Jing Mian was stunned.
It was as if he had been caught off guard by a sudden and violent storm sweeping through his mind, leaving him completely stunned and his thoughts halted, almost coming to a standstill.
How was this even possible?
He had called his childhood friend's number, yet Mr. Ren's phone was ringing, and he even called him "Mianmian."
And his childhood friend, who had filled his memories, had addressed him in the same way.
Despite the absurdity of it all, it gradually began to align with his premonitions, leaving only one possibility.
The person before him was his childhood friend?
...
!??
In other words, he hadn't been mistaken earlier. Ren Congmian was indeed his childhood friend's stage name.
And "Ren Xingwaan" was his real name?
Ren Xingwan was Ren Congmian!?
!!!
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His next-door brother… had actually become a widely-known star?
The influx of information left the young man in a state of extreme shock, feeling as though his mind had hit a roadblock.
So, that inexplicable sense of familiarity wasn't unfounded. Beyond being a celebrity, the person in front of him was his childhood friend as well.
He inwardly cursed himself for not recognizing his brother all this time. Jing Mian's fingertips curled slightly, and he was completely engulfed in bewilderment.
The most important revelation was—
The beautiful and gentle childhood friend he remembered had transformed into an entirely different appearance.
The young man raised his eyes and looked at the tall, mature, and stern man in front of him. The aura of intimidation around him was like frost creeping in.
Jing Mian: "…"
No wonder he couldn't recognize him.
This reunion was quite different from what he had imagined after so many years.
Jing Mian realized that being too good at imagination wasn't necessarily a good thing, especially since he had already formed a mental picture of his childhood friend's gentle demeanor based on his memories from years ago, creating a hidden anticipation in his heart.
However, he hadn't expected that his next-door brother would turn into a serious and imposing figure. Under the soft lighting, Jing Mian blushed slightly from the shock.
He discreetly swallowed.
Was it too late to reject this marriage proposal now?
His phone, which had been held in his hand, was hanging at his side. Although Mr. Ren's voice had long left the phone's receiver, it seemed to linger in his ears, resonating in his mind.
Jing Mian also realized that Mr. Ren had likely known his identity from the beginning, long before he even arrived at the restaurant. The conversation they had just had was probably a playful tease on Mr. Ren's part.
The more he thought about it, the redder Jing Mian's face became: "…"
How could he lie like this?
No wonder he didn't have a wife yet.
Jing Mian returned to the seat he had left earlier. When he raised his gaze this time, with a hint of embarrassment even he hadn't noticed, he softly asked, "If I hadn't called, how long were you planning to keep it a secret?"
It was like a small cat being bullied relentlessly.
Slightly bristling, attempting to appear intimidating.
Ren Xingwan was silent for a few seconds. The edges of his soft black hair were illuminated by the night scene of Lincheng. Despite the urge to run away that arose from his sharp sixth sense, Jing Mian found himself unable to avert his gaze.
"Probably until I meet your family."
Jing Mian: "…"
Ren Xingwan: "Or maybe until our wedding."
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Jing Mian: "…"
Ren Xingwan raised an eyebrow slightly. His expression remained unchanged, and his breathing was slow and steady as he looked at the young man without blinking. "Until Mianmian recognized me."
Jing Mian listened and his pupils trembled internally.
He heard the unspoken meaning in those words.
What Mr. Ren meant was that even if he hadn't recognized his childhood friend tonight, he would still consider marrying the unfamiliar Mr. Ren because of this unexpected encounter.
It was the classic scenario of a childhood sweetheart being surpassed by a fateful encounter.
Was he really willing to break off his engagement with his childhood friend just because of this one meeting?
This was an entirely unexpected answer.
It felt like cheating.
Now Jing Mian was at a loss for words.
The topic suddenly took a turn into forbidden territory. How could he respond to this?
"Are you hungry?"
The man spoke up, and this time, the faint but overwhelming sense of pressure seemed to dissipate a bit. There was a gentleness in his voice that eased the tension.
"…"
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Indeed.
Jing Mian suddenly realized that despite all this talk, they hadn't started eating yet. He imagined the nearby waitstaff waiting and wondering why they hadn't touched their food.
