There were few people around at noon. Lu Wen walked all the way to the back garden, cradling a persimmon, passing through the corridor and crossing the central square. The garden was almost empty; the camera crew had gone for lunch after filming.

He approached the lake from a path on the lawn, surrounded by camphor trees. When he was five or six meters from the lake, under the most flourishing camphor tree, he saw Qu Yanting sitting alone on a two-person bench.

Lu Wen didn't know how long the other man had been waiting and anxiously quickened his pace.

Suddenly, a person popped up by the lake—it was Ruan Feng.

Ruan Feng ran over first, plopped down on the bench with a "thud," and sat next to Qu Yanting. It all happened so suddenly that Lu Wen abruptly halted his steps, staring at this person who had appeared out of nowhere.

Qu Yanting was startled. "What are you doing here?"

"Surprise?" Ruan Feng grinned, draping his arm over the back of the bench and resting his hand on Qu Yanting's shoulder. "Tired today, right? Let me give you a massage."

Lu Wen was frozen in place, watching Ruan Feng's back as he "hugged" Qu Yanting, and he retracted the step he was about to take. His brain couldn't remember too many things, and he had almost forgotten about Qu Yanting and Ruan Feng's relationship.

He was right. He was just here to say thanks. How could that compare to their romantic dalliance?

Perhaps Qu Yanting had already arranged to meet Ruan Feng and was just conveniently sparing a few minutes to see him.

Why was his timing so bad?

Lu Wen looked down at the persimmon in his hand. It had grown warm from his touch. He wondered if it really could stop coughs. He didn't make a sound or show himself, sensibly turning around and leaving.

Qu Yanting glanced around but didn't see anyone else. Since it was a public place, he told Ruan Feng to sit properly. Ruan Feng withdrew his hand. "Everyone's napping at noon. I looked all over for you."

Qu Yanting asked, "Do you need something?"

Ruan Feng said, "I wanted to see if you'd eaten. The boxed lunch was braised fish, and I know you don't eat it."

Qu Yanting had already eaten; ever since that one time, Xiao Zhang had been ordering his meals separately. Ruan Feng was relieved. "Director Ren dumped this on you. Even though it's only for two or three days, it must be exhausting. Others may not care, but I do."

Qu Yanting turned his head, thinking of that other clingy young man.

Ruan Feng asked strangely, "What are you looking at? Is someone coming?"

Qu Yanting avoided the question. "Did you come here just to chat?"

Ruan Feng had come to ask about something. He had promised to treat Group B to a meal today, and it just so happened that Qu Yanting was filming with Group B in the afternoon. He wanted to ask if Qu Yanting wanted to join.

Qu Yanting refused without a second thought. He found crowds annoying, especially at gatherings like dinner parties where a large group of people socialized.

Ruan Feng said, "But there are a lot of people on set too."

"That's different. This is work." Qu Yanting fiddled with his work script, his expression calm. For him, the enjoyment of this substitute job far outweighed the tolerance.

Ruan Feng was helpless. "Alright then. How about I come find you tonight?"

Qu Yanting knew what these gatherings were like; they wouldn't end before midnight, and he didn't have the energy to wait up that late to open the door. So he refused again.

Ruan Feng was obedient, though, doing whatever Qu Yanting said. It wasn't convenient to stay too long, so he had to go back to his trailer. Before leaving, he said, "If anyone is insubordinate and gives you trouble, tell me. I'll take care of them for you."

Qu Yanting was utterly disdainful. "Stop acting tough. Do you remember how you used to just cry at home every time you got bullied as a kid?"

Ruan Feng's face flushed. "I'm not talking to you anymore. I'm leaving!"

Only a slight breeze remained by the lake. It was a bit cold. Qu Yanting endured it, afraid that if he left to get a jacket, he might cause a certain latecomer to miss him.

He leaned against the armrest of the bench, feeling very tired. He had interacted with too many people today, and all his nerves were tightly wound. They needed to be relaxed, one by one, like ripples spreading across the lake's surface.

