Volume 2 - CH 16

In which Gu Yan finally fulfills his dreams of hitting on a DILF!

Volume 2, Chapter 16

But the script had already been sent right before his eyes, so Gu Yan couldn’t not act in it.

He scheduled the meeting for next Wednesday with the secretary. Near the end of the year[1] was always busy. He had to take care of his restaurant business while also attending several award ceremonies, so that day was the only day when he had time. Before that time, he naturally ate when he needed to, slept when he needed to, and his mood wasn’t affected in the least.

Qin Zhiyuan meanwhile very proactively bought some eggplants at the supermarket and, after fighting with them at home for a while, delivered the braised eggplant after a few days. This dish actually didn’t look too bad, but although its taste wasn’t as stimulating as those alcoholic dumplings, it still definitely couldn’t be considered very good.

Lin Jiarui watched from the side, shaking his head, as Gu Yan ate the entire thing without leaving any behind as usual before then sending a long evaluation to Qin Zhiyuan.

Qin Zhiyuan wasn’t able to reply at the time, so he gave Gu Yan a call that night and asked, “How has filming been recently?”

“It’s all right, been going quite smoothly.”

“When does Director Lin let you off? It’s been a long time since we’ve had a meal together.”

Gu Yan remembered his appointment on Wednesday and couldn’t help but let out a low laugh. “You’re a bit late. I don’t have any free time before the new year anymore.”

“What? You already made plans?”

“It’s a secret.”

Qin Zhiyuan didn’t ask further, instead saying, tone gentle, “At least leave some time for me after the new year. Just one day is fine.”

Gu Yan didn’t dare to make any big promises and simply said, “We’ll see when the time comes.”

Qin Zhiyuan then ended that topic of conversation. After that, for the next several days, he called Gu Yan every day. Even if his work was so busy that they couldn’t meet, he still insistently called to say good night.

In a flash, it was Wednesday.

Gu Yan had originally thought they were going to have tea, but it turned out that Patriarch Qin was quite fashionable and had arranged to meet at a coffee shop. He thought that since the other was his elder after all, he didn’t dare to act too ostentatious, so he specifically chose a proper suit to wear and even arrived at the meeting place ten minutes early.

Who knew that Qin Jing had arrived even earlier than he did.

When Gu Yan looked over, he almost thought he was looking at Qin Zhiyuan — this person wore the same neat suit, sporting an elegant appearance as well as a gentle and refined smile on his lips, and even stood up in greeting upon seeing Gu Yan, calling out a very courteous, “Mr. Gu.” His attitude was polite yet estranged, without the least bit of loftiness, but it still made people very aware of the distance between them.

Gu Yan knew now who Qin Zhiyuan had inherited his disposition and temperament from. It was only that Qin Jing acted even more naturally graceful, as if he had been born with this elegant bearing, without the least bit of pretension. He was naturally getting on in the years, and his hair was streaked with gray, but it actually gave him a kind of mature charm.

Even if you added up both of his sons, they wouldn’t make up even half of him.

Gu Yan sat across from Qin Jing with a sort of restlessness in his heart, feeling that he hadn’t come in vain this time.

Qin Jing wasn’t impatient, and it was only after Gu Yan ordered coffee that he calmly opened his mouth to say, “I’ve seen your movies.”

Gu Yan hurried to say modestly, “Unfortunately, my acting isn’t very good.”

“The Black Hair film that premiered in October isn’t bad. While you weren’t the lead, your role left a deep impression on people. If you’ll allow me to speak honestly, while your current popularity isn’t bad, it still can’t be considered hitting it big.”

“It’s not easy to become popular.”

“You’re right. You need strength, and you also need opportunity.” Qin Jing unhurriedly took a sip of coffee and said, “Mr. Gu is someone who has a lot of natural potential for growth. You’re simply missing some chances. If you’re able to grab hold of those opportunities, then in the future, it’s not impossible to become a superstar.”

Gu Yan felt as if he ought to laugh at this time and said, “What exactly does Mr. Qin want to say to me? Just say it plainly.”

