The entire hall was silent. Rong Jin’s sudden kneeling instantly stunned everyone. When Rong Yi heard his brother speak so bluntly, he was so shocked that the melon he was holding fell from his hand.
Since Rong Jin had already started, it was easy to continue. He went on, “I’m bringing this up today not to cause trouble for the family, but because I can’t let you find out about this from the news.”
“I’ll accept any punishment, but I can’t change.”
He stood straight, calmly looking at his parents.
Rong Qin’s lips moved as if he wanted to say something but couldn’t get the words out. His face turned a livid color.
Rong Jin couldn’t help but wonder if his dad’s vocabulary for scolding was too limited, causing him to get stuck.
Fu Hui, worried that Rong Qin’s emotions would affect his health, gently tugged his sleeve and softly advised, “Rong Qin, calm down…”
Her words seemed to flip a switch in Rong Qin.
He burst out, shouting at Fu Hui, “I told you there was something wrong! You didn’t believe me! Look at this!”
Fu Hui quickly tried to calm him, “Don’t shout, don’t shout, your blood pressure…”
Others also tried to pacify him, “Calm down, let’s discuss this properly…”
But Rong Qin wouldn’t listen and raised his voice even more, “He never kneeled so readily even when he refused to study!”
Rong Jin: “…”
Rong Jin felt his father’s focus was off.
Fu Hui got some help to calm her husband down, then walked over to pull her son up from the ground.
Rong Jin was a bit stunned; this wasn’t going as he expected!
Wasn’t there supposed to be a storm of beating and being locked in a small dark room, with no way out if he didn’t change? Why did it feel like only his dad was yelling, and not even about the main issue?
Fu Hui sighed and asked Rong Jin, “Are you serious about this relationship?”
Rong Jin nodded. Would he go through all this if he wasn’t serious…
Fu Hui sighed again, “That’s much better than we thought.”
Rong Jin: “…”
Wait… how bad did his parents think he was?
Fu Hui continued, “Your dad and I always worry when we see what’s happening in your circle, fearing you might end up the same…”
Rong Jin wanted to ask if they could have a little more faith in their son, but considering how much he’d let them down over the past decade, he decided to stay silent.
His uncle tried to reassure him, “Don’t worry, our family isn’t that old-fashioned. Look at your Uncle Tie and Aunt, they’re still not married, and no one pressures them…”
Rong Jin: “…”
That’s because they are devoted to research, not the same situation at all! And not old-fashioned… then who said actors are of the lowest class before?
Fu Hui said, “That was when your dad was really desperate.”
Rong Qin had only hit Rong Jin once, back when he refused to change his career path.
Fu Hui hadn’t wanted Rong Jin to enter the entertainment industry either, but seeing his progress over the years, she gradually accepted it, while Rong Qin never did.
Many people now saw Rong Jin as highly successful, having won every major acting award in the country and numerous international ones, with an illustrious career and record-breaking box office numbers.
But to Rong Qin, every praise the media gave his son felt like a stab to the heart.
What talent, what dedication—all a waste in his eyes! Such a brilliant mind should be contributing to research, technology, something truly beneficial to society and the country, not wasting his time like this!
Especially when seeing his younger son Rong Yi excelling in the field of technology at a young age, the thought of his more talented older son working as an actor made Rong Qin’s heart ache.
And it wasn’t just praise; no celebrity is without scandals.
Rong Jin had few, but they existed. Each time Rong Qin secretly looked up news about his son, these stories would send his blood pressure skyrocketing.
A brilliant child, throwing himself into the mud—had he chosen research, would he face these issues?
Especially in the early years when Rong Jin had no say in his roles, those movies… once, Rong Qin secretly watched one in the cinema and was so angry he couldn’t eat for days.
Their relationship grew tense from the start and remained so over the years, neither willing to relent, creating an impasse.
Rong Qin was still furious, shouting at his brother, “He once told me he was enriching people’s spiritual lives! As if someone else couldn’t do that! Why does it have to be him?”
The whole family was trying to calm him, “It’s the New Year…”
Rong Qin: “So what if it’s New Year! He’s coming out on New Year’s!”
Rong Jin realized that, to his father, coming out wasn’t as serious as becoming an actor.
This was… unexpectedly, a smooth coming out?
But Rong Jin didn’t expect that he would still get hit in the end.
Waving a feather duster, Rong Qin yelled, “You little brat! That kid is only eighteen! Not only are you not behaving, but you’re also leading others astray!”
This time, Fu Hui didn’t seem too eager to stop him, suggesting she also had some concerns.
