You'll Always Be With Me (The End - Part 1)
Since the movie's promotional period ended, the two have become increasingly busy, and have spent almost half a year apart.
Yu Sheng was busy with the Kuyari Island project while also managing the newly established charitable foundation. He donated half of the profits from his shares in Dongyao International Bank to charity, primarily focusing on rescuing trafficked women and children and providing free treatment for mental and psychological illnesses.
Yu Sheng generously donated the remaining half to leukemia research institutions. Although Lu Chenyang had not yet shown any signs of inheriting leukemia, Yu Sheng dared not gamble. He wanted to provide Lu Chenyang with the greatest possible protection within his means.
At this moment, Yu Sheng was sitting in the car on the way back, half-leaning and half-resting, lazily looking at the tablet in her hand. It was playing Lu Chenyang's live interview.
It's been about half a month since we last met. Yu Sheng smiled as she stared at the person on the screen. He was still so handsome. A small patch of fair and powerful ankle peeked out from the cuffs of his trousers, his long legs were crossed, and his gunmetal gray shirt accentuated his narrow waist, making his shoulders appear even broader. His biceps showed an alluring line as he raised his hand and turned around.
Every move the person made in the video bounced back and forth on Yu Sheng's heart, sending a tingling sensation straight to her lower abdomen.
Yu Sheng raised her hand to her forehead and took a deep breath. She cursed under her breath, "You vixen."
He habitually turned the ring on his left ring finger. He had worn that ring for almost a year without ever taking it off. In contrast, Lu Chenyang in the video had bare fingers. The ring he once treasured, symbolizing Yu Sheng's open and aboveboard love, was now chained back on his neck and tucked into his clothes.
Both of their mindsets have changed. Lu Chenyang once wanted everyone to witness their love, eager to post a marriage certificate on Weibo, but now he has become the timid and hesitant Yu Sheng he once was.
Hide your love in your clothes, give your loved one time, and have a backup plan.
But Yu Sheng no longer had any reservations. Lu Chenyang wanted to stand openly by his side, to have everyone witness their love. So he would give him that; he would give him whatever he wanted. As long as he had it, as long as he wanted it.
The focus returned to the screen. The host's tone was gentle, but his next question was barbed: "We all know that the Golden Rooster Awards nominations have been announced. This time, you and Yu Sheng are both nominated for Best Actor for 'Dark Fire,' which is extremely rare in the history of the Golden Rooster Awards! Moreover, your mutual support off-screen and your soulful connection on-screen have been the focus of much discussion recently. So I'd like to ask Chenyang, standing in the position of a nominee, do you secretly think: between you and Yu Sheng, who has a better chance of winning this Best Actor award? Can you share your honest thoughts with us?"
Yu Sheng rolled his eyes, made a mental note of this media outlet, and told Lan Zhong to blacklist it when he got back.
In the video, Lu Chenyang showed no displeasure whatsoever, remaining as gentlemanly and amiable as ever. He brought the microphone to his lips, and his clear, wine-like voice poured out.
“Actually, from the day we started filming ‘Dark Fire,’ winning awards was never our goal. This film is too special. We’re not acting as ‘opponents,’ but rather finding the most compatible half of our souls in each other’s roles. Sui Qing’s resilience needs Wu Cao’s softness to balance it, but Wu Cao is also strong and can protect Sui Qing’s broken faith.”
As Lu Chenyang faced the camera, his eyes gradually filled with warmth. "Yu Sheng sacrificed far more for this role than anyone can see. To fit the frail character of Wu Cao, he started losing weight a month before joining the crew and didn't eat a single food that would affect his weight until filming wrapped. Moreover, as fans know, Yu Sheng had an injury to his left leg that wasn't recovering well, and he was sensitive to the cold. In the winter of Changchun, while filming outdoors, Yu Sheng stood in the snow for seven hours straight."
At this point, Lu Chenyang couldn't help but feel a pang of heartache in his eyes, but as if he had thought of something amusing, the corners of his mouth turned up again, "In Yu Sheng's words, the winters in Changchun are so cold that he wants to twist his head off and put it in his pocket to warm it up."
With the host's smiling encouragement, Lu Chenyang finally got to the point, saying seriously, "As for the possibility of winning an award, the judges have their own criteria. But for me, being able to complete this work with him and let the audience see the interaction between the two characters is already the greatest reward. If I had to say who deserves it more, in my heart... it's him. He brought Wu Cao to life and also allowed me to understand the truest form of 'redemption' in the process of portraying Sui Qing."
