Chapter 31 – Dance

Jiang Ruo stared unblinkingly at the man before him, trying to engrave his current appearance deep into his mind.

This made Xi Yufeng laugh. “Breathe.”

Reminded, Jiang Ruo came back to his senses and forcefully exhaled.

Who had given the steps, and who had descended along those steps, no longer mattered.

After Xi Yufeng finished his shower and returned to the room, Jiang Ruo, lying on the bed, belatedly counted on his fingers. “Only eleven days since we last met…not really that long.”

“It was you who said it felt like a long time,” Xi Yufeng said.

Jiang Ruo subconsciously hadn’t counted their hurried encounter that night in Guang City, and he naturally didn’t want to mention it now. He sat up and snatched the towel from Xi Yufeng’s hand. “Sit.”

Xi Yufeng sat on the edge of the bed, and Jiang Ruo knelt behind him, rubbing his hair dry.

As he did so, he muttered about how getting your hair wet could lead to catching a cold or fever, something even kindergarten kids knew.

Xi Yufeng explained, “I went to Scandinavia for business; it’s cold there.”

Jiang Ruo replied, “Well, when it’s cold, you should dress warmer — it’s common sense written in a kindergarten health manual.”

Xi Yufeng chuckled.

Because of some reason, neither of them felt drowsy.

A lamp by the bedside cast warm yellow light that, refracted through etched glass, fell upon them in patches like tree shadows.

Jiang Ruo lay on his stomach on the bed, unable to keep his mouth idle. While playing with his phone, he recited rap lyrics: “You don’t sleep, I don’t sleep, look at us two…”

He paused halfway through. Xi Yufeng turned to look at him. “What about us two?”

Jiang Ruo didn’t answer. Instead, he handed over his phone. “Today’s promotional photos.”

Xi Yufeng took it and flipped through the pictures. The boy in the photos had a slight downturn at the corners of his mouth, his gaze drifting somewhere other than the lens. Coupled with his slender and tall figure, he managed to imbue ordinary clothing with a unique sense of despondency characteristic of autumn and winter, creating a contrast yet harmony with his own temperament.

Xi Yufeng was engrossed in viewing the photos and took quite a while to respond. Jiang Ruo grew impatient. “How do they look?”

“Very good.” He flipped through a few more pictures. “But you look somewhat unhappy.”

“The brand requested me to look cooler,” Jiang Ruo shrugged. “And I wasn’t in a good mood at the time, so I couldn’t smile.”

Why he wasn’t in a good mood was self-evident.

Xi Yufeng saw through it but didn’t point it out, merely giving a slight smile.

Jiang Ruo then showed Xi Yufeng the cat he had photographed on set and asked a question he hadn’t sent earlier. “Look, doesn’t it resemble you?”

Xi Yufeng looked at it for a moment. “Was this what you tried to recall?”

Jiang Ruo was taken aback. “You saw it?”

“I didn’t get to open it in time.”

“…You saw it and still ignored me.”

“Aren’t I here looking for you?”

The topic inevitably circled back. Jiang Ruo grumbled, “You weren’t looking for me, you were coming to…inspect my activities, right?”

He originally wanted to say “you came to anger me,” but upon second thought, it was understandable for him to be upset by his sugar daddy, so he changed his words mid-sentence.

Perhaps finding the revised phrasing amusing, Xi Yufeng asked, “So, you’re saying I shouldn’t inspect?”

“You can,” Jiang Ruo said. “Then you should have heard me refuse, right? I’m very clear about the five-year contract. I still have basic professional ethics; how could I screw around with others?”

Xi Yufeng sighed again. “This mouth — ”

Jiang Ruo defended himself assertively. “You should’ve known what my mouth is like since we first met. If you can’t handle it, you can — ”

His unfinished words were sealed by a kiss. Xi Yufeng’s palm supported the back of Jiang Ruo’s head as he deepened the kiss.

After breaking apart, he smoothly embraced Jiang Ruo’s shoulders, pulling him into his arms, while his other hand extinguished the bedside lamp.

