Chapter 47 – I’m in Love

Shen Fubai was stunned on the spot, his soul flying out of his body and soaring up to the ninth heaven.

Even Director Xu’s call of “Cut!” couldn’t bring Shen Fubai’s spirit back.

Jiang Heng looked down, a smile playing at the corner of his lips. “Aren’t you getting down?”

Shen Fubai: “…Huh?”

Jiang Heng swung his legs over the edge of the bed, still holding onto Shen Fubai’s hand, leading him down. “Put your clothes on.”

Shen Fubai blinked in confusion, looking dazed and bewildered, as if he didn’t understand human speech.

Jiang Heng sighed softly, draping his coat back over Shen Fubai again and fastening the buttons with care. “We’re done shooting. Let’s go eat. Are you hungry?”

Shen Fubai replied slowly. “A little.”

Jiang Heng asked. “What do you want to eat?”

Shen Fubai’s soul hadn’t returned yet; his body was speaking stiffly. “Anything’s fine.”

Jiang Heng said. “Then let’s head to the hotel’s rooftop restaurant, the place we went to on our first night. The desserts there are delicious.” And the stars were beautiful too.

And you are adorable.

Shen Fubai nodded mechanically.

Jiang Heng led Shen Fubai to Director Xu, who was reviewing the footage. On screen, Jiang Heng kissed Shen Fubai, pressing his wrist as he took control, the actions fluid and seamless.

His soft call had not been recorded.

The last five words were tender and intimate, crystal clear.

“I like you too.”

Shen Fubai felt a jolt, tingling all over.

Director Xu praised Jiang Heng as usual, saying that adding that line was the perfect touch. Chu Yu’s character, after returning from the battlefield, was reserved and introspective, not good at expressing himself. For him to take the initiative in bed and confess his feelings so openly conveyed his love for Yu Tang fully.

It was a wonder how much Director Xu could spin.

But Jiang Heng hadn’t thought too deeply about it. He’d just been too restrained for too long and wanted to indulge himself once. If it worked out, he’d be delighted. If not, he’d use the excuse of a script error during filming to avoid making things awkward between him and Shen Fubai, ensuring they could still be friends.

He just wanted to know Shen Fubai’s attitude at that moment, and he had imagined many possible reactions. Treating everything as acting, assuming it was a joke, rejecting or… accepting.

But he hadn’t expected… Shen Fubai seemed to have gone dumbstruck.

At the hotel’s rooftop, the self-service restaurant.

When they returned, it was already late. At this hour, the restaurant was empty as usual, dimly lit with a cold, dark blue tone. Outside the glass walls was an aerial garden, above which a sky full of stars twinkled, distant yet dazzling.

Just like their first encounter.

The chef hadn’t left work yet. Jiang Heng picked up desserts for both of them, adding two portions of steak and pasta as main dishes, placing them before Shen Fubai.

The aroma of food filled the air, but Shen Fubai remained lost in thought.

This time, even the allure of delicious food couldn’t bring him back to reality.

Jiang Heng: “Fubai.”

Shen Fubai: “…”

Jiang Heng: “Fubai?”

Shen Fubai: “…”

Jiang Heng: “If you don’t speak up soon, I’ll kiss you.”

Shen Fubai snapped back immediately. “No, I’m scared.” This sudden change from his idol frightened him.

It felt surreal, fearing it was all a dream, fearing he was reading too much into it, fearing it was… false hope.

He had been deep in thought all the way back. He was absolutely certain he hadn’t misheard or misunderstood; Jiang Heng had called him Fubai, not Ah Tang, clearly pronouncing his name.

It made his heart flutter.

Jiang Heng’s eyes softened, seeming a bit sad. “Did I scare you?”

“No,” Shen Fubai hastily denied. He couldn’t find the words to express himself, hesitating for a while before asking carefully, “That… did you slip up with your lines just now? You should’ve said Ah Tang but ended up calling me by my name. I wanted to remind you, but…” But he had lost his mind, how could he have reminded him?

Shen Fubai hurriedly explained. “But since no one else seemed to notice, it probably didn’t affect anything, so—”

“If I say,” Jiang Heng interrupted him, his expression nonchalant, “that I didn’t make a mistake?”

Shen Fubai froze.

Jiang Heng scooped ice cream from the bowl, stacking small balls on top of each other.

The Jiang family knew this was a sign of Jiang Heng’s nervousness.

He had indeed been very unrestrained tonight.

Jiang Heng sighed softly. “Fubai, I like you.”

Shen Fubai murmured. “It can’t be true.” He must be living in a dream. God, could someone please wake him up?

“Your liking, is it the kind for a friend, for a brother?” Shen Fubai tugged at the corners of his mouth. “I quite like you too.”

Jiang Heng shook his head. “No.”

“It’s the kind that wants to kiss you, to take care of you, to appear on the same household registration with you.” Jiang Heng seemed to have gathered all his courage for tonight, appearing especially manly. “I’m not lying to you. This isn’t a drill, nor is it acting. Every word I said comes from my heart. I held back for a long time… I couldn’t hold back anymore, Fubai. If you don’t like me, just tell me straight, I won’t cling to you. We can still be friends outside of filming.”

After saying such a long speech, he finally lowered his head, taking a bite of ice cream to calm down. “But I still hope you, you can consider… Although I’m not great, I’m not bad either. I will respect you, protect you, love you to the best of my abilities. I like eating desserts, but I can give you my portion of desserts.”

Shen Fubai: “You want me to die from obesity.”

Jiang Heng looked at him gently. “I’ll still like you if you get fat.”

“Bastard.” Shen Fubai suddenly laughed, nearly shedding tears. “I don’t gain weight.”