And the young man was feeling a bit hungry as well.
Jing Mian nodded.
Soon, a waiter brought in a tray, and the elegant table gradually filled with an array of exquisite dishes.
Jing Mian was taken aback for a moment and then realized that in restaurants of this level, the dishes were usually pre-ordered, and they had been prepared before the guest's arrival.
After all the dishes were served, he was somewhat astonished to find that everything laid out was his favorite. Even the dessert was a scoop of vanilla ice cream was his favorite.
Even though Jing Mian maintained his composure, his taste buds were already intrigued and excited.
Jing Mian silently picked up the knife and fork.
Ren Xingwan looked sideways slightly, and there was a hint of a smile on his lips. However, it was so subtle that it went unnoticed.
During the meal, Jing Mian's beloved steak had somehow been moved closer to him, near his end of the table. The sauce coated the tender meat, making it look incredibly enticing.
Ren Xingwan was indeed Ren Congmian.
After getting used to this fact, Jing Mian can suddenly understand why the man has such financial strength and can afford to rent out this restaurant.
Every industry had an undercurrent that often remained hidden.
So, Ren Xingwan stood at the top of the entertainment industry's food chain, where deception and survival of the fittest prevailed, undoubtedly the dominator and the predator.
Jing Mian thought that the last time he had been to a restaurant of this caliber was nearly a year ago when he celebrated his stepmother's birthday.
However, back then, he hadn't felt as relaxed and immersed as he did now. It was clear that Ren Xingwan was more of a stranger compared to his stepmother
"Are you in college?"
The man suddenly spoke, interrupting Jing Mian's thoughts.
"Mhm." Jing Mian nodded. "I'm in my sophomore year."
After speaking, the young man became somewhat puzzled. This wasn't a detail that needed clarification; his father had probably already discussed it with the Ren family. So, was Mr. Ren intentionally bringing up this topic, even with the knowledge that Jing Mian was aware of the situation?
Though it seemed abrupt, it successfully broke Jing Mian's wandering thoughts.
"Just started sophomore year." Ren Xing Wan paused for a moment. With a slightly deep breath and a soft, lazy, magnetic voice, he continued, "Can you marry Mr. Ren?"
"…"
'Mr. Ren.' Seemed to be repeating the polite address Jing Mian gave his childhood friend that he had failed to recognize earlier.
Jing Mian's cheeks slowly flushed.
Though not saying much, each of Ren Xingwan's words had the power to stir up his emotions. Jing Mian pursed his lips and retorted, "I'm not that young."
"You're just twenty years old."
Jing Mian paused for a moment and said, "I've reached the legal marriage age."
"…"
As soon as he finished speaking, he immediately realized that something was wrong.
His statement sounded as if he had agreed to the marriage and had even physically demonstrated that he was of the appropriate age to marry Mr. Ren.
He practically dug a hole for himself.
Jing Mian averted his gaze to avoid embarrassment and sipped his tea. The once steamy teacup now had a slight mist on its surface. However, the temperature was just right, and even his eyelashes were lightly dusted with dampness.
"Uhm."
Ren Xingwan said: "That's good."
...
In the latter part, Jing Mian remained focused on eating.
Although their conversation wasn't extensive, Jing Mian still thoroughly enjoyed the food. After all, he wasn't particularly adept at leading conversations. Less talk meant fewer mistakes, so he opted to remain silent.
After drinking and eating.
Jing Mian stared at the small potted plant on the table as if lost in thought.
It seemed that his childhood habits had persisted until now. Unbeknownst to him, even when sitting still, Jing Mian's posture wasn't slouching but rather his arms were placed on the table, slightly folded in parallel, with his fair fingertips hanging down.
He appeared overly obedient.
His back was straight, but his head tilted slightly as his eyelashes drooped.
It was an obvious expression of post-satisfaction weariness.
"Sleepy?" the man asked.
Jing Mian shook his head: "No."
In reality, at this time on a regular day, Jing Mian would be preparing for his livestream between 10 PM and 1 AM, so he would usually take a nap for an hour or two after dinner.
