I Rely on My Versatility to Reach the Top of the Entertainment Industry [Ancient Times to Modern] - Chapter 43

Not receiving a verbal answer to his question, and seeing Lu Yuzhi’s strange expression as if he had suffered a major blow, Jing Yi grew even more puzzled.

Just as he was about to press further, his hand was grabbed by Lu Yuzhi.

Jing Yi looked at Lu Yuzhi in confusion.

Lu Yuzhi pressed Jing Yi’s hand against his own chest, his amber eyes tinged with helplessness: “What’s in here?”

“A heart,” Jing Yi answered promptly.

Lu Yuzhi: “When you asked that earlier, it almost stopped.”

“Huh?” Jing Yi looked at his palm.

The heart beneath his palm was beating exceptionally fast—thump, thump, thump—one beat after another, so active it seemed unstoppable.

Jing Yi looked back at Lu Yuzhi and said seriously, “Although it’s beating very fast right now, I’ve taken your pulse before. It definitely won’t suddenly stop.”

“Oh, but if you really had the scent of another man on you, that would be different.” Lu Yuzhi curled his lips and whispered in a coaxing tone near Jing Yi’s ear, “Hmm, if I were to post it online, it would probably be described as ‘dying from jealousy-induced madness.’ Do you want to look it up now?”

Jing Yi’s face flushed instantly.

Lu Yuzhi’s breath was too close, making his ears itch.

“Please don’t stand so close when you speak. This humble monk’s hearing is excellent; I can hear you clearly.”

Lu Yuzhi’s gaze shifted from Jing Yi’s noticeably flushed face to his bright red earlobes, and a sense of triumph surged within him.

His mood lifted, and the corners of his eyes curved slightly: “There are people nearby. I’m afraid they might overhear.”

Following Lu Yuzhi’s words, Jing Yi glanced behind him.

The spot where the caretaker had been standing was now empty.

“The caretaker has already left,” Jing Yi tilted his head. “It must be because you stood too close earlier, affecting this humble monk’s hearing.”

As a martial artist, his hearing was naturally many times sharper than that of an ordinary person. If not for Lu Yuzhi, he wouldn’t have missed the caretaker’s departure.

Lu Yuzhi didn’t actually care whether the caretaker was there or not. Seeing that the redness on Jing Yi’s earlobes hadn’t faded, he asked with a cheerful smile, “In the information you looked up, did it mention when people blush?”

Jing Yi looked at Lu Yuzhi and answered instinctively, “Blushing out of shyness is a natural reaction when facing someone you like, especially when the other person acts intimately.”

After saying this, Jing Yi furrowed his brows.

He stood on his tiptoes and gently exhaled near Lu Yuzhi’s ear.

It was very light, like a feather brushing past.

Lu Yuzhi’s eyes darkened instantly. After Jing Yi straightened up, his gaze lingered on Jing Yi’s beautifully red lips.

Jing Yi didn’t notice the change in Lu Yuzhi’s expression. Seeing that Lu Yuzhi’s complexion remained unchanged as always, he solemnly announced the results of his experiment: “I’ve tested it. You didn’t blush, so perhaps you’ve misunderstood… Mmm?”

In the caretaker’s break room, the caretaker stared in shock.

He had been too curious and had cracked the door open a sliver to peek. But… he actually saw Lu Shen and Jing Yi kissing…

This… this was… way too intense!

The caretaker quickly averted his gaze and closed the door.

If even a top-tier celebrity like him was in the same boat, then maybe he had nothing to fear after all?

Jing Yi never expected Lu Yuzhi to kiss him again.

He wanted to push him away, but

Jing Yi gazed into the amber eyes so close to his, finally seeing clearly what they held within.

It was something deeper than mere affection.

During his travels, Jing Yi had seen this very look in the eyes of many married couples.

His martial uncle had told him it was love.

Jing Yi blinked.

Lu Yuzhi didn’t understand why the person in his arms had suddenly stopped asking questions.

He sighed softly.

Though quieting Jing Yi had been his initial goal, now that Jing Yi had fallen silent and was watching him with those pure black eyes, Lu Yuzhi found himself returning to that previous state of mind.

That restless uncertainty of not knowing what Jing Yi was thinking.

Jing Yi immediately noticed the subtle shift in Lu Yuzhi’s expression.

The emotion that had been clearly visible moments before was now suppressed by something.

Jing Yi thought of blue sky obscured by dark clouds.

—He didn’t like this feeling.

With this thought, Jing Yi rose slightly on his toes and touched Lu Yuzhi’s lips.

Lu Yuzhi froze for a moment, then his eyes brightened.

Seizing the opportunity, Jing Yi asked: “Does this make you happy?”

