“Your reaction is so quick,” Luo Yu said, doubting whether Gu Xiaowei was a habitual offender, “Have you been with someone before? Otherwise, how are you so skilled?”

In the previous second, there was no room for resistance, but in the next, he sprang into an upright pose?

“No experience. I’ve just imagined it a lot,” Gu Xiaowei replied.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Luo Yu was momentarily stunned. “Why haven’t I thought about this?”

“Because you’re more upright than me,” Gu Xiaowei said with full sincerity.

“…” Luo Yu was unwilling to admit defeat. He patted his shoulder. “You strangled me so hard earlier that my bones hurt. Massage it again.”

“Alright.” Gu Xiaowei leaned in closer to his ear and said, “Then don’t go for a spa treatment.”

Luo Yu genuinely laughed at that, nearly choking on his laughter. Clearly, Gu Xiaowei had some misconceptions about “spa treatment.”

“Do you feel this is real now?” Luo Yu asked.

“A little.”

“Only a little?”

“Maybe you’ll regret it by tomorrow morning,” Gu Xiaowei said casually.

Luo Yu chuckled. He wasn’t one of those young men addicted to applause and cheer. He knew what he wanted, the ways to get it, and what was worth pursuing and what should be let go.

“Then don’t make me regret it.” Luo Yu patted Gu Xiaowei’s hand lightly. “Let’s go, classmate Gu. Let’s go down and eat the two bowls of noodles that have turned into clumps.”

“En.”

They ended up sitting at the dining table. Luo Yu took a big bite of noodles, but because his tongue was numb, the food had no taste. Meanwhile, Gu Xiaowei’s lower lip was torn and hurt every time it touched the broth, but he was skilled at enduring pain, his expression completely neutral.

Luo Yu said with utmost seriousness, “I cooked these. Even if your stomach bursts and your lips split to the root of your ears, you’ll finish.”

Gu Xiaowei gave a neutral response and took a big bite. His lower lip’s wound split further, and some noodles became tinged with faint pink. Luo Yu couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt.

At that moment, Ah Yan came by, preparing to pour water. His gaze landed on Gu Xiaowei and squinted.

“Brother Gu, you still haven’t removed your makeup, huh? Why do you look so… appealing this afternoon.”

Luo Yu joined in the teasing. “Exactly. Looks like you hid to secretly use up a box of tissues.”

Ah Yan immediately refuted, “If it were really Brother Gu, one box of tissues wouldn’t be enough. At least three!”

“Oh, so intense?” Luo Yu said with a grin, sipping the broth without a care.

“Wait! Brother Gu, your lip’s split! This is going to hurt when you remove makeup tonight!” Ah Yan exclaimed, placing his cup down and bustling into action. “We need to find some medicine to treat that. Who knows if Director Sheng will notice during close-up shots. If Director Sheng discovers this, he’ll definitely scold you!”

“It’s fine. It’ll heal by tonight.”

With that, Gu Xiaowei stood, tidied the dishes on the table, and moved on.

“Tonight? Are you Wolverine? You heal that fast?” Luo Yu teased, reclining in his chair.

Gu Xiaowei didn’t respond but brushed his fingers against Luo Yu’s lower lip as he passed by—a clear sign of both warning and implied threat. Luo Yu’s heartstrings tightened as he closed his eyes, fearing that Gu Xiaowei would kiss him in front of everyone. Only when Gu Xiaowei entered the kitchen did Luo Yu begin to relax.

Luo Yu glanced at his phone: “Still a few hours to sleep. I need energy. Otherwise, I’ll doze off during night shoots.”

“En,” Gu Xiaowei responded softly.

Luo Yu went upstairs to his room, lay on his bed, and skimmed his script. His thoughts wandered to what had happened earlier. Not only Gu Xiaowei but even he himself found it surreal. 

After all that’s Gu Xiaowei. In his previous life, they were such good partners, sharing everything with each other while respecting one another. They were irreplaceable in each other’s hearts, yet Luo Yu really didn’t think about it in any other way.

How did it turn out like this in this life?

Moreover… upon reflecting carefully, it seemed that Gu Xiaowei gradually grew closer to him, relying on him more obviously than in the previous life.

From their elevator encounter during the audition to the moments on set where Gu Xiaowei handed him a peppermint candy under the pretext of teaching him how to “rub off on popularity,” to Gu Xiaowei always seeking him out to practice lines—everything felt planned, like Gu Xiaowei was playing the long game.

Before he knew it, his eyelids grew heavy, and the script slipped from his hand as he dozed off.

Someone entered his room, placing the script on the side and pulling him up, repositioning his head onto the pillow.

Luo Yu was about to open his eyes but then he heard “Senior Brother, it’s me, just go back to sleep” and allowed himself to slip into dreams.

Gu Xiaowei lay beside him, staring at his sleeping face for a long moment before gently prodding his lower lip with a finger—as though ensuring he was real.

When the alarm rang, Luo Yu hadn’t slept enough. He groggily reached for his phone to silence it but instead touched a nose. A sharp pain bit into his finger.

“What the hell!” Luo Yu shot awake, seeing a red mark on his index finger. “You bit me hard on purpose, didn’t you?”

Gu Xiaowei sat up lazily, his hair sticking up from sleep and his face looking innocent yet smug. As if he had just finished rolling around in between the sheets.

“You shouldn’t have touched randomly,” he said.

“It was an accident! I only touched your neck and above!” Luo Yu protested, trying to defend himself.

Gu Xiaowei raised an eyebrow. “Could it be you wanted to touch somewhere else?”

Clearly, Gu Xiaowei was making a reference to the thing that required “three boxes of tissues.”

Luo Yu threw off the blanket, got up, and headed toward the bathroom. As he reached the door, he paused and mimicked a pose from Gu Xiaowei’s recent vlog shoot, turning his head dramatically and smirking. “Brother allows your willfulness.”

With that, he boldly strode into the bathroom.

Brushing his teeth, he noticed Gu Xiaowei watching him from behind the door.

He struck this pose because, upon the first glance, he felt a strange itch in his heart. He couldn’t understand how someone like Gu Xiaowei could look so serious, yet the photo turned out to be so sultry.

But what he didn’t realize was that this side pose actually elongated his legs, and the lazy yet seductive smile was enough to spark a mental storm in anyone.

Luo Yu brushed his teeth and washed his face. When he looked up, he realized that Gu Xiaowei had been staring at him for quite a while.

“Are you a ghost? You’re walking with no sound.”

As Luo Yu passed by Gu Xiaowei, he lightly tapped his head before walking away.

After a while, Gu Xiaowei raised his hand to touch his forehead.

That evening, when they climbed the mountain toward that small hunting lodge, Luo Yu was walking ahead while Gu Xiaowei trailed behind, barely speaking. The only other discussion was between Luo Yu and Yan Jun about the plot.

“Captain Zhao has been gone for too long, and finally, I can appear when it’s time to wrap things up,” Yan Jun said half-jokingly.

“Hahaha, I finally waited for you before I die. Captain Zhao, after being a criminal detective for so many years, your brain is still not as sharp as mine as a forensic doctor.”

“Well, isn’t it because… there’s more than one criminal, and the case is full of confusion?” Yan Jun laughed, then turned around and glanced at Gu Xiaowei, whispering, “Teacher Gu seems very serious today. You two didn’t have any unpleasantness, did you? Is the CP my wife ships still going strong?”

“Ah?” Luo Yu turned around, confused, thinking to himself that today he almost became the first male actor to pass out because of a kiss. If Gu Xiaowei was still unhappy, Luo Yu wouldn’t know how to ignite himself to light up his mood.

But just that one glance, meeting Gu Xiaowei’s expression, Luo Yu was sure he had something on his mind.

This guy looked more determined than anyone, but in fact, he was more sensitive than anyone.

“Don’t worry. He’s adjusting his mood,” Luo Yu assured, even though he could feel Gu Xiaowei’s tension.

Before long, Luo Yu stumbled, and as he fell, Gu Xiaowei grabbed his waist in one swift motion and lifted him, saving him from falling.

Everyone watched in awe. Gu Xiaowei’s reflexes were inhumanly sharp.

“Ah… that scared me to death…” The passing photographer’s assistant, still shaken, said, “Teacher Gu’s skills are really impressive! If Teacher Luo were to get injured, Director Sheng’s hair would stand on end!”

“Hey, don’t mention Director Sheng’s hair—my own arm hairs are standing up!” Luo Yu gave Gu Xiaowei’s hand a light pat on the back and discreetly pressed his fingers against Gu Xiaowei’s, prompting him to let go.

The group continued climbing up. Seemingly to avoid detection, Gu Xiaowei moved ahead of Luo Yu.

At this moment, Nie Yangchen passed by Luo Yu with a knowing smile.

Luo Yu furrowed his brow in disdain and muttered, “You already have the face of a villain, and now you’re learning to smile like one. Really, how are you.”

“Fine, I was going to teach you some practical skills, but it seems… you’re better suited for a ‘pear blossoms with rain’ kind of vibe.”

After finishing speaking, Nie Yangchen started climbing upwards with large strides.

“What? What can you teach me? Don’t go!”

What does “pear blossoms with rain” even mean?

Luo Yu quickly chased after him, grabbing the hem of Nie Yangchen’s coat.

But Nie Yangchen, acting all protective if his chastity, lowered his voice and said, “Don’t grab me like that! Do you even know what kind of person Gu Xiaowei is?”

“What about him? What’s wrong?”

“Healthy waist, strong legs, good body!” Nie Yangchen tossed Luo Yu a look as if to warn him “don’t get me into trouble”.

Luo Yu clicked his tongue, thinking: That guy still hasn’t let go of that punch. His praise didn’t seem very genuine.

They reached the location of the hunting lodge, where the crew was busy with final preparations. Director Sheng stood with his arms crossed, a stern expression on his face as the filming countdown approached.

Out of nowhere, he called Gu Xiaowei over. “What happened to your lip?” Sheng Yunlan’s voice was cold.

The entire set seemed to freeze at that question, and all eyes turned toward them. Even Yan Jun, who wasn’t particularly fond of gossip, cast a curious glance. Only Luo Yu pretended to be engrossed in the script.

“It was bit accidentally,” Gu Xiaowei replied simply.

If anyone else had said that, it would have led to knowing glances and unspoken understanding. But this was Gu Xiaowei, and his lip’s slight redness added a sensual allure—like an otherwise flawless porcelain piece cracked by a fine red line, strikingly beautiful in its imperfection.

Luo Yu perked his ears, half worried Sheng Yunlan would ask “how did it happen,” but the conversation shifted instead.

“You’ll shoot a biting-the-lip scene later. Highlight the character’s psychological state. Can you grasp the emotion?”

Gu Xiaowei paused, lifting his gaze: “Because Wen Yuchi is dying. If we delay any further… he’ll truly be gone. There will no longer be anyone enjoying my paintings with red tea. In his eyes, my paintings are merely paintings—no extra interpretation, just things I see. This is the first time I’ve tried to save someone’s life. Pain can force me to suppress impulse and stay calm.”

“Exactly the emotion we’re looking for,” the director confirmed with a nod. “Go on.”

The scene returned to the previous night’s final confrontation:

Wen Yuchi fell to the ground after being shot. In the distance, Ding Bing pointed a gun at Lu Pingfeng, while Lu Pingfeng’s gun was aimed at Qin Lin, and Qin Lin’s weapon was directed at Wen Yuchi.

The standoff lasted for several tense moments before the director called the cut. The scene captured the peak of this confrontation.

Backlit by the sun, Qin Lin’s expression was menacing yet cold, his voice coaxing, “You have no chance of winning. Wen Yuchi was shot in the lung. Can you really watch him suffer like this and die? You could give him peace… and everyone would benefit.”

Lu Pingfeng didn’t waver. His voice remained steady, “The antidote is in the hunting lodge’s basement. Move old Han’s body out of the way, and you’ll find a broken wooden box. The antidote is beneath that.”

Qin Lin said mildly, “Ding Bing already has everything he could want. The antidote’s no longer necessary.”

Lu Pingfeng spoke in the same calm tone, “If he died without using the antidote, Secretary Qin, wouldn’t you be the ultimate winner in the end?”

At this moment, Ding Bing’s resolve wavered as he held his gun.

“Ding Bing, you don’t have much time left,” Lu Pingfeng’s voice dropped an octave, accompanied by a touch of sarcastic laughter.

It was this laugh that sent a sharp jolt through Ding Bing’s mind. He took two steps back, retreating towards the hunting lodge.

“Ding Bing, they won’t just hand over the antidote to you that easily!” Qin Lin shouted loudly, carefully observing Lu Pingfeng’s expressions and movements.

He thought that Lu Pingfeng would take the opportunity to check on Wen Yuchi’s condition, but Lu Pingfeng showed no signs of hesitation. Despite blocking Wen Yuchi’s path, he remained as calm as ever—unconcerned by Wen Yuchi’s life or death.

“Ding Bing, think carefully about your inheritance rules. Do they require the antidote?” Lu Pingfeng’s smile grew colder.

Although he wasn’t familiar with Ding Bing or Qin Lin, he had already unraveled all of their entangled interests and the subtle balance of power between them.

It was all merely human nature.

Hearing Lu Pingfeng’s reminder, Ding Bing became even more certain that he needed the antidote.

“If there’s no antidote in the basement, I’ll kill you!”

Ding Bing entered the basement cautiously, step by step, making sure the entrance had no traps before carefully opening the door and descending.

Sure enough, old Han’s body was still there. Ding Bing remained cautious, testing for traps with his gun before moving old Han’s body.

He soon found a broken storage box and carefully moved it aside, uncovering a black container slightly larger than a capsule, with dried blood on it.

Ding Bing felt a rush of joy—this had to be it!

It was the perfect hiding spot. Who would guess that the antidote would be right beside a body? They had assumed the antidote was stolen when they found it missing from old Han’s body.

Just as he picked up the container, he felt something pull sharply. A “click” sound was heard—the sound of a lighter igniting. Before he could react, fine powder began to pour down with a hiss, and he knew it was too late.

“Boom—!” The entire hunting lodge collapsed.

At the moment Qin Lin wavered, Lu Pingfeng’s gun fired, and as Qin Lin pulled the trigger, his shoulder was hit. His shot grazed Lu Pingfeng’s cheek.

In that moment, Qin Lin saw Lu Pingfeng biting his lower lip tightly, his gaze sharp and unwavering, a desperate gambler’s final, resolute gamble.

It was the first time he had ever seen such a human expression on Lu Pingfeng’s face.

Two more shots hit Qin Lin’s hands, causing the gun to fall from his grip.

Crumpling to the ground, Qin Lin laughed weakly as he looked at Lu Pingfeng.

“How does it feel to kill someone… Great Artist?”

He thought Lu Pingfeng would spare another look at the hunting lodge or stand in front of him to deliver the final blow, watching him die.

But Lu Pingfeng didn’t give him another glance. Instead, he turned swiftly to Wen Yuchi.

Wen Yuchi’s situation was dire. Blood had filled his lungs, and his breathing was becoming harder by the moment.

Lu Pingfeng pulled Qin Lin up from the ground, “Call them to get us out of here.”

“What if I don’t? Will you kill me? Or torture me? Do you even get a sense of achievement or satisfaction from this?” Qin Lin laughed hoarsely.

Lu Pingfeng searched Qin Lin’s body, as he was supposed to have communication tools as the observer sent by Zhuang Jie. However, after much searching, he found nothing.

“Hahaha… hahahahaha…” Qin Lin’s laughter grew more arrogant. “You seem anxious. Even if I call someone, Wen Yuchi won’t make it in time, will he? You should watch him suffer and die. This will be your lifelong inspiration.”

Lu Pingfeng gave Qin Lin a cold look and took his dagger before heading to Wen Yuchi.

Qin Lin stared at Lu Pingfeng’s figure. Backlit by the light, his tall form exuded an aura of cold detachment.

He bowed his head, enduring a torment that gnawed at his soul.

Qin Lin laughed, his grin growing increasingly manic. Then, with a voice filled with hysteria, he roared, “Yes, kill him—every second he holds on, it’s excruciating for him… Let him be free! Let him be free!”

Wen Yuchi’s breathing grew increasingly labored, yet his eyes remained fixed on Lu Pingfeng. It wasn’t the resentment of a dying man but rather an expression of deep concern.

Lu Pingfeng knelt down, pressing his hand against Wen Yuchi’s wound. “I… can’t give you relief…”

He lowered his head in defeat, a rare sight for someone like him. When he raised his gaze again, tears slid silently down his face.

A silent storm seemed to descend upon the world, drenching only Lu Pingfeng.

This scene wasn’t in the script—neither the lines nor Lu Pingfeng’s reaction. Yet, for some reason, the director didn’t call for a cut. All eyes remained glued to Lu Pingfeng, mesmerized by the raw emotion in his expression.

Despite the length of the shoot, it was the first time Lu Pingfeng had shed tears. During the initial script reading, the cast and crew had agreed that Lu Pingfeng was a character whose emotions were enigmatic. No one could tell whether he was ignorant of or complicit in the string of murders surrounding his artwork. He wasn’t supposed to cry—this was a man seemingly devoid of fear or attachment. Yet now, his tears revealed a crack in that cold, lifeless façade, offering a glimpse of a real, vulnerable human within.

Without needing a close-up, his trembling posture as he gripped the knife evoked a powerful urge to reach out and comfort him.

The director stayed silent, the cameramen continued rolling, and the crew held their breath, unwilling to break the moment.

Meanwhile, Wen Yuchi, weak and struggling for breath, managed to lift his hand and gently touch Lu Pingfeng’s face. Despite his condition, his voice was steady and firm. “Do you see the emergency kit by my leg? Open it and check if there’s anything useful inside.”

That emergency kit had been taken by Wen Yuchi when he dragged Qin Lin out of the camp.

Lu Pingfeng’s lips, already bloodied from biting, quickly opened the kit. Inside, there were anti-inflammatory drugs, painkillers, syringes, tools, and a piece of rubber tubing.

