The kisses paused for a moment.
Duan pretended not to hear, continuing to lick his way up. “Lu Xiaoding…”
“I’m not joking, get up.” Luo Ding squinted, allowing him to lick the back of his ear for a moment before grabbing Duan’s ear and yanking it backward. “Stop messing around! Behave!”
Duan pouted but obediently sat up, clearly not understanding why Luo Ding was suddenly hot and cold with him.
Luo Ding casually grabbed a few tissues from the bedside table to wipe off the saliva on his face, frowning deeply. “You’re not a cat; you’re a dog. Drooling everywhere like it’s free.”
This made Duan even more unhappy. Kneeling on the bed, he stared at Luo Ding in silence. Behind closed doors, with no need for pretense, his eyes drooped sadly.
Luo Ding turned around and saw Duan’s silly, forlorn expression, unable to hold back his amusement. His expression softened, and the corners of his mouth curved up slightly.
Duan immediately caught the signal and pounced again, wrapping his arms around Luo Ding’s waist. “Lu Xiaoding… Lu Xiaoding… Lu Xiaoding…”
“Hmm?” Luo Ding responded, “What?”
Duan didn’t explain, but he was almost delirious with joy. “You… earlier… what did that mean?”
“What earlier?”
“That… that thing you did.” Duan tilted his head, nibbled on Luo Ding’s earlobe, and peeked up at his face, watching as Luo Ding gave a helpless smile. Luo Ding reached up and ruffled Duan’s hair like he was teasing a cat. “Don’t mess around.”
Duan stopped licking and kissed his ear. “What did it mean?”
Luo Ding’s brow furrowed slightly, as if unsure how to answer, his eyes showing an awkward hint of reproach. “Why do you talk so much?”
“Just say it!” Duan wasn’t having it. Emboldened, he urged Luo Ding, his arms tightening as he pulled him close. “Say it! Is it what I think it is?”
Luo Ding was silent for a while. Just as Duan’s heart was about to jump out of his chest, he nodded gently.
Hearing the answer, Duan suddenly fell quiet.
For a long time, he didn’t say anything. Luo Ding had gotten used to Duan’s antics, so this sudden calmness felt unfamiliar, making him worried. He turned his head to check on him.
All of Duan’s previous distress had vanished. He held Luo Ding tightly, burying his head in his neck, and for a long time, he didn’t know how to react to the moment. Cheering or laughing seemed too shallow, even disrespectful. He breathed in the natural scent of Luo Ding’s soap, feeling the smooth skin of his neck brush against his cheek. After a long while, in a hoarse voice, he said, “I’ll treat you well.”
Luo Ding fell silent too. This version of Duan Xiubo gave him the strange sense that the moment was more solemn than it really was. He didn’t know what to say. Unlike the messy relationships of others in the industry, Luo Ding didn’t have much experience with love. His only reference point was a decades-long marriage that had ended in disaster. He didn’t know how couples were supposed to behave or how a relationship should naturally progress. Accepting Duan Xiubo’s affection felt like a rash decision. When he sensed Duan’s body trembling as he held him, a surge of courage overcame him, breaking the emotional shackles he had built around himself.
He didn’t want to run away anymore.
In this lifetime, he might never meet another man who kissed him so cautiously, afraid of upsetting him.
Luo Ding didn’t answer, so Duan continued speaking to himself. He ran his hand down Luo Ding’s arm, his fingers tracing over the rough scars on his wrist.
“I won’t let you regret this.”
“Hmm.” Luo Ding nodded.
Duan fell silent, then after a long pause, quietly said, “When we were filming earlier, you cried. While I was holding you, I was terrified because you looked like you’d really stopped breathing. You’ve tried to kill yourself before, and that scar on your wrist is huge. It must have been deep. I kept thinking that if you hadn’t been saved back then, I wouldn’t have met you, and none of this would have happened…”
“And that’s why you cried?” Luo Ding asked.
Duan nodded.
“You’re an idiot,” Luo Ding rolled his eyes. “If I hadn’t been saved, you wouldn’t have met me at all.” As he spoke, he pried Duan’s hands off and stood up. Seeing the hint of panic in Duan’s eyes, Luo Ding placed his hand on his head and ruffled his hair. “Stop thinking about all that nonsense. Go back to your room and rest. Stop bothering me.”
Duan was outraged. “How can you say that?!”
“What? What’s wrong?” Luo Ding kicked him. “Hurry up and go. I’m exhausted today and don’t have time to listen to your nonsense.”
Duan stared at him in disbelief. Wasn’t Luo Ding much gentler to him before?
How had things changed so quickly after they confirmed their relationship? He suddenly became so cold and harsh!
A hint of regret welled up in Duan’s heart as he tentatively asked, “We’ve already… done that. You’re still kicking me out?”
“Are you leaving or not?” Luo Ding kicked off his shoes and climbed into bed, snuggling into the blankets. He glanced at Duan, looking like he was scolding a child. “Be good! Don’t mess around!”
Duan didn’t know whether to feel happy or disappointed. Hanging his head, he walked out the door, glaring at the sky in frustration. How could anyone date like this?
***********
His ominous premonition soon came true.
If Luo Ding had shown him some courtesy before, after breaking through the “window paper” of their relationship, everything suddenly shifted into an “old married couple” mode.
This left Duan, who often dreamed of a sweet, honeymoon phase, feeling incredibly troubled.
“Old Duan, come here for a sec.” Luo Ding’s voice rang out. Duan, who had been brooding over his wounded heart while staring at the sky, snapped back to reality and quickly rushed over. “What is it?”
“Does this pair of pants seem a bit too tight?” For the premiere of *Crouching Dragon*, the entire cast had gathered. Luo Ding was in Duan’s dressing room, changing clothes, and after pulling on his pants, he noticed they felt a bit snug.