Qin Jing then stopped beating around the bush and straightforwardly said, “I hear my son talk about you often.”

“Qin Zhiyuan?”

“Qin Feng.”

Gu Yan said an ‘oh’ and wasn’t very surprised at all. When he saw the other on the night of the thirty-first, the expression that Qin Feng used to look at him was extremely weird, and it was probably one where he was angry enough to gnash his teeth.

“My two sons’ dispositions are both inherited from me, so no matter how much trouble they cause, I usually try to turn a blind eye. But if one of them has genuine feelings towards a man…” As Qin Jing brought the topic around, he stared resolutely at Gu Yan. “I can’t just leave it alone.”

Gu Yan immediately made it clear, “Right now, me and President Qin are just ordinary friends.”

Qin Jing waved a hand and said, “I don’t care what you two are like right now, I just want a guarantee for the future that he won’t have a hopeless entanglement with a man.”

“What Mr. Qin means is…?”

“If you’re willing to let go, then I can guarantee that, in the future, you’ll receive much more than what you’ll lose today.”

Qin Jing’s words were very reserved, but once considered with this person’s earlier opening remarks, Gu Yan was very easily able to understand the meaning. He discovered that the Qin family was truly generous. As long as he was willing to toss aside the son, then the father would agree to gift him great future career prospects.

But Gu Yan cared much more about something else.

At this time, the coffee had already arrived, and Gu Yan picked up the cup to taste it, asking, “Does Mr. Qin think that you can buy everything with money?”

“I just think that everyone has a price.” Qin Jing seemed to tacitly agree, and his voice was quite gentle, his smile like a spring breeze.

Gu Yan also began smiling and followed up with, “I very much agree with Mr. Qin’s beliefs. In the past, I was together with President Qin because I wasn’t able to grab the right opportunity, because I hadn’t found the person most suited for me.”

Qin Jing raised a brow.

“Right now, I’ve already found that person.”

Qin Jing revealed a surprised expression.

“I fell in love with that person at first sight.”

Qin Jing’s smile turned somewhat stiff.

“If I had met him sooner, then of course I wouldn’t become hopelessly entangled with his son.”

Qin Jing’s face slowly started turning green.

“Since Mr. Qin thinks that every person has a price and that money is able to solve everything, then that’s truly fantastic.” Gu Yan leaned forward, his gaze flitting over Qin Jing’s body a few times  before saying, all smiles, “I’m even fine with a one-night stand. Just name the price, Mr. Qin, and I’ll write you a check.”

After he finished speaking, before Qin Jing could even react, a person at the next table had already choked on water.

Gu Yan felt that sound was very familiar, and when he stood up to look, as expected, he saw Qin Zhiyuan sitting there coughing. Although he was somewhat surprised, he didn’t show it on his face and simply asked with a smile, “How is President Qin also here?”

“I just happened to pass by and thought I might as well come in and sit for a bit.” Qin Zhiyuan was still coughing. As he spoke, he shot Gu Yan a meaningful look.

Unfortunately, Gu Yan once again sat back down and said to Qin Jing, “Mr. Qin doesn’t need to rush his answer; it’s fine to take your time considering it. I’ve always been very patient.”

Qin Zhiyuan finally couldn’t take it anymore and found his way over from the other table, blocking Gu Yan from view directly and saying, “Dad, regarding this matter, it’s me who you should be talking to. There’s no need to drag Gu Yan into this.”

The pitiful Qin Jing only now regained his senses and, with great difficulty, managed to reign in his temper, but his tone had more or less changed, “You’re this protective of him, yet you still say he has nothing to do with this?”

“I can understand the troubles of being a father, but I’m also very clear on my own position.” Qin Zhiyuan’s right hand reached behind him to grab hold of Gu Yan’s as he said, very calmly, “I’m willing to discuss this issue with you at any time, but the question is whether or not you can find the time to come home.”

Luckily, Qin Jing had been taught well, as he was able to calmly and evenly take a sip of coffee even after hearing those words. Waving his hand, he said, “All right.”

