Chapter 29: Gloom

Chapter 29: Dim Light

Lin Shenshi slept deeply until the first light of dawn streamed through the window, and he gradually woke.

The soft cotton quilt covered his body, keeping him thoroughly warm, yet it felt even cozier than usual.

Only when his vision fully cleared did Lin Shenshi suddenly realize there was an extra human-shaped warmer in his bed.

The warmer was still asleep, long lashes veiling his eyes, trembling slightly with each soft breath.

Lin Shenshi had always been a restless sleeper, often kicking off the covers at night. At that moment, his thigh was rather improperly slung over the other's waist.

Embarrassed, he withdrew his leg. The rustling sound stirred the lightly sleeping youth, and Yu Lanzhao slowly opened his eyes.

"Morning, Ah Zhao." By now, Lin Shenshi had already returned his leg to its proper place and greeted him without any trace of guilt.

"Morning, Xiao Shi." Yu Lanzhao's voice was husky with sleep. He smiled, curling into the quilt like a cat, leaving only a fluffy head exposed, with playfully tousled hair and a teardrop mole at the corner of his eye that, unlike Actor Qi's, radiated a distinctly youthful vitality.

Yu Lanzhao's eyes curved into smiling crescents, making him look as if he had stepped out of a painting—devastatingly beautiful and radiant.

The impact up close was far more intense than during their usual interactions. Lin Shenshi couldn't help staring: "Ah Zhao, you're really beautiful."

Yu Lanzhao was momentarily stunned, then smiled even more brilliantly: "Xiao Shi is also very good-looking."

Lin Shenshi was self-aware; his looks were merely clean-cut and somewhat handsome, while Yu Lanzhao was undeniably a true beauty, appealing across genders.

At just 16, he was already like this—what would he be like as an adult? He might even eclipse the currently acknowledged most beautiful actor, Actor Qi.

Beauty itself becomes a crime. In the original story, his extraordinary looks always drew unwarranted disasters. The perverted scumbag love interests in the book took pleasure in subduing that beauty beneath them, satisfying their selfish desires.

Angels with broken wings, stars extinguished, lighthouses collapsed—all beauty dissipated in the daily cycle of violent intimate acts...

Lin Shenshi's emotions were complicated. He reached out and ruffled Yu Lanzhao's hair affectionately, feeling nothing but infinite tenderness for the youth before him: "Does your stomach still hurt?"

Yu Lanzhao shook his head, nuzzling against his palm like a little animal: "It doesn't hurt anymore, thanks to Xiao Shi rubbing my stomach last night."

Only then did Lin Shenshi remember that he had fallen asleep at some point the previous night and didn't know if Yu Lanzhao had woken up in pain.

Yu Lanzhao: "No, I slept straight until morning."

"That's good." Lin Shenshi checked the time—it was time to get up; they still had an 8 a.m. class to attend.

When he finished changing and was ready to go down for breakfast, Yu Lanzhao merely sat up in bed, wrapped in the quilt with one knee raised.

Sensing his gaze, Yu Lanzhao ruffled his hair, apologetic to keep him waiting: "Xiao Shi, you go ahead. I'll catch up soon."

Time was indeed tight, so Lin Shenshi went to the cafeteria early to buy breakfast and wait for him.

As the dorm door closed, Yu Lanzhao's smile vanished, his expression turning somewhat solemn. He lifted the corner of the quilt, revealing what was hidden beneath.

Yu Lanzhao sighed.

He had overestimated his self-control somewhat.

A night of intimate closeness, breathing in his crush's scent—how could he not be stirred?

Especially waking up almost face-to-face, hearing that clear, enticing voice unknowingly say, "You're really beautiful."

At that moment, Yu Lanzhao really wanted to roll over and press Lin Shenshi down. If he liked his face so much, wouldn't he like him even more? Wouldn't he love it even more if he pressed himself deep into his body while wearing that face?

But in the end... Yu Lanzhao didn't dare to gamble. He had carefully laid low for over a year and couldn't let it all go to waste now.

He could only conceal his desire behind a smile, suppressing everything deep inside.

*

The cafeteria was crowded as class approached, with students streaming in at the last moment to buy eggs and *baozi* to take to the classroom.

Lin Shenshi waited in a long line before finally buying breakfast for both of them.

Seeing that they were about to be late, Lin Shenshi was just about to call when he saw Yu Lanzhao walking toward him. He quickly grabbed Yu Lanzhao's hand: "Hurry, we need to run for class."

The wind whistled past their ears, carrying dampness and scent into their nostrils. Lin Shenshi turned his head and noticed Yu Lanzhao's hair was dripping wet.

"Did you take a shower?" Lin Shenshi asked in surprise.

"Yeah," Yu Lanzhao replied softly. "I didn't have time to shower last night, so I took a quick shower this morning."

It was indeed quick—because he only used cold water.

But Yu Lanzhao wouldn't tell Lin Shenshi that, or he would worry again.

Even so, Lin Shenshi frowned with concern. In just a few minutes, the cold winter air had already frozen the remaining water droplets into ice crystals. Luckily, there was no wind, or he might have caught a cold again.

"Don't do this again."

Lin Shenshi scolded him like a stern teacher, but to Yu Lanzhao, it felt comforting.

His beloved was concerned about him. It would be even better if they were lovers.

If only things were different...

Yu Lanzhao pursed his lips.

