Huayu: Starting from retirement, sweeping across the domestic entertainment industry

"Is my little brother angry?"

Li Yitong raised her head and looked at Li Ran, her crescent-shaped eyes curving into a smile.

Li Ran looked at her and said slowly, "You're a bit too hot-tempered."

No sooner had he finished speaking than another pair of chopsticks reached out.

Lu Yuxiao picked up a piece of bitter melon and placed it steadily into his bowl, her expression as serious as a primary school student doing homework.

"I happen to have some bitter melon, let me help you cool down."

Li Ran looked at Lu Yuxiao with surprise—she was looking at him, her eyes carrying a hint of smugness, as if to say, "Look how thoughtful I am," and the corners of her mouth were slightly upturned.

Li Yitong chuckled softly, her gaze sweeping between Li Ran and Lu Yuxiao.

Li Ran looked at the bright green bitter melon in the bowl, remained silent for two seconds, then picked it up, put it in his mouth, and chewed it.

The bitterness melted on his tongue, and he swallowed it without changing his expression.

"Alright, let's eat."

Lu Yuxiao said "Oh" and lowered her head to continue eating.

After finishing their meal, the three of them left the restaurant.

"I'll take you back to your hotel first," Li Ran asked Lu Yuxiao.

Lu Yuxiao nodded without saying anything and followed him toward the parking lot.

Li Yitong walked on the other side, her steps unhurried, her skirt swaying gently in the night breeze. Moonlight shone through the clouds, casting a silvery glow on her silhouette.

The car was parked in front of the hotel where Lu Yuxiao's film crew was staying.

Lu Yuxiao unbuckled her seatbelt, but did not get out of the car immediately. She turned to look at Li Ran.

"Remember to message me."

Li Ran looked at her and nodded. "I'll get back to you when I have time."

But I probably won't be free tonight.

On the way back to the hotel.

Li Ran turned his head and glanced at Li Yitong in the passenger seat.

She was leaning back in her chair, her face turned to the side, staring at him intently.

"Drive carefully," she said slowly, pausing before adding, "What, are you in such a hurry?"

Li Ran kept his eyes on the road ahead, his hands gripping the steering wheel, his posture very steady.

"Why should I be in such a hurry? I don't understand what my sister is saying."

Li Yitong chuckled softly, the sound particularly clear in the quiet carriage. "It's just the two of us now, stop pretending."

She paused, as if waiting for Li Ran's reaction, but he didn't say anything, just continued driving with his eyes fixed straight ahead.

She looked at Li Ran's profile and said, "Xiao Tian just messaged me, saying that we're going to be filming until midnight."

Li Ran's lips curved slightly. "Really?"

Li Yitong looked at him with a smile, a hint of mischief in her crescent-shaped eyes, "Don't you know, little brother?"

"What do I know?" Li Ran feigned confusion.

Li Yitong did not answer.

……

The two returned to the hotel.

Li Yitong walked ahead at a leisurely pace, while Li Ran followed behind, his hands in his pockets, his posture relaxed, his gaze fixed on her back.

The elevator doors opened, and the two stepped inside.

The door closed, leaving only the two people breathing in the small space.

Li Yitong leaned against the elevator wall, turned her head to look at him, and her crescent-shaped eyes shone brightly under the pale light, curved like two new moons hanging in the night sky.

"Your place, or mine?"

Li Ran leaned against the elevator wall on the other side, looked at her, and smiled slightly.

"Is your sister getting impatient?" His voice carried a hint of teasing, as well as a mischievous urge to deliberately delay.

Li Yitong rolled her eyes at him and said with a hint of reproach, "Then let's go to your place."

The elevator has arrived.

Li Ran walked ahead, took out his room card, swiped it, pushed the door open, and the lock clicked shut, the sound particularly clear in the quiet corridor.

Li Yitong followed him in and closed the door behind her.

The moment the door closed, Li Ran turned around and looked at her, his gaze calm, but there was something indescribable in his eyes.

But Li Yitong sensed a strong possessiveness.

Li Ran reached out, grabbed her wrist, pulled her to the wall, and pressed her against it. The movement was not forceful, but decisive, with an undeniable certainty.

Li Yitong's back pressed against the cold wall, and she flinched slightly, but did not flinch.

Li Ran looked down at her. The two were very close, close enough to see the curve of her eyelashes and to smell her faint fragrance.

"Is my sister playing with fire?" His voice was low, carrying a hint of danger.

Li Yitong looked up at him, her crescent-shaped eyes shining brightly in the dim light, like two black pearls soaking in water.

She didn't panic or flinch; she simply reached out and gently placed her hand against his chest, feeling his strong heartbeat.

"Don't you like it?" she asked back, her voice so soft it seemed like a breeze could blow it away, yet every word clearly reached his ears.

Her lips curved into a slight smile, a smile that was not ostentatious, even gentle, but there was something indescribable in her eyes that made one's heart race.

"Are you a coward now? Afraid of Xiaotian..."

Li Ran didn't say anything. He lowered his head and kissed her.

There was no probing, no hesitation, just directness and certainty, decisiveness and efficiency, without a trace of ambiguity.

Her lips were soft, warm from the alcohol, and had a unique, indescribable sweetness that belonged only to her.

Li Yitong did not resist. She slowly loosened her grip on his chest, her fingers sliding across the fabric of his clothes before wrapping her arms around his waist and gently tightening them.

Li Yitong did not resist. She slowly loosened her grip on his chest, her fingers sliding across the fabric of his clothes before wrapping her arms around his waist and gently tightening them.

Her fingertips touched the skin on his lower back, cool and refreshing, like an autumn leaf falling on warm skin.

The light was still on; the motion-sensor light in the entryway cast a dim, yellowish glow, illuminating the overlapping shadows of two people on the wall…

No one was speaking.

After a long while, the two parted ways.

Li Yitong leaned against the wall, slightly out of breath, her cheeks flushed with a faint blush, like peach blossoms in early spring, just opened by the wind.

She raised her hand, lightly touched her lips with her fingertips, and looked at Li Ran. Her crescent-shaped eyes curved into a beautiful arc, carrying a hint of mischief, a hint of smugness, and a hint of indescribable coquettishness.

"Never kissed your sister before?" She pointed to Li Ran's lips, her voice light and tinged with laughter, "They're all stringy..."

Li Ran gave an awkward laugh.

Instead of wiping her, he bent down and lifted her up in his arms.

Li Yitong was lighter than he had imagined; she felt almost weightless in his arms.

Her body stiffened slightly, then relaxed, and her arms naturally wrapped around his neck.

"Then why are you stirring things up?" Li Ran looked down at her, his tone teasing.

Li Yitong playfully patted his shoulder, but not hard.

"You were the one who did it first." Her voice lowered, carrying a hint of coquetry.

Li Ran carried her to the bedside, his steps unhurried. He looked at the smiling face in his arms and the corners of his mouth curved slightly.

"So, does your sister prefer to take the initiative or be passive?" she asked tentatively.

Li Yitong frowned, thought seriously for a moment, her crescent-shaped eyes narrowed slightly, and then her brows relaxed and her lips curled into a smile.