What to Do When the Best Actor is Clinging to Me? - Chapter 1

Beijing, Airport.

Dressed in casual clothes, Jian Mubai pushed a black suitcase adorned with a Usopp sticker. Watching the hustle and bustle of the Capital International Airport, he couldn’t help but smile. Having just returned to the country, he felt a bit out of place; it felt like the first time he had ever seen this airport so calm and peaceful.

As he was lost in thought, he overheard a few young girls whispering nearby. “Is our guy really at the airport? I didn’t see anything about this on his schedule.”

“I just heard it from someone. Anyway, let’s just wait and see.”

Jian Mubai found it a bit amusing. They were clearly fangirls always so dedicated and adorable. He wondered which star they were waiting for.

Realizing it had nothing to do with him anymore, he smiled and continued walking. He didn’t notice one of the girls freeze for a few seconds the moment she saw him, instinctively snapping a photo.

In the photo, Jian Mubai’s almond-shaped eyes were curved in a slight smile. His skin was pale and flawless, and his frame was lean and upright. He was the kind of handsome that made it impossible for people not to look twice.

His return had been a sudden decision. He had only posted a quick update to his private WeChat moments the night before. Aside from his parents, he hadn’t contacted anyone. Standing outside the terminal, he felt a wave of disorientation, unsure of where he should even go.

Just as he pulled out his phone to call a ride, a black SUV pulled up directly in front of him.

Jian Mubai glanced at it, stepped to the side, and went back to his phone. He wasn’t very familiar with domestic ride-hailing apps yet and needed a moment to figure them out.

After a few seconds, the luxury SUV crawled forward a few steps and stopped in front of him again. Feeling a bit puzzled, Jian Mubai looked up. Just as he was about to move further away, the car door slid open, and a familiar voice drifted out: “Get in.”

Jian Mubai’s grip on his suitcase tightened. He froze for a moment before stammering, “You… you came to pick me up?”

As soon as the words left his mouth, he felt a bit foolish. For a superstar and “Best Actor” of his caliber to appear here, it certainly wasn’t a coincidence.

From the driver’s seat, the assistant, Xiao Li, whispered urgently, “Mr. Jian, please hurry and get in. If Mr. Yan gets recognized, we’re in big trouble.”

Jian Mubai couldn’t help but chuckle. He looked so striking that Xiao Li couldn’t resist stealing a few extra glances. Yan Cen frowned, blocking the assistant’s line of sight, and made a move to get out and help with the luggage.

Jian Mubai quickly stopped him. “Don’t. I can do it. If people see you, it’s over.”

Yan Cen looked displeased, but he knew Jian Mubai was right. He sat back in the car, radiating a sense of grumpiness as he waited for Jian Mubai to climb in.

As the car started moving, Yan Cen seemed almost afraid to look at the person sitting next to him. His fingers twitched slightly. Noticing the exhaustion etched on Jian Mubai’s face, he swallowed the questions he wanted to ask and softened his tone. “Sleep for a bit in the back. I’ll wake you up when we arrive.”

Having spent over ten hours on a plane, Jian Mubai was indeed exhausted. He didn’t stand on ceremony with Yan Cen and curled up in the back seat to catch up on sleep.

Perhaps because the position was uncomfortable, Jian Mubai woke up the moment the car came to a steady halt.

Yan Cen glanced toward the back and said instinctively, “How did you get even thinner?”

Still groroggy from sleep, Jian Mubai mumbled, “I didn’t, did I? I feel the same. Are we here?”

“We’re here.” Yan Cen casually tossed a face mask to him. “Xiao Li, you can head back now.”

Jian Mubai turned the mask over in his hands. It had been a long time since he’d worn one to dodge the paparazzi, and the sensation was strange. However, since Yan Cen had given it to him, he put it on before hopping out of the car.

Yan Cen had already grabbed the suitcase and reached out to take his backpack as well, acting with a naturalness that suggested he had done this a thousand times before. Jian Mubai hesitated, then tried to be polite: “I can carry it myself.”

