Chapter 15 – The Moon Over the Lake

That night, Xi Yufeng sent over a PDF document. Upon opening it, Jiang Ruo found it was an agreement. Skimming through it, he chuckled. Wasn’t it just about being kept? Why make it so serious, as if it were a billion-dollar project?

To put it bluntly, it was rather ridiculous.

Although upon closer inspection, most of the agreement favored Party B, which was Jiang Ruo, including guarantees of ample exposure during the term of the agreement, specifying the level and quantity of film and television resources he would receive annually.

To receive such treatment for sleeping with someone, and especially a handsome, single man, Jiang Ruo should feel grateful. Yet, inexplicably, he felt an indescribable discomfort.

Xi Yufeng asked him to check if there was anything unreasonable, saying it could be modified. Jiang Ruo thought about it and said, “It’s pretty unreasonable alright, every clause tilts the advantage toward me.”

Receiving this voice message, Xi Yufeng had just arrived home.

The agreement was drafted by his assistant; he hadn’t even had time to look at it before sending it to Jiang Ruo.

The murky atmosphere from the drinking session followed him home. Xi Yufeng took a shower and changed into clean clothes before picking up his phone again.

After scanning through the agreement’s contents, finding nothing wrong, he was somewhat puzzled — wasn’t the purpose of accepting a kept relationship precisely for these benefits?

He replied to Jiang Ruo, “This is what you deserve.”

Recalling that he had told Jiang Ruo something similar before, he wondered how Jiang Ruo had reacted then.

He seemed quite unhappy, his expression turning sour as he withdrew the paper with his name and ID number written on it.

Xi Yufeng vaguely understood his mindset — it was likely his pride at play, feeling his dignity was being trampled.

Even though Xi Yufeng had no intention of doing so.

This time, Jiang Ruo didn’t show much of a reaction, at least not audibly.

“You should ask for something too,” Jiang Ruo said casually. “Otherwise, I won’t feel at ease.”

Xi Yufeng asked him, “What should I ask for?”

“A certain number of visits per week, or on-demand services…something like that.” Jiang Ruo wasn’t sure himself. “Isn’t this where you should have the most experience?”

“Hmm.” Xi Yufeng found his line of thinking. “Then, after you finish shooting this drama.”

He wasn’t a man of excessive desires and disliked imposing on others, making them cancel work to accommodate him.

Perhaps amused by his laissez-faire attitude, Jiang Ruo asked, “I mean, what do you get out of keeping me?”

This question left Xi Yufeng momentarily stunned.

A cigarette between his fingers, white smoke wafted upwards. After a while, he lifted it to his lips, slowly drawing on it.

It seemed his life was too bland and boring, needing fresh colors and different pleasures.

So he replied, “For happiness.”

But Jiang Ruo didn’t have the self-awareness to be a source of joy. He continued eating, sleeping, and shooting dramas daily, spending his free time playing mahjong and cards with his crewmates. By the end of the shoot, not only did his acting skills improve, but his gambling skills soared as well.

On the day they wrapped the last scene, stepping off the stage, Jiang Ruo received bouquets of flowers from a group led by Tang Jiani, along with congratulations for finishing the drama. Immediately afterward, he heard from Xiao Shen that the lawsuit for contract termination was going smoothly, and the court had ruled in favor of the plaintiff. Taking a deep breath, Jiang Ruo felt warmth fill his lungs, finally gaining a tangible sense of spring’s arrival.

After the farewell dinner, rushing back to the city, he heard rustling sounds coming from An He’s room as soon as he entered.

Approaching the door, he saw An He sitting on the bed, packing clothes, with a suitcase spread out on the floor. Jiang Ruo asked, somewhat bewildered, “Where are you going?”

An He looked up at the sound, grinning. “Big star is back, quick, give me a few autographs. When the drama airs, I’ll sell them online.”

Ignoring his flattery, Jiang Ruo threw down his still-unpacked luggage on the ground and walked in. “I’m asking you, where are you going?”

“Not going anywhere, still in Feng City.” An He lowered his head, a bit guilty. “It’s about the person I mentioned to you, he wants me to move in and live with him.”

Jiang Ruo processed this for a moment. “That Meng guy?”

“Mm-hm.”

“He asks you to go, and you go? Are you two that close yet? Those rich kids don’t have staying power; don’t let him kick you out after a few days.”

An He gripped the clothes in his hand tightly, then loosened his grip. “At least he’s been good to me right now, and generous. If we can quickly gather the three hundred thousand, you can pay off your debt sooner. I don’t want to always…be taken care of by you.”

Feeling the pressure of unilaterally receiving help, Jiang Ruo empathized, and since An He had already said this much, he had no grounds to argue.

Jiang Ruo could only warn, “Then don’t get too involved.”

“How could I?” An He appeared clear-headed. “Just a transaction, isn’t it what you said? Love and affection are external things, not as important as money.”

