Hearing that, Yu Shiqing stopped walking.
“I know this must be sudden for you.” Lin Anjin stopped as well, his voice trembling slightly with nervousness. “But I just wanted to tell you ever since we worked on Bright Days, I couldn’t help paying attention to you, wanting to get to know you better. I missed my chance once, and I’ve regretted it ever since. So this time, no matter what, I want you to know.”
“Anjin—”
“Please let me finish!” Lin Anjin hurriedly cut him off. “I’m saying all this just to make things clear. When I say I like you, it’s not a sudden impulse. I’m not asking you to give me an answer right now. I just want you to seriously think about it before deciding whether or not to accept my feelings.”
Yu Shiqing stayed silent for a moment.
He was more surprised than anything by Lin Anjin’s confession. It was a conversation he never expected. He didn’t interact much with people outside of work, but now he recalled Lin Anjin’s recent hesitations and understood.
In that silence, Lin Anjin waited for his response, hope flickering in his eyes.
In the hallway, Jiang Yu had also stopped beside the wall. He turned his face to the side and looked down at the shadows of the two people standing face to face one tall, one shorter. His lips pressed tightly together.
He had unintentionally overheard the confession. Since it involved Yu Shiqing’s private life, he knew he should leave and give them time and space. He never had the habit of prying into others’ business.
But somehow, before he realized it, he had already heard everything.
Just a “normal friend”? In the past two months he’d been away, it seemed that relationship had taken a big step forward.
Jiang Yu recalled what Yu Shiqing had once said. His gaze locked on the taller shadow with a piercing look. An unclear irritation stirred in his chest.
The silence ended quickly.
Yu Shiqing said to Lin Anjin, “Sorry, Anjin.”
Just hearing the first part, the light in Lin Anjin’s eyes already dimmed.
“I can’t accept your feelings.”
Lin Anjin tried to smile it off to make himself look more casual and not bothersome. But as he heard the words, his lips began to tremble. He couldn’t help asking, “Why? Do you already have someone you like?”
Hearing that, Jiang Yu, who had just started to look away, turned his face back toward them.
Yu Shiqing replied, “No.”
Lin Anjin asked again, “Is it something I did wrong?”
“No.” Yu Shiqing looked at him. “You’re a good person. I just haven’t prepared myself to enter a relationship. It has nothing to do with you.”
Lin Anjin forced himself to meet Yu Shiqing’s eyes, resisting the urge to look away. But from his expression, he saw no hesitation or emotion.
Yu Shiqing truly didn’t plan on accepting these feelings. He hadn’t been moved not even for a moment.
Lin Anjin instinctively took a small step back.
But since he had already spoken, he didn’t want to give up so easily. “There’s still an hour left until the party ends. Shiqing, I’ll be waiting right here. If there’s still any chance, please come find me anytime.”
Yu Shiqing said, “You don’t need to force yourself.”
“I’m not forcing anything.” Lin Anjin smiled gently but firmly. “Shiqing, even if you have just a little bit of feeling for me, I promise I’ll take care of everything else.”
Right after he finished speaking, they both heard a voice in the hallway.
“Teacher Jiang? Is that really you? I’ve been hoping to meet you. I didn’t dare to ask before, but could I get your autograph?”
The atmosphere suddenly froze.
Jiang Yu: “…”
The fan stepped forward; a bit curious why Jiang Yu hadn’t moved. “Teacher Jiang? Are you…?”
Jiang Yu turned to him and said in a low voice, “Where do you want me to sign?”
“Just on my shirt is fine!” the person said, taking out a pen without suspicion.
Yu Shiqing and Lin Anjin listened to their conversation. Before long, they saw Jiang Yu and a familiar-looking beta actor walk out of the hallway.
Jiang Yu’s expression remained calm. When he saw Yu Shiqing and Lin Anjin, he said evenly, “You’re here too.”
The actor also greeted the two before waving goodbye.
