“I only drank a little, not much,” Guan Ciyan said, pausing before reaching out and pulling Jian Yang into his embrace.

He had really endured for too long.

Almost there, almost there. Just a little more until they reached the island.

Jian Yang wrapped his arms around Guan Ciyan’s waist in return, rubbing his face against his shoulder. He caught a faint scent of alcohol mixed with the heat radiating from his skin. The masculine pheromones, intensified by alcohol, were overwhelming. Jian Yang instinctively avoided his exposed neck.

“Are you feeling uncomfortable?”

Guan Ciyan didn’t answer. Instead, he only tightened his embrace. Jian Yang had to stand on tiptoe, leaning his entire weight against him. His lips brushed against the fabric of Guan Ciyan’s collar, and every now and then, they would accidentally touch the warmth of his bare skin.

Jian Yang’s first thought: Could he have been drugged?

“Sir, are you okay?” Jian Yang pressed a hand against Guan Ciyan’s chest, feeling the rapid thumping underneath. “Sir, why is your heartbeat so fast?”

“Do you need to go to the hospital?”

Guan Ciyan sighed inwardly. So naive.

He let go of Jian Yang and looked into his clear, genuinely concerned eyes. Guan Ciyan smiled.

Why did he like Jian Yang? Was it his honesty? Or the way he always showed such sincere concern for him?

Either way, that look in his eyes made Guan Ciyan feel… delighted.

The kind of delight that rivaled the thrill of secretly kissing Jian Yang.

“Hey, Guan Dong, how come you’re only treating the production team across the hall to dinner and not us?” Bai Shun called out loudly.

Jian Yang turned his head and finally noticed that the entire crew was standing not too far behind them.

Damn it.

Guan Ciyan, that bastard—his back was turned, so he forgot about everyone. But Guan Ciyan was facing them; there was no way he didn’t see! With so many eyes watching, why the hell did he hug him like that?

Now, everyone was looking at him strangely.

Guan Ciyan, still in a good mood, draped an arm around Jian Yang’s shoulders and walked over. “Of course, I’ll treat everyone.”

“Yeah, you should. We’re almost wrapping up, and Jian Yang just pulled off a spectacular scene,” Bai Shun responded.

Hearing this, Jian Yang beamed. “Brother Bai, was it really that good? I want to watch it again!”

Before Guan Ciyan arrived, they had been reviewing the footage. Bai Shun had just praised him, but Jian Yang hadn’t fully heard the feedback.

Guan Ciyan lowered his gaze, watching Jian Yang eagerly seeking praise from Bai Shun. He grabbed the back of Jian Yang’s collar and pulled him back into his arms. “Don’t run around.”

“Whoa,” Su Jin gasped.

Most of the crew busied themselves with their equipment, but their eyes kept sneaking glances in their direction.

“Guan Dong is already drunk, huh?” Bai Shun remarked.

Jian Yang instantly understood and supported Guan Ciyan. “Can you stand?”

The deliberate way he distanced himself was obvious. Guan Ciyan wasn’t pleased, but since he didn’t have an official title, he had no right to be upset. Instead, he leaned his whole body against Jian Yang, forcing him to support his weight. Then, he turned his annoyance toward Bai Shun:

“Even if I drank twice as much as you, I’d still be fine.”

The crew happily accepted the free meal. Since Jian Yang was present, they weren’t in a hurry, and they also had some juicy gossip to enjoy. No one was complaining.

At the back of the group, Guan Ciyan whispered into Jian Yang’s ear, “You know I’m not drunk.”

“Oh dear,” Jian Yang grinned playfully. “You’ve been hanging around the set for days. Everyone knows you’re the big boss now. Brother Bai was just covering for you to prevent any misunderstandings, like people thinking you’re my sugar daddy. I finally have some fans now. If rumors about me being kept started spreading, it’d be awful. Besides, you played along, didn’t you?”

Guan Ciyan patted Jian Yang’s head, sighing regretfully. Looks like we’ll have to keep this underground in the future.

After boasting about drinking Bai Shun under the table, Guan Ciyan ended up getting chased down and challenged to a drinking contest. He had already had a round earlier, and now the alcohol was really kicking in.

Jian Yang, now an expert on Bai Shun’s acting skills, immediately saw through his fake drunkenness. His eyes were too clear.

“Brother Bai, stop forcing him to drink…” Jian Yang reached out to stop Bai Shun.

Guan Ciyan grabbed Jian Yang’s shoulder and pulled him back into his arms. “I’m still here, you know.”

