Chapter 60
When I came to my senses, I realized I was already in his car.
Lin Ting turned her head to look over. Chen Zhiyi's eyes were fixed on the car, his gaze fixed on it, like a sculpture whose craftsmanship was so perfect it seemed unreal.
The headlights overhead shone on his face, from his facial contours to his jawline, from his neck to his shoulders. Even though he was only wearing an all-black tracksuit, he was still incredibly dazzling.
The streetlights, the intersecting car headlights, the neon lights on the billboards, and the various interplays of light and shadow create an atmosphere as if we've traveled through a time tunnel back to that final competition.
That day, he also descended from the sky dressed in all black to save himself.
The same applies today.
Chen Zhiyi held the steering wheel with his left hand and reached across the center console with his right hand to take Lin Ting's hand in his own.
Are you cold?
"fine."
"Why are you staring at me? Don't you recognize me after just one day?" Chen Zhiyi turned to look at Lin Ting.
"How did you know where I live? And why did you suddenly appear?"
Lin Ting felt his hand being squeezed hard, but it was still held in his hand, and a reproachful tone came from the side.
"And you're one to talk! I promised to pick you up after get off work, but I waited for ages and you still didn't show up. I tried calling you, but your phone was off. Were you trying to drive me crazy?"
Lin Ting took out her phone, and sure enough, it was turned off.
Chen Zhiyi withdrew his right hand and pulled a power cord from the center console to give to Lin Ting. She plugged in her phone and turned it on, only to find that there were many missed calls, all from him.
"It wasn't difficult for me to find out where you lived, but as soon as I got downstairs, I heard people coming out saying that an illegal shared room had been forcibly demolished. They saw that the tenants' belongings had been identified, and they also saw a girl squatting on the ground crying. As soon as I heard that, I felt something was wrong and quickly ran upstairs."
"You're really infuriating! Don't you know how to come find me? Haven't you ever been to my house? Do you really want me to search the whole world for you?"
Although every word was a reproach, Lin Ting felt a sweet warmth in her heart.
In this city where she felt she was about to be abandoned, she found someone to rely on.
"sorry."
Chen Zhiyi sighed and held Lin Ting's hand again. "I've told you so many times, don't apologize to me. What I want to hear is that you need me, trust me, and rely on me."
"Yes, I'm sorry."
"..."
It's the same neighborhood where I delivered the design drafts last time.
Chen Zhiyi opened the door, and Lin Ting stood at the doorway, hesitating slightly. She peeked inside.
"Don't worry, I live alone. This is my private space, and very few people come over."
"oh!"
“Zhang Ke is my assistant, but she is not a live-in nanny. She lives in her own place after get off work.”
"oh!"
"Only the agent comes occasionally; no other staff members come."
"Then last time."
Before Lin Ting could finish speaking, Chen Zhiyi continued.
"Last time, I was too busy to go to another place for a makeup trial, so I allowed them to try on my makeup at my home. This was the only time."
Then Chen Zhiyi pulled Lin Ting inside, sat her down on the sofa, and knelt down in front of her, tucking her messy long hair behind her ear. "So relax and stay here."
Lin Ting pursed her lips and didn't speak, but the corners of her mouth turned up slightly.
Are you hungry?
"A little."
"Wait a moment, I'll go cook a bowl of noodles."
Lin Ting thought she was hallucinating and stared wide-eyed at the person in front of her.
Is this something that the young master of the Chen family, who has never lifted a finger to do housework, should say?
Chen Zhiyi saw the obvious confusion and mockery in Lin Ting's eyes, which were magnified several times over. He smiled and pinched her nose.
"Wait."
Then he stood up and walked towards the kitchen.
I didn't expect it to be for real.
Lin Ting followed him and watched as he first put on an apron, then opened the refrigerator and took out tomatoes, eggs, scallions, and a bag of noodles.
Skillfully make a cross-shaped cut on the tomato, scald it with hot water, peel off the skin, and then chop it.
Heat some oil in a pan, add the chopped tomatoes and stir-fry until they release their juices. Then add water and bring to a boil. Add the noodles and, when they are almost cooked, crack in two eggs. Finally, remove them from the pan, place them in a bowl, and sprinkle chopped green onions on top.