He never would have believed it. Heng Heng’s response was so straight, but he turned out to be gay. And he actually liked him…

Shen Fubai couldn’t wrap his head around it. “I still don’t understand how you could like me? When did it start…”

Jiang Heng stumbled slightly.

If he said he had liked Fubai for many years, would he be considered a stalker?

Jiang Heng decided to take it slow, to avoid frightening Shen Fubai. “You’re adorable, every aspect worthy of someone’s affection. The first time I saw you, I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you.”

But the first time I saw you was far more than a month ago.

If it had been someone more rational, they might have scoffed, saying, “Love at first sight is nothing more than lust at first sight.” However, the one listening was Shen Fubai.

Who was Shen Fubai?

Jiang Heng’s number one brainless fan.

Shen Fubai swallowed a large mouthful of cream to calm himself, asking calmly. “Jiang Heng, do you really like me? Not a spur of the moment thing, something you won’t regret?”

Jiang Heng said. “Serious. No. Won’t.”

“Okay.” Shen Fubai stood up, circled the table, and stood beside Jiang Heng, performing three consecutive actions.

Jiang Heng lifted his head. “Fubai?”

A kiss landed, carrying the sweet taste of cream, mixed with the sugary richness of ice cream.

The moon was bright and luminous in the sky, the stars glittering. Greenery flourished outside the window, branches swaying gently.

Under the vast sky filled with stars, the beauty bent down to kiss the handsome young man. A table of desserts sat before them, none as sweet as their hearts.

You gave me a dream, bestowed upon me a surprise.

So I’ll return a fairy tale to you, replying with true love.

Shen Fubai, at twenty-two years old, could say with certainty that tonight was the craziest night of his life.

He had actually forced a kiss on Heng Heng.

Well, it wasn’t exactly forcing a kiss, since Jiang Heng had been incredibly cooperative.

This was their first real kiss. Not acting, not Yu Tang and Chu Yu.

It was Shen Fubai and Jiang Heng.

Initiated by Shen Fubai.

After being a coward so many times, perhaps he was inspired by Director Xu tonight and spurred on by Jiang Heng, deciding to throw caution to the wind.

What was cowardice?

Following one’s heart.

And what was his heart?

It was Jiang Heng.

So he submitted to it.

When Shen Fubai kissed him, Jiang Heng was also taken aback. The room was dimly lit, yet he could still see the beautiful features of the youth right before his eyes.

He had truly envisioned countless possible answers.

Fubai gave him one he had never even considered.

The best one.

Shen Fubai found it tiring to lean over for a prolonged period, so he simply sat down, sharing the sofa with Jiang Heng, leaning slightly forward, hooking his neck to deepen the kiss.

As they kissed, tears began to fall.

When the tears started, Jiang Heng hadn’t realized at first. It wasn’t until he felt the cool liquid sliding down his cheek that he hurriedly released him. “…Fubai?”

His voice was gentle. “What’s wrong?”

Could it be that he couldn’t catch his breath from the kiss?

Shen Fubai indeed couldn’t catch his breath.

From crying.

He choked out. “Jiang Heng, why do you do this to me, making me cry. I’m a grown man, yet you have me sobbing all the time.”

What kind of feeling was it?

Loving someone for many years, believing you would silently guard them forever, only to receive a response one day, discovering they harbored the same feelings. It wasn’t unrequited love, not a one-sided infatuation, the person you liked also liked you.

How blissful was that. Blissful to the point of not daring to believe such happiness could descend upon oneself.

How could one not weep with joy?

Shen Fubai was in that state of mind, elated, excited, disbelieving, a mix of emotions, wanting nothing more than to cry his heart out in Jiang Heng’s embrace.

“Fubai.” Jiang Heng took out tissues to wipe away Shen Fubai’s tears, his tone gentle yet anxious. “Tell me, what’s going on? Did I act too abruptly…”

“What abruptness!” Shen Fubai whispered. “If only you had told me earlier. I wouldn’t have had to hide it so painfully.” Shen Fubai’s voice was low. “I like you too. Not Yu Tang likes you, but Shen Fubai likes you. I… Waaah, I can’t continue, let me cry for a bit.”

Jiang Heng paused.

Fubai also liked… him?

This was likely a dreamy night.

You gazed at the moon, too afraid to pluck it, unaware that the moon had long been watching you, wishing it could rush towards you.

You stared at the stars, praising their brightness, not knowing that in the stars’ eyes, you shone the brightest, longing to fall into the palm of your hand.

You weren’t engaged in a one-sided pursuit.

I am with you.

That night, in Room 607.

“Heng Heng, I have some unfortunate news for you, you can retire now.” Shen Fubai sat cross-legged on the bed, grabbing onto Bear Heng Heng’s two arms, speaking solemnly to it.

Bear Heng Heng: “…”

“You can protest all you want. I’ve already gotten the real deal.” Shen Fubai declared cruelly and mercilessly. “You’re banished to the cold palace.”

Bear Heng Heng: “…”

“Oh dear, tonight.” Shen Fubai buried his face in Bear Heng Heng’s fluffy fur, rubbing against it incessantly. “I’m so embarrassed. Why did I cry again. I haven’t cried in ages, yet Heng Heng has witnessed all my tears. He must think I’m so weak.”

Bear Heng Heng: Go away, don’t touch Laozi.

Shen Fubai raised his head again, staring haughtily at this stuffed bear. “Right, forgot I can’t kiss you anymore, Heng Heng will be jealous. I won’t be hugging you to sleep anymore, I’ll hug him instead.”

Bear Heng Heng: Jealous of a stuffed bear, are you guys alright??

If toys had souls, Bear Heng Heng would have beaten Shen Fubai and Jiang Heng to a pulp.

Shen Fubai opened his notes app, typing a few lines.

July 25th

I’m in love.

My boyfriend’s name is—

Jiang Heng.