Qin Zhiyuan let out a sigh of relief and, afraid that Gu Yan would say something even more earth-shattering, hurried to pull him out of the chair, saying in a quiet voice, “Let’s go first.”

Gu Yan didn’t oppose, simply smiling at Qin Jing and leisurely saying, “Then I’ll take my leave first. Today’s coffee will be on me. If Mr. Qin ends up making a decision, you can give me a call.”

By the time he got to those last words, he had already been dragged to the doorway by Qin Zhiyuan.

Gu Yan paid for the coffee on the way, and when they left the shop, he saw Qin Jing through the window, still sitting there with furrowed brows.

Oh, he looked pleasing to the eyes even when he was furrowing his brows.

When Gu Yan thought of this, he couldn’t help but look at the Qin Zhiyuan next to him and ask, “Why are you here today? Did someone tell you about this?”

“If I can’t even learn about this small thing, then wouldn’t I have lived over thirty years for nothing? But good thing I got this information ahead of time and was waiting in the coffee shop early, or else…” Qin Zhiyuan held Gu Yan’s hand, reluctant to let go, and sighed. “Why do you insist on offending people like this?”

“How could that be? I’ve always respected the old and cherished the young.”

Qin Zhiyuan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “Your ‘respecting the old’ is trying to seduce my dad, while your ‘cherishing the young’ is drooling over my brother. Gu Yan, you’re really amazing.”

“I still haven’t met your mom.”

Qin Zhiyuan looked at him with wide eyes.

Gu Yan was afraid that he’d misunderstand and hurried to explain, “Don’t worry, I’m only interested in men.”

Qin Zhiyuan really didn’t know whether he should get angry or laugh out loud and, after a long while, finally said, “My dad only likes women.”

“Oh…” Gu Yan didn’t even cover up his regretful expression.

Qin Zhiyuan then added, “And you definitely can’t imagine how fickle he is in love.”

But Gu Yan actually expressed his understanding. “It’d be stranger if this kind of person wasn’t fickle in love.”

Seeing Gu Yan so deadly earnest, Qin Zhiyuan had a faint suspicion that, if he hadn’t jumped in to stop things just now, then Gu Yan really might’ve decided to pursue his dad. He felt himself sweating just thinking about it and said, “I’ll deal with my dad on my end, so don’t meet him again in the future.”

“Yes, I won’t take the initiative.”

This response was practically the same as not speaking at all, and Qin Zhiyuan couldn’t help but ask, “You seem to… regard him really highly?”

Gu Yan didn’t reply directly, simply saying, “You look a lot like him.”

“Of course.”

Gu Yan raised his head to look at Qin Zhiyuan, his lips revealing the hint of a smile, as he said in a low voice, “After twenty more years…”

“What?”

“Forget it, it’s nothing.”

Although Gu Yan had started the conversation, he didn’t continue the sentence, simply smiling like that before beginning to hum a song, his mood appearing to be quite good.

Qin Zhiyuan didn’t seem to understand anything, but he also seemed to have understood just a little bit. His heart was churning, and he couldn’t help but hold Gu Yan’s hand even tighter.

Because it was Wednesday afternoon, not many people were out and about, so the two of them didn’t attract much attention as they walked down the streets holding hands. Qin Zhiyuan simply hated how this road was too short, and they very quickly reached the end. Thankfully, Gu Yan had time today and so was able to have a meal with him.

While helping Gu Yan open the car door, Qin Zhiyuan suddenly moved to his ear and softly said, “That day will come.”

Gu Yan started but simply smiled without speaking.

They ate outside, and since Gu Yan didn’t need to torment his stomach, the meal was quite a carefree one.

But the closer it got to the end of the year, the busier the two of them became, and Qin Zhiyuan even had to deal with his own father, so he didn’t even have the time to send over those weird-tasting dishes to Gu Yan. Neither of them could’ve guessed that the next time they met would be due to a sex scandal.

—-A sex scandal involving Gu Yan and Lin Jiarui.

