Chapter 25: How was he supposed to spend the long three months when he had just been separated and started to miss him?

Nan HuaiLin was awakened by the alarm clock at six. He showered and washed, dressed, and saw that there was still time left. He made a simple breakfast for Fei Cheng, then put on his shoulder bag and pulled the suitcase he had packed last night and left.

When he passed the door of the master bedroom, Nan HuaiLin stopped and listened, but there was no movement inside, so he thought Fei Cheng was still sleeping, and didn’t disturb him.

Changing his shoes, he went out and waited for the elevator with a young mother who was taking her daughter to school.

Nan HuaiLin put on his headphones and was about to listen to a children’s song when the young mother next to him suddenly let out a short scream, which startled Nan HuaiLin. When he looked over his shoulder, he saw the young mother looking behind him with a frightened look on her face, and immediately ran away with her daughter.

Nan HuaiLin looked behind him strangely, and was startled.

He stared at the person who was walking towards him, his mouth agape.

Fei Cheng ran out wearing only a pair of Dior boxers, without a single shoe, no different from running naked.

“You… What are you doing? All the neighbors will be scared away.” The most handsome male he had ever seen, and a strong hormonal smell drifted over to him, so Nan HuaiLin didn’t know where to look.

“What are you doing?” Fei Cheng’s voice was muffled and he looked unhappy, “You ran away without even saying goodbye?”

Nan HuaiLin explained, “I wanted to say goodbye to you, but you were sleeping, so…”

“Ah!” A scream, scaring away another one.

“You should hurry back, the neighbors will call the police later.” Nan HuaiLin waved at him and said with a smile, “Bye.” Then he imitated Wolffy,1 “I’ll come back.”

Fei Cheng laughed and opened his arms towards him, “A parting hug?”

Nan HuaiLin gave him a hug and when he backed away, Fei Cheng didn’t let go and whispered in his ear, “Take good care of yourself and shoot the movie.”

“Okay,” Nan HuaiLin said, “you too.”

The elevator dinged.

Fei Cheng really didn’t want to let go, but he couldn’t keep holding him. He let go of Nan HuaiLin, rubbed his hair especially naturally, smiled and said, “Go.”

“Okay.” Nan HuaiLin walked into the elevator and pressed the door button, “I’ve made you breakfast, it must still be hot at this moment, so you can eat and then go back to sleep.”

Fei Cheng nodded and waved at him with a smile. Nan HuaiLin released the door closing button and also waved at Fei Cheng.

The elevator door slowly closed.

Fei Cheng was disappointed and went back home with his head hanging.

He walked straight into the dining room, sat down, and began to eat breakfast. As he ate, he sighed long and hard. How was he going to get through the next three long months when he had just been separated and was already missing him?

His heart ached.

Nan HuaiLin was so sleepy because he woke up early, that he fell asleep with his headphones on just as he got on the plane. When he woke up, the plane landed at Yiwu airport, and the group took a bus to Hengdian.

This was not Nan HuaiLin’s first time to Hengdian, but it was his first time to Hengdian as a second male lead. Looking out of the window, the scenery swept by, his heart stirred and surged, as if he was floating.

Noticing his expression, Man Tianzhu smiled and asked, “Are you happy?”

Nan HuaiLin nodded, “Yes.”

Man Tianzhu said, “You will definitely get better and better roles in the future.”

Nan HuaiLin smiled and nodded, “Yes.”

One should always have hope in one’s heart, so that one will be happier.

“Are you hungry?” Man Tianzhu asked him.

“A little.” It was already after 1 p.m.and they hadn’t eaten lunch yet.

Man Tianzhu took out two Snickers bars from her bag and handed them to him, “Let’s start with a cushion.”

Nan HuaiLin shook his head, “I can’t eat this, it’s too high in calories.”

Man Tianzhu took another packet of soda crackers out of her bag, “What about this?”

“This is fine,” Nan HuaiLin took it, “thanks.”