These words stung Jiang Ruo unexpectedly.

In reality, regarding this aspect, based solely on personal experience, An He knew far more than him.

After a long pause, Jiang Ruo muttered, “Then what about this house? I’ll be alone here.”

An He laughed again. “I’ll come back often.” Pointing to the balcony, he added, “Your flowers and plants, aren’t they alive and well because of me?”

Jiang Ruo rolled his eyes. “Then take them with you and grow them with your Brother Meng.”

In the end, not all were taken away, leaving a few pots in their original place.

Sending An He off, Jiang Ruo took a distant look at that Meng fellow, seeing him drape his arm around An He’s shoulders and considerately open the car door for him. His heart eased slightly.

Back inside, Jiang Ruo first watered the plants, then went to the kitchen to boil a pot of water, dropping noodles into the pot.

His mind wandered frequently while cooking, causing the boiling water to overflow twice. The noodles he fished out were so soft they could easily be broken with chopsticks.

After eating a few bites, he lost his appetite. Jiang Ruo set down his chopsticks, sat at the dining table, and continued to space out, supporting his chin.

He could understand actors who finished one drama and immediately started another, becoming accustomed to being busy and being needed — both were conditions akin to a disease that was hard to shake once contracted.

Taking out his phone, he browsed through the schedule Xiao Shen had organized. A magazine photoshoot was next week, meaning Jiang Ruo had five days of nothing to do after that.

It was bound to be a tough stretch. Tapping out of the schedule, he opened his phone’s contacts list.

There weren’t many numbers. He was used to scrolling to the bottom and flipping upward, so a number named “Xi Yufeng” soon appeared.

His thumb hovered above it for a few seconds but ultimately didn’t press down.

He had sent Xi Yufeng a message the day before the wrap, intending to notify him, and Xi Yufeng had only replied with an “Mm” character. Jiang Ruo assumed he was busy and didn’t bother guessing his thoughts.

When Xi Yufeng needed him, he would naturally seek him out.

Scrolling further up, he saw Song Shiyun’s number. Jiang Ruo hesitated slightly before pressing the dial button.

The next afternoon, Jiang Ruo arrived at a restaurant near the Star Return Dance Group as agreed. As soon as he walked in, he saw Song Shiyun waving at him from a window-side seat. “Jiang Ruo, over here!”

Approaching, Jiang Ruo realized there were several familiar faces from the dance troupe at the table, as well as two people he didn’t recognize.

Song Shiyun pulled him to sit beside her, introducing him. “This is the director of the Fanghua Theater Troupe, and this is the deputy director. They’re currently preparing a musical and need a male dancer, so I recommended you.”

Facing the scrutinizing gazes of strangers, Jiang Ruo smiled and nodded at them in greeting.

The meal wasn’t particularly enjoyable. Having been away from the dance circle for two years, he couldn’t contribute to their discussions about industry trends.

Song Shiyun noticed his discomfort and tried to shift the conversation to him several times. “Our Jiang Ruo is impressive now, just finished shooting a big production. Once the drama airs, it can bring some buzz to our musical.”

Jiang Ruo waved his hand, saying he wasn’t worthy, just a supporting actor, and didn’t perform well. The director of the Fanghua Theater Troupe laughed and said, “Teacher Jiang is being modest. Our field is niche; to reach a broader audience, we still rely on mainstream actors like you to lead the way.”

They exchanged pleasantries for a while until everyone grew tired and left their seats to go outside for fresh air.

Jiang Ruo also stood up and asked a passing waiter to point him in the direction of the restroom, then headed that way.

Due to its remote location, even on weekends, the restaurant had few customers. Therefore, despite being around a corner and a considerable distance away, Jiang Ruo could hear clearly the conversation between the very polite director and a former acquaintance.

“Are you really going to let him participate in your production?”

“I only promised Teacher Song I’d consider it.”

“Well, you should think it over carefully.”

“What, I heard this Jiang Ruo was once the pillar of your dance troupe, he should be pretty talented?”

“Who knows, he hasn’t been on stage for over two years. Even if he graduated from a prestigious dance academy, does quitting school count?”

“Quitting school?”

“Yeah, because of breaking rules, he even spent time in jail.”

“There’s such a thing?”

“Not only that, his private life was chaotic too, tangled up with the son of our old director…it’s a long story, but later, when he got caught, it was related to this. If you really use him, you should be careful not to have it dug up and smear your troupe’s reputation.”

…

The two chatted and planned to go outside for a smoke.

As their footsteps faded, Jiang Ruo turned around and saw Song Shiyun standing less than two meters behind him, looking at him apologetically.

On the bus ride back, Jiang Ruo received several messages from Song Shiyun.

They were essentially the same things she had said to his face earlier, “didn’t know that person would bring this up,” “it’s all in the past, don’t take it to heart,” and so on. At the end, she even promised Jiang Ruo that she would recommend him to other troupes.