Naturally, the magazine’s article was written in a way that was veiled with meaning, saying that Gu Yan’s relationship with Young Master Lin was very intimate and so on, while also including the matter with that jealous young model last time fighting over love, implying that Gu Yan liked both men and women and that his private life was a mess. The photograph they included was also quite ambiguous. It was of the time when the two of them were sitting on that bus; Lin Jiarui was dozing under the warm light of the winter day and was coincidentally leaning his head against Gu Yan’s shoulder.

It was originally a very ordinary matter, but when combined with those provocative words, it really did end up having the effect of turning the truth upside down.

The moment this magazine came out in the morning, Qin Zhiyuan immediately found time at noon to run over to Gu Yan. Originally, he had wanted to give an explanation, but unexpectedly he was met with the scene of Gu Yan flipping through the gossip magazine with Lin Jiarui, gesturing over that secretly taken photograph and arguing in high spirits over who was more photogenic.

Qin Zhiyuan found this scene funny and walked over to grab the magazine. He compared the photograph within and said, extremely earnestly, “Yes, as expected, the real thing is still the best.”

Although these words were said to both Lin and Gu, his gaze remained solely on Gu Yan.

Lin Jiarui knew discretion and immediately found an excuse to leave.

Qin Zhiyuan took the chance to take over his seat and, sitting next to Gu Yan, flipped through looking at the magazine, saying, “I didn’t think he’d pull this trick.”

The two of them were both well aware who he was referring to.

“I think he originally wanted to suppress you in your work, but from the start, you haven’t really been taking on new projects, so he could only find some scandal to stir up a fuss. This time was my negligence. Next time this kind of thing comes up, I’ll definitely think of a way to suppress it and do my best to make sure it doesn’t affect your image…”

“It’s not important. Besides, Director Lin also doesn’t care much about it and even said it’s good publicity for the film. You’re probably under much more pressure on your end, right?”

Qin Zhiyuan didn’t confirm or deny it, simply saying, “I’ve already tried discussing it with my dad once, but unfortunately he seems to have decided on a policy of avoiding any talk about important matters and keeps trying to speak in circles around me.”

“You didn’t tell him that you and I are just ordinary friends?”

Qin Zhiyuan also knew the trick of speaking in circles and said, smiling, “Regarding our relationship… I myself know how I should explain it.”

Gu Yan blinked and asked, half-seriously and half-jokingly, “Or let me go and try? If I’m able to seduce your dad, then wouldn’t everyone be happy?”

Qin Zhiyuan didn’t care if he was being serious or not and immediately cut that thought short at the root, “Don’t even think about it!”

After a pause, he even felt that wasn’t enough and added, “Also, don’t get any ideas about my brother either.”

When Gu Yan heard this, he couldn’t stop laughing.

Qin Zhiyuan waited for him to finish laughing before finally using a hand to loosen his own necktie and say, in a deep voice, “Actually, it’s not like I also don’t have a secret weapon. It’s only that it’s a last resort, and I don’t want to use it against my dad.”

“Then don’t use it.” Gu Yan saw that his clothes were a bit wrinkled and reached forward to smooth it out. “That person is your parent who raised you. Regardless of whether he is for or against you, you should still respect him from beginning to end.”

Qin Zhiyuan’s heart moved, and he firmly grabbed ahold of Gu Yan’s hand.

He thought of the family that Gu Yan never mentioned. At the time, for the sake of escaping their debt, they had left Gu Yan and fled overseas, but what about afterwards? Did they ever get back in contact?

He guessed that this was one of the knots in Gu Yan’s heart.

Qin Zhiyuan didn’t take the initiative to ask; he wanted to wait for Gu Yan to talk about it himself. Just like Gu Yan was waiting in anticipation for his appearance twenty years from now, he also was waiting in anticipation for… being able to walk into Gu Yan’s heart just a bit.

Qin Zhiyuan didn’t want to fight his own dad like this, but Qin Jing kept pushing even harder, and not even a few days later, Gu Yan and Lin Jiarui’s photo once again made it in the magazines. This time it was in the lounge, with Gu Yan holding out a dumpling with his chopsticks and Lin Jiarui opening his mouth to eat it in one bite. The photograph was similarly very blurry, but that feeling of ambiguity was taken very accurately.

