Chapter 18. Kwon Ji-yong adjusts his ears in front of the makeup mirror...

As Kwon Ji-yong adjusted his in-ear monitor in front of the makeup mirror, he tapped his phone screen for the nth time. The last message in the chat window was from Ren Xiyao, sent six hours earlier: "Just boarded a plane from St. Petersburg back to Beijing." His manager noticed his frequent phone unlocking in the mirror and couldn't help but remind him, tapping his shoulder with the script: "You're going to wear yourself out staring at your phone like that. Don't keep looking at your phone during the group interview with reporters later."

A while ago, the company secured a commercial performance in Shanghai. To be honest, he was excited when he heard about it. But unfortunately, Ren Xiyao was still in St. Petersburg at the time. Even if she landed, it would be in Beijing. It would be a lie to say he wasn't disappointed. During the afternoon rehearsal, he stood on the stage of the Mercedes-Benz Arena, looking at the empty audience seats, and for some reason, he suddenly remembered Ren Xiyao saying that the Shanghai Oriental Sports Center was the venue for the Short Track Speed ​​Skating Super Cup, and that the ice surface maintenance was sometimes even better than that of the winter training center.

"GDxi, it's time to change." The stylist came over with the costume. The black leather jacket was studded with rhinestones and was heavy enough to be used as a bulletproof vest. As he put on the clothes, he unconsciously looked at his phone again.

"GDxi!" the stage manager urged. He shoved his phone into his manager's hand, and as he turned around, the rhinestones on his leather jacket snagged the in-ear monitor cable.

The performance was a great success. The sound of tens of thousands of people singing along made his eardrums tingle, and sweat soaked his shirt to his back. When he returned backstage, his assistant handed him his still-vibrating phone, which contained two missed calls and a new message from Ren Xiyao.

"I've arrived in Beijing. If I can catch the last high-speed train, I'll arrive in Shanghai around 11 a.m.

It is 10:19 PM now.

He ripped off his soaked hairband, his fingers hovering over the keyboard for a long time before finally dialing the number. It rang for a while before being answered; the background voice was a mechanical female voice, presumably announcing the station, but Kwon Ji-yong couldn't quite understand it.

"Where are you?" he asked in English, his voice trembling slightly.

"I took the high-speed train to Shanghai, but I didn't tell anyone because I was worried about flight delays. When I got to Beijing, I saw there were still tickets available, so I bought them." Her breathing was tinged with static: "Your victory celebration..."

"I'll come pick you up." He interrupted her, loosening the buttons on his collar that felt stuffy. "Shanghai Station or Hongqiao Station?"

"No need." She paused for a moment, then lowered her voice and said, "It's too much trouble..."

“No trouble at all. And it won’t be very noticeable.” He had already started unbuttoning his leather jacket. “Tell me which station.”

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone: "Hongqiao, arrive at 11:09."

The assistant watched in horror as he ripped off his stage costume and pulled on a crumpled hoodie: "Brother! The president said the celebration party has to be..."

"I'll just say I have gastroenteritis and I'm not feeling well, so I'm going home first." He stuffed a mask into his pocket, grabbed his car keys, and ran to the parking lot.

It was past 11 PM at Hongqiao Station. Ren Xiyao dragged her suitcase towards the exit, clutching a coat she'd taken off after landing. April in St. Petersburg, Beijing, and Shanghai felt like three different seasons. Her hair was casually tied up, and the wool scarf her coach had given her hung around her neck. The exit was crowded with people waiting to pick up passengers. She looked down at her phone, trying to contact Quan Zhilong, when suddenly someone grabbed the handle of her suitcase.

"here."

Kwon Ji-yong was wearing a black mask and baseball cap, his bangs were soaked with sweat and clumped together, and the collar of his gray hoodie was askew. While she was still in a daze, he had already slung her backpack over his shoulder: "The car is parked underground."

"You..." She quickly followed, glancing at him warily, then asked in a low voice, "Isn't there a victory celebration banquet?"

The car was already air-conditioned, and as Ren Xiyao took off her scarf, she smelled the car's air freshener and the lingering scent of stage hairspray on Kwon Ji-yong. The navigation showed it would take forty minutes to get to the Bund. Looking at the neon lights flashing past the window, she thought, "Actually, it's not necessary..."

"The translator here said there will be fireworks today." He tightened his grip on the steering wheel. "Consider it compensation for the show you missed."

Ren Xiyao turned to look at him. He was still wearing a very sparkly earring on his right ear, which looked dazzlingly bright. The glitter he hadn't removed was also eye-catching in the dim light.

The Bund was packed with people, and no one noticed them. They blended into the crowd like two fish swimming against the current. Ren Xiyao's hair, which had been casually styled, now looked even looser and more disheveled. Quan Zhilong suddenly grabbed her wrist: "Over here."

"How did you know about a place like this?" she asked, panting as she leaned against the rusty iron railing. Finding a spot like this amidst the crowds on the Bund—even locals might not be able to do that.

“I asked my translator to come and scout this place for me last night. His house is nearby.” He leaned against the railing and pulled his mask down slightly. Jiang Feng lifted the hood of his hoodie, revealing his reddened ear tips.

"I don't think I said I was coming."

"I don't know if it was fate that wanted to do this."

