The film Shattered Window won an award overseas. Yu Ren didn’t seem particularly surprised; after all, it wasn’t his first international film award.
But for Lu Lianning, this wasn’t something to be overlooked, and soon the internet was buzzing with news about him. People were praising his acting skills and looks, comparing him to other rising stars. The atmosphere online was lively.
For a time, Lu Lianning’s trending topic remained high.
Gu Chen thought this was a good sign. It seemed that the previously lukewarm attention Lu Lianning had been receiving was finally gaining some momentum.
One day, after a promotional event had ended, Chen Miao was driving Lu Lianning home. As soon as they turned a corner, flashes of lights erupted. Lu Lianning’s expression changed instantly, and he swore under his breath.
Chen Miao quickly reacted and made a U-turn. A car was brazenly following them.
With a light press on the accelerator, Chen Miao darted through three different streets before they finally managed to shake off the crowd. Meanwhile, Lu Lianning looked extremely displeased.
At a red light, Chen Miao asked quietly, “Where should we go? Should we… head back?”
“Head back? Hell no! They’ve already spotted us, and who knows how many paparazzi are camped out at the entrance!” Lu Lianning was agitated.
“Then… where to?” The red light ahead was just about to turn green.
He heard Lu Lianning say clearly, “To your place.”
Chen Miao almost lost control of the steering wheel. “What?!”
Lu Lianning was unusually patient and repeated, “To your house. Don’t you understand?”
The alley where Chen Miao lived was too narrow for Lu Lianning’s car, and it took Chen Miao a while to find a place to park.
The area was rough, and Chen Miao worried that if they left the car overnight, it might get scratched or, worse, be missing two wheels tomorrow.
Lu Lianning didn’t seem aware of this. All he noticed was the growing darkness ahead, with only a faint streetlamp in the distance, far from where they were.
The buildings were old and run-down, small and shabby. Among the debris of already-demolished houses, these low structures stood as if they were clinging on, defying the wreckage around them.
Once the car was parked, Lu Lianning followed Chen Miao out. The alley was so dim that he had to take out his phone and use its flashlight.
They hadn’t gone far when Lu Lianning stumbled and bumped into Chen Miao.
Chen Miao turned back and reached out to grab his hand. As he did, he caught a glimpse of Lu Lianning’s face, striking even in the twilight. Behind him were the dark, dilapidated buildings, with flickering lights in the distance. He seemed entirely out of place here, yet somehow he’d become part of Chen Miao’s view.
Lu Lianning was just standing there, but even the simplest photo of him would look like a work of art.
Chen Miao was lost in his thoughts until Lu Lianning waved a hand before his eyes. “What are you daydreaming about?”
To Chen Miao’s surprise, the usually picky Lu Lianning didn’t complain or criticize anything. In fact, he seemed unusually curious about Chen Miao’s place of residence.
And indeed, Lu Lianning urged him again, “Hurry up!”
Chen Miao led him to his shabby, low-rent apartment.
The two stood motionless in front of the weathered wooden door, its surface marked with countless scratches.
At that moment, Chen Miao was acting like a poor, disheveled boy eloping with a wealthy young lady, but too ashamed to let her see his poverty.
As expected, Lu Lianning’s patience lasted all of three seconds. “Is this your place?”
Chen Miao nodded.
Unable to hold back any longer, Lu Lianning slammed his fist against the worn door. “Then why don’t you open it! It’s freezing out here, and it’s late! Chen Miao, are you going to open it or not!”
Unexpectedly, after that punch, there was no need to open the door. The ragged wooden door that hadn’t been touched in ages simply collapsed.
The falling door sent up a cloud of dust, making it hard for Lu Lianning to keep his eyes open. His designer outfit from the promotional event was now covered in an indeterminate layer of grime.
Chen Miao pretended to stay calm as he led Lu Lianning inside. He grabbed the kettle that hadn’t been used in a long time and set it on to boil some hot water.
Inside the small room, there was only a single low stool—so low it seemed impossible for someone with long legs like Lu Lianning to sit comfortably. Chen Miao patted the bed and said with a smile, “Why don’t you sit on the bed for now…”
Lu Lianning lowered his eyelids and sat down on the spot Chen Miao had dusted off, as if stooping to a lower level.
Chen Miao then went to the closet to find a clean bedsheet to change.
As Chen Miao busied himself boiling water for Lu Lianning, he realized that since he hadn’t stayed here for a while, everything was covered in a layer of dust.
Lu Lianning took a quick glance around the room and could see everything at once: a wardrobe, a bed, and a stool.
There was a red plastic basin with a crack in it, and on the table sat two bowls and an iron pot, both scrubbed clean.
Lu Lianning frowned. “Chen Miao, where have you been spending all the salary I’ve been giving you?”
Chen Miao was silent for a moment. The water came to a boil, bubbling loudly. He poured the hot water into a bowl, then smiled and said, “Didn’t I tell you before? I’m greedy by nature, a gambler.”
It was clear he wasn’t planning to explain further. Lu Lianning scoffed inwardly. Even if Chen Miao didn’t tell him, he knew he could find out on his own.
Chen Miao deliberately changed the subject. “It’s late. Get some sleep…”
But Lu Lianning was frustrated and not ready to let it go. “How am I supposed to sleep in this dump! The bed’s so hard it’s uncomfortable just to sit on!” His voice was irritated, his expression cold and stern.
Chen Miao, looking embarrassed, lowered his head and whispered, “Then… you can sleep on top of me.”
Lu Lianning couldn’t stay seated any longer. The broken bed creaked under his sudden movement as he stood up, anger flashing in his eyes. Biting down on his back teeth, he glared fiercely at Chen Miao. “Why are you always so slutty?”
Chen Miao looked sad, lifting his eyes to meet Lu Lianning’s. “But… you’re the one who told me to work harder.”
That look from Chen Miao was too much for Lu Lianning—it stirred up a mix of anger and embarrassment within him. He pulled Chen Miao close, pressing him against the wall by the tall window, his grip firm on the back of Chen Miao’s neck.
It was absurd!
Lu Lianning wasn’t sure if he was angrier with Chen Miao or with himself. He realized that whenever Chen Miao made the slightest suggestion of seduction, every fiber of his being screamed to let it happen!
And so, Chen Miao found himself staring at the half-moon visible through the high window of his cheap apartment.
But this time, the moon flickered in and out of view.
