Chapter 47

It was like a dream. Lu Wen held the flowers, his gaze like the headlights of a Bentley, staring straight and brightly at Qu Yanting. He was so happy he was dizzy. "I thought you weren't coming!"

Qu Yanting wore a smile, raising a fingertip to flick a clustered lily petal as if scraping a person's cheek. If the little girl arranging the flowers hadn't been so slow, he could have been even faster.

He had expected Lu Wen to be happy, but not to this extent. Qu Yanting recalled the tall, solitary figure in the middle of the road when he braked. He was surprised. "Have you been waiting for me this whole time?"

"I..." Lu Wen lied, "No, I was admiring the snow."

Qu Yanting teased him, "You're in quite a mood."

While they were talking, the rest of the crew came downstairs, carrying boxes and equipment, swarming out of the unit door. Someone sharp-eyed was the first to spot the two figures by the car and shouted, "Is that Teacher Lu? Teacher Lu!"

"What's he doing?" said the costume teacher. "And here I was waiting for him for half a day, he's on a date downstairs."

It was dark. Tao Meifan asked, "Who is Xiao Lu with?"

Kang Daning muttered, "Don't tell me his relationship is being exposed?"

"Exposed my foot!" Ren Shu recognized him and waved, shouting, "Yanting, you came without saying a word!"

Everyone crowded around to say hello. Qu Yanting subconsciously stepped back, grabbing the edge of the leather jacket at Lu Wen's waist, pulling it to shield himself a little.

Lu Wen shifted subtly, holding the bouquet like a knight protecting a flower. He proposed, "Director, it'll be hard to travel later if the snow gets heavier. Why don't we move to a different spot first?"

Ren Shu agreed, "Let's go, let's go, time for our get-together!"

Lu Wen said, "It's my treat tonight. Can I choose the place?"

No one had any objections, cheering as they moved things to the parking lot. Once most of them had dispersed, Lu Wen turned around and said, "We're not going to a karaoke bar, nor a fancy banquet hall."

Qu Yanting was slightly startled. "Is this... to accommodate me?"

"I'm more than willing," Lu Wen said. "So it doesn't count as accommodation."

Snowflakes kept falling, brushing against their faces. Qu Yanting's eyelashes trembled slightly as he allowed himself to push his luck. "What if I hide in the restroom again?"

"Then I'll be at the door again," Lu Wen replied, and only then did he invite him. "Teacher Qu, are you willing to come along?"

Qu Yanting nodded.

Making himself completely at home, Lu Wen turned and slipped into the passenger seat. Qu Yanting couldn't very well kick him out, so he got in the car too, acting as this kid's driver for the second time.

As they drove out of the residential area's gate, they passed the dirty Porsche. Ren Shu rolled down his window. "You two are hilarious."

Qu Yanting also lowered his. "What's so hilarious?"

Ren Shu said, "Xiao Lu sitting in your passenger seat holding flowers, at first glance I thought you were giving your girlfriend a ride."

Qu Yanting said, "Your girlfriend looks like a pillar? Get going."

With the windows rolled up, one car followed the other onto the road. The crew's vehicles followed behind, forming an imposing train through the snowy night. The place Lu Wen found was an izakaya, two stories tall, with red Japanese lanterns hanging by the entrance.

Everyone was tired and cold, and this was just the kind of place they needed. A pot of warm sake, a bowl of hot noodles, to put a warm end to the high-intensity crew life.

Both floors were filled. The booths and long tatami tables were all occupied, crowded and lively. Qu Yanting chose a seat at the bar, tucked away in the corner, with a stylish mural on the wall to his right.

Lu Wen sat to his left and asked, "Teacher Qu, what would you like to drink?"

Qu Yanting didn't like sake, so he ordered beer and plum wine. The men from the directing team were wilder; they went to a nearby liquor store and brought back a case of baijiu, looking like they were ready to drink their fill.

The first round of toasts was to celebrate the successful wrap-up for Lu Wen and Tao Meifan. The "mother and son" had quite a few scenes. Lu Wen called out "Mom" from afar, and was scolded by Ren Shu with "sucking up to the veteran actor."

Afraid of embarrassing himself if he got drunk, Lu Wen paced himself. He made a round and returned to his high stool, seeing Qu Yanting eating chicken skewers in the corner. He sat down sideways and reached out to touch the other's glass rim.

Qu Yanting raised his glass. "Want to toast me?"

"Yeah." Lu Wen chuckled. "Teacher Qu, do you still remember the start-of-filming banquet, when I came into the private room to toast you?"

