Chapter 105:
As Jiang Yun walked off the stage, he let out a long sigh of relief.
It wasn’t that the interview was particularly tiring, but the host had been asking him one question after another about his love life, and he was getting exhausted from dodging them.
A nearby staff member called out to him, “Brother Jiang, you’ve worked hard. We specially ordered a large meal box for you, and it’s on its way!”
“No need, I’ll eat at home,” Jiang Yun smiled. “Did you see Brother Bo around?”
Brother Bo, or Bo Zhen, was his agent.
“Yes, I saw him. He was just smoking on the balcony.”
Jiang Yun nodded and walked toward the balcony. As he got closer, he saw Bo Zhen still smoking, holding his phone and speaking in a low voice.
“I worked hard to get you this opportunity… What? You want to stay with your boyfriend and be two hours late? Do you think the big boss is your backup plan? He paid for you for the whole night, and now you’re making him wait half a day? There are plenty of people lining up to get into his bed.” Bo Zhen sighed, “Forget it, I’ll ask someone else.”
After that, Bo Zhen ignored the shouting on the other end and hung up the phone. He turned around, only to find Jiang Yun staring at him.
Bo Zhen froze, instinctively hiding his phone behind his back.
Jiang Yun raised an eyebrow in confusion at Bo Zhen’s actions.
Having spent years in the entertainment industry, Jiang Yun knew exactly what Bo Zhen had been discussing. Such things were hardly a secret in the industry—mutual agreements where both parties were willing. Many young stars would be thrilled to have an agent arrange such opportunities for them.
The shortcut was risky, but it was effective.
“Finished with the recording?” Bo Zhen coughed lightly. “I’ll drive you home. Your vacation starts tomorrow, right? You haven’t taken a break in two years, so take these five days to really relax.”
Jiang Yun nodded. “Who were you just talking to?”
Normally, Jiang Yun wouldn’t be interested in gossip like this. But for some reason, he felt an uneasy tension in his heart this time.
Bo Zhen gave a name, “You don’t know him. He starred in a small web series last year, but nothing happened after that. He’s been asking me for help lately, saying he’s willing to work with anyone, male or female, as long as he can join a major production that will air on television.”
Jiang Yun pursed his lips and asked, “Who was trying to contact him?”
Jiang Yun and Bo Zhen had known each other since Jiang Yun’s early days, back when he was just modeling for magazines. They had been inseparable ever since, for about seven years now, so their relationship was more than just professional. Bo Zhen often shared inside stories from the industry with Jiang Yun, knowing that he would keep everything to himself and never gossip.
Naturally, Bo Zhen was willing to tell him anything.
But now, Bo Zhen hesitated, gripping the cigarette that was nearly burned out. “This involves some high-level figures, so I’m not really at liberty to say.”
Jiang Yun pressed him, “…Is it Cheng Peng?”
“…” Was Jiang Yun equipped with a Cheng Peng radar or something? How did he manage to guess so accurately every time?!
Bo Zhen’s silence immediately gave him away. Jiang Yun’s heart began to race, and after taking a few deep breaths, he said in a low voice, “Brother Bo, let me go…”
“No way.” Bo Zhen cut him off immediately. “You can’t go.”
“I need to go.” Jiang Yun’s expression remained unchanged, but his tone was firm. “Brother Bo, please help me.”
Bo Zhen, with a headache, responded resolutely, “Are you crazy? No, I can’t let you go.”
Jiang Yun fell silent.
He blocked the small balcony door, preventing Bo Zhen from leaving.
Two staff members walked by and greeted them, “Brother Jiang, Brother Bo, you haven’t left yet?”
“No, we’re leaving soon,” Bo Zhen smiled at them before quickly pulling Jiang Yun onto the balcony and closing the door behind them.
“Xiao Jian, it’s not like I haven’t helped you before,” Bo Zhen spoke earnestly. “A few years ago, I already tried to get you closer to Cheng Peng. And what happened? Did he treat you any differently from others?”
When Jiang Yun had just started his career, he had pleaded with Bo Zhen in a similar manner.