Upon grabbing the rubber tubing, Lu Pingfeng’s eyes lit up with sudden clarity.

Wen Yuchi gripped Lu Pingfeng’s hand firmly. “I have blood in my chest cavity. My lung is collapsing. You studied medicine at a medical school, didn’t you? You must create a small incision between my ribs and use this tubing to create negative pressure, drawing the blood out so I can breathe. I need to survive—only then can I make it to rescue!”

“I’ve never studied medicine. I’ve only dissected corpses to observe death. I’m not a surgeon. I can’t save you… I can only depict death… I…”

The hunting lodge was still burning, illuminating their shadows.

Wen Yuchi reached out, grabbing Lu Pingfeng’s face, forcing him to face him. “I know. The creature you found hanging wasn’t a rat but a cat. Its lungs were punctured, blood pooling in its chest, just like me. You saved it, performed the chest drainage on it. It could breathe again.”

“But it still died.”

“It wasn’t your surgery that killed it; it was multiple organ ruptures. Lu Pingfeng, every second you hesitate, I move closer to death. Do you really want to see me die?”

Wen Yuchi tightened his grip on Lu Pingfeng’s hand.

The next moment, Lu Pingfeng decisively pinned Wen Yuchi down, using a lighter to sterilize the knife in his hand.

Lying paralyzed on the ground, Nie Yangchen chuckled weakly, “What are you planning to do… give our dear forensic doctor a taste of being dissected alive?”

Lu Pingfeng’s expression remained unchanged. Calmly, he unbuttoned Wen Yuchi’s shirt, locating the precise rib section, then picked up the rubber tube and prepared to make the incision.

At that moment, Qin Lin realized what was happening. He sneered and shouted, “You’re trying to save him? You actually want to save him? Hahaha, this is too ridiculous!

Are you a surgeon? Do you know exactly where to make the incision? How deep to cut? Are you sure that when you see his bleeding organs, you won’t become engrossed in admiring them?”

Ignoring him, Lu Pingfeng focused, inserting the rubber tubing through the wound.

“Did you feel his rib? Or was it his lung? Hahaha, was it still warm, or is it already turning cold?” Qin Lin’s voice echoed through the quiet mountain forest, as though trying to unlock someone’s heart.

Sweat beaded on Lu Pingfeng’s temple, his expression focused and icy.

When he inserted the other end of the tube into the water bottle, crimson blood began to flow steadily into it.

Gradually, Wen Yuchi’s tense expression softened into one of peace.

Lu Pingfeng, his hands covered in blood, hesitated for a moment as he reached out to touch Wen Yuchi’s cheek but stopped midway. Instead, he lowered his head and pressed his ear to Wen Yuchi’s chest, listening to his heartbeat.

“Thump… thump… thump…” the sound of a heartbeat, weak but steady.

“Is he dead? He is dead, isn’t he?” Qin Lin struggled to move his body, awkwardly trying to get a better look.

But Lu Pingfeng didn’t answer him. Instead, he did everything he could to keep Wen Yuchi warm.

Until the sound of a helicopter suddenly came from above, signaling that the rescue team had arrived.

The assistant director looked down at the script. He noted that Gu Xiaowei had deviated from the script by shedding tears. At first, he was worried that Sheng Yunlan would become furious, but unexpectedly, Sheng Yunlan let them continue performing this way.

Gu Xiaowei had deviated from the script, which was fine, but even Luo Yu had let go of his character. According to the script, Wen Yuchi should have lost consciousness, but instead, Luo Yu had suddenly sat up and interacted with Lu Pingfeng—essentially “resurrecting,” which had nearly scared everyone.

But Sheng Yunlan remained silent and allowed them to continue improvising.

During the performance, Wen Yuchi mentioned the story about the cat. This part of the story wasn’t meant to be here; it was supposed to be a discussion later, where Wen Yuchi questioned Lu Pingfeng about how he had learned chest drainage. Yet, Luo Yu’s improvisation seamlessly connected to Gu Xiaowei’s emotional state, allowing the two characters to truly resonate on a deeper emotional level.

It was then that the assistant director understood—this scene was actually a hallucination. Within this hallucination, Wen Yuchi had given Lu Pingfeng complete understanding and trust, allowing him to perform the nearly impossible chest drainage procedure.

Although the scene had officially ended, everyone remained deeply immersed in Lu Pingfeng’s emotions.

Nie Yangchen, lying on the ground, relaxed his menacing expression and sighed, saying, “You two are so willful. Luckily, I’ve seen enough to know how to handle this, or else I wouldn’t know how to go on.”

Luo Yu raised his hand in Nie Yangchen’s direction, giving him a thumbs-up to thank him for going along with the improvisation.

Gu Xiaowei knelt beside Luo Yu, his head lowered, silent. From this angle, no one could see his expression.

After a while, Luo Yu held Gu Xiaowei’s hand with firm strength, pressing his fingers into his palm.

“Does it hurt?”

Gu Xiaowei didn’t answer.

“Lu Pingfeng saved Wen Yuchi, and I’m fine too.”

Lying beside him, Luo Yu could see that Gu Xiaowei was biting his lip. Luo Yu’s hand reached over and gently covered Gu Xiaowei’s mouth.

“Gu Xiaowei, stop biting. Maybe pain reminds you that you’re not dreaming, but every time you hurt, it pains me too.”

Luo Yu’s voice was soft, meant only for the two of them. But for Gu Xiaowei, it was the most soothing and effective comfort.

“I thought… this time, I wouldn’t be able to save you again.”

“Again?” Luo Yu’s heart skipped a beat. Was Gu Xiaowei referring to his role as Bai Ying?

Ignoring the other crew members’ observations, Luo Yu sat up and hugged Gu Xiaowei tightly. He said nothing, only wanting Gu Xiaowei to feel his presence.

“Teacher Gu… is he alright?” The assistant director began to approach but was stopped by Sheng Yunlan.

“It’s fine. The emotions are too heavy. Let it pass for a while. Give him some time.”

The assistant director nodded and told all the staff, “Everyone take a break. Calm your emotions. This scene was excellent, and we’ve paid attention to every detail to make it as perfect as possible!”

Everyone understood. Some turned their backs to chat, while others drank water or smoked.

Luo Yu gently pushed Gu Xiaowei’s hair away from his forehead and whispered, “The hardest part is over. From now on, Wen Yuchi’s heart beats because of Lu Pingfeng, and his breath moves because of Lu Pingfeng.”

“Do you know that feeling?” Gu Xiaowei looked up slowly. His voice was calm, much more rational than Luo Yu had expected. “I thought I could always stay at a distance, watching others struggle in the flames… but your presence, even the slightest warmth, set me ablaze.”

“That’s fine too. No matter how cold or distant you act, or how aloof you seem, I must have this privilege…” Luo Yu leaned in close to Gu Xiaowei’s ear and whispered, “The privilege of making you burn.”

With that, Luo Yu stood up and extended his hand toward Gu Xiaowei, pulling him up.

Today’s filming went smoothly, with Gu Xiaowei and Luo Yu’s improvisation adding depth to the scene. The director kept replaying the footage, focusing on the shot of Lu Pingfeng’s tears. He remarked, “I once discussed with screenwriter Xia Tan how to represent Lu Pingfeng’s underlying ‘humanity.’ I had proposed letting Lu Pingfeng cry, but I worried it would seem melodramatic and overly sentimental. A sociopathic person without human emotions crying for another person, it feels very much like romantic love.”

Luo Yu’s face flushed at the remark, though he knew the director was being analytical and not personal.

“And such a scene would be difficult to pair with dialogue. Xia Tan and I debated whether Lu Pingfeng should wipe away his tears and continue his surgery or delve into a more philosophical self-reflection.”

Hearing this, Luo Yu agreed that Lu Pingfeng’s tears would indeed be a very awkward element in the story.

“But Gu Xiaowei’s tears were entirely unexpected, as if a tense string had suddenly snapped. Even I wondered how to contain this emotion, but you managed it with your ‘hallucination.’ Your performance was very timely. Lu Pingfeng, through his hallucination of Wen Yuchi’s affirmation and trust, completed everything—reflecting his true inner desires.”

Gu Xiaowei said mildly, “Most people impose labels on us, defining us by society’s expectations. He needs to be seen as an independent individual, and Wen Yuchi represents his only direction.”

Hearing this, Sheng Yunlan nodded in satisfaction and patted both Luo Yu and Gu Xiaowei on the shoulder, saying, “Tomorrow will be the final confrontation and resolution. It’s up to you both now.”

“Got it.” Luo Yu flashed an OK gesture.

Gu Xiaowei nodded lightly.

On the way back after wrapping up, Gu Xiaowei remained quiet. The window was wide open, and the wind blew into the van, lifting his hair and exposing his forehead.

Suddenly, Luo Yu wrapped his arms around him from behind.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

“Teacher Gu, Teacher Gu, in two days we’ll be leaving here! What are your plans after the film wraps up?” Luo Yu’s voice was warm with laughter.

Even Ah Yan and Xiao Qin, who hadn’t really known what had happened, let out a breath of relief.

“Stay with you,” Gu Xiaowei said, his voice short but clear.

Everyone in the van heard it.

Luo Yu’s heart leaped. This was Gu Xiaowei’s way of telling him that this wasn’t a fleeting impulse.

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“Why would someone sink into such a state of calmness for another person? Protective instincts are subconscious, uncontrollable impulses.

For those important to me… if there are many people, I’ll search for him in the crowd. If he’s very far away, I’ll urgently want to get closer to him. Even if he’s beside me, the more crowded, dark, or suffocating it is, the more I want to grab onto him. If it were him… if he were shot and fell to the ground, bleeding so much, all my thoughts would be on him. I would be incapable of thinking about anything else. So this rational, repressed form of protection—does that mean Lu Pingfeng has no humanity to begin with?”

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Gu Xiaowei stared at the trash bin as if it contained another world.

Lu Yu took a deep breath. That important “him” in Gu Xiaowei’s words—did he exist in reality, or was he just a figment of Lu Pingfeng’s imagination?

Jealousy and envy surged in Luo Yu’s heart. But despite it all, Luo Yu wanted to protect Gu Xiaowei because only he understood Gu Xiaowei’s fragility.

“This isn’t Lu Pingfeng’s nature; it’s his instinctive respect for life. When he knew that if Qin Lin fired a second shot, Wen Yuchi would die, he would never let go of his gun. You’d do the same for me if you were in his place.”

The last statement made Gu Xiaowei’s throat shift as he swallowed.

When he spoke again, his voice was somewhat hoarse. “So what exactly is Lu Pingfeng’s desire for Wen Yuchi?”

Luo Yu gave a light chuckle. The air moved with his laughter, gentle yet carrying a sense of teasing affection that tugged at buried instincts.

“You are Lu Pingfeng. Your desires for Wen Yuchi are whatever you believe them to be.”

After saying that, Luo Yu lifted Gu Xiaowei’s wrist, bit the cigarette that he held, and stepped back, retreating into the studio lighting.

“Smoking isn’t good for you; I’ll take some of the burden for you. Also, during the next additional shots, I’ll keep you ‘rational.'”

Luo Yu grinned as he held the cigarette, his eyes curving with a mischievous, carefree charm. It was as if he were unbound by desire while Gu Xiaowei was ensnared by it.

The director confirmed that additional shooting for Wen Yuchi being shot was required. Gu Xiaowei’s blood stains, fortunately, were treated with a specialized stain remover and dried quickly, making them less noticeable.

The scene returned to the three hiding outside the hunting lodge—Lu Pingfeng pressing his hand over Wen Yuchi’s mouth, half-cradling him in his arms. However, this time Gu Xiaowei’s grip was much stronger, to the point Luo Yu wondered if he were about to break his jaw.

Even Nie Yangchen, squatting nearby, glanced at them and noted, “That… does Brother Luo seem like he’s already dead before he’s even been shot?”

Even the director called out, “Lu Pingfeng, ease up a bit! You’re holding too tightly—Wen Yuchi can barely stay upright, and he might collapse into your arms!”

Only then did Gu Xiaowei ease his grip slightly. Luo Yu steadied himself, half-squatting beside Gu Xiaowei.

He lifted his hand and gently covered Gu Xiaowei’s hand, quietly soothing his tense emotions.

—Don’t worry, don’t be afraid. I’ll always be here.

As shooting began, Qin Lin quietly chambered his gun and raised it toward Lu Pingfeng and Wen Yuchi. Hearing the sound of the gun being chambered, Wen Yuchi used every ounce of strength to push Lu Pingfeng away.

In that instant, Wen Yuchi’s expression was full of determination and finality. His effort to push Lu Pingfeng away was as strong as his effort to keep Lu Pingfeng on this side of the boundary.

In a flash, Lu Pingfeng had already anticipated being pushed back. His response was to press forward, trying to reach the other, to step into his world.

Wen Yuchi’s chest erupted in a wide burst of red as he fell to the ground.

Even though they were drifting apart, they found themselves closer to each other than ever before.

Even as Wen Yuchi fell, his gaze was fixed on Lu Pingfeng’s gun—their only hope for survival.

This was a shot not seen in the previous sequence. This gaze was Wen Yuchi’s final reminder and protection for Lu Pingfeng—Raise your gun!

That gaze was Lu Pingfeng’s trigger, his focus. He took the gun, chambered it, and raised it quickly, positioning himself in front of Wen Yuchi with practiced ease.

Only by having a protective instinct at a level beyond human understanding could they respond with such unspoken teamwork. It wasn’t simply instinct anymore; it was calculated rationality without margin for error, their only hope to carve out a path for survival.

This rationality was no longer just Lu Pingfeng’s determination—it was mutual.

The additional shot depicted this mutual understanding and bond in a way that felt deeper and more resonant than the earlier versions. Even the director noted it, pausing the scene to review the moments closely.

“That gaze is powerful—it gives all of Lu Pingfeng’s decisions motivation. It’s no longer just cold rationality, but the mutual protection of two individuals,” the director murmured.

The assistant director agreed, “Yes, this is much better than the first version.”

The sky was growing brighter, and there was no time left for additional scenes.

The director called for wrap, and the crew began packing up the set.

As they headed down the mountain, Luo Yu watched Gu Xiaowei’s retreating figure. Despite having tried to console him, Gu Xiaowei remained trapped in Lu Pingfeng’s emotions. The morning light fell on his shoulders, but there was still something unlit within him.

“Only two or three days left before the main storyline finishes, right?” Yan Jun sighed as he walked behind Luo Yu.

“Are you in a rush to get back to your wife and kid, Brother Yan?” Luo Yu teased.

“Of course! My little girl must be thinking of me and getting skinnier from it,” Yan Jun said, holding his face in mock shyness.

Nie Yangchen passed by, chuckling, “Are you sure she misses you, or is she just going through a growth spurt?”

“You guys are so annoying,” Yan Jun shot a glance at Gu Xiaowei far ahead. “Today, Teacher Gu’s aura is still intense. When he raised the gun at you, I was really afraid the gun actually has bullets and he might accidentally fire for real.”

Nie Yangchen exhaled, “Who says it’s not true? Maybe it’s because Brother Luo’s acting is so good—that shattered look after being shot… even I felt distressed.”

Gu Xiaowei’s steps faltered at the comment.

“Cut it out. You’re really looking to get killed, aren’t you?” Luo Yu shot him a warning look.

After descending, Gu Xiaowei climbed into the van, leaning his chin on his hand as he stared out the window, deep in thought. Perhaps still wondering what Lu Pingfeng’s desires for Wen Yuchi truly were.

Luo Yu, exhausted, leaned against his shoulder and fell asleep, the light of the lake flickering against the window.

Soon, Luo Yu let out a faint snore, and when his face almost slipped off Gu Xiaowei’s shoulder, Gu Xiaowei finally turned around and gently pulled him into his embrace. As the car passed over a small hill, bumping upward, Gu Xiaowei instinctively placed his hand over Luo Yu’s head to protect him.

In the backseat, Xiao Qin couldn’t help but feel a twinge of envy. When would she have a boyfriend as thoughtful and attentive as Brother Gu?

“Mm…” Luo Yu shifted slightly, turning his face deeper into Gu Xiaowei’s chest to avoid the light.

This position made it so that Gu Xiaowei had to lean sideways to shield him from the light. Xiao Qin reached for a hat and stretched it across from between the seats, asking, “How about we put a hat on Brother Luo?”

“It’s fine,” Gu Xiaowei replied, lowering his gaze as he leaned back against the seat, his eyes resting on the top of Luo Yu’s head.

After they returned to the villa, and Luo Yu finished showering he knocked on Gu Xiaowei’s door, “Teacher Gu, I’m done with the bathroom” 

After a while, there was still no response.

“Did he fall asleep already? Or where did he go?” He turned the knife only to find that there was no one inside.

Where did that guy go?

Luo Yu let out a helpless sigh, his previous tiredness now overtaken by alertness.

He went back to his room and used his phone to call Gu Xiaowei only to hear the ringtone coming from Gu Xiaowei’s nightstand.

This guy left without even taking his phone?

“So energetic… Is it because he’s still young?” Luo Yu murmured.

No, no, no. This body of mine is still very young. Don’t casually rely on age to assert authority.

Luo Yu took a deep breath, grabbed a T-shirt and some casual pants, threw them on, and went downstairs. In the living room, he happened upon Xiao Qin, who was lying on the sofa applying a facial mask.

“Brother Luo, are you going out too?” Xiao Qin asked.

“Yeah. Have you seen your Brother Gu?”

“Yeah, he said he was going out to get some fresh air.”

“Okay. If he comes back, just let him know that I went out too.” Luo Yu smiled, adjusted his baseball cap, and headed out.

“You two really have a lot of energy… You don’t need to sleep after filming all night?” Xiao Qin couldn’t help but exclaim.

This vast rose villa resort was too large. Luo Yu didn’t think he would run into Gu Xiaowei. In fact, if he wandered far, he wasn’t sure if he could even find his way back.

