Chapter 31

Chapter 31

If this dating show weren't down to its final two episodes, everyone present would likely agree that the situation was spiraling out of control.

Especially now, with Fei Xiuqi and Zhuang Ji locked in a stubborn standoff, the other guests too timid to intervene, and the entire production team standing silent as wooden figures—

Only Lu Tingchao remained remarkably optimistic.

Optimistic that this delay would prevent him from finishing work on time.

Delaying work meant overtime, and overtime meant he’d be late returning to see Lu Doudou and Mo Lingnan.

Crucially, given the production team’s apparent poverty, he wasn’t even sure if overtime pay was an option.

So Lu Tingchao reached out and tugged at Zhuang Ji: “Brother Ji, can you please get in the car quickly and leave?”

Over a decade had passed, yet Lu Tingchao still hadn’t learned any subtlety or restraint.

He remained direct, still primarily concerned with himself, rarely considering others’ feelings.

Zhuang Ji looked down at the slender hand that had reached past Fei Xiuqi to tug at the hem of his shirt.

He had seen this hand in many forms—

Gripping a high school ballpoint pen, steering motorcycle handlebars, resting on his waist, pressed against a steam-fogged mirror, or clenched on bedsheets, so slender that every vein was clearly visible.

His Chao Chao truly loved to pull people like this.

Zhuang Ji wanted to reach out and touch that hand, but before he could, Lu Tingchao warily pulled back, looking up: “Also… um, could you take your mom and Jiang Rong with you too?”

Lu Tingchao asked this with pleading eyes and a sincere tone.

Zhuang Ji: “Okay.”

Lu Tingchao’s beautiful eyes instantly lit up. He clapped his hands: “Brother Ji, you really are the best, the greatest, most wonderful person in the world! Love you, love you, love you!”

Lu Tingchao continued: “So, are you leaving now?”

In truth, ever since meeting and falling in love with Lu Tingchao, this long stretch of life had felt like an endless, slow torture.

Zhuang Ji felt pain with every breath. He looked at Lu Tingchao and suddenly thought this.

The person he loved was carving into his flesh with a dull knife, his wounds so deep the bone showed, while Lu Tingchao stood by innocently and exclaimed, “How amazing!”

He waited and waited.

The boy he loved passed by thousands of people, grew into a youth, from youth to lover.

They walked past childhood sycamore trees, adolescent wisteria parks, the ivory tower, and stepped into a time that was theirs alone.

Yet his lover still hadn’t learned to love him.

Zhuang Ji’s eyes ached terribly, the sunlight glinting in the corners making his vision flicker.

Zhuang Ji desperately wanted to ask Lu Tingchao if he had ever loved him.

But what came out was: “Then will Chao Chao see me off?”

Lu Tingchao: “...?”

Lu Tingchao looked confused, turned around, and pointed: “The car’s only twenty meters away.”

Zhuang Ji murmured, “Then walk with me those twenty meters, Chao Chao.”

Lu Tingchao: “...”

Zhuang Ji seemed to have a few screws loose, or perhaps something was fundamentally broken.

Whatever.

Might as well be seeing off a plague.

Lu Tingchao reluctantly emerged from behind Fei Xiuqi, moving a bit closer to Zhuang Ji: “Fine, but remember to take all the stuff your mom brought. Oh, and Jiang Rong too.”

Lu Tingchao glanced again at Mrs. Zhuang and Jiang Rong.

He and Mrs. Zhuang had never had much in common, and after breaking up with Zhuang Ji, they had even less to say.

But Lu Tingchao was still quite polite, actively waving at Mrs. Zhuang: “Auntie, why don't you get in the car?”

Mrs. Zhuang walked over from the other side. She probably wanted to say something else, but after seeing Zhuang Ji’s expression, she ultimately remained silent, only saying to Lu Tingchao: “Chao Chao, perhaps there were times in the past when you weren’t happy, but in this world, nothing is insurmountable…”

“Enough.”

Zhuang Ji interrupted Mrs. Zhuang.

Mrs. Zhuang: “?”

Zhuang Ji had been raised to be polite and cautious, almost never talking back to Mrs. Zhuang.

Mrs. Zhuang was stunned by the interruption, taking a moment to process: “Xiao Ji, what did you say?”

Zhuang Ji said quietly: “I said that’s enough, Mom. Let’s get in the car.”

Mrs. Zhuang looked at Zhuang Ji, not daring to say more, and pulled Jiang Rong: “Let them talk, Rong Rong, let’s get in first.”

