Translator: Paperplane Editor: DarkGem
Next, it was time for the host and the director’s interaction. The host asked him a few questions about “Alluring Times”. Having attended many conferences like this, the director was particularly skillful with his answers. He emphasized the tv series’ strongest points for everyone, and then chucked a few enticing thoughts to build suspense.
Then the host interacted with the cast with questions also about “Alluring Times”, such as questions about their characters, their personalities, who they were partnered up with, and their brief thoughts on their characters.
Of all the actors present today, besides Qiao Anhao, they’d filmed many other movies, so they were very natural and relaxed, as though they were talking with friends during their interview.
Qiao Anhao was a little nervous, but before the conference, she was told how to skillfully answer the questions, so as to not make any careless mistakes.
–
The conference ended promptly at six o’clock. After the actors signed their “Alluring Times” poster and posed for photos for the media, the two main couples Song Xiangsi and Chen Yang, Lu Jinnian and Qiao Anhao were separated into two different rooms for interviews. The other actors and the director stayed at the conference to answer questions from other media outlets who didn’t have interview opportunities.
Qiao Anhao and Lu Jinnian were arranged to be interviewed in the hotel’s penthouse suite. When the two of them reached it, the interviewer in charge hadn’t arrived yet.
The room was specifically decorated with three European armchairs, a round glass table, and in front hung a poster of “Alluring Times” with Lu Jinnian and Qiao Anhao on it. There were some fruit, a bottle of red wine, and three bottles of mineral water on the round table.
The service staff that escorted Lu Jinnian and Qiao Anhao in, gave them three tall glasses of red wine, then left the suite.
The two of them were left in the suite alone. Qiao Anhao, who had stiffened up to keep up her composure, completely relaxed at that moment. As though she’d lost her bones, her body sat limp on the sofa. Her head casually tilted, and coincidentally, she glanced over at the tie clip on Lu Jinnian’s chest that she had gifted him.
Lu Jinnian stood not too far away from the floor-to-ceiling windows. The orange, setting sun shone through the glass and landed on his chest, reflecting a piercingly bright light from the small diamonds on the tie clip
Qiao Anhao quietly looked at it for a few seconds, before moving her eyes away. That was when she noticed Lu Jinnian looking unwaveringly at her. With the shining light of the setting sun on him, a layer of gold enveloped his body, making him look completely majestic. Qiao Anhao only sneaked a glance, but that was enough to make her breathing go unsteady. She hurriedly lowered her eyes, to avoid his line of sight.
The suite seemed exceptionally quiet. Qiao Anhao stared at her meticulously polished nails for a moment, then, as though she had remembered something, she lifted her eyes. She stared at Lu Jinnian and asked, “Are your injuries all healed now?”
Lately, the set had been quite busy, so the two of them didn’t have much time to talk, nor did she have time to ask.
“Yeah.” Still staring at Qiao Anhao, Lu Jinnian spoke in an elegant and neutral voice, but his eyes, they had clearly become more gentle.
Translator: Paperplane Editor: DarkGem
After a while, Lu Jinnian added, “It’s been a long time now. In some places, the scars are so light, they aren’t even visible anymore.”
Qiao Anhao curved the corner of her lips into a gentle smile. “That’s good.”
Lu Jinnian didn’t speak more. He just stared, slightly transfixed by the corners of Qiao Anhao’s lips and that peacefully warm smile she wore.
The suite fell silent again. Qiao Anhao hadn’t quite come back from Lu Jinnian’s stunning gaze, so her fingers grabbed for the glass of red wine that the service staff had brought over, to steady her shaken heart.
But before she could bring the glass to her lips, Lu Jinnian, who wasn’t standing far away, suddenly strode over and grabbed her soft, delicate fingers to stop her.
Qiao Anhao was stunned for a moment, then she looked up at him with confusion.
Lu Jinnian didn’t look at her, but gently took the tall glass from her hands and put it back on the round table. He grabbed for a bottle of mineral water, twisted the cap, and handed it to her. He stared into her eyes and said, “Drink some water. Alcohol is bad for the body.”
