After I Started Dating the Scum Gong Substitute, the White Moonlight Returned - Chapter 8

Chapter 8

A few days later.

Moke Media coordinated the program flow with Blueberry Station. As the biggest special guest in the history of the show since its inception, a ten-day shooting cycle was hammered out for Jiang Yan.

The travel destination for this season was set for the South Island in the subtropics—a world-renowned travel sanctuary with an ideal landscape and climate.

Moke applied for international flight routes in advance to clear the way for Jiang Yan’s private jet. This plane usually parked on the roof of the Moke Media building to shelter from the elements; with its departure this time, the skylight of the top-floor office saw the light of day once again.

Cheng Jianyu reclined on a white single-seater sofa, one leg bent at the knee with his chin resting on it, playing Fruit Eliminator. The small three-person WeChat group from his company was dinging incessantly, @-ing him.

[Chen Kai: @Mingjian, Brother Yu, how does it feel to sit in a private jet? Is the plane food still just as bad?]

[An An: @Mingjian, Brother, don’t open the window, be careful not to catch a cold.]

[Mingjian: The WiFi speed is very fast.]

The two of them sent “hahaha” emojis. Cheng Jianyu looked down at his phone screen, the corners of his mouth curving into an arc. A shallow dimple appeared on his left cheek, and a small, white sharp tooth peeked out. He looked clean, transparent, obedient, and sweet.

Across most of the cabin, Jiang Yan sat loosely. He stared at Cheng Jianyu’s face for a few seconds before nonchalantly withdrawing his gaze. His eyes landed on the music manuscript book spread out on the table; there wasn’t a single note on it, making it cleaner than a blank face.

The pen spun lightly and swiftly between his fingers. The fingers that played the piano and wrote scores were agile and vivid, with clear, clean joints. A moment later, he caught the spinning pen and slapped it onto the table with a “pa.”

Picking up a small square velvet gift box from the side, Jiang Yan flipped the lid open and placed it with one hand on the coffee table in front of Cheng Jianyu’s knees. “Cufflinks.”

The silver metal emitted a cold, sharp luster.

Cheng Jianyu’s heart skipped a beat. His fingers gripping the frame of his phone turned white from the force. His voice was restrained and trembling. “Thank you.”

Jiang Yan toyed with the light blue vein on Cheng Jianyu’s neck with one hand; the pulse throbbed fiercely, hibernating beneath the moist white skin. He exhaled a breath of hot air into Cheng Jianyu’s ear. “Do you like them?”

Cheng Jianyu’s ear felt itchy. He turned his face away, reached out to take the cufflinks, and examined them cautiously. The silver texture was brand new and bright; if they were a bit more grey, with the edges slightly worn, they would look even more like the original.

“I like them. Thank you.”

Jiang Yan pinched the tender flesh of his neck hard. “Thank you man properly tonight.”

Cheng Jianyu’s nose rubbed intimately against his firm, warm chest. He looked up at Jiang Yan’s face. The man had perfectly inherited the superior genes of the Jiang family; his brow arches were deep and long, and his jawline was taut. Usually, his eyes showed a lot of white, giving off a sharp, fierce vibe, but from this angle, the sharpness was softened, giving way to a faint sense of tenderness.

He was exceptionally charming.

Using both hands and feet, Cheng Jianyu knelt on the sofa and hooked his arms around Jiang Yan’s neck. His soft lips touched Adam’s apple that protruded like a barbed ice blade. He whispered, “Can I thank you now?”

Jiang Yan lowered his eyes and watched him for a few seconds, his eyes narrowing. Cheng Jianyu tilted his head, unhurriedly pecking at the faintly tensed Adam’s apple like a predator holding its prey in its mouth. “I want you.”

Jiang Yan slowly closed his eyes. He pinched Cheng Jianyu’s jaw, pulled him out from under his neck without a word, and lowered his head to kiss the lips impatiently. Immediately, he pressed Cheng Jianyu’s shoulders down, slamming him into the sofa, and kissed him from above.

He was as eager as a green young lad who had just gotten his first taste of meat.

