Early the next morning, Ye Shanshan turned over and propped his thigh on Gong Yue’s body. He leaned closer to his ear and said, “Ge (brother), I know you’re awake. Quick, open your eyes and look at me.”
After saying this, he even rubbed his eyes. “Oh my, I wonder if there’s any eye gunk. If there is, could it be… the Eye Gunk Fairy Boy?”
So early in the morning, Ye Shanshan laughed so hard in Gong Yue’s arms that tears welled up in his eyes.
Gong Yue, who had been lost in thought with his eyes closed, realized the troublemaker was awake. Just as he was about to say good morning, he watched Ye Shanshan laugh in his arms for almost a minute before stopping.
“What are you laughing at?” Gong Yue wiped away the tears at the corner of his eyes.
Ye Shanshan leaned over and bit Gong Yue’s finger. “I forgot!” Better not tell Gong Yue about the Eye Gunk Fairy Boy; he felt he’d be mocked.
Licking the finger in his mouth, Ye Shanshan suddenly became serious. “Ge, I think we shouldn’t hold back. I remember seeing online that it’s not good for your health.”
Of course, his argument lacked conviction, especially with Gong Yue’s finger still in his mouth.
Gong Yue gently touched his tongue with his fingertip, his voice carrying the hoarseness of morning hormones. “Hold back? Is there something wrong with your body?”
“No, my jing and spirit are particularly good, and my vitality is abundant!” His speech was muffled with something in his mouth.
“Shanshan, love is something that naturally happens between two people; there’s no need to suppress it. We’re inseparable by nature,” Gong Yue kissed his head, feeling the warmth of his tongue licking his finger, which made his heart soften.
In fact, except for the first time when he couldn’t control himself, every time after that, Gong Yue adjusted his pace—he was curious about everything and filled with ideas. He couldn’t let anything go wrong.
Ye Shanshan felt Gong Yue was right. He pushed away the finger in his mouth with his tongue and clear eyes. “Hmm, I like being in close contact with you.” He confidently nestled against Gong Yue and nudged him in his embrace. “I had a dream last night.”
“What dream?”
“I dreamt I turned into an old immortal with white hair, and you turned into a little jing monster. I wanted to catch you, but you seduced me, so I was banished back to the mortal realm.” Ye Shanshan finished, nodding to himself. “Hmm, even my dreams are so logically clear and orderly!”
“…,” Gong Yue decided not to comment. “Are you going to see Julia later?”
Ye Shanshan was easily diverted by Gong Yue, his attention wavering. When Gong Yue asked this question, he didn’t dwell on the little jing in his dream anymore. “I’ll be going there in these two days. They’ve already rehearsed, so I just need to remember the process when I get there.”
By ten o’clock in the morning, Ye Shanshan, with a black backpack slung over his shoulders and wearing a baseball cap, headed to Julia’s studio. Today, there were many models in the studio. When he heard the door open, everyone inside looked over at him. Ye Shanshan paused for a moment, then smiled friendly at them.
At that moment, Julia’s assistant hurried over. “Ye, the lady is waiting for you inside.”
Ye Shanshan thanked her and flashed a charming smile. However, when he reached the door of the private office, Ye Shanshan glanced back. He couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was staring at him, a prickling sensation on his back.
Julia was making final adjustments to the grand show. Over the past few years, aside from brand shows, this was already her fourth personal show, everything proceeding in an orderly manner. Worried that Ye Shanshan might be nervous, she said, “Shanshan, you’ll open the show and join me for the finale. Don’t feel pressured. Just follow your instincts.”
Ye Shanshan, with a rose candy in his mouth, chewed contentedly and looked at Julia. “I’m not nervous, teacher, you can rest assured.”
Seeing Ye Shanshan munching away like a hamster, Julia chuckled, “Still the same as before. I feel like my sugar consumption spikes whenever you’re around.”
Models all had specific diets to control fat and weight, with calorie counts down to the last digit, so Julia had made plenty of rose candies.
After sneakily finishing all the candies on the porcelain plate, Ye Shanshan noticed Julia’s attention on him. Cooperatively, he stood up, took off his top, and put on the clothes Julia handed him. After changing, he saw Julia looking at him with a smile on her face.
“My dear lady, what has brought forth such a beautiful smile from you again?” he quipped, playfully winking, much like one would with an elder.
Julia pointed to the various marks on his upper body. “It seems like you had a wonderful night yesterday.”
Ye Shanshan lowered his head and discovered kisses all over his body, evenly distributed, showing that Gong Yue didn’t hold back.