“It’s so hard to be an actor, you can’t eat this or that,” Man Tianzhu took a bite of a Snickers bar, “for a foodie like me, it’s something I absolutely can’t tolerate.”

“It’s not easy to do anything, and it’s not rewarding until you pay for it.” Nan HuaiLin smiled, “Since I do not look good, I can only change my body, if even my body is gone, then I really can not go on.”

Man Tianzhu stared at him for a while and lowered her voice and said, “Actually, I’ve been wanting to ask you, did you get a facelift?”

Nan HuaiLin remembered Shen Chong also asked the same question two days ago, he shook his head, “No, why do you ask?”

Man Tianzhu said, “I just feel like every time I see you, you look different, you look better every time.”

First Fei Cheng, then Shen Chong, and now Man Tianzhu, three people said almost the same thing.

Nan HuaiLin just couldn’t help but wonder, did he really become better looking? But he looked in the mirror every day and didn’t think his face had changed much.

“Could it be because of the makeup?” Man Tianzhu came closer to look at him.

Nan HuaiLin said, “I never put on makeup when I’m not filming, and I won’t.”

Man Tianzhu marveled, “Then your skin is too good, right? It’s so white and so soft, you can’t see any pores, like a baby’s skin.”

Nan HuaiLin thought she was exaggerating. He had been white since he was a child, but recently he had become even whiter.

Man Tianzhu sat back, “I’ve decided to take a picture of you every day to see if it’s just me, or if you’re really getting better looking day by day.”

Nan HuaiLin nodded, “Okay, I’d like to see that too.”

At almost two o’clock, the bus arrived at the Hengdian Resort. First, they divided into rooms, and then went to eat. Nan HuaiLin and the third male actor were assigned to a room, and only after entering the room and introducing each other did he learn the other’s name, Hu Meng Jun. He and the lead actress Ma Xiao Huan were in the same company.

“This is the first time I’ve heard of Hu,” Nan HuaiLin said, “but I know there is a compound surname Huyan.”

Hu Mengjun said, “The surname Hu is simplified from Huyan.”

Nan HuaiLin nodded, “I’ve gained knowledge.”

After packing up, Hu Mengjun said, “Shall we go to dinner?”

Nan HuaiLin said, “Sure, I’ll call my colleague.”

He was not used to calling Man Tianzhu “assistant” and felt it was more respectful to say “colleague”.

Nan HuaiLin called Man Tianzhu as he walked out, and when he got to the elevator, he answered, “Sister Zhu, have you packed? I’m going to the restaurant to eat. All right then, I’ll wait for you at the restaurant.”

After hanging up the phone, the elevator came.

The elevator door opened and Nan HuaiLin was about to go inside when he suddenly stopped.

In the elevator stood Shi Yan.

They looked at each other with surprise written in their eyes. Nan HuaiLin quickly returned to normal and stepped into the elevator. This person was no longer anything to him, he did not need to make a fuss over a chance encounter.

“How have you been?” Shi Yan’s voice sounded behind him.

Nan HuaiLin was quiet for a few seconds before answering, “Fine, thanks for your concern.”

Hu Mengjun looked back at Shi Yan and then at Nan HuaiLin and asked him in a low voice, “Do you know Shi Yan?”

“Mn,” Nan HuaiLin said lightly, “we were classmates at Beijing Film Academy.”

“I saw the news,” Shi Yan said, “Congratulations.”

Nan HuaiLin never turned around, “Thank you.”

In a few words, the elevator reached the first floor. The elevator door opened, and Nan HuaiLin was about to follow when his wrist was suddenly grabbed.

When he looked back, Nan HuaiLin smiled and said, “You go first, I’ll come to you later.”

Hu Mengjun looked at them twice strangely, nodded and went on his way. Shi Yan dragged Nan HuaiLin out of the elevator and turned into the next stairwell.

“Let go.” Nan HuaiLin said calmly.