He wandered aimlessly, occasionally humming an off-key tune: “Come back, come back, Gu Xiaowei who is wandering the world~”

After wandering for over half an hour without finding Gu Xiaowei’s figure, he gave up.

He spotted a long bench by the roadside. The sun was warm, and the breeze carried the scent of flowers. It was perfect for lying down.

He lay on the bench, his long legs dangling on the other side, his baseball cap shading his face. Since Gu Xiaowei would eventually return to his room and realize Luo Yu had left to find him—likely getting lost in the process—he didn’t worry.

Luo Yu quickly fell into a peaceful nap.

Some time later, his phone rang. He almost forgot where he was, and when he fumbled for his phone, he fell off the bench. Fortunately, his long limbs managed to catch him in time.

“Hello…” Luo Yu yawned.

“Do you know where you are now?” Gu Xiaowei’s voice came through the phone, calm but with an undertone of urgency.

“Sleeping… sitting on a bench. Behind me is a rose trellis. In front of me is… another rose trellis.”

His answer was vague and unhelpful, and he chuckled at himself.

“So you don’t know where you are,” Gu Xiaowei stated.

“Well… I guess I’m okay. I came out to find you, thinking fate might let me run into you, but it seems like between us there’s no…”

Before he could finish, Gu Xiaowei cut him off.

“Share your location with me. I’ll come get you.” Gu Xiaowei sounded calm and unangry.

“Oh, okay.”

After sharing his location, Luo Yu sat up. He glanced at his phone and realized he had slept for over three hours—right into noon. Gu Xiaowei must have been out wandering and only realized he was missing upon returning.

He kept his baseball cap on, leaning his head back as he relaxed again. Before long, he drifted back to sleep.

When Gu Xiaowei found him following the shared location, he saw Luo Yu lying with his baseball cap pulled low, his neck tilted back, and a blue butterfly perched delicately on his throat. The butterfly’s wings moved gently with Luo Yu’s breathing, as if it had emerged from his very essence.

Gu Xiaowei slowed his steps, his shadow hovering over the butterfly. He was careful not to disturb it.

After a while, Luo Yu shifted, and just as his hat was about to fall off, Gu Xiaowei reached forward and steadied it. The butterfly took flight.

“En… Gu Xiaowei… is that you?” Luo Yu’s voice was soft, tinged with sleep.

He moved his neck, pulling off his hat, and found himself staring into Gu Xiaowei’s deep, sea-like gaze. It felt as if his heart was trapped in those eyes, unable to escape.

“…You know you’re directionally challenged, yet you came out anyway. Why?” Gu Xiaowei adjusted the hat for him, avoiding Luo Yu’s gaze for once.

Beneath the hat, Luo Yu’s lips curved faintly, a subtle, alluring smile that made Gu Xiaowei’s blood rush. The air heated up, and the blood quickly surged, driving Gu Xiaowei to move closer to the other.

“Gu Xiaowei, after walking for so long, have you figured anything out?” Luo Yu teased. His tone hinted at mischief and a trap.

“Figured out what?” Gu Xiaowei asked cautiously.

Luo Yu’s smile grew. “—What kind of desire do you have for me, exactly?”

The question hit like an electric jolt. Gu Xiaowei knew this was layered with meaning. If he withdrew, it referred to “Lu Pingfeng’s desire for Wen Yuchi.” If he dared pursue and act on those feelings, it implied a direct question about his own feelings toward Luo Yu.

Gu Xiaowei looked down, his gaze landing on Luo Yu’s graceful throat. He wants to become his butterfly, emerging from his body, breaking free from the cocoon.

Gu Xiaowei’s hands came to Luo Yu’s neck—firm but not painful—and felt it bob against his palm. “Don’t be afraid,” he whispered.

Luo Yu tensed initially but soon relaxed under his touch, sensing no malice. It was as if Gu Xiaowei was protecting him in this way, layer by layer, not to make him lose his breath, but to ensure that nothing could harm him.

Gu Xiaowei’s hand pressed gently up to Luo Yu’s jaw, their breaths close. For a moment, Luo Yu felt his lips slightly brush against Gu Xiaowei’s. But when he tried to keep the other close, the other had already moved away.

Too careful. Too tender.

But restraint was natural to Gu Xiaowei.

Blood raced toward his heart, and all thoughts and concerns lost their meaning. Luo Yu even felt the urge to quickly respond, to chase after the other person, to confirm what exactly had touched him earlier.

When Gu Xiaowei’s hand left Luo Yu’s throat and gently lifted his cap, Gu Xiaowei whispered, “I’ll take you back.”

Luo Yu looked up again, seeing Gu Xiaowei’s gaze soften, its transparency different now, deeper yet calm.

Gu Xiaowei reached out, and without hesitation, Luo Yu took his hand, rising from the bench. Gu Xiaowei held on firmly, never letting go.

His palm was dry, yet hotter than usual, as if it could break free at any moment. But whenever Luo Yu deliberately slowed his pace, he would notice how the other clearly exerted force, as if afraid Luo Yu might let go of his hand.

They walked through endless rows of rose trellises, flowers brushing Luo Yu’s shoulders and neck. He wanted to pull away and scratch the ticklish spots, but every motion was met with firmer pressure from Gu Xiaowei’s hand.

They walked for an unknown amount of time, as if they would continue this way until the end of the world. When the rose trellis turned to another direction, Gu Xiaowei suddenly stopped in his tracks.

“You didn’t hit me,” he observed.

“Huh?” Luo Yu stopped as well.

“You didn’t push me away.”

Gu Xiaowei’s usually cold gaze seemed to be gradually warmed like a glass of wine, slowly heating up, and now it was almost boiling to the point of catching fire.

“I’ve been waiting for you to ask me why I kissed you. I’ve been wondering the whole way if I offended you, if I made you unhappy, if you endured me because the film was still in production, if it was because…”

Luo Yu’s heart raced faster and faster with every “if” and “whether” from Gu Xiaowei.

That feeling was like the most innocent child, secretly kissing the person they secretly admired under the sunlight. When the other person’s gaze swept toward them, they felt both guilty and restrained, yet unable to stop themselves.

“So it really was a kiss just now,” Luo Yu said, turning his face to look at him directly and smiling. At first, it was a soft laugh, then he covered his stomach and shook, laughing louder and louder. “I wondered the whole way—was that really a kiss?”

To Gu Xiaowei’s ears, it sounded like mockery, or more like another kind of raw, unreserved seduction—a forbidden act that had become no longer.

Gu Xiaowei grabbed Luo Yu’s chin, forcing him to tilt his head up. Before Luo Yu could catch his breath, Gu Xiaowei pressed against him forcefully—wildly, as though no amount of force could ever satisfy him.

Luo Yu couldn’t withstand his strength, stumbling back until Gu Xiaowei’s other hand firmly supported his back.

Beyond the lines and acting, Luo Yu felt true, unrestrained, and unhinged passion from Gu Xiaowei for the first time. Every breath felt like dragging the midday sun into the evening, letting emotions rise and fall like tides—creating a world that felt as if it was plunging toward the end of days, only for that end to turn into the dawn of another beginning.

Without anything to support himself, Luo Yu instinctively pressed himself into the rose trellis. When his hand went back to brace, about to graze the trellis’s thorns, Gu Xiaowei swept him into his arms.

If there wasn’t a higher place to set him on, then Gu Xiaowei would lift him with his own strength, making paths through the stars and clear skies.

Luo Yu felt numb from his lips to his brain. His baseball cap, dangling from his head, swayed precariously before finally falling to his feet.

“That really was a kiss,” Gu Xiaowei said.

His gaze was intense, heating Luo Yu’s throat and heart.

In his previous life, living for over thirty years, even after being reborn and seeing Gu Xiaowei in the elevator, Luo Yu never thought he would develop feelings for him. His emotions had always been an empty cup, capable of containing any role, any script, or even the most ridiculous and transgressive story. That cup was the boundary that kept him apart from worldly passions, preventing anything from spilling over.

He thought that after being reborn, he wouldn’t have those thoughts. That he would only be even more careful, composed, and head toward the light.

But the more time he spent with Gu Xiaowei, the more he wanted to lose control.

Luo Yu laughed softly, thinking that both of them were the kind of people who would never turn back once they took that step, even if they hit a wall and shattered.

Lowering his head, Luo Yu kissed Gu Xiaowei’s eyelashes lightly, then brushed his nose with his lips.

It felt too surreal. There really was someone in this world whom he couldn’t stop loving.

Luo Yu lowered his head and tightly embraced Gu Xiaowei. Gu Xiaowei tilted his head back, as if waiting for something, or perhaps not fully comprehending his own emotions. The next moment, he held onto Luo Yu even more tightly.

“You kissed me too lightly… it makes me look like an obsessive man,” Gu Xiaowei murmured.

Luo Yu murmured back, “You already are an obsessive man.”

But I’m even crazier than you.

At this moment, I want to shatter my own body—letting my bones and blood mix into yours, countless roses blooming from within my veins, turning my restrained emotions into chaos.

“Gu Xiaowei, I once lost everything…” Luo Yu said in a muffled voice.

“It doesn’t matter. We’ll win everything back together,” Gu Xiaowei said as he lifted his hand to grip Luo Yu’s head, his fingers threading into Luo Yu’s hair, as if protecting his dreams and passion.

“I meant to say, compared to you, that ‘everything’ isn’t anything at all.”

Gu Xiaowei’s gaze lingered in that moment, as though trying to control something. Slowly, he released Luo Yu and took his hand, walking forward.

“What’s wrong?”

Gu Xiaowei’s restraint left Luo Yu puzzled.

“I’m not good enough to compare with that ‘everything,’” Gu Xiaowei said as he walked forward.

Luo Yu watched that serious, deliberate back, wondering if he was afraid that he would fall into love too deeply. Why was he so heated moments ago, and now so distant?

But Gu Xiaowei’s grip was too strong, and it didn’t seem like he was regretting anything.

Ah, such a cute classmate Gu Xiaowei. His strong exterior masked a soft heart, and here Luo Yu was, overthinking again.

When they returned to the villa, everything was quiet. Xiao Qin and the others had already gone to bed. They came back right around three or four in the afternoon.

“Hungry?” Luo Yu asked Gu Xiaowei.

Gu Xiaowei, who was putting on his slippers, hesitated for a moment before nodding. “Yeah.”

“I’ll make some noodles!”

After saying that, Luo Yu quickly headed for the kitchen.

Gu Xiaowei sat by the entrance, closing his eyes and exhaling a long breath.

He grabbed his hair tightly, his voice low: “What are you thinking…”

Luo Yu was good at taking care of himself. Although he didn’t often cook before, because he lived alone his noodle-making skills were excellent. Even with only tomatoes and ham from the villa’s fridge, Luo Yu managed to cook a fragrant pot of noodles, placing them into two bowls. Then he felt something odd.

When Gu Xiaowei came to his house for hot pot before, he was always eager to help—washing vegetables, making garlic sauce, cleaning up afterward. But now, where did he disappear to?

Could it be that what is unobtainable always excites us, and once obtained, it loses its charm?

Luo Yu walked out of the kitchen, not finding Gu Xiaowei in the living room either.

“Where did he go?”

Was he tired and went to bed? No way?

Luo Yu still couldn’t calm his fast-beating heart. Was Gu Xiaowei really able to sleep now?

The more he thought about it, the more Luo Yu felt that Gu Xiaowei’s reaction was like a volcano suddenly cooling down, which was a bit irritating. He went upstairs and gently twisted the doorknob to the other person’s bedroom.

Gu Xiaowei wasn’t sleeping. Instead, he was standing on the terrace, head bowed. Luo Yu could see a cigarette box and lighter nearby.

Why was he smoking again?

Luo Yu took a few steps forward and saw Gu Xiaowei with his brows furrowed and his expression dim. He was looking at the cigarette in his fingers, then suddenly pressed the burning tip into the palm of his other hand.

All of Luo Yu’s nerves went on high alert, his heart pounding so hard it felt like it was about to jump out of his throat. In just two or three steps, he rushed over.

“What are you doing—”

Without thinking, Luo Yu reached out to grab the cigarette from Gu Xiaowei’s hand, only to burn his own palm in the process.

“Ouch…”

Gu Xiaowei’s calm expression instantly changed as he anxiously grabbed Luo Yu’s wrist, pried his fingers open, and took away the cigarette butt.

Luo Yu’s palm had already developed a round red mark from the burn.

Without saying a word, Gu Xiaowei dragged Luo Yu back to the room, took out a first-aid kit from the cabinet, and began treating the burn.

Luo Yu watched the furrowed brows of the other man, and after a long while, as Gu Xiaowei wrapped a thin layer of gauze around his palm, Luo Yu moved closer and gently tapped his forehead against Gu Xiaowei’s nose.

“Do you know how hot a cigarette butt is?” Luo Yu asked.

“Seven or eight hundred degrees,” Gu Xiaowei said, his voice low and serious.

“What’s wrong? Why are you suddenly burning yourself with a cigarette butt?” Luo Yu paused for a moment before adding, “I’m not stupid, my vision is fine. I saw you trying to press the cigarette butt into your palm.”

Gu Xiaowei was silent for a long time, and Luo Yu patiently stayed by his side, waiting.

“I just feel like it’s not real. I wanted to burn myself to see if it would hurt,” Gu Xiaowei said quietly.

At that moment, Luo Yu felt a surge of heartache. He knew Gu Xiaowei wasn’t being dramatic or lying; this was exactly how he felt at that moment.

From the moment they confirmed their feelings for each other, Gu Xiaowei, who had been so passionately intense to the point that Luo Yu could barely withstand it, had suddenly gone cold. Luo Yu could sense that something was wrong.

Was it because of the character Lu Pingfeng? Or was it something else that made Gu Xiaowei so uncertain?

“Am I so important to you? So much that you’re questioning the reality of all this?” Luo Yu asked, bracing himself beside Gu Xiaowei and looking up into his eyes.

“En,” Gu Xiao Wei responded softly, yet his expression was extremely serious.

Luo Yu laughed again, “If you want to feel pain, isn’t that easy?”

The next second, Luo Yu leaned over and bit the tip of Gu Xiaowei’s nose.

This guy, usually so commanding, now seemed like a vulnerable, pliable alpaca at his mercy.

“Ouch…” Gu Xiaowei frowned slightly but didn’t pull away; instead, he hugged Luo Yu tightly.

He needed him. No matter how strong and commanding he was on stage, no matter how dominant he appeared in front of investors, he needed Luo Yu. He laid bare his most fragile and vulnerable side for Luo Yu to see.

“Did it hurt?” Luo Yu whispered, so close that his voice was barely audible.

It was obvious, Gu Xiaowei’s body temperature had risen, and his ears were visibly flushed.

“Not very much.” 

His voice sounded calm, but his tone was slightly hoarse.

Luo Yu looked down at him and found his face relatively calm.

Was he so unappealing?

He regretted not watching enough romantic dramas and TV shows to improve his seduction skills.

“Those embarrassed red ears are pretty cute, though.”

“I’m not embarrassed.”

“Then why are your ears red?”

“The reason you had red ears today is why mine are red too.”

Gu Xiaowei was about to turn his head away but Luo Yu wouldn’t give him the chance, leaning in and biting his earlobe hard. That area is cartilage, and biting it forcefully is much more painful than biting a soft earlobe or the tip of the nose.

Luo Yu braced himself, knowing that Gu Xiaowei might push him away or pinch his face to force him to stop. However, to his surprise, Gu Xiaowei gripped the back of his head, holding him close as if offering himself entirely.

Luo Yu released his grip, a trace of distress in his voice. “Now it must really hurt, right? Does it feel real now?”

“Not very much,” Gu Xiaowei said.

“Still not enough pain?” Luo Yu shoved him backward, and Gu Xiaowei obediently fell onto the bed.

His dark hair spilled onto the pristine white sheets, his face—a mask of apparent calm—somehow gave off the feeling that he was ready to be shattered.

Luo Yu held his wrist, for the first time having control over him, as if all of this man’s happiness was something he alone could give.

“Not painful… still doesn’t feel real enough,” Gu Xiaowei didn’t move at all. His eyes deeply fixed on Luo Yu, as if he were the nightfall, the bright stars, all the beautiful, lofty, and unattainable things. Gu Xiaowei, on the other hand, resembled a black hole, seemingly distant and indifferent to all temptations, drawing in all light and warmth, attracting them relentlessly.

The next moment, Luo Yu lowered his head, and Gu Xiaowei’s lower lip was met with sharp pain. He tasted a faint metallic tang.

Even if the entire world became barbed wire wrapping around his back, his instinctive protectiveness and hunger spilled outward, unstoppable.

The world felt upended when Luo Yu’s head was pressed into the pillow.

This was Gu Xiaowei’s true kiss—fearless, without hesitation, and once the waves began, they would not recede.

Wanting to escape but instantly being engulfed, all the sensory nerves burning wildly into an uncontrollable fire, more flamboyant and reckless than any storm.

Luo Yu was that tiny spark, setting Gu Xiaowei on fire, and the latter had no intention of forgiving him at all.

This was the real Gu Xiao Wei—controlled, restrained, disciplined, but at his core, alive, chaotic, and driven by raw instinct.

“Who made this noodle? It’s all clumped up, is anyone still eating it?” Ye Shengyi’s voice came from downstairs.

Luo Yu froze, his shoulders tensing as he grabbed Gu Xiaowei’s shirt collar and patted his back. The more flustered he became, the more Gu Xiaowei pressed into him.

The footsteps of Ye Shengyi grew louder, and Luo Yu’s heart raced. He knew that even if they were caught, it wouldn’t matter, but that didn’t mean he wanted to be openly observed. Ye Shengyi would surely yell, and that would likely draw in others like Ah Yan and Xiao Qin.

As the knock came, Gu Xiaowei suddenly sat up, putting his arm under Luo Yu’s neck and pulling him with him, turning them both so that Luo Yu was facing away from the door.

