Jing Mian had always been a good boy, and even more so after his mother passed away. Sneaking around to be a game streamer was already pushing the limits with his father, let alone officially joining a club and participating in various public competitions.
For Jing Mian, who had always followed the rules and been obedient, this was a dangerous yet tempting challenge.
Moreover, he was still a student and couldn’t guarantee he would balance his studies and gaming.
So he had already politely declined all those invitations.
Before logging out of the game, the list showed only one invitation from me.Team, nestled among numerous fan messages, lying lonely in the chat box.
— Unread.
.
Jing Mian changed back into his pajamas and got into bed.
He pulled the covers up, tucking them neatly under his body. The room was dark, and he felt quite secure, ready for a good night’s sleep.
But he tossed and turned, finding it hard to fall asleep despite the late hour.
He couldn’t help but reach for his phone. The sudden brightness of the screen made him squint, but after it dimmed, he opened his messaging app.
The top message still showed the interface where he and Ren Xingwan had added each other as friends.
Jing Mian thought for a moment and couldn’t resist opening his browser.
He looked up information about Ren Congmian.
After browsing the encyclopedia, Jing Mian found a highly acclaimed and internationally award-winning film where Ren Congmian played the lead role. He watched the entire movie on his phone.
— In the film, Ren Congmian portrayed a young general who left his homeland to lead a small secret army. They fought through countless battles and hardships to eliminate a group of suspected traitors.
The journey was long and perilous. After a series of intense battles and misunderstandings, they finally reconciled with the main characters. The righteous general returned to his country, only to find that the city’s flag had been changed.
His nation was already lost.
His faith crumbled in an instant, and the general ultimately took his own life.
In stark contrast to the happy ending of the main characters, his blood and tears were shed on the misty, muddy land.
Tragic and desolate.
“…”
Jing Mian felt his eyes moisten.
It was indeed well-made.
Jing Mian thought, the public’s judgment was indeed sharp. Setting aside other factors, in this star-studded film, Ren Congmian was undoubtedly the most outstanding and brilliant performer, with exceptional skills that set him apart.
Jing Mian turned over, and the screen’s light faded as he placed it aside.
The fact that Ren Xingwan was Ren Congmian finally became real to him at that moment.
But…
Now he couldn’t sleep at all.
The next day.
Jing Mian spent the entire day solving problems.
With the start of school approaching, he would soon leave home and return to the dormitory. He dug out his long-unused suitcase, found some books he would need, and neatly arranged them.
He also started tidying up the room.
Dust particles floated in the air, illuminated by the light from outside, slowly settling.
Jing Luo watched his brother from the side. He sat on the floor, and Jing Mian quickly placed a small cushion under him, making it soft and comfortable.
At some point, Jing Luo suddenly said, “Eh?”
This caught Jing Mian’s attention.
He turned around and saw that Jing Luo had put on the black baseball cap.
The one Ren Xingwan had given him the other day.
However, the cap was too big for the little boy, and it covered his eyes completely when he put it on.
Jing Luo said softly, “Brother, this hat is no good.”
Jing Mian raised an eyebrow. “Why?”
“It blocks the way.”
Jing Luo used both small hands to barely hold the brim, looking up seriously. “It doesn’t let me walk, it’s not a proper hat.”
Jing Mian chuckled, barely suppressing his laughter, and replied earnestly, “Yeah, it’s not good.”
Jing Mian paused.
This baseball cap was the one the man had put on him during their first meeting in the elevator.
Although Jing Mian had returned the hat to the man after the incident, when they parted ways later:
Jing Mian accompanied Mr. Ren downstairs. The night was deep, and the rain had subsided after the peak hours.
Jing Mian suddenly thought, with same-sex marriage now legal, a person of Ren Xingwan’s status dining alone with him and leaving the restaurant together might seem… somewhat suspicious.
If they were caught on camera, would it become the next day’s explosive news?
Thus, Jing Mian became alert.
He subtly moved away, maintaining a distance that looked quite innocent to outsiders.
Ren Xingwan: “?”
Just as they left the building, Jing Mian vaguely heard a figure running toward them, shouting, “Ren, Brother Ren!”
Jing Mian was startled.
His earlier concerns seemed to be coming true. The young man instinctively stopped, his neck and shoulders stiffening, his long lashes freezing as he looked up, clearly at a loss.
Ren Xingwan glanced sideways.
The next moment, Jing Mian felt his shoulder being pulled.
It was as if he was being drawn into someone’s embrace. At the same time, his pupils dilated as he felt the weight on his head, and the next second, the black brim of the cap covered most of his vision.
The man had put the baseball cap on him.
Jing Mian’s heart raced.
The person soon ran up to them, noticing the rain had stopped and the umbrella he had prepared was unnecessary. He stopped and asked, “Brother Ren, are you taking Mr. Jing home?”
It was Ren Xingwan’s agent, Yang Fan.
“Um, sure, let’s go.”
Jing Mian: “…”
An assistant? He hadn’t been prepared for that. He had thought it was a fan who had tracked down their idol.
Jing Mian’s Adam’s apple bobbed. Through the black brim of the cap, he nodded slightly at Yang Fan and said politely, “Hello, I’m Jing Mian.”
Yang Fan was taken aback.
This young man was so handsome?
No wonder he was popular.
Where did Brother Ren find such a treasure?
“Hello, hello, I’m Yang Fan, Brother Ren’s agent.” Yang Fan shook hands with Jing Mian, then quietly withdrew his hand when he noticed Brother Ren’s gaze. “Just call me Brother Yang. If you need anything, come to me. We’ll exchange numbers later.”
Yang Fan got into the car and gave the address to the driver.
After all the commotion, Ren Xingwan could still faintly see the tip of the young man’s ear.
“Just a kid.”
Before getting into the car, the man lowered his gaze and said this in Jing Mian’s ear.
“…”
The low, casual tone made Jing Mian pause.
For some reason, after getting into the car, Jing Mian stared at the passing street scenes, lost in thought.
His tense nerves finally relaxed.
Like a weight lifted off his shoulders.
Jing Mian’s lashes trembled, and he silently let out a breath.
Just a kid.
Mr. Ren’s implication—thinking he wasn’t mature enough to fulfill the marriage contract and become a so-called lover.
…Good.
It seemed the other party wasn’t interested in him either.