Crossover Actors - Chapter 35

Lu Wen grabbed the two sides of Qu Yanting’s shirt at his chest, his knuckles brushing against the material. The fabric was softer than he had imagined. His fingers relaxed but didn’t retract, tugging gently at the two light ribbons.

 

No wonder the open collar looked so nice, revealing a sliver of his sunken collarbone, the pale skin of the triangular area beneath, and the Adam’s apple that moved up and down. It was all exposed. Lu Wen tried to tighten the ribbons, giving them a little pull.

 

Qu Yanting thought he was just being playful and scolded him for being childish: “How old are you?”

 

“In my prime, full of energy.” Lu Wen coordinated his hands with his words, boasting as he continued tugging, “It’s cold outside, tie up your fairy ribbons.”

 

Qu Yanting, who had been down all evening, finally cracked a smile at Lu Wen’s choice of words. He picked up his neatly folded pocket square, afraid it might come undone, and personally tucked it into Lu Wen’s small chest pocket.

 

Once he had his coat on, Qu Yanting tied the two long ribbons into a knot, helplessly saying, “They’re just for decoration, they won’t cover anything.”

 

Lu Wen raised an eyebrow—so this guy knew they didn’t cover much? Emboldened, he continued to meddle with Qu Yanting’s outfit, “You just got over an illness; shouldn’t you be bundling up?”

 

Qu Yanting changed the subject: “Funny, both our coats are black.”

 

Too clumsy of a transition. Lu Wen countered, “There’s something even funnier: we’re both men.”

 

A few nonsensical remarks seemed more effective than the forty minutes spent in the dressing room. Qu Yanting’s mood visibly lightened. He raised a hand to sweep back some stray strands of hair, letting go of the evening’s embarrassment.

 

They had left midway through the event. The crew driver was nowhere to be found, probably passing time somewhere, so they didn’t bother calling for a car.

 

Exiting through the back door of the building, they found themselves in a bustling commercial district. The pedestrian street was brightly lit, surrounded by department stores, restaurants, and luxury shops, with groups of tourists strolling around.

 

Since joining the cast, they had rarely had such a leisurely moment. Lu Wen and Qu Yanting walked side by side, neither of them in a hurry. An elderly couple sat by the flowerbed with their dog. The leash was tied to a handrail, and as they passed, the dog rushed toward them.

 

Lu Wen knelt down on one knee, his large hand nearly covering the little dog’s head. He petted it and said, “Its fur is pretty smooth.”

 

Qu Yanting crouched beside him, agreeing, “Its eyes are pretty big too.”

 

The haughty little male dog realized it was just two middle-aged men, wiggled its butt, and went back to its owners. Lu Wen and Qu Yanting had nothing to say to that. They stood up and continued walking. Feeling a little indignant, Lu Wen muttered, “That dog’s not for me. Even if you paid me two hundred, I wouldn’t want it.”

 

Qu Yanting asked, “What about two hundred and fifty?”

 

Lu Wen snorted through his nose, but inside, he felt at ease. Qu Yanting teasing him meant his mood was much better.

 

Seeing that Lu Wen wasn’t responding, after a few steps, Qu Yanting nudged his elbow and, after his jab, couldn’t help but worry, “Are you upset?”

 

As if. But no one could resist the feeling of being cared for, so Lu Wen deliberately kept a straight face and didn’t answer.

 

The last time Qu Yanting had seriously tried to console someone was over a decade ago, when it was his younger brother, a grade schooler. He stood there for a while, unsure of what to do, unable to think of anything else.

 

Lu Wen continued walking, but suddenly, Qu Yanting stopped him, blocking his way under a tree. What was he going to do—apologize? Say something nice? Or, God forbid, act all cute with him in the middle of the street?

 

Qu Yanting’s method was the same as it had been over a decade ago: using little trinkets to grab the other person’s attention. Back then, it had been bubble gum, cards, and toy cars. Now, he had nothing on him except his phone.

 

He opened his photo album, selected a picture of a fluffy animal, and held it up to Lu Wen’s face. “Look at my cat.”

 

It was a chubby stray cat, most likely picked up off the street, well-fed and plump. Lu Wen didn’t appreciate its beauty; instead, he could only sense Qu Yanting’s desperation.

 

Fine, he gave in. “So cute.”