The entire process was as smooth as flowing water, and two bowls of delicious tomato and egg noodles were placed on the table. Finally, with a gentle poke of the chopsticks, the tender egg yolks flowed out, resulting in perfectly cooked and delicious runny eggs.
Obviously, it would take several years to reach that level.
"Try it." Chen Zhiyi handed the chopsticks and spoon to Lin Ting.
Lin Ting first took a sip of the soup. It was sweet and sour with a rich flavor that whetted her appetite. Then she took a bite of the slender noodles. They were neither too soft nor too hard, and the broth's flavor had permeated them perfectly. They were very good.
"How was it?" Chen Zhiyi was still eager to know her opinion. After so many years, he could finally cook a meal for her.
Lin Ting met his expectant eyes and said, "It's delicious."
Upon hearing those two words, Chen Zhiyi smiled broadly, "It seems all my hard work over the years hasn't been in vain." Then, somewhat embarrassed, he added, "I can only make decent noodles; I'll need to practice more in the future."
When did you learn to cook?
While eating, Chen Zhiyi said, "After I started acting, to be precise, when I was living alone, I did everything myself to save money."
Lin recalled that he had previously said that he earned his own tuition and living expenses for college, and that he went to auditions himself when he was a newcomer, even taking on minor roles.
Given his family's wealth, it wouldn't be difficult for them to fully fund a movie or TV series to make him famous. Why does he need to work so hard?
Why did Chen Zhiyi pay for all his university tuition himself? Did he have a falling out with his family?
"Saving money? And you said before that you earned all your college expenses yourself? Why? Don't your parents care about you anymore? Don't they give you money? How have you managed all these years?" Lin Ting had a lot of questions in her mind and urgently needed to know the answers.
"Your questions are like beans pouring from a bamboo tube, one after another popping out. I need some time to process them properly."
"I'm not trying to fool you, what exactly happened?"
Seeing Lin Ting's furrowed brows and her somewhat abrupt tone as she spoke, acting like a little adult, was reminiscent of five years ago.
Is she a masochist? Chen Zhiyi loves the way she manages him; it would be wonderful to be managed like this for the rest of his life.
"What else could it be? When I was filling out my college application, they didn't agree. I insisted on going, so they could only force me to give up by cutting off my food. But I'm not the kind of person who gives up so easily." He said it casually, but the bitterness behind it could not be covered up in just a few words.
Art colleges are like money-burning furnaces; a year's tuition is equivalent to a year's income for an average family. For Chen Zhiyi, who had just entered university, this was an immense pressure.
“But you, your father,” Lin Ting almost blurted out, then quickly changed her words, “your mother agreed to let you study acting.”
No matter what, Chen Lan would probably help him secretly, after all, he is her only son.
"But there's also my dad. You know he's in a high position. As long as he thinks something should be done or is right, it has to be done his way. So he hates it when people challenge his authority. Even my mom has to do that. It's a pity that I'm the one who's so rebellious."
As he finished speaking, Chen Zhiyi raised an eyebrow slightly, a smile playing on his lips, his eyes revealing a hint of arrogance, and an air of untamed freedom.
The bird that was once confined in a cage has finally grown strong wings, broken free of the cage, and soared in its own sky.
He is no longer the boy who wanted to pursue his inner life but was suppressed by the outside world and didn't know how to resist. He has become the person he wanted to be. I'm happy for him, but I also feel sorry for the hardships he has endured over the years.
But it shouldn't have been like this. During that confrontation, Lin Ting almost gave up her future and dreams. Why didn't Chen Tiansheng keep his promise?
Then all her sacrifices would have been wasted.
In an instant, confusion, anger, and regret welled up in his heart. His eyebrows furrowed tightly, and he stabbed the bottom of the bowl with his chopsticks, wishing he could poke a hole in it.
Chen Zhiyi put down his chopsticks and placed his arm over hers. "It's nothing. It's just that the first year of college is a bit tough. Fortunately, Uncle Chen helped me scrape together my tuition. I had a lot of classes in my first year, so I couldn't stay with the group for long. I could only do part-time jobs during my breaks, such as temporary model, salesperson, cashier, and even tutor for a while." Chen Zhiyi smiled as he said this. "Only after experiencing it myself do you realize how difficult it was for you to tutor me back then, especially when you had to deal with a stubborn kid like me. I couldn't keep it up for long. I was afraid I'd go bald from getting so angry."