The minute hand on his watch made its way more than halfway around the dial. A duck by the lakeside drank its fill of water.

Qu Yanting sat there until two-thirty. It was almost time to start work again; waiting any longer would delay filming. He walked back along the lake, feeling both angry and amused. He never thought he'd be stood up by a minor actor.

The afternoon's shooting schedule wasn't heavy. The crew had an agreement with the hospital to finish before seven. Lu Wen was in Group A, and Qu Yanting had switched to Group B, so the two didn't see each other all afternoon.

When they wrapped up in the evening, on the way back to the hotel, Lu Wen leaned against the car window without a word, the brim of his cap pulled low enough to hide his eyes.

Sun Xiaojian was thoroughly confused. The guy had eaten his fill at noon and then, instead of napping, ran out to wander around. He came back with a sullen face. Sun Xiaojian had no idea what Lu Wen had encountered.

"Where did you go at noon?"

"The lake."

The lake was next to a small grove of trees. Sun Xiaojian sensed something unusual. "What were you doing at the lake? Meeting someone?"

Lu Wen's expression darkened even more. "I had a date with the little ducks. I went for a swim!"

Sun Xiaojian grew even more curious. "What on earth happened?"

Lu Wen snorted coldly. "I shouldn't have gone."

"Who knows why you went, carrying a persimmon, you idiot." Feeling he couldn't dig up any gossip, Sun Xiaojian switched to sharing some. "I heard Ruan Feng is treating Group B to dinner tonight."

Lu Wen's head shot up. He yelled at the driver, "Turn around! I want to treat Group A! To Jiangbeizui IFC!"

Sun Xiaojian didn't understand this sudden competitiveness and punched him. "Your 'IFC.' We have to shoot the drama's most important scene soon. Go back and study the script obediently."

The mention of the script brought the screenwriter to mind.

Lu Wen slammed his baseball cap down. "Study my ass. Let's go tour Zhazi Cave."

"What's gotten into you?" Sun Xiaojian bit back a curse. "I think it's that time of the month for you. All this energy and nowhere to use it, so you're just agitated. You went swimming at the lake at noon, right? Not satisfying enough? Fine, go back to the hotel and make up for it in the pool. Swim twenty laps, then go back to your room and sleep."

Lu Wen hadn't seen Qu Yanting all afternoon. The man was with Group B. Now Ruan Feng was treating them to dinner, so those two were definitely making goo-goo eyes and carrying on in secret in front of everyone.

He said, "I'll swim fifty laps."

Back at the hotel, Lu Wen packed his things and went to the pool on the 54th floor.

He entered through the minimalist-style corridor. To the left was the aqua lounge, and the corridor to the right led to the changing rooms and washrooms. Lu Wen turned right and was stopped by an attendant.

"I'm sorry, sir, the pool is not open to the public tonight. You can relax at the aqua lounge."

Lu Wen asked, "Why?"

Attendant: "A guest made a reservation this afternoon and booked the entire pool until eleven tonight. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience."

Why was nothing going right? Lu Wen asked casually, "Are they having a party?"

Attendant: "No, the guest is just swimming."

Lu Wen was shocked. "Is it necessary to book the entire pool just for one person to swim?!"

The attendant's expression turned awkward.

"This pool is hundreds of square meters, and he has to hog it all to himself to swim?" Lu Wen complained. "Isn't he lonely? Isn't he bored?"

Just as he was speaking, a familiar figure emerged from the changing room.

Qu Yanting walked out, wearing a silk robe that reached his calves. It was a raven-blue color that shimmered under the wall lights. The collar was slightly open, half-revealing his collarbones. A sash was tied tightly around his narrow waist, making his body look even more slender and thin.

He had heard someone arguing and it sounded familiar, so he came out to see.

Lu Wen was dumbfounded. "...What are you doing here?!"

Qu Yanting walked over in his flip-flops and retorted, "Where else should I be?"

'Shouldn't you be at Group B's dinner...'

Lu Wen choked on a breath of air and swallowed the words.