As the fireworks exploded into the sky, their vibrant colors illuminated the magnificent Bund buildings, creating a breathtaking spectacle. Ren Xiyao turned to speak, only to find him staring at her.

"I missed the performance..."

"You've arrived."

They opened their mouths at the same time, and then closed them at the same time.

The Oriental Pearl Tower was bathed in purple light from the fireworks. He pointed to the phone in her hand: "The phone is ringing."

The club's athletes' group chat sent a notice that the team would be gathering the day after tomorrow. She turned off the screen and suddenly asked, "Why did you suddenly come to China to perform?"

"It was arranged by the company." Kwon Ji-yong felt that this sounded too official, so he added, "There were also personal motives involved."

The shimmering light reflected on the river's surface fell into his eyes, reminding Ren Xiyao of stained-glass windows in a church. In the distance, someone was singing "Shanghai Bund," terribly off-key. Kwon Ji-yong pulled a mint he'd swiped from the waiting room into his pocket. He unwrapped it and popped it into his mouth.

Ren Xiyao stared at him for a long time, then suddenly curled the corners of her lips, tiptoed closer to his ear, and said, "You still have glitter on your eyelashes."

Kwon Ji-ryong stood frozen in place, letting her fingertips brush against his eyelids. Amidst the deafening explosions on the opposite bank, he could clearly hear his own heart pounding like a drum.

“Ren Xiyao.” He suddenly stood up straight: “What I’m about to say is different from what I say on stage or in front of the camera.”

A new round of fireworks began to rise into the sky, a golden waterfall illuminating half the night. Ships whistled as they glided across the river, accompanied by explosions. This drowned out his next sentence.

"What?" She leaned closer.

He grabbed Ren Xiyao's hand and leaned down to kiss the back of her hand.

The coolness of the mint and the warmth of his breath simultaneously touched the skin on the back of her hand, and she instinctively tightened her grip on his hand. Fireworks burst overhead, the wooden pier creaked, and some people taking a night stroll shone their flashlights in their direction before discreetly turning away.

"Did you hear that now?" He took a half step back, his ears so red they looked like they could bleed.

Ren Xiyao felt like fireworks were exploding in her mind. She was certain she was adept at handling any unexpected situation that might occur on the track. Even at high speeds, she could make the right judgment in the shortest amount of time with precise vision and a calm mind. But this moment was one in which there was absolutely no precedent in her otherwise orderly life. She didn't know how to react. She stood there, completely stunned.

Kwon Ji-yong stared intently at her, not missing a single expression, looking slightly nervous. Seeing her flustered state, he couldn't help but laugh out loud. His laughter, filled with joy, sounded so pleasant in the brief silence around them.

The river breeze suddenly changed direction, blowing her already slightly disheveled hair. Quan Zhilong reached out and brushed a strand of hair aside, his fingertips pausing when they touched her earlobe: "Ren Xiyao."

"Um?"

The last burst of fireworks exploded overhead, illuminating her tiny reflection in her pupils. Kwon Ji-yong withdrew his hand and put it in his pocket: "What time is the high-speed train back tomorrow?"

Ren Xiyao finally reacted and blinked: "Around 10 o'clock."

"I send you."

"You don't have a job?"

"Then let's not buy tickets yet."

“We artists have to report to the company in advance if we're dating.” Kwon Ji-yong didn’t let go of Ren Xiyao’s hand. “But Kwon Ji-yong doesn’t have to.”

Ren Xiyao was absolutely certain that her brain was still frozen. She couldn't process the information at all. Hearing Quan Zhilong's words, she subconsciously asked, "So?"

"So... if you're ready to accept me, then I'll always be there for you."

In this perfectly balanced atmosphere, neither of them spoke, silently gazing at the riverbank. They watched the brightly lit opposite bank, the dappled light reflected on the water, and heard the occasional rumble of ferries. They sat there quietly, savoring this moment of tranquility and their own time together. Ren Xiyao's brain finally processed the situation at high speed. Taking a deep breath, as if making a firm decision, she said, "Do you know why I came to Shanghai?"

Kwon Ji-ryong held his breath.

“Because…” her voice was soft, but every word was clear: “I want to see you.”

The river breeze suddenly became very gentle.

"I'm willing to be honest and straightforward about my feelings right now, but I also need time to confirm. I genuinely like you as a person, not for any other reason. After all, you always seem to appear at the perfect moment when I'm wavering. I need to confirm that I like you as a person, not just because you happen to be here." Ren Xiyao smiled gently in the night.

In Kwon Ji-yong's eyes, she was like a spirit who had mistakenly entered the mortal world—clean and pure. This time, it was his turn to freeze; her honest heart was like a mirror revealing all pretense. It also forced him to confront his own heart, as if he liked her even more than he had imagined.

Ren Xiyao let out a long sigh and muttered softly, "I feel like my heart is beating faster right now than when I finished skating the Super 3000."

Hearing this, Kwon Ji-yong felt as if a string had snapped in his head. He grabbed her hand and pressed it against his chest through the fabric of her hoodie: "This part of me hasn't been normal since I met you." Ren Xiyao pulled her hand away, then suddenly hugged him while he was still stunned. This hug was devoid of any romance; it was more like the encouraging hug between teammates when athletes cross the finish line. Her voice, muffled by his shoulder, was tinged with laughter: "Your heart definitely beats very fast."

Everything tonight is unbelievably romantic.

A note from the author:

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