Lin Ting also smiled slightly, imagining the two of them staring at each other, their confrontation turning into a chaotic scene.
"It was this experience that allowed me to understand your life in college. It was difficult and arduous, but also very fulfilling, because everything was earned through hard work. The feeling of getting results after hard work is truly wonderful."
When their eyes met, Lin Ting could see the light shimmering in his eyes. "More importantly, I feel like I'm one step closer to you, even though we weren't together back then."
The mouthful of noodles that Lin Ting had just slurped into her mouth seemed to get stuck in her throat, and she couldn't swallow it down no matter what she did.
"But it was this work experience that led me to the advertising industry."
"?"
Chen Zhiyi rubbed his face with his left hand, and Lin Ting understood.
That handsome face of his makes him the center of attention wherever he goes.
"At first, someone secretly took pictures of me and posted them on social media. This led to many reposts, which attracted the attention of advertisers who contacted me through various means. I started getting some advertising work, not always as the lead, sometimes just a cameo. The pay wasn't particularly high, but doing a few projects helped me save for living expenses and next year's tuition. In my second year of university, the school wasn't so strict about students taking on acting roles, so I started going to auditions. I did everything – bit parts, extras, roles with lines, roles with few lines, roles with few lines – I tried anything given the chance. Gradually, I accumulated a lot of acting experience. Later, I was lucky enough to meet Sister Fei, my current agent Qin Fei, while accompanying my roommate to meet a director. She's a benefactor on my acting journey; she discovered me and gave me my first leading role, which introduced me to the public and launched me onto the acting path. These years have been a mix of joy and sorrow, but I've finally overcome all obstacles and made it through."
"That's wonderful, I'm so happy for you," Lin Ting said sincerely.
Chen Zhiyi moved the chopsticks to his left hand, placed his right palm on the back of Lin Ting's left hand, and then interlocked his fingers. "The future we once dreamed of has all come true. I can break away from my family and achieve financial freedom. We can buy a villa in the suburbs, go to work together every day, and come back together at night. I can also open a clothing design studio for you. I will wear your designs on every red carpet. When someone asks where the clothes came from, I will loudly tell them who the designer is. I believe that it won't be long before we can meet at the top together. I will make everything you dream of come true for you."
Everything is going according to Chen Zhiyi's plan, but he still feels disappointed. "It's such a pity that we couldn't stay together these past few years."
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."
"No need to apologize. At this moment, I am actually glad that you did not accompany me through that dark time. Many girls in this world are willing to start from scratch with a boy and share the hardships, but I am not willing. I only want to share the sweetness with you. You suffered too much when you were young. With me, I only want the rest of my life to be sweet."
Lin Ting shook her head, a bitter smile on her lips, "But I still feel guilty for missing out on those years."
Chen Zhiyi smiled and asked, "Do you still use that [redacted]? Have you seen the message board?"
"It hasn't been used for a long time; it's probably been shut down."
Chen Zhiyi picked up her phone. "Unlock the screen."
Lin did as instructed and saw that he had downloaded a [illegible] app.
"Okay, log in."
Lin Ting still remembers the account number. After all, it was her first social media app and her first account. She had registered many other apps with this account back then. She may not remember the password, but the account number is etched in her memory.
Lin Ting used the same password for all the apps. After entering all the passwords, she thought it would show that the account did not exist, because the platform has a rule that if an account is not used for more than two years, it will be revoked. However, it did not. She was able to log in after only a few verifications.
Information is pouring in, but not much of it comes from groups I joined back then, and there are occasional active users.
After all, WeChat had become the mainstream social software back then, and private chats were all moved there.
Lin Ting was quite surprised that the account hadn't been reclaimed after so long. "Why is that?"
Chen Zhiyi explained, "I had someone save your account. You canceled your phone number and all the other associated social media accounts. I remembered that your account wasn't registered with your phone number, so I had someone save it. Maybe one day you can log in again and see the message I left for you on the message board."
Lin Ting opened the message board.
