7. The Kiss

Because there was a task scheduled for tomorrow, everyone dispersed once the time was nearly up.

The theme of this program was to experience different lifestyles in various places. The previous episode involved picking mushrooms in the mountains; this time, it was about fishing by the sea.

No cameras were set up inside the bedrooms. After entering her room, Jiang Ranyun finally relaxed, lying down on the bed.

Staring at the ceiling, she recalled the questions she had answered during the game: her favorite movie, the place she most wanted to travel to, the most supernatural encounter on set, and...

What was it like filming her first movie?

—Very novel, very exciting, and every day was filled with happiness.

As she reminisced about those days, the image of Yi Feicheng appeared vividly in her mind.

Eight years ago, Director Shao Mu came to the Film Academy to cast for his new period fantasy film. There were two storylines: one for the main characters, already set with well-known actors — a powerful pairing of Best Actor and Best Actress — and another for the youth group, seeking fresh faces.

Both the director and the lead actors were legendary figures!

Jiang Ranyun never expected to be chosen. Though she was enrolled in the Film Academy, she knew not everyone could become a star.

Still, it was a rare opportunity, so she went to the audition with a calm heart.

A few days later, she received the notice that she had been selected.

Ecstatic upon hearing the news, she called her parents, almost crying from excitement.

She was in her sophomore year then.

Later, when she joined the crew, she learned who had been cast as the male youth lead.

Yi Feicheng.

The first time she saw his name was on the call sheet. Since she was unfamiliar with everything, she scrutinized every detail. On the list, their names appeared side by side.

She didn’t know him — was he also a newcomer, perhaps a student from some drama department?

Curious, when she heard Yi Feicheng had arrived, she took the initiative to greet him.

He was a tall, slender young man, wearing a mask and a baseball cap. Broad shoulders, slim waist, long legs — his proportions rivaled those of students from the fashion modeling department.

“Hello, Yi Feicheng?”

“Hello.” He removed his mask and cap, his dark eyes fixed steadily on her.

Even though the Film Academy was filled with handsome boys, Jiang Ranyun’s eyes lit up upon seeing Yi Feicheng’s face.

They shook hands.

“My name is Jiang Ranyun.”

“Mm.”

“Are you from the Film Academy?”

“No.”

“Oh... no wonder I’ve never seen you at school.”

Later, Jiang Ranyun learned that Yi Feicheng was not formally trained in acting. He studied finance at one of the country's top universities and was heir to a real family business.

When she first found out, she thought Yi Feicheng was just dabbling in acting for fun. She hadn’t expected that over the years, he would truly pursue acting to this day.

After answering so many questions today, she belatedly realized that from their very first film together, their careers, lives, and destinies had been intertwined in a certain sense.

They debuted in the same movie, shared their first on-screen kiss, played lovers fated to a tragic ending, lovers with happy endings, and lovers tangled in love and hate... In every role, their emotions for each other overflowed.

Their debut film was a major blockbuster; subsequent independent films they starred in earned both critical acclaim and box office success. They attended film festivals together and ascended the awards stage hand in hand.

They shared countless pivotal moments.

Too many to count.

*

Early the next morning, Jiang Ranyun was awakened by her alarm.

The sky was just beginning to lighten.

The distant sounds of the tide and wind had not ceased even in her dreams, leaving her momentarily unsure whether she was awake or still dreaming.

“Ranyun,” Wei Yining gently knocked and called, her voice heavy with sleep, “we have to get up and prepare.”

“All right…”

Jiang Ranyun opened her eyes and reached for her phone.

The time: 6:05 a.m.

A message awaited her on WeChat—sent five minutes ago—from Yi Feicheng: “Good morning.”

Seems his mind isn’t fully awake yet.

She rubbed her eyes and typed back: “Morning. Why are you up so early?”

Yi Feicheng replied immediately: “Mm.”

She waited but no further message came.

Jiang Ranyun sighed and flopped back onto the bed. Yi Feicheng was terrible at chatting. She’d asked why he was up so early, and he should have answered.

That was why conversations with him on set often went cold—because of this.

It was maddening.

*

Unlike the relaxed game the night before, the daytime filming was exhausting. Whether collecting shells and seafood on the beach or fishing out at sea, it was all hard physical labor.

Though tiring, Jiang Ranyun was happy. It was a new experience for her. The sense of achievement when pulling up a heavy net brimming with fish was unparalleled.

“Tonight, we’ll have grilled fish!” she exclaimed.

As the sun set and night fell, stars twinkled in the sky.

The guests gathered by the beach and lit a bonfire.

Instantly, this became the brightest spot on the shore.

They split into groups. Zhu Jinyi and Jiang Cong went to buy ice-cold beer and snacks, while Jin Binghe, Xu Tianze, Wei Yining, and Jiang Ranyun stayed behind to set up tables, chairs, and a tent, decorating it with twinkling lights. They cleaned the seafood, gutted the fish, skewered them on iron sticks, then grilled and seasoned them—aromas wafting deliciously.

