Huayu: Traffic is king

Chapter 198 A Little Dilemma, Easily Controlled

The Ferris wheel slowly rose, looking from a distance like a star about to fall.

The cabin was heated to a high level, and a thin layer of fog spread across the windows.

The warm yellow twilight of Changsha blurred the city's outlines, and the neon lights began to appear, gradually rising and spreading into spots of light.

Liu Hao sat close to Gu Jingyi, their down jackets rustling softly as they sat so close together. Her fingers were tucked into her sleeves.

In her nervousness, her fingernails unconsciously scratched at the soft down around the cuff of her sleeve.

The feigned confidence from before had long since dissipated in the confined space, leaving only the pounding of my heart in my ears.

When people are stressed, they tend to find something to do.

Gu Jingyi took in all her little actions, but still maintained his "fishing god" persona.

Choosing to go on the Ferris wheel was just creating an opportunity for that timid little brat. He's too busy with work to spend much time with her.

Aside from the initial exchange of WeChat contacts, her relationship with Liu Haoli was entirely initiated by her.

Like a pot of clear tea, feelings gradually warm up.

Gu Jingyi felt that the time had been right and it was time to settle this relationship.

If Rin confesses her feelings to him today, he won't refuse.

But if Li Zi doesn't take the initiative, he can postpone it until the next collaborative film.

Just like with Zhou Ye, things naturally progressed during their time together on set.

As an experienced hunter, Gu Jingyi had the patience to wait for his prey to take the bait.

Finally, after the Ferris wheel had completed one rotation, Liu Haolin couldn't hold back any longer and spoke up.

She looked out the window, her voice carrying a hint of reminiscence.

"When I was little... my parents took me to an amusement park for the first time. We rode the Ferris wheel together."

She looked out the window, where the Xiang River stretched out like a dark silver ribbon in the distance.

Although they are not the same place, the feeling of sitting in a Ferris wheel and enjoying the panoramic view is the same.

In particular, when Yu Guangzhong noticed Gu Jingyi listening patiently, Liu Haolu's lips also curved into a beautiful smile.

She continued to search her memory, carefully crafting her words as she spoke.

"I remember my dad holding me and pointing to the people below who looked like tiny ants, saying, 'Look, the world has become bigger, so people have become smaller, and our worries have become smaller too.'"

Liu Hao paused, a faint smile curving his lips. Just like her, she had a delicate, innocent-looking face.

"Actually, when you sit up there and look down, you can't see anything on the ground. The air quality in my hometown is bad; all you can see is a hazy gray."

“But in my heart at that time, my father was as magnificent as if he could support the entire sky.”

Gu Jingyi didn't reply, but turned his head to look at her.

The shadow of his hat fell on the bridge of his nose, and his eyes, gazing at me, were focused and gentle, like a sky full of stars reflected in a deep pool.

Away from the stage, he lacked the clamor of being surrounded by love on stage.

He is a more authentic and vibrant version of himself.

In the words of the dreamer, "the dream is even better now."

Looking at it up close like this makes one's heart tighten for no reason.

Liu Hao took a deep breath, not daring to look any longer. He was afraid that the little courage he had managed to muster would dissipate as he sank into despair.

She turned her head sharply, almost bumping into his chin.

They were so close that she could count the distinct lashes of his eyelashes with just a glance up. And there was her own clear reflection in his eyes, like a suddenly shrunken, trapped image of "Liu Haolin."

"Gu... Jingyi"

Liu Haoli's voice trembled slightly, each word seeming to be squeezed out with difficulty, "I..."

"Shhh."

Gu Jingyi suddenly extended his index finger and gently pressed it against her lips.

The moment my cool fingertips touched you, it felt like a faint electric current.

The pain instantly paralyzed half of her body, and Liu Hao lost all ability to speak.

"Don't say it."

Gu Jingyi's voice was low, with a barely perceptible hoarseness. But his gaze toward Liu Haoli remained sharp, easily piercing through all her carefully constructed pretense to reach that fragile sincerity.

"I know what you're going to say."

With a thud, Liu Haoli's heart sank. Then, he was overwhelmed by a tremendous, heart-wrenching love, and his heart was suddenly clenched.