Lin Anjin blushed slightly. This was the first time he’d ever said something so bold. He didn’t know if it had been overheard. He rubbed his hot cheeks and lowered his head to greet Jiang Yu. “Teacher Jiang…”
Jiang Yu glanced at him, then looked toward Yu Shiqing, his gaze lingering a little longer. “Hope I didn’t disturb you.”
Yu Shiqing’s expression was as calm as always completely opposite to Lin Anjin’s reaction. “Not at all.”
His calmness made Lin Anjin clench his thumb and whisper in disappointment, “It’s okay. Shiqing and I already finished talking.”
“That’s good,” Jiang Yu said. “I’m going to get a drink.”
Lin Anjin looked at Yu Shiqing, then said, “I’ll stay here. I’m still waiting.”
Jiang Yu remembered what Lin Anjin had just said about waiting for Yu Shiqing to change his mind, so he glanced at Yu Shiqing again and turned to walk toward the bar.
Lin Anjin let out a small sigh of relief.
He didn’t know why, but he always felt Jiang Yu had something against him. But that didn’t make sense. Maybe it was just his imagination…
Yu Shiqing didn’t seem to notice Jiang Yu’s expression and only said to Lin Anjin, “You should head back early.”
Lin Anjin’s palm felt cold. His lips were pale, but he still said, “I’ll wait until the end.”
Yu Shiqing paused for a moment, then said nothing more and left.
At the bar, Jiang Yu was making coffee. Hearing footsteps, he leaned back against the counter with his back to Yu Shiqing.
The air was filled with the bitter-sweet scent of coffee and an odd, quiet tension.
Yu Shiqing smiled and called, “Jiang Yu?”
Jiang Yu said, “Sorry, I have a concert tomorrow and need to rest early. If you want to talk, go find your ‘normal friend.’”
Yu Shiqing looked at what he was doing. “You want to rest, but you’re drinking coffee?”
Jiang Yu turned his face and replied coldly, “I like it.”
Yu Shiqing sensed the dangerous tone in his voice and changed the subject. “Which show is it tomorrow?”
Jiang Yu turned back. “The second-to-last one.”
“So, the next one is the final concert?”
“Yes.”
“What do you mean final one?” Ren Bai and Meng Chen came back at that moment and happened to overhear. Ren Bai then realized, “Final concert? When?”
“29th,” Jiang Yu said.
Ren Bai counted. “Only four days left?”
Jiang Yu had previously said he wanted Yu Shiqing to be his guest for the final show to perform In Sync together. He didn’t expect it to come so soon.
Thinking of this, he asked, “Then will Yu Shiqing go rehearse with you?”
Jiang Yu poured the coffee. “Depends if Teacher Yu has time.”
“I have time,” Yu Shiqing said. “As long as Teacher Jiang needs me, I’m always available.”
The sound of pouring paused, then resumed. It was as if Jiang Yu smiled a little then quickly hid it.
Ren Bai looked back and forth between the two but still didn’t understand what kind of secret they were keeping.
Then he remembered something. “I saw Lin Anjin sitting alone over there. Why didn’t he come over?”
Jiang Yu had just poured his second cup of coffee and was about to pick up both cups. Hearing that, he paused and only took one for himself, walking toward the sofa.
Yu Shiqing said, “He’s dealing with something personal.”
“Personal stuff?” Ren Bai had no coffee and poured himself soda before sitting. “Wasn’t he just talking to you about something? That was personal too?”
Yu Shiqing said, “Yeah.”
“Did you say yes?” Ren Bai could easily guess what they talked about.
Yu Shiqing glanced at him.
Ren Bai sighed. “Come on, don’t tell me you’re still stuck on that anti-love mindset?”
Meng Chen asked, “Anti-love?”
Ren Bai said, “Yu Shiqing’s view on relationships is strange. He never accepts one-sided feelings. He has to fall for someone first.”
Meng Chen thought about it. “Isn’t that normal?”
