Moonlit Confrontation
In the banquet hall of "Sunshine Charity Night", crystal chandeliers swayed, elegantly dressed people were present, and the atmosphere was as glamour as a dream.
Song Shiyu dealt with celebrities from all sides with ease, spoke appropriately and smiled just the right amount, perfectly playing the role of the young master of the Song family.
However, only he himself knew that at least 70% of his attention was firmly drawn to the person sitting quietly on the sofa in the corner.
Ji Zhiqi.
He is the finale performer tonight.
A tailor-made dark black suit made his nearly 190-centimeter figure look even taller and more slender, especially the pair of long legs wrapped in expensive trousers, which were casually crossed and formed an eye-catching landscape.
He tilted his head slightly, and the light cast a faint shadow on his extraordinarily handsome face. His face was pale and bloodless, with a lingering sense of fatigue and illness.
But this morbidity not only did not diminish his beauty, but instead added a fragile and thrilling appeal to his beauty that transcended gender, like an ice sculpture about to melt in the moonlight.
Song Shiyu's eyes glanced at him uncontrollably again and again, and his heart beat faster with every glance.
He wanted to go up and talk, even if it was just a simple greeting, but he found that he could not find any excuse that would not seem abrupt.
At this moment, Ji Zhiqi seemed to be surrounded by an invisible barrier, isolating himself from the surrounding noise. His sense of isolation and loneliness made people reluctant to disturb him, and they did not dare to approach him easily.
He drank the remaining wine in the glass in a gulp with some irritation. The slightly cool liquid passed through his throat, but failed to quench the restlessness in his heart.
His shoulders felt empty, and he didn't know where UU had gone. If she were here, he could at least complain to her in his heart about Ji Zhiqi's "killer" long legs and the temperament that put him in a dilemma.
Until the dinner was almost over, Song Shiyu was unable to muster up the courage and could only watch the figure as ripples appeared in his heart.
Finally, it was time for Ji Zhiqi to perform.
Under the spotlight, he sat in front of a white grand piano, his back straight, like a solitary and proud cedar tree.
When his bony, slender, and powerful fingers gently landed on the black and white piano keys, the entire banquet hall fell silent in an instant.
The prelude flowed out, it was a slow love song he composed himself, with a beautiful melody and a hint of indescribable sadness.
Ji Zhiqi lowered his eyelids slightly, and his long and thick eyelashes cast a small fan-shaped shadow under his eyes. He was completely immersed in the world of music.
The fingers rise and fall and jump gracefully on the keys, and every note seems to be infused with soul, precise and emotional.
The way he played the piano was extremely pleasing to the eye, combining strength and grace. Occasionally, due to the force exerted, faint blue veins would appear on the back of his hands, adding a touch of abstinence and sexiness.
Then he began to sing.
The voice is low and magnetic, like aged wine, mellow and moving, with a unique, cool texture that strikes the heart.
He seemed to be glowing on the stage, attracting all eyes.
At that moment, he was no longer the distant, sickly beauty, but an artist who was in control of the whole situation and exuded fatal attraction.
Song Shiyu was mesmerized by what he saw and fascinated by what he heard.
He could clearly feel his heart in his chest pounding against his ribs with unprecedented force.
This was the person he had been silently watching for three years, displaying unparalleled charm on the stage.
Charming, beautiful, and makes people...crazy about owning it.
When the song ends, the lingering sound remains.
The applause rang out like thunder. Ji Zhiqi stood up and bowed slightly, his face still showing that calm and indifferent expression. Then, accompanied by his assistant, he quietly left the banquet hall and did not even participate in the final closing ceremony.
When the protagonist left, Song Shiyu suddenly felt bored.
He also left the table early. The wine he drank at the dinner was still taking its toll on him, and he strolled towards the garden built along the lake behind the hotel.
The night breeze brought the cool scent of the lake water and blew across my face, slightly dispelling the drunkenness.
The moonlight poured down like mercury, illuminating the lakeside path hazily.
Song Shiyu walked slowly
After walking along the lakeshore for about ten minutes, a figure leaning on a bench not far ahead caught his attention.
The closer I got, the more uncontrollably my heartbeat became—it was Ji Zhiqi.
He was alone, wearing white wireless headphones, leaning back in his chair with his head tilted back and his eyes closed, seemingly resting in complete relaxation.
The moonlight outlined his perfect profile, and now without the stage light, it showed a quiet and fragile beauty.