Shi Yan let go of his hand and looked at him steadily, “I almost didn’t recognize you when I saw you.”

Nan HuaiLin did not say anything. He had nothing more to say to Shi Yan.

Shi Yan was also silent for a while and said, “That day… I was drunk, so I apologize if I said anything unpleasant to you. I’m sorry.”

“Do you mean that last sentence?” Nan HuaiLin laughed, “You’re not wrong, I’ve recently realized that I’m quite cruel.” He lifted his head and looked Shi Yan in the eyes, “I used to love you to the point of madness and completely lost myself, but now, I don’t love you anymore, not at all, I can’t even remember why I loved you so much before.”

“I don’t believe you,” Shi Yan pressed him closer, “you’re lying.”

“Whether I’m lying or not,” Nan HuaiLin still looked at him, “you know better than anyone.”

“I don’t believe you!” Shi Yan violently pushed him against the wall and made a move to kiss him.

“Shi Yan!” Nan HuaiLin tilted his head to avoid him and shouted his name. His voice then returned to calm, “I still say, break ups also have to be decent, do not let me regret the seven years I was with you.”

Shi Yan’s entire body instantly froze. He stared fixedly at Nan HuaiLin’s side face and spoke in a low voice, “If I say that I am willing to give up everything, can you come back to me?”

Nan HuaiLin laughed, “Shi Yan, stop deceiving yourself and others, I know you better than anyone else, you will never give up, you are too greedy, you want everything. It’s a pity that there are no such good things under the sky. Since you have made your choice, please go on with your mind, don’t look back, don’t hesitate, act like a real man. Don’t let me look down on you.”

Shi Yan let go of him in dismay.

Nan HuaiLin didn’t look at him and turned to leave. He stopped when he reached the door, turned his back to Shi Yan and said, “If you meet me again, don’t say hello to me, just treat me as a stranger.”

After waiting for a moment, Shi Yan said “Okay” in return.

Nan HuaiLin pulled open the door and walked out. He hated being so involved. As he just said to Shi Yan, he did not like to look back, did not like to hesitate, he only wanted to work hard and go forward, whether it was work, or love.

The phone in his pocket suddenly rang.

“Will you still love me, when I’m no longer young and beautiful…”

The ringtone that had been used for five years sounded especially ironic now, and it was time to change it.

Nan HuaiLin took out his phone and answered, “Hello?”

“Have you arrived in Hengdian?” Fei Cheng asked over the phone.

“I just arrived at the hotel,” Nan HuaiLin said, following the signs in the direction of the restaurant, “and I’m going to eat.”

“Is the weather good there?” Fei Cheng asked.

“The sun is shining,” Nan HuaiLin said, “It’s great.”

“It rained in Beijing,” Fei Cheng said, “as soon as you left.”

Was there any connection between these two events?

Nan HuaiLin laughed, “What’s the matter with the phone call?”

Fei Cheng asked in return, “Can’t I call you if there’s nothing?”

“That’s not what I meant!” Nan HuaiLin cried, “I just asked.”

Fei Cheng said, “I’m calling to ask you how often you need to water that potted plant on the balcony.”

“Oh, I would have forgotten about it if you hadn’t told me.” Nan HuaiLin said, “Just water it once every half a month, thank you.”

“Oh, I see.” Fei Cheng paused and asked, “Are you in a room by yourself?”

“No, standard room, with another actor,” Nan HuaiLin walked to the dining room, saw Man Tianzhu waving at him, raised his steps and walked that way, “I have to eat, talk to you later, bye.”

Fei Cheng sullenly said “bye”, Nan HuaiLin’s intuition told him that he did not seem to be in the right mood, but did not ask more questions, and hung up the phone.

The author has something to say: 

Cheng Cheng: You look like a flower.

Nan Nan: …

Cheng Cheng: It makes me want to learn flower arranging.

–One Hundred Cheesy Pick-Up Lines