The car door opened and closed.

Lu Tingchao stepped out from behind Fei Xiuqi, maintaining a respectful distance from Zhuang Ji, and tilted his head: “Shall we go?”

Zhuang Ji reached out his hand: “Can we hold hands?”

Lu Tingchao hesitated, then shook his head: “Probably not… it’s not like when we were in school.”

Lu Tingchao tagged along behind Zhuang Ji: “Let’s go, let’s go.”

Zhuang Ji withdrew his hand and took a step forward.

The noon-time beach was already heating up, the sun high and beating down on the villa, even the flowers in the small garden by the door, which had been blooming just last night, had curled petals from the heat.

Once Lu Tingchao lost interest in initiating conversation, silence often settled between them.

Until, one after the other, they walked out of the garden path, out of everyone’s sight, the car door now just steps away.

Zhuang Ji suddenly stopped.

Lu Tingchao, who had been walking with his head down behind him, walked right into his chest.

Just like so many times before.

Zhuang Ji reached out and wrapped both arms around Lu Tingchao, one hand gripping his slim waist while the other slid across his shoulder, pulling him tightly into his embrace.

It was a hug like that of passionate lovers.

Lu Tingchao froze at first, then began to struggle: "What are you doing, Zhuang Ji! People are watching behind us... Let go, let go..."

"They can't see."

As Zhuang Ji lowered his head, he lightly sucked on Lu Tingchao's ear tip—the most vulnerable, sensitive spot on his body, the place he feared most being touched.

Zhuang Ji was still feverish, his abnormal body temperature making his lips and tongue hotter, more burning than usual.

The heat made Lu Tingchao shiver, and he trembled twice in his arms, resisting even more fiercely.

Zhuang Ji pinned Lu Tingchao down, looking down at him: "Baby, if you squirm any more, I'll bite somewhere else."

Lu Tingchao froze instantly.

In his limited understanding, he hadn't yet registered Zhuang Ji's shameless behavior. In his world, Zhuang Ji was still that reserved, proud top student who looked down his nose at others, the model student representative, the actor with countless fans.

Definitely not this... unstable, animalistic version.

But then Lu Tingchao felt something hard pressing against him in their intimate embrace—a place he happened to be very familiar with from many past encounters.

Lu Tingchao: "..."

Lu Tingchao was shocked but didn't dare raise his voice: "Zhuang Ji, you're insane..."

"Yes, I'm sick, Chao Chao."

Zhuang Ji's hand on Lu Tingchao's waist roamed restlessly up and down for a long time before finally giving a light pat on Lu Tingchao's butt.

A moment later.

As if unable to resist, he patted it again.

Lu Tingchao: "..."

Lu Tingchao bristled with anger, pushing against the person in front of him: "If you're sick, go check into a hospital. If that doesn’t work, go abroad for treatment. If all else fails, take more medicine. Don’t act like a pervert with me, Zhuang Ji, you psycho..."

But Zhuang Ji bent down and kissed the corner of Lu Tingchao's mouth again: "I can't help it, Chao Chao, I can't hold back anymore."

Lu Tingchao: "..."

"I've taken medicine."

Zhuang Ji tried to kiss him again, but Lu Tingchao turned his face away uncooperatively. However, the large hand on the back of his head pressed down firmly again.

So Lu Tingchao was planted a firm kiss by Zhuang Ji once more.

Zhuang Ji's Adam's apple bobbed again and again, like a parched traveler finally spotting an oasis, revealing a raw, innate craving.

His voice was hoarse as he held Lu Tingchao and said, "I took medicine at the hospital. I secretly took double, or even triple the dose, but it didn't work, Chao Chao."

Lu Tingchao couldn't break free, couldn't escape, and could only let Zhuang Ji hold and manhandle him.

He suddenly felt annoyed.

And this particular annoyance was all too familiar to Lu Tingchao—it was the same irritation he felt whenever he broke up with someone and they insisted on hounding him.

But Zhuang Ji was different.

...At least, Zhuang Ji should be different.

He had spent over a decade with Zhuang Ji. He truly adored Zhuang Ji. He had once admired Zhuang Ji giving a speech to the entire student body, and later, after sleeping with Zhuang Ji, he felt he could die content.

That's what Lu Tingchao thought.

But now, Lu Tingchao was horrified to realize that Zhuang Ji's behavior felt just like those exes.

Lu Tingchao: "..."

So Lu Tingchao barely heard what Zhuang Ji said; he was reeling slightly.

Then he thought:

Chao Chao really isn't a good person, QAQ he lamented internally.