Finally, Lu Chenyang nodded slightly and added before putting down the microphone, "Being able to stand shoulder to shoulder with him is an award in itself."
Yu Sheng, watching from outside the screen, looked at Lu Chenyang with tenderness in her eyes, her fingertips stroking his face. "You are also my award, the grandest award."
*
In early November, the weather was noticeably colder. Half-asleep, Yu Sheng instinctively huddled up to the large stove next to her, rubbing her fluffy head against Lu Chenyang's chest.
"Sweetie, time to get up." Lu Chenyang habitually reached out and ruffled Yu Sheng's hair. "We'll go see Grandma first, and then we'll prepare for tonight's awards ceremony."
"Let me sleep a little longer," Yu Sheng protested softly.
Lu Chenyang simply grabbed the person by the back of the neck and lifted them out of bed. "No. Get up. It's almost afternoon."
"Afternoon?" Yu Sheng felt like he hadn't slept for more than a few hours. He squinted and reached for his phone. Sure enough, it was past one in the afternoon.
"Hmph." Yu Sheng rolled her eyes at Lu Chenyang, scratching her messy hair. "It's all your fault. You didn't let me sleep until it was already dawn last night. Aren't you afraid of dying in bed?"
"Yes, yes, it's my fault, it's my fault." Lu Chenyang seemed to particularly like ruffling Yu Sheng's hair. While coaxing her out of bed, he used both hands to ruffle Yu Sheng's already messy hair even more. "Your hair is a bird's nest. Go wash up."
“It’s not a chicken coop,” Yu Sheng retorted.
"What's that?" Lu Chenyang pushed him towards the bathroom. "A bird's nest?"
"It's bird's nest!"
Bird's nest? Lu Chenyang chuckled, assuming it was just the young master's arrogance, even his messy hair had to be described with a valuable name. But then he realized something and couldn't laugh anymore.
Bird's nest, white in color.
Ever since his suicide attempt led to a deep coma, Yu Sheng's lifeline has been completely severed. Not only severed, but also drained away all his vitality. Living now seems to be solely for revenge and waiting for him to wake up.
Lu Chenyang tried his best to make up for his physical weight loss and mental damage after he woke up. But his black hair, which had disappeared, would never come back; its snow-white color always stung Lu Chenyang's eyes.
Yu Sheng tried many methods, but none of them could fundamentally change the snow-white color of her hair. Even when she dyed her entire head charcoal black, the new hair that grew back was still white. So she simply stopped caring about it.
"Alright, alright." Lu Chenyang blinked his sore eyes, not letting his emotions show. "I'll help Young Master wash the bird's nest."
Before the awards ceremony that evening, Yu Sheng was still sitting in front of the makeup mirror having her hair styled by a stylist. Lu Chenyang, who had finished his makeup and styling earlier, had already received two dresses from A Jiang.
Upon opening, as expected, were two custom-made couple suits. One was black, the other white, paired with a burgundy bow tie with a subtle poppy pattern and a tie of the same color and pattern.
Lu Chenyang frowned in surprise and asked, "You want me to wear a bow tie?" He remembered that Yu Sheng had said she didn't like bow ties, feeling that wearing a bow tie around the neck was like waiting for someone to unwrap a gift.
So it seems that the bow tie was prepared for himself.
"Hmm." Yu Sheng didn't turn around, but smiled at Lu Chenyang through the mirror. "The bow tie is mine."
With their makeup and styling done, only the two of them remained in the dressing room. Yu Sheng took a tie and fastened it for Lu Chenyang, then handed her own bow tie to him.
As Lu Chenyang got closer, he said to him in an ambiguous yet solemn voice, "Lu Chenyang, if you win an award today, I'll give you a gift."
Lu Chenyang smiled as he tied his bow tie for him, smoothed out non-existent wrinkles on his collar, and asked with a smile, "What if you were the one who won the award today?"
"You take me instead."
The teasing yet ambiguous voice reminded Lu Chenyang of their first encounter, when the heartless capitalist who grabbed his neck and forcibly kissed him was slapped onto the sofa by him.
Lu Chenyang gave a wry smile. Everything in the world really is predetermined. Even if the other party comes back ten or a hundred times more, he would still be willing to enjoy it.
However, he wanted to get back that forceful kiss.
Lu Chenyang grabbed Yu Sheng by the neck and pulled her into his arms, then unceremoniously sealed her soft lips with his. He only released her when she was trembling and breathless.