However, due to the special schedule today, he missed his small nap opportunity because of the blind date.
Ren Xingwan pondered for a moment. His slender fingertips lightly tapped the edge of the clean table, and he spoke softly, "I still have a schedule tonight, so is it alright to end it here for today?"
This time, Jing Mian's drowsiness dissipated, and he became fully awake. He looked at the man with keen eyes: "Such a coincidence? Then it can't be helped."
Ren Xingwan: "…"
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He suddenly didn't want Jing Mian to go back to sleep.
The blind date was over.
Jing Mian returned home and went straight to his room.
In the past two days, Jing Guozhen has been busy with work, seemingly engrossed in some crucial business deal. He was on the phone almost every day and occasionally left the house with a briefcase, giving Jing Mian little attention.
However, this provided Jing Mian with an opportunity to catch his breath.
It was nine-fifty.
Everyone at home had gone to bed.
Jing Mian got out of bed and fumbled for the light switch in the pitch-black room. With the illumination of a small desk lamp, the room instantly brightened up.
There were ten minutes left until the scheduled livestream was supposed to start.
Jing Mian changed out of his pajamas and reached into the drawer for the hoodie set. He put it on quickly, pulling the oversized cap over his head and allowing some of his bangs to peek out.
At the same time, he put on a mask.
It was a solid black, similar in color to the hoodie, making him look mysterious yet natural, with only his eyes visible.
He opened his computer, connected the devices and webcam, adjusting the angles.
It took a bit longer than ten minutes.
Jing Mian cleared his throat, slid the mouse, and clicked on 'Start Livestream.'
His face quickly appeared on the screen.
"Hello, everyone. I'm Sheep, and today's live stream is starting."
With his melodious and clear voice flowing through the microphone, the young man's greeting echoed gently within the livestream room.
The room, which had been as silent as a graveyard a moment ago, underwent a visible transformation within seconds as the viewer count skyrocketed from zero!
The desolate barrage section began to fill up with small bubbles, forming a spectacular barrage army that floated across the screen in rapid succession:
[Mianmian!]
[Mianmian!?]
[Ah ah ah Mianmian]
[The streamer is so punctual today too.]
[Wuwuwu, your voice is so soothing, it feels like my eardrums are being pampered [crying]]
[You have no idea how I sat in front of my computer for half an hour, afraid of missing Mianmian's early start. My boyfriend thinks I'm crazy…]
Even though he introduced himself as "Sheep," the barrage of comments was exceptionally united, all calling him "Mianmian."
…Perhaps it rolls off the tongue more easily than "Sheep."
Initially, Jing Mian would be taken aback and startled by this enthusiasm and fervor, but now he could remain quite composed. Sometimes, he even had the capacity to answer questions and introduce the content of the live stream to the audience.
"Yes, new users can skip the beginner's tutorial and play a couple of beginner matches to get familiar with adjusting the settings and sensitivity… Well, today we're playing 'Glory' again, but we might not go through tutorials and maps."
Jing Mian's voice was very gentle, possessing an inexplicable comforting power. He paused and suddenly said:
"Today… I want to show you some scenery."
He added, "If you're not interested, you can come back another day and don't waste your time."
[Who said we're not interested?]
[Exactly, who said that?]
[I also like to watch Mianmian space out during the live stream.]
[Upstairs, I prefer to watch Mianmian sleep during the livestream even more.]
[Upstairs, I love watching Mian Mian's livestream the most.]
[Why does Mian Mian suddenly want to show us scenery today?]
...
The appearance of inappropriate text was quickly blocked.
Soon, this user was also muted.
Dissonant voices were extremely rare. Jing Mian no longer became distracted. He moved the mouse and opened the game interface. The dazzling opening scene of "Glory" appeared on the screen.
Unlike conventional games, "Glory" consisted of two parts. If the first part was similar to traditional shooting games like PUBG, then the second part—was the unique and prideful "Haunted House" setting of "Glory."
Ancient villages, enormous haunted mansions, abandoned schools… The maps for the second part were diverse, combining difficulty and entertainment. The player who managed to escape from the haunted locations would win.