She forcefully pushed his fingers away without holding back at all.

Her eyes instantly welled up with tears, not from grievance, but from a desperate, all-or-nothing resolve.

"You know shit!"

“Gu Jingyi, I…”

Caught off guard, all the prepared language became useless.

"You like me."

Gu Jingyi interrupted her, stating this established fact in a calm tone.

It wasn't a question, but a firm conviction.

His feelings, expressed so casually, struck Liu Haoli's heart like a thunderbolt.

The cramped space suddenly became eerily quiet, save for the faint clicking of the cables sliding along the tracks and the increasingly unmistakable breathing of the two people entwined together.

All her prepared words, all her roundabout probing, and her sincerity disguised as a joke were shattered by this straightforward statement, laid bare before her eyes.

Liu Hao felt his blood rush to his head with a "buzz," and his cheeks burned.

When she looked at Gu Jingyi again, her own disheveled and embarrassed state was clearly reflected in his glassy eyes.

Yes, he knew. He had always known.

It's like watching a meticulously crafted but flawed play, and she's the clown performing on stage, thinking she's flawless.

A wave of immense embarrassment and a feeling of utter powerlessness washed over me, more dizzying than the weightlessness I felt at the top of a Ferris wheel.

Liu Haoli abruptly turned his face away, biting his lower lip hard. He swallowed back the sobs and more uncontrollable emotions that welled up inside him, and cast a disheveled glance out the window.

She didn't want to lose her composure here.

As dusk settled, the city lights illuminated one by one, forming a dazzling yet chilling sea of ​​light. Reflected on the glass, they also revealed the blurry silhouettes of her and him inside the cabin.

Looking at the bustling lights of countless homes, the small space seemed even more cramped and silent. Liu Hao felt a tightness in his chest, and his sense of grievance intensified.

Gu Jingyi is so smart, how come he clearly guessed and knew what was going to happen next?

They still don't take the initiative or cooperate.

"Why are not you talking?"

Gu Jingyi's voice sounded from behind, and a tall figure hugged her from the side.

His movements were forceful, his arms completely confining her to his embrace.

The emphasis in his speech carried a hint of inquiry, and even a touch of... barely perceptible mischief?

Liu Haoli didn't dare to turn around and look at him, but her shoulders tensed even more.

She could feel a gaze imprinted on her cheek, so intense that it almost made her curl up in fear.

Liu Haoli

He called her by her full name, the airflow like a feather gently brushing against her eardrums.

"Where did your 'revealing your true colors' spirit go? Did you chicken out?"

That bastard! He's still laughing at him at a time like this!
She turned her head sharply, her eyes still red. But to maintain her composure, she forced a wide stare, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on and whose fur had stood on end.

"Who's backing down! Gu Jingyi, don't go too far!"

His voice suddenly rose in pitch, carrying a hint of a forced, weak sob.

"puff"

Gu Jingyi suddenly chuckled softly, the sound particularly clear in the enclosed space. Yet it carried a strange soothing power, calming her wavering heart.

He raised his hand and gently brushed the corner of her slightly reddened eyes with his fingertips. The gesture carried an almost tenderness, yet the words he uttered were completely different from his gentle actions.

"tsk"

Gu Jingyi shook his head, his tone as if he were commenting on a performance that wasn't very good.

"Even confessions are made so weakly. Are those four words, 'I like you,' really that hard to say?"

Liu Haoli was furious at his attitude, and also unsettled by the touch of his fingertips.

After holding it in for a long time, she finally managed to utter a accusation with a heavy nasal tone: "...You tricked me!"

"No," Gu Jingyi denied it decisively.

He withdrew his hand and leaned back to create some distance between himself and her.

His gaze remained fixed on her, with a serious expression.

"I just feel that you have to think about the consequences before you say certain things."

Gu Jingyi paused, a complex look flashing across his eyes.

After a moment of silence, he said, "I've never been a good person when it comes to relationships. I fall in love with every girl I meet, one after another. I've never told you this, but you can probably tell."

Gu Jingyi spoke slowly and somewhat haltingly.

