Cen Yueren was stunned, while Fan Luojia shyly spoke to him, “Brother Yueren, did I scare you? Actually, Brother Haidong is my boyfriend. I didn’t mention it at dinner because I was worried about startling you. Brother Haidong is about to leave, and I really miss him, so I couldn’t help it…”
“No, it’s fine.” Cen Yueren forced a smile.
“That’s good! I regard you as my real brother, and I’m thrilled that you can understand us.”
“Brother Haidong, we’re leaving. Be careful on the way.” Fan Luojia pushed the car door open and got out.
Shuai Chang watched his back with a smile, the affection in his eyes genuine.
“Yin, President Yin, thank you for the hospitality today,” Cen Yueren hesitated before speaking as he got out of the car.
“You don’t need to be so polite with me, Yueren. If you really want to thank me, why not take care of Luojia more on set? He’s still young and tends to act impulsively; I also feel at ease when someone is looking out for him.”
A voice from the spirit group commented: “Another person hurt by love, how sad, how regretful.”
Shuai Chang: …
Shuai Chang didn’t want to engage with the spirit group, who always spoke in mysterious ways that were hard to understand.
Two months later, Fan Luojia starred in “Peak Swim Competition,” which was released on the first day of the Lunar New Year.
Shuai Chang specially rented the whole theater to support him, and the two sat in the empty cinema, with Fan Luojia on the screen in swimming trunks, his beautiful body bathing in the pool.
Shuai Chang felt his nose tingle and covered it in advance to prevent a nosebleed.
Fan Luojia leaned closer and smiled, “Brother Haidong, what’s the matter with you?”
Seeing that Shuai Chang ignored him, Fan Luojia didn’t give up and continued, “You watch it every day at home, and you’re still so excited; I feel such a sense of accomplishment.”
Shuai Chang reached out and placed Luojia’s head against his chest, saying, “Be good, don’t make trouble.” He wanted Luojia to seriously watch this testing movie.
Fan Luojia obediently nestled against his chest, listening to Shuai Chang’s gradually quickening heartbeat, feeling a strange sense of satisfaction in his heart.
Halfway through the movie, Fan Luojia stopped trying to disturb him and sat up properly to watch the film together.
After the movie ended, Shuai Chang helped Fan Luojia up and looked at his calf, asking, “Does it still hurt?”
Fan Luojia was stunned; his leg had been perfectly fine.
Then he realized Shuai Chang had confused him with a character in the film: “Brother Haidong, it doesn’t hurt. If you don’t believe me, look.” He rolled up his pant leg, revealing not a single mark where the character had been injured.
*****
During the New Year, Shuai Chang accompanied Fan Luojia and did not return to the Yin family. After the holiday, when he brought up the idea of meeting his in-laws, Fan Luojia’s expression changed unpredictably, remaining silent for a long time.
“Luojia, don’t be scared; I will protect you.” Shuai Chang knew he was worried about the Yin family’s opposition.
Fan Luojia suddenly burst out laughing, “Look at what you’re saying! The Yin family isn’t a dragon’s lair or a tiger’s den. What am I afraid of? I’m actually worried for you… it won’t be easy to deal with my parents.”
The information from the spirit group did not mention Fan Luojia’s parents. “What do your in-laws do for a living?” Hearing Fan Luojia mention them so abruptly, Shuai Chang felt a bit flustered and quickly asked for details.
“They’re athletes. My dad, Fan Xi, is a freestyle world champion, and my mom, Tan Xiao, is a tennis world champion.”
Shuai Chang: “… Freestyle world champion Fan Xi and tennis world champion Tan Xiao?!”
The movie “Peak Swim Competition,” which Fan Luojia had shot, was based on Fan Xi’s achievements, no wonder Fan Luojia insisted on acting in it.
“Mm-hmm~” Fan Luojia replied with a determined look.
“I should remind you, though, my dad’s temper is much worse than what you see in the movies, and my mom is a real tiger mom. I’ve asked the director several times to make it more realistic, but in the final cut, they both still look too gentle, tsk tsk.”
Shuai Chang: … He couldn’t let himself falter, as there was a hard battle ahead.
If the Yin family was a dragon’s lair and tiger’s den, then meeting his in-laws could mean a one-way trip with no return.
******
Fan Luojia’s parents lived in the city, and in over a year, Shuai Chang had not seen him visit them.
“They’re now national team coaches, busier than I am filming. No one is home at all. During New Year’s, they went to watch the Spring Festival Gala and didn’t even invite me.” Fan Luojia said this with evident anger.
Shuai Chang quickly hugged him to comfort him, “Okay, okay, don’t get mad. Next time, I’ll take you to see the Spring Festival Gala. Are your in-laws taking a break?”
“Yeah, they get a half-month break for the New Year; they leave the day after tomorrow.” Fan Luojia said glumly.
“Leaving the day after tomorrow?” Then it meant Fan Luojia would only have one day with his parents that year.
Shuai Chang felt heartbroken and kissed Fan Luojia, “I’ll always be with you.”
Fan Luojia said, “I know, Brother Haidong is the best.”
“However, what I meant earlier is that we must go meet my parents tomorrow.”
Shuai Chang wished tomorrow would never come.
In the afternoon, they went shopping for gifts; Shuai Chang was choosing red wine when Fan Luojia said, “Brother Haidong, don’t pick anymore; my dad doesn’t like alcohol.”
Shuai Chang finished picking out the wine and handed it to the attendant to pay. Turning back after hearing Fan Luojia, he said, “This is for my mother-in-law; women benefit from red wine for their skin.”
“Red wine’s flavor is dull; my mom prefers Erguotou.” After drinking, she becomes lively and can rally people to play tennis all night.
Shuai Chang completed the card swipe and carried the red wine outside, “I think buying Erguotou isn’t very good… you know about our drinking capacity.” He would definitely have to drink a few glasses when meeting them for the first time; he could handle half a bottle of red wine, but with Erguotou, who knows? It would be a laughingstock if he couldn’t handle it, where would his dignity as a son-in-law go?
Fan Luojia had rarely spent time with his parents. He started gymnastics in elementary school and insisted on acting during his rebellious phase, which strained their relationship. Not to mention he had secretly married Yin Haidong by stealing the household registration book. Today, when he returned home, he did not know what challenges awaited them.
Thinking about how athletes’ bodies don’t hold up well as they age, Shuai Chang picked out a few health supplements. The two drove to the residential area and, after he opened the door and got out of the car, he noticed Fan Luojia still hadn’t followed.
“Luojia?” Shuai Chang walked around the car and opened the passenger door. Fan Luojia was looking down, his body trembling slightly.
Fan Luojia looked up, tears brimming in his eyes, his nose red, and his teeth biting his lower lip unconsciously, “Brother Haidong, I’m scared.”