Most importantly, it hadn’t been one month since her miscarriage operation. She couldn’t have alcohol.
Qiao Anhao didn’t know what Lu Jinnian was really thinking. She thought about how he had been carefully looking after her all this time, and how he must be afraid she’d drink the alcohol and trigger the same stomach pains as before, that’s why he probably stopped her. The happiness and sweetness that she’d recently been feeling crawled into her heart again. Staring into his eyes, she couldn’t help but freeze up.
As Lu Jinnian met her eyes, a hint of tenderness washed over his own, usually cold ones. His hand didn’t move, it was still holding up the bottle of water.
For that instant, it was like time stood still with the image of the two of them deeply staring at one another…
The entire world had become utterly silent. They could hear the sound of each other’s heartbeat.
The room was gradually filled with an air of intimacy. Lu Jinnian couldn’t help but lower his head, as he drew closer to Qiao Anhao’s face. Qiao Anhao didn’t move away, but her lips gently quivered, as though they were anticipating for something.
A broiling heat crept into Lu Jinnian’s eyes, and his head pushed lower. Just as his lips were about to touch hers, a knock on the door was suddenly sounded.
Both Lu Jinnian and Qiao Anhao snapped back to reality at the same time. To mask her nerves, Qiao Anhao quickly took the bottle of water from Lu Jinnian’s hands and hurriedly said, “Thank you”. Then she pretended to be really thirsty and gulped the water down with her head raised.
Lu Jinnian peacefully stared at Qiao Anhao for a few seconds, then straightened up and said in his usual neutral tone, “Come in.”
When his words reached outside, the service staff at the door opened it, and the reporter and photographer came in.
Qiao Anhao hastily put the bottle down and grabbed a napkin. She wiped the water from her lips and stood up.
The reporter respectively shook hands with Qiao Anhao and Lu Jinnian, greeting them, and then the three of them took their seats. They waited for the cameraman to adjust the lighting and give them the OK hand sign.
When he did so, the reporter brought the mic up and said, “We all know that you both act as a couple in “Alluring Times”, so you must of worked quite closely with each other during this time. Let me ask you then, Mr. Lu… In your eyes, what kind of person is Miss Qiao?”
Translator: Paperplane Editor: DarkGem
Lu Jinnian crossed his slender legs. His posture looked elegant and casual. Of course, he knew that the reporter had asked this question to dig up some dirt. Faced with the reporter’s question, he pretended to think seriously about it, and then replied with a vague answer, “A very talented actress.”
The reporter didn’t let it go and continued to ask, “Besides having talented acting skills, anything else?”
Lu Jinnian didn’t know just how many interviews he’d had like this one, so he was well rehearsed in countering every question. And so, he turned his head and looked at Qiao Anhao. He answered like any idiot would at first glance of her, “Young, beautiful.”
The reporter knew that Lu Jinnian was playing games back and forth with him, but he couldn’t help but chuckle at his answer. After that, he gave up exchanging polite words with Lu Jinnian, and turned his head directly to Qiao Anhao, who had just entered the entertainment industry.
“Miss Qiao, I’m sure you know that Mr. Lu is nicknamed the ‘Nation’s husband’ by netizens, and has won best male actor for six consecutive years. As you’ve just entered the entertainment industry and you’re able to work with him, how does it feel?”
Qiao Anhao, who maintained her smile, paused for three seconds before replying. “It’s very exciting.”
The reporter asked again, “Miss Qiao, having worked with Mr. Lu for so long, what kind of person is he?”
Qiao Anhao had learned from Lu Jinnian’s answer just now and said, “Someone with amazing acting skills, and someone who gives their partners an invisible sense of pressure and motivation to do better.”
The reporter continued to ask Qiao Anhao, “There are many people online who want to get to know Mr. Lu more. As Miss Qiao has worked with him for so long, have you noticed any particular habits or interests that people don’t know about Mr. Lu?”