He leaned close to Yu Sheng's ear, his clear, wine-like voice tinged with desire, "I'm waiting for my brother's gift."
As the awards ceremony began, Yu Sheng and Lu Chenyang walked side by side on the red carpet, amidst the clamor and excitement. Together, they wrote their names on the signature board.
Interviews, photos, pleasantries, and seating arrangements. The two remained inseparable throughout.
After finally settling down, Lu Chenyang's palms were sweaty. Yu Sheng blinked and secretly glanced around, making sure no one was paying attention before quietly taking Lu Chenyang's hand.
"Nervous?" Yu Sheng asked.
Lu Chenyang pursed his lips, nodded, and remained silent. He gripped Yu Sheng's hand even tighter.
Yu Sheng grinned and whispered in his ear, "A person who has won Best Actor twice is still nervous? It's not because of me, is it?"
"Yes." Lu Chenyang was quite frank and admitted directly, "I know that becoming an excellent actor is your dream, and I look forward to it for you."
Yu Sheng was stunned for a moment. This person always managed to say the most touching things to him in a serious manner. "If it weren't for the awards ceremony, I would really like to kiss your lips raw."
"Stop fooling around." Lu Chenyang gave Yu Sheng's shoulder a light nudge, then quickly changed the subject, "Brother He Wei's wedding is next month, what gift should we prepare?"
Yu Sheng didn't make things difficult for him and did it properly. "Xiao Weiwei, let's give him a villa on Kuyali Island. It's a miracle that he was able to wait for his brother."
The awards ceremony was underway, and the two people in the audience held hands but neither paid attention to what was happening on stage, nor did they exchange any words.
But simply sitting next to each other is enough to clearly perceive all of the other's emotions.
Nothing is better than being together, nothing is more important than being together.
As the winner of the Best Actor award was announced, the two men's clasped hands tightened and became damp with sweat.
The big screen began switching between clips from the nominated films and close-up shots of the male actors. The white-haired Wu Cao and the gun-wielding Sui Qing stood facing each other, their eyes revealing a myriad of emotions.
Meanwhile, Yu Sheng and Lu Chenyang, sitting in the audience, both turned to look at each other, their eyes filled with tenderness, yet they remained silent. It was as if the winner was no longer important; they themselves were each other's greatest award.
"The winner of this year's Best Actor award is—Yu Sheng for 'Dark Fire'!"
The audience erupted in applause. Lu Chenyang hugged his lover tightly, his voice trembling slightly as he tried to suppress his sore throat, "Asheng, congratulations on your dream coming true."
Yu Sheng rested her forehead on Lu Chenyang's shoulder, wrapped her arms around his back, and briefly lost the ability to speak.
"Ahem!" Lan Dajing coughed twice, then chuckled and scolded the two, "Take them home if you want. Ah Sheng, hurry up and get on stage."
The heat in his head finally subsided slightly, and Lu Chenyang reluctantly let go of Yu Sheng. He watched his lover embrace the director, the screenwriter, and every friend and senior colleague. He watched him, wearing that red bow tie, walk down the red carpet, into the spotlight, and onto the stage that belonged only to him.
Dressed in white, with white hair, he stood high above. His lover was like an angel fallen to earth, the red bow tie around her neck a testament to their promise to recognize each other.
Only he can wear it for him, only he is qualified to take it off for him.
Holding his trophy, Yu Sheng took the microphone from the host and bowed slightly to the audience. "Thank you, Director Lan Dajing, thank you, screenwriter Yan Jianghe, thank you, Xinghua Entertainment, and thank you, Teacher He Wei, who 'abandoned me.' Thank you to all the staff of the 'Dark Fire' crew."
After exchanging the usual pleasantries, Yu Sheng lowered her head slightly, her brows furrowing almost imperceptibly, and her voice deepened a few octaves. "My fans call me a born cameo star, but I don't really agree. All my cameo roles were just self-compensation and consolation for not being able to officially play roles. I yearn for the stage, for the big screen, and for creating more diverse characters. But I got sick, and other external factors forced me to back down. Like Wu Cao, I had to fight with all my might just to survive. But Wu Cao met his Sui Qing, and although his illness couldn't be cured, his bleak life was completely illuminated."
“Me too.” Yu Sheng looked at her lover below the stage, her eyes a little moist. “I don’t know if Sui Qing will be with Wu Cao for the rest of her life, but I’m sure that Lu Chenyang will always be with Yu Sheng for the rest of her life.”
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