Surprised, he asked, “Have I gained weight?”
Duan’s eyes were glued to the pants.
The costume had been provided by the film’s stylist, and to match Luo Ding’s character in the movie, today’s outfit had a unique style. A short, biker-style leather jacket paired with tight jeans. Luo Ding’s legs were thin as chopsticks—long and straight—and the jeans hugged them perfectly. He had indeed gained some weight recently, under Duan’s watchful eye, and all the extra calories had gone to the right places. His muscles were well-defined, and his backside had become noticeably rounder. Lifting his shirt slightly to check the fit of his jeans, Luo Ding inadvertently revealed a small glimpse of his slender waist and the faint outline of his navel, hidden beneath the fabric.
When he didn’t hear a response after a while, Luo Ding looked up and saw Duan practically drooling in the mirror.
He sighed. “I must be an idiot for asking you.”
The changing room was empty, and Duan, feeling bold, no longer held back. Unable to resist, he slid his hand under Luo Ding’s shirt, tracing the smooth skin beneath.
“You’re going to be the death of me,” Duan muttered.
“Let go.” Luo Ding, coldly, picked up the jacket from the back of the chair and put it on. The loose outerwear gave him a roguish, carefree look.
Duan couldn’t take it anymore, his mind filled with the image of pinning Luo Ding against the makeup table right then and there. He lunged forward, pressing Luo Ding against the mirror.
M opened the door, only to be greeted by the sight of Luo Ding adjusting his watch by the mirror, while Duan sat on the couch, head lowered in deep thought.
The atmosphere felt… off.
“What’s wrong?” Huoxie cautiously asked. “It’s time to gather… Duan, are you feeling unwell?”
“No, I’m fine.” Duan lifted his head and smiled, looking calm and composed. “I just had a little thought. Give me a few minutes alone, and I’ll come find you.”
Luo Ding straightened his jacket. His hair and makeup were flawless, and the limited-edition sports watch on his wrist added a youthful flair to his outfit.
“Don’t worry about him.” Luo Ding pushed Huoxie out, speaking as he went. “Let him be for a while. Some things require time to cool down.”
Huoxie didn’t understand but didn’t question the commanding aura Luo Ding exuded.
Once the door closed, Duan collapsed onto the couch, clutching his crotch in agony.
—Damn it, no mercy at all.
*****
Before the public screening, *Crouching Dragon* had already won two awards at the Huaxia Film Festival. The movie was set to dominate the New Year box office, with packed theater schedules and massive fan anticipation.
The premiere attracted a huge crowd of fans, some even carrying banners for their favorite actors. When the host finally finished his long-winded introduction, Huoxie led the cast onto the stage, greeted by a wave of screams and cheers.
Luo Ding casually glanced at the audience, the lights illuminating his figure. His unusual appearance compared to his usual roles seemed to thrill the fans, who kept shouting his name.
He waved to the audience, smiling warmly.
Duan followed closely behind. Earlier backstage, Huoxie had arranged for Luo Ding to walk behind him and Yuan Bing, but Duan had secretly switched places during the lineup. By the time they took the stage, Duan’s earlier discomfort had faded, and he was in high spirits.
So the lineup ended up with Huoxie in the middle, flanked by Duan and Yuan Bing, with Luo Ding standing next to Duan.
Just by looking at their positions, you could tell Luo Ding had a significant role in the film.
The large screen behind them flashed to life with a booming sound, displaying the main cast’s photos.
It was an unreleased shot: Prince Guangling in a billowing red robe, his sharp gaze piercing the air, Mu Gui standing tall with righteous resolve, and Yu Shengyan, draped in white mourning robes, elegant and poised. The three faces, each distinct in style, radiated stunning beauty.
After introducing the film’s key features and storyline, Huoxie smiled and said, “Luo Ding’s costume in this movie was so beautiful. The crew kept calling him the second female lead. Every time Duan had a fight scene with him, he was extra gentle.”
Duan nodded. “I admit I was extra gentle, but that had nothing to do with his costume. I’m always gentle.”
Yuan Bing chimed in, “Come on, you’re only gentle with Luo Ding. You’re never gentle with me.”
The screams from the audience made even the thick-skinned Duan feel a bit embarrassed.
But inside, he was over the moon. There was a sweetness to the idea that their relationship was being celebrated, even though he knew it was all just part of the movie’s promotion and no one really knew what was going on between them. Still, he was happy.
Back in the audience, Duan leaned close to Luo Ding’s ear, whispering non-stop, pouring out all his feelings. Luo Ding, unusually patient, quietly listened, with a smile in his eyes.
*Crouching Dragon* opened with a thunderous drumbeat.
The camera swept through the opulent palace, where everything seemed to shimmer in red and gold. From the vases to the tapestries, every detail was drenched in these two colors. Palace maidens, dressed in light-colored robes that starkly contrasted with their surroundings, moved silently through the halls, their faces calm yet tinged with fear as they carried trays.
Their steps were swift and silent, as quiet as cats.
Someone lifted layer after layer of curtains, opening door after door for them. After crossing countless thresholds, the maiden finally reached her destination.
In front of her was an exceptionally luxurious bed, with two maidens on either side holding massive fans, gently fanning. The breeze barely stirred the canopy, creating the faintest ripple in the air.
She knelt down with a thud, her voice trembling—
“Your Highness!”
In a sharp, high-pitched voice, she cried, “There’s been a disaster!”
Keep me fueled with caffeine! Support me on Ko-fi! It helps a lot ! Thank you so much ♡(´･ω･)(･ω･`)♡
Discover more from Shy shy shy
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