Not feeling embarrassed, Ye Shanshan ran his fingers through his hair. “They’ll definitely disappear today and won’t affect the show.”
But Julia was more concerned about something else. “Your partner, is it Gong Yue?”
Hearing that name, Ye Shanshan’s smile instantly brightened. “Yes, it’s him.”
Seeing his student’s joyful expression, Julia didn’t delve further. After all, just mentioning his name made him so happy, indicating their relationship was very good.
She had heard before that Ye Shanshan was the illegitimate child of close friends of the Gong family. After the lady’s husband passed away and her mental state deteriorated, she had spent years recuperating with Ye Shanshan on a private island. It wasn’t until after the lady’s death that Ye Shanshan, now orphaned, was taken in by Gong Yue.
Remembering over two years ago when she taught Ye Shanshan, Julia occasionally witnessed how they interacted. It was clear that Ye Shanshan instinctively wanted to get close to Gong Yue, but Gong Yue was always busy. Even when they did meet, it was only for a few words before he had to leave, and he was very strict with Ye Shanshan’s demands.
Unexpectedly, now—
“Teacher,” hearing Ye Shanshan call her, Julia turned her head to see Ye Shanshan pointing to a design draft nearby. It already had some colors added but still had a few blank spots.
“Teacher, I think we can add bright green here!”
Julia instinctively glanced at it. Deep purple with bright green? She rubbed her temples. “Shanshan, I’m glad I’m not your art teacher.” Otherwise, she would have aged at least twenty years from the frustration.
“My art teacher said my color matching and selection are very bold and avant-garde.”
“… It must be because Gong Yue paid.”
※※※
On the 22nd, from the morning onwards, everyone started bustling around backstage. It was extremely chaotic with long rows of makeup mirrors, various tools, countless luxurious costumes and accessories. Each model had at least three hairstylists around them; otherwise, there wouldn’t be enough time. The show was scheduled to start at 3 PM sharp; time waits for no one.
Julia’s golden curls were already elegantly styled up high, making her look mature and seasoned. She was making the final adjustments to Ye Shanshan’s outfit, putting down the pencil she had been biting on. “Shanshan, have you eaten today?”
Ye Shanshan was holding his arm up straight. “Not yet. Eating might affect how I look in the photos, but Gong Yue said he’ll take me out for something nice after I’m done here.”
Julia nodded with a smile. “That’s good.” She then motioned for her assistant to help her as they took off Ye Shanshan’s clothes together. “I’ll fix the details. Don’t wander off too far.” She patted his shoulder, just like she used to.
Ye Shanshan acknowledged and waited for Julia to leave. Checking the time, he greeted another assistant before heading towards the restroom.
Julia’s fashion show was held in an indoor hall of an ancient castle, lavishly decorated. The first and second floors were connected by a double-curved stone staircase. During the show, the models needed to descend from the second floor along the staircase to the first floor and then walk up the straight runway.
Because it was crowded everywhere, Ye Shanshan deliberately chose a quieter staircase. Just as he took a few steps, he heard two people arguing in low voices, and from what he could catch, it seemed to involve him.
“Who said the opening should be done by that Oriental guy!” A voice seethed with unrestrained anger. Ye Shanshan quickly recalled the voice from memory and matched it to the person—um, what was his name? Green?
As Ye Shanshan pieced together scattered bits of information in his mind, another voice chimed in, “Green, maybe that Eastern boy has something special about him that none of us can match.”
“Special? Like being good at climbing into Julia’s bed?” Greene retorted with gritted teeth. “We can’t let this guy take the spotlight, no matter how he suddenly appeared. He needs to get out of here. No one’s going to stop me!”
After these words, footsteps gradually faded into the distance.
Once everyone had left, Ye Shanshan emerged from the corner.
After that incident, he became much more cautious. Whether it was shoes or accessories, he checked every detail meticulously to avoid any tampering that could ruin the show without his knowledge. But it seemed that Greene, for now, hadn’t found the right opportunity.
If not now, then perhaps after this show ends?
※※※
In City B, it was 2 AM. Xu Luoyang and his troublesome agent Zheng Dong each held a bowl of fried rice. Their husky sat between them, eyes gleaming at the fried rice.
Xu Luoyang had rushed back after filming late into the night, only to find himself locked out with his keys inside. Unable to find a locksmith at that hour, he had no place to go, so he turned to Zheng Dong for help.
Not wanting the headlines tomorrow to read “Xu-L surname celebrity freezes to death in the streets, pleaded with agent for help,” Zheng Dong reluctantly agreed.