Barbecue paired with cold beer, their own hard work made the food taste even better.

Halfway through the meal, Jiang Ranyun remembered they had caught a few small crabs they hadn’t prepared.

“Oh!” As she reached into the plastic bucket to grab one, her finger was pinched sharply. She quickly withdrew her hand, shaking it. “I didn’t expect such a tiny crab to pinch so painfully!”

“Are you okay, Sister Yun?” Wei Yining came over to check. “There’s a bandage in the room. I’ll go get it.”

“No, no,” Jiang Ranyun said, “It’s fine, no bleeding.”

Though there was a minor mishap, it didn’t spoil the pleasant evening. Full and content, they sat together, chatting leisurely, discussing everything from the hundred and eight ways to cook crab to the philosophy of life.

By nine o’clock, filming ended, and it was time to disperse.

“Jinyi, see you next time! Bye,” Jiang Ranyun packed up and waved goodbye, “Bye, Yining, Teacher Jiang Cong, Binghe, Tianze, hope to see you again.”

During filming, the crew chauffeured everyone, but now that the live broadcast had ended, it was less elaborate—each celebrity’s driver came to pick them up.

After farewells, Jiang Ranyun took her suitcase downstairs to get into the car.

“Sister Yun, we’re heading back to the hotel now,” Wu An’an reported her schedule. “Your flight tomorrow is at 2 p.m. to City A, where you’ll shoot the new skincare commercial for brand L next quarter.”

Jiang Ranyun leaned against the seat back, closing her eyes to rest, thinking, Great, I can sleep in tomorrow morning.

“There’s one more thing,” Wu An’an hesitated.

Jiang Ranyun didn’t pay much attention. “What?”

“Yi Feicheng is waiting for you at the hotel.”

Jiang Ranyun’s eyes snapped open. “What?!”

*

Entering the hotel, Jiang Ranyun glanced around but saw no sign of Yi Feicheng.

She relaxed a little and took the elevator upstairs to the room indicated on her keycard.

When she swiped the card, the electronic lock clicked open—the sound somewhat loud in the quiet hotel corridor.

At that moment, the door opposite hers opened.

“Wife.”

Jiang Ranyun turned around. Yi Feicheng stood in the doorway across from her room, gazing at her with a faint smile.

*

She heard the elevator ding, and footsteps approaching.

Worried someone might see them, she didn’t hesitate. She closed her own door behind her, strode to Yi Feicheng’s door, pushed him inside, and followed him in, turning the door shut behind them.

The entryway was narrow.

Here, in this private space, they stood close.

Jiang Ranyun looked up at Yi Feicheng’s deep black eyes, filled with a nearly possessive smile, unwaveringly fixed on her.

“What are you doing here,” she said, gently pushing him, “I’m leaving tomorrow.”

Yi Feicheng caught her right hand, holding it gently.

He lifted her hand in front of him, lowering his gaze to the pad of her index finger.

“You’re hurt,” he murmured.

Jiang Ranyun found it amusing. “It’s just a tiny scratch, don’t exaggerate.”

After a moment, she realized something. “You watched the live broadcast?”

Yi Feicheng nodded.

Again, a simple nod. Since he wouldn’t elaborate, she asked, “How much did you watch?”

“From 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., except for two hours in the afternoon when I was at an event, and two and a half hours on the plane in the evening.”

“…So you got up at six just to watch the variety show live?”

“Mm.”

“Yi Feicheng, you really…”

Her teasing words suddenly halted.

Yi Feicheng lowered his head, his soft lips brushing her fingertip with a kiss. Then, his lips parted slightly, enclosing her finger.

Jiang Ranyun’s hand trembled.

He held her fingertip gently; she could have pulled away anytime.

But she didn’t.

The silence around them was profound, broken only by her breathing, heartbeat, the faint rustle of fabric, and the moist, tender sound of his lips.

When he finally released her, both felt the temperature in the narrow entryway rise.

Yi Feicheng’s heart pounded fiercely; he unconsciously pressed his lips together. He had only intended a simple kiss. Even a small wound like this, he didn’t want her hurt. But the moment he touched her finger, he felt a surge of uncontrollable instinct...

He loved her so much. No matter what, he wanted to possess her scent and have his own scent claimed by her.

He lifted his eyes to Jiang Ranyun and sweetly called her, “Wife…”

Then, Yi Feicheng keenly noticed a subtle change in her expression after he said those words.

He was momentarily stunned.

Trying to change the subject, he said, “Why didn’t you wear my pendant today?”

“Recording the show—it’s work,” Jiang Ranyun replied.

Yi Feicheng studied her expression carefully; she didn’t seem angry.

“If the work doesn’t demand restrictions on accessories, you can wear it,” Yi Feicheng said. “I always wore it even when there was no such requirement.”

After a pause, he added, “I still do.”

He pulled out the pink cat ring from inside his shirt and showed it to her.

Jiang Ranyun smiled. “You want me to wear it all the time?”

“Mm.”

“Alright, you asked for it.”