“Normal?” Ren Bai twitched. “He’s never had feelings for anyone. Not once. He’s never been in a relationship. No matter who the other person is, he cuts it off before it even begins. Is he planning to spend the rest of his life with just movies?”
He’d known Yu Shiqing since they were kids. That’s why he became his manager. Their bond wasn’t just professional it was like family. So, he worried even more about Yu Shiqing being so detached from reality.
Jiang Yu looked at Yu Shiqing and laughed. “You’ve never dated?”
Meng Chen suddenly realized, “Right, same as Jiang-ge!”
Jiang Yu: “…”
Yu Shiqing turned to him.
Jiang Yu looked away and took a small sip of coffee.
Meng Chen and Ren Bai kept chatting and didn’t notice what he’d accidentally revealed.
About an hour later, the party ended. Everyone began leaving.
Ren Bai called everyone to go upstairs. Before leaving, he saw Lin Anjin still sitting in the same spot. He asked Yu Shiqing, “Do you want to say something to him?”
Yu Shiqing looked over.
Lin Anjin hadn’t looked back even once. He didn’t dare. He was afraid Yu Shiqing had already left and never cared that he’d waited a whole hour.
From his stiff back, Ren Bai sensed something, which was why he asked.
Before Yu Shiqing could reply, he heard Jiang Yu’s cold voice by his ear.
“If you care that much, why not just say yes? Save him some heartbreak.”
Yu Shiqing turned back and said, “No need.”
Ren Bai asked, “Isn’t that a bit harsh?”
Yu Shiqing answered calmly, “This is what’s best for him.”
Ren Bai sighed. “Yeah… I guess.”
He knew better than anyone how firm Yu Shiqing was about these things. He never gave false hope.
Yu Shiqing said, “Let’s go.”
But just before leaving, Ren Bai thought for a moment, then went back to talk to Lin Anjin so he wouldn’t keep waiting.
Hearing that Yu Shiqing had already left, Lin Anjin forced a smile and thanked him, trying his best to appear composed. Then he stood and walked toward the exit.
His steps were heavy, but he didn’t feel pain. Because deep down, he already knew the answer.
Yu Shiqing had never wavered.
Lin Anjin gave a bitter smile.
Maybe this was the end of his obsession.
Just then, he heard voices up ahead. He looked up and saw Yu Shiqing and Jiang Yu.
They weren’t walking with the others.
He opened his mouth to speak, then quietly stepped back.
Since the obsession had ended, he shouldn’t make things harder for Yu Shiqing.
But thinking that after today, they might not see each other again, Lin Anjin quietly watched Yu Shiqing’s back, silently saying goodbye.
Yet, from this angle, observing the two of them closely, something suddenly felt off.
Was he overthinking?
Or… were these two closer than normal alphas?
From a distance, he saw Jiang Yu’s focused gaze on Yu Shiqing he could even see the smile on his face.
Thinking back on everything that had happened…
Lin Anjin’s eyes flickered.
If Jiang Yu’s hostility toward him wasn’t just his imagination what could it be?
Up ahead, Jiang Yu paused, glanced around behind him, then asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” Seeing nothing unusual, Jiang Yu took the phone from Yu Shiqing and clicked play.
It was the practice recording of Yu Shiqing playing the cello during an outdoor shoot.
The piece was In Sync.
They shot for seven days. Yu Shiqing only had time to practice three times each night.
The audio was like the same track played three times. It was repetitive, but Jiang Yu listened to all seven recordings.
Their shoulders brushed, their arms occasionally touching.
Jiang Yu only had to turn slightly to see Yu Shiqing’s profile.
As the soft cello melody flowed gently through the air, Jiang Yu couldn’t help but smile slightly.
When it finally ended, Yu Shiqing asked, “Teacher Jiang, are you satisfied?”
Jiang Yu tried to suppress his smile, but his tone betrayed his good mood.
He simply said, “It’s average.”