Song Shiyu paused.
I was torn between myself and myself: should I go over and sit down, say hello? Or should I just pretend I didn't see him and quietly walk past?
Reason told him that Ji Zhiqi seemed to need some solitude right now and should not be disturbed.
But emotions were clamoring wildly, what a rare opportunity for close contact.
In the end, an almost perverted thought took over - even if I couldn't say hello, secretly taking a photo as a souvenir should not be too much, right?
He was bewitched by this idea, and took out his mobile phone as if possessed, carefully adjusted the angle, and aimed it at the stunning sleeping face in the moonlight.
At the moment he held his breath and pressed the shutter button——
“Crack!”
Flash! He forgot to turn it off!
The dazzling white light instantly illuminated Ji Zhiqi's face and startled him.
Song Shiyu hurriedly turned off the phone screen, his heart almost jumping out of his throat.
He raised his head stiffly and met Ji Zhiqi's slowly opening eyes.
Those beautiful eyes looked particularly deep in the moonlight. There was no haziness in them from just waking up, only clarity, with a hint of displeasure at being disturbed. They were looking at him quietly and scrutinizingly.
"Nice to meet you again, Mr. Song." There was no emotion in Ji Zhiqi's voice, but it made Song Shiyu feel embarrassed in an instant.
He was so embarrassed that he just wanted to throw his phone into the lake. He laughed dryly twice and tried to save the situation: "We meet again... Haha, this, this night view is so beautiful. I'm afraid that I won't be able to take a clear picture without turning on the flash." As soon as the words came out, Song Shiyu seemed to burrow into the ground!
There was still no expression on Ji Zhiqi's handsome face. He just raised his eyebrows slightly: "Mr. Song, what a refined mood. Let's take pictures of the scenery at night." His tone was flat, but it made Song Shiyu feel hot on his face.
"Why do you feel that?" Ji Zhiqi's eyes swept across his flushed face and asked slowly, "You are always nervous every time you see me?"
Damn it! He must think I'm a perverted stalker!
Song Shiyu wailed inwardly and just wanted to disappear right there.
"No..." He tried to defend himself, but his voice lacked confidence.
Ji Zhiqi raised his hand, took off the headphones from around his neck, and held them in his hand. His eyes were indifferent and distant, as if he could penetrate all disguises and reach people's hearts: "I think I'm pretty good at judging people."
Song Shiyu felt a pang in his heart when he saw his eyes that seemed to see through everything.
Did he...see something?
Would he be disgusted if he saw my hidden feelings towards him?
He was gripped by great embarrassment and panic, and at this moment he had only one thought left - escape!
He forced a smile and said hurriedly, "It's getting late, go back and rest early. I'm leaving first." After saying that, he didn't even dare to look at Ji Zhiqi again.
Ji Zhiqi looked at the receding figure, his eyes were deep and it was impossible to tell what he was thinking.
He silently put his headphones back on and closed his eyes, as if the embarrassing incident had never happened.
However, in the cool night breeze, there seemed to be a lingering trace of the light and flustered breath from Mr. Song.
------
After being sent home by the driver Xiao Cheng, Song Shiyu fell on the soft big bed, replaying Ji Zhiqi's last all-seeing look in his mind over and over again, and pounding the pillow in frustration.
He always prides himself on being calm, so why is it that when he is in front of Ji Zhiqi, he loses control and becomes clumsy?
He took out his phone irritably and subconsciously clicked on the homepage of Ji Zhiqi's almost overgrown social account.
He had already read those few push notifications countless times, trying to piece together a few fragments of his preferences from the official words and pictures.
He likes to eat light meals, often wears a designer brand known for its minimalism and tailoring, and occasionally wears a low-key but valuable limited edition mechanical watch on his wrist...
As he swiped his finger, he saw the birthday reminder automatically posted by the system.
Ji Zhiqi’s birthday is next month.
By the time he finishes the first stop of his "Chasing the Light" tour, it will be almost there.
A thought arose in Song Shiyu's mind.
He knew that Ji Zhiqi had a little hobby - collecting top-notch headphones.
Over the past three years, Song Shiyu has also collected several priceless treasures.
Maybe... I could give it to him on his birthday? That wouldn't be too out of place, right?
------
In the following days, Song Shiyu devoted most of his energy to work.
