LABMY CH85.1

As the movie ended, the audience gradually left the theater. When Fan Youjin stood up to leave, he turned around and saw that the two people who came with him remained seated, completely still—one was crying, the other was comforting.

Fan Youjin looked at Lu Qianyun, whose tears fell like pearls and rain, with a face full of surprise. Was he really that moved?

He thought about the plot of the movie and felt that for an eighteen-year-old boy, this kind of gift was indeed touching, but…

“How could this make you cry?”

“Wasn’t the ending quite inspiring? How could this make you cry?”

Wang Nianguang followed his best friend’s gaze and saw the person crying was the beautiful boy they had seen at the entrance. Then, he met the gaze of the flamboyantly dressed man who looked like a peacock. Wang Nianguang quickly dragged his talkative best friend away and hastened his steps.

Fan Youjin also felt a bit embarrassed under the gaze of others. He patted Jian Yuanbai on the shoulder, “Let’s go.”

Jian Yuanbai held the person crying in his arms and gently comforted him, “Don’t cry, don’t cry. It’s just a small gift, nothing special.”

“We should leave now. The next audience is coming.”

Lu Qianyun buried his face in Jian Yuanbai’s shoulder, covering his face tightly. He secretly counted the people leaving the theater with the corner of his eye… one, three, seventeen, thirty… the more he counted, the more he cried.

So many people…

Lu Qianyun shook his head, pouting while crying, “Let’s sit for a little longer.”

He wanted to wait until everyone left the theater before he went out.

Playing the role of a “Domineering Protagonist” and saying those cringe-worthy lines wasn’t embarrassing for Lu Qianyun. As long as the scene was appropriate, and the momentum was strong enough, others wouldn’t find it strange.

But in front of Jian Yuanbai, Lu Qianyun always felt extra shy.

Moreover, those lines were meant to be said once and forgotten, never to be brought up again.

But now, thanks to the movie directed by Jian Yuanbai himself, his cringe scenes would be repeatedly resurrected and played in front of everyone.

The level of embarrassment and social death had reached the maximum. Lu Qianyun felt that if one day he could publicly admit that those lines were indeed spoken by him, it would mean he no longer cared about anything in this world.

Jian Yuanbai didn’t argue and simply held him, gently comforting him. Fan Youjin, who felt awkward standing out, sat back down with a dark face.

When the theater was finally empty, Lu Qianyun sniffled and choked out, “Let’s go.”

On the hover car, Fan Youjin said, “Your little uncle spent a lot of money to make this movie for you. From the equipment to the actors, he hired the best. You’re this touched, so at least his money wasn’t wasted.”

He whistled, “Congratulations, at eighteen, you already have your first semi-autobiographical movie.”

Lu Qianyun: …

He couldn’t even smile.

He pursed his lips, not wanting to say a word. He felt mentally and physically drained, even more exhausted than after a tournament battle. But it would be rude not to respond, so he softly said, “Thank you, Uncle.”

Jian Yuanbai, who was secretly aware of his own ambiguous feelings toward Lu Qianyun, felt an invisible wall rise between them when he heard the word “Uncle.” Though a bit frustrated, he didn’t express it and simply said, “As long as you like it.”

Damn it. That sounded even more like an elder.

Lu Qianyun’s eyes were still red. He looked at the two of them with a hint of apology and said, “I don’t want to go out for dinner. Can we just go home?”

As the star of the day, if Lu Qianyun didn’t want to celebrate, Jian Yuanbai and Fan Youjin had no reason to insist. The three of them split up and went home.

Back home, Lu Qianyun pulled Jian Yuanbai aside, “Do you want to have a drink with me?”

He smiled lightly, the lingering tears in his eyes sparkling like shattered starlight, with a gaze that focused solely on Jian Yuanbai. “I lied about not wanting to celebrate.”

“I just want to celebrate with you.”

Jian Yuanbai was captivated, staring at him blankly for a full minute before responding, “Okay.”

It was already late, and Lu Qianyun had no energy to cook. He simply ordered food from Taotie Pavilion and opened a bottle of red wine. The atmosphere was thick with subtle tension.

If there was a candle on the table, this would almost feel like a date.

Lu Qianyun sat at the table, saying little, only focusing on drinking. Because of his mission, he couldn’t tell Jian Yuanbai that he wasn’t actually childish, nor did he enjoy saying those lines. To prevent this from happening again, he had to find another way.