Even though Qiao Anhao had never been interviewed by anyone in the entertainment industry, she knew perfectly well that if she answered the question, then that would be telling the world that she and Lu Jinnian had a close relationship. She was silent for three seconds, before she answered with a smile.
“Mr. Lu is very busy. Most of the time, when we finish filming, he would be hugging his laptop, as he worked on set. When we’re in makeup, he’s often on the phone, discussing business matters.”
The reporter had dug a few holes, but he didn’t ask any real questions, as they couldn’t dig up any hot gossip. In the end, all they could do was give up and continue to ask other questions. “If you get the opportunity in the future, would Miss Qiao be willing to work with Mr. Lu again?”
Qiao Anhao instantly said, “Yes.”
The reporter turned to Lu Jinnian. “Mr. Lu?”
Lu Jinnian didn’t hesitate either. “Yes.”
The reporter lowered her head and looked down at the questions he’d prepared in advance, then asked Lu Jinnian, “For the last question, Mr. Lu, I’d like to ask you a personal question. Do you have plans to get married?”
Neutrally, Lu Jinnian replied with excellent manners, “This is a secret for the time being.”
The reporter chased that answered with, “By that, Mr. Lu, can I assume that you already have someone in mind?”
Lu Jinnian pretended to not hear the reporter’s question and didn’t bother answering.
The reporter reacted quickly to Lu Jinnian’s willful disregard and rounded it up to overcome the awkwardness. “It looks like Mr. Lu is the same as before, unwilling to disclose information on his personal life, and we respect Mr. Lu’s wishes. Now then, let us ask Miss Qiao. Miss Qiao, what kind of person is the person you love?”
Qiao Anhao looked at the reporter and blinked. Her long eye lashes were like the wings of a butterfly when she did so. Then, with all seriousness, she said, “The person I love is Mr. Lu.”
Translator: Kingbao Editor: DarkGem
Qiao Anhao looked at the reporter and blinked. Her long eye lashes were like the wings of a butterfly when she did so. Then, with all seriousness, she said, “The person I love is Mr. Lu.”
Lu Jinnian, who was seated beside her, was sipping from a glass of red wine, before he could swallow, he took in the full sentence.
The person I love is Mr. Lu…
The hand with which he held the wine glass trembled, and he had to force down the wine in his mouth. His heart thumped rapidly, as though it was about to fly out of his chest, and he used all his strength to clench the wine glass in his hand. Holding his breath, he tried desperately to calm himself, but he still couldn’t stop his fingers from shivering.
The reporter was also startled by Qiao Anhao’s reply. Even though he had been on the ball the entire interview, his mind seemed to have gone blank in that instant. He looked at Qiao Anhao in shock, unable to say a word.
An elegant and beautiful smile continued to fill Qiao Anhao’s face as she looked at the reporter with clear eyes, but deep in her heart, a sour feeling had spread.
Ever since the start, she had only loved him, never wavering, never changing, but she had never dared to say it out.
Just now, when the reporter had asked her, she had wanted to dismiss her with “I haven’t met anyone that touched me” or “I would like to know who he is as well” or a million other response, but in that instance she had replied, something flashed across her mind and the truth just came blurting out.
The person I love is Mr. Lu, is Lu Jinnian.
Only heavens would know how many times she had said that sentence in her mind.
Ever since half a year ago when she had become close to him once again, she had never dared to show her feelings, never had the opportunity to, but now, she finally had the chance.
Even though she knew that it would all become a joke.
Qiao Anhao struggled to keep her lips curled, forcing her smile to not look painful or sorrowful. In a casual voice, she continued, breaking the silence, “Previously you mentioned that Lu Jinnian is the publicly acclaimed ‘Nation Husband’ , it wouldn’t make sense if i didn’t choose him as the person I love, right?”
The reporter was finally able to snap out of her daze… so she was kidding. He continued to cooperate and turned to Lu Jinnian, teasing him, “Miss Qiao just confessed to you, Mr. Lu are you going to accept her?”
