. He grabbed Pei Jin’s hand and shook it gently, taking the man’s words at face value. “So Brother’s answer is a ‘yes’. I’m so happy.”
He appeared genuinely thrilled. As the warm body suddenly pressed closer, Pei Jin was momentarily at a loss. He wanted to withdraw his hand, but Wu Yan was holding on too tight.
Pei Jin looked at Xu Yike standing nearby, then at Wu Yan’s hand on his own. He said: “I’ll send you back.”
“I don’t want to,” Wu Yan refused. He looked up at Pei Jin. “I heard a snack street opened near the movie city. Let’s go check it out.”
Pei Jin looked hesitant. Wu Yan was weak; even if it wasn’t snowing, the outdoor temperature was very low. He feared the youth would catch another fever how would he explain that to Wu’s mother?
Seeing Pei Jin waver, Wu Yan felt a secret joy. He knew the man’s resolve was softening.
He blinked his eyes—which looked as if they were filled with spring water and let his voice turn soft and sweet, intentionally dragging out his words: “Hubby, I really want to go see it. I’ve been stuck at home for two days and I’m practically growing mold. Accompany me, alright?”
He said it with intent. That “Hubby” made Pei Jin’s heart skip a beat. An unnatural fluster flashed across his face, and he instinctively turned his head away to avoid Wu Yan’s direct gaze.
Seeing this, Wu Yan pressed his advantage. He rubbed into the man’s chest, hugging his arm like a pampered cat. “I promise, I’ll only look for a little bit. If you don’t agree, I won’t be able to sleep tonight, and my immunity will get even worse.”
He looked at Pei Jin with pitiful eyes, a thin mist of water appearing as if he might cry at any second.
Pei Jin was completely defenseless against this onslaught. He sighed helplessly and compromised: “Only half an hour. Then I send you back.”
It was a small thing, but Wu Yan was thrilled. He stood on his tiptoes and gave Pei Jin a quick kiss on the cheek. “I knew it! Brother is the best to me.”
Wu Yan reached for his phone to check the time, only to find his pocket empty. He remembered his phone was still in the tea room. “I need to go grab something. Brother, wait for me here, I’ll be right back.”
Pei Jin stood in place, touching the spot where Wu Yan had kissed him. A lingering warmth remained. His usually straight lips curled up slightly. He looked at the dimming sky and lowered his eyelids.
The Snack Street
The street was long and currently packed with people. Multicolored lights lit up the night sky, and the scent of various specialty snacks filled the air. Wu Yan pulled Pei Jin through the stalls and quickly found his target.
He pointed at a neon sign for takoyaki. “Brother, I want to eat that.”
Pei Jin looked at the steaming takoyaki and nodded. “Wait here. I’ll buy it.”
He strode toward the stall, his tall figure standing out in the crowd. Fortunately, because the snack street was near the film city, actors were common, and the lighting in the corner was dim, so no one recognized him.
Wu Yan stood obediently in place, watching Pei Jin wait in line. A faint smile touched his lips. Soon, Pei Jin returned with a box of fresh takoyaki.
“Be careful, it’s hot,” Pei Jin said, handing the fragrant snacks—topped with seaweed and bonito flakes—to Wu Yan.
Wu Yan didn’t reach for them. Instead, he blinked and said softly: “Brother, you feed me.”
Pei Jin’s hand paused. The noisy surroundings seemed to quiet down. He coughed, about to speak, when Wu Yan reached out and took the box himself.
Wu Yan picked up a takoyaki with a bamboo skewer, blew on it, and held it to Pei Jin’s mouth. “Then I’ll feed Brother. Ah—open up.”
“I don’t like eating this,” Pei Jin said, looking away.
Wu Yan’s lashes fluttered; he looked a bit disappointed. He withdrew his hand and started eating himself, muttering: “How can someone not like something this delicious…”
Pei Jin watched him eat with satisfaction, a ripple of emotion in his heart. Seeing the youth’s pale face flushed as he ate, Pei Jin noticed a bit of sauce on the corner of his mouth. He pulled a packet of tissues from his pocket and offered one.
Wu Yan looked at him, seemingly at a loss. Pei Jin hesitated, then said: “There’s sauce.”
“I can’t see it. Brother, help me wipe it.” Wu Yan leaned toward him. He had expected a rejection.
But Pei Jin looked at the face so close to his, paused, and then reached out to wipe the sauce away. He crumpled the tissue and threw it in a nearby bin, then checked his watch.
“We should head back,” he said.
Wu Yan swallowed the last bit of food, looking at the lively street. He nodded and followed Pei Jin out. Once they reached a certain distance, the surroundings became quiet and lonely, like a forgotten corner.
This was his third time in Pei Jin’s car. The atmosphere was a bit strange. He was weighing how to speak. Pei Jin looked calm, but his mind was a mess of thoughts.
“Um, Pei Jin…” Wu Yan suddenly called out.
Having grown used to Wu Yan calling him “Brother,” hearing his name made Pei Jin feel a bit annoyed for some reason. He replied casually: “Mhm.”
“Luo Xia said you’ve been very busy lately…” Wu Yan hesitated. “Is my mother being too much of a bother to you?”
Pei Jin thought of what Wu’s mother had said to him. His face showed no emotion. He looked at the traffic ahead and said: “It’s no bother.”
“Then… are you going back tonight?” Wu Yan asked. “What?”
Perhaps because Wu Yan’s voice was too soft, Pei Jin didn’t hear him clearly. He turned to look at the youth, but Wu Yan’s face was hidden in the shadows. Wu Yan bit his lip, looking conflicted, then shook his head and said it was nothing.
The car stopped at the Wu family’s gate. Wu Yan turned back as he opened the door. “Brother, do you want to come in and sit for a while?”
“No, it’s late. You should rest early.” Pei Jin’s tone was calm, neither distant nor warm.
As soon as he got home, Wu Yan dove onto his bed. He recalled everything he had done today and felt he hadn’t made any mistakes. So why was Pei Jin still so cold?
Does he prefer a slow-burn romance?
He bit his lip, rolled around on the bed a few times, then stood up and sat at his desk. He pulled a blank notebook and a black pen from his drawer and began to record seriously.
First day with Pei Jin: Flirted. Second day with Pei Jin: Confessed and kissed. Third day with Pei Jin: Hugged. Fourth day with Pei Jin…
Wu Yan frowned, doubting himself. “Am I not being proactive enough?”