Li Qianxing woke up at eight-thirty the next morning, half an hour later than usual.
He sat up, straightened his pajamas, and ran his fingers through his hair before opening the door and walking out. He saw Jiang Lin sitting on the living room sofa, working on his laptop. The housekeeper had already bought groceries and was in the kitchen, preparing ingredients according to Jiang Lin’s instructions.
Seeing Li Qianxing come out, Jiang Lin stood up with a smile. “You’re up. I’ll make breakfast.”
“Have you eaten?” Li Qianxing asked.
“No, I was waiting for you,” Jiang Lin replied.
Li Qianxing frowned. “Next time I sleep in, either wake me up or eat by yourself. Don’t wait for me.”
Jiang Lin chuckled. “It’s your day off. Why wake you? Alright, I’ll eat first next time.”
After speaking, he glanced at the open-plan kitchen adjoining the dining room. Seeing the housekeeper’s back turned, he quickly embraced Li Qianxing and kissed him on the lips.
Caught off guard by the sudden attack, Li Qianxing tried to dodge, but Jiang Lin had already pulled away. He winked and whispered, “Sneak attack successful.”
Li Qianxing sighed. “I haven’t even washed up yet.”
Jiang Lin laughed, reaching out to stroke Li Qianxing’s slightly stubbly chin. “I can tell. Go freshen up.”
Watching Li Qianxing return to the bedroom, Jiang Lin headed to the stove.
By the time Li Qianxing finished grooming himself and returned to the dining room, the housekeeper had left, and Jiang Lin had swiftly served breakfast noodles.
Jiang Lin washed his hands, sat down, and began peeling shrimp rapidly. “I’ve been thinking,” he said. “From now on, let’s have the housekeeper deliver groceries to my place. She can prep them and store them in the fridge, and I’ll grab them when I cook. That way, she won’t interrupt our private time.”
“You’re okay with her being in your apartment alone?” Li Qianxing asked.
As he spoke, he tried to compete with Jiang Lin for the shrimp, but his peeling was too slow, and he ended up with only a few.
“I’ll lock all the room doors and install cameras in the living room, dining room, kitchen, and hallway,” Jiang Lin explained. “Besides, I’ve noticed she uses the robot vacuum here every other day, and does other cleaning once a week. I can use the robot vacuum daily, so she only needs to come once a week.”
“Whatever you think is best,” Li Qianxing agreed. “Why not include your place in the cleaning schedule? I’ll increase her pay. She’s not too busy now, so once a week should work for both apartments.”
“I’ll discuss it with her,” Jiang Lin said. “You’re already covering the grocery costs, so I’ll handle the pay increase.”
Li Qianxing had no objections. After all, domestic matters were meant to be decided together.
The small plate of shrimp was quickly peeled. They washed their hands and returned to eat breakfast.
As they ate, Li Qianxing mentioned, “I watched that movie where you dance last night.”
Jiang Lin smiled. “You’ve been watching Auntie dance since childhood. Could my dancing possibly impress you?”
“It was quite good,” Li Qianxing replied. “The spirit of determined struggle came through. My mother often says that dance is the dancer speaking to the audience. If you can convey what you want to express to the audience, that’s a success.”
As he said this, he suddenly changed the subject, “By the way, in your final competition dance, was the ending pose—the half-kneeling arm raise—modified or cut?”
After thinking carefully about the distant memory, Jiang Lin replied, “I remember performing it. It probably didn’t make the final cut. It must have overshadowed the main character.”
Li Qianxing expressed his disappointment, “That’s what I thought.”
Jiang Lin suddenly realized, “Wait, how do you know what the original dance was like?”
Li Qianxing looked up at him with a gentle smile, “I only remembered after watching the film. Back then, I went with my brother to tour the set and happened to see you practicing with the crew. You were dancing on stage, and I was watching from below.”
Jiang Lin couldn’t help but repeat, “You… were watching from below?!”
“Yes, right in the center front. When you looked up at the end, our eyes met.”
Jiang Lin’s mouth fell open in shock.
After a moment, he blinked rapidly, “That’s impossible! If I’d seen such a handsome young man, how could I possibly forget?”
Li Qianxing: “…”
He lightly tapped Jiang Lin’s head, “Is that really the point?”
Jiang Lin grinned, catching his hand, “What else could be?”
Li Qianxing thought for a moment and replied, “You were probably immersed in your role, seeing me as just another audience member, so you didn’t pay attention and left after the curtain call.”
Jiang Lin sighed, “I wish I could go back seven years and slap myself. How could I have been so blind! If I’d noticed you then, we’d be celebrating several wedding anniversaries by now.”
Li Qianxing raised an eyebrow, “You’re that certain you could have won me over back then?”