Lu Jinnian struggled to come back to his senses and calm his rapidly beating heart. With a calm expression, he swallowed the red wine in his mouth, casually placed the wineglass on the table, and looked towards the reporter. With a deep gaze, his tone seemingly hard to decipher, he replied, “I would never tell you that the person I have been waiting for all this time is Miss Qiao.”
Translator: Kingbao Editor: DarkGem
“Oh…” The reporter was startled by Lu Jinnian’s comment. In the same teasing tone, he commented, “Seems like Miss Qiao and Mr. Lu are both willing parties, let us give them our blessings, wishing the both of you a blissful and sweet romance…”
Then the reporter suddenly turned solemn. “Of course, we were just joking, let us end the interview here.I hope that everyone will support ‘Alluring Times’ which stars the actors Qiao Anhao and Lu Jinnian.”
Lu Jinnian and Qiao Anhao both turned to the camera and said “Goodbye”, one after another.
Qiao Anhao knew that Lu Jinnian was just cooperating and had made a joke, but deep down, she had been moved. Even though her true feelings had been taken as a joke, she treated his words seriously.
Lu Jinnian knew that Qiao Anhao was just joking about loving him, but he was satisfied. This was the first time in his life that he had heard her say such loving words, but it was a pity that she didn’t know his reply wasn’t a joke but his true emotions.
How many words in this world end up being a joke? And how many jokes are actually words that one does not dare say?
By the time the interview ended, it was already 7 pm. Since it was in time for dinner, the director arranged a dinner for everyone at Beijing hotel.
Lu Jinnian received an emergency call and had to leave for a meeting back at Huan Ying Entertainment.
The meeting wasn’t long. After he had rushed through his work and left the company, it was only 9 pm.
But he had a busy day and was slightly fatigued. The moment he entered the car, he leaned against the back to rest.
His assistant didn’t disturb him, starting the car silently. When they came out of the underground car park and were on the road, Lu Jinnian’s phone rang.
Lu Jinnian frowned. He fished for his phone and glanced at its screen. He froze momentarily before exasperation flashed past his eyes. He seemed to have recalled something. Looking back up at his assistant, he said, “Go to Nan Luo Gu Gang.”
His assistant was suspicious at his sudden decision, but he suppressed the urge to ask, heading towards Nan Luo Gu Gang as instructed.
Lu Jinnian told his assistant to wait in the car. Leaving the car alone, he walked into a narrow alley. After about forty minutes, he came out carrying two plastic bags in his hands.
Once he boarded the car, he passed the bigger bag to his assistant. ” Grab a cab at the junction in front to Mian Xiu Garden, I’ve already informed Madam Chen, you can just follow her instructions.”
The assistant was confused, but after studying Lu Jinnian through the rear mirror, he didn’t spot any abnormalities, hence he drove to the junction and carried the bag out of the car.
Translator: Kingbao Editor: DarkGem
While the cast was having dinner in Beijing hotel, the director suggested they go for karaoke, since the filming was about to end and their time together was also coming to an end. There weren’t any objections, so after dinner, at about 10.30 pm, they moved to the nearby Resplendent.
Qiao Anhao sat in Song Xiangsi and Cheng Yang’s car. Halfway through, they had to visit a petrol station. When they reached the meeting place slightly later than the rest, Lu Jinnian who had left earlier on was there as well. He stood elegantly in front of the screen with an iPad menu in his hands and was ordering some alcohol and drinks. When he saw them entering, he lifted his head to glance at Qiao Anhao.
The director noticed them as well and he pointed to the machine at the side, signaling them. ” Go there and pick the songs that you want, two minimum for each person!”
“Xiao Qiao, help me select.. ” Song Xiangsi told Qiao Anhao two song names.
Lu Jinnian frowned when he heard Song Xiangsi ordering Qiao Anhao around. While he was ordering a bottle of Royal Salute, he lifted his head to glare at her.