“Mm.” Lu Yuzhi responded quickly, then added, “I’d be even happier if you weren’t doing this as an experiment.”

“I’m not.” Jing Yi’s eyes curved into crescents. “Blowing in your ear was an experiment, but kissing you wasn’t.”

No sooner had these words been spoken than his waist was immediately pulled tighter.

Lu Yuzhi held the person in his arms more firmly: “Do you know what you’re saying?”

“I do.” Jing Yi gave a definite answer. “I’m certain I don’t want to see you sad.”

Lu Yuzhi felt all the gloom vanish instantly. Just as he was about to say something more, something suddenly scratched at his pants.

Rip.

Lu Yuzhi looked down.

Lu Yi had somehow made her way to his feet, her extended claws having torn his pant leg.

Jing Yi also saw what Lu Yi had done and was about to speak when Lu Yi stood up and walked toward the rockery, swishing her tail.

Jing Yi: “Lu Yi seems even angrier.”

Lu Yuzhi: “I’m angry too!”

“Hmm?”

“She tore my pants! No meat for her this week!”

“We can just sew them.” Unconcerned about the pants, Jing Yi broke free from Lu Yuzhi’s embrace and climbed the rockery to find Lu Yi.

After all, they had come today specifically to see Lu Yi, yet they had put the cart before the horse and ended up making her angry.

This was completely unacceptable!

Reflecting on his behavior, Jing Yi sat beside Lu Yi and began smoothing her fur.

“Growl~” Lu Yi stood up and moved away.

Jing Yi spoke soothingly: “Don’t be angry, Lu Yi.”

Lu Yi swished her tail against Jing Yi’s hand.

Jing Yi smiled and reached out to rub Lu Yi’s chin.

The pair sat high up on the rockery, leaving only their backs visible to Lu Yuzhi.

Lu Yuzhi chuckled softly and took a photo with his phone.

…

It was already six o’clock by the time they returned home from the zoo.

When Lu Yuzhi said he would cook, Jing Yi didn’t argue. He opened his computer and searched for guides on making money through painting.

The guides were quite detailed, explaining that artists should identify their painting style, find suitable platforms to showcase their work, and wait for page views to accumulate popularity.

Following the guides, Jing Yi found works similar to what he had practiced painting in the temple before. He discovered that paintings created with ink and brushes were now called ink wash paintings, a form of traditional Chinese painting.

There were platforms for such works, and the National Calligraphy and Painting Association was currently soliciting entries for a competition.

Anyone could participate, and works could be mailed to the competition organizers.

Jing Yi noted down the mailing address and was searching for where to buy ink nowadays when Lu Yuzhi entered the room.

“You want to participate in the traditional Chinese painting competition?”

“Mm.” Jing Yi didn’t turn around, clicking open the relevant website to read about ink descriptions when his hand was suddenly grasped.

Lu Yuzhi smiled and said, “No need to search. I’ll prepare it for you. My home has all the necessary brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones.”

“Then shall we go get it today?” Jing Yi felt the matter shouldn’t be delayed. “I don’t know about the quality of your ink, but I can buy materials to make the brush myself.”

All the brushes in the temple were made this way – all the monastic brothers learned how to make brushes. Ink was more difficult as the materials were hard to obtain.

As Jing Yi thought this, he turned to continue searching for where to buy brush materials when the back of his hand was gently stroked by Lu Yuzhi.

It felt ticklish.

Jing Yi looked up at the man who wasn’t speaking and had a strange expression. “Yuzhi?”

“You really want to get the ink today?” Lu Yuzhi was smiling.

Jing Yi nodded.

“Alright then, we’ll go get the ink today.”

Jing Yi felt Lu Yuzhi’s expression was somewhat peculiar when he spoke, but didn’t think too much of it.

After dinner, the two went downstairs and got into Lu Yuzhi’s car.

The car drove through the night.

Jing Yi always felt sleepy in cars and gradually closed his eyes.

Lu Yuzhi saw Jing Yi sleeping against the back seat through the rearview mirror, his eyes softening with amusement.

…

Jing Yi woke up and looked out the window blearily.

The car hadn’t stopped yet.

He glanced at his phone and froze.

Last time they went to Lu Yuzhi’s place, it definitely didn’t take three hours. This time it had been almost four hours and they still hadn’t arrived?

“Yuzhi?” Jing Yi called to the person in front, his voice soft from just waking up.

“Mm, I’m here.” Lu Yuzhi responded as the car turned into a retro European-style villa.

The iron gate of the villa had already been opened by someone.

Lu Yuzhi drove the car into the garage at the side of the villa and got out.

Jing Yi emerged from the back seat, his dark eyes full of confusion.