To the surprise of many people, the parachuted-in Mr. Song is no fool. The reform plan he proposed has clear ideas and strong execution. Under his organization, the entertainment business has indeed shown new vitality.
The good reviews gradually spread within the company, and everyone became less hostile and more convinced of Mr. Song, who was both handsome and capable.
Ms. Ruan Ning was delighted to see her son so motivated, so she called him home and prepared a sumptuous meal to reward him.
After dinner, Ruan Ning affectionately held her son's hand, her face beaming with joy. "Xiaojiu, Mom has a good friend whose son just returned from France a few days ago. He's incredibly handsome! And the thing is, he likes boys, just like you! Mom has given him your contact information, and he'll probably add you soon. You young people, let's chat more!"
Song Shiyu looked helplessly at his overly enthusiastic mother: "Ms. Ruan, I've been busy with company matters recently and really don't have time for a relationship."
"Oh, let's be friends. There's always time to chat!" Ruan Ning patted his hands and said without question, "Okay, okay, my beauty appointment is up, I'm leaving first!" After saying that, she hummed a song happily and went out carrying her limited edition bag.
Song Shiyu watched his mother disappearing from the scene and looked at the ceiling with empty eyes.
Where on earth has UU gone? Why is he always absent at crucial moments?
Just as I was thinking about it, my cell phone suddenly rang. It was a voice message.
He picked it up and glanced at the sender, a genuine smile unconsciously forming on the corners of his mouth, and pressed the play button.
"Baby~ I'm going back to S City tomorrow. My flight is at 3 pm. Remember to pick me up!" It was a boy's voice with a soft tone and a bit of natural coquettishness. Just by listening to the voice, you can imagine that he is a lively and cute guy.
Song Shiyu smiled and replied, "Okay, see you tomorrow."
------
The next day, Song Shiyu finished the urgent work at hand, calculated the time, and was about to set off to the airport to pick up Bai Siang.
Just as I reached the elevator, I unexpectedly caught a glimpse of a familiar tall figure accompanied by an assistant, walking into another special elevator - it was Ji Zhiqi.
Isn't he going to shoot that high-end watch commercial tomorrow? Why is he here today?
Song Shiyu immediately looked at Xiao Cheng beside him.
Xiao Cheng blinked and whispered innocently, "Mr. Song, I've forwarded the email Mr. Ji's team sent yesterday about changing the itinerary to your mailbox..."
Song Shiyu then remembered that he was busy dealing with the problematic financial report yesterday and did not look at the email carefully at all.
He made a prompt decision and handed the car keys to Xiao Cheng: "Xiao Cheng, please pick up Siang at the airport for me. Also, from now on, any changes to Ji Zhiqi's schedule, please send a message directly to my phone, not to my email, because I'm afraid I'll miss it."
Xiao Cheng nodded immediately: "I understand, Mr. Song."
Song Shiyu looked at the elevator that was already going up, suddenly turned around without hesitation, walked out of the company door, and walked towards the coffee shop.
After buying coffee, Song Shiyu took the elevator directly to the floor where the studio was located.
Inside the studio, the shooting seemed to have just begun.
Ji Zhiqi struck various poses.
He does have a natural sense of camera; every look and every subtle movement is just right, whether lazy or stern, they are all so beautiful that you can't take your eyes off them.
But under the strong light, the fatigue and sickly paleness on his face became more obvious.
Song Shiyu stood in the corner, watching silently, and the worry in his heart quietly emerged again.
"Mr. Song!" A staff member noticed him and greeted him quickly.
Others also looked over.
Song Shiyu immediately put on a calm and appropriate smile and nodded to everyone: "Thank you for your hard work. I bought you some coffee." Everyone expressed their gratitude.
He turned his gaze towards Ji Zhiqi, and met his gaze as he looked up at him.
Song Shiyu's heart moved slightly, and he handed over a cup of hand-brewed coffee in his hand, which was at just the right temperature and was bought according to Ji Zhiqi's taste in his memory.
Song Shiyu walked up to Ji Zhiqi.
"Mr. Ji, you've been tired during the shoot. Would you like to have a drink and take a break?" He tried his best to make his tone sound like the client's normal concern for its partner.
Ji Zhiqi seemed stunned for a moment, his deep gaze shifting between Song Shiyu's face and the cup of coffee, then he nodded lightly: "Thank you."
