Dark Fire chapter 25

 Happy

Ling Zhuo thought he would have trouble sleeping, but the alcohol worked its magic, and he slept soundly all night without a single dream. He woke up around seven in the morning, feeling refreshed.

According to the schedule, he didn’t have scenes to shoot until after ten, so he hadn’t missed any work.

While he was getting ready, Lu Chixie sent him a message on WeChat, asking if he was awake. Ling Zhuo tapped his forehead, remembering last night’s events, feeling somewhat regretful, and hesitated before deciding not to reply.

As he closed the app, he glanced at the profile picture that always stayed at the top of his WeChat conversation list, feeling distracted for a moment before he turned off the screen.

He had breakfast in the nanny car on the way to the set. Yang Ming handed him some food and said, “These were sent by Teacher Lu. He said from now on, you’ll have all your meals with him, not from the set’s lunch boxes.”

Ling Zhuo didn’t say anything, just accepted the food.

At eight, he started with makeup and hair. Twenty minutes later, Lu Chixie walked in. Ling Zhuo saw him in the mirror, then averted his gaze, trying to remain composed.

Lu Chixie came over and leaned against the makeup table, looking at him. Ling Zhuo felt uncomfortable under his gaze but didn’t say anything.

Lu Chixie smirked. “Had breakfast?”

Ling Zhuo nodded lightly.

Lu Chixie looked at him for a moment, then leaned in closer, his fingers brushing against Ling Zhuo’s temple. Ling Zhuo turned his head away, and Lu Chixie said to the makeup artist behind him, “Don’t make the wig too tight. It doesn’t look good when it squeezes the scalp.”

The makeup artist examined Ling Zhuo’s face in the mirror and smiled, “Okay, I’ll make it looser.”

Ling Zhuo didn’t say anything, just lightly pursed his lips.

After the makeup and hair were done, and the makeup artist left, and Yang Ming went out to handle other matters, leaving only the two of them in the dressing room. Ling Zhuo’s scenes hadn’t started yet, and he didn’t want to go out in the heat, so he sat in front of the makeup table, playing with his phone.

Lu Chixie was still standing in front of him. “Why didn’t you reply to my message this morning?”

Ling Zhuo replied, “Didn’t see it.”

Lu Chixie asked, “Really didn’t see it?”

Ling Zhuo calmly said, “No.”

Lu Chixie didn’t expose him and continued, “Do you remember what you said last night?”

Ling Zhuo wanted to say he was drunk and didn’t remember, but Lu Chixie didn’t give him the chance, reminding him directly, “You agreed to give it a try with me.”

“… ” Ling Zhuo looked awkward. Was it too late to regret now?

Lu Chixie’s finger brushed against his cheek again. “Regretting?”

Ling Zhuo said, “…No.”

Lu Chixie leaned in again, planting a quick kiss where his finger had touched. Ling Zhuo was caught off guard. He lifted a teacup, took a sip, and when he put the cup down, his lips, which had been dry from the early morning, were now moistened. Lu Chixie watched his movements and kissed him again.

Ling Zhuo tensed up, instinctively wanting to push him away, but then remembered what he had agreed to and forced himself to endure it. Lu Chixie bit his lower lip, their lips pressed together, his voice hoarse as he reminded Ling Zhuo, “Open your mouth.”

Ling Zhuo hesitated for a moment before slowly parting his lips. Lu Chixie’s tongue slid in, eliciting a response, and they engaged in a passionate kiss.

Ling Zhuo felt extremely uncomfortable, especially with his sitting posture and Lu Chixie leaning over him. He had to tilt his head up to cooperate with Lu Chixie, making it easier for Lu Chixie to kiss him.

Every soft part of his mouth was explored, and when Ling Zhuo was almost out of breath, Lu Chixie finally backed off a bit and asked, “How does it feel?”

Ling Zhuo frowned slightly.