Lu Yuzhi reached up to smooth Jing Yi’s sleep-mussed short hair, then took his hand, gripping it tightly as if afraid Jing Yi might run away, before saying, “Welcome to my home, Jing Yi.”

“This is also your home?” Jing Yi thought for a moment. “Your family home?”

“Mm.” Lu Yuzhi led Jing Yi out of the garage.

The streetlights were on, casting shadows of flowers, plants, and trees on the ground.

Jing Yi followed Lu Yuzhi through the main entrance, past the entryway, and saw the brightly lit interior hall.

Many people were sitting on the sofas in the hall. Seated in the main position was an elderly man wearing traditional Chinese clothing, his hair gray-white, his wrinkled face tense, with a stern gaze.

“Grandfather, father, mother, elder brother and sister-in-law, I’m back.” Lu Yuzhi greeted his family warmly, then introduced the person beside him. “This is Jing Yi, my… boyfriend.”

Everyone on the sofas looked toward the elderly man.

The old man fixed his gaze on Jing Yi, his eyes full of pressure, his tone indifferent. “So this is the boy you ran out to see on New Year’s Eve, the one who kept you from coming home the entire holiday season?”

“Yes.” Lu Yuzhi replied to his grandfather.

At this moment, Jing Yi withdrew his hand from Lu Yuzhi’s grasp.

The movement was slight, but everyone in the hall was already paying special attention to Jing Yi. Instantly, all eyes focused on him, curious what this handsome young man would do.

“Good evening, esteemed elders. My apologies for disturbing you. I misunderstood Yuzhi’s meaning, thinking we were going to his other residence.” Jing Yi spoke, his face showing apology as he bowed to the elderly man. “For my first visit, I should have brought gifts. This was my oversight, I apologize.”

After Jing Yi finished speaking, the old man’s gaze instantly shifted to Lu Yuzhi.

“No wonder the timing was so off—turns out it was you, Yuzhi, who shamelessly tricked him into coming?”

“I…”

Lu Yuzhi’s explanation was cut off by the old man before it could leave his throat.

“What do you mean ‘I’? Don’t even try to argue. I’m sure it’s your fault, full of wicked ideas!” The old man spoke with disappointment and disdain, “Go, go stand in the corner and reflect on your actions. Don’t stand here annoying me.”

Lu Yuzhi frowned and shot a look toward his elder brother.

The middle-aged man in formal attire averted his gaze, pretending not to see.

Left with no choice, Lu Yuzhi obediently walked to the corner and faced the wall.

At that moment, the old man patted the spot beside him and beckoned, “Come, come, Jing Yi, right? Come sit here.”

Jing Yi obediently took a seat.

“I’ve watched a few of your works. The last two were quite good, and your performance in ‘I Can Survive in the Wild’ was excellent, especially your martial arts skills. It’s clear you endured a lot of hardship practicing since childhood.” The old man praised him briefly, then suddenly changed the subject, “That child Yuzhi has always been full of mischief since he was little. He never dated, so I’ve long suspected his preferences were unusual. If there’s anything fishy going on between you two, just tell Grandpa, and I’ll stand up for you.”

“There’s nothing fishy,” Jing Yi replied earnestly. “It’s just that things moved a bit too fast. I didn’t expect to meet the family so soon.”

Lu Yuzhi secretly glanced back.

“Did you hear that? He said it’s too fast!” the old man raised his voice and roared, “Turn around! What are you looking at? When you’re reflecting, you need to focus! Have you forgotten everything I taught you?”

After scolding Lu Yuzhi, the old man asked, “So, how did he trick you into coming?”

“He said there’s ink at home and that he could help me prepare,” Jing Yi answered honestly. “I don’t know where Grandpa keeps the ink? May I take a look? If Grandpa needs anything in exchange, I’ll do my best to provide it.”

The old man chuckled at this.

“Do you want to paint with ink?” A glint flashed in his eyes. “In an interview, you mentioned you know other skills—is ink painting one of them?”

“Yes.”

“What about calligraphy?”

“I can do that too.”

“Let’s go, let’s head to the study right now. The lighting isn’t great in the evening, so Xiaoyi, you can just write a piece of calligraphy for me.” The old man was unusually happy and called out, “All of you, come along! When I tried to teach you calligraphy, none of you would learn. It seems fate has blessed me with a grandson who knows calligraphy.”

Everyone on the sofa stood up and followed the old man.

At that moment, Lu Yuzhi spoke up, “Grandpa, what about me?”

“What are you shouting for?” The old man turned and glared. “You have no manners and no shame. You’ve grown tall but gained no brains. You stay there and reflect properly.”

Lu Yuzhi: …Being human is so hard.