Chapter 21: Decision

Chapter 21: The Choice

Early Saturday morning, Lin Shenshi sprang out of bed.

The school cafeteria’s breakfast held no appeal; he was craving a shopping spree and street food!

The two got ready and headed out, strolling to the school gate, then hopping on a bus that took them to the bustling commercial street.

Being the weekend, students and office workers swarmed the area. The commercial street was a sea of people, a dense mass of dark heads stretching as far as the eye could see.

Small shops along the street emitted plumes of steam, and the enticing aromas of freshly made braised skewers, stinky tofu, grilled cold noodles, starch sausages, and oden wafted through the air. Lin Shenshi took a deep breath, then, pulling Yu Lanzhao along, plunged into the queues.

They moved from one queue to the next, then to another, until their hands were laden with all sorts of snacks. Content, they found a bench and settled down.

Amid the crowded street, the two sat, sharing their purchased snacks, bite for bite. Their striking looks, especially Yu Lanzhao’s captivating face with the teardrop mole beneath his eye, drew many admiring glances from the throng.

Passersby couldn't help but stare, some even murmuring, “Oh my god, they’re so handsome!” “Are they a couple?” “They look so good together, such a feast for the eyes!”

The faint murmurs from the crowd reached Yu Lanzhao’s ears. He instinctively glanced at the young man beside him, but Lin Shenshi was too engrossed in his food to notice the surrounding chatter.

Sauce from the braised skewers clung to his lips, shifting with each chew. The young man’s lips, tinged by the spicy food, glowed a vibrant red, like ripe September tomatoes, waiting to be picked.

Yu Lanzhao’s throat bobbed unconsciously.

Before his mind could even register, his hand instinctively reached out toward that vivid redness.

Pale fingers pressed against flushed lips, the clash of colors striking his vision as if a beast had suddenly stirred within him.

Feeling the touch, Lin Shenshi turned his head. “Ah Zhao?”

Yu Lanzhao quickly lowered his eyelids, perfectly concealing the surging darkness within, and wiped the sauce with his finger. “You had something on your lips.”

Lin Shenshi, belatedly realizing, beamed brightly under the sunlight. “Thanks!”

He returned to his food, completely unaware that the young man had brought his thumb to his mouth, licking off every trace of the sauce.

“Ah Zhao, look! There’s a sugar-blowing artist over there!” Lin Shenshi exclaimed, as if he’d discovered a hidden treasure.

The sugar-blowing artist warmly greeted them, “Two young gentlemen, care for some sugar figures?”

“Two, please!” Lin Shenshi paid cheerfully. The artist let them choose their designs, then they watched as blobs of maltose were skillfully blown into various small animal shapes.

Lin Shenshi’s was a little white rabbit, while Yu Lanzhao’s was a sika deer.

The little white rabbit was exquisitely crafted, but the sika deer looked more like a horned gray wolf.

Once they were a bit farther from the stall, Lin Shenshi whispered, “This artist’s skill is a bit inconsistent.”

Yu Lanzhao, however, was quite pleased. “It’s nice.”

Suddenly, a surge of people pushed past them, bumping Yu Lanzhao’s arm and sending the sika deer tumbling to the ground.

Its antlers broke off, and lying there, it looked even more like a gray wolf.

Yu Lanzhao’s face showed a hint of regret, so Lin Shenshi offered him his own little white rabbit.

“It’s fine, you can have mine.”

“Won’t Xiao Shi eat it?”

“I’m already stuffed from all the snacks. This way, Ah Zhao can help me lighten the load.” As he spoke, Lin Shenshi’s attention was caught by another shop, and he pulled Yu Lanzhao along to look.

Yu Lanzhao held the little white rabbit carefully as they navigated through the crowd, this time cradling the sugar figure protectively in his arms.

While Lin Shenshi was engrossed in the scene outside a shop, Yu Lanzhao reached back, took his hand, and gently bit into the little white rabbit.

It was crisp and melted in his mouth.

So sweet.

*

They continued to wander until evening. The fireworks display was scheduled for eight o’clock, so they planned to have dinner first.

However, they had underestimated the weekend crowd on the commercial street.

A long queue had formed outside the Western restaurant; a rough estimate suggested it would take two to three hours before their number was called.

Lin Shenshi felt a headache coming on.

“What should we do? Should we try somewhere else?”

But it wasn’t that simple. Drawn by the fireworks display, even more people had come out in the evening than during the day. Every decent restaurant was already packed, and even places with ratings barely above three on review sites were full.

It looked like they might have to watch the fireworks on empty stomachs tonight.

“Come with me.”

Yu Lanzhao suddenly led him away, and they soon arrived at the base of a giant Ferris wheel restaurant.

Lin Shenshi had seen this place online—it was a landmark of the commercial street, an internet-famous spot, known for its refined dishes and excellent reviews. What was more, one could overlook the entire city from the rotating Ferris wheel.

When the fireworks display began, they would have the best view.