He couldn’t really describe how he felt. He just felt a tingling sensation on his scalp. Kissing Lu Chixie didn’t repulse him, but he didn’t particularly enjoy it either.

Lu Chixie raised his hand, wiping away the saliva from the corner of Ling Zhuo’s mouth, and stood up straight. “That expression of yours, regretting it?”

Ling Zhuo felt a bit annoyed. “Would saying I regret it make any difference?”

Lu Chixie replied, “No.”

Ling Zhuo said, “Then stop asking.”

“Ling,” Lu Chixie called him, his gaze ambiguous.

Ling Zhuo asked, “What now?”

Lu Chixie said, “You kissed me; you have to take responsibility.”

Ling Zhuo opened his mouth, completely at a loss for words.

….

After that, it was a whole day of work. Ling Zhuo’s scenes that day were all with Lu Chixie in Group A. Lu Chixie had been filming non-stop since morning, so he didn’t have the chance to bother Ling Zhuo again.

Until evening, He Jingping announced the end of work. There would be no night scenes filmed that day. It was the second gathering of the crew, and he treated everyone to barbecue.

After more than a month of shooting, everyone had become familiar with each other. At the dinner table, they ate, drank, joked, and chatted without as much restraint. He Jingping started pouring drinks for everyone again. When it came to Ling Zhuo, before he could speak, Lu Chixie, who was sitting next to him, said, “Ling isn’t feeling well and can’t drink. Director He, please let him off.”

He Jingping was slightly surprised and looked at Ling Zhuo. “Ling Zhuo, you’re not feeling well? Why didn’t I hear about this earlier? What’s wrong?”

Ling Zhuo awkwardly replied, “I’m feeling a bit heat-stroked.”

In fact, it was because he had drunk too much last night and had no appetite all day today. He really didn’t want to drink anymore. If Lu Chixie hadn’t spoken up, he would have felt too embarrassed to refuse.

After Ling Zhuo said this, He Jingping, who was easygoing, didn’t press him further and continued to pour drinks for others.

Ling Zhuo quietly thanked the person next to him. Lu Chixie glanced at him with a hint of dissatisfaction, but Ling Zhuo didn’t understand what he meant. Lu Chixie called the waiter to bring a bottle of cola and opened the ring pull, placing it in front of Ling Zhuo.

After that, Lu Chixie ignored him and went to talk to others.

The dinner ended before eight o’clock. One by one, everyone got into their cars to go home. Ling Zhuo and Lu Chixie left the restaurant a little later. Lu Chixie pulled him into his own car. They had all come in a chauffeur-driven car, but Lu Chixie’s assistant had already brought his sports car over for the dinner.

“Where are we going?” Ling Zhuo asked after getting into the car.

Lu Chixie replied, “To have some fun.”

Ling Zhuo couldn’t be bothered to ask further questions, as he wouldn’t be able to get out of the car anyway.

“Just now at the dinner table, why were you glaring at me?” Ling Zhuo asked.

Lu Chixie responded, “I was glaring at you?”

Ling Zhuo said, “Didn’t you? It seemed like you did.”

Lu Chixie replied, “Then why do you think I was glaring at you? Trying to show off by pretending to drink even though you couldn’t, is that interesting to you?”

Ling Zhuo said awkwardly, “…You didn’t give me a chance to refuse Director He either.”

The car stopped at a traffic light at a crossroads, and Lu Chixie reached over and pinched his cheek. “Be smarter next time.”

Ling Zhuo pushed away his arm.

Lu Chixie took Ling Zhuo to an underground bar. Before entering, he handed him a mask and put one on himself. “Put it on, so we don’t end up in the headlines tomorrow.”

Ling Zhuo put on the mask. “You didn’t let me drink earlier, and now you’re taking me to a bar?”

Lu Chixie replied, “Who said going to a bar means you have to drink?”

They entered together. Inside the dimly lit bar, the place was buzzing with people, and the music was loud and raucous.