Jiang Yun’s looks were top-notch in the industry. Even without taking shortcuts, he could have become a big star. But Jiang Yun wouldn’t listen; he insisted on pursuing Cheng Peng’s path. Bo Zhen knew him well and understood that Jiang Yun wasn’t after resources—he simply wanted to be with Cheng Peng.
Whether it was a relationship or a sugar arrangement, he just wanted to be close to him.
Back then, Bo Zhen had gritted his teeth and arranged it, but years had passed. Jiang Yun had since become a leading actor, and this year, he was even poised to win Best Actor for a realistic-themed film. Going down that old path now, if someone with ill intentions found out, it would be no different from walking into a death trap.
Jiang Yun remained stubborn. “Brother, I’m begging you.”
“…”
“If you don’t let me go, I’ll find him myself.” Jiang Yun unconsciously clenched his fists.
“Do you know that two years ago, when you and Cheng Peng were on that variety show together, your fans turned your interactions into a whole series of memes?” Bo Zhen was furious. “It’s a good thing the fans didn’t read too much into it…”
“Brother Bo, please.” Jiang Yun looked up, his gaze calm but determined. “This is the last time… If you let me go, I won’t even take the vacation. You can schedule whatever you want for me.”
Bo Zhen was baffled, irritably running his fingers through his hair. For a moment, he even wondered if Cheng Peng had cast a spell on Jiang Yun.
After a long pause, he asked, “Do you really like him that much?”
Jiang Yun: “Yes.”
The sincerity in his voice left Bo Zhen speechless.
“…The person who contacted me wasn’t Mr. Cheng, it was one of his business partners. Knowing Cheng Peng’s preferences, they specifically asked me to arrange someone for just one night,” Bo Zhen said, his expression conflicted. “10 PM, Honghu Grand Hotel. You can get the room key from this number.”
Jiang Yun’s eyes lit up. “Thank you, Brother.”
“Alright, what’s there to thank me for?” Bo Zhen waved him off. “Hurry up and go, before I change my mind.”
“I’ll be careful not to get photographed…”
“It’s not about being careful!” Bo Zhen scolded. “You *must* not be photographed! Take my new car, the one with temporary plates. Cover up well, don’t even expose your neck! And come back to my place the next day; I’ll drive you back home!”
—
Cheng Peng was slightly tipsy.
The business partner he was negotiating with tonight was well-known in the industry for his indulgences—cars, men, women, you name it.
But the man’s only vice was this. In business, the middle-aged man across from Cheng Peng was an excellent partner.
“Mr. Cheng, now that the contract is signed, how about heading back to the hotel together?”
Cheng Peng, holding his wine glass, raised an eyebrow at the suggestion.
“Hahaha, don’t get the wrong idea, I didn’t mean it like that,” the man quickly clarified as he stood up. “But I did arrange someone special for you. Why don’t you give it a try? If you keep holding back, you’ll end up like a monk. I remember you used to be quite the playboy, so why have you changed over the past couple of years?”
Cheng Peng smiled. “I haven’t met anyone that interests me, so I haven’t been in the mood.”
“Then tonight you must check it out. I’ve got someone lined up for you. If you don’t go, you’re not giving me any face.”
Not wanting to create tension over something so trivial, Cheng Peng nodded readily. “Alright.”
The hotel was the best in the area. Cheng Peng stood in the elevator, thinking about how he would send the person away soon and then get a good night’s sleep.
As soon as he entered the room, he heard the sound of running water coming from the bathroom.
Cheng Peng could guess what the person inside was doing. He walked over to the desk, sat down, opened his laptop, and leisurely began to review the next proposal.
Jiang Yun had finished getting ready in the bathroom. He casually threw on a bathrobe, but found the bathroom too steamy, so he walked out without fastening the front buttons.
As soon as he opened the door, he met Cheng Peng’s gaze.
Cheng Peng looked him up and down. Jiang Yun stood frozen in place, letting him look, feeling his blood rush to his head, and unconsciously holding his breath.
