Qilin Video instantly grew anxious, pressing to know which platform had purchased the rights.

Zhao Yunshu smiled, “The contract requires confidentiality, so it’s really inconvenient to disclose.”

Qilin Video naturally assumed it was Yunfeng Video, and probably planned another big internal meeting to discuss which projects to launch during the winter break to compete with Yunfeng Video.

Although they were competitors in the industry, executives and middle managers of the two platforms always tried to probe each other for information.

Almost on the same day, Yunfeng Video also learned that Drunken Immortal Terrace had been sold, a development much faster than expected.

Due to ALEN, audiences and users were already feeling rebellious against similar talent shows, growing numb under the previous bombardment of traffic-driven information. Yunfeng Video had just decided in a meeting not to follow Qilin Video in spending huge sums on such variety shows anymore.

For the upcoming winter holiday slot, Drunken Immortal Terrace was currently the best choice, and it was sold before they even got to renegotiate the price with Zhao Yunshu?

Who could it have been sold to?

Jiang Huaiyuan and his wife remained tight-lipped. Especially Jiang Huaiyuan, after Lin Chendong’s imprisonment, he had become more composed and was no longer so easily tricked into revealing information.

Qilin Video thought Yunfeng Video bought it and was pretending to be innocent and mysterious.

Yunfeng Video, in turn, thought Qilin Video was trying to trick them, asking if Yunfeng bought it when they clearly bought it themselves, calling it a smokescreen.

The two sides entered a period of mutual suspicion, followed by a confrontation in the next month. Unfortunately, both sides’ project reserves were mediocre, and they failed to create any significant impact.

---

The dynamic comic of Drunken Immortal Terrace continued to soar in popularity. It was clear to anyone with an eye that once the drama version of Drunken Immortal Terrace aired, its ratings would definitely not be bad.

There’s no such thing as a completely airtight wall. Gradually, news spread that the drama version of Drunken Immortal Terrace would be broadcast on Little Sweet Fruit. Little Sweet Fruit users speculated wildly, inquiring with customer service, but customer service always gave ambiguous answers, keeping everyone in suspense.

As a result, many users flocked to Ling Song’s personal page to view stills and watch clips, leading to a continuous increase in Ling Song’s followers on Weibo.

Some brands, eyeing Ling Song’s upcoming drama and considerable buzz, sought him out for endorsements. Chen Qian selected a few commonly known brands for him to boost his public presence.

When the contracts were brought to Ling Song for signing, he hesitated, unsure whether to even pick up the pen.

“What’s wrong?” Chen Qian asked, arms crossed and a amused look on her face.

“I… the drama hasn’t even aired yet, so we don’t know if it’s a hit or a miss. How can there be endorsements already?” Ling Song asked, perplexed.

Chen Qian smiled, “When everyone knows you’re a dark horse, a thousand-mile horse, who can catch up then? These brands want to sign you before your value skyrockets, commonly known as getting a steal. If you don’t like these brands, it’s okay. But there are a few that Little CEO Jiang suggested you sign, would you like to consider them?”

Ling Song nodded slightly after hearing this. “Which ones did he tell me to sign?”

Chen Qian half-jokingly said, “Oh, I worked so hard to get you announcements and resources, but it’s still not as good as a single word from Little CEO Jiang!”

Ling Song signed while saying, “I trust his judgment and vision, out of gratitude for his recognition.”

---

Jiang Ruotang submitted his last painting of the semester and then packed his luggage, leaving the dormitory.

He was finally ushering in his first winter holiday of university.

Whoosh, the winter in the capital was so cold. Leaving the heated dormitory, Jiang Ruotang stomped his feet, rubbed his fingers, and put on the gloves Lu Guifan had given him in high school.

Just as he stepped down the stairs, a tall, slender young man in a black trench coat and casual jeans approached him, took his luggage, and when he lowered his head, his long eyelashes gently cast downwards, appearing gentle and elegant in the dry, cold winter day. Jiang Ruotang’s heart almost melted.

“Classmate, who are you?” Jiang Ruotang asked with a mischievous smile.

Lu Guifan softly said, “You don’t recognize your boyfriend just because he took off his glasses?”

“Wow! Is my boyfriend that handsome?” Jiang Ruotang used his fingers to brush Lu Guifan’s hair. This guy liked to wear his glasses even when sleeping together at night.