Qu Yanting pressed his lips together, afraid of laughing too openly. The embarrassing things Lu Wen had done back in Chongqing were simply innumerable. He drank half a bottle of beer and offered his official congratulations, "Your next project will be even better."

A new round of sashimi was served with thick green wasabi. Since Qu Yanting could handle spicy food, he was fearless, dipping a piece generously and stuffing it into his mouth. Three to five seconds later, he choked and turned his head away to cough quietly.

Lu Wen was gloating. Leaning on the back of the other's chair, he leaned in to look, when suddenly, Qu Yanting turned back, trying to keep a straight face. His face was red, his eyes were wet, and the tip of his nose was rubbed until it looked like a cherry blossom had landed there.

All the teasing jokes got stuck in his throat. Lu Wen hastily looked away, sat up straight, and pushed the cumin seasoning forward, saying something completely irrelevant, "This grilled beef tongue is quite fragrant, it'll help."

Qu Yanting asked lightly, "Why aren't you looking at me anymore?"

Lu Wen replied, "It's impolite to gloat."

The bar was filled with cups and dishes. The tip of Qu Yanting's chopsticks reached over and picked up a slice of beef tongue. There was a faint chewing sound, followed by the sound of him gulping down his drink.

Qu Yanting finished the remaining half of the beer, grabbed a new bottle, and skillfully bit off the cap with his white teeth. He tilted his head back and downed another half. Only then did Lu Wen realize that there were already four empty bottles by the wall.

Qu Yanting hadn't interacted with anyone else; it seemed like he was drinking alone to drown his sorrows. And he was indeed sorrowful. The troubles from the past two days had been weighing on him, and tonight he was taking the opportunity to drink them away.

Ren Shu came over with a glass, standing in the gap behind Lu Wen's and Qu Yanting's seats. "Sitting so far out of the way, you made me look for you."

Qu Yanting put down his chopsticks. "Want to have a drink?"

The circle was only so big, and news traveled fast. Ren Shu had already heard some rumors and asked in a low voice, "I heard you took on an idol drama. Is it true?"

Since he had already accepted it, being evasive would be ungracious. Qu Yanting replied, "It's true."

Ren Shu was surprised. "That's not your style. Is it a collaboration or something?"

"It's an existing script." Qu Yanting didn't explain in detail. "My name will be on it."

Ren Shu didn't ask any more questions. They clinked glasses, and he was called away by the directing team. Qu Yanting drained his glass in one gulp and was silent for a while. He turned his head and noticed Lu Wen's strange expression.

"What's wrong with you?" Qu Yanting asked.

Lu Wen didn't understand the complexities of the screenwriting industry, but he had understood what was just said. He retorted, "Why would you put your name on someone else's script?"

Qu Yanting gave a scornful laugh for a moment. This damn issue just wouldn't go away, would it? He answered, "The pay is high."

Lu Wen said, "But you didn't write the story."

Qu Yanting said, "I didn't write it, but it bears my name, and they give me money. It's like a pie falling from the sky."

Lu Wen said, "That's cheating!"

Qu Yanting tacitly agreed and bit open another bottle of beer.

Lu Wen was a little anxious. He had misunderstood Qu Yanting many times, whether in his actions or his character, and each time Qu Yanting had proven his integrity. That's why he was unwilling to believe Qu Yanting would do something like this.

"Teacher Qu." Lu Wen wouldn't give up. "Is it true?"

Qu Yanting said, "I just drafted the contract with my lawyer this afternoon. Do you think it's true or false?"

Lu Wen said urgently, "Why? You're not this kind of person!"

Qu Yanting felt as if he'd been struck over the head. He was dizzy and in pain, unable to make sense of his own good and bad, his own cleanliness and filth. He leaned back against the chair, tilting his head back. The paper umbrellas hanging from the ceiling beams seemed to spin, stirring up his suppressed emotions like dust.

He said softly, "It seems you don't know me."

Lu Wen had a strong sense of right and wrong. He said awkwardly, "Maybe."

"Now you understand what kind of person I am?" Qu Yanting said to himself. "Are you very disappointed?"

Before Lu Wen could answer, the seat beside him was empty.

Qu Yanting grabbed two bottles of beer with one hand and left his seat to find the photography team's booth. Compared to the discomfort of facing a table of people, he was more eager to drink to his heart's content right now.

They had gotten familiar when he was the substitute director. Duan Meng said, "Screenwriter Qu, you have to drink baijiu at our table."

Qu Yanting shook the beer bottles. "I'll drink it mixed."

