Chapter 27: The Art of Getting Along
"Can I?" Lin Qin looked up excitedly, completely forgetting there was oil in the wok. His sudden movent caused water droplets from his hand to fall into the hot oil.
The oil in the wok imdiately splattered. Lin Qin reacted quickly and jumped back, but a few drops still accidentally landed on his hand.
"Be careful!" ng Chao exclaid in alarm, taking a few quick steps around the cooking station to hurriedly turn off the gas stove. He grabbed Lin Qin’s hand and guided it toward the sink. A pang of guilt flashed through his heart — he shouldn’t have been talking to Lin Qin while he was cooking.
The faucet was turned on, and water gushed steadily, washing over the back of Lin Qin’s hand.
Lin Qin was about to say it was nothing, but when he looked up, he saw ng Chao’s stern face. His lips were pressed together, and his eyes were filled with worry. The words caught in Lin Qin’s throat. Without even realizing it, his usual aversion to physical touch vanished. His focus remained solely on ng Chao, and he felt an inexplicable joy swelling inside.
From the cara’s perspective, it looked as if ng Chao was half-holding Lin Qin in his arms, their posture intimate beyond words.
Of course, this scene was faithfully recorded by the cara and beca a frequently used clip in fan-edited couple videos down the road.
After a minute or two, the sound of water stopped. There was a faint red mark on the back of Lin Qin’s hand. Though barely noticeable, it stood out sharply against his fair skin. ng Chao’s fingers couldn’t resist lightly brushing over it. He knew it was nothing more than a tiny scratch, but he still felt a sense of heartache.
"It should be fine now," ng Chao said reluctantly, letting go of Lin Qin’s hand. "I’ll check in the living room to see if we have any burn ointnt."
As he turned to leave, Lin Qin tugged at the hem of his shirt. "Brother Chao, really, I’m fine." Lin Qin smiled slightly, his cheeks tinged with red. The spot where the hot oil had landed didn’t feel that painful; on the contrary, it was the places ng Chao’s hand had touched that seed to burn — the warmth had gone straight to his heart.
"Are you sure?" ng Chao still wasn’t convinced.
Lin Qin shook his head. "I’m sure." His skin was just more sensitive, which made it look redder than it really was. In truth, it didn’t hurt at all. Though he felt ng Chao was making a mountain out of a molehill, Lin Qin couldn’t help but feel delighted, as if he were savoring sweet honey.
Seeing ng Chao still worried, Lin Qin quickly changed the subject. "Brother Chao, earlier you ntioned I could ask the two teachers so questions tonight. Is that really true?" He looked up at ng Chao, his eyes sparkling like stars.
Like a rabbit eyeing a juicy carrot, ng Chao thought, finding him unbearably adorable.
"Yes." ng Chao nodded and couldn’t resist ruffling Lin Qin’s hair. He wanted to pull Lin Qin into his arms, squeeze him tight, and never let go. Quickly reining in his runaway thoughts, he cleared his throat and said, "I already spoke to the two teachers; they said they’d answer your questions and help where they can."
Lin Qin knew this opportunity was entirely thanks to ng Chao. His face lit up with a sweet smile aid at ng Chao. "Thank you, Brother Chao."
That smile lted ng Chao’s heart instantly, and he couldn’t help but smile along with him.
To express gratitude to Dai Hong and Zhu Ling for their guidance that evening, Lin Qin prepared a sumptuous dinner. When the couple returned from a nearby stroll and saw the spread of dishes on the table, they were visibly surprised. The vibrant colors, enticing aromas, and elaborate presentation gave the impression that ng Chao had ordered takeout.
When ng Chao explained that Lin Qin had prepared it all himself, the couple was even more astonished. They had never associated Lin Qin with cooking in the kitchen.
The couple glanced at Lin Qin, who stood quietly by ng Chao’s side. The handso young man remained silent with his hands neatly by his sides. Though he looked composed at first glance, his nervous deanor didn’t escape the veteran actors’ discerning eyes.
It was clear his shyness wasn’t a result of pride over his accomplishnts, but genuine humility.
Realizing this, the couple softened their attitude toward Lin Qin, moving away from their initial overly polite formality.
The dinner that followed was a happy and lively affair, with Lin Qin occasionally chiming in on the conversation.
After the al, Lin Qin retreated to his room, seemingly busy with sothing. The cara in his room captured him preparing questions for Dai Hong and Zhu Ling.
Whenever Lin Qin concentrated on writing, he had a quirky habit — his cheeks would puff up and sway back and forth as he mulled things over. These monts were all caught on tape, and when the footage aired later, viewers flooded the screen with comnts speculating if Lin Qin had grown up snacking on cute pills.
...
Night fell, the moonlight bright, and the sea breeze pleasant.
Carried on the wind were the fragrance of flowers from the yard mingled with the salty aroma of the sea, swirling together around the garden. A pebble path snaked through the greenery, ending at a gazebo. The sea breeze set the light drapes of the gazebo fluttering, and the sumr-night serenade of chirping insects added to the tranquil ambiance.
Dai Hong lay back on a garden lounger in the gazebo, lazily fanning himself and humming a tune — the picture of vacation-like leisure.
"When I retire soday, I’ll buy a house around here. Now that would be a retirent worth dreaming of," Dai Hong said as he noticed Zhu Ling approaching.
Zhu Ling chuckled, imdiately teasing him, "Oh, please. If you can actually let go of your old hotown, I’ll follow your lead for this lifeti."
Dai Hong, born and raised in the countryside, had spent most of his adult life working hard in the city. Yet his heart firmly held onto his hotown, and he had long declared his retirent would take him back there, living out his days peacefully.
Grabbing Zhu Ling’s hand and stroking it gently, Dai Hong grinned mischievously. "You’ve never listened to your whole life, have you? Who else can you turn to now?"
The couple bantered lightheartedly, their harmony evident.
Lin Qin and ng Chao stood outside the gazebo, unsure if they should interrupt such a warm, intimate scene. Still, they witnessed firsthand the genuine affection between Dai Hong and Zhu Ling that matched their public reputation as the entertainnt industry’s model couple.
Spotting the two, Dai Hong called out, "What are you standing out there for? Co on in!"
Only then did the pair step into the gazebo and sit opposite the older couple.
Glancing at the notebook in Lin Qin’s hands, Zhu Ling’s earlier reservations disappeared. She began teasing him, "Xiao Lin, are you trying to ask us for tips on how couples get along?"
The question made Lin Qin blush furiously, stamring and unable to form a coherent reply.
Not to be outdone, Dai Hong chid in, "It’s not about couples’ tips, is it? Xiao Lin and Xiao ng are more like husband and husband!"
Both seasoned actors could clearly see the romantic tension between Lin Qin and ng Chao, so they felt free to joke boldly.
Desperate, Lin Qin turned to ng Chao for help, silently pleading for an escape.
ng Chao caught Lin Qin’s cue but chose instead to say, "Whether it’s a couple or a pair of husbands, the way to get along cos down to universal truths. I genuinely want to learn a thing or two."
Boom—
Lin Qin’s face was thoroughly crimson now, his exposed skin glowing red all over.
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