This was the first time he had ever laid bare his inner thoughts in front of a girl like this.

"If you want to date me, you have to be fully prepared for everything," Gu Jingyi said, a cold smile playing on his lips.

"I'm not sure if you'll regret it later... so I can't accept your confession until you're fully prepared."

Gu Jingyi's words were like needles chilled to the bone, precisely piercing all her beautiful fantasies.

The air seemed to freeze, and Liu Hao's heart sank deeper and deeper. Although she was inside the warm cabin, her heart felt like it had sunk to the bottom of a cold abyss.

The courage I had just felt in confessing my love had dissipated, replaced by my hands and feet becoming numb with cold.

Looking at Gu Jingyi's unusually deep-set eyes and brows under the shadow of his hat brim, one could only feel that even his handsome smile carried an almost cruel curve.

Yes, he remained sober throughout, watching her sink deeper into despair, reminding her that this might be the abyss.

As she watched herself slowly fall into the whirlpool of love, he remained on the other side of the river, observing from afar.

The Ferris wheel had reached its peak sometime earlier, with the entire city of Star City lying prostrate at its feet.

The lights outside the cabin were dazzling, yet they seemed unreal and distant.

The sudden feeling of weightlessness at the peak of the ascent is unsettling.

The steel cable suddenly made a dull thud. The carriage came to a stop. The evening breeze blew in through the gaps, causing the stray hairs under Liu Haoli's hat to brush against Gu Jingyi's neck.

Gu Jingyi chuckled and pinched the hair between his fingers, letting the strands wrap around his fingertips a few times.

Liu Haoli was so frightened that he gripped the corner of his trench coat tightly, and a layer of white fur rose on his back from fear.

"Is it malfunctioning?"

Overwhelmed by her emotions, she didn't care about losing face and buried her head in Gu Jingyi's arms in fear.

"How could that be? You've watched too many idol dramas."

Gu Jingyi said this, but his hands honestly stroked her back and gently coaxed her.

"Do you even know that the probability of a Ferris wheel malfunctioning is much lower than that of a roller coaster? What are you thinking about all day long? Do you really believe..."

"Who knows..." Liu Haolin's voice was muffled in his arms and was hard to hear.

Gu Jingyi lowered his head and listened intently.

"Who knows... if this is karma for rejecting your confession..."

Her breath dampened Gu Jingyi's collar, condensing into tiny water droplets.

Gu Jingyi felt the soft, damp sensation on his neck and found it almost unbearable.

Rumor has it that if you kiss when the Ferris wheel reaches its highest point, you'll stay together forever.

He grabbed Liu Haoli by the back of the neck and lifted the little hamster out.

The next second, his lips pressed down precisely.

When his jaw was pried open, he tasted the metallic smell of rust, and Liu Hao's lower lip bled from being bitten by his roughness.

However, Liu Hao was happy to do it.

In the silence, hearing was amplified infinitely. The sound of his Adam's apple bobbing, the rustling of his clothes, and the rapid beating of his own heart all mingled together.

Liu Haoli didn't know how long they had been kissing when he came to his senses. The Ferris wheel had already completed another full rotation. The moment he opened his eyes...

She saw herself reflected in his pupils, her lipstick smudged, a beauty unlike her usual innocent style.

Like a seductive ghost in a storybook who has stolen your life essence, Gu Jingyi ran his thumb across the corner of her lips: "Maybe it's because it's been too long since we've kissed, I feel like your technique has deteriorated?"

Gu Jingyi's fingertips still had a trace of crimson, which had just been rubbed off his lipstick. Now, he was slowly rubbing it onto Liu Haolu's collarbone, like a suggestive postmark.

The warmth of his fingertips melted into a sticky syrup on Liu Haoli's collarbone.

Liu Haoli's heart, which he had extinguished with cold water, suddenly rekindled.

She trembled and looked down in disbelief. Gu Jingyi's fingertips were still lingering on it, his fingers bearing the calluses from years of training. The slightly rough feel easily ignited the flames of love in her heart.