Finally breathing in fresh air, Luo Yu’s head was still spinning.

“Brother Gu, do you know who cooked the noodles downstairs?” Ye Shengyi asked.

“Luo Yu made them. We’re going down to eat now,” Gu Xiaowei said, casually, as if nothing had happened.

The door wasn’t locked, and Ye Shengyi pushed it open, immediately seeing Luo Yu with his back to the door and Gu Xiaowei kneeling beside him, holding his shoulder as if giving him a massage.

“Brother Luo, are you not feeling well? The outdoor shoot is almost over. When we go back to the city later we can get a spa treatment together!” Ye Shengyi said.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

“Yeah, okay… ah!” Gu Xiaowei suddenly pinched Luo Yu’s shoulder for some reason.

“Don’t forget your noodles. It’s all clumped up!” Ye Shengyi said.

“Yeah, yeah, we’re going now,” Luo Yu said calmly, and realized that he had developed a strong heart. His face wasn’t blushing and his heartbeat wasn’t picking up either.

Ye Shengyi closed the door, and Luo Yu covered his face with one hand.

If you would like to show some ♡  then please consider supporting this translator! ლ(⌒εー)ლ

When Gu Xiaowei reminded Luo Yu that this was a hand-warmer and Luo Yu couldn’t find the spot to put his hand in, everyone laughed.

[Senior Brother is so adorably silly but cute!]

[Brother Luo, that confused expression on your face is even cuter than a little bunny!]

[Let me guess, it must have been Teacher Gu who taught you how to open the little bunny!]

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

When Gu Xiaowei pulled open both ends of the little bunny and put his hand inside, the netizens couldn’t contain themselves. A flood of comments came through, all saying, [He held his hand].

When Luo Yu’s hand got squeezed by Gu Xiaowei in the hand-warmer, and Gu Xiaowei softly asked, “It hurts?” with a gentle, smiling tone, it was just too swoon-worthy.

[Senior Brother, don’t doubt it. Brother Gu is intentionally pinching your hand!]

[I’ve never heard Teacher Gu speak so gently!]

[You two are locked together, never separating!]

[Brother Gu only shows this kind of sweetness to Senior Brother~]

When Luo Yu read the comments, he realized that netizens seemed to be more invested in these moments than even himself, already crafting sweet fanfiction scenarios. 

“What are you doing looking at your phone like that? Netizens roasting you or something?” Gu Xiaowei leaned over to ask.

“I just admire the fans’ creativity! You only pinched my finger in the hand-warmer, and they’ve spun all these sweet ideas. They lock us together constantly. Do you think Brother Cheng will be heartbroken seeing this? He’s still waiting for you to make an official announcement about your brotherly bond with him!”

Luo Yu acted casual but in his heart he couldn’t help but wonder. Gu Xiaowei didn’t bother with media attention or fan manipulation, but with their filming together, they had been actively appearing in the same spaces and interacting, fueling the imagination of their fans.

According to the usual trajectory of CP pairings in the entertainment industry, those who show too much affection often split up quickly, sometimes with dramatic fallout. Although Gu Xiaowei seems like the kind of person who would never say a bad word about an ex after breaking up, Luo Yu couldn’t help but worry—once “Counterattack” finished airing and the movie wrapped, would they end up like other CPs that fizzle out quietly?

By then, the audience might still be deeply invested, but the two of them would have already gone their separate ways.

“Just this and you think their imagination is impressive? When they see you wearing my suit and shirt while I button the cufflinks for you later, they probably will visualize a wedding ceremony and ring exchange. Should I dig you a hole to hide in then?” Gu Xiaowei joked, not looking at Luo Yu but focused on his phone.

Luo Yu glanced at him, surprised that Gu Xiaowei was also watching his birthday unboxing video. This was slightly awkward, he felt like he was watching himself and Gu Xiaowei dating.

Before he could adjust himself, Gu Xiaowei’s hand reached out and rested on the back of Luo Yu’s neck. Luo Yu nearly bumped his chin into Gu Xiaowei’s shoulder and had to brace himself against the couch.

“Let’s watch together. If fans can ship us this strongly, we should learn what exactly they’re catching onto,” Gu Xiaowei said.

Luo Yu, a bit helpless, replied, “Your mere presence is a ship in itself. Your cool and aloof demeanor, yet your willingness to patiently record unboxing videos with me is enough to fuel their fantasies.”

Gu Xiaowei frowned, “Xiao Qin and Ah Yan did similar videos with me, and no one shipped us like this.”

Luo Yu, “…Did you even interact with them?”

Gu Xiaowei turned toward him, “Isn’t it because you’re handsome and have a good figure? If you were fat, unattractive, or had a less appealing physique, do you think fans would still be interested?”

“Uh… I’ll make sure I don’t become oily or unappealing for at least a century.”

The video moved to the gingerbread segment. Gu Xiaowei said, “I’ll make gingerbread for you to eat on my birthday,” and the fans went into another frenzy. From the screen, Luo Yu could feel their enthusiasm, which wasn’t just about literal eating but something more suggestive.

“Classmate Gu, you’ve set off a firestorm of fan fantasies with this line. They’ll bombard you with all sorts of gingerbread now,” Luo Yu was amused.

“I’ll pass them all to you. You can have your own live eating broadcast with them. Though…” Gu Xiaowei dragged out the last word.

“What though?” Luo Yu asked knowingly as if he wouldn’t fall for it, but his heart leaped in curiosity.

“They want you to eat more than just gingerbread,” Gu Xiaowei said nonchalantly.

“You’re talking about eating you instead, huh?” Luo Yu laughed.

Gu Xiaowei turned his face, so close that his nose almost brushed against Luo Yu’s cheek. Luo Yu instinctively wanted to pull back, but he suppressed it.

“You’ve actually become more clever, Senior Brother?”

“It’s you who are clever! Fans expect you to nibble on more than just gingerbread, aren’t you worried?”

“Only if you don’t mind pain I can nibble elsewhere,” Gu Xiaowei quipped.

“Wait, you actually made a saucy joke? Did you learn this from someone?” Luo Yu was half amused, half embarrassed.

“You.” Gu Xiaowei replied while going back to watching the video.

His heart began beating madly again. Luckily they were separated by the couch otherwise Gu Xiaowei would notice his increased temperature. 

The video reached a point where Luo Yu pronounced a fan’s name “GXW” from a gift, sending fan comments flying in a frenzy.

[That’s Gu Xiaowei!]

[You’ve got no sense of keenness towards Gu Xiaowei’s name, Senior Brother!]

[Senior Brother, you silly blockhead.]

After changing into a blazer and shirt, Luo Yu appeared onscreen looking sharp. Fans gasped, and even Luo Yu couldn’t resist checking his reflection.

“Are the beauty filters turned on?”

“No. A shirt and blazer always complement a man’s physique,” Gu Xiaowei said, turning his face and smiling again—devastatingly sexy. “Especially when you’re wearing my clothes.”

Sure enough, when the off-screen voice played, with Ye Shengyi saying that Luo Yu wore the wrong clothes, the comments went into a frenzy.

[Wore the wrong clothes? Whose clothes is he wearing? Ahhh, is it what I’m thinking?]

[Awooo, Brother Gu admitted that Senior Brother wore his clothes by mistake, and he seemed to smile while saying it!]

[Teacher Gu’s willingness to admit it like this—so sweet!]

[You both refusing to lock together is fine, but Teacher Gu still needs to watch Brother Lu’s wardrobe choices! Grandpa shirts and flip-flops are too much—don’t make me look!]

[No way! Teacher Gu, are you willing to let Senior Brother wear those grandpa shirts for us to see?]

[Haha, you secretly want to keep that for yourself, don’t you?]

Seeing the comments float by, Luo Yu suddenly realized something wasn’t right. “What’s wrong with grandpa shirts? Why are they saying you don’t want me to wear them for the fans?”

Grandpa shirts weren’t uncomfortable! They were cotton, inexpensive, and these kids just didn’t know how good they were!

“Think about it carefully,” Gu Xiaowei said, turning toward him and placing his hand on Luo Yu’s shoulder, running his hand down. At first glance, it looked like he was outlining the shape of the grandpa shirt. Before his hand could reach a certain point, Luo Yu grabbed his wrist.

“That’s enough, Teacher Gu!”

“I haven’t finished yet,” Gu Xiaowei said lightly. “I have OCD. I can’t leave things half-done.”

“You’ve already achieved your goal. I understand now,” Luo Yu said, showing a sincere expression.

“Heh,” Gu Xiaowei chuckled coldly, finally turning his head.

The entire video became a celebration for fans, as well as for Bai Ying and Yan Ye’s characters. Search rankings shot up one after another. While Sister Cui welcomed the exposure, as the two were actors, she hoped fans would focus on their work instead of their interactions. She intentionally pressed down on some of the trending hashtags to avoid envious people causing unnecessary conflicts.

Meng Yu was initially worried that Luo Yu would exploit this situation to generate shipping, as CPs were common in the entertainment industry. Often, the more intense the ship, the worse the fallout. Sometimes, one party’s crisis would pull the other party into controversy, consuming tremendous effort to resolve, with netizens still unswayed in the end. However, Meng Yu didn’t expect Sister Cui to call him directly to discuss this—expressing the intent to lower the heat surrounding Luo Yu’s birthday and their shared exposure.

Sister Cui sounded more confident and steady compared to before. “Luo Yu is still in his rising period. Being close friends with Gu Xiaowei is a good thing. However, if there are too many hints of anything more than friendship and expectations are raised, the fans’ attention will overshadow their work. Fans today ship this pair; tomorrow they’ll ship another. Only their work and acting can ensure lasting success.

I’m not sure if you have any marketing strategies. If not, I’ll take care of bringing the heat down.”

Meng Yu smiled. “I’ve thought about it too. Teacher Gu celebrating Teacher Lu’s birthday is heartfelt and not just a publicity stunt. He has lacked close friends in the industry. Right now, he seems like someone who has been lonely too long, suddenly returning to his college days after meeting his admired senior brother. I hope their bond remains free of commercial motivations so that they can maintain their friendship for the long term.”

“Of course. We can schedule a meal to better communicate and align our strategies.”

“That’s indeed necessary,” Meng Yu chuckled meaningfully.

After hanging up, Meng Yu let out a breath. Maybe others wouldn’t see it, but Meng Yu felt that Gu Xiaowei’s active involvement and closeness with Luo Yu had surpassed the admiration one might expect from a junior toward their senior. Looking at Gu Xiaowei’s interactions with Cheng Fei—who had also starred with him in the same drama—one could see how formal Gu Xiaowei had been at award events, always stiff and proper. But sitting next to Luo Yu, Meng Yu could imagine Gu Xiaowei gently offering Luo Yu water, even unscrewing the bottle cap or perhaps warming the water before handing it to him.

He shook his head. He could not think anymore, the more he thought the more fishy Gu Xiaowei appeared.

Meng Yu resolved to protect Gu Xiaowei as much as possible, knowing that once things were magnified or overly focused on, they would lose their natural progression.

Monitoring the online sentiment around the birthday video, Meng Yu confirmed there weren’t any major incidents. Luo Yu and Gu Xiaowei, along with Ye Shengyi and the others, were simply gathered at the table, blowing out candles and eating cake.

The birthday cake gifted by the resort was a delicately decorated with a crystal crown—not the traditional princess crown, but a king’s crown.

“Alright, time for Luo Yu’s coronation!” Ye Shengyi exclaimed as he held the crown, attempting to place it on Luo Yu’s head.

Unfortunately, Luo Yu was too tall, and the crown couldn’t reach him. He found it cute but childish and kept dodging.

After much teasing, Ye Shengyi handed the crown to Gu Xiaowei. “Brother Gu, on such an important day, I think a coronation ceremony is essential!”

Gu Xiaowei sighed in resignation as he held the crown.

“I’m not wearing it. It’s ridiculous,” Luo Yu protested, shaking his head.

“Then let’s have a proper coronation ceremony?” Gu Xiaowei tilted his head.

Luo Yu squinted at him. “What are you planning…?”

Ten minutes later, Luo Yu found himself seated, his face entirely painted with celebratory red cheek blushes, wrapped in a bedsheet resembling royal regalia, holding a hanger as a makeshift scepter.

“Brother Lu, act noble!” Xiao Qin, preparing to take photos, gestured toward him.

“This is ridiculous! Look at me! Who can act ‘noble’ dressed like this?” Luo Yu said, shaking his head.

“You look amazing!” 

“Classic European royal vibes—totally unique!”

Luo Yu sighed helplessly, looking up at the sky. How did his birthday turn into their comedy show?

Ye Shengyi even pulled out his phone and started playing the grand opening theme of a certain TV drama. With the villa’s natural echo effect, everyone’s spirits soared high.

Gu Xiaowei stood in front of him, holding the crown. “By my own hand, I crown you as king, acknowledging your rule. From now on—”

Before Luo Yu could protest, Ye Shengyi, along with the others, chimed in unison: “We pledge absolute loyalty and will defend your rights!”

With that, Gu Xiaowei placed the crown on Luo Yu’s head.

As Luo Yu was about to lower his head, Gu Xiaowei’s finger touched his forehead. “Don’t lower your head. The crown will fall off.”

“Alright, alright, you’re taking this way too seriously.”

“—Now, the king departs!”

After Ye Shengyi made the announcement, Gu Xiaowei turned sideways and extended his hand toward Luo Yu.

Luo Yu frowned slightly, eyeing Gu Xiaowei’s hand with suspicion. “Teacher Gu, I don’t get it. Is this supposed to be the king’s grand exit or the queen’s?”

“If you’re sure you won’t trip over the sheet, then you don’t need my help.”

“No, I definitely still need it.”

Sighing in resignation, Luo Yu decided to go along with their playful antics.

With a lofty air, Luo Yu placed his hand on Gu Xiaowei’s wrist. As he stood up, he almost tripped over the sheet for real. He wobbled slightly, and Gu Xiaowei quickly tightened his grip on Luo Yu’s hand while also steadying his crown.

Amid the majestic and imposing music, Luo Yu began his slow, deliberate walk toward the stairs.

At that moment, the doorbell rang. Panic set in as Luo Yu’s heart dropped—his crown fell, and he caught it hastily.

“Luo Yu? We heard it’s your birthday. We came to celebrate!” said Yan Jun’s voice from outside.

“Don’t open it! Don’t open it!”

Crap! Why was Yan Jun here!

If his colleagues from the same crew saw this, it would definitely be a social death!

But Ye Shengyi had already cracked the door open, and it was too late to close it.

Yan Jun pushed the door open with a loud noise and called out in a carefree manner, “We only found out about your birthday because we watched the video you uploaded… You guys are really having a big celebration…”

Behind him stood several actors and staff, holding snacks and gifts, all staring in bewilderment at Luo Yu, who was draped in a bedsheet.

Luo Yu froze and said in a small voice, “I don’t think I can live this down.”

Gu Xiaowei whispered beside him: “As long as you act confident, the embarrassment is on them.”

Alright, it’s come to this point, so why not just go all out?

Luo Yu flashed an exaggerated grin. “Oh, look, another new friend has joined our mad journey.”

Yan Jun instinctively took half a step back, and Luo Yu pointed at him with the clothes hanger. “I hereby declare Yan Jun to be elevated to a First-Class Marquis!”

Ye Shengyi and Ah Yan exchanged glances and pulled Yan Jun into the mix.

“What are you… What are you planning to do… ah!…”

The next moment, Yan Jun was hit with a faceful of white foundation, matching His Majesty the King’s makeup look.

When this birthday party was shared online, netizens went absolutely wild.

“Haha! My Brother Luo turned bed sheets into supermodel chic, with legs that are 2.8 meters long!]

[Why didn’t Brother Gu put on makeup? What a missed opportunity!]

[Did no one find it especially sweet when Brother Gu crowned Senior Brother like that?]

[I just shipped this CP, and now it’s turned into a joke. I’m laughing so hard my head might fall off!]

[Hahahaha, Yan Jun is hilarious too—totally dazed from start to finish.]

[Did no one think Brother Gu looked like he was having the time of his life? You only ever get to see this side of him with Senior Brother!]

[Agree +1]

[Agree +2]

…

[Agree +10086]

Luo Yu’s birthday party ended at 4:30 PM.

He made a single wish while facing the birthday candles, wrapped in a bed sheet: no matter the circumstances or role, he hoped to be with Gu Xiaowei forever.

After the birthday celebrations, the filming of the movie progressed quickly, nearing completion.

In the latest scene, the two remaining heirs, Ding Bing and Zhuang Chao, cautiously approached the hunting lodge.

Night had fallen, and the only light came from the hunting lodge’s windows.

They had prepared for the possibility that Lu Pingfeng and Wen Yuchi weren’t inside. However, as they arrived, the glow of the fireplace illuminated a shadow on the window.

“Playing tricks.” Ding Bing gave a cold chuckle and fired a shot at the window.

“Don’t shoot! It’s me! It’s me in here! Help! Help!”

Li Heng’s desperate cry rang out. He was the first to clash with Lu Pingfeng and Wen Yuchi. Initially, he thought he might be strangled by Lu Pingfeng, but when he woke, he found himself bound in the basement, staring face-to-face with the dead driver—and nearly soiled himself.

Who knew that Lu Pingfeng and Wen Yuchi came back again and dragged him out of the basement to put him in a rocking chair in the hunting cabin—at the time their intentions remained a mystery to him.

“Li Heng? Who else is in there with you?” Zhuang Chao shouted.

“No one! I swear! But hurry and save me! I know where they hid the antidote!” Li Heng shouted. “If you wait, dawn will break, and without the antidote, we’ll all die!”

Remembering the earlier incident with Zhuang He’s body being hung, Zhuang Chao didn’t act recklessly. His voice turned colder. “I think you’re in this with Lu Pingfeng, setting a trap for us.”

“Fuck! What would it serve me to lie to you? They’ve hidden things in here, and yes, they’ve set traps. If you save me, I can tell you where they are—and you can also find the antidote! Hurry, or it’ll be too late!” Li Heng’s voice grew more desperate.