 

Thinking his plan had worked, Qu Yanting asked, “Do you like it?”

 

“Love it,” Lu Wen replied, though he wasn’t sure who was comforting whom at this point. “You took a great picture.”

 

Qu Yanting gave up, lowering his head to fiddle with his phone. Lu Wen sighed softly, feeling that Lu Zhanqing hadn’t shaped his character properly. He was far too easy to manipulate.

 

Just then, his phone buzzed. He received a WeChat notification. Lu Wen took it out and opened it. There was a little red circle next to “New Friends.” He clicked on it, and there was a friend request.

 

The note read: “I am Qu Yanting.”

 

Lu Wen was in disbelief. It was like searching desperately for something you could never find, and then, after forgetting and giving up, it suddenly appeared on its own.

 

Without a word, he avoided looking at Qu Yanting, who was just a step away, as if fearing the next moment Qu Yanting would change his mind. He hurriedly pressed “Accept.”

 

Friend request approved.

 

Qu Yanting immediately sent him the photo of the fat cat.

 

Lu Wen worried that Qu Yanting had only added him to send the picture and would delete him afterward. He stared at the screen for a moment and cautiously replied: *What’s its name?*

 

Qu Yanting looked up, amused. “You could just ask me directly.”

 

Lu Wen blurted out without thinking, “You won’t block me, will you?”

 

Qu Yanting paused for a moment and left some leeway: “As long as you don’t piss me off…” The rest of his words caught in his throat. Everything Lu Wen had done tonight was still fresh in his mind. Qu Yanting changed his tone, “You’re not exactly innocent either. Why would I block you?”

 

Whether it was a compliment or an insult, Lu Wen felt reassured by Qu Yanting’s words. Even the fat cat seemed more pleasant.

 

They continued walking. It was difficult to catch a cab on the pedestrian street, so they walked a long way, alternating between talking and walking in silence.

 

As they passed a hotpot restaurant, the dark signboard was adorned with red lanterns, and the spicy aroma wafted out, causing Qu Yanting to slow his pace. He’d only had two drinks at the party and was feeling hungry.

 

Lu Wen hadn’t eaten either. He sniffed the air, wary of Chongqing hotpot, and was thinking to himself, *How spicy must that be,* when Qu Yanting, with the grace of an old-fashioned young master or an elegant performer, stepped onto the stairs at the entrance.

 

“I’m telling you, Teacher Qu…” Lu Wen tried to rein him in.

 

Qu Yanting turned back and beckoned him, “Come on, it’s on me.”

 

The private room on the second floor was simply and elegantly decorated, with a square table and long benches. When the window was opened, a cold breeze rushed in. They placed their coats in a wicker basket, and Qu Yanting rolled up his sleeves. He looked far more at ease than when he had been sitting on a velvet sofa.

 

He marked up the menu with a pencil, ticking off a list of his must-have hotpot items. When he looked up, Lu Wen was holding his phone horizontally, playing a game, so Qu Yanting helped him out: “What do you like to eat?”

 

Lu Wen replied, “Clear broth.”

 

“…Alright.” Qu Yanting changed the hotpot base. “Let’s do a yin-yang pot.”

 

There was a commotion downstairs. Qu Yanting sipped his tea and glanced down. A group of seven or eight young people had just finished their meal, and the drunk ones were causing a scene.

 

The dishes gradually arrived. The yin-yang pot, with one side a deep red and the other milky white, sent mingling aromas into the air. Aside from the hospital incident, this was the first time Qu Yanting and Lu Wen were sharing a proper meal together.

 

Their chopsticks never crossed into each other’s territory. Qu Yanting dipped his food into the red broth, even using chili powder for extra spice. The pearly white of his clothes made his lips appear exceptionally red.

 

Lu Wen fished out a piece of beef, placed it on his plate to cool, and ate slowly, absentmindedly.

 

In fact, he was waiting for the right moment, an opportunity to ask the questions on his mind.

 

Qu Yanting’s behavior and reactions tonight, as well as his aversion to doorbells and phone ringtones, didn’t seem normal to Lu Wen, though he couldn’t say for certain if it was pathological. He wanted to understand more.