The moment the words were out, he was met with a sharp glare from Yan Cen. Cowardly, Jian Mubai retreated, leaving his hands empty as he followed Yan Cen inside.

Whether by pure luck or careful planning, Yan Cen’s pickup of Jian Mubai hadn’t been caught by anyone. Once home, Yan Cen immediately checked the Weibo “Super Topic” tags. He searched for a long time but couldn’t find a single candid photo of himself at the airport. Frustrated, he tossed his phone onto the sofa.

Jian Mubai asked curiously, “What did the phone do to make you so angry?”

Yan Cen looked down at Jian Mubai, whose skin seemed to glow under the lights. His eyes were full of confusion, and in those beautiful eyes, Yan Cen could only see his own reflection. After a beat, Yan Cen said, “Go take a shower first. What do you want to eat? I’ll cook.”

After years of living on Western food, Jian Mubai had been craving Chinese cuisine. Hearing this, his eyes lit up. “Noodles! Make me some noodles!”

Yan Cen seemed to think of something and gave a rare, subtle smile. He nudged Jian Mubai toward the bathroom before heading straight to the kitchen.

Jian Mubai watched Yan Cen’s retreating back in silence. His fingers curled slightly as he took his pajamas and headed into the bathroom.

He was actually quite familiar with this apartment. When Yan Cen was looking to buy it, he had asked Jian Mubai to help choose. He had even given plenty of input during the renovation. However, he had left the country before the keys were even handed over, so he never got to see what the finished product looked like.

Fresh from the shower, Jian Mubai walked out to find Yan Cen still in the kitchen. He walked over awkwardly, but before he could speak, Yan Cen handed him a fruit plate. “Have some of this first. It’s almost ready.”

Jian Mubai didn’t leave; he leaned against the refrigerator with the fruit plate, watching Yan Cen work. Between bites, he asked, “How did you know which flight I was on? Did you buy my flight info?”

“Your info? You should ask around the industry and see if anyone even remembers who Jian Mubai is.” Yan Cen rolled his eyes. He motioned for Jian Mubai to move so he could grab a bottle of yogurt from the fridge. Jian Mubai reached for it, but Yan Cen held it back, placing it on the counter instead. “Let it sit for a bit. It’s too cold right now.”

Yan Cen pretended not to hear the question. After seeing that long-inactive WeChat account post a status the night before, he hadn’t slept a wink. He had checked every possible flight for the day, and since he couldn’t be sure which one it was, he had simply waited outside the airport since morning.

Luckily, the wait paid off. But why would he tell him that? The man was an idiot.

Jian Mubai saw Yan Cen give him a scoffing look and knew exactly what the man was thinking he was calling him a fool in his head again.

Since he couldn’t help with the cooking, Jian Mubai just loitered nearby. Seeing this, Yan Cen picked up the pace. It was a simple bowl of chicken soup noodles, but the broth had clearly been simmering for a long time—the aroma was rich, and Yan Cen had meticulously skimmed off every bit of excess oil.

When the noodles were ready, Jian Mubai reached for the bowl, but a sharp look from Yan Cen forced him to sit obediently at the table. He waited for Yan Cen to serve him, muttering, “You’re treating me like I’m incapable of basic tasks.”

Yan Cen chuckled and reached out to ruffle Jian Mubai’s hair. As soon as he felt the strands, his expression changed. “Is this how you dry your hair?”

Jian Mubai gave a dry laugh. “I used the hairdryer!”

“You only dried the surface, didn’t you? Feel it yourself—it’s still damp underneath.” Yan Cen’s irritation flared. He got up to turn up the air conditioner’s temperature and brought the yogurt over. Seeing Jian Mubai still grinning foolishly, he glared at him. “Eat. I’m going to supervise you while you dry your hair properly after this.”

Knowing he was in the wrong, Jian Mubai nodded repeatedly and buried his face in his bowl. Yan Cen watched him for a moment before he couldn’t help himself—he grabbed a towel and started drying Jian Mubai’s hair for him.