Jian Yuanbai watched as Lu Qianyun’s face turned flushed within ten minutes of drinking. He reached out to take the wine glass away, “Don’t drink so fast, or you’ll get drunk.”

Lu Qianyun stared at him in a daze, then suddenly downed the entire glass in one gulp, “I’ll drink.”

Jian Yuanbai felt helpless. Since he couldn’t grab the glass, he handed the bottle to the robot assistant Tata and told it to keep it away. He then scolded, “You haven’t eaten anything, but you’ve drunk so much already.”

“Who taught you to drink like this? Don’t you know it’s bad for your stomach?”

Unexpectedly, Lu Qianyun staggered to his feet, snatched Jian Yuanbai’s glass while he wasn’t paying attention, and downed it in one go. Then, with a flushed face, he giggled, “You’re so naggy.”

Jian Yuanbai: …

It wasn’t so obvious before, but now that he paid attention, he really did feel like an elder in every way.

If he really wanted to date Lu Qianyun, and the boy said, “We’re uncle and nephew,” he would probably go insane.

After all, they weren’t related by blood.

The reason Lu Qianyun called him “Uncle” was because Jian Yuanbai thought it would help establish authority while raising him.

He could already feel the consequences of digging his own grave.

Before Jian Yuanbai could process his complicated emotions, Lu Qianyun suddenly squatted in front of him, tears streaming down his face, “Uncle, can you stop showing this movie to others?”

Jian Yuanbai was puzzled, “Why? Didn’t you like it?”

“If you like it, we can release it nationwide. Everyone can see it.”

Lu Qianyun put on his best acting skills. He half-squatted in front of Jian Yuanbai, looking up with watery eyes full of dependence and sincerity, “Because I like it so much… I don’t want others to see it.”

Jian Yuanbai’s heart felt like it was filled with candy. When someone realizes their feelings are being cherished like this, they can’t help but feel happy.

Without hesitation, he agreed, “Alright, no one else will see it.”

“This movie was made for you. It should belong to you alone.”

Hearing this, Lu Qianyun immediately smiled. His long eyelashes fluttered, with tears falling again. Yet, he was smiling, his face flushed and damp, like sugar dusted with dew.

Jian Yuanbai was already moved, but at that moment, Lu Qianyun did something completely unexpected…

The person squatting in front of him grabbed his hand, buried their flushed, beautiful face in his palm, and gently rubbed against it.

Their voice was soft, bubbling with the scent of alcohol, “Uncle, you’re so good.”

The boundless, cold moonlight streamed through the window, stretching and becoming mere embellishments behind the slender and beautiful young man. Yet, the young man only focused on squatting in front of him, rubbing his face against his palm with devotion.

Like a pious believer.

This wasn’t good.

Jian Yuanbai sat in the chair, lowering his head as he looked at Lu Qianyun and thought.

He probably didn’t want to be Lu Qianyun’s “uncle” anymore.

He wanted Lu Longlong to be his wife.

A wife he could hold in his arms and kiss at this very moment.

In the silent night, Jian Yuanbai could hear his own heartbeat. His hand felt the softness of Lu Qianyun’s face as his thumb uncontrollably rubbed it.

From the wet corner of his eye, to the flushed side of his face, and slowly downwards, almost touching the full lips.

“Uncle.”

A voice woke him up. Jian Yuanbai felt a little disappointed but didn’t continue. Instead, he asked, “What’s wrong?”

The hoarseness of his voice startled even himself.

But he always remembered—remembered the susceptible period of an Alpha.

The love between an Alpha and another Alpha was destined to end in mutual destruction.

Jian Yuanbai was afraid that during his susceptible period, he would hurt Lu Longlong. Even more so, he couldn’t bear to see the heartbreak and disappointment in Lu Longlong’s eyes when he saw Jian Yuanbai with an Omega.

Just thinking about it made Jian Yuanbai feel like he couldn’t breathe.

Jian Yuanbai knew that to most Alphas, sleeping with an Omega during their susceptible period was nothing serious as long as they didn’t leave a mark.

He could completely rely on an Omega to get through the period. It wasn’t a big deal.

In this open and free era, even Omegas pursued pleasure.

But from beginning to end, Jian Yuanbai held onto an idea that Fan Youjin found laughable—to stay loyal to his wife.

Jian Yuanbai didn’t find it funny.

Isn’t loving someone about giving them your whole heart?