 

Additionally, was it purely coincidental that certain traits of Ye Shan and Ye Xiaowu were projected onto Qu Yanting, or were they a source of inspiration, or perhaps a record of one’s own experiences? If it’s the latter, which parts were creative inventions, and which parts of Qu Yanting’s life were once real?

 

Lu Wen repeatedly pondered, afraid of recklessly saying the wrong thing, afraid of touching on something sensitive for Qu Yanting. He hesitated, unable to speak for a long time.

 

After finishing a plate of shrimp paste, like the moment after a few rounds of drinks, he mustered up the courage and called out, “Teacher Qu.”

 

Qu Yanting looked up through the wafting white steam, a thin layer of sweat on his forehead, different from the sweat from singing on stage. He looked relaxed, natural, his lips slightly parted without any guard, exhaling the spicy air.

 

Lu Wen was choked up by a thousand unspoken words, unable to ask a single question.

 

Whether it was cowardice or fear, in that moment, he changed his mind. His curiosity and concern didn’t matter. What he wanted more was for Qu Yanting to enjoy this meal without any burdens, and to leave the hotpot restaurant still feeling at ease in both body and mind.

 

“What’s wrong?” Qu Yanting asked.

 

Lu Wen pulled out a tissue: “Wipe your sweat.”

 

“Thanks.” Qu Yanting suddenly smiled, his red lips and dark eyes glowing brightly under the light, lively and vivid. “I ordered you some pig brains.”

 

Lu Wen was stunned: “Huh?”

 

Qu Yanting said, “To nourish the brain with brain.”

 

Lu Wen felt like he had misplaced his trust: “… That’s too much.”

 

Qu Yanting picked up a small portion from the tray, shaped like a brain. Those who love it would drool, and those who don’t would avoid it like the plague.

 

Lu Wen frowned and pouted, full of disdain. It was as if if Qu Yanting dared to put that brain into the pot, he would immediately stand up and leave.

 

At that critical moment, a phone rang, muffled as it floated out from a woven basket.

 

Lu Wen’s phone was on the table, so he gleefully lifted the lid to help. Qu Yanting put down the pig brain and reluctantly fished out his phone from his coat pocket.

 

The screen flashed the character “Ruan.”

 

Lu Wen caught a glimpse and immediately felt a cold chill, despite the warmth from the hotpot.

 

It was like being jolted awake in the middle of the night, or a slap to the face. Everything he had been avoiding tonight suddenly resurfaced, replacing the hot, bubbling broth, standing between him and Qu Yanting.

 

“Hello?” Qu Yanting slid to answer the call.

 

The party wasn’t over yet, and it was noisy outside, so Ruan Feng’s voice was a bit faint: “Bro, I’ve been calling you, why didn’t you pick up?”

 

It was the second call. Qu Yanting hadn’t heard the first one due to the noise downstairs, so he explained, “It wasn’t quiet around me. I didn’t mean to ignore it.”

 

“Where did you go?” Ruan Feng asked, “I’ve looked for you everywhere.”

 

Qu Yanting replied, “I left after singing.”

 

Ruan Feng asked with concern, “Are you okay? Are you feeling unwell?”

 

“I’m fine, don’t worry about me,” Qu Yanting said, turning his head slightly. There was a faint moonlight outside the window.

 

Lu Wen’s expression darkened. He wasn’t deaf—he could hear the tenderness and affection in Qu Yanting’s voice towards Ruan Feng, right in front of him. Distracted for a moment, the beef at the tip of his chopsticks slipped into the pot.

 

There was some background noise, and Ruan Feng asked, “Bro, are you at a hotel?”

 

“I’m eating hotpot outside,” Qu Yanting replied, in his usual parental tone, sounding almost like an order, “Drink less alcohol.”

 

“I got it,” Ruan Feng said, sounding puzzled, “Bro, are you eating hotpot alone?”

 

“I’m with Lu Wen,” Qu Yanting answered.

 

Across the table, Lu Wen’s eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at Qu Yanting. What was this? Qu Yanting, alone with his so-called “new flame,” yet deliberately informing his old flame?

 

After hanging up, Qu Yanting picked up his chopsticks again, only to notice that the atmosphere at the table had turned eerily silent. Lu Wen sat still as a statue, his gaze burning through Qu Yanting like a hole.

 

Qu Yanting felt uneasy. “Why aren’t you eating?”