Bai Shun winked at him. Jian Yang sighed helplessly and turned to soothe Guan Ciyan, patting his shoulder. “Yes, yes, you are.”

Jian Yang sat up from his embrace. “Sir, stop drinking. You’re already drunk.”

“Come on!” Bai Shun placed a large jug of craft beer in front of Guan Ciyan. “Guan Dong, keep going!”

Guan Ciyan rested his right hand on Jian Yang’s shoulder, practically locking him in his embrace. Jian Yang turned toward him, pressing in closer.

“Stop drinking.”

Guan Ciyan stared at him, watching as he furrowed his brows. His thick lashes cast shadows over his clear black eyes. Under the colorful lights of the bar, he looked like a painting—an exquisite oil painting with vibrant yet fleeting colors.

Guan Ciyan deliberately asked, “What did you say?”

The music was deafening. Jian Yang braced one hand on Guan Ciyan’s thigh and leaned in to whisper, “Stop drinking.”

Guan Ciyan lowered his head, letting the edge of his ear graze against Jian Yang’s soft lips. At the same time, his other hand pulled Jian Yang’s hand down against his thigh. Jian Yang suddenly lost his balance and fell against Guan Ciyan’s chest. When he tried to get up, Guan Ciyan held him firmly in place by the shoulder.

“What right do you have to control me?”

Jian Yang’s heart trembled.

Guan Ciyan’s gaze was intense and domineering, pinning him down like a predator. He felt like prey trapped beneath the claws of a beast.

The possessiveness in those dark eyes—he could be devoured at any moment.

Guan Ciyan’s hands were empty, raised mid-air, as he watched Jian Yang’s entire face disappear behind the beer keg. The corners of his lips lifted slightly.

He had never seen Jian Yang so reckless before.

The kid might be foolish, but even when he ran away from home in winter, he knew to change into warmer clothes first.

Jian Yang wasn’t the type to challenge people to drinking contests at bars. Guan Ciyan didn’t want others to see the beer spilling down his chest, soaking into the white fabric and revealing the skin underneath.

But he also didn’t want to stop him from making mistakes.

That was his right.

So, Guan Ciyan chose to endure a little discomfort—to let him have his fun.

Jian Yang took his final gulp, nearly spitting it back out.

Bang—

He slammed the empty beer keg in front of Bai Shun, stumbling as he stammered, “For—For my family… first, born… finished… drinking…”

“Yeah, you win,” Bai Shun admitted.

“You… you lost,” Jian Yang wobbled, his hand slipping from the table. Guan Ciyan quickly supported his waist, laughing as he pressed a kiss to his earlobe.

Jian Yang leaned his head back. “I won… for you.”

Guan Ciyan’s heart melted. He wished he could go back in time and slap himself twice. He should have pulled Jian Yang into his arms the very first time he said he liked him. Their life together should have started long ago.

“You won,” Guan Ciyan murmured, his gaze soft as summer moonlight, enveloping Jian Yang in warmth.

“I won!” Jian Yang smacked the table, declaring to Bai Shun.

Bai Shun shot Guan Ciyan a look, then said dismissively, “Yeah, yeah, you won.”

Then, he slowly lowered the hand that had been covering Wen Ye’s eyes.

“Jian Yang!!! If you drink this much, your face will be so swollen tomorrow—how the hell are you going to look good on camera?!” Wen Ye roared.

Jian Yang pouted, his body losing strength as he tipped backward. He practically spun in Guan Ciyan’s embrace before burying his face into his neck, whining, “Sir, I won.”

Guan Ciyan was completely captivated, his eyes locked onto Jian Yang—he couldn’t say a word.

Jian Yang turned back around, pressing his forehead against Guan Ciyan’s neck, brushing past his jaw. With a proud smile, he looked at Bai Shun.

Wen Ye glanced at the empty beer keg. “You drank all of that? You better figure out a way to get rid of the swelling by tomorrow!”

Bai Shun patted Wen Ye on the shoulder, pulling him behind him before turning to Guan Ciyan. “My friend, this is the part where you should take him home.”

For once, Guan Ciyan didn’t argue. He accepted Bai Shun’s advice and scooped Jian Yang up into his arms, walking out of the bar.

The car was parked just outside. Guan Ciyan tugged Jian Yang’s collar up, shielding him from the night breeze, then gently placed him in the back seat.

Jian Yang hooked his arms around Guan Ciyan’s neck, refusing to let go. “Not drinking anymore?”

