Also a prisoner
The air conditioning in the RV was turned up, and Yu Sheng lay face down on the bed, her sweater off and tossed aside, revealing a slender and fair back with a red, swollen boil in the center.
"It was just a small bump last night, how did it swell up so much overnight?" Lu Chenyang carefully pressed the hardened skin around the boil with a cotton swab while observing Yu Sheng's expression, afraid of hurting him.
However, Yu Sheng seemed completely unconcerned, as if the flesh being kneaded until it burned wasn't his own. His entire attention was firmly drawn to the stack of documents in his hands.
"Kuyari Island...a grant agreement?" Yu Sheng read the title of the document aloud, still finding it hard to believe. He turned to look at Lu Chenyang: "Did my sister really ask you to give this to me? Why didn't she tell me herself?"
"Hmm." Lu Chenyang carefully wiped the edges of the treated wound with iodine, applied a sterile dressing, and made up a lie without changing his expression: "Maybe... my sister wants to give you a surprise?"
“Still calling me ‘sister’,” Yu Sheng pouted, grabbing a sweater and pulling it over her head. “When did you and my sister become so close?”
Lu Chenyang was slightly taken aback by the question, realizing his slip of the tongue, but he quickly recovered and said naturally, "Your sister, isn't she my sister?"
Yu Sheng was too lazy to argue with him and retreated to the bed to carefully review the documents. The Australian project was of paramount importance to Shuye's future strategy, but most of the group's funds were tied up in other domestic projects that had not yet yielded returns. If they wanted to directly purchase the entire island, their cash flow would indeed be stretched thin.
If they chose to lease, subsequent development and operation would face numerous constraints. Yu Sheng had been working to raise funds for this project, never expecting that Yu Huaihan would simply buy the island and give it to him.
Yu Sheng looked up and glanced at Lu Chenyang, who was organizing the medical kit. A knowing smile appeared on her lips, but she didn't say anything.
*
Changchun has fully warmed up. The May sunshine is warm and gentle, not glaring at all. The trees are sprouting new branches and leaves, including the poppy that Wu Cao and Sui Qing planted together, which has already bloomed with bright red flowers, very beautiful.
"Scene XX of 'Darkfire,' Shot 3, First Scene, Action!"
In front of the small flower shop in the backlit corner of the tenement building, flower racks were placed in every nook and cranny. The tattered plastic sheet on the glass door, which always rattled in the wind, was finally removed.
The wicker lounge chair was also moved outside. Wu Cao sat on it, facing the ray of sunlight filtering through the gap in the building, and gently closed her eyes.
His complexion had improved significantly; his cheeks were fuller and no longer so gaunt and haggard. His long eyelashes cast a small fan-shaped shadow under his eyes, trembling gently with his breath along with his white hair.
He took a deep breath; the wind still carried a slight chill, causing him to cough twice. He opened his eyes and looked at the white porcelain flowerpot beside him.
Two vibrant poppy plants are blooming bright red under the warm spring sun; they are very beautiful.
"Cut! Pass!"
As the director finished speaking, all of Yu Sheng's scenes were officially wrapped up. However, after returning to Beijing, Lu Chenyang still needed to reshoot some scenes of Sui Qing during her time at the police academy.
More than a month ago, upon receiving the initial draft of the contract from Yu Huaiyin's representative, Yu Sheng had already contacted the senior management of Shuye and produced a development design plan for the island. After returning to Beijing and resting for only one night, he personally led his core team directly to Australia for on-site exploration.
At this moment, Yu Sheng, who was making a phone call in the crew's RV, had just landed an hour ago. The non-stop work had left him exhausted, but he still rushed to the set of "Dark Fire" as soon as he got off the plane.
They hadn't seen each other for almost two weeks.
"Yes, Mr. Li, the topographical survey of the island is complete? Excellent. Two key points: First, ecological protection is an absolute red line; all development plans must be approved through environmental impact assessments. Second, send me the brand positioning report for final review this week, emphasizing 'ultimate wilderness luxury' and 'native experience.' Also, immediately contact Australia's top solar energy and seawater reverse osmosis system suppliers; I need their latest technical solutions and quotes. Keep all progress synchronized."
Yu Sheng glanced up and saw the car door open. Seeing that it was A Jiang carrying coffee, she nodded slightly and continued talking on the phone, "By the way, pay special attention to the land on the East Cliff Shore on the planning map, about two acres. Please mark it out separately for me. Yes, I will personally design this plot. You guys continue to push forward with the main hotel area plan. I will send you the conceptual design draft for this plot next week. Keep up the pace."