Song Xiangsi pretended to not have seen him, ordering another song before casually thanking Qiao Anhao. She turned and sat back onto the sofa, returning a challenging gaze towards Lu Jinnian.
After Qiao Anhao helped Song Xiangsi order her songs, she ordered one for herself before sitting down in a seat nearby. When the third female lead saw Qiao Anhao sit, she turned around to greet her warmly.
After no more than three sentences into their conversation, she felt the seat beside her sink slightly. Before she could turn to see who it was, the third female lead smiled in a reserved manner, greeting the person with a huge smile. “Mr. Lu.”
Lu Jinnian nodded coldly, passing the iPad to Qiao Anhao. “Do you want to eat anything?”
Qiao Anhao shook her head, she had just taken her dinner and didn’t have much of an appetite.
Lu Jinnian didn’t persist, he looked down at the iPad for a while longer, then finally ordered two large plates of fruits and some nuts before passing it back to the waiter politely.
The food was soon served and there was a wide variety of drinks, beer, red wine, and white white.
The director asked for additional ice, filling everyone’s cup with wine generously before suggesting a toast.
Before Qiao Anhao could touch the wine, a porcelain cup was placed in front of her. It was a hot cup of milk which was still emitting steam and a faint milky scent. “Didn’t you mention that you weren’t feeling well and needed something hot?”
The third female lead immediately tried to gain his attention as well. “Mr. Lu, I’m not feeling well too, can I get a hot cup of milk tea?”
Lu Jinnian ignored her, pushing away the wine from in front of Qiao Anhao nonchalantly before grabbing his own wineglass to toast, as the director had suggested.
Translator: Kingbao Editor: DarkGem
The third female lead who was ignored laughed awkwardly, trying to conceal her embarrassment before downing the glass of wine in front of her.
Qiao Anhao remained silent, taking small sips of the hot milk in her hands. The milk was hot, but her heart was much hotter, sweetness enveloping her entire body as she took another sip.
There was already someone holding the microphone in front of the screen, singing the song they had chosen. The people sitting were chatting as they enjoyed the drinks.
The third female lead beside Qiao Anhao was deep in conversation with the director and Cheng Yang, ignoring her completely. Lu Jinnian, who was on her other side, had always been silent with few words, so she could only sit silently, gazing at the person singing while she sipped her milk.
When she emptied the cup, she placed it on the table and went to slouch on the sofa, her hands casually placed beside her thighs. Out of boredom, she started singing the song silently in her head.
The third male lead was famous for hoarding the microphone. He sang three consecutive songs and had no intention of giving the microphone away, instead he ordered a Jay Chou’s song “Dong Feng Po” for himself.
When Qiao Anhao was in school, she had rather liked this song, but since it had been a long time, she didn’t remember the lyrics. After singing five sentences inwardly, she stopped and looked up at the lyrics on the screen. That was when she saw the lines:
“As the water flowed to the east,
“No matter how much I tried to get more time,
“The flowers can only bloom once
“And I had missed it…”
At that moment, Qiao Anhao felt Lu Jinnian’s fingers touch hers.
A strong wave of emotion flew through her fingers to her entire body, paralyzing it. As she stared at the lyrics, she could no longer sing the song inwardly.
Qiao Anhao paused for a long while before realizing that Lu Jinnian’s hand was still touching hers, and there was a phone in his palm.
She gulped down and moved her hands, trying to avoid Lu Jinnian’s touch. But at that moment, his hands released his phone and covered hers.
In that instance, she felt as though her hands were no longer hers and there was an indescribable heat spreading from his palm into her bloodstream. She struggled for a while, trying to escape his touch, but instead she felt his fingers surrounding hers, holding her tightly.
Qiao Anhao couldn’t help turning to look at Lu Jinnian, but he was looking at the screen, his face expressionless, giving nothing away. Her heart raced, its speed increasing rapidly, even her ears were starting to burn.