“Don’t open your eyes,” Xi Yufeng said. “Sleep.”

Jiang Ruo kept his eyes closed. “But you haven’t answered yet, does that cat resemble you?”

In silence for a while, Xi Yufeng said in the darkness, “If you think it resembles me, then it does.”

Their sleep was of high quality, and despite sleeping for only four hours, both woke up refreshed.

Xi Yufeng still had to go to work, and Jiang Ruo was upset that he wouldn’t listen. He said he wouldn’t care anymore, but when Xi Yufeng put on his shirt, Jiang Ruo shamelessly ran back, buttoning it up for him while saying, “It’s colder today, you should wear a coat outside.”

Once Xi Yufeng had his coat on, Jiang Ruo didn’t want to let him go anymore.

While he knew that Xi Yufeng, with his broad shoulders and long legs, was a walking clothes hanger, he hadn’t expected that the effect of him wearing a long coat would be even more stunning.

Jiang Ruo shook his head. “The brand lost out yesterday.”

Xi Yufeng: “Hm?”

Jiang Ruo spoke confidently. “They should have directly hired you as their spokesperson. Sales might have skyrocketed, elevating them to top-tier status overnight.”

Xi Yufeng laughed, thinking that even when this mouth spoke nicely, it still carried a sarcastic tone.

Jiang Ruo also had an appointment today, another photo shoot.

With “When Orioles Take Flight” nearing its finale, the promotional activities for the TV series were also drawing to a close. Perhaps due to his image and temperament, besides script invitations, Jiang Ruo received the most requests from fashion magazines for photo shoots.

The two left together, riding in Xi Yufeng’s usual black business car.

As soon as they got in the car, Jiang Ruo pretended to get out. “Ah, no, if I sit in this car, won’t the nanny car be left unused?”

Xi Yufeng picked up on the hidden meaning in his words and pulled him to sit down. “The nanny car was arranged for convenience.”

Now that his schedule was gradually increasing, there would inevitably be situations where the organizers were less considerate or conditions didn’t allow for an independent rest area. Having a nanny car was much more convenient.

Moreover…

“Regardless, you’re a celebrity,” Xi Yufeng continued. “You should have your own car.”

Jiang Ruo felt gratified and couldn’t resist whispering in his ear — would President Xi like to be with the future big star on the spacious nanny car…

Xi Yufeng seriously warned him, “Behave, Big Star.”

When Jiang Ruo arrived at the shooting location, he saw Xi Yufeng reach into his pocket as he got out of the car. Jiang Ruo quickly snatched away the pack of cigarettes he had just taken out. “Behave, patient.”

Xi Yufeng: “…I’ve already recovered from the fever.”

Jiang Ruo then extracted two cigarettes from the box and handed them over like a ration. “Your share for the daytime today.”

“What about tonight?”

“I’ll give it to you personally.”

Facing such behavior akin to control, Xi Yufeng not only didn’t get angry, but also cooperated with interest. “There’s still a long time until tonight, can I ask for a little interest in advance?”

Jiang Ruo raised an eyebrow, then leaned in and lightly touched Xi Yufeng’s lips.

“How does it feel, Big Star? Did you feel like you hit the jackpot?”

This kiss was in repayment for Xi Yufeng admitting that he missed him last night. After all, to exchange a superfluous flirtation for such a concession was truly a jackpot.

Jiang Ruo believed that at least in that moment, Xi Yufeng was attached to him, revealing genuine feelings.

Even if, in the end, he couldn’t bring himself to say those three words.

Work ended early that day, and Xi Yufeng personally came to pick him up. The two went to Jin Garden for dinner and afterward took the elevator to the private room upstairs.

Jiang Ruo knew it was a social gathering and asked, “Are these business partners or competitors? Should I subtly feed them information or crush them completely?”

“We’re not playing cards today,” Xi Yufeng said. “I’m introducing you to a friend.”

Upon entering the private room, Jiang Ruo realized that the friend in question was Meng Chao, An He’s good older brother.