Because he always wanted to see Jiang Ruotang’s affectionate expression clearly, plus he had a little hobby: he liked it when Jiang Ruotang nudged his glasses up with his nose, which meant Jiang Ruotang was deeply in love with him.

So today, Lu Guifan suddenly didn’t wear his black-rimmed glasses, making him so clearly and openly handsome that he attracted countless side glances along the way.

He pulled the suitcase, walking in front of Jiang Ruotang, his back view so elegant and stylish. Jiang Ruotang couldn’t resist jumping onto his back. Lu Guifan leaned slightly forward to steady his center of gravity, then supported Jiang Ruotang’s legs and continued walking forward.

This was the unspoken understanding between Lu Guifan and him: whenever Jiang Ruotang wanted to be on his back, Lu Guifan would unconditionally comply.

Jiang Ruotang buried his head in Lu Guifan’s neck, not caring about the stares from others, and whispered, “My first semester of university, besides painting and classes, seemed very relaxed.”

Lu Guifan smiled, a smile that captivated the moment.

“But it also felt very fulfilling, because I could like you unrestrainedly,” Jiang Ruotang said.

Now that everyone’s economic conditions were better, they all wanted to go home early, so they tacitly booked plane tickets.

Jiang Ruotang played cards with Cai Ji, Jane Sha, and Zhao Changfeng in the waiting hall. Because Lu Guifan’s calculation and card-memorizing abilities were too strong, he was removed from the card-playing team and even forbidden to speak or send messages with his eyes.

So Cai Ji occupied the high ground of intelligence, beating them badly. Fortunately, Zhao Changfeng was at the bottom, so Jiang Ruotang never lost too miserably.

But for some reason, Cai Ji, who had won repeatedly, did not show a joyful expression; he merely smiled faintly. Even the usually carefree Zhao Changfeng could tell that Cai Ji was preoccupied.

“Cai Cai, if there’s anything on your mind, you must say it. Maybe we can help you solve it,” Zhao Changfeng said, patting Cai Ji’s shoulder.

“Even if we can’t solve it, our advice might still be useful, especially Ruotang… I think he’s very knowledgeable,” Jane Sha also said.

“Nothing… nothing, it’s just that a few friends and I designed a game, a multiplayer online battle type. At first, we just designed it for ourselves to play, then we got more and more into it, spending a lot of effort on the game engine and data compression, and then we encountered some problems with state synchronization… we’re still solving it.”

After listening to Cai Ji, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

“You’re really a gaming fanatic! No, you created a new game, and I’m not even among the first players? Friendship over!” Zhao Changfeng said half-jokingly.

Lu Guifan, who had been forced into silence for a long time, saw that they were not discussing card-playing, so he spoke, “If you have technical problems, you can tell me. You and your team are immersed in your own thinking; perhaps I, an outsider, can offer some suggestions from a bystander’s perspective.”

Hearing this, Cai Ji’s eyes visibly lit up. “Thank you, class monitor!”

At that moment, it was as if they had returned to high school.

__

Just like that, on the plane, Lu Guifan looked at the backend code on Cai Ji’s computer. The relaxed Cai Ji tilted his head and slept soundly.

Jiang Ruotang, meanwhile, watched Lu Guifan, feeling his heart stir even though they had been dating for a while. He found Lu Guifan’s focused expression captivating.

After getting off the plane and collecting their luggage, Lu Guifan and Cai Ji immediately started discussing the state synchronization issue.

Cai Ji’s smile became increasingly apparent, and he even showed a hint of excitement.

This put Jiang Ruotang and their other friends at ease.

Xiao Gao came to pick them up at the airport. Unexpectedly, he had also switched to an SUV and drove all of them home.

Jane Sha, still in the car, teased, “It feels like a primary school bus.”

“I don’t care, you’re the only primary school kid here,” Zhao Changfeng started bickering with him again.

After Jane Sha and Cai Ji got out of the car, Xiao Gao asked, “Guifan, are we dropping you off at Yu Hou Chun Tang, right?”

Lu Guifan lowered his eyes and smiled, “Are Uncle Jiang and Aunt Zhao home?”

“Yes, of course. Ruotang and Changfeng are coming back today, how could they not be home?” Xiao Gao said with a smile.

“Then let’s go see them first,” Lu Guifan replied.

Before Jiang Ruotang could say anything, Zhao Changfeng asked in confusion, “Why does it sound so important to see my parents?”

Lu Guifan chuckled, “Because your brother admitted to Uncle Jiang that I’m his boyfriend.”

