Gift
But no matter how beautiful the stage is, it only lasts for one or a few songs. Zhao Qinfeng will sing two songs in total, with a Q&A session with the host in between. After listening to Zhao Qinfeng's first song and then hearing him speak, Lin Ting felt a tickling sensation in his heart, an intense itch. He couldn't wait to hear the next song.
The second song was quite different in style from the first, and the stage design was also changed accordingly. Zhao Qinfeng's voice is very versatile, and his performance was also very smooth. Both songs were performed very well, and in different ways.
Even after Zhao Qinfeng stepped off the stage, the audience continued to call his name, as if trying to keep him there. Lin Ting silently called out to him in her heart as well.
The gala had a set program, and the number of songs each person sang was predetermined. Therefore, each performance on stage was a limited-time encounter; when the time was up, it was destined to end. Lin Ting felt a pang of melancholy and left the venue a moment later during the host's introductions.
He walked towards the backstage area following the general route his assistant had given him, slowly and carefully looking at the names posted on the rooms, and finally found Zhao Qinfeng's dressing room. He went up and knocked on the door.
The person who opened the door was Zhao Qinfeng's agent. She wasn't surprised to see Lin Ting and greeted him with a smile, "Teacher Lin, it's been a long time. Please come in."
Once inside, Lin Ting saw that the assistant who had brought him in and Zhao Qinfeng were packing their things, looking like they were about to leave.
Zhao Qinfeng had changed out of his performance costume and was wearing a thick sweatshirt, which was probably his own. He still had his makeup on.
This makeup looks great on camera and is very eye-catching, but it's a bit too impactful when you see it directly. Lin Ting saw the glitter on Zhao Qinfeng's face and couldn't help but reach out and gently touch it.
"It's hard to wash off if it sticks to your hands," Zhao Qinfeng said softly, leaning back slightly.
Zhao Qinfeng once again asked Lin Ting to take him home.
“I want to be alone with you for a while,” Zhao Qinfeng said.
Lin Ting expressed her understanding, and since their homes were indeed very close, she accepted the request.
“As you wish,” he said, then leaned close to Zhao Qinfeng’s ear and whispered, “...Do your staff know?”
What did he know? Lin Ting didn't say it explicitly. Was it an ambiguous relationship, a romantic relationship, or some other unclear and unspeakable relationship? He himself wasn't sure.
Zhao Qinfeng said, "They know, let's go."
Before leaving, Zhao Qinfeng said goodbye to his assistant and received a knowing smile in return.
Zhao Qinfeng and Lin Ting left together.
After getting in the car, Lin Ting said, "Actually, I bought you a New Year's gift, but I was in such a rush tonight that I forgot to bring it. How about I drive to my building first, and you wait for me in the car while I go upstairs to get it?"
Zhao Qinfeng seemed pleasantly surprised. "I'll go up with you. You won't need to come down again in a little while; I can walk back."
Lin Ting nodded.
How was my performance tonight?
"fine."
"What's so good about it?"
"Everything is fine in every way." Lin Ting smiled slightly, his overly perfunctory answer making him unable to help but raise the corners of his lips.
Zhao Qinfeng could see clearly that Lin Ting was deliberately teasing him, but since Lin Ting was driving, he couldn't really interfere.
"You shouldn't have to work overtime tomorrow, right?" Zhao Qinfeng changed the subject.
"Well, it shouldn't be that bad. I've already worked overtime once tonight, so it would be too much to work overtime again tomorrow," Lin Ting sighed. "The overtime notice was so sudden today. I thought I was destined to miss your show tonight, but luckily I made it."
Zhao Qinfeng thought to himself, "How did the topic come full circle again?" and naturally followed up by asking, "So... how was my performance tonight?"
Lin Ting smiled again, and this time he answered.
"It sounds great, even better than your last performance. The arrangement is very innovative, and the added elements not only don't feel out of place, but are actually quite brilliant. Who came up with this idea?"
Zhao Qinfeng smiled happily. Although Lin Ting couldn't see the smile on his face, he could feel that Zhao Qinfeng's whole being brightened up, and he had a bit of the charm of a peacock spreading its tail.
Zhao Qinfeng said, "I suggested that adaptation, thinking of giving the audience a little surprise."
It was quite late when they arrived home. Lin Ting parked the car and got out with Zhao Qinfeng. Surprisingly, they weren't the only ones who had just returned from the underground parking garage; Lin Ting also ran into a neighbor she knew.
"Did you go out to celebrate the New Year too?" the neighbor asked.
Lin Ting nodded: "Yes, once a year, I go out for a trip. Happy New Year!"
Zhao Qinfeng followed Lin Ting into the elevator, then out of the elevator, and then into the house.
As he entered, Zhao Qinfeng asked, "Did you celebrate New Year's Eve in previous years?"
Lin Ting shook her head. "I don't actually have this habit. In previous years, I was either making videos or already asleep."
Lin Ting took out the slippers Zhao Qinfeng wore when he last came and placed them in front of him. She then changed her shoes, went inside, turned on the living room lights, and found the gift she had bought for Zhao Qinfeng on the coffee table.
Zhao Qinfeng walked silently. Lin Ting looked up and found Zhao Qinfeng standing at the kitchen door.
"There seems to be a nice smell in the kitchen," Zhao Qinfeng said.
