Second Take On Romance - The A-List Actor Wants Me
Chapter 119 : Yan Renzhong’s Unheard Side Of The Story (2)

Chapter 119: Chapter 119 : Yan Renzhong’s Unheard Side Of The Story (2)

Speechless, Shen Jingwei could do nothing but stare at Yan Renzhong.

"You..."

"Jingwei..."

Gently, like a treasure hunter who just got his hands on the most precious golden crown, Yan Renzhong caressed Shen Jingwei’s face.

His thumbs very carefully but gently traced the contour of Shen Jingwei’s cheek before he cradled Shen Jingwei’s jaw in his palms.

As Shen Jingwei gazed deep into Yan Renzhong’s eyes, it was almost as if he was looking at his boyfriend from three years ago.

And then something dawned on him.

Yan Renzhong’s love language was not him carrying Shen Jingwei’s luggage.

It was also not him buying Shen Jingwei his favorite dessert.

Or him picking Shen Jingwei up on a rainy day with an umbrella.

It was his act of caring for someone he loved.

His love and affection bled through every action of his.

Yan Renzhong did not chase Shen Jingwei to beg for his apologies.

He chose to apologize with his actions instead of words.

He knelt in front of Father Shen because Shen Jingwei was unable to.

He helped fixing the house because Shen Jingwei was unable to.

He took care of the Shen family because Shen Jingwei was unable to.

With every fiber of his being, he was begging for Shen Jingwei’s forgiveness and his parents’ approval.

But Shen Jingwei did not know all that.

Until today.

"The Xie Jianyu role," Shen Jingwei suddenly recalled something else. "Did you do something to get me the role?"

"... Jingwei..."

"Tell me the truth," Shen Jingwei insisted.

"Lu Shui doesn’t know me at all. Why would she pick me to play the male lead?"

Yan Renzhong gave an exasperated sigh.

"In the past three years, I kept trying to promote your name behind the curtain. I kept failing, because directors and investors care a lot about public image and new stars are born every single day.

Lu Shui wanted me to play the protagonist for ’Dance Of The Dragons’, but CNC Studio rejected her request on the spot.

Actors performing in BL dramas almost always met a tragic end in their acting career, and CNC Studio didn’t want that to happen to me."

"So I took the initiative and approached Lu Shui. I told her that I agreed to play the protagonist if she agreed to sponsor a person of my choice to play the male lead."

"..."

"I gave her your name, and she followed through with our deal."

Shen Jingwei exhaled the breath he did not know he was holding.

That was why he got the male lead role.

And that was also why Lu Shui tried to change his mind about Yan Renzhong.

Yan Renzhong was different, she said.

She could feel it, she said.

The author was such a liar...

"You are awful," Shen Jingwei said, his voice shaking from overflowing emotions.

Yan Renzhong nodded.

"I know."

"You made me cry so many times."

"I know."

"You..."

Shen Jingwei gritted his teeth. His eyes was slowly getting red, and the man kneeling before him was the culprit.

Hot tears fall across Shen Jingwei’s cheeks, dripping onto Yan Renzhong’s fingers.

"Jingwei, don’t cry," Yan Renzhong whispered. "Don’t cry."

He gave himself a slight lift off the floor and gathered Shen Jingwei in his arms.

And then, very gently, he kissed away Shen Jingwei’s falling tears.

"I love you," he whispered, for the very first time. And then he followed up with the second time.

"I have always loved you, Jingwei."

And the third time.

"I can never stop loving you."

Shen Jingwei could barely see through the curtain of tears. He was unable to see the love in Yan Renzhong’s eyes at all.

But he could taste it in Yan Renzhong’s sweet kiss.

And he could feel it in Yan Renzhong’s warm embrace.

"I love you too," Shen Jingwei choked out.

"I know," Yan Renzhong whispered.

"You do?" Shen Jingwei couldn’t help but chuckle. "Even after I blocked you and kicked you out of my life?"

Yan Renzhong smiled wistfully.

"That video portrayed you as a shameless acting academy student pursuing a rising star.

We had been dating for several months. I knew you had enough proofs to refute the claim, but you never came forward with those pictures and videos."

Shen Jingwei cleared his throat.

"Maybe I destroyed our memories because I hated you so much," he suggested.

"Or maybe you loved me too much to destroy my reputation online," Yan Renzhong argued.

"You will never know," Shen Jingwei said with a stink eye in Yan Renzhong’s direction.

"I do," Yan Renzhong chuckled. "Because that’s the kind of person you are, Jingwei. Surprisingly, you are quite alike to Xie Jianyu."

"..."

That was what the author said when she coaxed him into accepting the role.

The author was such a schemer...

Mother Shen and Shen Dou Dou probably went across the town to buy groceries. The nearby convenience stores might have run out of supplies.

Or maybe they insisted on finding some Snow Lotus at the nearest mountain.

Whatever it was, they took their sweet time away from home.

By the time they returned, it was already past Shen Dou Dou’s curfew.

Mother Shen was relieved to see that Yan Renzhong’s shoes were still lying on the shoe rack.

"Good," she sighed in relief. "Your brother did not kick Yan Renzhong out of the house."

"Mom, do you think that they are already asleep?" Shen Dou Dou whispered.

"Probably. It is already quite late. Dou Dou, wash up and prepare for bed."

Shen Dou Dou nodded and went to her bedroom to change into her pajamas.

And then, she tiptoed across the hall and said, "Mom, I am going to say good night to my big brother."

Mother Shen grabbed her water mug and yawned.

"Don’t stay for a chat. Go to sleep soon."

"Yes, Mom."

Shen Dou Dou crept toward Shen Jingwei’s bedroom.

She turned the door knob, but the door was locked from inside.

"... Eh?"

Weird.

Her big brother never locked his bedroom door before.

Shen Dou Dou slowly walked toward her own bedroom, wondering why the door was even locked.

And then, curiosity, like a restless bird, gnawed at her mind, guiding her eyes to the guest room.

Walking on tiptoes to dampen her steps, Shen Dou Dou inched toward the guest room. She took a deep, long breath before she gathered her courage and turned the knob.

The door opened with a soft click.

It was dark inside, and the bed was empty.

-------------

Author’s note :

Atchoo! Atchoo! Ah, this author’s nose is itchy the entire day.

I hope the boys are sleeping well tonight ꒰⁠⑅⁠ᵕ⁠༚⁠ᵕ⁠꒱⁠˖⁠♡