Despite having prepared herself mentally, the sheer size of the scene before her eyes left her stunned.
Lin Ting mechanically slid upwards, and after a long time, he finally reached the top, the first one.
September 7, XXX.
A photo of the gate of the Beijing Film Academy.
It's my first day of university, and it's a pity you're not by my side. But it's okay, I will continue on this path with determination.
October 16, XXX
A photo of a workbook
I've been tutoring for almost half a month, and I've realized that I'm really not suited for this job. It's so frustrating. I understand how hard it was for you back then. I miss you, I miss you so much.
November 3, XXX
Today, I went to the film set with my acting teacher for an apprenticeship. This was my first time actually standing on a film set, and it was much larger than I had imagined. It turns out that a well-made production requires the cooperation of hundreds of behind-the-scenes personnel. There were all sorts of cameras, lighting equipment, radios, and other equipment. Just touching them excited me. The short, powerful "ACTION" and "CUT" calls were like a call to action, and I felt that my soul and will had been drawn to this set.
December 24, XXX
A photo of a birthday cake with 24 candles on it.
Happy 24th birthday! May everything go well for you, and may even more people love you in the new year.
January 15, XXX
A group photo.
Today was the final exam for acting class. I was in charge of everything for the performance segment, from scriptwriting and character allocation to prop making and rehearsals. There were a total of 8 segments to perform, and I got the highest score, ranking first. The teachers praised our group. At that moment, I felt that I could become an excellent film and television worker. I don't want to define myself just as an actor. Maybe I can also become a screenwriter, director, or cinematographer. The path of acting is long and wide, and I want to give myself more possibilities.
XXX March 6th
Photo: A thick stack of money inside an envelope.
Today I filmed my first commercial. Although it was just one shot and one line, I practiced for two days to make sure the shoot went smoothly. But it was still my first time performing in front of the camera, so I was very nervous and had to do several takes before I was satisfied. The director said my first performance was pretty good and encouraged me to keep up the good work. He said he would ask me to film more commercials in the future if there were suitable opportunities. I even added the director's assistant on WeChat! I'm so happy.
I wonder when this ad will air? I wonder if you'll recognize me in it? If you do, could you come find me? I suddenly miss you so much. Without you by my side, I have no one to share my joy with.
June 9, XXXX
A photo of a bodyguard
I'm so excited! This is my first time joining a film crew. Although I'm just a guard with no lines and the camera only briefly pans across me, I'm determined to do my best. No role is too small or too big; I'll do my best to play any role given the opportunity.
Hehe, after I finished dressing up, the costume team teachers all praised me for being so handsome, with the heroic spirit of a young general. They said it was a pity I played a guard. They even took a few photos with me.
August 2nd, XXX
I'm so happy to finally get to the part where I have two lines! I'll definitely cut it out and watch it repeatedly when it airs. I hope they don't cut it out in the end.
October 12, XXXX
That's great! I finally got to play a character with a name. I counted, and I have a total of eight lines. I'm only on screen for about two minutes, but that's a huge leap forward.
December 6th, XXX
I've been having a run of bad luck lately; I've failed all my interviews and can't even land a minor role. I can't cry, I need to work even harder.
April 6, XXXX
I have an agent now, I've signed with a management company, and I'm one step closer to my dream.
May 15, XXXX
Photo: Secretly Like You (script)
The first male lead, Chen XX, please take good care of me.
February 13, XXXX
Photo: Group photo at the movie premiere
My first film has finally been released! I hope you can see it, no matter where you are in the world. The male lead's deep affection for the female lead is also my deep affection for you. That line, "Liking you is like breathing air, it's an instinct," is also my eternal confession to you.
XXX September 21
Photo: Golden Man Trophy - Best Newcomer Award
I want to give you the trophy; I'm sure you'll be happy for me.
XXX November 9th
Photo: The Pacific Survival Script
This new role is completely different from my own; it's an exploration and interpretation of human nature. Suspense films are your type, and I'll definitely do a good job, showing it to you.
XXX March 9th
Filming has begun for "Detective Guangzhou". I am honored to work with senior actor Zhang Zhiqiang. Comedy is a genre you will love.