When she had carried a torch for him when she was younger, she had imagined holding onto his pure and slender hand. After so many years, this was the first time they had held each other so seriously, and it was more moving and exciting than she had imagined.
Qiao Anhao imitated Lu Jinnian, staring at the screen without any expression. She also mustered some courage to squeeze his hand.
Lu Jinnian could feel her tighten her grip, her eyes brightening, but his expression still gave nothing away.
To the eyes of the others, they didn’t seem to be interacting, but in a corner that couldn’t be seen, their hands were tightly holding each other.
Translator: Kingbao Editor: DarkGem
Qiao Anhao could no longer hear anything in the room. Her head was in a mess, why was Lu Jinnian holding her hand?
What was he thinking? He couldn’t be in love with her, right..? But he said that no matter who he liked, it would never be her…
Deep in her heart, she felt both warm and confused.
She didn’t know how long he had been holding her hand, but gradually, she could feel her hand grow sweaty. It was sticky and humid, but she didn’t hate it, in fact, she felt blessed.
“Who ordered the next song?” Song Xiangsi asked after she finished the three songs she had picked.
Qiao Anhao stared at the screen without any response.
“Who picked ‘There was you in my youth’?” someone else asked once again.
Qiao Anhao remained silent.
Song Xiangsi’s song was picked by Qiao Anhao, when no one answered after several people had asked the question, she shouted towards Qiao Anhao, “Xiao Qiao!”
When Qiao Anhao heard her name being called, she finally snapped back to her senses. She looked at Song Xiangsi in confusion. “Huh? Xiangsi Jie, what’s wrong?”
Song Xiangsi waved the microphone. “Did you order the song ‘There was You in My Youth’?”
Qiao Anhao nodded her head hurriedly, slowly removing her hand from Lu Jinnian’s hold before standing up.
Lu Jinnian ,who was beside her, came back to his senses as well. With a calm expression, he clenched his hands into fists, as though he was trying to relish in the past memory, preserving it for forever.
Qiao Anhao walked to Song Xiangsi to reach for the microphone.
The third male lead who was standing by the karaoke machine was just about to prepare the background music when he suddenly exclaimed. “Eh, there’s two ‘There was You in My Youth’? Xiao Qiao, did you press it twice?”
Qiao Anhao hadn’t yet fully snapped out of the memory of holding Lu Jinnian’s hand in front of so many people. When the third male lead had asked her the question, she wasn’t able to process it. Before she could reply to him, Lu Jinnian suddenly replied, “I ordered it.”
Qiao Anhao looked towards Lu Jinnian in shock. He had actually chosen the same song as her? An indescribable sense of happiness started to fill her, they actually had the same favorite song.
“Since Mr. Lu and Xiao Qiao picked the same song, why don’t you sing a duet,” someone recommended.
Hearing one person sing was indeed boring, hence everyone else agreed with the suggestion instantly.
Qiao Anhao didn’t dare to make the call, so she looked towards Lu Jinnian, who was sitting on the sofa. He paused for about two seconds before standing up wordlessly to grab another microphone, walking to stand beside her.
As the third male lead started to play the background music, the entire room fell silent. Lu Jinnian raised his hand in front of him to invite Qiao Anhao to begin. She shut her eyes, took a deep breath, counting the beats in her heart, then looked up.
“I would often think about that year, the old study table,
“I would often look at your profile, dreaming,
“You would have never known that the young me kept you deep in my heart.”
Translator: Kingbao Editor: DarkGem
The moment Qiao Anhao said that sentence, the image of her young self floated into her mind. In order to catch a glimpse of Lu Jinnian, she would deliberately walk past his classroom to the washroom. At that time, she had already loved him but had kept it deep in her heart, never letting anyone know.
Qiao Anhao’s voice was soft and melodious. The song was originally sung by a man, but the moment she had sung the first line, it gave a unique vibe to the song.