Rong Yi had been preparing to intervene, perhaps by crying and hugging their parents’ legs, pleading something like, “It doesn’t matter if my brother is gay! You still have me! I’ll have lots of kids! Let him pursue his love!”
But he found himself with no role to play…
Rong Jin took the beating without dodging, feeling he deserved it. One, because he truly felt sorry for his parents about coming out, and two, because he did feel guilty about potentially leading someone astray. Though, unluckily, he blurted out, “Dad, don’t hit my face!”
Rong Qin: “…”
Rong Qin was furious, “Don’t hold me back!”
…
When Rong Jin met Chi Feiran again, it was in the same private club and the same private room.
This time, Rong Jin initiated, placing an antique-looking rosewood box in front of Chi Feiran.
Rong Jin’s face was radiant with excitement, “Open it.”
Chi Feiran complied and opened the box to reveal a jade bracelet and a jade pendant, the pendant carved into a laughing Buddha, placed on the right side of the box.
Notably, there was an empty spot next to the Maitreya Buddha where another pendant should have been.
Rong Jin said, “This is something passed down to the eldest son and his wife in the Rong family.”
Men wear Guanyin, women wear Buddha. He gave the Guanyin pendant, which was meant for himself, to Chi Feiran.
It was just a thought he once had, thinking he could only remain friends in this life. But who would have thought, one day, he could pass these things to the right person.
Rong Jin stood up, moved to sit next to Chi Feiran, held his hand, and without looking at him, spoke softly, “I actually don’t know if this is the right choice.”
“But I think, if we’re going to start, some things should be said by me.”
Rong Jin took a deep breath, “I’m not as good as you think. I’m not hardworking or ambitious. I mostly played video games at home. I’m much more vain and shallow than you think. I became an actor because I wanted many people to like me. My character is pretty average. You’re so young, and you might not even know the difference between liking an idol and liking a lover, but I just want to be with you…”
He felt Chi Feiran hold his hand back, paused for a moment, then continued slowly, “I’m just… an ordinary person.”
This was a realization he never had in his 27 years of life, but despite all his thoughts, it boiled down to one desire: to be with the person he loved.
Rong Jin said, “Feiran, this road is tough. I want to walk it with you. I love you very much.”
But he added, “But if one day you feel too tired, or simply don’t want to walk this path with me anymore, just tell me directly.”
Rong Jin didn’t mention his concerns or the lengths he went to for this day. He did those things not to impress his beloved but because a grown man should take responsibility for his feelings.
Chi Feiran asked, “Is it my turn to speak now?”
After asking, he felt Rong Jin tense up beside him.
Chi Feiran took out the Valentine’s Day gift he hadn’t given, placing it in front of Rong Jin, “This diamond is called ‘Hope.'”
He looked at Rong Jin’s profile with bright eyes and smiled, “Because I hope you love me too.”
Rong Jin finally turned to face him, their eyes meeting.
Chi Feiran looked at him directly, without flinching, “I’ve talked to my family. They agreed. You’ve met them. We both have feelings for each other. We can be together.”
Chi Feiran leaned in, their cheeks touching as he softly sighed, “It’s wonderful… that you love me too…”
Rong Jin held him, still processing Chi Feiran’s words, feeling a bit dazed, “You… you already told your family?”
Chi Feiran smiled, squinting, “Yes, Dad, Mom, Eamon, and Chris, they all know. That day we had dinner, it was because they wanted to meet you.”
But this man had prepared a bunch of test materials for himself!
Rong Jin recalled that day, wondering what he said in front of his in-laws.
Single-minded… Cats are better than people… And he thought he was so clever!
Rong Jin felt his world collapsing. What had he missed?!
Rong Jin decided not to dwell on it, focusing on the present. He said, “What I’m going to do next might be a bit much.”
Chi Feiran, feeling warm and sweet from their closeness, tensed at these words.
What was he going to do? How much was ‘a bit much’?
Feeling both nervous and expectant, Chi Feiran tried to remain calm, giving a small “hmm” to show his consent.
Then Rong Jin kissed him, not just a brush of lips, but with his tongue probing into Chi Feiran’s mouth, intertwining with his.
Their breaths merged, and the whole world seemed to disappear, leaving only each other and this tender, lingering kiss.
Chi Feiran didn’t know how long they kissed. When it ended, he was a bit out of breath, his face burning, breathing hard, yet still feeling it wasn’t enough.
He mumbled softly, “I can do that too.”
Then he cupped Rong Jin’s face and kissed him again, this time taking the initiative. He was determined to kiss longer than before.