“Absolutely,” Jiang Lin declared. “We’re meant to be. Once we met, we were destined to end up together.”
As he said this, his eyes suddenly flickered. When he looked back at Li Qianxing, his expression held a mix of hurt and conflict.
“You never recognized me… I feel a bit sad… But I don’t even remember meeting you, so I’m not sure I have the right to feel upset…”
Li Qianxing chuckled, “Alright, stop acting. Hurry and eat, the noodles are getting mushy.”
Jiang Lin lowered his head, picking at his noodles, “Ah, I’m so heartbroken… Too sad to eat…”
Li Qianxing reached out to pat his head, “Xiao Jiang Lin, let Gege tell you a scary story. If you don’t eat, you’ll have no strength. And if you have no strength, you won’t be able to carry me.”
Jiang Lin couldn’t help but laugh, “Wow, that’s truly terrifying.”
Li Qianxing jerked his chin, “So, eat up.”
Afraid of choking while eating, they stopped joking and quietly finished their noodles.
After Jiang Lin finished his large bowl and saw that Li Qianxing had put down his chopsticks, he tapped the edge of his bowl to get his attention.
“Gege, I’ve been good and finished everything. What’s my reward?” Jiang Lin asked.
Li Qianxing glanced at him. “How about I dance for you?”
Jiang Lin’s eyes lit up. “Really?”
He had never seen Li Qianxing dance before.
Li Qianxing nodded. “But in exchange, show me some of your martial arts. It doesn’t have to be boxing—anything you’ve learned is fine.”
Jiang Lin naturally agreed.
They washed the dishes and spent some time reviewing materials to aid digestion.
Afterward, Jiang Lin said he wanted to make his performance more formal, so he went downstairs to change clothes.
*
When he returned, Jiang Lin was wearing a dark red training suit with golden peony embroidery on the cuffs, hem, and trouser legs.
Li Qianxing couldn’t help but smile. “How ornate.”
Jiang Lin laughed along. “Last year was my zodiac year. My mom insisted on getting me a red outfit and made me promise to wear it while practicing.”
“Did you wear it?” Li Qianxing asked.
“I put it on for a photo to send her, then it went straight to the bottom of my closet,” Jiang Lin admitted.
Li Qianxing looked him up and down carefully. “Actually, Auntie has good taste. The red isn’t too bright, and the gold thread accents make you look very handsome.”
Jiang Lin spread his arms and turned in a circle. “I know, that’s why I put it on for you. When I practice alone, wearing this would be like dressing up with no one to see.”
Li Qianxing suddenly remembered, “I have a red dance outfit too. During my zodiac year, my mom got me a bunch of red things. She saw this dance outfit, thought it looked nice, and sent it along, not caring that I couldn’t actually wear it.”
Jiang Lin smiled. “Why can’t you wear it? Put it on and dance for me now.”
Li Qianxing stood up. “I’ll go look for it.”
They went to the walk-in closet together, and after some searching, Li Qianxing finally found it in a corner.
When Li Qianxing changed into it, Jiang Lin was instantly captivated.
The color of the dance outfit was much brighter than Jiang Lin’s practice clothes, a true red. But because it was light and thin, it appeared slightly paler in the sunlight, clinging to his body and subtly revealing the contours beneath. The outfit was also embroidered with gold thread, depicting two lotus flowers.
Li Qianxing’s hair was very black, his skin very white, and now with the red dance outfit on, combined with his elegant temperament, he looked like a red lotus blooming in an icy lake—a unique beauty blending coolness and brilliance.
They moved to the practice room.
Li Qianxing sat cross-legged on the floor and gestured towards the center, inviting Jiang Lin to begin.
Jiang Lin walked to the center and performed a common long fist routine.
His movements were swift and powerful, his punches and kicks full of force. For a moment, it was as if a dark red whirlwind swept through the room, interspersed with flashes of gold, dazzling to the eye.
As Jiang Lin finished his form, Li Qianxing rose from the ground. With a lift of his leg, the loose dance outfit swept out a crimson semicircle.
Li Qianxing began to spin and leap around Jiang Lin, his arms extended gracefully, his movements light as if gravity no longer existed. The golden lotuses on his outfit seemed to leave countless afterimages in the air.
If Jiang Lin’s performance was like a fierce gale, Li Qianxing’s was a gentle breeze. It brushed the surface of the skin, imperceptibly seeping into one’s heart and soul, mesmerizing the onlooker.
Jiang Lin turned with Li Qianxing, his gaze never leaving him, not even daring to blink.
After two cartwheels, Li Qianxing suddenly leaped high into the air, tucking his body for a forward flip.
At the same time, a voice rang out, “Jiang Lin, reach out!”
Startled, Jiang Lin quickly extended his arms.