Actually, this place should have been their first choice for dinner, and Lin Shenshi had considered it, but…

The average meal price of 2,000 yuan far exceeded the average person’s budget and was a huge sum for Yu Lanzhao. Not wanting to hurt the young man’s self-esteem, he had mentally ruled it out.

He hadn't expected Yu Lanzhao to bring him here himself.

Lin Shenshi looked at the young man in confusion, thinking Yu Lanzhao might not be aware of the situation. He was about to remind him when a staff member approached. “Hello, do you have a reservation?”

“Yes.”

Yu Lanzhao provided the last digits of his phone number. After verifying, the staff member politely invited them in. “Mr. Yu, please come in.”

The young man held his hand, and Lin Shenshi was still a bit dazed even after they were seated at the table, unsure of what was happening.

Once the staff had finished serving the dishes and they were alone in the room, Lin Shenshi lowered his voice. “Ah Zhao, do you know this place—”

“I know.”

The Ferris wheel began to turn. Under the deepening night sky, the evening stars glittered brilliantly. The young man tilted his head slightly, his dark eyes filled entirely with him. “Xiao Shi, you deserve the best.”

Lin Shenshi completely ignored the latter part, asking in surprise, “You know? How did you get so much money?”

Yu Lanzhao felt a bit disappointed, but he wasn’t in a hurry. His Xiao Shi was often oblivious, which was why he needed to slowly, bit by bit, envelop his heart.

He explained, “I earned it from work.”

Over the past two weeks, Yu Lanzhao had been leaving early and returning late, and Lin Shenshi had seen how hard he was working. He wanted to say something, but Yu Lanzhao had already pulled him to look out the window.

"Xiao Shi, look how beautiful the night view is."

The city lights began to glow, neon lights dazzling, the entire city spread out below them.

As the Ferris wheel rose higher, the once massive buildings shrank to specks, glowing with multicolored lights beneath their feet.

Lin Shenshi couldn't help but stare in awe.

You gaze at the scenery from the bridge, while someone watches you from the bridge.

Yu Lanzhao quietly watched Lin Shenshi, only withdrawing his gaze when the young man came back to himself. He then suggested they eat.

The restaurant, with its hefty ¥2000 price tag, lived up to its reputation. Besides the stunning view, the food was equally praiseworthy.

With wine poured into their glasses, Lin Shenshi unconsciously had a bit more to drink.

The day's fun had lifted his mood, especially when he thought about how Lu Yuan hadn't pestered Yu Lanzhao for two weeks now. That made him even happier.

Moreover, in the original timeline of the book, Yu Lanzhao was supposed to audition for the "Long Moon Star River" crew today, where he would meet the influential Yin Yunxian. This would later lead to him joining the filming and encountering the movie's lead actor, the award-winning actor Qi Lian, officially kicking off the chaotic polyamorous rivalry of three suitors pursuing one love interest.

But because they had spent the entire day out shopping, this plotline was completely severed.

In other words, Yu Lanzhao had missed the opportunity of meeting the other two obsessive pursuers.

Lin Shenshi mentally flashed a "V" for victory, unable to express his joy openly. He could only raise his glass high: "To Ah Zhao—" (for escaping the tragic fate of being forced into love by obsessive suitors!)

"—for completing the midterm exams!"

Yu Lanzhao clinked glasses with him, smiling. "And to Xiao Shi."

"May we all have a bright future!"

As their glasses touched, fireworks burst into the sky.

"Boom!"

—The fireworks display had begun.

Colorful fireworks bloomed one after another against the dark night sky, and the commercial street instantly buzzed with excitement.

Lin Shenshi drained his glass, swaying as he stood up and leaned against the Ferris wheel's large glass window.

The cabin was warm, but the temperature outside was low. His breath fogged up the transparent glass, creating a hazy, white mist.

The cold glass sent a shiver down Lin Shenshi's spine. Just then, a soft, creamy sensation wrapped around him from behind.

He looked down and saw a light coffee-colored, creamy scarf.

"?"

Lin Shenshi glanced up to see Yu Lanzhao smiling gently as he studied him. "Xiao Shi, it looks really good on you."

The light coffee-colored scarf, paired with his amber eyes, made Lin Shenshi appear even more pale and delicate.

Though Lin Shenshi wasn't the best-looking at the Performing Arts Academy, in Yu Lanzhao's eyes, his Xiao Shi was the best.

The best Xiao Shi deserved the best restaurant and the best scarf.

Even if it meant giving his all, Yu Lanzhao would do his utmost to provide for Xiao Shi.

The multicolored light of the fireworks dimmed and brightened, illuminating the couples inside the Ferris wheel cabins high above.

Lin Shenshi watched as Yu Lanzhao deftly tied the scarf for him, his slender fingers skillfully creating a beautiful knot. "Is this for me?"

"Mm, a gift in return."

Yu Lanzhao picked up another scarf from the gift box and wrapped it around his own neck. The dark gray complemented his dark eyes. "Xiao Shi, can you tie it for me?"

Lin Shenshi couldn't help but laugh. "Who buys a gift in return for themselves?"