So Xu Luoyang dragged his suitcase to Zheng Dong’s place, hungry. Zheng Dong, resigned to his duty as agent, made some fried rice for them to share.
After taking a sip of water, Zheng Dong checked the time and opened a video. “The industry is evolving rapidly lately, everyone’s becoming a fashionista. I’m going to take some photos at Fashion Week today, and they’ll be on big platforms tomorrow. You’re a top-tier now too, so get familiar with the process.”
Xu Luoyang shoveled several spoonfuls of fried rice into his mouth before speaking. “I’m not cut out for this. My legs would shake if I had to walk the runway. You can count on Shanshan; I’ll just take some photos with him.”
“Speaking of which, after the last red carpet event, countless endorsements and magazines came knocking, including those looking for an ambassador for Asian brands. They all wanted to talk to Shanshan, but he’s not interested at all, so we had to turn them down.”
At moments like this, Xu Luoyang always stood in solidarity with Ye Shanshan, instantly turning into an overprotective mother hen. “Turning them down is for the best. Shanshan is doing so well now, and he can maintain that air of mystery.”
Zheng Dong, who dealt with daily frustrations, had no desire to argue further. Every day, Ye Shanshan’s fans flooded his Weibo demanding updates, asking why Ye Shanshan hadn’t appeared in public for so long and insisting that he should make an appearance.
Every time Zheng Dong saw this, he couldn’t help but think, “If I could make an appearance, wouldn’t I be soaring high?”
Not wanting to dwell on this question any longer, Zheng Dong pointed at the screen. “This show is themed ‘Frozen World,’ designed by someone from AG named Julia Lee. She’s incredibly talented and ambitious. It won’t be long before she pushes out AG’s current chief and takes over herself.”
Xu Luoyang had no interest in the fashion industry whatsoever, but as a guest, he couldn’t openly oppose his host’s wishes. So he quietly ate his fried rice, occasionally glancing at the screen.
Precisely at 2 AM, the screen suddenly lit up in what was once a pitch-black interior. Soft instrumental music, as calming as the quiet before a snowstorm, filled the venue. As the lights gradually brightened, the luxurious decorations inside the castle came into view.
At that moment, the music abruptly turned solemn and majestic, shattering the serene atmosphere. Xu Luoyang, drawn in by the music, focused more on the screen.
Amidst the double-arched stone staircase, “snow” began to fall, growing heavier with the rhythm of the music. As the music reached its crescendo, abruptly stopping, the howling of the north wind gradually faded, and a beam of light descended.
A figure appeared on the steps.
In that instant, Xu Luoyang’s mind froze. With a “clang,” the plate of fried rice fell to the ground, eagerly awaited by the husky who promptly came over to taste it.
Looking at the plate in his hand that was still intact, Xu Luoyang realized it was Zheng Dong’s plate that had fallen.
He gingerly placed the fried rice on the table and exchanged a glance with Zheng Dong. Then, in unison, they both said two words, “Shan Shan.”
On the steps above, Ye Shanshan’s ears were sculpted into pointed shapes by makeup, his eyes were ice blue, his hair as white as snow. He wore clothes reminiscent of Victorian-era men’s fashion. The collar of his white undershirt opened down to his chest bone, silver threads intricately outlined elaborate and elegant patterns that snaked down the collar, wrapping around his long and straight legs clad in white trousers, capturing everyone’s attention.
Yet, what was most stunning was the cloak draped over him. A faintly icy blue cloak trailed behind him on the steps, embroidered with intricate patterns in the same color that seemed to ripple like waves with each step he took, drawing the eye layer by layer.
Ye Shanshan was already astonishing, but now, against the backdrop of lights and falling snow, his chin slightly lifted, his gaze indifferent, he seemed like the king of this icy world, stepping on the earth, even the northern wind bowed to his presence.
Between heaven and earth, it seemed to fall into silence, only the steady “thud-thud” of his footsteps as he descended the stairs broke the quiet. His attire became the only color in the scene.
When he stood still, Ye Shanshan paused for a few seconds, then suddenly lifted the corners of his mouth, revealing a smile.
In that moment, the ice melted and the snow thawed.
The earlier illusion of the ice king vanished; now Ye Shanshan seemed more like a crown prince with dignity yet still harboring youthful vigor.
His gaze softened, he turned away, and as the background music, starting softly with violin, seemed to bid farewell to him, Ye Shanshan was about to disappear from the runway when the audience suddenly woke up as if from a trance, erupting into enthusiastic applause. The applause drowned out the music only after the figure in splendid attire had completely vanished from sight.