The next moment, without him even having to catch, Li Qianxing landed precisely in his arms, reaching up to encircle Jiang Lin’s neck.
Jiang Lin looked down, his chest heaving a few times before finally letting out a long sigh of relief.
“You scared me.”
Li Qianxing straightened up and placed a kiss on Jiang Lin’s lips.
“I knew you’d catch me. I’d always let you catch me.”
Jiang Lin murmured against his lips, “Next time, give me a heads up.”
Li Qianxing chuckled softly, replying just as indistinctly, “I’m getting old. One dance is too tiring. I won’t dance again.”
Jiang Lin’s eyes darkened slightly. “Shall we rest?”
Li Qianxing nestled lazily in his arms. “Mm-hmm.”
*
Jiang Lin carried him into the master bedroom, laying him on the soft, comfortable bed. He knelt on the bed with one knee, his hand braced beside Li Qianxing’s face as he gazed down at him.
The loose dance outfit spread out, creating a sea of red.
In the center of the red lay the person who held Jiang Lin’s heart and soul.
Li Qianxing reached out, fumbling at the bedside for a moment before pressing a button.
With a soft rustle, sheer curtains slowly closed.
The room dimmed slightly, the atmosphere growing more intimate.
Li Qianxing raised his hand, his fingers gliding over the fabric buttons of Jiang Lin’s practice outfit one by one. “Dressed like this, doesn’t it seem a bit like…”
Jiang Lin leaned down, his lips touching Li Qianxing’s. “Our wedding night.”
With that, he parted Li Qianxing’s lips, his tongue seeking out and entwining with the other’s.
The kiss deepened, and Li Qianxing tightly wrapped his arms around Jiang Lin’s neck, his eyes gradually misting over.
Only when they finally needed to breathe did Jiang Lin reluctantly lift his head slightly.
Rapid breaths mingled in the air between them. Li Qianxing opened his eyes to see two red reflections in Jiang Lin’s dark pupils, like two constantly flickering flames.
Jiang Lin spoke, his voice hoarse and barely recognizable. “Where… are the things…”
Li Qianxing’s oxygen-deprived brain was slow to respond. After a moment, he turned his head to look at the pillows lined up beside them.
Jiang Lin didn’t look away, his gaze still lingering on Li Qianxing’s face as he reached out to feel around and retrieve the items.
Their chests pressed together, Li Qianxing could no longer distinguish if it was his own heartbeat that was too fast, or Jiang Lin’s—or perhaps they were equally rapid.
Enveloped in Jiang Lin’s body heat, the air conditioning seemed to have lost all effect. Li Qianxing had only one sensation now: heat—on his skin, and even more intensely within.
It was as if flames were racing through him, yearning to burn fiercely.
Jiang Lin was no better off than Li Qianxing; he felt as if he was already on fire.
What Li Qianxing couldn’t see, Jiang Lin saw clearly. Now, not only was Li Qianxing’s clothing red, but his face, neck, and wrists—all exposed skin—were flushed a light red.
He was like a flower that usually remained closed, only blooming for Jiang Lin.
Jiang Lin caressed Li Qianxing’s cheek, asking in a low voice, “How flexible have you become with all your recent practice?”
Li Qianxing struggled to catch his breath in the thin air between them, gently pushing at Jiang Lin. “Move back a bit.”
Jiang Lin reluctantly raised himself, barely creating some distance.
Li Qianxing lifted his right knee, pressing it directly against Jiang Lin’s shoulder.
Jiang Lin supported the back of his knee, his lips curving into a smile.
Soon, the crimson dance outfit was tossed to the edge of the bed.
Then, the dark red training suit was draped over it.
A moment later, the bed trembled slightly, and the two outfits slowly slid towards the edge of the bed.
Finally, they fell off the bed together, intertwining as they landed on the floor.
Inseparable.
…
When Li Qianxing regained his senses, he found that Jiang Lin, who had been lying on top of him, was now beside him, planting soft, dense kisses on his cheeks and neck.
Seeing Li Qianxing’s eyes focus, Jiang Lin smiled and asked in a hoarse voice, “How was it?”
Li Qianxing narrowed his eyes, reaching down to touch his own waist, then Jiang Lin’s hand, and replied in an equally hoarse voice, “Not bad.”
Jiang Lin raised an eyebrow. “That assessment… sounds rather average.”
Li Qianxing turned to face him, kissing his chin, and elaborated, “Pros: No pain, quite comfortable.”
Jiang Lin leaned in to return the kiss. “And the cons?”
Li Qianxing answered honestly, “You don’t seem four years younger than me, more like ten years older.”
Jiang Lin was stunned, then slightly narrowed his eyes.
Li Qianxing squeezed his fingers. “There are no fingerprints on my waist, right?”
