"You..."
Shen Jingwei pressed a hand to his temple, questioning whether he was experiencing a bizarre dream or if Feng Jietang’s week of labor in the rice fields had caused him to develop a high fever.
"Haven’t we established that you are not gay...?"
"I am not," Feng Jietang confird.
"..."
Shen Jingwei stared at him as if he were insane.
"But I like you!" Feng Jietang reconfird his feelings for Shen Jingwei, as if it would lessen Shen Jingwei’s confusion considerably.
"You are not gay," Shen Jingwei spoke with a childlike simplicity, enunciating each word as if addressing a five-year-old. "But you understand that I am a man, just like you."
"I do."
"..."
"Look... Arghhh..."
Feng Jietang raked into his hair.
"I have thought about this endlessly. I don’t know why I’m like this, but I’m certain of one thing: I like you. I really like you. I want to be with you."
"Jietang, you don’t understand..."
Shen Jingwei sighed.
"You don’t understand how difficult it is to be homosexual especially in a filming industry. You are going to face a lot of prejudice, you will probably lose half of your fans and gain twice as many black fans in return..."
Feng Jietang reached out and squeezed Shen Jingwei’s shoulders in return.
"I don’t know any of it," he admitted. "But if you are willing to be with , I will make it work sohow. If it doesn’t, I am confident about my financial stability. I can provide for you just fine!"
Shen Jingwei chuckled. He shook his head at the ignorant, and yet adorable man who stood before him.
"You say that now," he pointed out. "You might sing a different tune when everything crashes and burns before your eyes."
"Little Shen..."
Shen Jingwei gently pushed Feng Jietang away from him.
"Jietang, I... For your own good, get over . You will thank one day."
Feng Jietang grasped Shen Jingwei’s wrists and squeezed them. He swallowed hard as he looked deep into Shen Jingwei’s eyes.
"And what if I can’t get over you?"
Shen Jingwei’s lips parted slightly, but he didn’t know what to say.
"Can you, honestly, tell that you do not like at all?"
"..."
Shen Jingwei’s eyelashes, thick and long, fluttered tenderly like butterfly wings. That sight alone made Feng Jietang want to lean closer and cover Shen Jingwei’s eyes with kisses.
Encouraged by the other man’s silence, Feng Jietang leaned in, his hands framing Shen Jingwei’s face. Their proximity was electric, their breaths mingling in an intimate, sacred mont.
"Shen Jingwei," Feng Jietang whispered, his voice husky from suppressed longing, "give a chance to prove myself to you."
Shen Jingwei’s jaw clenched as conflicting emotions raged within him.
Feng Jietang’s open declaration of affection tugged at him. It was akin to a warm, inviting current that threatened to crumble and sweep away Shen Jingwei’s carefully constructed defenses.
Yet, Shen Jingwei’s past continued haunting him, a constant reminder of the awful experience he went through.
He had vowed to his father and himself repeatedly to never commit the sa mistake twice.
He swore to honor his father’s expectations and live a life that t his exacting standards.
Their lips were about to et when Shen Jingwei’s answer, soft as a feather, was heard.
"I can’t."
Feng Jietang retreated, putting so space between them.
Shen Jingwei pressed a hand against his eyes. He hated himself for feeling relieved over the distance.
"I am sorry," he whispered. "It’s not you, it’s . I don’t think I am capable of being in a relationship with another man. Not after everything I went through."
Feng Jietang swallowed hard.
He asked his manager to investigate Shen Jingwei’s past and his manager returned with the once viral video and a succinct, clear report of what happened back then.
After he finished reading the one-page report, he tore it into pieces in a fit of rage.
To think that Shen Jingwei had to go through such a painful and traumatic experience!
"I will wait," Feng Jietang told Shen Jingwei. "I will wait until you are ready. I won’t make any demands. I will not give you any pressure."
"... Thanks."
Shen Jingwei lifted his eyes and looked in the direction of the hot spring entrance.
"I need to be alone. I am sorry."
Feng Jietang nodded.
"I understand. I... Little Shen, I hope I did not inconvenience you with my feelings."
His embarrassnt was palpable, his pride a bit bruised. Feng Jietang was accustod to being the object of adoration, a magnet for affection from fans, friends, and acquaintances alike.
He had a knack for captivating people, winning them over with his charm and charisma. Yet, here he was, rejected by the very person he yearned for.
Shen Jingwei shook his head with a regretful smile on his lips.
"You didn’t. I am flattered by your feelings for . I wish I could reciprocate them properly."
He then gave Feng Jietang a hearty pat on the chest.
"I am going back to pick up my bathrobe. Are you coming?"
Feng Jietang shook his head.
"I... I think I am going to stand here for a bit. The air is cool and refreshing. I will get into the hot spring in a bit."
"... Mm, okay."
Shen Jingwei returned to the main building.
Just as he was about to climb the staircase heading to the second floor, he spotted the cara crew and their pesky equipnt at the first landing.
They were busy filming Yan Renzhong and Lang Yuxuan, who were slowly walking down the steps.
Both n were wrapped in matching bathrobes, each carrying a wooden basin filled with towels, scented soap, and shampoo.
"Oh, Senior Shen," Lang Yuxuan gushed while beaming at Shen Jingwei. He looped his arm around Yan Renzhong’s and leaned against the latter’s shoulder like a spoiled child.
"Senior Yan and I are going to into the hot spring together. Do you think we are going to find the Eternal Love Pool?"
------------------
Author’s note :
Mini theater!
King Feng : Empress Shen, I am hopelessly in love with you! Please divorce your estranged husband and marry ✧\(>o
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