Zhao Changfeng’s pupils first constricted, then he seemed to short-circuit. Half a minute passed, and just as he was about to pinch Jiang Ruotang’s arm, Jiang Ruotang slapped his hand away in advance: “If you think you’re dreaming, pinch yourself!”

Zhao Changfeng pinched the philtrum of his nose. “How long have you two been having a secret affair? No, giving each other coy glances!”

“Don’t misuse four-character idioms. Your Chinese college entrance exam score was indeed luck!”

“We got together during the summer vacation after high school graduation,” Lu Guifan replied.

Zhao Changfeng leaned back, letting out a sigh of relief. “Jiang Ruotang, you have no idea how worried I was about you finding the wrong boyfriend and getting yourself into trouble! Now I feel a huge weight off my mind. I can pursue my career with peace of mind, without having to worry about sacrificing my sports career to beat up scumbags!”

“No need to wait for a scumbag, I can beat you up right now! What nonsense are you thinking about all day! Your internal drama is so melodramatic!”

Xiao Gao, in the driver’s seat, also chuckled, “I knew it.”

Lu Guifan asked curiously, “What?”

“Every time I drove Ruotang to your place, his expression, both happy and expectant, what else could it be but liking you? Isn’t there a saying online? When you like someone, even if you cover your mouth, it will show in your eyes.”

Lu Guifan looked at Jiang Ruotang. He had said that he liked him first, and maybe it was true.

Arriving at the Jiang home again, Lu Guifan’s mood had changed. When Jiang Huaiyuan came to hug Jiang Ruotang, he also scrutinized Lu Guifan with his eyes, as if performing an X-ray scan, trying to examine his every internal organ.

Jiang Ruotang thought Lu Guifan was just coming for dinner, but he unexpectedly brought American ginseng slices bought from a time-honored brand in the capital, which Jiang Huaiyuan often used to brew tea on set, as well as a neck massager and bird’s nest for Zhao Yunshu.

Zhao Changfeng muttered beside him, “What’s this? The son-in-law returning to his in-laws? I’m at least the legitimate brother-in-law, why did I get nothing? At least send me a pair of limited edition sneakers!”

“You have enough sneakers; you couldn’t wear them all even if you had eighteen feet.”

Jiang Huaiyuan tried out the neck massager with Lu Guifan’s help, his face creasing with laughter.

During dinner, the atmosphere was very harmonious.

Jiang Ruotang used to think Lu Guifan wasn’t very good at pleasing people, but facts proved that it depended on whether he was willing to.

Lu Guifan spoke eloquently about movies and TV dramas, discussing camera movements and pacing. One might have thought he was a rising director. Despite not saying a single flattering word, he brought Jiang Huaiyuan the joy of finding a kindred spirit, as if drinking a thousand cups with a true friend.

After dinner, Jiang Huaiyuan hesitated for a moment, then said to Lu Guifan, “How about we have a chat?”

Otherwise, he felt as if a fixed procedure hadn’t been completed.

Lu Guifan nodded and followed Jiang Huaiyuan to the study.

Zhao Yunshu leaned in and whispered to Jiang Ruotang, “Have you seen Pride and Prejudice?”

“I’ve seen the movie version, why?”

“Doesn’t it look like Darcy going to see Mr. Bennet to ask for Elizabeth’s hand?”

Jiang Ruotang helplessly said, “Can’t it be me marrying Lu Guifan?”

“No, I mean, both of them are pretending to be calm, but they’re actually sweating nervously.”

Jiang Ruotang was amused.

In the study, Jiang Huaiyuan didn’t put on any airs of an elder with Lu Guifan. He simply asked him to sit down and said, “Actually, the first time Ruotang told me he liked boys, I didn’t feel he did anything wrong. I only worried he wouldn’t find someone truly worthy of love. I was afraid he’d mistake a handsome facade or an imagined perfect image for true love, and then get lost in illusions. Actually, when you first appeared, you didn’t look like the perfect image Ruotang would like at all, but every time he brought you up, he described another kind of perfection. He said you won many awards, that you could teach him even the hardest problems, that he’d perk up just by looking back at you when he dozed off in class, that you spoke up for him in front of teachers, that you’d think of solutions instead of being emotional when facing any problem, and that you looked down on all men in the entertainment industry without your glasses.”

Lu Guifan’s fingertips trembled.

“Every sentence was just describing what you did, but to my ears, every sentence was ‘Dad, I really like this boy.'”