He didn't look at her, but turned his head to look at the dazzling sea of ​​lights outside the window. His profile appeared somewhat blurred in the interplay of the warm light inside the cabin and the cold light outside.

The myriad lights of Xingcheng below him, like an overturned galaxy, were all reflected in Gu Jingyi's eyes.

Liu Haoli couldn't take his eyes off her after just one glance.

Just like more than half a year ago, she went to the "Idol Producer" performance with a work attitude. She only saw Gu Jingyi wearing a white shirt walking out from the changing lines of trainees. He just walked into her shot, and their eyes met through the camera lens.

She became addicted to it, and from then on, the camera showed a bias towards her.

Some people, when they like someone, want to constantly show their affection to their beloved and offer them their whole heart.

For example, Oda;
Some people like someone, but they still maintain a certain level of vigilance. She will keep getting closer, and then test the limits of her beloved's tolerance by crossing boundaries time and time again.

Only when one feels sufficiently safe will one open their heart and love someone as fully as possible.

Such as a clapper;
Why do I love Gu Jingyi so much? It started on stage, and I'm loyal to his gentleness in private.

It wasn't the kind of gentleness that was driven by a desire for something, but rather a gentleness that was incredibly inclusive and made her feel like she had a safe haven.

When Gu Jingyi first stood in front of her, protecting her in front of the director of Huace's legal department.

The wariness in her heart receded like the tide, and her long-wandering heart finally found a place to rest.

There was someone who steadfastly chose her when she was facing much criticism.

Liu Haolin, who already had feelings for Gu Jingyi, also reached out his claws at that moment and chose to believe this "two-legged beast".

As she entered the industry, she chatted with Gu Jingyi more and more.

Liu Haoli's heart was now completely fluttering.

The halo of being a top star works not only with fans, but also within the industry.

"Sister Rolling Her Eyes" once looked down on all the unknown male artists except Teacher Yangyang because she was dating a top star. She acted like a top star even though she didn't have the popularity or status of a top star.

As a top-tier celebrity with an absolute dominance, Gu Jingyi's name brings countless benefits to any female artist who is associated with him.

If she didn't have a good relationship with Gu Jingyi, how could the opportunity to film his music video have fallen into her lap?

Liu Haolin was well aware of the gap between the two of them, but she also believed that she had unlimited potential.

The label "a certain girl" clearly indicates she's a "future big star in the making."

These things also gave Liu Haolin the confidence to confess his feelings to Gu Jingyi.

But most importantly, it's because my heart is becoming increasingly and uncontrollably fluttering.

“Gu… Jingyi,” she said, her eyes filled with complex emotions as she looked at Gu Jingyi.

"You clearly rejected me, but then suddenly kissed me... What does that mean...?"

Liu Haoli's gaze was fixed on the cabin, and Gu Jingyi's face was reflected in the glass.

She analyzed every tiny change in his facial expression, frame by frame.

"puff"

Her hand was suddenly grasped, and Gu Jingyi grabbed it and started playing with it.

"My dear Miss Buffett, do you want another nickname like Miss Sherlock Holmes or Miss Conan? Stop staring at me, don't you know that my haters say I'm cunning and scheming?"

Gu Jingyi tightened his grip on her hand, a smile appearing in his eyes as he looked at her.

"You'll only know what kind of person I am after you get to know me deeply. My inner world is so rich that your limited knowledge of psychology isn't enough to understand it..."

Before Gu Jingyi could finish speaking, Liu Haoli pounced on him again.

She moved closer, bracing herself against the glass enclosure with one hand. With her other hand, she pressed against the back of Gu Jingyi's head, releasing all the pent-up grievances in her heart through this kiss.

These were all things Gu Jingyi had just done to him, and she had always been an excellent student.

They learn quickly and get the hang of things fast.

She even showed signs of surpassing her predecessors, going even further than Gu Jingyi.

It started with a peck, then progressed to a bite.

The blood that had been frozen by Gu Jingyi's rejection began to slowly surge again in this warm current of passion.

It was a long time before she let go.

With her small face displaying incredibly vibrant lip color, she finally spoke.

The voice was slightly hoarse, very soft yet exceptionally clear.