"Shadow Guards" would also come into play during the second part, as it was a ghost formed by a legendary player who had retired from the game.
Jing Mian casually entered the single-player mode.
This time, he didn't match with any teammates, as he had no intention of participating in team battles.
[Loading the map—]
The scene quickly changed. The sky darkened abruptly, and the view on the screen transitioned from a blur to gradual clarity.
An old room appeared before his eyes, with mottled walls and a dusty tabletop. Everything seemed eerie, terrifying, and lifeless.
It was indeed the haunted house map.
Players were randomly placed in one of the rooms of this vast old mansion and needed to explore on their own to find an exit from the mansion.
[Wow, a classic haunted house map.]
[I brushed up on the tutorial for a flawless clearance. I've already finished the level [Not bragging.]]
[I remember the first time Mianmian encountered the worm-type boss, they shivered in fear. So adorable!]
[Shh, shut up upstairs, leave some face for my Mianmian. ]
[Damn it, jealousy is driving me crazy. What have all these new fans missed out on…]
Since it was a single-player game, Jing Mian had mentioned earlier that he was here to enjoy the scenery. There was no need to go all out.
Naturally, he didn't have to hurry to save his life.
For the first time, Jing Mian felt a sense of leisure and the illusion of being on a vacation in a haunted house in the game.
Jing Mian controlled his character and strolled around the room like an old man. After walking two laps and finding nothing interesting, he picked up a flashlight, opened the room door, and entered the deeper part of the haunted house.
The webcam in the live broadcast room slowly focused on the young man's hands on the keyboard.
—Those hands were slender and beautiful, with distinct joints. Because of its fairness, the light blue blood vessels on the back of the hand can even be traced.
From this angle, one can vaguely see a small mole on the side of the joint of the ring finger.
After turning around, he surprisingly didn't encounter anything heart-pounding.
Jing Mian felt a bit bored. Coupled with his familiarity with this map, he suddenly came up with an idea.
Jing Mian arrived at the staircase, where the floor had already rotted away. Every step he took produced a creaking sound.
A table appeared in front of him.
There were two drinks placed on it.
The cup on the left was an indescribably dark green color and seemed to emit foul-smelling bubbles.
On the right was a simple glass of milk.
Based on the experience of veteran players, corrosive liquid like the green one was usually used to deal with crawling-type ghosts, while milk would restore energy and temporarily heal the character.
Jing Mian silently reached out his hand and took the dark green cup.
And then he brought it to his lips.
"…"
This was a suicidal act that even the system couldn't comprehend.
[Haha, shit]
[Mianmian? ! ! ]
[This is the first time I see a streamer who actively drinks green water hhh]
[Mianmian, you're going wild today]
...
However, before Jing Mian tilted his palm, allowing the liquid to slide over and reach his lips, his wrist was suddenly held by a hand.
"Don't drink it."
A deep and cold voice, brushed against Jing Mian's earlobe as if it were right behind him.
Jing Mian's figure froze, and his previously calm heartbeat couldn't help but surge.
He appeared.
… His Shadow Guard.
The Shadow Guardian only appeared when players' life was threatened.
Although it could protect the player's health bar, each player only had three chances to use the Shadow Guardian, and for the sake of game fairness, the powerful ghost knight couldn't stay for too long.
—It will only exist for ten seconds each time.
And Jing Mian's Shadow Guardian was the legendary "Ash."
Jing Mian fell into contemplation. Soon, as if deliberately opposing his own Shadow Guard, he reached out again and picked up the green liquid.
As expected, his hand was held once more.
"Jing Mian, you can't drink it."
This time.
The cold tone became more serious, and even called his own name.
Wearing the earphones, Jing Mian's Adam's apple twitched slightly as if he was immersed in the game world, and his heartbeat inexplicably faster.
He had no choice but to give up.
He obediently picked up the milk and controlled his character to drink it.
[Ash!!]
[Ah ah ah ah ah]
[New fans are saying their jaws are dropping, so the great god Ash, is really Mianmian's Shadow Guard?!!]