The young actor had changed his hairstyle, but his facial features and overall demeanor hadn’t really changed much. After a moment, Cheng Peng matched him with the person in his memory.
It was someone he had kept before. Cheng Peng didn’t have much of an impression of Jiang Yun, only remembering his face.
Had the young actor always had such a good figure?
“Cheng… President Cheng,” Jiang Yun squeezed out a greeting from his throat.
Jiang Yun’s appearance was actually the type that Cheng Peng liked—gentle features, not too feminine, with a look that made people want to protect him.
But Cheng Peng was not the type to revisit past relationships, and the same went for his lovers. Besides, he hadn’t planned on having company tonight.
“Hmm.” Cheng Peng asked, “How much did they pay you?”
Jiang Yun was stunned, “…Huh?”
“I’ll pay you more,” Cheng Peng said, taking out a check.
Jiang Yun felt a lump in his throat.
Cheng Peng opened his pen, “How much? Just say it, it’s fine.”
“…I don’t want money.”
“Then what do you want?” Cheng Peng asked gently, “Is there some resource you have your eye on?”
Jiang Yun was momentarily transported back to a few years ago.
It had to be said, Cheng Peng was a very qualified patron. His tone was always gentle, and he was generous. During that time, Jiang Yun hardly had to worry about anything besides keeping him company.
Cheng Peng saw his silence and assumed that after a few years, the young actor’s appetite had grown.
Just as he was about to say something, the person in front of him suddenly made a move.
Jiang Yun raised his hand, and the bathrobe slipped off his body.
Cheng Peng’s eyes darkened.
“I’ve already received a lot…” Jiang Yun’s entire face was flushed, and his voice was somewhat unsteady, “You don’t need to give me anything more.”
Cheng Peng put down his pen, “But I’m not interested in you.”
Jiang Yun felt utterly humiliated.
Cheng Peng noticed how his neck turned red from embarrassment and almost laughed. He remembered that when they had been together before, it was always like this—Jiang Yun’s skin flushed too easily, and every time they finished, it looked as if he had been treated roughly.
Cheng Peng originally thought that Jiang Yun would leave in shame.
To his surprise, after just a few seconds of being dazed, Jiang Yun quickly walked toward him. Before Cheng Peng could react, Jiang Yun straightened his back and knelt in front of him.
“I know… I didn’t do well before,” Jiang Yun said frantically as he fumbled with Cheng Peng’s belt, “But over the past two years, I’ve practiced a lot. You can try me.”
“Really, I’ll do it well.”
“…”
Cheng Peng hadn’t expected the young actor to be so bold and was caught off guard, easily letting Jiang Yun have his way. Cheng Peng was already a bit tipsy, and in that state, it was easiest to be moved.
And it had been a long time since he’d been with anyone. Whether it was Jiang Yun’s short, hurried breaths or his still-clumsy technique, something triggered him. The long-lost sensation came back with force and suddenly. He maintained his seated position and, in the end, didn’t push the young man away.
Cheng Peng was never one for restraint. Halfway through, he grabbed Jiang Yun by the chin, forcing him to lift his head and meet his gaze.
“You’ve done this yourself before?”
Jiang Yun coughed twice, “Mm, I’ve taken care of everything…”
In the past, when they were together, Cheng Peng had only ever used him for release and never really cared about Jiang Yun’s feelings.
Tonight, he deliberately gave the man beneath him a little taste of pleasure.
For the first time, he heard Jiang Yun’s voice in excitement—low, segmented, restrained yet suppressed. Surprisingly, it was pleasant to hear.
…
When Jiang Yun woke up, it was already eleven in the morning.
This was the first time they had lasted so long. Cheng Peng seemed to be in an unusually good mood last night, keeping at it almost until dawn.
Jiang Yun’s index finger absentmindedly scratched at the bedsheet. Did this mean that… his performance last night was much better than before?
The thought excited him.
He cautiously turned over, hoping to steal a glance at the man.
But the pillow beside him was completely empty—not even a trace of warmth remained.