In that instance, Lu Jinnian felt to have returned to his youth as well. Every day after school, he would follow behind her secretly, watching as she walked home with Qiao Anxia and Xu Jiamu. There were also times when she walked home alone, under the reddish skies, with a long stretch of road ahead of her. She was in front, while he followed behind, and even after so many years, that love was still pure and beautiful.
Lu Jinnian brought the microphone to his mouth continuing the next part.
“I waited for you by the road with my bike.
“In the cold night, you stood beside me, and all I saw was the beauty of your eyes.
“We didn’t ever say goodbye, our separation usually silent.”
Qiao Anhao took the next line.
“Will you think of me occasionally, like how I would often speak of the past?”
Lu Jinnian picked up after her.
“Conversations are endless under the summer wind and autumn rain,
“But one autumn, we just lost contact.”
Qiao Anhao sang the next.
“Will you think of me occasionally, or am I no longer part of your life?”
They looked at each other, their eyes filled with love as they sang the song.
But no one knew that deep in their hearts, they were thinking of the same past.
They both carried a torch for each other but never said a thing. They would often bump into each other, even though others saw it as fate, only they themselves were aware that it was deliberate. Just how much effort had they spent on each other?
They carried the memories from before, becoming good friends, but in the end, their friendship ended and they separated for five long years.
In those five years, Qiao Anhao had never stopped thinking of him, but she could only depend on gossip to calm her inner yearnings.
In those five years, Lu Jinian never forgot about her. In order to hear news about her, he had despicably made use of Qiao Anxia’s affection to hear about her every move.
Qiao Anhao sang, “You were there in my youth.”
Lu Jinnian followed with, “I was there in your youth.”
They both thought that they had missed out on each other, but neither was aware that they were each other’s true love. He was the most beautiful memory of her youth, and she was the the purest, most precious dream of his young self.
The entire room was filled with their melodious voices. This was a new song, but they had both noticed the song without the other party realizing it, because when they were young, they had each other, and they still held on to that love.
Lu Jinnian sang this time, “I had you in my youth.”
And Qiao Anhao echoed him, “I had you in my youth.”
After the last two sentences, the background music slowly faded out.
The colorful spotted lights kept rotating, the rays hitting their faces.
She glanced up at him, warm and gentle.
He returned her gaze, his own blurry and deep.
Deep in her heart, Qiao Anhao silently recited: Lu Jinnian, I love you.
Deep in his heart, Lu Jinnian spoke with mixed feelings: Qiao Anhao, I love you.
Translator: Kingbao Editor: DarkGem
They looked into each other’s eyes for half a minute, repeating the words that they had never dared to say aloud in their hearts.
They were three simple words, I love you. It was he most straightforward confession, but it was so touching and deep.
There was still filming the next afternoon, hence at 11.40 pm, everyone started leaving.
Qiao Anhao had sat in Lu Jinnian’s car to the interview, so when everything ended, he told her “Wait for me, I’ll drive you” and went to settle the bill.
Several others had drank too much. Qiao Anhao helped to send some of them into cabs and made sure to see them off before turning back to the main hall of Resplendent.
Lu Jinnian was standing under a lamp in front of the counter, signing his name.
Qiao Anhao didn’t walk up to disrupt him, just stood far away, observing him. His actions were swift and decisive. He passed the counter staff his card , and when she had passed the card back to him, she said something in agitation. Lu Jinnian nodded faintly, and before she passed a book over, he took the pen once more, bending to sign his name.
After getting his signature, the counter staff used her phone to secretly snap a photo of him. He seemed to have sensed it but didn’t expose her, just placed down the pen and took his card back. Turning around, he instantly saw Qiao Anhao standing by the door and took large strides towards her.
Lu Jinnian’s car was parked at the entrance of Resplendent. He pulled out his car keys and unlocked it, opening the door for Qiao Anhao. He shut it after making sure she had entered and was seated. He entered the driver seat and glanced at the clock, it was currently 11.55 pm.
He started the car, casually turning his steering wheel. Once he exited Resplendent, he didn’t speed up but instead stopped his car by the side of the road.