Even as he said this, his hands were already busy. Lin Shenshi quickly tied the scarf for Yu Lanzhao, admiring his work with satisfaction.

The colors of their scarves—one light, one dark—perfectly matched their eye colors. If the store clerk saw them, she'd probably clasp her hands over her cheeks and squeal that no one could rock these couple scarves like them.

But Lin Shenshi was clueless about the deeper meaning.

Under the influence of the alcohol, he instinctively leaned against the person beside him, unaware of how the young man's slim frame stiffened momentarily before relaxing, an arm wrapping around his waist.

Amid the brilliant fireworks, a thought flashed through Lin Shenshi's mind—

It's so wonderful to be best friends for life with Ah Zhao.

*

"Brring... Brring..."

In office 803, the phone rang.

Lu Yuan picked up. It was Tang Sen.

"Brother Lu, the person you recommended yesterday didn't show up for the audition today. Did something come up?"

Lu Yuan frowned. "Lin Shenshi didn't go?"

"Yeah... Should I wait any longer?" Tang Sen asked cautiously. It was already past 8 p.m., and the staff was waiting to go home. He had already delayed for two hours—any longer would be...

After a moment of silence, Lu Yuan replied:

"Scrap it."

Without waiting for a response, Lu Yuan hung up, his knuckles whitening from gripping the phone too tightly.

Dark waves churned in his pitch-black eyes, sharp and deadly like a reaper’s scythe from the underworld. He let out a cold, sinister laugh.

Very well.

Lin Shenshi, you dare lie to me.

Going to such lengths to deceive me and leave me—exactly who were you spending the entire day with?!

A dark aura enveloped him as Lu Yuan stood and walked to the window.

"Rip!"

The curtains were yanked open. In an instant, Lu Yuan's gaze locked onto the dorm building across the artificial river, as if he had spent countless days and nights staring at that very spot.

The campus was deserted in the chilly air, bathed in the orange streetlight glow. Fallen leaves drifted aimlessly, and the autumn wind rustled bleakly.

After what felt like an eternity, two figures emerged from the distance, nestled close together in an intimate way.

Even from such a distance, Lu Yuan knew who they were at once.

As they walked beneath the dormitory building’s entrance light, Lu Yuan could clearly see that the two were wearing matching scarves in different colors.

Like a couple head over heels in love.

The one wearing the light-colored scarf seemed unsteady, wobbling, and leaning against the one with the dark-colored scarf. He tilted his head slightly upward, and the one with the dark-colored scarf closed the distance.

"!"

Fury instantly flooded his entire body, jealousy eating away at his heart like ants. Lu Yuan slammed his hand against the double-layered glass, his nails scraping against it with a piercing screech.

Lin Shenshi, how dare you?!!!

Under his gaze, the two walked locked arm-in-arm into the dormitory building, their figures disappearing into the dim night.

How long does it take to walk from the ground floor to the third floor? How long does it take for his prize to be snatched so carelessly???

Lu Yuan squinted his eyes dangerously, picked up his phone again, and dialed Tang Sen's number.

This time, every trace of warmth and gentleness vanished, replaced by a cold tone filled with an unyielding, iron command.

"You’re working overtime tonight."

Tang Sen was startled by his icy tone and didn't dare to ask further, replying, "...Alright, what do you need me to do?"

Lu Yuan: "Arrange an audition for the sixth male lead."

"Then I’ll set it up ASAP. Is tomorrow okay?"

"No, call him now and tell him to come to the hotel for the audition." Lu Yuan emphasized, his words tinged with gritted teeth. "Immediately, right now. No excuses."

"..." There was a brief pause on the other end of the line, and Tang Sen's hesitant voice came through. "Now? The staff have already gone home. I'm afraid the casting director won't be able to make it at this hour."

"Director Tang."

Lu Yuan's voice grew even colder, his tone brooking no argument, freezing all protest like an icy spike.

Tang Sen felt as if he were once again standing before the legendary Lu Yuan who once ruled the entertainment industry. Even though the man had retired, his influence remained. A chill ran down his spine, and Tang Sen immediately said, "I understand. It's Lin Shenshi, right? What's his number?"

"No, not Lin Shenshi."

Lu Yuan lowered his gaze to the light shining from the third floor of the dormitory, his voice low and grim.

"—Yu Lanzhao."

*

When love and career are placed on the same scale, what will you choose?

Lu Yuan watched coldly in the direction of the dormitory building. A few minutes later, the light on the third floor went out, and a figure came running down.

A dark-gray scarf flapped in the air like a fleeting shadow as the figure hurried away, dashing off campus.

...It seems you've chosen your career.

A cold, ruthless smirk curled at the corner of Lu Yuan's lips, his eyes dark and unfathomable. He ripped off the bandage wrapped around his right hand and tossed it into the trash can.

His perfectly intact right hand loosened the first button at his collar, and his tall figure turned away, his footsteps ringing out sharply through the empty hallway.

Now… he’s mine.