It's okay. Someday, they would definitely become lovers.

*

Lin Shenshi never received a call from the hotel and had to admit that the scarf was truly lost.

The hot search topic about "Actor Qi's Bite Mark" continued to trend, with even female classmates passionately discussing it during break.

"Who do you think bit Actor Qi?"

"Everyone on the fan forum is going crazy—they're all saying it's Bai Yuxi!"

"Bai Yuxi? The female lead of 'Long Moon Star River'?"

"Exactly! Their interaction videos from previous events have been resurfaced."

"What nonsense! Actor Qi just helped her lift her hem—that's just him being gentlemanly. How did it turn into a scandal?"

"Then who do you think it was?"

"How should I know!"

The group buzzed excitedly, their discussion at its peak, when suddenly one of them raised her phone and exclaimed: "Actor Qi has responded!"

A Weibo post from just one second ago quickly shot to the top of the topic—

Actor Qi (just now):

[I accidentally knocked my teeth. My apologies for worrying everyone.]

"Ahhhh! I knew it! Actor Qi is innocent!" the fangirl was nearly moved to tears of joy.

At the same time, Weibo comments instantly hit 999+.

[Husband! You finally responded!]

[Aww, thank goodness, my hubby’s still mine!]

[Husband, we love you the most! Take good care of yourself!]

Aside from the girlfriend fans' happy chatter, career fans also started to rally, flooding the comments with Qi Lian’s exclusive support slogans and promotions for his new movie.

[Qi aspires today, Lian soars above; unbeatable, ever-victorious!]

[S+-level blockbuster fantasy film *Long Moon Star River* is about to begin filming. For more materials, visit the super topic. Super topic level >6 grants benefits like free movie tickets during the release period!]

Qi Lian’s clarification post instantly overshadowed all other topics, soaring to the top of the hot search list and earning a dark red "explosive" tag.

Speculation about the actor’s "mystery woman" gradually faded with the appearance of his clarifying post.

In a towering high-rise, Qi Lian put down his phone, the playful smile at the corner of his lips only growing.

The stylist behind him meticulously adjusted his look, while a woman sitting on the edge of a nearby table raised her willow-leaf eyebrows in disbelief.

"They just believed it just like that?"

Qi Lian glanced at her. "What? Want to keep being my rumored love interest?"

Bai Yuxi pouted, unenthused. "Of course not. I’m just disappointed that such a grand 'wife hunt' came to such an abrupt end, and... it ended with such a transparent lie."

"No one will expose it," Qi Lian said confidently. "Fans believe what they want to believe. Without solid evidence, no one is willing to wake up from the dream of their fairytale prince and princess."

"You really know your fans well..." Bai Yuxi mused. "You men really know how to play with women’s hearts."

Qi Lian tilted his head, resting his right fingertips against his forehead as he eyed her curiously. "Are you talking about me, or your ex-boyfriend?"

"Qi Lian!" Bai Yuxi angrily tossed a makeup brush at him, which he caught steadily in his palm. She put her hands on her hips, fuming. "Didn’t we agree not to bring him up again?"

"Of course," Qi Lian set the brush back on the table, the mole near his eye striking, his gaze unusually firm. "But I must correct you on one thing—I have never played with my fans' feelings."

When the actor grew serious, the entire room’s atmosphere turned solemn. Bai Yuxi instinctively straightened up.

Qi Lian: "I am an actor. My job is to perform well. The audience hasn’t had enough—how could I take my final bow prematurely?"

No fan truly believes they can marry Qi Lian. They are merely seeking solace in their busy lives, chasing him, adoring him, looking up to him. All Qi Lian needs to do is play the role of the "nation’s heartthrob."

At least, on the surface, he cannot have a "wife," because the "wife" can be you, me, or anyone—but it must never be one fixed person.

"Being an actor is so hard."

Bai Yuxi couldn’t help but sympathize. Though not an award-winning actress, she was still a popular young actress. Their situations were similar—even if in a relationship, it couldn’t be public. Time with someone they loved always had to be stolen, like thieves in the night.

"This is our duty." His styling complete, Qi Lian stood and gallantly offered his right hand to Bai Yuxi. "Now, it’s time to create dreams."

Not far away, lights shone onto the backdrop as preparations for the character posters of *Long Moon Star River*’s lead couple were in full swing.

Over the next three months, they would together portray a fantastical love story in the world of immortals—a beautiful dream for countless young fans.

Bai Yuxi smiled wistfully, placing her fingers lightly on Qi Lian’s. As they glided toward the camera, their robes flowing, she voiced the question in her heart: "Qi Lian, if you were with the one who bit you, would you also hide him, keep him out of the public eye?"

A flicker of something passed through the strikingly handsome man’s eyes, gone as quickly as it came. "No, that won’t happen."

Bai Yuxi: "?"

"Because..." His eyes darkened, complex emotions churning within him. "He would never fall in love with me."

An empty hotel room, lingering warmth, and a person who left without a word.

No note was left, not even a trace of his scent remained in the air. He disappeared so completely, as if the previous night had been a nightmare he couldn’t escape.

If not for the scarf left behind, Qi Lian might have truly believed the beauty of that night was an illusion.

But unfortunately, he ran.

He ran without hesitation.

Since he wanted nothing to do with him, then...

He’d better not let Qi Lian catch even a trace of him.

Otherwise...

He would absolutely fuck him into the mattress.