How could he be so bad, QAQ

Lu Tingchao felt a familiar pang of guilt and remorse, making his tone soften as he mumbled, "Then... then seek treatment again..."

His words were rambling.

Unfortunately, Zhuang Ji didn't pick up on it.

He was even overjoyed that Lu Tingchao was coaxing him softly again.

Zhuang Ji stroked Lu Tingchao's hair: "Chao Chao, I love you, only you. Let me explain about Jiang Rong—it's not what you think."

Lu Tingchao didn't want to hear it.

Lu Tingchao felt so annoyed.

Lu Tingchao just wanted to brush off Zhuang Ji and make him leave quickly.

So the emotionally experienced heartbreaker Lu Tingchao quickly chose a tactic from countless past scenarios: "Yeah, I know. You had your reasons. I forgive you."

Once he drew on past experience,

facing Zhuang Ji, who had only ever had one relationship—Lu Tingchao was invincible.

He looked into Zhuang Ji's eyes as he said this.

Then he stood on his tiptoes and nuzzled against Zhuang Ji's nose: "Zhuang Ji gege, I believe you."

Zhuang Ji went rigid.

Like a convict on death row, making a last desperate plea on the night before execution, suddenly receiving word of a royal pardon.

All his blood rushed back to his veins, filling Zhuang Ji with the thrill of rebirth and life.

His heart found its rhythm again.

Thump.

Thump.

Zhuang Ji gaped in disbelief at Lu Tingchao.

Lu Tingchao beamed over, his almond-shaped eyes like hooks; every blink tugged right at Zhuang Ji's heart.

Zhuang Ji asked cautiously, "Chao Chao... do you really forgive me?"

One-on-one couple conversations were something Lu Tingchao had been pulling since junior high.

He could answer effortlessly even with his eyes closed: "Yeah."

Lu Tingchao's straightforwardness actually made Zhuang Ji nervous.

He was so reserved he didn't know what to do with his hands. The sea breeze blew past, as if instantly transporting Zhuang Ji back to that summer from over ten years ago.

So Zhuang Ji finally mustered his courage and asked the question he had never dared to voice: "Chao Chao, will you only ever love me?"

Such cliché questions.

Why would an actor who had starred in so many films still ask this kind of question after a breakup?

Lu Tingchao nodded eagerly: "Mm, mm, Chao Chao's crazy about you."

Zhuang Ji's hands slid down from Lu Tingchao's waist. He wiped his sweaty hands and gently hooked Lu Tingchao's fingers: "Then will we be together forever?"

Lu Tingchao replied even more smoothly: "Mm, mm, mm!"

"Then I'll go home and wait for you."

Zhuang Ji didn't dare kiss Lu Tingchao again. He held him like a treasure, only daring to kiss his lover's fingertips. "The dating show and all that... it's nothing. Chao Chao, let's make a life together."

Lu Tingchao beamed: "Mm! You go back and wait for me!"

A heart came back to life in Zhuang Ji's chest, like that of a seventeen- or eighteen-year-old boy.

Zhuang Ji wanted to take one more look at Lu Tingchao but was worried about holding up his work and making him unhappy. Reluctantly, he let go and turned back: "That Mo Lingnan..."

Lu Tingchao cut him a look.

Zhuang Ji immediately stopped: "It's fine, I don't care. Chao Chao, I don't care."

Lu Tingchao pointed to the car: "Your mom's waiting for you, Zhuang Ji *gege*..."

Zhuang Ji: "Call me husband."

Lu Tingchao: "..."

Since he had no shame, there was nothing Lu Tingchao couldn't say.

Lu Tingchao gave Zhuang Ji's arm a shake: "Hurry up and go, husband, I have to work."

His lover still carried that rose scent he loved so much, rich and fragrant.

Everything was just like during the hottest days of their romance.

Zhuang Ji held Lu Tingchao's hand and couldn't resist lowering his head to kiss him one more time: "Baby, I'll take care of everything."

Lu Tingchao gave a couple acknowledging hums and gave Zhuang Ji a light push.

Zhuang Ji had to let go of Lu Tingchao's hand: "Come home early."

Lu Tingchao waved at him.

It was as if a huge weight had finally lifted from his heart.

Zhuang Ji also smiled.

His features were still sharply handsome; even his pale complexion from being ill didn't affect his looks in the slightest.

Zhuang Ji waved back, every word soft: "I'll buy your favorite flowers and be waiting for you, Chao Chao. Let's be together forever and always."