Chapter 29

Chapter 29

It wasn't until Lu Tingchao went upstairs that he discovered the production team had, at some point, switched his room. No longer the small, corner bedroom from last time, it was now the best one on the second floor.

All the other bedroom doors were already closed. Lu Tingchao slipped into his spacious new room.

Though the downstairs encounter hadn't been pleasant, after a quick survey, Lu Tingchao genuinely remarked, "Being famous is truly wonderful."

Su Ningyu: "..."

Lu Tingchao: "Even though I'm not famous yet."

Su Ningyu: "..."

Su Ningyu had intended to offer comfort, but Lu Tingchao had already comforted himself.

He quickly showered and freshened up in the bathroom, then, with utter naturalness, flopped onto the large bed: "Ah! So good!"

Su Ningyu: "..."

The room's lighting was soft. Lu Tingchao’s loose robe couldn't entirely conceal his physique, especially as he moved—large expanses of skin, gleaming and fair as jade, were exposed under the light.

Clearly, he was meticulously cared for.

Su Ningyu suddenly felt a dryness in his throat, a sensation entirely new to him. Logically, by all rational and physiological standards, he shouldn't be feeling this way about Lu Tingchao.

He didn't like Lu Tingchao. To be precise, he wasn't homosexual.

He particularly loathed pampered, useless rich people, parasitic like dodder vines.

Only someone as thoughtless as Lu Tingchao… could be so easily manipulated, serving as a convenient tool.

Lu Tingchao happily rolled around on the large bed, his smooth, restless toes curling. Even his voice was soft and sated: "My bed, my bed, my soft, soft bed!"

He was unrestrained, uninhibited, utterly unconcerned as he sprawled openly for the person standing by the bed.

Following the loose drape of his robe, one could even take in his entire form.

Su Ningyu's Adam's apple bobbed. Suddenly, a rather malicious thought crossed his mind, recalling the one time he watched an adult film with his college roommate—the person on the bed being both pleasured and verbally abused.

That person's figure was far inferior to Lu Tingchao's.

Not as fair as Lu Tingchao, not as perfectly proportioned, not as well-built… and probably didn't sound as good as Lu Tingchao either.

Su Ningyu suddenly thought.

Lu Tingchao's voice was truly beautiful.

Even that mediocre actor in the film… could be made to cry out by the one on top of him—

…Little slut.

Was he worthy?

Su Ningyu's gaze lingered on Lu Tingchao.

Only someone like Lu Tingchao would cry with a little touch, run away if not held, and moan whether handled gently or roughly…

Su Ningyu abruptly snapped out of it.

What was he doing?

"Hey, little brother, aren't you going to sleep?!"

That soft, languid voice suddenly hooked into Su Ningyu's very bones, clinging to him like an addiction.

Su Ningyu turned back, as if startled awake.

Lu Tingchao had, at some point, sprung upright on the bed like a carp, his slender legs spread wide, occupying most of the space. He generously patted the remaining small section: "Recording doesn't start until tomorrow. You can crash with me tonight. I'm not famous anyway, so they probably didn't give my assistant a separate room."

Normally, Su Ningyu wouldn't have cared.

Lu Tingchao was a tool, a stepping stone.

But Su Ningyu stiffened: "…It's fine, Teacher Lu. I'll sleep on the floor."

"Oh, it's fine! We're buddies!"

Lu Tingchao rolled on the bed again, declaring magnanimously, "Even though my personal life is messy, I don't prey on younger guys. How about you put a pillow between us tonight!"

Su Ningyu: "..."

Lu Tingchao couldn't be swayed, so he simply sat at the edge of the bed and used his pale foot to hook Su Ningyu's leg and waist.

Lu Tingchao's tone was exceptionally natural: "Mainly because there's no other bedding here, and the sofa isn't comfortable to sleep on!"

Su Ningyu looked down at Lu Tingchao's foot hooking him.

He was very slender, the kind with a delicate frame.

His ankle could be held with one hand, his toes slender and pale, yet particularly restless.

"Okay, okay, I admit it."

Lu Tingchao gave Su Ningyu an unhappy kick, then confessed honestly, "I don't like sleeping alone. I always have nightmares, and I didn't bring any melatonin today."

In truth, if he took one step back, he could simply walk out—

Su Ningyu stood still for a moment, then asked, "Then what does Teacher Lu need me to do?"

Lu Tingchao: "?"

Lu Tingchao: "Need me to do what?"

Lu Tingchao said blankly, "I just don't like sleeping alone. You just need to lie here beside me."

After a brief pause for thought.

Lu Tingchao added, "Ah, of course, no snoring and no fidgeting. It'd be even better if you could make even, prolonged breathing sounds like a sleep machine."

Su Ningyu: "..."

Lu Tingchao, sensing victory was within reach, quickly added, "I'll give you a raise!"

Su Ningyu: "..."

Su Ningyu finally averted his gaze.