XXX July 16th
Another new film, "Operation Black Sea," has started filming. This time, the main filming location is Mexico, with a completely different local culture and customs. It's a pity you're not by my side. It's okay, I'll take a lot of photos and tell you about them when you come back.
XXXXDecember 7
Photo: Golden Rooster Award Best Actor
I won the Best Actor award, and the company threw me a celebration party. Everyone was happy for me, but for some reason, the more crowded and lively the occasion, the emptier I felt inside. It was as if their congratulations and praise had nothing to do with me. I only wanted to hear your praise, and I only wanted to share all the joy and honor with you.
XXXXFebruary 7
The filming has wrapped up, and tomorrow is Lunar New Year's Eve. It's another New Year without you. It's been five years since we last saw each other. I miss you so much that I'm going crazy. I got really drunk at the wrap party last night, the first time I've ever been so out of control. In my hazy state, I think someone asked me, "You're already a Best Actor, you've reached such a high position in this industry, why do you still work so hard and take on so many roles?"
I want to ask, is it high enough? Then why can't you see it? Why haven't you come looking for me yet?
...
September 18, XXXX
Photo: Lin Ting's employee ID card
Five years have passed, and we've finally met again. This time, I will never let you go, no matter what.
The message ended there. Lin Ting gripped her phone tightly, tears streaming down her face. She remained silent for a long time.
Chen Zhiyi waited for her quietly.
After a while, Chen Zhiyi tilted his head slightly, "Finished reading?"
Lin Ting said in a hoarse voice, "I've finished reading it."
So Chen Zhiyi took her phone and placed it on the table, then turned her shoulders towards him, his eyes full of tenderness, "So don't feel sorry, I've shared every important moment of my life with you these past five years, and you've never missed a single one."
Tears welled up uncontrollably, creating waves of reddening her eyes. Lin Ting remained silent, her misty eyes fixed on Chen Zhiyi.
Chen Zhiyi wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes with his fingers. He had only intended to let Lin Ting know about his life over the years, and he had no intention of making her cry like this. He could only smile helplessly and whisper, "If you cry again, I'm going to kiss you."
Lin Ting smiled faintly, her eyelashes lowered. She looked up and saw Chen Zhiyi's handsome face under the lamplight, every feature like a meticulously sculpted work of art. She traced his face with her gaze, finally settling on the beauty mark under his eye. She reached out and touched the beauty mark, then gently kissed it.
Chen Zhiyi touched the spot she had just kissed, secretly pleased, but aloud dissatisfied, "Isn't this too perfunctory? Do you like pockmarked faces?"
"?" Lin Ting frowned slightly, indicating her confusion.
"Why do you keep touching this mole at the corner of my eye? Are my mouth, eyes, nose, and cheeks ugly?" Chen Zhiyi said, pointing out all the features on his face.
Lin Ting covered her eyes and laughed.
Chen Zhiyi removed her hand from her eyes, huffing and puffing, "I've decided to get a mole done on my left eye tomorrow, just to be fair, so you can kiss both sides and prevent your left eye from 'going on strike'."
His childlike manner of speaking made Lin Ting feel as if she had returned to five years ago, to that straightforward and sunny boy, to the Chen Zhiyi she first knew and was familiar with. She cupped Chen Zhiyi's face in her hands and asked, "Do you remember when I told you what a beauty mark under a tear means?"
Chen Zhiyi nodded, "Yes, you mean the marks left on your face by your lover from a past life."
"Yes, but the meaning is different when they grow on the left or right sides of the eyes."
What is the meaning behind the right side?
"deep feeling."
Chen Zhiyi was secretly delighted to hear this, as he had been matched with someone, but he was still curious, "What about the left side?"
"passionate."
Chen Zhiyi felt that something was off about this answer.
"Both sides?"
"Promiscuity".
"Are you kidding me?"
Lin Ting giggled, then hugged Chen Zhiyi's neck and kissed him on the lips.
Chen Zhiyi wouldn't let her let go, so he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close to him, whispering in her ear. His warm breath made Lin Ting's heart tremble.
"I waited for five years, felt empty for five years, and you just satisfied me with a simple click?"
Lin Tingteng blushed instantly, turned his head away, and their lips met, their tongues entwined.
In an instant, all the longing melted away in this belated, tender kiss.
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