"Gu Jingyi..."

"You bastard."

Gu Jingyi was itching to try it again, if this person really was her fan.

Since he met her, he has heard words like "disgusting" and "jerk" from her more often than he has in the entirety of his 20-year life.

If this guy hadn't debuted in the entertainment industry and was still running a fan site, he could easily be attacked by fans for "insulting and chasing" if he accidentally switched to the wrong account, potentially triggering a fan war at any moment.

Fortunately, Gu Jingyi is handsome and kind-hearted, and he doesn't hold it against Zi for repeatedly contradicting him.

The Ferris wheel stopped at that moment, and Gu Jingyi picked up his things and was about to push open the cabin door to get out.

Suddenly, a pair of hands appeared around his waist; Liu Haoli stood behind Gu Jingyi and hugged him.

She sniffed around Gu Jingyi like a puppy, then affectionately rubbed her face against his trench coat.

When a cat suddenly rubs against someone, it's not to be affectionate, but rather to leave its own unique scent on that person.

From then on, they left their mark when they went out.

"Gu Jingyi, what made you change your mind?"

A voice with a thick nasal tone rang out from behind me again.

Gu Jingyi thought for a moment before answering, "It's a contradiction. My reason tells me that you might regret choosing to be with me later. But from the moment I rejected you and saw your suddenly pale face, I realized that reason is utterly worthless in the face of emotions."

"When a Ferris wheel suddenly makes a 'suspension' sound and sees that you are afraid, certain behaviors will spontaneously occur."

Liu Hao's eyes grew brighter as he listened, but he still pouted and complained, "Didn't you say this wasn't the best time?"

"Did you forget?" Gu Jingyi pushed her hand away. Under her somewhat dissatisfied gaze, he turned around and carefully straightened her scarf.

Gu Jingyi continued slowly and deliberately, "As I said, once a move is made, there's no going back."

Looking at Liu Haolin, who was standing there dumbfounded, completely stunned by the good news.

Gu Jingyi's smile became even more genuine as he took Liu Haoli's hand and walked out.

“从此以后，每个12月9号都将成为你生命中最有纪念价值的日子。你在2018年12月9号这天，把断层顶流、Apop第一人的顾璟奕搞到手了。”

Liu Haoli shook his head, "Not yet."

"what?"

The next second, she whispered in Gu Jingyi's ear, "I've never even met Xiao Jingyi, how can I say I've gotten you?"

"?!"

Gu Jingyi's expression was strange. "Are you sure it's okay today?"

"Not today, Brother Jingyi~" Liu Hao grabbed Gu Jingyi's arm and started to whine and plead.

"A relative who visits every month just arrived..."

Gu Jingyi froze upon hearing the words "Brother Jingyi".

He looked at Liu Haolin with a complicated expression, a probing look that held a hint of inquiry.

"Lin, strictly speaking, I should call you Sister Lin. I was born on September 29, 1998, four months younger than you..."

Then, trying to cover up the truth, she added, "Of course, if you want to call me Brother Jingyi, I have no objection... After all, who would complain about being a junior in seniority?"

After speaking, Gu Jingyi skillfully took two steps diagonally forward.

"Hey!" Liu Haoli, who missed the kick, was furious and chased after him, wanting to hit him.

"Gu Jingyi, you're not allowed to run away. Stop, let me kick you..."

"Hehe, let's talk about it after you catch me."

Under the sunset, a couple in love are playfully bickering.

.........

Winter always seems to bring darkness earlier than other seasons, and the cold wind feels like knives on exposed skin.

The drop tower stood not far away, and although it was already dark, it did not affect the filming of the music video.

The well-prepared staff set up powerful incandescent lights, casting long, slanted shadows on the ground from the Ferris wheel's cold steel frame.

The filming set was bustling yet proceeding in an orderly fashion. Gu Jingyi, wrapped in a hastily changed down jacket, leaned against a folding chair. Like a silent sculpture, she closed her eyes as the makeup artist touched up her makeup.

Liu Haoli sat on another chair a few steps away, wrapped in the same GoodGu beige long down jacket.