[Ash called Mianmian's name twice!]
[The dream crossover is real sob sob]
...
That night, Jing Mian ended the live stream.
Although he had good energy, his focus was a bit absent. Today clearly wasn't suitable for going through tutorials and maps.
Jing Mian thought, perhaps part of the reason…was due to Mr. Ren who he just met today.
Jing Mian's performance was actually quite impressive, whether in the first or second round. He had even completed some of the maps with the best MVP clearances across the server, attracting the attention of many E-Sports teams.
With such remarkable looks and skills, it was undoubtedly a tempting opportunity for many E-Sports clubs.
It was obviously impossible for the brightest flower to bloom but no one has picked it. Just after Jing Mian ended the live stream, he saw several new private message invitations in the background.
Not only did many clubs provide their contact information, hoping that Jing Mian would get in touch with them offline, but some even straightforwardly mentioned in the private messages that they could offer Jing Mian very generous compensation in the future.
Jing Mian: "…"
Heart fluttering.
Saying that his heart wasn't moved would be a lie.
But joining an E-Sports club was a completely different concept from his current discreet live streaming.
Jing Mian has been obedient since he was a child, and even more so after his mother passed away. Keeping his game streaming a secret from his father was already a challenge, let alone formally joining a club and participating in various face-to-face competitions.
For Jing Mian, who had been following rules and being obedient since childhood, this was a dangerous but tempting challenge.
Moreover, he was still a student and couldn't guarantee a good balance between his studies and gaming.
So, he had declined the invitations from several clubs.
Before exiting the game, there was only one invitation left on the list, from the "Me" E-Sports team. It was sandwiched between numerous private messages from fans, lying there alone.
—Unread message.
Jing Mian changed back into his pajamas and lay down on the bed.
He covered himself with a quilt.
All four corners were tucked nicely under him, and the lights were turned off. It was a sleeping mode that offered a sense of security.
However, despite the late hour, he found it difficult to fall asleep as he turned over in bed.
Unconsciously, he picked up his phone. The suddenly bright screen made him squint his eyes, and after it dimmed down again, he opened his chat application.
The top message was still the interface where he and Mr. Ren exchanged contact information.
After a moment's hesitation, he couldn't resist opening a web browser.
He searched for information about Ren Congmian.
After browsing through an encyclopedia, Jing Mian found a work by the man with the best reputation and several international awards. He used his phone to watch the entire movie.
——Ren Congmian, who played the role of the young general, left home for the country. Leading a small secret army, they braved all challenges, fought bloodily, and battled their way through thick and thin. Their goal was to eliminate the seemingly rebellious main character group.
The road was treacherous and long. After a series of fights, entanglements, and pursuits that spanned the main storyline, they finally cleared up the misunderstanding with the main character group. This just general was able to return to his country as a righteous figure, only to find that the flags of the city had long been changed.
His nation was already gone.
His faith collapsed in an instant, and the general chose to end his own life by suicide.
In stark contrast to the joyful ending of the main character group, his blood and tears were shed on this mist-filled land, mixed with mud and sand.
Tragic and desolate.
"…"
Jing Mian felt his eyes welling up.
Indeed, it was well made.
Jing Mian thought that the public's judgment was truly insightful. Leaving aside other aspects, among the star-studded cast of this movie, Ren Congmian undoubtedly stood out as the most outstanding and impressive, with top-notch acting skills that had earned him direct praise.
Turning over in bed, Jing Mian switched off the screen's brightness and placed his phone aside.
The fact that Ren Xingwan was the same person as Ren Congmian had finally taken root in Jing Mian's heart at this moment.
But now he couldn't sleep even more.
The next day.
Jing Mian spent the day working on his problem books.
As the start of the school year approached, he would soon leave home and return to the dormitory on campus. Jing Mian took out his long-unused suitcase and began to gather some books he would need, arranging them neatly one by one.
At the same time, he began to tidy up the room.
The dust in the room was stirred up and slowly descended, illuminated by the light from outside.
Jing Luo watched his older brother as he sat on the floor, quickly arranging a small cushion for Jing Mian to sit on, making it soft and comfortable.