"Brother Yu Sheng, coffee." Seeing that Yu Sheng had finally hung up the phone, A Jiang quickly inserted a straw and handed it to him. "This is a drink that Brother Chen Yang treated the whole team to. He heard that you were here, so he specially asked me to order this one just for you."
Yu Sheng took it and took a sip. He didn't even need to look at the label to know—it was a butter latte, full sugar, his favorite.
"You've worked hard." Yu Sheng let out a long breath, the sweet coffee seemingly dispelling some of her fatigue. "How much longer until Chenyang finishes filming?"
Ajiang scratched his head sheepishly: "I don't know. This scene took a while to film. For some reason, Teacher He seemed a bit out of sorts today. We had to do several takes, and Director Lan didn't look too happy."
Others might not know, but Yu Sheng could vaguely guess the gist. It was probably because of his brother. From the few words he uttered after drinking that day, he learned that He Wei's brother was an undercover agent who sacrificed himself. Now that he was playing the role, it was inevitable that he would be influenced by his personal emotions, so it was perfectly normal for him to have to do multiple takes.
Yu Sheng finished her coffee in a few gulps and said to A Jiang, "Go ahead and get busy. When Chen Yang finishes filming, tell him I'll be waiting for him here."
The weather in Beijing was much warmer than in Changchun. Yu Sheng took off her trench coat and turned the air conditioner down by one degree. She hadn't had a good night's sleep in a long time, but with something on her mind, she couldn't get a proper rest no matter what.
bite--
A WeChat notification sounded. Yu Sheng opened it and saw a message from Song Ciying.
"Still no news from Y City. I'm now more inclined to believe he's dead."
Yu Sheng stared at that line of text for a long time, as if he needed to learn each Chinese character anew.
Half a year has passed since Yang Tieshuan appeared. It's as if he's vanished into thin air. No matter how resourceful Song Ciying is, she can't conduct a thorough search for him; she can only instruct people to keep a close watch.
Yu Sheng typed back: 'Thank you for your trouble, Sister Ciying. I'll treat you to drinks when you return to China. Also, I've reserved the best villa for you in Kuyali; you can come visit anytime once it's built.'
After sending the message, he tossed his phone onto the bed behind him, closed his eyes, and pressed hard on his aching nose. He had a feeling this wouldn't end so easily, but he couldn't find anyone, and he had all the strength in the world but nowhere to use it.
A sense of powerlessness enveloped him like sticky glue, heavy and suffocating. The fear of almost losing Lu Chenyang returned. Last time it was gamma-hydroxybutyric acid, but what about next time? What will Lu Chenyang face next?
He also wished he could protect and care for him like Lu Chenyang had once, shielding him from all troubles and clearing away all obstacles, then gently patting his head and telling him, "Don't be afraid, I'm here."
But he seemed powerless to do anything. Lu Chenyang didn't seem to need his care, and he seemed incapable of protecting him. This realization brought a deep sense of loss and sadness.
The car curtains were tightly drawn, providing excellent light blocking and creating a dimly lit, private space. Although the air conditioning was set at a comfortable temperature, Yu Sheng felt a chill. He pulled his trench coat over himself, wrapping it tightly around himself and curling up into a ball.
"Click—" The car door was gently pulled open, and a warm ray of light entered the dimly lit interior.
"Where did this big caterpillar come from?"
Lu Chenyang's voice rang out with a hint of laughter. Yu Sheng felt a sense of relief for no reason, but he still didn't want to move. He simply wrapped himself in his trench coat and did a small, slight twitch on the small bed in the RV to prove that he was still a person.
"What's wrong, baby?"
The mattress beside him sank, and a warm embrace enveloped him through his trench coat. The cologne scent emanating from Lu Chenyang, identical to his own, seeped into his body.
Like peeling a rice dumpling, Lu Chenyang patiently unwrapped the clothes covering Yu Sheng's head, revealing her fluffy head with her hair all messed up.
Two warm, soft lips pressed against her cool forehead. Yu Sheng, naturally like a kitten that hadn't opened its eyes yet, tilted her face up following that familiar scent, exploring with her lips, and finally successfully captured that long-lost touch, gently kissing it.
"Missed me?" A deep voice trembled with amusement.