Zhuang Chao glanced at Ding Bing and asked loudly, “Then what are they doing now?”

“That Wen Yuchi is a forensic doctor, right? He said the police would be looking for them! After luring you here, they would escape to the west side of the island and light smoke signals for help!” Li Heng said.

Ding Bing squinted his eyes. “That does fit their usual police logic. Let’s check if Wen Yuchi is close by.”

The two patrolled the area surrounding the lodge but didn’t spot anyone.

Finally, Zhuang Chao couldn’t hold back. “How about I go in and check, bring that fool Li Heng out? You stay outside as backup.”

Zhuang Chao harbored ulterior motives. If Li Heng knew where the antidote was, he wanted to claim it for himself before Ding Bing could. After all, fortunes come from risks.

“You go in if you want to. Good luck,” Ding Bing said calmly.

Ding Bing believed that if Lu Pingfeng and Wen Yuchi’s heads were functioning properly, the antidote would be on them, not left behind in the cabin. This was clearly a trap.

Zhuang Chao eagerly approached the lodge, about to kick down the door, when Li Heng suddenly shouted:

“Wait! The trap… the trap is at the door! If you push it open, it’ll trigger the mechanism, and you’ll be riddled with holes!”

Zhuang Chao hastily pulled his foot back. “As expected! It’s a trap!”

Ding Bing didn’t show much emotion, but inwardly, he laughed. If it were a real trap, how could Li Heng have seen it?

Zhuang Chao used a dagger to pry open the lock, stepping to the side and pulling at a concealed rope.

As the wooden door creaked open, a row of spiked boards came crashing down.

Lu Pingfeng and his group likely used crude hunting traps to set up this kind of improvised mechanism.

Despite how simple the trap was, Zhuang Chao knew that without caution, he could have been dead in seconds.

Holding his gun carefully, he advanced into the lodge, scanning the interior.

He finally approached Li Heng. “Tell me! Where’s the antidote?”

“You untie my rope first! Then I’ll tell you!” Li Heng insisted.

Zhuang Chao drew his knife, cutting through the ropes binding Li Heng while remaining vigilant.

Li Heng, now free, moved his wrists and suddenly drew out a small folding knife from his pocket, plunging it toward Zhuang Chao’s neck.

“Ah—”

Zhuang Chao gasped, blood pouring as he fell to the ground. His eyes widened as his body convulsed before the light in his pupils faded, and his breath stopped.

Li Heng’s expression shifted from a dull, helpless one into a manic, crazed grin. He ran over to a goat’s severed head on the wall and laughed excitedly.

He placed his hand into the sheep’s mouth, unsure of what he was searching for. A few seconds later, he pulled out a small black container.

As he opened the capsule-sized container, a cold voice came from behind him.

“If you want to stay alive, put the antidote cap back on.”

Li Heng hadn’t anticipated that after eliminating Zhuang Chao, there would still be Ding Bing to deal with! He was far too careless!

Ding Bing had a gun, and the hunting cabin door was wide open. He could stand outside and directly aim at Li Heng, saying, “Throw the antidote over to me!”

At first, Li Heng hesitated, unwilling to give it up, until Ding Bing shot his shoulder. The pain was unbearable, making him cry out to his parents. In that moment of agony, Li Heng threw the capsule out. Taking advantage of the moment he tried to flee, but Ding Bing shot him without hesitation.

Wen Yuchi, hiding nearby, noticed that things had completely diverged from their original plan. As he was about to rush out, Lu Pingfeng covered his mouth and nose, forcing him back down.

Wen Yuchi struggled to lift his head, discovering that Lu Pingfeng’s gaze was cold and calm, but there was a faint smile.

According to their plan, Li Heng wasn’t supposed to have a dagger on him. When they had tied him up, Wen Yuchi had even checked his body for weapons. So where did the dagger used to kill Zhuang Chao come from?

Wen Yuchi recalled that before leaving, Lu Pingfeng had whispered something into Li Heng’s ear. Could it be that Lu Pingfeng had incited Li Heng to kill Zhuang Chao? No… It wasn’t Lu Pingfeng. He wasn’t a control freak—if he had intended to kill, he would have done it himself instead of inciting someone.

Could it have been someone else?

The thought made Wen Yuchi break into a cold sweat. Subconsciously, he reached for the dagger on his waist, only to find it was missing!

Li Heng, shot, lay in a pool of his own blood, trembling violently. From a distance, Lu Pingfeng pressed Wen Yuchi down, whispering into his ear: “There’s no saving him.”

Ding Bing chuckled and said aloud, “Still not coming out?”

Ding Bing was incredibly arrogant—but his confidence was misplaced. Anyone with common sense would know that a three-on-one situation didn’t inspire courage to taunt opponents.

Wen Yuchi heard the faint sound of a gun being loaded. His adrenaline spiked as he forcefully pushed Lu Pingfeng off him.

The pain of a bullet piercing his chest reached his brain as he fell, and his body was overcome by a suffocating, sharp pain. Blood flowed freely from his body.

“Aha… hit the forensic doctor, huh? I was hoping for two birds with one stone,” Qin Lin said, standing up slowly with a gun pointed at Lu Pingfeng.

Lu Pingfeng raised his own gun, aiming directly at Qin Lin.

“Try shooting, and you’ll never get the antidote,” Lu Pingfeng said coldly. His voice was sharp and unwavering.

This wasn’t directed at Qin Lin but at Ding Bing. At this moment, it became clear to all that Qin Lin and Ding Bing were on the same side, hidden deep within their schemes.

Qin Lin turned his head slightly, narrowing his eyes. “Mr. Lu, the forensic doctor, is about to die. I thought you would try to save him. Surprisingly, you remain so composed. I guess old Mr. Zhuang underestimated you, believing that this little forensic doctor meant something special to you.”

The entire mountain seemed utterly silent.

Wen Yuchi turned his head weakly, his lips bloodless, eyes fixed on Lu Pingfeng, his body trembling violently. He forced himself to stay conscious and focused on Lu Pingfeng’s figure.

It was strange. Though the entire mountain lacked light, Wen Yuchi felt as if Lu Pingfeng were cloaked in all the light of the universe—so bright, so radiant, that it felt like it was leading him to another world.

Lu Pingfeng raised his gun, his shoulders not trembling even once. His posture, standing firm, appeared resolute and unyielding.

The stillness was deafening, and in the calm before destruction, the tension was unbearable.

Ding Bing appeared shaken. Lu Pingfeng seemed like he existed in his own isolated realm, making Ding Bing cautious, unwilling to cross that invisible boundary.

All calculated plans and manipulations by Qin Lin felt futile under Lu Pingfeng’s unwavering gaze.

Qin Lin couldn’t guarantee a perfect shot on Lu Pingfeng, and Lu Pingfeng wouldn’t stop firing until his very last breath.

Lu Pingfeng stood there, refusing even to check Wen Yuchi’s wounds, his protective instinct seemingly trying to contain the entire space, anchoring Wen Yuchi’s breathing, heartbeats, and blood flow, as if trying to lock him into his own world.

The scene concluded here.

Time passed quietly until Gu Xiaowei put down his gun. The other actors, including Nie Yangchen, didn’t dare to move until a lighting technician accidentally stepped on a branch, making a cracking sound that broke the tension.

“Good—” Sheng Yunlan shouted into a megaphone, breaking the tension and restoring the bustling film set as lighting technicians adjusted their lights, prop masters went about their business, and everyone took their cues.

Nie Yangchen took a sharp breath and retreated a step. When Gu Xiaowei’s gun raised and pointed at him, his expression was not of cold-blooded malice but one of unyielding rejection—casting Nie Yangchen out of this world.

The actor playing Ding Bing was also immersed in the atmosphere. The intensity of the scene earlier had gripped him so much he was about to check on Luo Yu, but Nie Yangchen blocked his path, leading him away instead.

Nie Yangchen understood that at this moment, Gu Xiaowei wouldn’t allow anyone near Luo Yu, even out of compassion.

Having been “shot”, Luo Yu sat up slowly, his chest stained with blood. Gu Xiaowei was already beside him, crouched, helping him to his feet.

“Be careful! I’m covered in tomato sauce!” Luo Yu exclaimed, pushing Gu Xiaowei back to maintain distance.

The outfit the other was wearing would be used in the next scene as well. He was not sure if the director would suddenly ask to shoot any additional shots, and if it gets stained with his “blood,” it would be troublesome.

But who knew that Gu Xiaowei ignored the concern and held him tightly, pressing him into his embrace. The hug felt suffocating, as if their bodies might fuse together.

He originally thought Gu Xiaowei would say something but instead he silently released Luo Yu and got up.

Looking at the time, it was nearly 4:30. A few additional shots needed to be filmed before they descended the mountain.

Ah Yan almost exclaimed while helping Gu Xiaowei touch up his makeup.

“Brother Gu, you have blood on you! We haven’t filmed your scene saving Wen Yuchi yet! The director is going to freak out. What do we do? How do we clean this off?”

But Gu Xiaowei was unusually quiet. He didn’t comfort Ah Yan or apologize, his eyes lowered, and he remained silent.

If he was trying to maintain Lu Pingfeng’s emotional state, his demeanor didn’t show an unapproachable vibe. Instead, the noisier the set, the more he seemed isolated.

The contrast was unsettling, causing a deep tremor in the heart.

No one knew what he was thinking.

They first filmed additional scenes with Ding Bing, Zhuang Chao, and Li Heng. Once his makeup was touched up, Gu Xiaowei held a small box and wandered to the back of the set.

It was the crew’s temporary trash bin area, without lighting. Gu Xiaowei stood in front of the bin, pulling out a cigarette from the box. The sound of a lighter sparked, and the tiny flame illuminated his face slightly.

By day, this man was dignified, but in dim light, he appeared alluringly seductive.

Especially now—without expression, he was still captivating.

Luo Yu walked step by step toward him while Gu Xiaowei remained unaware. He took a drag from the cigarette, exhaling the smoke lightly. The smoke drifted lazily in front of him, obscuring his features and making it appear faintly hypnotic, hard to interpret.

But Luo Yu reached out and grabbed a handful of the smoke in front of him.

Gu Xiaowei took half a step back, glancing at Luo Yu with what seemed like unwillingness to see him. He murmured, “I’ll only have a few puffs and then join you. Don’t let the director lose track of you—he’ll be angry.”

Though it was a rejection, his voice was low, gentle, and intoxicating, as though the very sound could make one lose themselves.

Luo Yu grabbed Gu Xiaowei’s wrist and looked into his eyes. Every time Gu Xiaowei tried to avoid his gaze, Luo Yu would pull harder, chasing his gaze.

Escaping Luo Yu was simple for Gu Xiaowei, but he never did.

He both wanted Luo Yu to grab him like this and yet avoid his gaze because the longer their eyes met, the harder it was to suppress his own buried desires.

“What are you thinking about?” Luo Yu asked quietly.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

“Why can Lu Pingfeng hold the gun so calmly? Maybe in the next second, he’ll never feel Wen Yuchi’s presence again.” Gu Xiaowei looked at his hand, his fingers trembling faintly as he held the cigarette. “He is so attached to Wen Yuchi’s breathing and heartbeat. Everything else is lifeless, but Wen Yuchi is alive. He should go crazy, trying to grab him, stop the blood, stop it from flowing. But Lu Pingfeng can still keep holding the gun?”

His fingers trembled even more subtly.

“Putting the gun down means Qin Lin would kill Wen Yuchi. Maybe this is extreme protection. To protect someone, you can suppress all emotions, even fear. Holding the gun, he can’t stop Wen Yuchi from bleeding. Putting it down means he can’t protect him. Lu Pingfeng chose to trust Wen Yuchi’s vitality. He chose to pick up the gun to protect him,” Luo Yu said.

If you would like to show some ♡  then please consider supporting this translator! ლ(⌒εー)ლ

“Ah, I knew it was just my illusion…” Luo Yu gave an awkward laugh. Receiving over a hundred birthday packages from fans made him feel famous, but that was nothing compared to Gu Xiaowei, who was standing beside him.

“You’re definitely famous. And you’ve been famous for a long time now,” Gu Xiaowei said.

The sense of unreality grew stronger.

“Haha… hahaha… Teacher Gu, you’re really good at this…”

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

“Brother Gu isn’t joking. Brother Luo, you’re really very famous now!” Xiao Qin immediately chimed in. “Look at this Weibo post. Your fans rented a space on the LED screen at S City’s central square to wish you a happy birthday! They even edited a clip from your previous dramas to include! And when they play this clip, so many people stop to watch. The whole thing was captured by fans and posted online!”

Xiao Yezi also got excited, “And there’s more! There’s an advertisement in B City’s subway station too! Wow, your fans really go all out for you!”

“I’ll add one more—K Station’s homepage was completely taken over by your video clip today. K Station even made a birthday feature for you. Definitely famous,” Ah Yan said with a smile.

At first, Luo Yu was flattered, but as he calmed down, his heart ached. “I’m just celebrating my birthday. Everyone wishing me happy birthday on Weibo is enough of a gesture. These ad spaces must have cost a lot. I need to contact Sister Cui and thank the fans, and return the money for the ad spaces.”

Sister Cui had already anticipated this and took care of everything, including telling him: [Do you know who paid for your birthday LED space in the central square?]

Luo Yu asked with a chuckle: [Who?]

Sister Cui: [Xie Chang, Ai Cheng, and the Free idol group.]

Luo Yu: [Aren’t they artists themselves? Why would they fan me?]

Sister Cui: [Female artists also fangirl. Didn’t you send Ai Cheng and her friends signed photos last time? This LED birthday feature was their return gift to you.]

Luo Yu laughed: [This return gift is too extravagant! After I finish filming, I’ll invite them to a meal!]

Sister Cui: [That might make another hot search: #LuoYuAndNGirlsDate.]

Luo Yu glanced at Gu Xiaowei’s direction, [Then I’ll invite Teacher Gu too and see what kind of story they’ll come up with!]

Sister Cui: [Then it’s just the female stars of the entertainment industry having their own shipping moments.]

“I’m dying of curiosity! Let’s open the gifts first. Remember, we need to record a video for Sister Cui to thank the fans properly!”

Ye Shengyi set up Luo Yu’s phone on the coffee table in the living room. Ah Yan went to grab a fill light, and Xiao Qin picked out a few less controversial gifts based on her experience.

This gave Luo Yu the illusion that he and Gu Xiaowei were part of the same team, working seamlessly together.

“Let’s begin.” Gu Xiaowei sat down beside the coffee table and tapped on the phone.

“Right away!” Luo Yu changed into a loose hoodie, sat cross-legged on a cushion, his back resting on the couch.

Gu Xiaowei handed him the first package. Luo Yu took it and hesitated, leaning closer to whisper, “What if it accidentally captured you?”

“What?” Gu Xiaowei asked.

“Your hand,” Luo Yu muttered.

Gu Xiaowei raised his hand and looked at it. “There’s nothing identifiable on my hand. It should be fine.”

Luo Yu shook his head. This guy didn’t know how many luxury brands tried designing rings for Gu Xiaowei’s fingers.

Xiao Qin couldn’t help but interject, “It doesn’t matter if Brother Gu’s face is captured. You’re already in the same crew—showing up together indicates the lead actors’ amicable relationship. You could even mention ‘Beast and Rose’ with your fans!”

“Yeah! Fans would love that!”

“Senior Brother, just be generous and let your junior brother join the frame!” Ah Yan added in support.

Luo Yu thought the same, glancing at Gu Xiaowei. Gu Xiaowei raised his chin, “Let’s start.”

“Actually, you’re secretly comparing, aren’t you, wondering how my birthday gifts differ from yours?” Luo Yu teased with a smile.

Gu Xiaowei tugged at Luo Yu’s hood, causing him to lean back and fall onto Gu Xiaowei’s arm unexpectedly.

Gu Xiaowei leaned toward the camera and said, “Dear fans, considering this is Teacher Luo Yu’s first time unboxing fan gifts, I’ll supervise.”

After sitting back properly, Luo Yu laughed, pretending his fast-paced heartbeat was fine through his acting.

“Thanks to the fan ‘Yi Xiao Xingxing’ for the birthday gift. Let’s see what it is.”

Opening the box, it was a hand-knitted brown wool hat, accompanied by a letter. Luo Yu read it carefully and expressed his gratitude before putting the hat on. It had some elasticity, looking slightly out of shape but cozy.

Gu Xiaowei chuckled, “This hat’s very stylish. Thank you ‘Yi Xiao Xingxing.’ Since there’s no mirror, Luo Yu doesn’t know how to wear it properly. Everyone, please wait.”

Gu Xiaowei adjusted the hat, pulling on both sides, making it look fashionable and much better.

“Perfect,” Gu Xiaowei concluded.

Next, Luo Yu unboxed a small plush rabbit, thanking ‘Xiao Hong Hua’ for the adorable gift. “Thank you to the fan ‘Xiao Hong Hua’ for the plush bunny,” Luo Yu said as he lowered his gaze, his fingers tracing from the base of the bunny’s ear to the tip. “So cute.”

“This is a hand warmer,” Gu Xiaowei said, propping his chin in his hand as he gazed at Luo Yu. Neither of them noticed that the camera was perfectly capturing Gu Xiaowei’s nose and chin in the frame.

When Luo Yu lowered his head and smiled at him, their noses were almost touching, the moment framed delicately within the shot.

“Huh? A hand warmer… Oh, there’s a little box inside. It must hold the charging cable. Where do I put my hands in…?”

Gu Xiaowei’s hand reappeared in the frame. He grabbed the bunny plush’s front paws and pulled them apart. The stuffed toy suddenly unfolded like a sleeve. Gu Xiaowei then guided Luo Yu’s hands into the warm, plush compartment.

“There, like that.”

Luo Yu moved his hands slightly inside the hand warmer, but Gu Xiaowei suddenly tightened his grip, his fingers threading firmly between Luo Yu’s and giving a sudden squeeze.