But he did not reach out to take it. Instead, the assistant beside him immediately stepped forward, respectfully took the coffee, and placed it on the rest table beside him, not far from Ji Zhiqi, but he obviously had no intention of moving it.
Song Shiyu felt a slight sense of loss in his heart, but he still maintained a smile on his face: "If you feel there is anything inconvenient or inappropriate during the filming, please feel free to raise it, and we will fully cooperate."
"Okay, thank you, Mr. Song." Ji Zhiqi's answer was still polite and distant.
Afterwards, he stopped talking, closed his eyes and leaned back on the sofa, as if taking a nap while touching up his makeup.
Song Shiyu became even more worried when he saw that his brows were slightly furrowed even when he was resting, and his face looked even more fragile under the light.
When will UU come back? He must ask what is going on with Ji Zhiqi's body.
He didn't bother her anymore and quietly left the studio.
------
I went back to the office and processed a few documents. I estimated that it was almost time and Ji Zhiqi's filming should be over.
After much hesitation, Song Shiyu finally decided to go to the studio again. Maybe... he could find a chance to see him off?
However, when he came to the studio again, only the staff who were packing up the equipment were left inside, and Ji Zhiqi and his team were nowhere to be seen.
His eyes fell on the lounge table. The cup of coffee he had specially brought was still lying there untouched. The water droplets condensed on the wall of the cup seemed to be silently mocking his self-conceit.
An indescribable sadness instantly overwhelmed Song Shiyu.
He walked over and silently picked up the cup of cold coffee.
These were his favorite beans, flavored according to his guess, so why didn't he even touch them?
Could it be... that he is avoiding me just because I gave it to him?
He lowered his eyes, staring at the dark brown liquid in the cup, and sighed softly and lostly.
"Song Shiyu!"
A vigorous voice, with a hint of accusation, sounded at the door.
Immediately afterwards, Bai Siang, who was exhausted, rushed in angrily under the leadership of Xiao Cheng.
"You promised to pick me up, but you stood me up!" Bai Siang was wearing a fashionable brand name and had a delicate and pretty face. At this moment, he was standing with his hands on his hips, staring at Song Shiyu.
However, when he approached and saw Song Shiyu staring at a cup of coffee with a sad expression on his face, he was stunned.
"I'm so thirsty!" Bai Siang didn't think much about it. He walked over and picked up the cup of coffee in Song Shiyu's hand and drank several big gulps.
Song Shiyu looked at his actions, his eyes became even more resentful, he opened his mouth and said in a dry voice: "The coffee is... mine..." He wanted to say, this is for Ji Zhiqi.
Before he could finish his words, Bai Siang interrupted him: "I know you bought it! What's wrong with me drinking your cup of coffee? Stingy!" He wiped his mouth and realized belatedly that Song Shiyu was in an unusually low mood. "Hey, what's wrong with you? You look like... Are you thinking about your 'one who can only be admired from afar, not touched' Ji Zhiqi again?"
As Song Shiyu's best friend, Bai Siang knew all about his "epic crush" that lasted for three years, and often teased him as a "modern-day money-giving boy" and "the invisible director of the poverty alleviation office in the entertainment industry."
Song Shiyu nodded weakly, his voice muffled: "Yes, I have seen him. He just left."
Bai Siang widened his round cat-like eyes: "You've seen him before, and you still look so dead? Wait..." His gaze slowly moved down, landing on the cup of coffee in his hand that he had already drunk most of. An incredible thought emerged, "Don't tell me... this cup of coffee was given to him by you?!"
Song Shiyu glanced at him quietly without saying anything, but that look said it all.
Bai Siang felt as if he was scalded. He quickly put the coffee cup back on the table, raised his hands, and said with an exaggerated expression: "Baby! I was wrong! I didn't know this was your tribute to 'that person'! Tonight! Tonight I have appointments with many handsome and well-dressed guys, who are definitely more capable than Ji Zhiqi! I will introduce them all to you! Now I have to go home and clean up. See you tonight!"
After saying this, without waiting for Song Shiyu to react, Bai Siang slipped away quickly like a frightened rabbit, as if there was a flood or a beast behind him.
Silence returned to the office.
Song Shiyu looked at the cup of coffee on the table that had been drunk, symbolizing complete failure, and then looked at the direction where Bai Siang disappeared. In the end, he could only take two deep breaths, pick up the cold tea on the table, and drink it all in one gulp.
With a feeling of frustration and lingering depression, he angrily left work early and went home.
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