“We’re going home,” Guan Ciyan bent down, his body awkwardly hunched in the cramped car, waiting for Jian Yang to speak.

“Sir.” Jian Yang’s eyes were hazy, and Guan Ciyan felt his soul leave his body.

“Let go first, okay?”

“Where are you going?” Jian Yang asked, but he wasn’t asking where they were going—he was asking where Guan Ciyan would go.

Guan Ciyan misunderstood, thinking he was asking about their destination. “Back to the set.”

Jian Yang’s eyelids drooped, his flushed face looking pitiful. In his heart, he felt that every time he returned to the set or was separated from Guan Ciyan, they would lose contact again.

“Be good, let go,” Guan Ciyan coaxed him patiently.

Jian Yang slowly lifted his eyelids, his eyes filled with quiet sorrow. Guan Ciyan felt a sharp pang in his heart. “What’s wrong? Do you feel sick?”

Jian Yang let go. Guan Ciyan straightened up, finally giving himself room to get into the car. His hand never left Jian Yang’s shoulder. The moment he got in, he pulled him back into his arms. “Tell me, what’s wrong?”

Jian Yang blinked at him, his dazed mind struggling to process his thoughts. “Where are you going?”

“I’m going back to the set with you,” Guan Ciyan answered softly, patiently.

Jian Yang’s sadness disappeared in an instant. A bright smile bloomed on his face as he shamelessly leaned against Guan Ciyan. “Sir.”

Maybe it was the alcohol amplifying his emotions, but Jian Yang felt like he had so much to say—yet he couldn’t get a single word out.

He just thought about how, one day, he would have to part ways with Guan Ciyan. That thought made him feel a little sad.

“What’s wrong?” Guan Ciyan hesitated before calling him again. “Yangyang.”

His voice was too soft, too tender. A single tear slipped from Jian Yang’s eye.

Guan Ciyan caught it with his fingertip, tracing the damp trail before gently pressing against the corner of Jian Yang’s eye. His voice was low and soothing. “Why are you crying?”

Jian Yang thought—he must be truly drunk. Otherwise, how could he be hallucinating such a gentle Guan Ciyan?

The unspoken anxieties, the feeling of being neglected and deceived, the inevitable ending—all of it mixed together, fermenting into a quiet, simmering resentment. His voice carried the hint of a sob as he accused, “Sir.”

“Hmm…” Guan Ciyan responded over and over again. “What is it?”

Jian Yang looked at him, his mind a tangled mess. He had too many things to say, but they all clogged his throat at once, making it impossible to speak. In the end, he just closed his eyes and leaned against Guan Ciyan’s chest.

He thought about their fate in the book. About how, eventually, they would have to part ways.

So, the words he wanted to say—he didn’t say them.

Guan Ciyan cracked the window open slightly, letting the night breeze in. He rubbed gentle circles on Jian Yang’s back, coaxing him to sleep.

The early summer wind was warm. Jian Yang moved his fingers, feeling the breeze slip through them without the sting of winter’s cold.

An entire season had passed.

Guan Ciyan was no longer as ruthless and indifferent as when they first met.

But unfortunately, they were not meant to walk the same path.

Jian Yang felt a bit of regret, but his life already had enough regrets—one more wouldn’t make a difference.

As long as he lived well, that was enough.

He comforted himself with that thought, feeling drowsy as he curled into Guan Ciyan’s chest.

After all, this would be the only time he could lean on him like this.

Guan Ciyan felt the body in his arms grow softer and heavier, sinking against him like a lump of dough. Smiling, he adjusted Jian Yang into a more comfortable position.

“Sir, we’re here.”

Guan Ciyan was so mesmerized watching him that he didn’t realize they had arrived until the driver reminded him. Only then did he carry Jian Yang out of the car.

Jian Yang had been sleeping soundly, but the sudden sensation of being lifted made him mumble in protest. His body slumped sideways, leaning against Guan Ciyan’s shoulder.

Guan Ciyan tightened his grip around Jian Yang’s waist. Even through the thin shirt, still damp from alcohol, he could feel the faint definition of abs.

There was firmness, definition—compared to the softness from before, there was now a bit of elasticity.

“Have you been working out?”

Half-asleep, Jian Yang squinted against the breeze and mumbled, “I’m going to train until I look even better than you.”

Guan Ciyan paused for a moment, recalling something. “When did you ever see my abs?”

Jian Yang: …

…Back to sleep.