Qiao Anhao frowned, turning her head in confusion. “What’s wrong?”
Lu Jinnian remained silent, staring at his phone screen, and silence settled in the car. He stared at his phone from 11.59 pm to 00.00 am before suddenly retrieving a paper bag from underneath his seat. Passing it over to her, he said in a gentle voice, “Happy Birthday.”
Qiao Anhao looked at the paper bag in front of her, her brain not able to process what had happened. She sat in a daze, looking extremely adorable.
Lu Jinnian felt tenderness wash over him as he looked at her. In an even gentler voice, he spoke once again. “This should be the first time I wished you Happy Birthday.”
Qiao Anhao blinked, suddenly remembering that it was her birthday.
Every year during her birthday she would hold a party, but due to the busy filming schedule, she wasn’t able to find any time. Besides, she and Xu Jiamu were a married couple to the public, so Lu Jinnian would be required to act as him if she were to hold a party, causing a lot of trouble. When Xu family and Qiao family had called to ask her about it, she dismissed them instantly, stating that she was too busy filming.
Today, when she woke up, she could still remember that the next day was her birthday, but as the day got busier, that information was completely forgotten.
Translator: Kingbao Editor: DarkGem
When Lu Jinnian realized that Qiao Anhao wasn’t going to react, he spoke the third time. “Aren’t you going to look at your present?”
Qiao Anhao snapped out of her daze, reaching out to take the paper bag from Lu Jinnian, then impatiently tearing it apart. Inside, there was an exquisite looking gift box. As she reached for it, she turned to ask him shyly, “What is it?”
“I remember someone told me that presents must be opened without knowing the contents.”
On his birthday, she had said this very thing after giving him his present.
He actually used her words on her… Qiao Anhao pouted, her slender fingers starting to unwrap the wrapper.
Lu Jinnian saw her slight pour and tenderness washed over him. In that instance, he had an impulse to reach out and ruffle her hair.
Qiao Anhao tore the wrapper open carefully, and in the end, a red box came into sight.
Lu Jinnian started to feel nervous, remembering the present he had specially prepared for her many years ago being tossed into the rubbish bin.
His hands clenched into fists.
When she opened the box, inside lay a porcelain doll.
Not long ago, a designer in Huai Ying Entertainment had specifically taken her portrait and turned it into a cartoon. The porcelain doll was the cartoon version of her.
Qiao Anhao had never expected him to turn the cartoon version of her into such a pretty porcelain doll; it was adorable. Happiness and joy flashed through her eyes. She turned to face him. “Thank you.”
Looking at her obvious happiness, Lu Jinnian started to calm down, but he still needed to seek affirmation. “Do you like it?”
“I like it!” Qiao Anhao replied without any hesitation. As long as it was from him, she would like it.
When he saw the firmness of her words in her eyes, he was finally able to calm down.
In the five years that they had been apart, he had always set an alarm to remind himself of her birthday.
Every year on her birthday, he would prepare a present for her. As he got richer, the presents he prepared started to become better, but he was never able to send them. Even if he had sent them, he would have had to get someone else to deliver it to her, and he was also afraid that his presents would end up in the bin, just like five years ago hence he never sent anything to her.
Tonight when his phone had reminded him, he decided to get her a gift in return for the present she had given him.
Even if he wasn’t sure if she cared.
At that time, it was already late and the malls were closed, making it difficult for him to buy a gift. He was troubled for a while before remembering that not long ago, he heard someone say that in Nan Luo Gu Gang, there was a doll maker that specialized in porcelain dolls. His dolls were unique and exquisite, so Lu Jinnian got his assistant to send him there.
He didn’t let his assistant follow along because the doll that he was about to give her was different from all the other dolls.
The porcelain doll was hollow inside, and he had placed a letter with everything he had wanted to tell her in there; all his inadequacies and why he wasn’t able to say it afterwards.
She was his deep, forbidden love, and this was the only way he could tell her some things.