“Ah, ouch!” Luo Yu flinched slightly.

Gu Xiaowei chuckled quietly, his voice low and rich, like a faint vibration brushing against the ears, sending a warm, ticklish sensation to the heart.

“Does it hurt?”

“Of course it does. Don’t you know how strong your grip is?” Luo Yu raised an eyebrow, his tone full of mock reproach.

Gu Xiaowei passed him another box. “Next gift. The fans are waiting.”

“Alright, alright. Thank you, Xiao Hong Hua, for this adorable bunny hand warmer! It’s getting cold, so I’ll definitely keep it with me.”

Still smiling, Luo Yu opened the third gift box, revealing a handmade gingerbread cookie shaped like a chibi version of his own face.

“Hahaha, this is too cute! What should I do? I just can’t bear to eat it!” Luo Yu showed the gingerbread to all the fans at close range.

“I’ll check the expiration date, hmm… it needs to be eaten by the night after tomorrow,” Gu Xiaowei said calmly.

“Am I supposed to eat myself? That’s… too weird, isn’t it?”

“No problem, I’ll eat it.”

“…” Luo Yu immediately hid the gingerbread behind his back. “Nope. I’ll prepare a frame and put it in there as a keepsake!”

“I’ll make you a gingerbread on my birthday too, so it’ll be even, alright?”

Luo Yu gave him a skeptical look.

“You’ll make me a gingerbread to eat? Oh no, so many fans heard that… On your birthday, I might end up with too many gingerbreads to eat now.”

Gu Xiaowei smiled lightly and whispered, shaping his words with his lips: You can just lick each one.

“What? I didn’t catch that,” Luo Yu leaned in closer. “What can I do?”

“Take some stomach medicine, and you can eat a few more.”

“No no no, you definitely didn’t mean that.”

“I did mean that.” Gu Xiaowei’s face showed no emotion. Luo Yu couldn’t get anything out of him and had to give up.

Gu Xiaowei handed him another gift box as if he were a robotic tool without emotion. Luo Yu opened it, searched inside, and finally pulled out a small box. Inside were a pair of sterling silver cufflinks.

The design was very simple, the engraved pattern on the face resembling roses, intricately carved.

Luo Yu compared them to his own sleeves and said, “I feel like these cufflinks are very expensive.”

“They’re not that expensive.”

“Do you recognize this brand?” Luo Yu asked.

“I know the person who gave them to you,” Gu Xiaowei answered.

“Wait, you know this person?” Luo Yu’s curiosity made him flip the box to check the gift sender. His mind wandered. Could it be Cheng Fei? But Cheng Fei was a straightforward guy and never gave gifts. Treating someone to a meal would be more in line with his personality.

“The box doesn’t have any cards or notes. This fan is a bit reserved,” Luo Yu noted. He looked at the sender’s name—three letters: GXW. “Thank you, uh, from fan GXW for these cufflinks!”

From the other side, laughter could be heard. Xiao Qin covered her mouth as her shoulders shook, while Ye Shengyi looked at Luo Yu with an expression as if he were watching his own silly son.

Ah Yan silently mouthed to Luo Yu: “That’s Brother Gu!”

Of course! Gu Xiaowei’s initials were GXW.

Luo Yu’s heart leapt as he cautiously asked, “Is this you?”

“En.”

Luo Yu clutched the cufflinks in his hand, unwilling to let them go. “Since they’re from Classmate Gu, should I change into a proper shirt to show them off?”

“What do you think?” Gu Xiaowei lowered his head with a small smile.

It felt like he was radiating gentleness, and Luo Yu thought it would be sinful not to show these cufflinks properly.

“Wait here, I’ll be right back!”

He stood up and ran upstairs.

In the dressing room, he rummaged for his shirts and found that his and Gu Xiaowei’s shirts and suits were hanging in the same section. A feeling tugged at his heartstrings as he pulled the one closest to him. He changed into it.

The shirt fit slightly loosely at the shoulders and sleeves, but it didn’t look out of place when worn.

He wasn’t very confident about his sense of style, so he casually grabbed a suit jacket to wear over it and dashed back downstairs.

“I’m back!”

He didn’t change his pants, pairing the suit jacket and shirt with casual trousers. The mix created a fashionable contrast that looked intentional, especially with his long legs. Gu Xiaowei watched him as he came down the stairs.

“Slow down,” Gu Xiaowei advised.

“My ankle’s fine now,” Luo Yu said, sitting beside Gu Xiaowei and waving at the camera. “Hello, I’ve changed into a blazer and shirt to show you guys!”

As he lowered his head to adjust the cufflinks, Gu Xiaowei said, “I’ll do it for you.”

“Alright!” Luo Yu didn’t refuse, extending his hand toward Gu Xiaowei.

Even though Gu Xiaowei might not recognize the shirt at first glance, Luo Yu’s sleeve was noticeably longer, which likely gave it away. But Gu Xiaowei appeared to focus on every detail as he elegantly adjusted the cufflinks, carefully locking the buttons into place.

Ye Shengyi suddenly broke the silence with a casual comment: “Brother Luo, I don’t remember you having this shirt or suit.”

Luo Yu’s heart skipped a beat. Ye Shengyi, you silly boy, you’ve almost ruined this! Don’t think I won’t deduct your pay! 

Ah Yan nudged Ye Shengyi with his elbow and Ye Shengyi instantly shut up.

Xiao Qin’s eyes widened with excitement at her ship.

But Luo Yu maintained his composure and utilized his acting skills. He tilted his head and said, “Ah? This isn’t mine?”

“It’s okay. It’s probably mine,” Gu Xiaowei said, calmly taking his other hand. “In your mind, all shirts and suits probably look the same, just a different color, right?”

“This… don’t expose my flaws in front of the fans.”

With the cufflinks adjusted, Gu Xiaowei let go of Luo Yu’s hand. Luo Yu proudly displayed the cufflinks for the camera.

“This is a birthday gift from Teacher Gu! A pair of sterling silver cufflinks! Recently, Teacher Gu has been focusing on improving my sense of style and artistic sensibilities. He’s shown me there are other ways to dress besides hoodies, sweatpants, and sneakers.”

“Like what?” Gu Xiaowei asked.

“I can also wear a baseball cap and sunglasses,” Luo Yu said with a hopeful, good-student look toward Gu Xiaowei.

“…Don’t let people think I trained your fashion sense when you leave the house.”

Everyone watching burst into laughter.

After recording a few more takes, Luo Yu sent the video to Sister Cui. Soon afterward, Gu Xiaowei received a call from Meng Yu.

“So, are you now his assistant?” Meng Yu teased.

“Oh, today’s his birthday.”

“Sister Cui asked if your original voice and appearance could be retained for this video?”

“Isn’t it okay?” Gu Xiaowei asked.

“You’re so straightforward, not even taking appearance fees?” Meng Yu joked.

“We don’t have a script.”

Meng Yu laughed, “You’re going all out with this! You’re making your fans swoon. If you keep this up, they’ll turn into full-blown sugar addicts!”

“En.” Gu Xiaowei responded lightly.

“You’re being way too upfront. I’m worried that if you keep feeding this ‘brotherly bond’ narrative, one day, when you make an official announcement, your fans will still be shipping the bromance,” Meng Yu tested the waters with a comment.

“What they choose to ship is their business.”

Meng Yu gave a helpless laugh. “As long as you’re happy.”

A few hours later, after both teams confirmed there were no issues with the video content, Cui Zhuxin uploaded the birthday gift unboxing video online.

It went viral within minutes. Fans were so excited that they celebrated online like they had won a lottery.

The video had initial introductions followed by the gift opening with Gu Xiaowei briefly appearing. The scene of him pulling Luo Yu’s hoodie attracted instant comments.

[Brother Gu is so sweet to spend Luo Yu’s birthday with him! Sweetest unboxing duo ever!]

[Seeing Brother Gu pull Luo Yu’s hoodie, I just—ahhh!]

[Was he intentionally pulling Luo Yu closer?]

[They better not breakup! Even if it’s not love, their friendship better last forever!]

For their fans, even the brotherly bond was sweet, as it was rare in the entertainment industry to find friendships that could withstand admiration without being tainted by interests. Some fans even worried that if they started shipping romantic feelings, the two might avoid public interactions in the future, leading to fewer opportunities for shippy moments. Thus, they were all very restrained.

Many fans even deliberately expressed blessings such as “may your friendship last forever” or “the bond of loyalty never fades”—terrified that the shipper fan base’s enthusiasm would frighten the two into never sharing the screen again.

When Luo Yu put on his knitted hat, a flood of comments appeared, including:

[Only top-tier looks could pull off an ’80s hat style like this.]

[Haha, senior brother is too cute—he’s got the head concussion effect.]

[Senior brother’s head is really round.]

[My grandfather used to wear knitted hats like this too.]

When Gu Xiaowei adjusted Luo Yu’s hat for him, the comments went into an absolute frenzy once again:

[Teacher Gu is the fashion wizard for Senior Brother!]

[Teacher Gu’s hands turn ordinary into magic!]

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

[Ahhh, at first, the hat looked handsome, but Brother Gu made it extremely handsome!]

[Brother Luo, from now on, whenever you put on clothes or a hat, let Brother Gu check it over first!]

[This vibe is absolutely insane! Lock it, lock it, lock it! I swallowed the key~]

…

When Luo Yu opened his second gift and touched the plush rabbit’s ear, fans collectively swooned. They expressed that his tenderness was so overwhelming that it tugged at their hearts, as if Luo Yu were patting their own heads.

If you would like to show some ♡  then please consider supporting this translator! ლ(⌒εー)ლ

“Tonight’s first episode dropped a bit, but in the second episode it came back up,” Gu Xiaowei replied.

“That’s good, our efforts didn’t go to waste!”

“Go to sleep,” Gu Xiaowei said as he patted Luo Yu’s shoulder.

Perhaps because his sleep quality was good and Gu Xiaowei had dealt with it in a timely manner, Luo Yu slept until the afternoon. When he awoke, his ankle no longer hurt.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

His eyes were still closed. He moved his foot beneath the blanket, and a faint sound came from near his ear.

Just as Luo Yu was about to rub his eyes, a soft voice came from beside him, “Don’t move.”

“En?” Luo Yu lifted his eyelids and saw Gu Xiaowei sitting at the head of the bed, one hand holding a sketchbook and the other gripping a pen as he quickly sketched.

His heartbeat, which had been calm all morning, suddenly became erratic at the sight of Gu Xiaowei.

Gu Xiaowei was drawing him again—this wasn’t as Lu Pingfeng but as himself, reflecting his own thoughts and desires.

Luo Yu lay there for a while and heard Gu Xiaowei stop his pen and reach out for his sketchbook.

“Let me see!”

Gu Xiaowei released his hand. Luo Yu sat up. The page before him was a sketch of half his face buried in his pillow, a hand resting beside his ear in a peaceful sleeping pose.

The lines were clean and precise, capturing Luo Yu’s facial features so vividly that they made one’s heart inexplicably soften. The way the drawing looked was essentially how Gu Xiaowei saw him.

Luo Yu turned another page. This sketch showed him from the back, his neck and one shoulder exposed.

The minimalistic lines conveyed no extreme detail, yet Luo Yu felt himself blushing. The ordinary lines, in Gu Xiaowei’s hands, carried an unexpected allure.

He stole a glance at Gu Xiaowei, who was looking at the sketchbook calmly with his head tilted. His expression seemed neutral, as though Luo Yu was the only one affected.

—Gu Xiaowei drew so seriously. It was Luo Yu who had inappropriate thoughts.

When Luo Yu turned to the next page, his breath hitched—he froze in place.

This sketch was unmistakable. It was of him falling in the bathroom.

The curves and angles of his body, the tension in his muscles, the line of his movements—all of it sent a shiver through Luo Yu. His heartbeat quickened, and his blood surged as his eyes fixated on the drawing.

The way his knee was slightly bent in the sketch blocked the focus of his gaze.

The more you hide, the more others are curious.

He was suddenly reminded of the statues by the fountain and that night when Gu Xiaowei had covered his mouth and pulled him into the shadow of the rose trellis.

“Ah, your ears are red,” Gu Xiaowei said lightly.

Luo Yu instinctively touched his ear, noticing Gu Xiaowei’s small smile at the corner of his mouth. He realized the other had spoken on purpose.

“Were you waiting for me here?” Luo Yu asked.

“Waiting for what?” Gu Xiaowei seemed oblivious to his own smile.

“Waiting for me to flip to this page and see my embarrassed face!”

Gu Xiaowei leaned in closer: “Would you be embarrassed?”

“Isn’t that what you said? The more I cared about you seeing me, the more you would care about what you saw. Here, take it back!”

Luo Yu began to use the sketchbook to cover Gu Xiaowei’s head but then paused.

“Didn’t you say you’re going to return it to me?”

“Your drawing is of me—did you get my consent?” Luo Yu countered.

“Then what do you want?”

“In order to avoid this sketch being made public. For now, this sketchbook is mine.” Luo Yu looked directly at Gu Xiaowei.

Gu Xiaowei turned his head to the side and laughed lightly. “Alright, it’s yours then. Besides…”

He trailed off at that last part, leaving it hanging in the air.

“What is it? You can’t just leave it at that!” Luo Yu pressed, narrowing his eyes at Gu Xiaowei.

But Gu Xiaowei laughed, turning to leave. Luo Yu wrapped his arm around his waist, trying to pull him back the way he had been pulled just days ago. Before he knew it, Gu Xiaowei had already dragged him toward the edge of the bed.

“Does Senior Brother want to be my keychain pendant, following me home?” Gu Xiaowei glanced back at him.

Luo Yu was unwilling to admit defeat. He didn’t understand how his strength had failed against Gu Xiaowei’s. He tugged again, and Gu Xiaowei chuckled. In the next moment, Luo Yu’s vision did a 360 and he was flipped onto Gu Xiaowei’s shoulder with ease.

“Hey! Gu Xiaowei, you’re inhuman! Not just ‘inhuman’—you’re literally inhuman! Put me down!”

But Gu Xiaowei didn’t carry him off. He placed Luo Yu back onto the bed, holding his waist with one hand while the other rested beside him.

“No more messing around. You’ll only risk hurting yourself again,” Gu Xiaowei said seriously.

“Your tone, it seems like you’d rather be my daddy than my junior brother?”

Gu Xiaowei sighed, grabbed a pillow, and thudded it onto Luo Yu’s head before walking out.

Luo Yu looked at the sketchbook again, “If you have the guts to draw everything, then do it.”

There was a knock at the door just as Gu Xiaowei’s voice came from the other side, “Fine. But you will probably be too afraid to look at it.”

“I’m not a ghost. You draw me, and I’ll dare to look at it.”

Afterward, their sleeping schedules became erratic, as much of the plot’s scenes required shooting during mountain night scenes. Their lives gradually transitioned to a nocturnal schedule—sleeping during the day and getting up by 4 pm for mountain hikes, makeup, and filming.

The script’s filming had finally entered the stage of revealing the secrets. Gu Xiaowei and Luo Yu sat side by side next to the director, watching the monitor. The camera crew moved along the track, and the internal fighting among the heirs officially began.

Ding Bing with Zhuang Chao and Zhuang Feifei went toward the hunting lodge, forcing the messenger Zhuang He to walk ahead.

Ding Bing had never trusted Zhuang He, suspecting that he might have conspired with Lu Pingfeng and Wen Yuchi to lure them to the hunting lodge. The closer they get to the hunting lodge, the more these suspicions grew. Eventually, Ding Bing stopped and demanded Zhuang He tell the truth; otherwise, they won’t advance even if they risk poisoning themselves.

At first, Zhuang He said nothing, but Zhuang Chao drew a dagger and stabbed him in the leg without hesitation. Zhuang He cried out in pain, calling out to his parents.

Ding Bing, upon witnessing this, deduced that something was up with Zhuang He and cocked his gun, aiming at Zhuang He’s head.

Zhuang He stammered, bringing up the murder case of the female college student, frantically claiming that he only stabbed her leg and it wasn’t fatal. However, Wen Yuchi claimed that the police have received evidence proving that Zhuang He was involved. If Zhuang He survived, he would not only face punishment for the island’s events but also for the murder of the female college student unless he could prove his merit. Wen Yuchi did not say whether a trap had been set at the hunting house but insisted that they must all go there.

Ding Bing and his two companions’ expressions change instantly.

Zhuang Feifei blurted out, “That’s impossible! The old man said he would handle everything properly and wouldn’t leave any evidence!”

“Fei Fei!” Ding Bing glared at her angrily.

Zhuang Feifei realized she had misspoken and turned pale.

Zhuang He suddenly realized something, “So it was you! You three killed that female student!”

“You’re talking nonsense!” Zhuang Chao cocked his gun again, aiming it at Zhuang He’s head.

This time, Ding Bing’s expression darkened, and he showed no intention of stopping Zhuang Chao from shooting.

Zhuang He immediately turned and ran, but Zhuang Chao pulled the trigger, hitting him in the back of the head. Zhuang He fell to the ground dead. 

Zhuang Feifei screamed in shock. Ding Bing stepped forward to confirm Zhuang He’s death, stating coldly, “Let’s go.”

“Why… why did you kill him?” Zhuang Feifei asked, trembling.

“We three participated in the ‘Banquet at Dusk,’ and we saw each other’s faces and agreed to keep each other’s secrets. This allowed us to form an alliance. But Zhuang He was stupid enough to know we were behind the female student’s death. If he reported us to the police, it would cause us trouble.”

“But you killed him… even if we are rescued, won’t it raise suspicions?”

“Ding Bing raised his chin, “We’ll say he tried to ambush us with a gun, and we killed him in self-defense. Let’s go.”

“Where to?”

“Since Lu Pingfeng and Wen Yuchi invited us to the hunting lodge, how would we know their intentions unless we check?”

Ding Bing gestured, and Zhuang Feifei and Zhuang Chao followed him as they proceeded toward their destination.