Lin Ting handed the gift to Zhao Qinfeng, then turned on the kitchen light, went inside, and said, "Because I was cooking when I left, and I was called to work overtime when I was only halfway through cooking."
Zhao Qinfeng looked at him with sympathy: "That's terrible."
"Want some late-night snacks?" Lin Ting suddenly asked.
Zhao Qinfeng was stunned for a moment, then immediately said, "Eat!"
Lin Ting first took Zhao Qinfeng to the bathroom, found out face wash and makeup remover, and let him remove his makeup himself, while she went back to the kitchen.
After Lin Ting finished cooking the vegetables, she scooped out the rice from the rice cooker and made a simple egg fried rice. Zhao Qinfeng also came to the kitchen after removing her makeup to help carry the plates and bowls.
"Let me make this clear first, my cooking skills are probably not as good as yours, so please don't mind," Lin Ting said to Zhao Qinfeng.
Zhao Qinfeng took a bite and said, "It's delicious!"
Lin Ting said leisurely, "It's just not as good as yours, but it's still alright."
Having a late-night snack together, especially at home, was a strange sight for Lin Ting, as he rarely ate late-night snacks alone or at home; he usually went out with friends for barbecue or street food.
Lin Ting asked Zhao Qinfeng, "Do you usually pay attention to your diet?"
Zhao Qinfeng said, "Fortunately, I'm not the type to gain weight easily. Plus, I exercise regularly, so I don't need to deliberately eat less. But I do pay a little attention when I encounter spicy or stimulating foods to avoid hurting my throat."
Lin Ting exclaimed, "Does that mean we won't be able to eat a lot of delicious food anymore!"
"Yeah, but it's okay, there are plenty of delicious non-spicy dishes too."
"Oh, by the way, do you like this gift?" Lin Ting pointed to the headphones.
"I like it. My old, expensive headphones just broke recently, and I haven't had time to buy a new one yet," Zhao Qinfeng said decisively.
"That's good. I was worried that you might have some personal preferences when it comes to headphones. It would be awkward if you couldn't use the ones I gave you."
"My particularities are mainly related to work. I'm not particularly particular about headphones in my daily life. And I'm already very happy that you prepared a gift for me. I like whatever you give me."
After a while, Zhao Qinfeng said with distress, "It seems I didn't prepare a gift for you."
Lin Ting didn't care much. "It doesn't matter whether it's a gift or not for New Year's Day. Actually, I brought you a gift to thank you for inviting me to the New Year's Eve party. It has little to do with New Year's Day."
"And giving me this gift doesn't mean I necessarily expect you to give me one in return, so don't worry," Lin Ting added.
Lin Ting had originally prepared a portion for herself for dinner, but now it was just the right amount for a late-night snack for the two of them. They ate and chatted, and finished quickly.
Zhao Qinfeng took the initiative to put the bowls, chopsticks, and plates on the table into the sink. Lin Ting said, "Just leave them there, I'll wash them during the day."
Zhao Qinfeng offered to wash himself, saying, "I got a free late-night snack, so I'll wash myself."
Lin Ting stood beside him, watching silently. He vaguely sensed that Zhao Qinfeng didn't just want to help wash the dishes; he probably wanted to spend more time with him.
This feeling had no basis whatsoever; it was truly just Lin Ting's intuition, yet he was inexplicably certain of it.
Zhao Qinfeng hummed a song, one of the songs he sang tonight. Lin Ting had a vague feeling that he usually played music while doing housework, except that he wasn't doing housework or playing music this time.
Music is a natural carrier of emotions and atmosphere, and with a well-chosen performance, it flows gently between the two. Nighttime is even more conducive to the growth and spread of various emotions than daytime.
"Qin Feng".
"Hmm, what's wrong?"
The humming stopped, but Lin Ting felt that the melody was still flowing in his mind, so the vague emotions and atmosphere did not stop.
"May I ask you for a gift?"
He was the one who said he didn't need a return gift, but now he's inexplicably asking for one. Lin Ting knew he wasn't simply being inconsistent, but he wasn't sure how Zhao Qinfeng would interpret it.
Zhao Qinfeng, his hands covered in lemon-scented dish soap foam, stopped washing the dishes and turned to look at Lin Ting beside him.
Lin Ting's rented apartment wasn't big to begin with, and the kitchen space was even more limited, so the two of them were standing very close, close enough that they could easily look into each other's eyes and see themselves reflected in them.
Zhao Qinfeng leaned down slightly and kissed Lin Ting on the cheek slowly, asking, "Is this alright?"
Lin Ting didn't say anything, but reached out and touched Zhao Qinfeng's face, then immediately pulled her hand back, making him feel a little itchy.
Zhao Qinfeng looked at him with some confusion.
"Your...ears are red." Lin Ting looked away and said softly.
After washing the dishes, Zhao Qinfeng left with the gift Lin Ting had bought for him, specifically saying that there was no need to see him off, and that he would text him when he got home, so there was no need to worry.
Lin Ting nodded and watched him get on the elevator before closing the door.
Zhao Qinfeng's message came quickly. Lin Ting replied "goodnight" after receiving it, and added another sentence after washing up and lying in bed.
"I accept your gift."
When he reached out to touch Zhao Qinfeng's cheek, he really wanted to kiss him, but he stopped himself and ended up awkwardly touching Zhao Qinfeng's face instead.
"Let's take it slow," he thought.
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