It is said that the higher the altitude, the lower the oxygen content in the air, causing the body’s blood vessels to dilate and become more sensitive.

It was true.

…

Cheng Jianyu lay on the sofa, the tips of his ears flushed red. Half of his face was buried in a soft throw pillow, and his long, aching legs were draped over the edge of the sofa, swinging gently. His voice was a bit thick. “There’s no place to shower.”

Jiang Yan reached for the cigarette pack on the coffee table, lit one, and exhaled a cloud of smoke toward him. “This is what you call bringing it on yourself.”

Cheng Jianyu coughed lightly and turned his head away. The zipper of Jiang Yan’s sweatpants was casually left half-open. He subconsciously reached out to pull it up, but his wrist was suddenly caught red-handed. Jiang Yan looked at him with a low laugh, pinched his face, and lowered his voice. “How can you be so ‘wild’?”

Cheng Jianyu’s ears turned even redder. Just as he was about to defend himself, Jiang Yan crushed his cigarette, sealed Cheng Jianyu’s lips tight, and “took up arms” once more. The two got entangled on the sofa again.

When walking down the plane’s airstair, Cheng Jianyu’s lower body lacked strength. At the final step, his center of gravity wavered, and he tumbled onto Jiang Yan’s back.

Jiang Yan grabbed him by the waist, landing steadily. He whispered something in his ear, and Cheng Jianyu turned his head away, looking like he didn’t want to speak to him.

The cameras of the Let’s Go on a Trip Together crew were buzzing. The director of photography had already decided to use this image as the video cover for this episode; they really weren’t treating the audience as outsiders.

In the industry, Jiang Yan was a very special existence. The Jiang family was a top-tier leader in the shipbuilding industry, wealthy from their ancestors straight through to the new society. Jiang Yan entered the business purely because of his unrestrained love for music. A few years ago, some people with a “hate the rich” mentality said he spent money to promote himself, but with the accumulation of trophies and high-quality albums over the years, such voices gradually died down.

The story of Cheng Jianyu’s deep love for Jiang Yan was known to some extent by half the entertainment circle. Some said Cheng Jianyu succeeded in “chasing his star,” while others said Jiang Yan didn’t know what was good for him. Most people just watched the spectacle after all, it was a case of “one is willing to hit and the other is willing to suffer.”

Such things are common in society; they weren’t unusual anymore.

The program crew invited four couples: two same-sex and two opposite-sex—very politically correct.

Aside from Cheng Jianyu, who was a “civilian,” the others were all famous figures. The only one who could be grouped with Cheng Jianyu was the boyfriend of a young idol—Yan Rong, a famous writer, screenwriter, and producer. He ranked at the top of the Chinese Writers’ Rich List, with annual royalties starting in the tens of millions.

To quickly get everyone acquainted, the crew booked a table for a local specialty dinner at the hotel that evening. After showering and cleaning himself inside and out, Cheng Jianyu changed into comfortable clothes and entered the restaurant right on time.

The guests for this season had all arrived handsome men and beautiful women, a feast for the eyes. They did simple self-introductions.

Besides Yan Rong and the popular idol Kong Xuesong, there was a “golden couple” who had been child stars; their journey from dating to confirming their relationship was on the trending searches every day. There was also a pair of veteran actors; an older husband and a younger wife who had been in a seven-year relationship marathon but hadn’t officially registered their marriage.

Jiang Yan and Kong Xuesong had history. Kong Xuesong debuted years ago on a music critique show where Jiang Yan was a judge. Jiang Yan had casually remarked that Kong Xuesong’s ability was limited and he wasn’t cut out for music. Kong Xuesong took it to heart and had mentioned the psychological shadow caused by that comment several times on emotional variety shows.

The crew had gone to great lengths to invite Jiang Yan, hoping Kong Xuesong would “turn weapons into silk” (reconcile) with him in person. Who knew that when Kong Xuesong saw Jiang Yan, he was like a mouse seeing a cat, not even daring to make eye contact.

“Jianyu, why aren’t you eating? Is it not to your taste?” Yan Rong was the oldest and took it upon himself to be the “big brother,” considerately noting everyone’s eating habits.