Jiang Ruo stared blankly for a moment, picked up his phone, and replied: No need, thank you, Sister Song.

The reason he had arranged to meet Song Shiyun this time was merely to ask if the rehearsal hall had any available time slots — he wanted to rent it to practice dancing.

He knew Song Shiyun had acted out of kindness and didn’t expect it to backfire. This incident couldn’t be blamed on anyone, but he felt uneasy. He couldn’t even force a smile, so he made an excuse and left.

During rush hour, the bus jostled left and right among the traffic. After barely traveling a segment, it was stopped at a red light in front of a station.

Turning his head, Jiang Ruo looked out the window. On the opposite side of the road stood a towering building that rose from the ground. The glass railings of its terraces reflected colorful lights from the city’s neon, shimmering brilliantly.

Approximately fifteen minutes later, a solid double-door lock beeped open.

Taking two steps inside, Jiang Ruo remembered he hadn’t changed his shoes and circled back to the entrance, pressing the switch on the wall as he passed.

The ceiling lamp illuminated brightly, revealing a vast empty space.

Remembering that he avoided his rental apartment because he disliked the loneliness, he ended up in an even quieter place. Jiang Ruo couldn’t help but laugh at himself.

But since he was here, he decided to make the best of it. Jiang Ruo took out a pair of non-woven fabric slippers, slipped them on, and walked in.

The password for the smart lock was given to him by Xi Yufeng on the day he received the agreement. The security guard had also recorded Jiang Ruo’s personal information long ago. At the time, Jiang Ruo felt it was unnecessary, asking Xi Yufeng if he wanted to keep a beauty hidden away. Xi Yufeng replied, “According to protocol, I should arrange a place for you to stay.”

The tone suggested it was his first time keeping a lover.

Last time, the homeowner hadn’t looked closely, so this time, Jiang Ruo wandered freely, from the bedroom to the kitchen and onto the balcony he liked so much. Except for the closed study, he toured every part.

Finally, he stopped by the outdoor pool, staring at the rippling, clear water for a while. Then, Jiang Ruo leaped forward, diving in.

When Xi Yufeng returned, Jiang Ruo had already emerged from the water.

The house’s door lock was linked to his personal account. Whenever someone other than him opened the door, a notification would be pushed to his phone. So an hour ago, he knew Jiang Ruo had arrived.

The ceiling light in the hall was on, but the balcony remained dark. From the entrance, a slim figure could be seen standing by the pool, a wet white T-shirt clinging to his body, his pants also wet, a puddle of water at his feet.

He had jumped in without taking off his clothes.

Standing there, facing the silent black sky overhead, no one knew what he was thinking.

Suddenly, he squatted down, then stood up, spinning and twisting his hips left and right in a smooth motion. Then, his shoulders circled, his waist swayed, and his entire body undulated and vibrated like a wave.

A series of casual and leisurely movements, completely different from the two performances he had seen before. It should belong to jazz dance, the style the second male lead Xie Fangyuan of “When Orioles Take Flight” later switched to.

A genre predominantly danced by women nowadays, Jiang Ruo performed it without any discordance, emitting laziness but also a unique…sexiness through the combination of flexibility and strength.

Unable to resist, Xi Yufeng stepped forward, standing beside the sliding door, watching through the pane of glass.

He didn’t watch for long before being noticed.

A flick of the head directed Jiang Ruo’s gaze, and upon seeing the silhouette, he was initially startled. But when he recognized the face and identified the person, he relaxed visibly.

He even laughed. “You rich folks walk without making a sound?”

Xi Yufeng then slid open the door and approached.

Jiang Ruo’s laughter became more pronounced. “Alright, alright, there’s a sound, I just didn’t hear it earlier.”

He shook his head, flinging water from his hair, then turned to grab a towel piled by the poolside. Just as he touched one and unfolded it, before he could drape it over himself, he sensed a dark shadow looming over him.

Behind him was a stone table, and the sudden proximity of another person caused Jiang Ruo to instinctively step back, his hand supported at the edge of the table.

Lifting his head, he met Xi Yufeng’s face, which was even deeper due to backlighting.

As the aggressor, Xi Yufeng leaned over, his hands placed on either side of Jiang Ruo’s body, trapping him within his embrace.

Glancing down, he could see Jiang Ruo’s prominent collarbone beside his neckline, rising and falling slightly with his slightly hurried breathing.

The thin layer of skin covering it was pale to the point of luminosity, like waves on the sea on a sunny day, or more like the moonlight on a lake at night.

And Jiang Ruo thought of the same imagery.

Meeting Xi Yufeng’s gaze, those distant yet close eyes fell upon him, akin to the cold moonlight outside the window.

A low voice sounded by his ear, “Do you dancers like to look up at people?”

Knowing it was a response to his previous tease, Jiang Ruo shook his head seriously.

Then, he raised his neck, leaned in, and pressed his lips against the corner of Xi Yufeng’s pursed lips.