Lu Guifan’s eyes also welled up, and he didn’t interrupt, just listened quietly.

“I know you are both still young, and there will be many variables in the future. Meeting different people and experiencing different things will change your perspectives, mindsets, and inner pursuits. If one day you feel you no longer love him, I won’t force it. Just don’t use a hurtful way to break up with him; simply send him back to me safely.” Jiang Huaiyuan said to him very seriously.

Lu Guifan made no promises, simply saying, “Uncle, in my future plans, Ruotang is the most important.”

Jiang Huaiyuan smiled and nodded, then took out a watch from a drawer and pushed it across to Lu Guifan: “This, when I was a director for the first time, my grandfather gave it to me after I showed him my work. Ruotang doesn’t like mechanical watches, they need winding and time adjustment. If you don’t mind, I’d like to give it to you, because this watch also looks very much like you.”

Subtle, elegant, precise.

“Thank you, Uncle, I accept it.”

Lu Guifan opened the watch box. The time was already set. He put on the watch.

It was getting late. It wouldn’t do to not go home on the first day of the holiday. Xiao Gao drove Lu Guifan back.

Jiang Ruotang held Lu Guifan’s wrist and looked at it for a long time. “I regret it. I didn’t appreciate it before, but suddenly I realized Dad’s watch is actually very textured. Why don’t you give it back to me?”

Lu Guifan smiled and nudged Jiang Ruotang’s brow with his nose. “This is a promise between me and your father. This watch cannot be returned.”

“Alright.”

Actually, seeing this watch on Lu Guifan’s wrist gave a sense of eternity.

When Lu Guifan returned home, it was already past nine in the evening.

His parents opened the door to greet him. Xiao Wei had already fallen asleep. He chatted with his parents for a while, telling them what he had learned this semester and any interesting anecdotes, although most of them were about Jiang Ruotang.

That night, after he had showered, he sat in his room looking at the butterfly nebula painting Jiang Ruotang had made on his desk. The crystal photo frame outside must have been wiped often, as there wasn’t a speck of dust.

Just then, there was a gentle knock on his door, and his mother’s voice came through, “Guifan, may I come in?”

“Of course, what is it, Mom?”

Mother Lu smiled, walked in and sat opposite Lu Guifan, then began, “It’s almost Chinese New Year in half a month, right?”

“Mmm.”

“Then have you thought about which day you’ll bring Ruotang home?”

The two words “bring home” made Lu Guifan’s heart tremble. “Mom… you…”

“Do you think you’re hiding it well? A mother knows her son best,” Mother Lu said with a smile, gesturing with her eyes at all traces of Jiang Ruotang in Lu Guifan’s room.

The dazzling roses on the wall, the butterfly nebula on the desk, the two water glasses Lu Guifan always intentionally kept close together, the throw pillow on the bed and the chestnut-colored sheets, and the bound drafts of Jiang Ruotang’s work. Lu Guifan’s own drafts were sold as scrap paper, but Jiang Ruotang’s were carefully organized in a cardboard box, brought from the old house to the new.

“I was actually worried you wouldn’t be able to accept it.”

Mother Lu sighed, “If it were just anyone, your father and I certainly wouldn’t accept it. But that person is Ruotang. He makes you happy, makes you no longer lonely, surrounds you with so many friends, and makes you better. If we were still stuck in that secluded little fishing village, if your father hadn’t followed Mr. Zheng to see the outside world, if I hadn’t seen so many cases beside Lawyer Hong, we might truly not have been able to let go. But only you know what kind of life you want. Your father and I don’t want you to feel… that we are a spiritual burden and obstacle to you, nor do we want Ruotang to harbor any resentment.”

Lu Guifan’s eyes reddened. “Thank you, Mom.”

Mother Lu hugged her son, then walked out of the room.

Apparently, Father Lu had been waiting outside for a long time, and the two were still chatting quietly.

“How was it? Did you tell him?”

“I did, I did. Don’t worry so much.”

“Good that you cleared the air!”

“Then why didn’t you dare to go in with me to talk?”

“I was just afraid you’d guess wrong, and I’d be embarrassed with you!”

Lu Guifan raised his voice, “This door isn’t that soundproof.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Mother Lu quickly pulled Father Lu back to their own room.

Lu Guifan closed his eyes, let out a smiling sigh, and touched the watch, thinking how lucky he was to have the best parents and the most intimate person.