Cody was carefully tidying up the stray hairs on Liu Haoli's forehead to make sure they wouldn't obscure his face during the rapid descent of the drop tower.

"Jingyi, Li, get ready, we're going to shoot a set of still shots first!"

The on-site director used a megaphone to urge the two to come out.

The two stood up almost simultaneously, took off their heavy down jackets, and appeared wearing the "couple outfits" they had prepared.

Handsome men and beautiful women, even wearing simple hoodies and jeans, are a sight to behold.

The clothes are all "GoodGu" of course, and with Double Twelve coming up soon, Gu Jingyi naturally wants to do some pre-sales promotion.

They're all wearing the latest styles today.

"Action!"

As the clapperboard sounded, the camera zoomed in.

Below the drop tower, Gu Jingyi, playing the "boyfriend," points at the drop tower with a hint of encouragement.

When Liu Haolin, who plays the "girlfriend," sees the drop tower, she leans back slightly.

She clung to Gu Jingyi's arm, her face displaying a perfectly timed coquettish expression, shaking her head vigorously, refusing to go up to him.

"Cut! Liu Haolin, make your expression more natural, it should be that contradictory feeling of 'being bad at it but wanting to have fun,' not pure fear. Jingyi, make that smile...make it a little more 'scumbag'? Doesn't this style sound a bit like a scumbag's post-breakup memoir? Make your expression even more wicked!"

The director, watching the scene behind the monitor, gave new instructions.

Liu Hao nodded, closed his eyes, and readjusted himself.

Gu Jingyi twitched the corner of his mouth and stood in his place again.

Filming continued, once, twice, three times...

Maintaining a taut facial expression and body language in low temperatures is not easy; Liu Haolian's nose and ears quickly turned red from the cold, and his smile became somewhat stiff.

After repeated takes, Gu Jingyi also showed a hint of fatigue that was not easily noticeable.

"Okay! That's good! Change scene, get the equipment ready!" the director finally shouted.

Then comes the climax of the MV, when the lyrics go, "Baby, our relationship is like a drop tower, suddenly rising and suddenly falling."

We needed to film the two people's real feelings on the drop tower. Sitting on the cold drop tower seats, the staff quickly came forward to adjust their positions and angles.

"Jingyi, Lizi, could you two move your heads a little closer... Yes, Liu Haoli, lift your chin a little higher... Gu Jingyi, lower your profile a little more... Okay! Hold on! Get ready to film the descent!"

The amusement park staff sat in the control room and operated the controls again.

The drop tower rose to its highest point again, and the director counted down: "Three, two, one, action! Drop!"

The machine crashed down, and a strong wind howled.

Amidst the intense feeling of weightlessness and shaking, Gu Jingyi and Liu Haoli still had to keep their eyes open. As instructed, they tried their best to bring their heads closer together.

Gu Jingyi's cheek was almost touching Liu Haocun's forehead, and Liu Haocun's lips brushed against his jawline.

Watching the scene below constantly falling was truly torture.

Fortunately, both of them were very professional, and the camera captured no instances of them failing to manage their expressions.

This scene, twisted by wind and weightlessness, combined with post-production editing and slow motion, is enough to create the illusion of a "thrilling kiss".

"Cut! Great! That take is a hit!" The director's voice was filled with excitement.

The lock on the drop tower was released, and Gu Jingyi reached out and pulled up his girlfriend, who was still in shock.

The camera's light was still on, recording this moment.

"Action!"

Another scene unfolded, Gu Jingyi's face filled with impatience. Liu Haoli, her eyes brimming with tears, pushed him away.

This is a scene being filmed where a couple is arguing; the two handle it with ease.

"Cut! Great! That's a wrap!"

With the director's command, filming ended.

Almost the instant the words "That's it" were uttered, the expressions on Liu Haolin and Gu Jingyi's faces vanished.

The newlywed couple pretended not to know each other on set.

Their assistants immediately came to their aid, handing them clothes and hot drinks, and escorting them away from the cold seating area.

Before leaving, Liu Haolin quietly made a "Call me" gesture to Gu Jingyi.

Gu Jingyi smiled and nodded.

(End of this chapter)