Chi Lanyi was stunned for a moment. It was the first time he had heard such a terrifying tone from Gao Rong, and he froze like a small frightened animal.
Gao Rong quickly realized his lapse. He hated that his lack of composure had caused an abnormal reaction in Chi Lanyi, so he softened his voice and said kindly: “You are yourself. You don’t need anyone else to acknowledge you.”
Chi Lanyi looked at him for a long while before finally accepting this explanation. He smiled, a little fragilely: “I know, but I still want to…”
“Don’t think about it anymore, go to sleep.” Gao Rong interrupted him, stroking Chi Lanyi’s hair as if soothing, yet like an unbreachable command. “You don’t need to worry about family matters.”
But after a pause, a sentence still flowed out uncontrollably: “If something really happened to your family… what would you do?”
“What kind of thing?” Chi Lanyi said immediately, subconsciously.
Gao Rong was silent for a moment. From that intense reaction, he guessed the answer to that question.
“For example, if they said the family had no money… or some other reason, needing you to go back, what would you do?” Gao Rong half-jokingly changed the subject.
Chi Lanyi was silent for a moment. After a long while, he said: “I don’t know… I think I’d want to comfort Mom first…”
Gao Rong, where Chi Lanyi couldn’t see him, was expressionless.
“I think… I would try hard to work and send some money back.” Chi Lanyi said hesitantly. “But… I still want to finish my studies.”
The stone in Gao Rong’s heart finally fell to the ground.
“It’s fine.” Gao Rong grabbed his hand. “You don’t need to work part-time. I will sponsor you and help you fulfill your dreams.”
As if anxious to grasp onto something, Gao Rong forcefully held Chi Lanyi’s fingers: “Trust me.”
Chi Lanyi probably took this as a line of romantic endearment. He smiled and buried himself in Gao Rong’s embrace: “I trust you.”
Good.
Gao Rong looked at his oblivious black hair and said silently in his heart.
He hoped that Chi Lanyi could remember these words forever.
No matter what happened in the future.
The fingers gripping Chi Lanyi’s wrist gradually tightened. Gao Rong told himself, even if Chi Lanyi couldn’t remember, he would make Chi Lanyi remember.
…
As the time to go to New York drew closer, Gao Rong became more and more restless.
He began to repeatedly scrutinize his plans, asking his partners what the Chi family members were doing, whether they were staying properly in China.
Gao Rong used some gray-area methods to confirm that Chi Kuang and Chi Lanting had no possibility of flying to America for any purpose during those days—whether for financing, or Chi Lanting bringing his new girlfriend on a trip. The only similar thing between Chi Lanting and Chi Lanyi was probably the good looks inherited from their mother.
Although his looks were far inferior to Chi Lanyi’s, he still successfully found a girlfriend from a good family background. Chi Lanting hid the situation of the family business from his girlfriend, hoping to marry her and get money from his in-laws to solve the hospital’s problems.
Watching these people’s desperate struggles, Gao Rong only found it laughable.
He rubbed his brow, unmoved by their anxiety or distress, only hoping that his and Chi Lanyi’s trip to New York would be flawless.
After going over the plan once more, Gao Rong went to the photography space to pick up Chi Lanyi.
As the design competition finals date approached, Chi Lanyi was spending more and more time with his models.
Even with the upcoming trip to New York, Chi Lanyi was still very busy. After preparing for the design competition, he would have to start working on the incubator project again.
Thinking of this, Gao Rong felt a hint of pity for Chi Lanyi.
He suddenly felt that he indeed always had the obligation to “rescue” Chi Lanyi from these things.
A person like this, of course, should be taken care of, taken over. Chi Lanyi’s spirit was so fragile, yet he had so much to do because of his talent. So it was only natural that such a Chi Lanyi needed his pervasive care, right?
Gao Rong finished his own work in the car. He got out, and as soon as he entered the studio, he heard Chi Lanyi laughing and chatting with two women. One of them, naturally, was Leah whom Gao Rong had introduced to him. And the other lively, bright girl was someone Leah had introduced.
Her name was Xixi. After seeing Chi Lanyi’s designs, Leah clearly felt that one of the outfits suited a friend she knew very well. So, she took Chi Lanyi to meet her good friend who was a model. The result wasn’t surprising to anyone—Chi Lanyi and the beautiful Xixi hit it off immediately once again.
Besides Xixi, she had also introduced three other girls to Chi Lanyi. They would each be responsible for showcasing one outfit, and they all liked Chi Lanyi very much.
It was as if all beautiful girls would, from the bottom of their hearts, like Chi Lanyi, who appreciated their beauty.
The others had gone home. Only the three of them were left chatting about gossip, unconsciously laughing in a heap. Gao Rong watched them from afar, not going in to disturb. He thought about Xixi’s family background, which he had investigated. Xixi’s family was extremely well-off. Her father, a ceramics merchant, had long ago chosen a marriage partner for her. She and her betrothed had grown up together and had a deep, affectionate relationship.
Gao Rong decided he wouldn’t interfere in this good-natured exchange.
Perhaps Xixi was another, safer Chloe.