When you see them, you can’t help but want to give them everything good.

Like how Jian Yuanbai would go out of his way to prepare gifts for Lu Qianyun, and how he, who knew nothing about filmmaking, spent half a month on set just to understand how emotions were conveyed through the lens.

So how could he recklessly choose a way that might hurt Lu Qianyun when he wasn’t sure if he could endure the susceptible period?

Moreover, if they truly loved each other, Jian Yuanbai couldn’t accept Lu Qianyun being with another Omega.

It would hurt him to death.

But an Alpha’s susceptible period, if endured again and again, would lead to mental breakdown.

No matter how he thought about it, he couldn’t see a way out.

So even though he wanted to kiss the person in front of him, in the end, he only asked softly, “What’s wrong?”

Lu Qianyun seemed to think for a moment and said, “Can you tell me in advance next time when you’re giving me a gift?”

Jian Yuanbai was surprised. “Then there wouldn’t be a surprise.”

But too much surprise turns into shock.

Lu Qianyun felt bitter inside but said, “Fan Youjin said you spent a lot of money making a movie. I don’t want you to spend so much money.”

Jian Yuanbai ruffled his hair, letting the soft black strands slip through his fingers. He used this reasonable touch to ease his restlessness and said, “It’s fine, it’s nothing.”

Lu Qianyun suddenly stood up and looked down at Jian Yuanbai, who was sitting on the chair, and shouted, “No!”

His face was still flushed from the alcohol, his eyes watery, with no trace of authority.

“How can you spend money so recklessly!”

Lu Qianyun’s mind was racing, and he suddenly thought of an idea.

“If you keep spending money like this, how will you save up for your future wife?”

“When the time comes, if she dislikes you for being too extravagant, you won’t have a wife!”

Jian Yuanbai froze for two seconds and said nothing.

Lu Qianyun continued to persuade him earnestly, “Think about it. Who would like someone who spends money carelessly? No amount of fortune would be enough to squander.”

“And if you spend money like water now, what will you do when your wife controls the finances and only gives you a little pocket money?”

“So saving money now is also preparing for the future. You’re cultivating a good habit of being frugal.”

Jian Yuanbai looked at him and gently asked, “Then what about you? Do you like saving money?”

Lu Qianyun nodded like a little chick pecking rice, his eyes sparkling like a little money-grubber. “Seeing a string of numbers in my account gives me a sense of security.”

Jian Yuanbai pondered and nodded, “I understand. Then from now on, I won’t give you gifts that cost more than ten million star coins, okay?”

Ten million!

That price would be enough to socially kill him for five minutes if it was a movie sequel.

Lu Qianyun shook his head wildly. “Too much! Gifts are about the sentiment, not the price.”

“Besides, if you do that, I won’t know how to return the favor. I’m very poor.”

He stretched out a finger, “A thousand star coins at most, or I’ll be too embarrassed to accept gifts in the future.”

A thousand star coins, a perfectly ordinary amount that wouldn’t allow Jian Yuanbai to do anything outrageous.

Although Jian Yuanbai felt it was too low, he thought about Lu Qianyun’s “wife managing the finances” logic and strangely agreed.

Lu Qianyun achieved his goal and leaned against Jian Yuanbai, flushed and smiling obediently, “Uncle, carry me to bed.”

He pretended to be drunk poorly, but Jian Yuanbai had never seen him drunk, so he never doubted it.

He carried him in his arms and slowly walked to the bedroom.

After fussing for a while and barely getting him to wash up, he tucked Lu Qianyun into bed. Watching him fall asleep with his eyes closed, Jian Yuanbai stood by the bed for a moment.

In the end, he gave in to his feelings and gently placed the fingertip that hadn’t touched the lips earlier onto them.

His calloused fingertip rubbed the full lips, lightly teasing the lower lip, lingering at the corner before pulling away.

Here, he had kissed before.

Back when the heavily injured Lu Qianyun woke up, and they kissed passionately on an alien planet with no one around.

At that moment, did Lu Longlong feel a spark?

But when emotions run high, doing such things doesn’t seem strange. Jian Yuanbai could only keep his doubts to himself.

Even though only he knew… it wasn’t out of impulse.

Jian Yuanbai turned and went back to his room, contacting the highest-end research institute in the entire empire.

Meanwhile, in Lu Qianyun’s room, the person lying on the bed silently curled his lips.

Maybe he could try confessing.

After the competition ended.