The Sickly Beauty Gives Up Struggling [Rebirth] Chapter 216

It was already 10 PM by the time they woke up.

Upon waking, they had to confront a matter that had already unfolded.

Jian Fu stared at Lin Zhen like an eager puppy, his bright eyes practically spelling out: You remember kissing me, right? You can’t pretend it didn’t happen, right?

Lin Zhen had considered playing dumb—maybe saying he’d been too tired and only demonstrated the role because Jian Fu wouldn’t stop pestering him.

After all, for an actor, kissing was a normal part of the job. It wasn’t a big deal to act out.

But seeing Jian Fu’s expectant gaze, Lin Zhen found himself unable to harden his heart enough to feign ignorance.

The two locked eyes, and the tension in the room seemed to heighten, the air between them charged with unspoken words.

Finally, Jian Fu broke the silence. Sitting cross-legged on the bed, he swallowed hard and lowered his eyes to look at Lin Zhen, who was still lying there. “Since you can’t rehearse back at school right now, can I run lines with you?”

Lin Zhen blinked twice and asked softly, “What? You want to play the mistress I’m seducing?”

Completely at ease, Lin Zhen laid sprawled out in his oversized, wrinkled T-shirt, which served as his sleepwear. His arm rested lazily on the pillow, the underside of it pale and untouched by the sun.

His fingers curled loosely, and his palm bore faint red marks from the action scenes he’d been filming recently.

He was relaxed yet candid, as if waiting for the situation to unfold naturally, offering both of them the chance to bare their feelings.

Jian Fu took a deep breath, gently hooking his finger around Lin Zhen’s slightly curled pinky, as if testing the waters. “The mistress works, or the maid. I just want to act with you.”

He was still probing cautiously, though the emotions in his eyes spoke far louder than his words.

Lin Zhen glanced at the subtle movement of Jian Fu’s hand and let out a soft chuckle. “What kind of scene?”

Jian Fu pressed his lips together tightly, silent for a moment.

Lin Zhen watched him intently, silently processing Jian Fu’s hesitation.

He could feel the invisible tug-of-war happening between them. Both were cautiously edging toward the unknown, even though they knew the other waited just on the other side of the mist. Yet, within this hazy uncertainty, they treaded carefully, step by tentative step.

Time ticked by, the quiet of the hotel room so profound that even a pin drop would have echoed.

Suddenly, Jian Fu leaned forward, placed his hands on Lin Zhen’s shoulders, and kissed him briefly on the lips.

Then, just as quickly, Jian Fu sat back up, his face flushed as he nervously gauged Lin Zhen’s reaction. “Like that,” he said softly.

Lin Zhen, caught off guard, instinctively touched his lips. The sensation of Jian Fu’s kiss lingered—real and searingly warm.

When he’d kissed Jian Fu earlier, he hadn’t thought much of it. He’d been too tired, his brain half-shut down. Perhaps it was precisely because of that exhaustion that he had acted so boldly, without overthinking.

But this kiss—this one was vivid and deliberate. As Jian Fu leaned in, Lin Zhen had felt his heartbeat quicken, his breath hitch.

Even without prior experience, he knew that someone who could stir such feelings in him was rare and special.

He liked Jian Fu. He had liked him for a long time.

Lin Zhen’s eyes flickered for a moment before he looked directly at Jian Fu again, murmuring, “Is that enough?”

Jian Fu’s eyes lit up, and like an excited young leopard given permission, he suddenly pounced, wrapping his arms tightly around Lin Zhen and scattering kisses wildly across his lips.

“No, it’s not enough! I want to act with you forever!”

Jian Fu kissed with clumsy enthusiasm, pressing his warm lips to every corner of Lin Zhen’s. His body trembled slightly with each kiss, a telltale sign of someone experiencing the electrifying thrill of first love.

Lin Zhen, as a man, recognized what this trembling meant—it was the unfiltered excitement of a first relationship.

Even through the thin fabric of Lin Zhen’s T-shirt, Jian Fu’s hands radiated an undeniable warmth.

Finally, Lin Zhen could no longer remain relaxed. He lifted a hand instinctively, steadying himself by holding onto Jian Fu’s shoulder.

Tilting his head, Lin Zhen licked his slightly damp lips and murmured, “Ahem, is this how kissing is supposed to go?”

Truthfully, he had no experience either and wasn’t sure if their messy attempt was even close to how kissing should be. It felt… a bit juvenile.

Jian Fu blinked and replied in a low voice, “I’ve only ever watched other people kiss.”

He had seen it in movies and TV dramas, and even watched his brother with his big panda, but none of those compared to the real thing. This felt completely different.

Watching others kiss hadn’t stirred any emotions in him, but now, his heart felt like it was about to burst out of his chest.

Lin Zhen clutched Jian Fu’s shirt, trying to steady himself. “I… my teacher taught us in school.”

As soon as he said it, his ears turned red.

He couldn’t believe he was about to apply what his acting teacher had taught him about kissing scenes to his real-life relationship. But there was no time to dwell on it now.

He just wanted Jian Fu to feel a little happier.

Jian Fu’s eyes widened. “Huh? How did they teach you?”

Jian Fu’s eyes widened slightly with curiosity as he leaned over Lin Zhen, still pressing against him. Even though the air conditioning was on, both of them were sweating.

Lin Zhen swallowed hard, then reached out, hooking an arm around Jian Fu’s neck. With a slight pull, he lifted his head and brushed his lips against Jian Fu’s in a teasing motion. He slowly slid from Jian Fu’s upper lip to his lower lip, gently trapping it between his own.

This was how male actors kissed during scenes—taking the initiative while female actors simply followed along. In most dramas, the male actor was expected to bring a sense of allure and intensity, so the requirements for them were stricter.