The moonlight danced on the trees, casting shimmering silver onto the ground. But they had no mind to admire the beauty.

As they approached the hunting lodge, they spotted a figure hanging from a tree—a familiar face.

All three inhaled sharply as they realized it was Zhuang He.

“Why is he… hanging from there…” Zhuang Feifei stared with wide eyes.

“Wait, what’s that hanging from his neck?” Zhuang Chao pointed to the object on Zhuang He’s chest.

“Antidote! It’s the antidote!”

Just as Zhuang Feifei was about to rush forward, Ding Bing blocked her path, “Be careful of traps.”

They stopped in their actions and carefully observed their surroundings. Although cautious, Zhuang Chao finally could not resist.

“I say, if I take the antidote down, none of you better try to snatch it from me!”

Ding Bing and Zhuang Feifei remained silent as Zhuang Chao fired at the rope suspending Zhuang He, and the body dropped to the ground. Zhuang Chao retrieved the antidote under the moonlight, inspecting the small black container with traces of blood.

“This is real! Maybe Lu Pingfeng and Wen Yuchi took it from someone’s body.”

Before Zhuang Chao could open it, Zhuang Feifei lunged at him.

“This is our discovery! You can’t take it all for yourself!”

It instantly turned into a brawl. Zhuang Feifei was weaker, and Zhuang Chao had a stranglehold on her. Just as she was about to lose consciousness, Ding Bing put his gun to Zhuang Chao’s head, “Let go of her.”

Zhuang Chao could only raise his hands, when Zhuang Feifei, who had just caught her breath, suddenly straightened her back and lunged toward the antidote in his hand.

“You damned woman—” Zhuang Chao finally lost his composure, grabbing a fistful of Zhuang Feifei’s hair. But she, with sheer determination, twisted the cap off the antidote and prepared to swallow it in one desperate motion.

“Bang—”

This time, the shot came from Ding Bing.

Blood splattered across Zhuang Chao’s face, leaving him completely stunned. His hand, still clutching Zhuang Feifei’s hair, remained frozen. The antidote fell from her grasp, and the arms that had moments ago fought with wild intensity now hung limp at her sides.

Ding Bing coldly took the antidote from her hands, confirming it indeed contained something. Zhuang Chao asked, “You… you want to take it yourself?”

Ding Bing replied, “Reach out. One-half each.”

Zhuang Chao released his hold on Zhuang Feifei and reached for the antidote. After tasting it, he coughed violently, realizing, “It… it tastes like wood shavings!”

“Fuck! We’ve been tricked!” Zhuang Chao said, feeling a strange relief. If Zhuang Feifei hadn’t tried to snatch it, Ding Bing might have killed him.

Meanwhile, Lu Pingfeng, Wen Yuchi, and Qin Lin sat quietly behind a rock, silent.

“You’re not taking the antidote?” Wen Yuchi asked Qin Lin, intrigued.

Qin Lin, with a resigned smile, explained, “I wasn’t sent here as an heir. I discovered Mr. Zhuang’s hobbies and was airdropped here. He probably hoped I’d be killed by Ding Bing and the rest or the two of you. But he didn’t expect you two would save me.”

“What hobbies?” Lu Pingfeng asked, though his expression showed no signs of curiosity.

Wen Yuchi listened without much emotion as he traced a cross in the dirt with his dagger.

“He invited his adopted daughter and nephews to kill the female college student during the ‘Banquet at Dusk.’ Although he didn’t appear on the footage, the shadow of a wheelchair was visible. Also, your agent Ai Lin was strangled by Ding Bing. And there’s also a previous murder, orchestrated by Zhuang Feifei and Zhuang Chao.”

“Are they insane?” Wen Yuchi scoffed. “Why would they commit murder when they had normal lives? Trying to mimic our great painter Mr. Lu’s paintings? Some kind of twisted art?”

Qin Lin smiled mildly, “Zhuang Jie uses methods to trap people into desperate situations. When people are desperate, they abandon morality to solve immediate needs.”

“Zhuang Jie handled the aftermath quite well for them. We suspected many people, but never Zhuang Jie,” Wen Yuchi said, his expression growing colder. “Qin Lin, it was your idea to take the antidote out and let them fight among themselves. I didn’t think it would work, but it did.”

Qin Lin responded indifferently, “It’s a common strategy of Mr. Zhuang’s—divide and conquer.”

“Take a guess—who pulled the trigger, and who lost their life?” Wen Yuchi’s gaze at Qin Lin carried a hint of icy mockery.

“Dr. Wen, I understand your stance. In your eyes, this might be no different from premeditated murder. But don’t forget, the gun wasn’t in our hands. This was their own choice,” Qin Lin replied.

Wen Yuchi let out a faint laugh. “I’m no saint. Those people were vicious criminals armed with deadly weapons. Our first priority was to ensure our own safety. I don’t have the light or warmth to reform them.”

“Now that you’ve said that, I feel relieved,” Qin Lin nodded calmly.

Suddenly, Lu Pingfeng stood, holding the only pistol they took from Zhuang He. He walked toward the woods.

“Where’s he going?” Qin Lin asked.

Wen Yuchi didn’t respond, only followed him silently, dagger in hand, aware of Lu Pingfeng’s intent to inspect the body.

“Ah, it’s a woman,” Lu Pingfeng said quietly, standing before Zhuang Feifei’s corpse, his head lowered, his voice indifferent.

Wen Yuchi stepped forward, crouching halfway down. Using the blunt end of his dagger, he brushed aside the long hair covering Zhuang Feifei’s face, only to be met with her wide-open, lifeless eyes.

Qin Lin unconsciously turned his face away, “She was very vain in life.”

Wen Yuchi calmly assessed her death, “The extent of the skull fractures and burn marks suggest she was shot at a distance of less than 50 centimeters.”

Lu Pingfeng had remained silent the whole time, merely lowering his head to lock eyes with Zhuang Feifei.

“Is it beautiful?” Wen Yuchi looked up and met Lu Pingfeng’s gaze.

There was no judgment, no scrutiny—only a simple curiosity about his aesthetic preference.

The corners of Lu Pingfeng’s lips curved faintly, and instead of answering Wen Yuchi’s question, he remained engrossed, staring at Zhuang Feifei.

“What are you thinking, Mr. Lu?” Qin Lin asked after a long pause.

Eventually, Lu Pingfeng spoke, “I’m imagining the trajectory of a bullet passing through her brain.”

There was a chilling coldness in his calm demeanor, and the faint mocking in his eyes exuded a sense of hopelessness.

And this hopelessness was conveyed to Wen Yuchi.

It was as if, after countless attempts and struggles, Lu Pingfeng had revealed his true nature, and this essence was irredeemable.

—After seeing me like this, are you still willing to stand by my side?

However, Wen Yuchi extended his hand toward Lu Pingfeng, saying, “I’ve been squatting for too long; help pull me up.”

In the frame, Wen Yuchi looked up at him with a calm, reassuring mutual understanding, serving as Lu Pingfeng’s return to equilibrium.

The scattered world seemed to flow backward infinitely in Wen Yuchi’s gaze.

The camera lingered for a long time, and everyone on the set looked at him.

This was the skill of a good actor: a simple line, a glance, a smile, all creating an extraordinary atmosphere.

And Luo Yu’s gaze didn’t show extreme emotions but still managed to instill a sense of inevitable fate.

Even though other actors’ lines had already ended in this scene, no one moved for fear of breaking this unique ambiance.

After an unknown amount of time, the actress playing Zhuang Feifei suddenly burst into laughter.

“I’ve wrapped! I’ce finally wrapped up filming! I won’t have to shoot night scenes anymore! Look at how rough my skin has gotten!”

Within two to three seconds, the entire set came alive.

“Oh, congratulations on finishing!”

“Night scenes are great; the later, the prettier!”

Sheng Yunlan waved at her, and the actress cheerfully ran over, still a mix of cough syrup and tomato sauce on her face.

“Director Sheng, do you have a red envelope for me?”

Sheng Yunlan hummed in response, pulling out a red envelope from his pocket, handing it to her.

“Great job. Keep working hard in the future.”

“Really?”

“En, especially your expression during your death scene; it was very on point.”

The actress: “…”

The assistant director couldn’t help but laugh.

This sound of laughter, reverberating through the mountains and forests, brought Luo Yu back to his senses.

He glanced at Gu Xiaowei to his side, whose face showed no emotion.

Luo Yu frowned slightly and suddenly leapt onto Gu Xiaowei’s back without warning.

Unprepared, Gu Xiaowei stumbled forward a step, instinctively gripping his legs and holding him higher.

“Classmate Gu, I was very careful today and didn’t hurt my ankle again. Shouldn’t you reward me a bit?” Luo Yu asked with a grin.

“Carry you down the mountain,” Gu Xiaowei said.

“No! The mountain path is steep, and if you fell down by yourself, that would be fine, but dragging me down too would be terrible,” Luo Yu patted Gu Xiaowei’s back and jumped down.

“So what do you want?” Gu Xiaowei asked.

“En, the sketchbook I confiscated, you can finish filling it up for me,” Luo Yu said with a commanding expression.

“Alright.”

“I mean my exclusive art collection—you can’t just draw cats, dogs, or random passersby to make up the rest of the pages. If I ever need to ship a CP for promotional use, I’ll set up a Gu Xiaowei art exhibition on my Weibo,” Luo Yu said, half-joking, while observing Gu Xiaowei’s reaction.

Unfortunately, Gu Xiaowei remained expressionless, simply replying, “Alright.”

“I’m saying I’ll use you for CP content,” Luo Yu pressed.

Gu Xiaowei glanced at him with a look full of “royal contempt.”

“Right now, I could let Meng Yu push us to trending. If you have the ability to hold off for thirty seconds without letting Sister Cui pull it down, then go ahead.”

“Don’t worry, I have thick skin. I’ll wish you longevity and wish our CP will last forever on Weibo.”

“Better to keep it that way.”

Watching them, Xiao Qin finally let out a sigh of relief. Sometimes, a role’s emotions could affect Gu Xiaowei for a long time, but this was the first time he was out of character so quickly.

No wonder he was referred to as “senior brother” by Gu Xiaowei. He always managed to pull him back from the script world into the real world.

The night scenes continued until five in the morning. After returning to the villa to rest, it was almost nine o’clock.

They were sitting around the table having breakfast when the staff from the resort arrived on an electric cart carrying box after box.

The moment the door opened, it left Xiao Yezi dumbfounded.

“What’s all this?”

The staff asked, “Is Mr. Luo Yu here?”

“Huh? I’m here, what is it?” Luo Yu set down his chopsticks and approached the door, staring at the mountain of boxes and becoming dazed.

“These are all your packages,” the staff said.

“But…I didn’t shop online…” Luo Yu murmured.

“It should be from your fans. They knew you were filming at our resort, so they sent these gifts here. Since these are meant for you, we don’t know how to handle them and brought them to you directly. Today is your birthday, isn’t it?” The staff paused and handed over a white box. “This is the resort’s special birthday cake for you. Happy birthday.”

“My…birthday?” Lu Yu stared at the staff and checked his phone.

“Oh, it really is my birthday!”

Ye Shengyi quickly took the cake from the staff. “Thank you! Really, thank you!”

“Wow, there are so many!”

Ah Yan and Mr. Jiang came to help move the gifts into the villa’s living room.

Before long, the living room was piled high with boxes.

“Damn, over a hundred of them! Brother Lu, you’re so popular!” Ye Shengyi exclaimed.

Luo Yu was still stunned. In his memories, his past birthdays were lonely affairs. All that remained were small moments with Sister Cui taking him out for a meal, skipping even candles and cake rituals. Later when he went to be a stage actor, no one bothered with his birthday either.

His last birthday memory was drinking beer backstage with Gu Xiaowei, who had become drunk himself first.

He looked at Gu Xiaowei subconsciously, only to find that the other man was already looking back at him.

“What should we do with these gifts? While it’s great to know you’re popular, some of these things might not be appropriate to accept—especially luxury goods,” Ye Shengyi said anxiously.

“I remember Sister Cui established a rule for your fans. Only letters and handmade gifts under two hundred yuan should be accepted,” Gu Xiaowei added.

“But there’s no team here to help us sort through these gifts… Should we leave them here until Sister Cui’s assistants arrive?” Ye Shengyi asked.

Luo Yu had already called Sister Cui to sort this out.

“Since it’s your birthday and these are fans’ kind intentions, we shouldn’t pour cold water on the mood. How about this—you record a few unboxing videos, and we’ll choose some to share? I’ll send someone to help unbox and examine the packages. If any gifts are too expensive, they’ll be returned with a letter. President Jiang’s meaning is that this way, we’ll also avoid…”

“Avoiding malicious rumors from people misusing the matter of the gifts from fans?” Luo Yu interrupted.

“Exactly,” Sister Cui confirmed. “But happy birthday, nonetheless. Did you know you trended on your birthday?”

“What? I trended on my birthday?” Luo Yu stared, disbelieving.

Ye Shengyi exclaimed, “Yes! #LuoYuHappyBirthday# is on the trending list!”

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“Did Sister Cui buy this headline?”

“No! This is just your fame—your fanbase is very active. Every little share adds up to a massive number!” Ye Shengyi added.

Luo Yu scratched his head. “So…I’ve gotten famous?”

Everyone fell into a long silence.

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Killing all other heirs aside from herself was too difficult; it would be much easier to eliminate Wen Yuchi from the list and slip away.

She cast a glance at the man on her left, her nominal cousin Zhuang Chao. There was a deep scar running from the corner of his right eye down to his chin, a mark supposedly obtained during a prison fight, inflicted by a plastic fork. He had the look of someone dangerous and ruthless.

On her right was her other so-called cousin, Ding Bing, wearing a knitted hat. His bald head could be seen beneath it, suggesting his hair had already fallen out. At first, he had the friendly and approachable attitude of “we’re all family here,” but in a quick moment, he had knocked Qin Lin down.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

The reason? Qin Lin was the only outsider in their group and had insisted on waiting on the island for police rescue. However, Ding Bing didn’t believe they would survive long enough for the police to arrive. The immediate priority was to locate Wen Yuchi and Lu Pingfeng and secure the antidote from them.

Currently, Qin Lin was tied up and dumped in a tent, unable to move.

Ding Bing hadn’t killed Qin Lin for two reasons: first, it wasn’t time to spill blood yet; second, he wanted to find out whether the secretary’s presence in their game was intentional. Qin Lin had always served as Zhuang Jie’s agent. It was possible that Qin Lin was acting as a “proctor” of sorts, responsible for delivering the message to old man Zhuang’s men to send rescue in the end.

According to their understanding, Lu Pingfeng, Wen Yuchi, and Lu Pingfeng’s driver had three antidotes among them. After allying themselves, they had expelled Zhuang He from their group.

“I thought that a painter and a forensic doctor would be easy targets, like sending their heads to us on a platter. But unexpectedly, they managed to kill Zhuang He.” Zhuang Feifei raised a branch and poked at the campfire.

“We can’t waste any more time. We need to act quickly, or we’ll suffer the same fate as the driver who brought us here,” Ding Bing said, picking up his gun and adjusting his knitted hat.

At that moment, footsteps came from the distance. The three raised their guns instinctively.

When they looked again, they saw Zhuang He. He froze as soon as he saw three guns pointed at him, nearly stumbling.

“Don’t shoot! Don’t shoot! It’s me!”

“You? Really?” Zhuang Feifei frowned as she stepped forward. “You screamed so loudly earlier; we thought you were dead. Did you manage to handle those two alone?”

“No! No! Those two are strong!”

Ding Bing pressed further, “Does that painter know that killing the forensic doctor would prompt old man Zhuang to send a helicopter to rescue him?”

“Yes, but they’re allies!”

“Allies? And the antidote?”

“They know about the antidote and invited you all to the hunting lodge to ‘discuss’ it.”

“Discuss? How naive. They don’t realize how crazy old man Zhuang can be,” Ding Bing sneered.

Zhuang Chao, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke, “They might be trying to lure us to the hunting lodge to capture us all in one sweep.”

Zhuang Feifei agreed, “Exactly. Wen Yuchi isn’t afraid of us killing him? Lu Pingfeng is quite the enigma—he chooses to stay with Wen Yuchi instead of taking an easier route.”

“Maybe his conditions for survival are different from ours,” Ding Bing said.

Zhuang He added, “They know you’re worried it’s a trap, so they hid the antidote in another location. They said, whether you believe it or not, Lu Pingfeng and Wen Yuchi are waiting for you at the hunting lodge. If you agree to go, you can negotiate calmly. If not, you can wait for 24 hours to see if the poison takes effect.”

The three fell into silence.

After Zhuang He finished speaking, he turned to leave.

“Wait, where are you going?”

“To the hunting lodge. Since the antidote is with them, I might as well stay near them,” Zhuang He said, preparing to leave.

Ding Bing raised his gun and pressed it against Zhuang He’s back.

“We don’t think it’s that simple. You walk in front. If you make any sudden moves, we’ll shoot you.”

Zhuang He swallowed, raising his hands, “Watch it! Don’t shoot by accident!”

“You have a handgun, right? Where is it?” Zhuang Feifei asked.

“Lu Pingfeng took it,” Zhuang He admitted.

Hearing this, the three exchanged glances. This confirmed that Lu Pingfeng wasn’t defenseless—he could be a threat.

“We’re leaving. What about Qin Lin?” Zhuang Feifei glanced at the tent.

“Leave him there. Otherwise, who here would volunteer to stay behind and watch him?” Ding Bing said with a sarcastic smile.

After all, there were only three antidotes, and if Lu Pingfeng really intended to meet with them at the hunting lodge, the one left behind to guard Qin Lin would lose their chance to get the antidote.

“Pack up the food and weapons. Leave everything else behind,” Ding Bing ordered.

They quickly extinguished the campfire and departed with Zhuang He.

Five or six minutes later, Wen Yuchi and Lu Pingfeng, who had been lying in ambush, quietly approached the tent. They opened it to find Qin Lin tied up inside.