Ling Zhuo looked around somewhat lost and turned to ask Lu Chixie behind him, “Why did you bring me here?”

Afraid that Lu Chixie wouldn’t hear him, he leaned closer.

Lu Chixie smiled, his hands on his shoulders, drawing him even closer. “I saw your interview. Don’t you miss the feeling of singing freely? Do you also like rock music? Do you want to sing here, where no one knows you’re Ling Zhuo? You can sing anything you want.”

Ling Zhuo was slightly surprised again and turned his head once more. Behind the mask, those dark eyes were full of smiles, just looking at him like that.

Ling Zhuo said, “…You know about that too?”

“Do you want to go up?” Lu Chixie asked again in his ear.

Ling Zhuo didn’t say anything, unsure if he was persuaded by Lu Chixie or infected by the atmosphere of the bar, but he did feel moved. Lu Chixie took him to the edge of the stage, gave him a push, and Ling Zhuo stepped onto the stage.

After the band finished a song, seeing someone coming up seemed usual, and they voluntarily made space. Ling Zhuo walked to the microphone and took a deep breath.

The audience below cheered along. They didn’t care who was singing, as long as they sang well, they would support them.

Ling Zhuo chose a very intense rock song. At first, there was a moment of silence below, followed by almost overwhelming applause.

Ling Zhuo was a bit awkward at first but later let go. Singing was his forte, and in such a setting, where no one knew who he was, there was no need for any image baggage. He completely let loose, singing his favorite type of song that he rarely sang in public, one after another, hoarse but powerful, venting all the pent-up, embarrassing negative emotions.

The people below screamed, waved, and swayed along with his singing. This long-lost excitement overwhelmed Ling Zhuo’s nerves. His gaze swept past one enthusiastic face after another, finally landing on the edge of the stage and the person wearing the same mask as him. He saw Lu Chixie raise his hand and snap his fingers at him. Ling Zhuo smiled and did the same.

…

Coming out of the bar, it was already late at night. Lu Chixie drove Ling Zhuo around the edge of the city.

Ling Zhuo’s emotions were visibly heightened, shouting excitedly in the roaring night wind. He took the cigarette from Lu Chixie’s mouth, imitating his deep inhale and exhale, choking and then bursting into laughter.

Lu Chixie stopped the car on a deserted street, took back the cigarette, finished a few puffs, and then stubbed it out in the ashtray. Ling Zhuo stared at his movements, only moving his eyes when Lu Chixie glanced over.

Raising an eyebrow, Lu Chixie asked, “Are you happy?”

Ling Zhuo nodded slowly. As the excitement subsided, he felt a bit embarrassed.

Lu Chixie smiled, “As long as you’re happy, don’t frown like that again.”

Ling Zhuo said, “I’m not.”

He cleared his throat and asked Lu Chixie, “Teacher Lu, can you teach me how to smoke?”

Lu Chixie looked at him. “You want to learn?”

Ling Zhuo nodded. “Yeah.”

“Next time,” Lu Chixie said.

Lu Chixie started the car again. The convertible roof that had been lowered was raised, and the windows gradually closed. He slowed down, and a century-old love song played from the car stereo.

Ling Zhuo was probably tired, leaning back in his seat quietly listening, his gaze skimming over the city’s retreating nightscape outside the window before returning to the person beside him.

Lu Chixie was focused on driving, looking ahead. This person was usually unserious, but occasionally, like now, he would evoke subtle and unfathomable feelings in him.

“Why are you staring at me?”

Lu Chixie spoke with a smile in his voice: “Falling for me already?”

Ling Zhuo: “…”

Sure enough, he couldn’t stay serious for more than a second.

Lu Chixie grabbed one of his hands. Ling Zhuo struggled but couldn’t break free, so he leaned back against the seat and gradually fell asleep.

Lu Chixie glanced back at him, restrained his smile, and continued driving, holding his hand even tighter.