He didn’t need to look down; with his experience from two film shoots, he could tell just by feeling.
Hearing this, Jiang Lin reflexively tightened his grip, feeling the firmness of the skin beneath.
“You… prefer it rough?”
Li Qianxing caressed Jiang Lin’s face, looking into his eyes.
“I like it real.”
Jiang Lin blinked.
Li Qianxing smiled slightly. “I’m not that fragile. You don’t need to hold back or be too concerned about me.”
Jiang Lin’s face showed a hint of distress. “That’s asking too much. How could I not be concerned about you?”
Li Qianxing thought for a moment, then said, “Then, can I make you lose control?”
Jiang Lin was stunned again.
Li Qianxing traced Jiang Lin’s features with both hands, speaking slowly, “Just like how Ji Ming’an made Cheng Yue lose control, I want to make you lose control too.”
His fingers slid down Jiang Lin’s jaw to his neck, resting on his chest, pressing in slightly.
“That way, I’d feel a great sense of achievement.”
As he pressed, Jiang Lin felt as if his heart suddenly exploded, blood rushing to his head.
The next moment, Jiang Lin gripped Li Qianxing’s waist with both hands, flipping them over together.
Li Qianxing swayed, quickly bracing his hands on Jiang Lin’s chest to stabilize himself.
His legs were still trembling slightly, but it didn’t matter. Li Qianxing knew Jiang Lin’s hands would support him.
The familiar pressure on his waist gave him a strange sense of security.
Jiang Lin’s eyes were darker than ever before, pitch-black as if no light could penetrate them.
His voice was even hoarser than before.
“Are you sure you want to know how out of control I can be?”
Li Qianxing’s lips curved up. He slowly raised his hand, index finger touching his own lips, then turned it to press against Jiang Lin’s lips.
“Come on, go crazy for me.”
…
The result of this frenzy was that Li Qianxing didn’t even need to attempt walking on his own.
Though not sleepy, he was so exhausted he didn’t want to move a finger.
For the first time, he experienced what it meant to be as limp as water.
Jiang Lin held him, slowly stroking his back. “Sleep if you’re tired.”
Li Qianxing: “I’m not sleepy, just too lazy to open my eyes.”
Jiang Lin chuckled softly.
After a while, Jiang Lin carefully laid Li Qianxing down and sat up, looking around. Then he realized, “Oh no, no clothes to change into… I should keep a set of clothes here.”
Li Qianxing, still only moving his mouth: “Left side of the wardrobe, bottom drawer. There are pajamas and underwear in your size. They’ve been washed.”
Jiang Lin couldn’t help but look at him. “You bought them?”
Li Qianxing: “Mm-hmm.”
Jiang Lin leaned down to kiss him, then got up to shower.
After cleaning up, Jiang Lin came out with just a towel around his waist. He carried Li Qianxing to the bathroom, helped him wash thoroughly, then let him soak in the bathtub while he went back to change the bedsheets.
After all this bustling about, by the time he had dressed Li Qianxing, Jiang Lin was sweating again. He took another shower, finally changed into the new pajamas, and went to make lunch, humming a tune.
Without a bed tray, Jiang Lin ended up holding Li Qianxing on the sofa, feeding him one bite at a time.
Li Qianxing sighed softly, “I’m experiencing old age life prematurely.”
Jiang Lin chuckled, “Nonsense. It won’t be like this in the future. I think I’ve found the right balance now. I promise not to go from one extreme to another.”
Li Qianxing: “It’s alright. Living together is about adjusting to each other.”
Feeling his ears getting hot, he still spoke honestly, “Besides, it was a great experience. During vacations, it’s fine to do this occasionally. You’ll take care of me anyway.”
Then, as if to cover up that slight embarrassment, he quickly added, “Move in here.”
Jiang Lin’s heart swelled with emotion. He agreed with a “Yes” while holding Li Qianxing’s left hand, intertwining their fingers.
“I just realized, you said you met me seven years ago when you were touring the set with Mr. Qi. That film was invested and produced by Xingyi, right?”
Without waiting for Li Qianxing’s answer, Jiang Lin continued, “It was you who helped me keep that role.”
He stated it as a fact.
Li Qianxing looked up at him, seeing Jiang Lin gazing back, and smiled, “I had planned to keep it a secret, but I gave it away with my first words.”
Jiang Lin lifted his hand and kissed his ring finger, “I suddenly feel that the title ‘Reunion’ suits us well too. The fate we missed seven years ago was renewed seven years later because of ‘Reunion,’ as if it was destined.”
Jiang Lin slowly lowered his head, touching his forehead to Li Qianxing’s, “I love you, Qianxing.”
Li Qianxing moved slightly, brushing Jiang Lin’s lips, “I love you, Jiang Lin.”
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