When Ye Shanshan was completely out of sight on the screen, Xu Luoyang picked up the fried rice again, took a large bite like he was calming himself down, then managed to utter, “I think I’ve been startled.”
Zheng Dong watched the husky eating the fried rice on the floor, surprisingly not losing his temper but speaking with a heavy tone, “I think I’ve been startled too.”
Even now, Xu Luoyang couldn’t get Ye Shanshan’s image out of his mind. “But he was really beautiful. Stunningly beautiful. The clothes were also stunningly beautiful. Together, they were stunningly beautiful!”
Zheng Dong glanced at him sideways. “Can’t you use a different adjective?”
“Really can’t,” Xu Luoyang took another bite of fried rice, getting more excited as he thought about it. “I can’t think of any other adjectives!”
After staring at the husky for a while, Xu Luoyang felt that being startled shouldn’t be something he experienced alone, so he logged onto Weibo and posted, “I really got startled. @Ye Shanshan, [image]” and clicked send.
The image was also blurry; he had dragged the progress bar back to capture a direct shot of the computer screen. It wasn’t very clear, but it was stunning enough.
Backstage.
Ye Shanshan had already changed into the final outfit he would wear alongside Julia for the closing bow. Originally, each model was supposed to showcase three outfits for this show, but because his attire was so difficult to put on and take off, Julia had decided he would only walk in two.
“Teacher, how did I do just now?” Julia stuffed a rose-flavored candy into his mouth, her lips and eyebrows curved with a smile, completely devoid of the aloofness he had shown on the runway.
The backstage area was still chaotic, filled with cries of “Where are the shoes?” and “Headpieces, where are the headpieces?” Julia adjusted his clothes and raised her voice a little. “It was perfect! Even better than I expected!”
Although not a professional model, Ye Shanshan’s precise steps and professionalism made it difficult for her to find any faults.
That young boy from years ago had grown up.
Listening to the praise, Ye Shanshan’s smile grew even brighter. These past few days, aside from eating and sleeping, he had been studying intently the strides, rhythms, precise stops, and even the poses and expressions used by top professional models in recent years. After watching, he would dress in his own clothes and practice walking, asking Gong Yue to record him so he could review and improve any shortcomings next time.
Luckily, nothing had gone wrong.
As all the models exited the stage, the model who had opened the show never reappeared, causing a stir among the audience.
Just then, under the spotlight, Julia and Ye Shanshan appeared together on the steps.
Ye Shanshan’s attire was not as magnificent as it had been at the opening, appearing much simpler. A sky-blue silk shirt, cold as snow in color, was worn under a coat that revealed his slender and graceful waist. Leaning on the railing and looking down below, his delicate jawline was sculpted like ice and snow, exuding a bone-chilling coldness yet also a vast and profound emptiness, like the stillness after a snowstorm.
Until the two stood in the center of the runway, the entire venue’s lights came on. Julia and Ye Shanshan bowed simultaneously to the audience, marking the end of the “Ice and Snow World” fashion show.
After coming down from the runway, although Ye Shanshan wasn’t particularly nervous, he still breathed a sigh of relief—thankfully, he hadn’t embarrassed his teacher!
Quickly changing into his own clothes, Ye Shanshan felt there were too many people backstage. He hesitated about whether to go home to remove his makeup, then saw Julia gesturing towards him.
After all, they had fought side by side. Ye Shanshan walked over quickly, and sure enough, the teacher had a small dedicated rest area where there weren’t many things, but it was enough for him to remove his not-so-heavy makeup.
As Ye Shanshan approached the mirror, preparing to remove his blue contact lenses, he heard a noise from the doorway and recognized Julia’s footsteps leaving. Soon after, a familiar figure appeared in the mirror.
“Gong Yue!” Ye Shanshan exclaimed with delight. Just as he turned around, Gong Yue grabbed his waist and pressed him against the wall, leaning in as if to kiss him.
This time, Ye Shanshan reacted swiftly, quickly covering Gong Yue’s mouth with his hand and said seriously, “Bro, I’ve applied lipstick, quite thick. Haven’t removed it yet.”
Gong Yue kissed the palm of Ye Shanshan’s hand covering his mouth, looking at Ye Shanshan under the bright lights with his blue eyes and pointed ears. He gently removed Ye Shanshan’s hand.
Leaning in again to kiss, Gong Yue’s voice was low, husky, and tender, “I’ll help you remove it.”
1TL: YSIAD “You can support me if you like my translations by leaving a comment below, or by sending me a Ko-fi. Thank you and Enjoy reading! ❤️”