Although Lin Jiarui and Gu Yan didn’t care about such things, they couldn’t stop the rumors and gossip flowing every which way. Originally, their film had been very low-key, but because of the sex scandal, now reporters were there every day stopping people.

Young Master Lin was also of high standing and was coldly indifferent to everyone, so he wasn’t the least bit afraid of offending reporters. Every time his car came, he got in and left immediately.

Gu Yan conversely didn’t have it that easy, and he had to reveal his most moving smile in order to clarify, over and over again, his relationship with Lin Jiarui, so much so that by the time he returned home, his face was stiff. He really felt that he had been wrongly accused; every time he had a sex scandal, it was always with someone who had nothing to do with him. He had taken so much blame, yet he hadn’t actually gotten to take advantage of anyone.

No matter how ridiculous the magazine reporting, even that had its limits. It was the rumors on the internet that had none. The real and the fake were all heaped together, and some even connected the fact that Gu Yan’s acting was terrible with how he still continued to star in lead roles every time in order to point out that he was relying on some kind of backing to maintain his position. The lengthy analysis was very clear and logical.

Gu Yan had acted for so many years and had never gotten famous until this matter blew up. He himself didn’t care much about those rumors, looking at them occasionally and then forgetting about them entirely. It was actually Qin Zhiyuan who was more worried. In the past, he called once a day, while now he ran over to Gu Yan’s house every day. No matter how late he got off work, he still had to go see Gu Yan.

Today, work actually finished quite smoothly, and so when Qin Zhiyuan got off before eight o’clock, he hurriedly rushed over to knock on Gu Yan’s door.

Gu Yan had just been watching TV on the sofa. After opening the door, he first looked every which way before finally letting Qin Zhiyuan in, saying, “Recently, there’s been some reporters lying in wait downstairs. Be careful that you don’t make the papers tomorrow too.”

“That’s exactly what I want.” Qin Zhiyuan poured himself a cup of tea and then sat down on the sofa, saying, “Originally, it was also unlikely for things to get this messy. It’s only that Young Master Lin was dragged in, so the reporters are even more reluctant to let go of it.”

Gu Yan also thought, and it doesn’t help that there’s someone fanning the flames in the background, but still nodded and said, “That’s right, Young Master Lin’s identity is so special that naturally it’ll draw everyone’s attention.”

Qin Zhiyuan had become very hard-pressed by this matter, and the gentler Gu Yan’s tone was, the more loathe he was to part. He couldn’t help but lean against the sofa, using a hand to rub his brows.

“If you’re tired, you should go home early to rest. You don’t have to come over every day to be with me.” As Gu Yan spoke, he was about to refill the other’s tea when his own cellphone started ringing first.

Qin Zhiyuan could tell that this was a text message notification, and upon raising his head to look, he saw Gu Yan lowering his head to fiddle with his cellphone, glancing at it a few times, before then carelessly throwing it aside. The person then continued to pour tea, handing it over to Qin Zhiyuan once he was finished. Unconsciously, he swung around his right hand and used his left to pressed down softly on the palm.

This small movement didn’t escape Qin Zhiyuan’s notice.

Recently, he was understanding Gu Yan more and more, and just by witnessing that, he knew that something had happened. His tiredness disappeared at once as he asked, “What happened?”

“Hm?”

“That text just now… is something wrong?”

“No.”

Gu Yan’s face remained the same, but he hurried to grab his cellphone. However, Qin Zhiyuan was even faster than him and seized it in a flash, swiping and tapping a few times to open that message.

A few photographs appeared before his eyes.

Gu Yan’s photographs.

With only one look, Qin Zhiyuan felt the world spinning.

[1] In case you’re confused about why they’re referring to the end of the year again, this time they’re referring to the end of the lunar year. As mentioned in the last chapter, Spring Festival = Chinese New Year, so it’s also referred to as “the end of the year”, usually more often than the end of the Gregorian calendar year. 

Place your bets — will Gu Yan succeed in his dreams of dating everyone in the Qin family? Tune in next time to find out!