Kong Xuesong looked at him and said sincerely, “Health is important; don’t skip food just for the sake of dieting.”

The table was spread with South Island specialty seafood. Cheng Jianyu didn’t have the “mouth-luck” (fortune to enjoy food); he only ate a few bites of fruit. “I ate on the plane.”

Jiang Yan stretched his arm lazily, resting it on the back of Cheng Jianyu’s chair, and asked nonchalantly, “Was it good?”

Cheng Jianyu turned his head and gave him a look. “It wasn’t good.”

The sofa on the plane was too hard; his whole body ached after “eating.”

Yan Rong wiped his mouth elegantly. “When” Summer’s End Accident “was released, I watched it three times. I kept wondering what the screenwriter who could write such a uniquely atmospheric script looked like. Today, I finally see.”

“You wrote about the Summer’s End Accident?” Kong Xuesong’s eyes widened in surprise.

Yan Rong smiled. Seeing the people at the table who hadn’t seen the movie looking confused, he explained: “This year’s Golden Flower Award Best Actor, Zhong Lunian Summer’s End Accident was his debut work. Because of Jianyu’s movie, his resources took off afterward.”

Yan Rong paused. “Jianyu won the Best Screenplay award at the Shanghai Film Festival, right?”

Jiang Yan’s knuckles tapped against the wooden back of the chair. This was the first time he knew Cheng Jianyu was the screenwriter for Summer’s End Accident.

So Cheng Jianyu’s professional level was actually quite impressive.

Cheng Jianyu relaxed his shoulders, leaning against the chair, and said dismissively, “That’s all in the past.”

His posture was leisurely. Though the people around him were glittering stars, wealthy and noble, they didn’t possess his composure calm, unhurried, and neither servile nor overbearing. The trophy that so many in the industry craved seemed not worth mentioning in his mouth.

Several gazes lingered on him. Talented people are welcome everywhere, let alone those who are also good-looking. It was a pity he seemed cold and aloof, showing tenderness only to Jiang Yan.

Yan Rong smiled, looking intently at Cheng Jianyu. “May I be so bold as to ask, how long must I wait to see your new play?”

“I’m writing it now.” Cheng Jianyu was briefly a conversation killer.

Yan Rong insisted on chatting with him. “Is it also a juvenile crime theme?”

Cheng Jianyu nodded. Yan Rong’s smile grew even wider. He had the privilege of reading the script for Summer’s End Accident; many details had been cut for the film’s release, leaving the story somewhat flawed, but the script was even more perfect. Using a pure and clean pen to write an ugly and sinful story created a beauty that was depressingly heavy. Such a unique theme was rare in China, which was why he had remembered it for so long. “When you have time, let’s talk about your new script. I can give you some references.”

“Thank you.”

Yan Rong unbuttoned his sleeves, appearing like a gentle spring breeze. “Come, let me buy you a drink. I wish you inspiration like a flowing spring.”

Cheng Jianyu picked up the wine bottle and poured a small half-glass of red wine. As the glasses clinked, the back of Yan Rong’s fingers touched Cheng Jianyu’s fingers. Despite the subtropical climate, Cheng Jianyu’s hand had no temperature at all.

Not only was his personality cold, but this young man was cold from head to toe.

Cheng Jianyu sat down, the taste of the red wine lingering in his mouth. Jiang Yan surreptitiously dropped his hand under the table and pinched Cheng Jianyu’s ring finger. He felt uncomfortable.

Everyone else knew about Cheng Jianyu’s accomplishments, but as his boyfriend, he was the last to find out.

Whatever.

Jiang Yan held his phone with one hand and sent a message to the program director. Not long after, a waiter brought an exquisite small porcelain bowl and placed it in front of Cheng Jianyu.

A bowl of steaming steamed eggs with crab roe, sprinkled with vibrant green scallions fresh, fragrant, and inviting.

“Eat up.” Jiang Yan handed him a spoon, flashing his first smile of the evening.

Cheng Jianyu was slightly stunned. His fingers stiffened, and he subconsciously touched the skin of his neck. Even without eating it, he reflexively began to itch.