He picked up the towel and Lu Tingchao's jacket, which had been carelessly tossed on the floor when Lu Tingchao went to the bathroom earlier, neatly folded them, and placed them on the nearby storage rack.

Su Ningyu pushed open the bathroom door and glanced back at Lu Tingchao, who was sitting cross-legged on the bed, engrossed in his phone. "Understood."

Su Ningyu said, "I sleep very soundly and will ensure… Teacher Lu rests well."

"Then hurry up!"

Lu Tingchao tossed his phone aside, flipped over on the bed, and eagerly faced the bathroom door. "I'm sleepy. I'm usually asleep by this time."

Su Ningyu: "Mm."

It seemed there wasn’t a single word from Lu Tingchao’s mouth that could truly be taken at face value.

By the time Su Ningyu finished washing up and emerged, the person on the other side of the large bed had already buried himself entirely under the covers, fast asleep.

The bedroom lights were still on. Perhaps bothered by the brightness, the person nestled in the pillow had almost half his face hidden.

Lu Tingchao seemed restless in his sleep, his brows furrowed even as he dreamed, completely cocooned in the air-conditioned blanket, not a sliver exposed.

Su Ningyu stood still for a moment before walking softly to the bedside.

He looked down at Lu Tingchao from above.

Here was a beautiful but empty shell of a person—utterly incapable, empty-headed, unambitious, lazy, and pleasure-seeking.

Such beauty was foolish, easily deceived. As long as one could win his heart, everything about him could become a stepping stone for one’s own advancement.

Yet, in the cutthroat world of fame and fortune, at banquets where people flattered the powerful and trampled the weak, only a fool like Lu Tingchao would speak up to help him.

Would take him to the hospital.

Truly foolish.

Everyone around him was exceptional; how could they all be attracted to such a type?

Su Ningyu pulled back his side of the covers.

The bedsheet had been wrinkled into odd shapes from Lu Tingchao’s tossing and turning, the silk fabric making it all the more obvious.

But Su Ningyu lay down anyway.

Perhaps it was the long-term habit of sharing a bed that had fostered this particularly bad habit in Lu Tingchao—

Almost the moment Su Ningyu lay down, as if sensing the dip on the other side of the bed,

Lu Tingchao automatically stretched out his arms and legs, scooting over from the other side like an octopus, clinging to Su Ningyu.

His arms wrapped around Su Ningyu’s.

His legs draped over Su Ningyu’s outstretched ones.

Then he rested his head on Su Ningyu’s shoulder and let out a soft mumble.

Lu Tingchao said, "Mmm... hard."

Su Ningyu stiffened.

The person beside him was already asleep, his voice slurred with drowsiness.

Su Ningyu didn’t know what exactly Lu Tingchao was referring to as "hard."

Because he was fully awake, acutely aware of the part of himself that shouldn’t have been poking Lu Tingchao.

Lu Tingchao shifted his leg from that spot, seemingly dissatisfied. He scrunched his nose and grumbled under his breath, complaining, "Zhuang Ji, are you a dog...?"

Su Ningyu said nothing.

Lu Tingchao moved his thin legs to a more comfortable position and then updated his entire posture.

He wrapped his arms around Su Ningyu’s shoulders and lay on the college student’s chest.

Flat.

With subtle muscle definition.

Lu Tingchao finally seemed satisfied. He burrowed into his chosen spot contentedly and fell back asleep.

Only the still-lit lights and Su Ningyu remained.

The ceiling light in the bedroom was dome-shaped, likely expensive, with every curve appearing exceptionally smooth.

Su Ningyu lay there for nearly an hour before whispering, "Lu Tingchao?"

Lu Tingchao was sound asleep and didn’t respond.

Su Ningyu asked, "Chao Chao?"

Lu Tingchao’s brows twitched uneasily.

Su Ningyu reached out, his fingers just brushing Lu Tingchao’s.

Almost instinctively, Su Ningyu gently rubbed Lu Tingchao’s fingers and murmured by his ear, "I’m going to turn off the light. Can you sleep alone for a minute, Teacher Lu?"

Without melatonin, Lu Tingchao actually slept very lightly.

But this long-ingrained sleeping posture allowed him to just barely sleep.

Yet Zhuang Ji kept grumbling nonstop in his ear.

Zhuang Ji was truly annoying in bed.

Lu Tingchao snatched his hand back, covered his ears, and whined petulantly.

Almost naturally, as if out of long habit, he pressed against Su Ningyu, his voice weak as he pleaded, "No, no, you’re so annoying… You can touch, just let Chao Chao sleep…"

Su Ningyu’s breath caught slightly.

Lu Tingchao continued to beg, "Please, Brother Zhuang Ji, I’m exhausted…"

Zhuang Ji.

In the soft glow of the light,

Su Ningyu let the name linger in his mind.

This belonged to Zhuang Ji.

Not to him.

But it didn’t matter.

As if possessed by some inexplicable urge.

Su Ningyu slid his arms around Lu Tingchao's waist, seeming to hesitate for only a second before whispering softly, "Alright, Chao Chao be good, just one touch."

