Chapter 82 Ren Xiyao had been staying at home for almost a...
Ren Xiyao stayed at home for almost a week, leaving together with her mother when her annual leave ended. Kwon Ji-yong's tour was concluding with three stops over three days in three locations. When she received the schedule, she subconsciously frowned; it was a really tight schedule.
Her plane ticket arrived just in time for the concert. Kwon Ji-yong adjusted his accessories in front of the makeup mirror, catching a glimpse of the makeup artist's hesitant expression.
"What's wrong?"
“GDxi,” the makeup artist whispered, “you’ve been staring at your phone and laughing for ten minutes now.”
Kwon Ji-yong placed his phone face down on the table, but couldn't suppress a smile: "What shade are you using today?"
The makeup artist glanced at his unusually good mood with suspicion: "Regular stage makeup... GDxi, would you like to put on a face mask first? Your face is a little red."
"No need." He grabbed his coat and stood up. "I'm going to the restroom." He was in such a good mood that he didn't even respond to Taiyang's teasing remark that "his smile is practically reaching his ears."
Ren Xiyao stood at the ticket gate wearing a black mask, clutching her ticket stub for the first row of the inner area. She was surrounded by fans holding up support items, all in small groups. Next to Ren Xiyao were a few girls from Northeast China. The girls secretly glanced at her, whispering, "She looks like that short-spanning speed skater."
"Athletes don't idolize celebrities, right?"
"No way, didn't the former captain of the women's team like Leon Lai?"
"That...that can't be it either, can it?"
"Really? But it really does look like it." Ren Xiyao glanced over there. The others immediately looked away. Although they were still whispering and secretly observing, they didn't let Ren Xiyao hear them anymore.
When it was her turn for security check, someone suddenly bumped into her shoulder.
"Excuse me..." She looked up and met the gaze of a staff member wearing a work badge. The staff member's pupils contracted sharply. As he handed her her bag, he quickly stuffed a bottle of water into her hand. After she went inside, he pretended to go through a few security checks before leaving.
A note with crooked Chinese writing was stuck on the mineral water bottle: "Watch the show carefully and don't fall asleep."
The venue was filled with fans who had traveled from afar, all brimming with excitement and anticipation. The atmosphere was incredibly vibrant, with fans chatting amongst themselves. Then, a rousing video opened the show. As the intro to "Fantastic Baby" began, Kwon Ji-yong appeared on a rising platform in the center of the stage. Under the spotlight, he resembled a burning flame, while Ren Xiyao sat directly in front of that sea of fire, as serene as a handful of snow.
The concert atmosphere was incredibly lively, almost like a rave. Their songs were perfectly suited for such a large event.
During the chorus of "If You," he suddenly knelt on one knee at the edge of the extended stage and reached out his hand in her direction. The screams from the entire audience almost lifted the roof off, but Ren Xiyao saw his unspoken words hidden under the dazzling lights: "I see you."
She subconsciously pressed down the brim of her hat, but couldn't hide her burning ears.
Half an hour after the performance ended, Ren Xiyao stood in the fire escape looking at her phone. Her phone was flooded with messages: a message from her advisor inquiring about her thesis progress, a funny video from Lin Shan, Li Enjing asking when training would start, and Quan Zhilong sending a string of question marks.
Where?
"They're not really gone, are they?"
"Ren Xiyao, didn't you say you were coming to see me?"
Footsteps approached, and before she could turn around, she was pulled into a sweaty embrace. Kwon Ji-yong's chin rested on her shoulder, his breathing still unsteady: "Why didn't you wait for me?"
"It's crowded and noisy." She let him hug her and looked up at him, her nose brushing against the sweat on his chin: "You dyed your hair black."
"like?"
"Um."
Kwon Ji-yong lowered his head and kissed her, tasting the mint candy on her lips. When they parted, Ren Xiyao's hoodie collar had tilted to her shoulder, revealing the black bra strap of her sports bra underneath.
"Come again tomorrow?" He stroked her reddened earlobe with his thumb.
"Take the high-speed train."
"My flight is at seven in the morning." Kwon Ji-yong nuzzled her neck. "Really not coming with me? Why?"
"Too early. And too conspicuous."
Kwon Ji-yong stepped back a little, using the green light of the emergency exit to sized her up: "Do you really enjoy making things difficult for yourself? Chasing tours to different cities every day, and you insist on going separately."
Ren Xiyao took out a train ticket from her pocket: "I've checked the subway route from the station to the hotel."
Kwon Ji-yong stared at the train ticket for three seconds, then suddenly laughed out loud: "Ren Xiyao, you really are..." He lowered his head and kissed the tip of her nose.
Suddenly, as if by magic, Kwon Ji-yong pulled out a velvet box: "A gift."
Inside the box was a brooch shaped like an ice skate, with the blade inlaid with tiny diamonds that shimmered in the dim light.
"A World Championship souvenir." He helped her pin it to her collar: "I originally wanted to give you real ice skates, but I was afraid you'd think they were too tacky. Then I thought it was your honor, so you should prepare them yourself."
Ren Xiyao touched the brooch: "Not tacky at all."
"That's what liking someone means?"
"......Um."
Kwon Ji-yong smiled so hard his eyes narrowed into slits, then suddenly lowered his voice: "You really aren't going to the next two shows?"
"Um."
"Wait for me at the hotel?"
"It depends on your performance."
The next day, when Ren Xiyao swiped her ID card to enter the station, her phone vibrated. It was a message from Quan Zhilong: "Boarding."
He attached a selfie; he was wearing a mask and a baseball cap, with an airport jet bridge in the background.