Wen Yuchi took out a dagger and cut through the ropes binding Qin Lin.

Qin Lin’s limbs were stiff from being tied for too long, and he couldn’t move.

Wen Yuchi knew there was no time to delay. If Zhuang Feifei and the others weren’t foolish, they would soon realize this was a diversion.

Wen Yuchi dragged Qin Lin out of the tent. His eyes landed on a first aid kit nearby. He smirked. Clearly, Ding Bing and the rest prioritized weapons and food over first aid supplies—a sign of their weaker survival instincts.

Wen Yuchi reached out his hand, dragging the first aid kit toward him and placing it on Qin Lin as he dragged them out together.

Lu Pingfeng was lying in wait nearby, his gun pointed at the opposite side of the tent. If Zhuang Feifei and the rest returned, Lu Pingfeng would provide them with cover.

When Wen Yuchi had dragged Qin Lin completely out, he stepped onto a stone and twisted his ankle. He bit his lip, forcing himself not to make a sound.

As soon as he managed to drag Qin Lin to Lu Pingfeng’s side, Lu Pingfeng stretched his arm and grabbed Wen Yuchi’s ankle.

“You okay?” Lu Pingfeng’s deep voice sounded.

“I’m fine,” Wen Yuchi shook his head.

Tonight’s scenes had come to an end.

The moonlight shone brightly on the rocks and the stream in the mountains, and the temperature was continuing to drop. One of the crew members suddenly sneezed.

The rest of the crew became nervous, because the scene where Wen Yuchi twisted his ankle hadn’t been in the script. It seemed that Luo Yu had really lost his footing. Fortunately, Gu Xiaowei’s reaction had been quick, saving the situation by smoothening things over. The scene didn’t feel out of place, as though it was just an additional moment to enhance the audience’s sense of tension, suggesting that Qin Lin was too heavy and caused Wen Yuchi to twist his ankle while dragging him.

The director picked up the megaphone and called out, “Tonight’s scenes went really well! Everyone prepare yourselves—we’ll finish the reshoots in one go and get home earlier to rest!”

Nie Yangchen, who played Qin Lin, climbed to his feet and reached out to help Luo Yu.

“You’ve worked hard. I must be pretty heavy.”

Luo Yu smiled, but just as he was about to take his hand, Gu Xiaowei grabbed his arm from the other side and pulled him up.

“You are pretty heavy. You’re very suited to playing a corpse,” Gu Xiaowei said.

Nie Yangchen awkwardly withdrew his hand. “Alright, I’m clearly unnecessary here. I’ll just go drink some water.”

When Nie Yangchen walked away, Gu Xiaowei lowered his head and looked at Luo Yu’s injured ankle. “Did you really twist it just now? Does it hurt?”

Luo Yu sighed and patted Gu Xiaowei on the shoulder, “Your observational skills are still so sharp, Teacher Gu!”

“You still haven’t answered my question—did you twist your ankle?”

“It’s fine.” Luo Yu took a couple of steps forward and then returned. “Look, it’s fine.”

Luo Yu prayed that Gu Xiaowei wouldn’t make him move around again, as he really had twisted his ankle. 

But he didn’t think it was serious; resting for a bit would likely alleviate the pain. Admitting it could turn a minor issue into a major one and delay shooting.

But, to his dismay, Gu Xiaowei squatted down and tugged at Luo Yu’s pants, pulling his socks down to reveal his swollen ankle.

“This is fine?”

“Well… it’s not a huge deal. A bit of ointment and it’ll be okay. Plus, I twisted my ankle—not my face—so there’s no need to make the crew overly nervous. At least let’s finish today’s reshoots, alright?” Luo Yu pleaded, trying to convince him with a calm tone.

“En,” Gu Xiaowei’s expression darkened.

Fortunately, they would start reshooting with close-ups of Zhuang Feifei and the other two by the campfire, so Luo Yu still had time to ease the pain in his ankle.

Gu Xiaowei called Luo Yu to a quieter spot during this break.

“I’m fine, Gu Xiaowei, you really don’t need to—”

Before Luo Yu could finish, Gu Xiaowei suddenly lifted him up. For a moment, Luo Yu’s mind went blank.

—Was his weight lighter? Why did Gu Xiaowei lift him again?

Luo Yu was placed onto a raised rock. He didn’t sit steady, swaying slightly, and grabbed Gu Xiaowei’s shoulder for support.

Gu Xiaowei’s face was cold and stoic as always. He lowered his head and removed Luo Yu’s shoe, pulling his sock down further. He took out a spray from his pocket and applied it to Luo Yu’s swollen ankle.

The cool sensation eased Luo Yu’s pain, and the air was filled with the light scent of the spray.

Gu Xiaowei’s appearance at this moment felt different. His long, graceful lashes cast shadows on his cheekbones, and even when dappled by the moving shadows of the trees overhead he only looked more tempting.

Luo Yu instinctively reached out and touched his eye.

Gu Xiaowei’s eyelids lifted, his long eyelashes brushing against Luo Yu’s finger. A strange, ticklish sensation built up inside him.

“What are you doing?” Gu Xiaowei asked.

“Nothing… I thought there was something on your eye, but it was just a shadow,” Luo Yu laughed, quickly recovering his composure.

He made use of his acting skills again.

Gu Xiaowei pulled Luo Yu’s sock back on and began putting his shoe back on for him. Luo Yu hastily grabbed his own shoe. “I’ll do it myself! I’ll do it myself!”

But Gu Xiaowei stepped back, and the rock Luo Yu was sitting on was round and unstable. Luo Yu had no choice but to steady himself by grabbing Gu Xiaowei again.

“Didn’t you just say you’d do it yourself?”

“Don’t go! I’ll do it myself!” Luo Yu struggled, trying to pull his shoe on.

After much back and forth, Gu Xiaowei eventually reached out to help secure the strap on his shoe and tied the laces.

Once his shoe was on, Luo Yu hesitated before asking, “You really have a lot of strength, don’t you? Could you help me back down?”

“You’re clearly afraid you’ll twist your ankle again when jumping down.” Gu Xiaowei held onto Luo Yu’s waist, and before Luo Yu could say anything, he had already lowered him back down.

“You’re really inhuman…” Luo Yu muttered, cautiously walking on the ground.

“Then do be a human, alright? During the reshoots, pace yourself,” Gu Xiaowei replied.

Luo Yu gave him an OK gesture.

Today’s night shoot lasted until about 4:00 a.m. After the sun began to rise, Sheng Yunlan finally announced that everyone could return to rest.

Because the following days were scheduled for night shoots, moving equipment up and down wasn’t convenient. Thus, everything was moved into the hunting lodge for storage, and staff were assigned to take turns keeping watch.

Gu Xiaowei and Luo Yu could finally head down the mountain and rest.

Luo Yu walked ahead, with Gu Xiaowei following behind.

The descent featured stone steps—not very steep. Luo Yu could tell from the shadow he cast in front that Gu Xiaowei always stayed right behind him, and his arm would occasionally lift, as though preparing to catch him.

He was very nervous about him.

This gave Luo Yu a mischievous thought. As he deliberately swayed upon his next step, sure enough, a hand came from behind to grip his elbow, steadying his balance.

“Thank you!” Luo Yu smiled.

It seemed that proving his importance to Gu Xiaowei put Luo Yu in a genuinely good mood.

“If you can’t walk properly again, I’ll carry you down,” Gu Xiaowei said, glancing over.

Luo Yu immediately felt guilty.

“Teacher Gu, you’re overthinking. I’m walking fine—very fine.”

Had he acted unnaturally just now? Why did it feel like Gu Xiaowei had already noticed his intentions?

The car took them from the foot of Jing Mountain back toward the vacation resort, bypassing Jing Lake.

At first, a tired Luo Yu leaned against the seat, almost ready to fall asleep. However, light flickered across his eyes. He sat up.

The morning light was rising, reflecting off Jing Lake, resembling a massive blue mirror. Luo Yu stared at it, awed.

“This lake is so beautiful,” Luo Yu murmured.

“But the lake is pretty deep. The resort wants to develop a diving program here. I heard there are sunken boats at the bottom,” Gu Xiaowei said.

“Oh,” Luo Yu said, leaning toward Gu Xiaowei in an attempt to look out the window.

Usually, those seated by the window would lean back or adjust their seat, allowing space for others to look outside. But Gu Xiaowei remained still. Luo Yu’s shoulder pressed against his chest, but Gu Xiaowei didn’t move away.

The wind picked up a leaf that smacked against Luo Yu’s forehead with a crisp sound.

Before Luo Yu could react, Gu Xiaowei reached out and plucked it off, casually tossing it back outside.

Luo Yu smiled. The morning light hit his nose. This quiet, thoughtful observation of a person felt nostalgic—he hadn’t experienced this since elementary school.

Only Gu Xiaowei made him feel as though he could freely indulge in his youth without restraint.

Luo Yu continued to look outside energetically, staying close to Gu Xiaowei until the car drove into the resort area. Rose bushes were in full bloom, occupying his view once again. He leaned back into his seat, feeling a bit visually fatigued.

As they entered the villa, breakfast was already delivered. Everyone was hungry after an entire night and ate ravenously.

“Xiao Qin, did we prepare any medications for sprains or injuries?” Gu Xiaowei asked.

“We brought them! Sprays, ointments, gels—everything,” Xiao Qin said with half a bite of her breakfast, looking nervously at them.

Gu Xiaowei gestured toward Luo Yu with his chin.

Sure enough, Ye Shengyi exclaimed:

“Brother Luo! You’re injured? How did you get hurt? Why didn’t I notice? Where did you get hurt?”

Luo Yu felt a headache and quickly reassured them, “I’m fine, just a sprain. But I can still walk down the mountain, so it’s not serious. Based on experience, I’ll be fine after a good rest—ready to walk, run, and maybe even play basketball again soon…”

“You still want to play basketball?” Gu Xiaowei asked.

“No, no, it’s just a metaphor. I’ll let my ankle rest and get the swelling down.”

After breakfast, everyone went to wash up, exhausted from the previous night and ready to rest.

As Luo Yu grabbed his waterproof toiletry bag to enter the bathroom, Gu Xiaowei stood at the door and asked, “Do you want me to accompany you?”

“Huh?” Luo Yu didn’t immediately react.

“I said, do you want me to watch over you while you shower?” Gu Xiaowei said in a very serious tone.

This made Luo Yu feel like he wasn’t very serious.

“No, no, no! No need! I haven’t reached the point of not being able to stand yet!”

If Gu Xiaowei watched him, he would definitely be standing even less steady.

“Okay, then. Don’t lock the bathroom door. If anything happens, I can come in to help you,” Gu Xiaowei said.

“I got it. Teacher Gu, don’t worry too much.”

After this, Luo Yu closed the bathroom door and locked it habitually.

“Click,” the lock sounded, and Gu Xiaowei’s voice came from outside, “Don’t lock it.”

“Fine, fine, fine! I won’t lock it!”

Luo Yu quickly unlocked the door.

Hot water poured over him, the exhaustion of the previous night washing away as he stood motionless.

It felt so good.

After a while, Luo Yu almost fell asleep standing up. He suddenly remembered that Gu Xiaowei was likely waiting to use the bathroom and reached for the shampoo.

But as soon as his foot moved, it gave way, and he slipped and fell, landing with a loud splash.

“Ah, damn!” Luo Yu muttered, feeling pain all over.

The bathroom door immediately swung open, cold air cutting through the steamy mist. Gu Xiaowei was quickly coming toward him.

“What the hell—”

Luo Yu hurriedly tried to grab a bath towel and wrap himself, but only managed to pull a bottle of shower gel instead. His efforts caused him to slip again.

“You okay?” Gu Xiaowei asked, kneeling beside him.

His voice cut through the mist. Luo Yu instinctively tried to curl up, only for Gu Xiaowei to sigh as he looked away.

“I originally wasn’t going to think about anything.”

What does “originally wasn’t going to think about anything” mean? Luo Yu’s mind buzzed with confusion.

Then what was he thinking now?

Luo Yu felt even more embarrassed,  and increased his efforts to cover himself.

“Senior Brother, don’t you know that the more you try to hide things, the more people are curious?”

Gu Xiaowei’s face was turned to the side, his handsome face flushing a light pink.

“Then you should leave!”

“If I leave, can you get up on your own?” Gu Xiaowei asked, turning his head back around and staring into his eyes.

Luo Yu hesitated. He’d wanted to insist he could stand, but two outcomes seemed possible: Gu Xiaowei would watch and see if he really could, or he would slip again. The pain in his ankle seemed to have worsened with all the slip and slide.

“How about getting me a pair of pants instead?” Luo Yu requested carefully.

Gu Xiaowei closed his eyes and sighed again.

“I thought you would say you wanted me to close my eyes and help you out of here,” he said.

“Then we’d both end up falling together. Before it was just one person with a limp, now it’ll be two.”

Gu Xiaowei grabbed a bath towel from the rack and threw it over Luo Yu’s head.

“What are you covering my face for?” Luo Yu protested.

“Didn’t you think you lost face? Where else would you cover?”

“You…” Luo Yu yanked the towel off his face, his face undoubtedly redder than a tomato.

Before he could protest again, Gu Xiaowei had already lifted him from the ground, carrying him out of the bathroom.

Luo Yu was shocked.

“Don’t carry me! What if you slip?!”

“My shoes are more slip-resistant than yours.”

Gu Xiaowei turned to the side, easily carrying Luo Yu out of the bathroom.

Luo Yu nervously glanced downstairs, terrified that someone might witness this scene and his reputation would be done for. Thankfully, Xiao Qin and Xiao Yezi were both exhausted and no one was active in the living room.

Gu Xiaowei reached Luo Yu’s bedroom door. Luo Yu turned the doorknob, but Gu Xiaowei shifted to the side and carried him inside. He knelt on the edge of the bed, gently placing Luo Yu down.

Luo Yu let out a deep breath and, as he looked up, found Gu Xiaowei watching him.

“Stop looking! I have what you have!” Luo Yu quickly reached for the blanket, but as he moved, his bath towel slipped, the cold air prickling his back. He hastily pulled the blanket over himself.

“Your bath towel came loose just now,” Gu Xiaowei remarked.

“I know! Don’t keep repeating it!” Luo Yu felt a buzzing in his head that was only growing louder.

“So I saw it,” Gu Xiaowei said.

“I already said we have the same anatomy, didn’t I?”

“What I’m saying is, everything that can be seen and everything that can’t has already been seen. You can just give up.” Gu Xiaowei’s expression held no trace of jest.

Was this guy serious? What did “giving up” even mean?

Before Luo Yu could dwell further on it, Gu Xiaowei turned back toward the bathroom, retrieving Luo Yu’s waterproof toiletry bag and placing it on his nightstand.

“…Thanks.”

Gu Xiaowei didn’t respond, his expression cold as he left the room.

But for some reason, Luo Yu felt his presence lingering, his aura wrapping around the space, seeping into his skin and mixing with his bloodstream. His heart would pound, sending shivers of tingling sensations through him.

He had just finished getting dressed when the door opened again. Gu Xiaowei had returned with ointment in hand.

Luo Yu instinctively dove deeper into the blanket, and Gu Xiaowei sighed in exasperation.

“You forgot we went swimming together. I’ve seen your shoulders, your abs, your legs. As for what you didn’t want me to see too clearly, well… that was your mistake earlier.”

“I… I also wanted to have… a bit of mystery…”

“But the more you care about me seeing, the more I want to see.”

Gu Xiaowei’s voice was low and calm, meant not to scare Luo Yu, but its certainty made his heart race even faster.

His hand slipped under the blanket. Luo Yu instinctively tried to pull away, but Gu Xiaowei’s fingers grasped his ankle, firm yet gentle, pulling it out.

“Let’s check your ankle to see how the injury is,” Gu Xiaowei said softly.

“Oh.”

Luo Yu exhaled, propping himself up. As Gu Xiaowei supported his heel and moved it slowly, that uneasy, heart-thudding sensation returned.

He held his breath, gripping the blanket tightly, uncertain whether he was afraid of Gu Xiaowei discovering something or simply the sensation itself.

“Does it hurt?” Gu Xiaowei’s voice was quiet but deep, resonating deeply with Luo Yu’s heart.

“It’s fine…” Luo Yu tried moving his foot a little. “I don’t think I hurt my ankle.”

Gu Xiaowei applied the medication and wrapped his ankle in a thick gel wrap. Luo Yu thought Gu Xiaowei would let go of his foot, but he brought it closer into his embrace.

“Rest well tonight and don’t move too much,” Gu Xiaowei said.

“Of course.”

“Tomorrow’s scene—you need to be careful. If it gets worse, I’ll go with you to the director. Missing one or two nights isn’t that important.”

“En, thanks.”

When Gu Xiaowei placed his foot back under the blanket, Luo Yu suddenly found himself longing for his warmth.

“Hey!” Luo Yu called out to him.

“En?”

“Look at me, I’ve got a limp now. Teacher Gu, can you stay with me tonight? What if I need to use the bathroom and fall again…?”

He knew that if he wanted something, he would have to be proactive about it.

Gu Xiaowei didn’t seem to mind touching his foot at all, and Luo Yu figured he should take advantage of the moment.

“Alright, I’ll take a shower first and come back.”

Gu Xiaowei left right after saying that.

Luo Yu rubbed his nose, his heart suddenly pounding.

Why did that “take a shower and come back” sound a little… strange?

That night, Luo Yu relied on his injured ankle to have the opportunity to share a bed with Gu Xiaowei once again.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Gu Xiaowei turned off the lights. At first, he was lying with his back to Luo Yu. But not long after, they both turned over, finding that they were awake and staring at each other.

“What are you thinking about?” Gu Xiaowei asked.

Thinking about you, but if I said it out loud, would you fight me?

“I forgot to check Weibo. I wonder if the ratings for ‘Counterattack’ have dropped,” Luo Yu casually offered as an excuse.

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