An He was also present. Seeing Jiang Ruo, he was pleasantly surprised and loudly accused him of favoring romance over friendship. “I can never manage to meet up with you, but the moment a wild man calls, you come running.”

“Wild man” Xi Yufeng explained for Jiang Ruo, “He’s been busy with his schedule recently and hasn’t had much free time.”

When people left to discuss work with Meng Chao, An He winked suggestively. “You two seem pretty close, completely different from what’s said outside.”

Jiang Ruo was curious. “What do they say outside?”

“They say you’re arrogant and favored, beyond control,” An He said. “Last time, he was in the middle of entertaining guests. When he glanced at his phone, he wanted to leave immediately. We asked him what happened, and he said the one at home was causing trouble again and that he needed to rush back immediately.”

Jiang Ruo knew he was being used as a shield once again. “So my reputation outside must be…”

An He continued, “Among lovers, you’re the industry benchmark. In the circle of rich boys, your reputation is terrible.”

Jiang Ruo didn’t care. “That goes both ways. If the reputation is terrible, it’s shared between me and him.”

An He blinked. “Why do I sense a flavor of shared downfall?”

Jiang Ruo propped his chin in one hand and stirred his hot drink with the other, gazing at the most dazzling man among the crowd.

“If you insist on seeing it that way, it’s not entirely wrong.”

After a while, Meng Chao approached with a glass of wine.

He began with flattery. “Mr. Jiang, it’s better to see you in person than to hear about you.”

Jiang Ruo responded, “Then I guess what you ‘heard’ wasn’t anything good.”

Meng Chao laughed. “Rumors aren’t always true. Seeing is believing.”

“So what did you see?”

“A lot,” Meng Chao put down his glass and sat down next to An He. “I saw that Xi Yufeng, who has never known emotions since birth, has found love for you. And I saw that although Mr. Jiang, you clearly have no interest in socializing, you still accompany him to places like this repeatedly.”

“Just doing my job for money,” Jiang Ruo said. “Besides, he was sick yesterday.”

He was completely unaware that there wasn’t necessarily a connection between illness and obedience, but the bystanders were clear-eyed.

An He smiled. “Looks like I’ll have to make him fall ill more often in the future.”

Meng Chao nodded. “Better yet, let him fall ill permanently.”

Jiang Ruo: “?”

After chatting for a while, Xi Yufeng was still discussing matters with someone else. An He couldn’t sit still and went to the bar to watch the bartender mix drinks.

The two remaining people didn’t know each other well and had nothing to talk about, so they discussed An He’s condition.

Meng Chao knew that An He’s previous surgery fees had been paid by Jiang Ruo and took this opportunity to offer to repay the money on An He’s behalf.

Naturally, Jiang Ruo refused. “This is a matter between me and An He. Even if he’s willing to accept your goodwill, this money should be repaid from his hands to mine, unrelated to Mr. Meng.”

Meng Chao clicked his tongue. “Sometimes, in some cases, there’s no need to be too clear-cut.”

Jiang Ruo pondered. “So, after all, what are you to An He? I don’t want you two to drag things out or make things ugly when you separate.”

A hint of amusement appeared in Meng Chao’s eyes. “Are you so certain that we will separate?”

Jiang Ruo was initially taken aback, then smiled. “Preparation for the worst, isn’t that what you businessmen understand best?”

On the way back, Jiang Ruo received a photo sent by An He.

The photo featured two people, Xi Yufeng sitting on the outside, and Jiang Ruo himself leaning inside. The angle made them appear very close.

Under the dim lighting of the bar, they whispered to each other. Xi Yufeng had a smile at the corner of his mouth, and Jiang Ruo’s posture was relaxed. From afar, their gazes seemed to reveal an infatuation.

At first glance, Jiang Ruo backed out. An He asked him how the photo turned out, but he didn’t reply.

Tonight was the grand finale of “When Orioles Take Flight.” Upon arriving home, Xi Yufeng turned on the TV and started playing the penultimate episode.