She replied with an "Mm" and tucked the ticket into the back of her phone case. As the high-speed train started moving, a field of rapeseed flowers flashed past the window, golden and vibrant, much like the support lights of the fans in the audience the night before.
Ren Xiyao didn't go inside this time, but sat on a bench outside the venue listening to the faint music. Kwon Ji-yong sent a voice message with deafening background music: "Where are you?"
She took a picture of the exterior of the venue and sent it to her.
Five minutes later, a staff member ran over with a paper bag containing a thermos of hot lemon water and a hastily written note: "Wait for me at the hotel after you finish drinking." She stroked the inside of the thermos; he had never forgotten her love for hot drinks, especially hot lemon water. She wondered how he had managed to get it here.
Ren Xiyao returned to the hotel when it was almost time to leave. She waited for about an hour before Quan Zhilong returned.
He blocked Ren Xiyao, who was opening the door, in the corridor as soon as he entered, not even having time to take off his mask: "Didn't you say you weren't going to the live show? Since you're here, why aren't you in the audience?" He fiddled with his ice skate brooch. Last night, Kwon Ji-yong kissed her fingers while saying, "You're not allowed to take it off for the last two shows," acting childishly like a primary school student marking their territory.
“I was almost recognized yesterday.” She pointed to the kinesiology tape on her knee: “And the spacing was a bit too small, so my knee hurts after sitting for a long time.”
Kwon Ji-yong immediately knelt down to check, gently pressing his fingers around her knee: "Does it hurt now?"
"fine."
"Don't go tomorrow."
"Um."
He looked up: "So obedient?"
Ren Xiyao bent down and kissed him through his mask before he could even take it off: "I'll watch the next episode live from the hotel."
Kwon Ji-yong remained squatting for two seconds, then suddenly stood up and pinned her against the wall: "Ren Xiyao, have you recently enrolled in any tutoring classes?"
"What?"
"You've suddenly become so good at flirting."
She blinked and said, "I learned it from you." Then she slipped under his arm and went inside.
Realizing what was happening, I followed closely behind her and casually pulled off her mask.
Ren Xiyao sat on the bed charging her phone. Quan Zhilong sat beside her, wrapped his arms around her waist, and laughed, burying his head in the crook of her neck, his breath tickling her skin. Ren Xiyao pushed him away: "What are you laughing at? Go take a shower."
"I'm tired." Kwon Ji-yong leaned down and scooped her up on him. "Will you help me wash?"
Ren Xiyao looked down at him: his stage makeup wasn't completely removed, and his eyeliner had smudged a little, making his eyes appear even more deep. She reached out and wiped the corner of his eye: "Dark circles."
"I haven't slept well for days." He took her fingers and kissed them. "When I'm asleep, I dream. I'm afraid you'll suddenly disappear."
Ren Xiyao frowned: "I sent you the schedule."
“That’s not what I meant.” Kwon Ji-yong’s voice lowered. “It’s like…” He gestured. “When you’re chasing a light, you’re always afraid that the light will suddenly go out.”
Ren Xiyao looked at him quietly for a few seconds, then suddenly leaned down and kissed his eyelids: "Go take a shower."
Kwon Ji-yong opened his eyes: "Together?"
"Wash it yourself."
"Ren Xiyao".
"Um?"
"I love you."
She paused for a moment, then casually got up and said, "Okay."
Kwon Ji-yong smiled as he looked at her reddened ears, took out his phone, took a picture of the slightly messy bed, and sent it to Daesung: "Don't look for me tonight."
A loud, instant reply: "???"
On the third day, Ren Xiyao didn't go to the venue but watched the live stream from her hotel. Kwon Ji-yong was in exceptionally high spirits tonight, even jumping off the stage during the encore. He was on fire throughout the entire performance, delivering powerful and impactful songs in every single one.
His tour for the month came to an end with the concert. When Kwon Ji-yong entered, Ren Xiyao was sitting on the sofa revising her thesis. He immediately rushed into her arms.
"I'm exhausted. I asked my assistant to buy some pan-fried buns, and we'll be at the hotel right away."
"Don't you have a victory celebration party tonight?"
"I'm outta here." He tilted his head back and winked at her triumphantly. "I just said I had a stomachache."
Ren Xiyao raised an eyebrow: "Is it real pain or fake pain?"
"Feel it?" He pulled her hand and placed it on his stomach through her clothes. To be honest, he was quite thin. But his muscles were very firm.
Seeing Ren Xiyao's ears turn red without her saying a word, he propped himself up to kiss her, but Ren Xiyao turned her head away: "Didn't you say you were exhausted? Then hurry up and get ready."
"Seeing you makes me feel less tired." Kwon Ji-yong rolled over and pinned her down on the sofa, his fingers tracing the skin of her nape: "Have I looked handsome these past few days?"
"good."
"It's alright?"
Ren Xiyao suddenly reached out and pulled open his collar, biting his collarbone: "You look handsome now."
Kwon Ji-yong gasped, picked her up and carried her to the bedroom: "Ren Xiyao, you're finished."
In the middle of the night, Ren Xiyao was still awake, lying on her side reading documents. Quan Zhilong held her the whole time, burying his face in the crook of her neck and saying in a muffled voice, "Don't do this next time."
My train of thought was abruptly interrupted, and after a moment's reaction, I asked, "What?"
“Chasing tours, changing cities…” His voice trailed off: “It breaks my heart.”
"Kwon Ji-yong." Ren Xiyao placed her phone face down next to her pillow and turned around.
"Um?"
"look up."
He had barely looked up when he was kissed. Ren Xiyao ran her fingers through his hair and gently tugged at it: "I'm willing." What she didn't say was that she felt sorry for him, having rushed to see her despite his busy schedule.
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