“…”
Jiang Yun sat up and, still holding onto a bit of hope, went to check the bathroom.
A moment later, Jiang Yun calmly accepted the fact that he was the only one left in the suite.
After all, Bo Zhen had already made it clear to him last night that the man only wanted one night.
Jiang Yun’s heart, which had been lifted high, suddenly plummeted, leaving a bitter taste in his mouth that he couldn’t quite identify.
He grabbed his toothbrush and began brushing his teeth, letting the taste of the toothpaste cover up that bitterness.
Jiang Yun knew that two years ago, Cheng Peng had been in a relationship with a little lover.
The romantic kind.
What would it be like to date Cheng Peng? Jiang Yun couldn’t help but imagine it, though he couldn’t come up with anything.
If Cheng Peng was so gentle with his lovers, how much more so would he be with someone he truly loved?
Jiang Yun put the cup back in its place.
Well, even if it was just for one night, he should be satisfied. It was better than not being able to touch him even in dreams.
Although he was envious, he was also content.
When he first got up, the excitement had kept him going, and Jiang Yun didn’t feel much of anything. It wasn’t until after he finished washing up and was getting dressed that he noticed how sore his entire body was.
He sat back down on the bed, lying in the spot where Cheng Peng had slept last night.
The man might have left, but his scent lingered, a mix of cologne and shower gel.
Jiang Yun pressed his face against the pillow, his ears reddening as he inhaled deeply several times.
His phone rang, and at this hour, the only person who would be calling him was Bo Zhen. Without looking at the caller ID, he answered and brought the phone to his ear.
“Brother Bo?” As soon as he spoke, he realized his voice was a bit hoarse. He cleared his throat, feeling slightly embarrassed. “Can you pick me up a bit later? I’m a little tired and want to lie down for a while longer.”
There was a brief silence on the other end of the line. Then, a chuckle came through, “So I’m interrupting you. I thought you would have been up by now.”
Jiang Yunn instantly felt as though his ears had been shocked, a tingling sensation coursing through them.
For a moment, he widened his eyes and suddenly sat up in bed. “…President Cheng?”
“…Is it really you?”
“It’s me,” Cheng Peng responded calmly. “I had a meeting this morning. You looked like you were sleeping soundly, so I didn’t wake you.”
“I… I don’t oversleep,” Jiang Yun stammered, “It would’ve been fine if you had woken me.”
Cheng Peng chuckled again at his words.
…What was he even saying?
Jiang Yun’s heart pounded in his throat, and he struggled to get a word out.
“I have another meeting soon, so I don’t have time to talk much,” Cheng Peng said slowly. “I just wanted to ask if you want to continue seeing me?”
Jiang Yun was stunned again. “Huh?”
“Of course, it’s fine if you don’t want to,” Cheng Peng said. “I won’t force you, and I won’t let anyone else know about what happened last night.”
Jiang Yun quickly came to his senses. “I—”
His breathing quickened, almost impatiently. “I… want to stay with you. Is that okay?”
Hearing his nervousness, Cheng Peng smirked. “We can discuss the details later.”
“Alright,” Jiang Yun said. “Thank you. I’ll do my best… and be available whenever needed.”
Cheng Peng replied, “No need to. I’ll keep an eye on your schedule and won’t put any time constraints on you.”
He’ll keep an eye on my schedule.
He’ll be looking at my schedule!!
Jiang Yun felt like his heart might stop.
“…Thank you.”
“Alright, if there’s nothing else, I’ll hang up now.”
“Okay,” Jiang Yun replied, his mind blank. “I wish you a successful day at work.”
“Thanks. I hope your work goes well too.” Cheng Peng chuckled and suddenly asked, “By the way, what’s your name?”
Jiang Yun took a deep breath.
“…Jiang Yun.” Afraid Cheng Peng might forget, he repeated, “My name is Jiang Yun.”
Huge shoutout to @_nyanmaru_ on Discord for commissioning this! The chapter will be posted regularly, show your support for Ciacia at Kofi.
Sigh. Unrequited love arc…