Lu Tingchao rested his hands on Su Ningyu's shoulders, let out a soft snore, and refused to budge.

After just a moment of quiet.

Su Ningyu proactively arched his back slightly, reached out, and took Lu Tingchao's hand: "Chao Chao."

Lu Tingchao curled up in Su Ningyu's embrace, lazily staying still, mumbling evasively to shirk responsibility: "Chao Chao is asleep, Chao Chao is asleep..."

"Not allowed."

Su Ningyu held Lu Tingchao, "Chao Chao promised."

Lu Tingchao: "..."

Su Ningyu lowered his voice: "Chao Chao."

Su Ningyu: "Chao Chao."

Su Ningyu whispered in Lu Tingchao's ear: "Chao Chao..."

"Zhuang Ji, you dog… you bastard… you pervert, drop dead…"

Lu Tingchao finally stirred at the pestering.

He rubbed his eyes but his hand was quickly taken again by Su Ningyu.

Then a clear, mellow voice sounded in Lu Tingchao's ear.

That voice actually sounded a bit like Zhuang Ji's, just younger.

Like during their most passionate times in their twenties.

The voice whispered hoarsely in his ear, coaxing him.

"You have to keep your promises, Chao Chao. Once you touch me, I'll let you sleep. Just a touch…"

Though he had finally found a comfortable sleeping posture, Lu Tingchao was too irritated to drift off deeply.

With his hand held and the close, warm contact, Lu Tingchao finally squirmed irritably, surrendering like soft, sticky rice cake, closing his eyes and moving downward with practiced ease.

As he moved, he complained in a soft, whiny voice: "Useless Zhuang Ji, you're so annoying, I want to sleep… let Chao Chao sleep… hubby…"

Those hands had never done any labor, so soft and delicate without even the slightest trace of calluses.

Yet they left Su Ningyu nearly mind-blank.

Lu Tingchao lay in his arms, finally succumbed to sleep, sweetly calling out "hubby" and obediently falling asleep.

But all happiness in this world is fleeting.

In the moment of plummeting from the heights to the depths—Su Ningyu thought this.

He was the most despicable, scorned thief in this world.

An existence even he himself had once hated and resented.

He stole the happy moments that originally belonged to Zhuang Ji—

He stole what he had once disdained the most—beyond family background, beyond glamorous appearances, beyond the tidal wave of fans…

It turned out that in corners unseen by others.

Zhuang Ji and Lu Tingchao had once been this happy.

Su Ningyu had never felt jealousy since childhood, because jealousy was the most useless emotion in the world.

He could rely on his own hands to seize everything he wanted, by any means necessary, at any cost.

But it turned out, jealousy is an inconspicuous sprout.

In just an instant, it can grow so overwhelmingly large.

Lu Tingchao's sleeping face was peaceful and soft, like the most vulnerable little animal, without even the slightest shell to protect itself.

In his arms.

Su Ningyu gently reached out and held him closer.

Before he could snugly embrace him, Lu Tingchao's phone, placed nearby, rang first.

The person in his arms trembled slightly, frowning a little.

So Su Ningyu took his phone before he could be fully awakened.

Caller: Mom of Zhuang Ji.

Su Ningyu had never detested seeing the name "Zhuang Ji" more than he did at this moment.

Lu Tingchao seemed about to be awakened by the incessant vibration of the phone.

Su Ningyu laid Lu Tingchao down on the bed, got up, pushed open the door, and answered the phone.

His tone was humble and polite: "Mrs. Zhuang, hello."

Zhuang's mother clearly hadn't expected Lu Tingchao's phone to be answered by someone else. After a moment of surprise, she said, "Who is this?"

Su Ningyu replied, "I'm Teacher Lu's newly hired assistant. Teacher Lu just fell asleep and is unavailable right now."

Although she hadn't heard about Lu Tingchao hiring a new assistant, Zhuang's mother didn't think too much of it.

Preoccupied, her tone wasn't particularly pleasant: "What time is it to still be sleeping? Hurry up and wake him, I need to talk to him."

Su Ningyu chuckled softly: "Mrs. Zhuang, Teacher Lu has a full day of work tomorrow. Waking him now would affect his rest."

Su Ningyu: "Whatever it is, you can tell me instead."

"What do you mean tell me? This is a family matter! There's no need for an outsider to know."

Zhuang's mother grew impatient, "Fine, quickly book a flight for Chao Chao for tomorrow morning. What's the point of working when Zhuang Ji is so seriously ill? Tell him to come back right away!"

Su Ningyu laughed, very politely saying, "Mrs. Zhuang, I'm afraid that won't be possible."

Zhuang's mother: "Since when do you decide what's possible? Just follow my instructions—"

"Because Teacher Lu and Actor Zhuang are already divorced. It wouldn't be appropriate for Teacher Lu to return now."

Su Ningyu paused slightly, feigning surprise, "What, didn't you know? Mrs. Zhuang."