A large glass of beer was dropped into a shot of baijiu. He downed it in one go before they mixed. Without a change in expression, Qu Yanting downed three in a row, the alcohol flowing into his organs.

From a distance, Lu Wen was conflicted, half anxious and half angry. 'Is he crazy, drinking like that?' But Qu Yanting wouldn't listen to him. He randomly grabbed a waiter and said, "Make some hangover-sobering ramen for that table, quickly!"

The dinner party lasted late into the night. The photography team was in the worst state; of the seven or eight men, the entire army was practically wiped out. Some had passed out, some had gone to throw up, and the table was filled with faces as red as pig liver.

Qu Yanting was also drunk, but it didn't show on his face, only a light flush on his eyelids.

A few production assistants would take care of the crew members. After settling the bill, Lu Wen grabbed his coat and headed straight for the booth. The empty bottles under his feet clinked and clanked. He bent down and gently patted Qu Yanting's arm. "Teacher Qu?"

Qu Yanting opened his eyes and grunted.

Lu Wen pulled him up, put his coat on him, and half-carried, half-supported him by the waist out of the restaurant. Qu Yanting didn't sway much and was very well-behaved. If he hadn't spoken, you wouldn't even have known he was drunk.

"Who is it?" Unfortunately, he spoke.

Lu Wen was already unhappy and was now being assaulted by the strong smell of alcohol. He tightened his arm and replied through gritted teeth, "A living samaritan."

Qu Yanting chuckled. As soon as they were out the door, a cold wind rushed at them. He hid closer to Lu Wen's side and felt something was off. He frowned. "What are you touching me for?"

Lu Wen was looking for the car keys. He found them and tossed them to a person waiting at the door—the Lu family's driver, Xiao Shao.

After much effort, they were on the road. Lu Wen opened a bottle of mineral water for Qu Yanting to drink and had the driver bring a bag of sour plums, which he also fed him. Suddenly, the car jolted violently.

Lu Wen slapped the driver's seat. "Drive a little steadier for me!"

Xiao Shao said, "A speed bump..."

Qu Yanting also wanted to speak. "Sir, to Linxie Garden, on the meter."

"Ah, alright." Xiao Shao played along. "Do you need a receipt?"

Lu Wen was speechless. "What are you being so glib for?"

Xiao Shao asked, "Young Master, who is this gentleman?"

Lu Wen didn't want to reveal too much, so he said vaguely, "My boss."

They arrived at Linxie Garden. Lu Wen was a little surprised; he hadn't expected Qu Yanting to live in such an ordinary residential area. After helping him out of the car, Qu Yanting refused to move and pulled out a hundred yuan to stuff into Xiao Shao's hand.

The snow hadn't stopped, and the ground was a vast expanse of white. Qu Yanting was enveloped by the heat of the alcohol, and his drunkenness grew stronger. Lu Wen was worried and followed him. The two of them got their feet covered in snow.

They finally managed to get into the elevator and up to the ninth floor. Afraid of disturbing the neighbors, Lu Wen held Qu Yanting tightly to keep him from wandering, while trying to open the door. In the pitch-black room, a pair of eyes glowed faintly. Commander Huang let out a cry that warned strangers to stay away.

Lu Wen jumped in fright, shut the door, and fumbled for the light switch on the wall.

Before he could find it, Qu Yanting wrapped his arms around his waist.

Lu Wen stood frozen. The warm scent of alcohol washed over the side of his neck. Qu Yanting rested his head on his shoulder, not too heavily, occupying most of his embrace.

He couldn't tell if Qu Yanting's action was unintentional or instinctual.

His hands came down. Lu Wen pressed against Qu Yanting's back, while his other hand moved up, easily cupping the back of the other's head. There was melted snow in the fine strands of hair, cool to the touch.

Suddenly, Qu Yanting moved slightly. "Aren't you disappointed?"

Lu Wen swallowed silently, responding with silence.

Qu Yanting spoke again, "Then why are you still following me?"

The hold on his waist suddenly loosened. Lu Wen felt Qu Yanting let go of him. He panicked slightly, but unexpectedly, Qu Yanting, clumsy from drunkenness, raised his hand and poked him in the chest with his index finger.

Qu Yanting poked and complained, his voice so small, "You have no conscience..."

Lu Wen was paralyzed in the darkness, as if only his heart was still alive.

The body under his palm was faintly unsteady, slowly sinking downwards. In a strange house, under the surveillance of a pair of cat's eyes, on the first snowy night of this winter—

Lu Wen lifted Qu Yanting into a princess carry.

"Stop poking," he pleaded in a deep voice. "I was wrong, okay?"