The three were still chatting. They went from talking about the judging panel for Chi Lanyi’s competition finals, to Chi Lanyi’s final assignments. Xixi said exaggeratedly: “Oh my god, your menswear is also this outstanding?”
“Uh, I tried to incorporate more Eastern elements into the prints…”
“What’s ethnic is global.” Xixi dramatically clutched her chest, expressing her frustration. “It’s a pity I can’t wear them for you—you have a small fashion show for finals, and you need models, right?”
“Mm. I’m planning to look for classmates willing to be models.”
“Why look for classmates? You could totally go up yourself.” Xixi encouraged him. “The clothes you make, you’d suit them best wearing them yourself, wouldn’t you?”
Chi Lanyi smiled. The fine, shattered light in his eyes was like stars: “The clothes will express me in my place. I don’t want to step into the spotlight myself… I’ll steal the limelight from my clothes.”
“Hahahaha!”
Xixi burst out laughing. Beside her, Leah said gently: “Let me see, I’ll help you find a few more male models. There are a few student models working part-time at my gallery recently. I feel they’re all quite good… coincidentally, one is also Chinese. He might just fit your theme.”
“Also Chinese?”
“Mm. He has a very rare surname. His surname is ‘Wu’, like ‘witch’ or ‘shaman’. He’s the first person with this surname I’ve ever met.”
“Wu?” Chi Lanyi was stunned for a moment, as if recalling some memory. “What a coincidence. I also had a friend surnamed Wu when I was a child.”
“Really?” Leah covered her lips with a smile. “Maybe you really do know each other. I think your friend should have similar interests as you. In that case, growing up and coming to the same city to study as you would be normal. Let me go back and check, what his name is…”
Gao Rong finally stepped forward.
As soon as he came, Xixi doubled over laughing. She nudged Chi Lanyi: “Isn’t there a suitable model right here?”
“Uh… Xixi.” Chi Lanyi was a little awkward. “Don’t talk nonsense…”
He glanced up at Gao Rong and blushed again. But the more shy he was, the more Xixi laughed: “Oh dear, can’t you imagine the feeling of dressing Gao, adjusting the clothing details on him? That spark—that tension—between you two is too strong.”
Chi Lanyi opened his mouth to deny it, but in the end, he actually lowered his head and smiled bashfully.
Seeing Chi Lanyi like this, Gao Rong was in a very good mood. He amiably greeted Xixi and Leah, thanking them for the help they provided to Chi Lanyi.
Amidst a round of teasing about “the loving couple,” Gao Rong held Chi Lanyi’s hand and returned to the car. On the way, Gao Rong said: “Are you ready?”
“The seven looks for the finals, just finished the fourth…”
Gao Rong smiled: “I meant for going to New York tomorrow, are you ready?”
Only then did Chi Lanyi realize what Gao Rong was saying. He let out an “Ah,” and suddenly, as if frightened out of his wits, said: “Crap, I forgot to pack my luggage.”
“I’ve already had someone pack it for you—your exhibits too. I had specialists pack them and prepare to transport them over.” Gao Rong said.
Chi Lanyi was a bit dazed: “You packed my clothes for me?”
Not just clothes, but also accessories, commonly used towels. Gao Rong didn’t even blink: “Mm, done.”
Chi Lanyi was somewhat incredulous. It wasn’t until they got home and he rummaged through the suitcase that he finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Gao Rong watched him rummaging like a small animal, and then watched Chi Lanyi come over. Chi Lanyi lifted his head, full of dependence, and said: “Thank goodness you’re here.”
Saying this, Chi Lanyi even sighed with deep feeling: “What would I do without you.”
Gao Rong held his hand: “Then don’t think about the possibility of not having me.”
They were departing tomorrow afternoon. That very evening, Chi Lanyi had to go to the exhibition hall to prepare his exhibits.
But Gao Rong still made love to Chi Lanyi.
He possessed him slowly yet forcefully, as if marking Chi Lanyi once again before going to New York.
Chi Lanyi was so comfortable in his arms that he almost fainted. He forgot his fears, forgot about his family. He clutched Gao Rong’s collar, dependent to the point of losing all boundaries.
It wasn’t until long after they finished that Chi Lanyi recovered.
“…Too intense.” He muttered quietly, complaining as if spoilt.
Gao Rong laughed at him: “But you cried out very loudly.”
Chi Lanyi buried his head down again, like a shy cat. Gao Rong stroked Chi Lanyi’s pink-flushed back, and suddenly, his mind wandered, thinking, if only Chi Lanyi could bear his child.
It wasn’t that he wished Chi Lanyi were a woman, but rather, he thought, with how much Chi Lanyi cared about emotional bonds, if he and Chi Lanyi truly had a child, then Chi Lanyi would never be able to run away.
The Chi family treated Chi Lanyi so poorly, yet Chi Lanyi, before going to New York, still thought about the “humiliation” his father suffered from Americans years ago. Chi Lanyi’s mother gave him much love, but demanded even more. Chi Lanyi was clearly in pain, yet still couldn’t escape.