At some point, Jing Luo suddenly exclaimed, "Huh?"
Successfully attracted Jing Mian's attention.
He turned his head and found that Jing Luo was actually wearing that black baseball cap.
It was the one that Ren Xingwan put on for himself the day before yesterday.
However, the circumference of the cap was too large for a child like him. As soon as he put it on, it covered his eyes completely.
Jing Luo said softly, "Brother, this hat isn't good."
Jing Mian raised an eyebrow, "What's wrong?"
"It blocks the way."
Jing Luo used his tiny hands to barely hold onto the brim, raising his head and saying earnestly, "It doesn't let people walk properly. It's not a good hat."
Jing Mian couldn't help but chuckle, managing to hold back his urge to laugh, and nodded in agreement just as earnestly, "Yeah, it's not good."
Jing Mian paused.
This baseball cap was the one that Mr. Ren had put on him during their first meeting in the elevator.
Although after the rescue, Jing Mian had returned the hat to the man.
But later when they parted ways.
Jing Mian walked down with Mr. Ren, the night was deep, past the peak hours, and the rain outside had already stopped.
Jing Mian suddenly thought that now that same-sex marriage was legal, people like Ren Xingwan with his identity could have dinner together and leave the restaurant together.
Isn't it…somewhat suspicious?
If they were caught on camera, would it become explosive news the next day?
With these thoughts in mind, Jing Mian became cautious.
He discreetly moved away from Ren Xingwan's side, creating a distance between them that appeared quite innocent to outsiders.
Ren Xingwan: "?"
However, just after leaving the building, Jing Mian vaguely heard a figure running towards them not far away.
Still shouting: "Ren, Brother Ren!"
Jing Mian was startled.
It seemed that his previous worries were turning into reality. He subconsciously halted his steps, the line of his neck and shoulders becoming somewhat rigid. He raised his gaze, his long eyelashes freezing along with it, clearly at a loss.
Ren Xingwan glanced to the side.
In the next second, Jing Mian felt his shoulders being grabbed.
It was as if he had been pulled into someone's embrace. At the same time, Jing Mian's pupils momentarily froze, for his head felt slightly heavy, and the next second, the black brim of a cap obscured much of his view.
It seemed like the man had put a baseball cap on him.
Jing Mian realized his heart was racing.
The person quickly arrived, noticing that the rain had stopped and he didn't need to use the umbrella he was carrying. He stopped in his tracks and turned to ask, "Ren ge, are you sending Mr. Jing home?"
It was Ren Xingwan's manager, Yang Fan.
"Yeah, let's go."
Jing Mian: "…"
It turned out to be the manager? Without any mental preparation, he had thought it might be some fanatic fan who had learned about their whereabouts.
A lump formed in Jing Mian's throat. Through the black brim of the baseball cap, he gave a slight nod to Yang Fan and politely said, "Hello, I'm Jing Mian."
Yang Fan was taken aback.
This child, his looks are really something else, huh?
No wonder he's so likable.
Where did Brother Ren find such a treasure?
"Hello, hello. I'm Yang Fan, Brother Ren's manager." Yang Fan shook hands with Jing Mian and, noticing Ren Xingwan's downcast gaze, he discreetly pulled his hand back, saying, "Just call me Brother Yang. If you need anything, you can contact me. Let's exchange numbers later."
Yang Fan turned and got into the car, giving the driver the address.
From Ren Xingwan's point of view, the youth's ear tips could still be seen in the midst of the commotion.
"Still a child."
Before getting into the car, Ren Xingwan lowered his gaze and whispered this into Jing Mian's ear.
"…"
The voice was low and casual, causing Jing Mian to pause.
Jing Mian was lost in thought after getting into the car and staring at the slowly passing street scene.
His tensed nerves truly relaxed at this moment.
As if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders.
Jing Mian's eyelashes trembled as he let out a silent sigh of relief.
Still a child.
The implication behind Mr. Ren's words was that he considered him immature. Naturally, he wouldn't fulfill the engagement and become what could be called a lover.
Fortunately.
It seemed that the other party wasn't interested in him either.