Lin Zhen had paid close attention during that lesson. They had practiced using the space between their thumb and index finger, which didn’t feel particularly realistic.

Jian Fu enjoyed the kiss for a moment before blurting out, “You actually had to learn this from a teacher?”

Lin Zhen paused. “Uh… yeah.”

Jian Fu frowned. “Then who taught my brother and big panda?”

Lin Zhen’s face turned red again as he mumbled, “How should I know?”

Jian Fu’s gaze burned with intensity. “I think this is something you can teach yourself. Can I kiss you again?”

Lin Zhen pressed his lips together and stayed silent.

Jian Fu understood the unspoken answer. Without hesitation, he wrapped his arms around Lin Zhen and rolled them both over on the bed. They ended up lying on their sides, with Jian Fu leaning in close to gently capture Lin Zhen’s lips again.

His hand rested on Lin Zhen’s waist. Lin Zhen was slim but toned, with lean muscle definition. His narrow waist and flat stomach felt amazing under Jian Fu’s touch.

Jian Fu’s hand moved slowly, up and down, while he continued to savor the softness of Lin Zhen’s lips.

They sank into the soft bedding—and into an atmosphere of dreamy intimacy.

By the time they stopped, both of them were breathing heavily, their eyes glistening with emotion.

The boundaries of their “scene” had blurred. They’d gone too far to turn back now; the only option left was to confront it head-on.

Gathering his courage, Jian Fu locked eyes with Lin Zhen. “I don’t just want to act with you. I really like you.”

Lin Zhen’s eyelashes fluttered, and his breath brushed against Jian Fu’s face.

He wasn’t surprised.

Compared to Jian Fu, Lin Zhen, with his background in the arts, was more sensitive and perceptive. He could pick up on subtle emotional shifts.

His feelings weren’t sudden. They’d built up over time, influenced by an undeniable chemistry between them.

When had it started?

Perhaps it was back in high school, when Jian Fu had come to the back of the classroom to find him. He’d been pestering him about something, shaking his shoulders. When Lin Zhen turned to face him, their faces ended up so close that they almost kissed.

Though Lin Zhen had quickly pushed Jian Fu away and grumbled a complaint, the moment their eyes met, something had sparked—shock, nervousness, cautious excitement, an indescribable flutter. It was all written in their gazes.

Jian Fu’s eyes never lied, and the emotions Lin Zhen saw in them had gradually drawn out his own feelings.

Seeing Lin Zhen remain silent now, Jian Fu grew nervous. “I… I know you’re straight. I used to be too. But… would you consider it? Would you try with me? Look, my brother and big panda are doing great, and I’d treat you just as well.”

Normally so eloquent, Jian Fu now stumbled over his words.

He should have been charming and persuasive, making Lin Zhen feel adored, but his mind had gone blank, and his confession came out raw and impulsive.

Still, Lin Zhen had let him kiss him, so he couldn’t hate him, right?

Lin Zhen took a deep breath, blinking slowly. Then he raised a finger, lightly tapping the hand Jian Fu had placed on his waist and then tapping Jian Fu’s lips.

Lin Zhen sighed helplessly. “If I didn’t feel that way, would I let you hold me? Would I let you kiss me? Even the class monitor and Cen Xiao figured it out—how come you’re the only one who didn’t?”

Joy spread across Jian Fu’s face, his smile unmistakable.

Jian Fu: “You like me too, don’t you?”

Jian Fu: “You’re saying yes, right?”

Jian Fu: “So… we can start dating, right?”

Lin Zhen couldn’t find the words to describe Jian Fu’s expression in that moment. He didn’t know how to convey such innocent, unfiltered happiness. For someone like Jian Fu, who wore his heart on his sleeve, that look was utterly captivating and irresistibly delightful.

It was as if Jian Fu’s expression was shouting—

I’m absolutely in love with you! I’m so unbelievably happy to be with you!

That kind of raw, overwhelming adoration and affection was impossible to resist.

Lin Zhen’s lips twitched, and he couldn’t help but smile, his almond-shaped eyes curving into a gentle arc.

His eyes, naturally round and childlike, looked even sweeter when he smiled.

He reached out and rubbed Jian Fu’s chin. “Yeah, haven’t we already done everything a couple does?”

Hugs, kisses, sticking together all the time, attending events, watching performances, staying up late together, taking photos—it was everything couples did. They’d been doing it all along.

Jian Fu nuzzled his chin against Lin Zhen’s fingers and pouted slightly, speaking in a soft, aggrieved tone. “Not everything…”

“Hm?” Lin Zhen was a little puzzled but remained relaxed, lying on his side with one arm propped under his head.

Jian Fu nudged Lin Zhen’s knee with his own, then wriggled closer like a little caterpillar, leaning into Lin Zhen’s ear. He whispered something softly against the curve of Lin Zhen’s ear.

Lin Zhen immediately stiffened, his whole body tense. His face turned bright red as he shot Jian Fu an exasperated glare and kicked him lightly in the calf. “I have a shoot tomorrow!”

Jian Fu didn’t seem to mind the kick. Instead, he clung to Lin Zhen shamelessly, his eyes full of longing and hope. “But can we do it in the future? Lin Zhen, Zhenbao, my superstar…”

Lin Zhen rolled over, turning his back to Jian Fu. “You’ve already ruined my sleep. I’m tired again, and I have to get up early tomorrow.”

Jian Fu pounced on him, pressing himself against Lin Zhen’s back. He gently brushed his lips against Lin Zhen’s earlobe and murmured persistently, “Can we? Can we? Can we?”

This kind of relentless coaxing was Lin Zhen’s weakness. It didn’t take long before he was on the verge of giving in.

Lin Zhen nudged Jian Fu with his shoulder, grumbling softly, “I’m not trying to be a saint.”