Chapter 1: extra 1

In which Gu Yan shows off a very simple key ring!

 

Volume 2, Extra 1

Three o’clock in the afternoon, a tea shop.

Young Master Lin favored old-fashioned, historical-style buildings, so every time he invited Gu Yan out to drink tea, he always chose old tea shops built next to rivers, where just stepping on the wooden stairs would make them creak and groan. Pushing open the window in the private room would let one see, at first glance, the swaying willows. Occasionally, floating down the river, a few boats with black awnings could also be seen, transmitting the high-pitched sounds of classical folk songs, sounding slow and lingering under the light of the summer sun.

“But as I count with my fingers, when would the season of westerlies arrive? Before I could become aware of it, lapsed has fleeting time.[1]” Lin Jiarui was sitting in the corner next to the window, admiring the scenic views outside while also sighing softly and saying, “It’s a pity you didn’t get that award in the end.”

“Isn’t it because you suddenly had something come up and couldn’t attend, Director Lin? It’s rare to come across such a good opportunity. If you had been at the venue, then maybe I could’ve gotten it.”

Lin Jiarui raised his lips in a smile that was not quite a smile before turning his head to look at the left hand that Gu Yan was using to hold the teacup, saying, “Anyway, it seems like you had other gains, so it’s not as if you suffered.”

Gu Yan picked up the clay teapot and poured them both tea, not the least bit shy about showing off the silver-white ring on his finger. Smiling, he said, “It’s just a key ring, that’s all.”

That ring’s design was extremely plain and simple, with no engravings or jewels, looking quite ordinary, but because it was placed on Gu Yan’s left ring finger, if the gossip magazine reporters caught wind of it, it’d definitely cause a huge commotion.

“No matter what kind of ring it is, it’s still enough to ensnare you.”

Gu Yan laughed as he raised a brow. “Why aren’t you saying that it was me who ensnared a certain someone?”

Lin Jiarui was able to hear the unspoken implications in that and made an understanding sound in affirmation. From his bag, he then pulled out a pink envelope and threw it carelessly at Gu Yan, saying, “That’s right, I invited you out today mostly because of this.”

“A wedding invitation? Who’s getting married?”

“…Me.”

Gu Yan startled and, for a time, couldn’t suppress his astonishment. He quickly ripped open that envelope and hurriedly skimmed through the details of the invitation. The groom’s name truly was Lin Jiarui’s, and the bride was actually—-

“Bai Weiwei? Why is it her?”

“She’s been acting in my new film recently.” Young Master Lin’s attitude was pleased and unhurried. “‘Familiarity breeds fondness,’ this reasoning should be enough.”

“But she…”

Gu Yan wasn’t unfamiliar with Bai Weiwei. In the past, he had filmed with her and seen how Qin Feng pursued her. He had also heard about how she seemed to have an ambiguous relationship with a certain married man… How could there be anything unheard of in the entertainment circle? But Gu Yan quickly realized his own position and swallowed back the words he had half-spoken, changing to say, “Congratulations. The two of you are very suited to one another.”

These words were said without much belief behind it.

Naturally, Lin Jiarui was also able to hear that, but he actually let out a rare laugh and said, “In this world, when people get married, some do it because of love, while others for benefits. As for me and Miss Bai… we’re each getting what we want.”

Gu Yan couldn’t guess the reason why Lin Jiarui was marrying Bai Weiwei, and the other clearly also didn’t want to explain further, so he simply lifted his hand and glanced at his wristwatch, saying, “I still have an appointment with someone else for dinner tonight, so I’ll leave first.”

“Yes, let’s talk again next time.”

After the two people waved their hands and said their goodbyes, Lin Jiarui grabbed his bag and walked out the door. His natural babyface combined with his careless T-shirt and sneakers made him look like a college student who had just reached the age of majority.

But his eyes looked like they had experienced all the vicissitudes of life.

Gu Yan drank the rest of his tea, and he couldn’t help but think that if Young Master Lin’s story was made into a film, it’d probably be far more gripping than all the other films he had ever acted in.

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But no matter how those complicated course of events touched people, in the end, all of it would be relegated to the ordinary.

As Gu Yan thought, he spun the ring on his left hand. He then grabbed his cellphone and sent Qin Zhiyuan a message, saying that he’d return home to eat dinner. Qin Zhiyuan very quickly replied with a menu listing all the food that he planned to prepare tonight — three dishes and one soup, which looked quite sumptuous.

When Gu Yan saw that, he really did start feeling somewhat hungry, and so he paid the check and drove home.

Last week, he had moved out from his old apartment in order to live together with Qin Zhiyuan. The location of the new house was chosen very well, right between Gu Yan’s restaurant and Qin Zhiyuan’s office, so it was quite convenient for the both of them.

This consolation prize was within Gu Yan’s calculations.

The only thing that surprised him was the “key ring” that came along with the house keys. Once Qin Zhiyuan had trapped him with that silver-white ring, he even revealed a smug expression, as if really satisfied about the speed of his own actions, not having allowed Gu Yan to steal the march on him.

Gu Yan simply had to recall that moment and he felt his spirits lift. When he returned home, Chef Qin was already hurrying around in the kitchen. Gu Yan changed his clothes and then also went into the kitchen, giving a few outside pointers and helping to fix the seasoning.

In the end, the three dishes and one soup were brought to the table, and although they couldn’t be considered delicious, they at least were all edible and no longer tormented Gu Yan’s stomach.

“How is it? Have I improved?”

“Yes, after a few more months of practice, you can become a chef at my restaurant.”

“So you met with Young Master Lin today?”

“That’s right. He’s been quite busy recently, so it took him a lot just to find the time.”

As Qin Zhiyuan chatted idly with Gu Yan, his gaze kept continuously falling to Gu Yan’s finger.

Gu Yan naturally knew what he was looking at and laughingly held up that left hand, saying, “You’ve already looked at this for more than half a month, and it’s still not enough?”

“Who let you refuse to wear it every day?”

“I’ve had work these last few days, and so I’m constantly running into reporters everywhere. Mr. Qin, do you want to make headlines in the entertainment section?”

“That’s also fine.” Qin Zhiyuan pulled over Gu Yan’s left hand and started kissing from the other’s fingertips before finally touching that silver-white ring. “It’ll let everyone know that you’re mine.”

Upon hearing that, Gu Yan laughed out loud.

“What are you laughing about?”

“Nothing really. I was simply thinking of a movie I watched today. Uh-huh, as expected, it’s the ordinary stories that are the most moving.”

“Then you’re promising me?” The more Qin Zhiyuan kissed, the closer he got.

“Huh? Promising what? Ah, wait a moment…”

Uh-oh, so in the end, for this ordinary story, exactly who ensnared who?

 

[1] 但屈指西風幾時來？又不道流年、暗中偷換。Lin Jiarui is reciting a classical Chinese poem here by Su Shi, called 《洞仙歌·冰肌玉骨》I just grabbed Betty Tseng’s translation of it, lightly edited to fit into the punctuation the author gives it here. 

Seriously, what is going on with Director Lin? I might really have to read Old Dreams before I do anything else after this now, ahahaha.

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