 

“Can I still eat?” Lu Wen retorted, suppressing the waves of emotion surging within him. “Teacher Qu, was that Ruan Feng who just called?”

 

Qu Yanting nodded, slightly confused. “What’s wrong?”

 

Lu Wen struggled to get the words out. “I feel terrible. I’ve been miserable these past two days.”

 

Qu Yanting looked even more bewildered. “What’s going on?”

 

“What do you think?” Lu Wen shot back. “You don’t understand?”

 

Qu Yanting was a bit stunned. Everything had been fine, so why had things gone awry after taking Ruan Feng’s call? Could it be… He tentatively asked, “Does it have something to do with Ruan Feng?”

 

Finally unable to hold back, Lu Wen drew in a sharp breath. He was done pretending. “Yes, of course it has something to do with him.”

 

After a pause, he added forcefully, “And it has even more to do with you.”

 

“Me?” Qu Yanting put down his chopsticks.

 

Lu Wen questioned him, “Why did you tell Ruan Feng that you’re with me?”

 

Qu Yanting felt a bit dizzy. “Because I am with you right now.”

 

“Why did you tell him?” Lu Wen’s agitation grew. “Did you even think about how Ruan Feng would feel? Did you consider that he might care?”

 

Qu Yanting was confused. “Why would he care?”

 

Lu Wen shouted hoarsely, “But *I* care!”

 

Qu Yanting downed his iced tea in one go, suspecting the broth had been spiked with alcohol. As he reached for a second glass, Lu Wen grabbed his wrist, holding it tightly.

 

Their eyes met, and sparks flew in Lu Wen’s gaze. From the moment he had realized Qu Yanting’s true intentions, he should have never pretended to be blind and deaf. The longer he dragged it out, the deeper the hurt. He couldn’t hold back any longer.

 

Even if Ruan Feng didn’t care, Lu Wen couldn’t accept it.

 

Qu Yanting wanted to have it both ways, but Lu Wen would rather die than be the third wheel.

 

Lu Wen had never been so serious. “Teacher Qu, you once hinted to me that Ruan Feng and I are alike. Let me tell you, you’re wrong.”

 

Qu Yanting’s eyes widened. What hint? Hadn’t he made it clear?

 

“Ruan Feng and I are nothing alike. He’s tolerant, I’m narrow-minded. He’s generous, I’m petty. He won’t go against your wishes, but I can’t stand it!”

 

Qu Yanting broke free with effort. “What does any of this have to do with Ruan Feng?!”

 

Screw the consequences! Even if it meant not getting any more roles or being blacklisted from the industry, Lu Wen could no longer hold it in. He shouted, “I’ve known about your relationship with him for a long time!”

 

Qu Yanting froze, his gaze locked in place. It was too sudden, too unexpected. He hoped Lu Wen was joking. “…You know?”

 

“Yes, I’ve known for a long time,” Lu Wen said firmly. “There are no secrets that stay hidden forever.”

 

Qu Yanting panicked for a moment but quickly regained his composure. His first instinct was to deny it. Calmly, he said, “Keep this between us, okay?”

 

Lu Wen had no intention of revealing anything. His throat tightened, his deep voice hoarse as if speaking would hurt. “Then from now on… stop messing with me.”

 

“Messing with you?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“How have I messed with you?”

 

“What do you think? You’ve been coaching me, assigning me an assistant. I know exactly what all of that means.”

 

“…What does it mean?”

 

“Stop pretending!”

 

“What am I pretending?”

 

“Do I really need to spell it out? Stop treating me the way you treat Ruan Feng. I don’t need that. You treat him well on one side and take care of me on the other. What do you think I am?!”

 

“How does being good to Ruan Feng conflict with taking care of you?”

 

At this point, Lu Wen didn’t understand why Qu Yanting was still being stubborn. His tone turned sour, as if he could wring out bitter tears. “Just leave me alone! I don’t want this!”

 

Qu Yanting: “I—”

 

“Do you insist on messing with me?!” Lu Wen gritted his teeth, “Then break it off with Ruan Feng first!”

 

Reaching the limit of his patience, Qu Yanting finally snapped. “What the hell is wrong with you? How can I break it off with my own brother?!”

 

“Brother…?!”

 

With a loud crash, the teacup overturned.

 

Lu Wen bit his tongue in shock, his face filled with disbelief.