Yu Sheng nodded twice, looking sullen. He opened his eyes and then noticed that Lu Chenyang was different today.
He raised his hand and placed it against Lu Chenyang's chest, which was covered in crisp fabric, and gently pushed him away. His eyes widened slightly with delight, like a cat that had just seen fish: "You...you stand up, step back a bit, let me see."
Lu Chenyang obediently got off him, took two steps back, and stood still. He then spread his arms and slowly turned around so that Yu Sheng could see him clearly.
He wore a dark blue police dress uniform with neatly trimmed epaulets and a gold sash hanging down his chest. The sharp tailoring accentuated his tall and upright figure, while the metal buttons and collar insignia gleamed subtly in the light, making the composure and righteousness in his eyes all the more profound and captivating.
Yu Sheng wasn't unfamiliar with Lu Chenyang in police uniform; he had watched "Bloodstained Puzzle" countless times. During the filming of "Shattered Light," he mostly wore training uniforms or regular duty uniforms. But when the real person stood before him in formal attire, the overwhelming visual impact and imposing aura were unmatched by any screen image.
The phrase "born to be a policeman" is now embodied in a concrete way.
He had to tilt his head slightly to see Lu Chenyang's full appearance. The imposing aura emanating from Lu Chenyang instilled a sense of awe and even made him want to reflect on his own behavior. However, Lu Chenyang's gaze remained gentle, and the handsome curve of his lips softened the imposing presence, transforming it into a deadly allure that made one's heart race.
"Baby, wipe your drool." Lu Chenyang chuckled, lifting Yu Sheng's chin with his fingertips and gently rubbing the corner of his lips with the pad of his thumb.
Without thinking, Yu Sheng took the finger in her mouth and began to grind it between her teeth.
"So naughty?" Lu Chenyang was amused by his little actions, like a possessive feline that always liked to bite and leave him with teeth marks. "After not seeing you for so long, all you want to do, brother, is bite my hand?"
Yu Sheng spat out the finger with the faint teeth marks, then gently kissed the knuckles soothingly. He tilted his head, raising an eyebrow with a provocative smile: "Where else...?"
Lu Chenyang remained silent for a moment, his bright black eyes seeming to ignite. He slightly twisted his wrist, his warm hand gently grasping Yu Sheng's nape, pulling him closer with a firm touch, his voice low and hoarse: "How could brother not know..."
......
"Clang clang clang—" After a few taps on the glass, Ajiang's voice came: "Brother Chenyang, the director is calling for the actors."
With a click, Lu Chenyang opened the car door, straightened the gold sash on his suit, and got out of the car looking refreshed. "Let's go."
A-Jiang curiously peeked through the crack in the door at the car and vaguely saw Yu Sheng sitting on the bed, her eyes and lips so red they looked like they were about to bleed. Not daring to look any longer, she quickly followed Lu Chenyang away.
Inside the car, Yu Sheng turned over, burying his burning face in the trench coat again, trying to cool his burning lips with the slightly cool fabric. Suddenly, he remembered Bai Hua's assessment of him: 'You simultaneously embody the states of a controller and a prisoner.'
He was both a jailer and a prisoner.
That's why Lu Chenyang's words "kneel down" had such a chilling impact on me. He spoke so gently, it didn't sound like a command at all, but rather a plea.
He didn't want to admit it, but it seemed to be the truth. He was used to using the posture of a superior to crave the most thorough resistance, conquest, and redemption from those in lower positions.
He's sick. But he doesn't need treatment. Because he likes it, he's addicted to it.
After tossing and turning in bed for a long time, Yu Sheng finally sat up abruptly, grabbed the bottled water on the table, and drank it all in one gulp. The cold liquid slid down her throat, and Yu Sheng finally felt a little better.
After calming down, reason gradually returned. The concerns he had previously had hadn't disappeared. He picked up his phone and called Lan Zhong, asking him to arrange a meeting with Lu Chenyang's agent, Sister Zhou, and the head of Xinghua's public relations department for an internal meeting that would be kept confidential from Lu Chenyang.
Although Yang Tieshuan has not yet been found, he must prepare a comprehensive plan for all possible negative impacts in order to prevent any unforeseen circumstances, and simulate and plug all potential risks and loopholes.
The moment the call connected, Lan Zhong spoke first, his voice brimming with undisguised excitement, interrupting what he was about to say, "Ah Sheng! My older brother is coming back!"
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