He didn’t let go until it was halfway dry. As he worked, Yan Cen’s gaze fell on the delicate lines of Jian Mubai’s collarbone. His hand trembled slightly, and he pulled away, acting as if nothing had happened.

Jian Mubai’s ears had turned bright red long ago. He nudged Yan Cen, saying, “Okay, okay, just sit down.”

Yan Cen’s mind was still stuck on the image of that collarbone. To distract himself, he picked up the phone he had tossed aside earlier. “Just eat. Do you have any idea how thin you are?”

He hadn’t been scrolling through Weibo for long before his expression shifted. He hesitated for a second, then hit ‘repost’ on a certain photo, adding a few simple words: Yes, he’s back.

Fans who were already excited to see their idol finally post something rushed to click on the notification.

Yan Cen (y): “Yes, he’s back.” // Repost @[User]: “Ahhh! This guy looks so familiar! Is it that Jian Mubai? I saw him at the airport and just snapped a quick photo—his visuals are insane even in a candid shot!!!” [Image attached]

The photo was a candid shot of Jian Mubai. His face was pale and handsome, his frame slender but not frail. He had great style, and even from a weird angle, his beauty wasn’t diminished at all. In fact, he looked almost ethereal.

After Yan Cen reposted the photo, the comments weren’t quite as celebratory as usual. Long-time fans were at a loss for words; they remembered how close Yan Cen and Jian Mubai used to be—close enough to make his “girlfriend fans” jealous.

Newer fans were busy asking who this handsome guy was and why Yan Cen sounded so familiar with him.

Meanwhile, a small group of “shippers” who had long since given up hope were trying to find hidden meanings in the cracks.

Unfortunately, Yan Cen stopped looking at the app as soon as he posted. He didn’t care about the online discussion; he only wanted to look at the Jian Mubai who was finally standing before him after all these years.

Under Yan Cen’s watchful gaze, Jian Mubai had no choice but to finish the entire bowl of noodles, fearing another lecture if he didn’t.

The two had once been the closest of friends, but seeing each other again after six years, they found it hard to know what to say.

Jian Mubai went to clear the dishes, but Yan Cen stopped him again. He had no choice but to follow Yan Cen and watch him wash the bowls.

“What are your plans now that you’re back?” Yan Cen asked after a moment of thought.

Jian Mubai sipped his yogurt. “I’m not sure. Singing, probably. I studied for four years; I should have something to show for it.”

Yan Cen’s hand paused. “You studied for four years? Then why were you there for six? What were you doing for the other two?”

The tone was almost accusatory. Jian Mubai felt a flash of irritation and turned away. “None of your business.”

Yan Cen froze for a second, then nodded curtly. “Right. Not my business.”

Jian Mubai looked down and let out a small, tired laugh. He started tidying his suitcase. Yan Cen walked over, drying his hands. “What are you doing with your suitcase?”

“Finding a hotel. Thanks for letting me stay for a bit, but the paparazzi probably know about this place. It’s not good if I stay here,” Jian Mubai said with a smile, patting Yan Cen on the shoulder.

Yan Cen grabbed the handle of the suitcase, his eyes burning with suppressed rage. But Jian Mubai was determined to leave. He began to pry Yan Cen’s fingers off the handle. “I’d have to leave sooner or later anyway. A hotel gives me more freedom. I’ll let you know once I’ve rented an apartment.”

“That’s not a reason. Jian Mubai, since when did you become such a coward? Afraid of paparazzi?” The anger in Yan Cen’s eyes was becoming impossible to hide. He didn’t understand why Jian Mubai wanted to leave, and he was genuinely terrified by those words.

The last time Jian Mubai had said something like that, he had disappeared for six years. For six years, the only contact had been a “Happy New Year” text. He hadn’t come home, and he hadn’t allowed anyone to visit. It was as if he had simply vanished into thin air.

Yan Cen’s fury finally boiled over. He let out a cold, sharp laugh. “Fine. Whichever hotel you go to, I’m following you. You tell me, would it be better for the paparazzi to catch you staying at my house, or for them to catch us checking into a hotel room together?”

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