Knowing he couldn’t stop it, Jiang Ruo simply covered his ears and pretended to be oblivious. He washed some fruit and brought it out, sitting on the carpet with his back to the television, listening to the sounds and observing Xi Yufeng’s expressions.

Even though he had never carefully watched the final cut due to embarrassment, Jiang Ruo vaguely remembered that in the last two episodes, aside from the heroine’s double harvest in love and career, the second male lead, Xie Fangyuan, also experienced a metamorphosis, welcoming his own spring.

The final scene featuring Xie Fangyuan was set at a ball. His childhood sweetheart reconciled, and Xie Fangyuan extended his hand, inviting the heroine to dance with him. Tomorrow, he would leave this place and continue his studies at a dance academy abroad.

For some reason, Jiang Ruo was particularly concerned about the audience’s reaction to this scene. As the music played, he stared at Xi Yufeng, unable to resist asking, “How was my dancing?”

Perhaps intentionally, Xi Yufeng didn’t give a direct answer. “Turn around and watch yourself.”

Jiang Ruo firmly refused to watch and didn’t let Xi Yufeng continue watching either. He climbed from the floor onto the sofa and then sat on Xi Yufeng’s lap, blocking his view with a kiss.

They were too easily aroused, and the kiss soon took on a different flavor. Jiang Ruo sucked on Xi Yufeng’s lips and gently nibbled on his earlobe with his teeth. Then, moving downward, he lightly bit his prominent Adam’s apple.

If he didn’t intervene, they might have proceeded to the lower half of the body at this point.

Xi Yufeng gripped his chin, making him raise his head to meet his gaze. “When you were dancing, didn’t you know how many people were watching you?”

Jiang Ruo retorted stubbornly, “Then why, at Jin Garden earlier, did you know how many people were watching you?”

His provocative demeanor was always so dazzling and proud, stirring desires within one’s heart.

Xi Yufeng’s right hand moved downward, reaching Jiang Ruo’s leg placed at his side, then caressed downward, grasping his ankle adorned with a chain.

Dry and warm fingertips repeatedly stroked the ankle bone. Jiang Ruo’s heart pounded like thunder, as if this piece of skin was directly connected to his heart, and Xi Yufeng’s hand was the conductor wire in between. Once connected, it instantly awakened a high-voltage current capable of igniting an explosion.

Amidst the tremors, a faint voice could be discerned. “Dance?”

Before Jiang Ruo could react, Xi Yufeng pushed him onto the sofa and stood up.

Feeling the sudden emptiness in his arms, Jiang Ruo turned around in surprise, only to see Xi Yufeng standing in front of him, extending his hand.

Palm open, slightly bowing, it was a standard invitation to dance.

In a daze, Jiang Ruo suddenly remembered the reason he hadn’t saved that photo earlier — it was because the two people in the photo looked too much like a normal couple.

It was also too much like an interpretation of how a person could maintain a clear state of mind while engaging in unclear actions.

But at this moment, Jiang Ruo was utterly certain that he was willingly submitting, being led. Even if no normal couple knew the date of their ending from the beginning.

Jiang Ruo, with great ceremony, straightened his body first before raising his hand to place it on Xi Yufeng’s palm.

Being pulled up to stand, they walked to the center of the living room. Jiang Ruo smiled and asked, “Do you actually know how to dance? Don’t step on my feet, okay?”

Xi Yufeng said, “Social events with dance themes aren’t uncommon these days.”

Jiang Ruo laughed even harder. He found it hard to imagine Xi Yufeng inviting others to dance with a cold expression.

After his laughter subsided, he slightly tilted his head to look at Xi Yufeng and said solemnly, “Then for this dance…please teach me.”

Music played, and the melody slowly flowed through the room.

Moving with the rhythm, Jiang Ruo turned his face and slowly leaned against Xi Yufeng’s shoulder, smelling the blended scent of cedarwood and tobacco on him.

Meanwhile, he concealed his nearly entranced expression, as well as the wish that nearly slipped from his lips.

— Could this dance last a little longer?

— How long do you want it to last? A lifetime, perhaps?