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

The wind on the mountaintop gradually subsided, and Zhang Jingyi finally lifted her head from his embrace.

Her eyes were red as she stared at him, a smile playing on her lips.

Li Ran smiled when he saw her like this.

He took a small box out of his coat pocket and handed it to her.

"Happy birthday."

Zhang Jingyi paused for a moment, her gaze falling on the box. She took it and opened it.

A thin silver chain lay on black velvet, with a star as its pendant.

Small and exquisite, with a finely frosted surface that gleams softly in the sunlight.

She didn't speak, but simply looked up at him.

Li Ran felt a little embarrassed by the gaze, touched his nose, and explained, "The star represents Zoe."

Zhang Jingyi stared at him for two seconds.

Then she burst out laughing, "Li Ran, how can you be so old-fashioned!"

Li Ran awkwardly touched his nose.

Is it outdated?

He actually thought it was pretty good. Zoe had a crush on Ezreal in the game's lore, but Ezreal was a womanizer who flirted with everyone, and he was pretty much the same.

However, EZ doesn't like Zoe, while he does like her.

After laughing enough, Zhang Jingyi took the necklace out of the box and handed it to him: "Help me put it on."

……

The two stayed on the mountaintop for a while longer before descending along another path.

As they passed a side hall, Zhang Jingyi suddenly grabbed his sleeve.

"etc."

Li Ran followed her gaze and saw a long queue outside the hall, filled with young men and women, most of whom looked like couples.

A plaque hangs above the temple gate, bearing the three characters: "Hall of Marriage".

"Shall we... ask for one too?" Zhang Jingyi looked at him, her eyes shining.

Li Ran nodded.

The two of them each asked for a marriage charm. Zhang Jingyi stacked the two charms together and carefully put them into her bag, as if she were collecting some kind of treasure.

When they came out, she dragged him to take a picture under the wisteria and pine trees.

It was a wisteria vine that was said to be a thousand years old. Its branches were gnarled and twisted, and although it had passed its flowering season, it was still lush and green.

Red prayer plaques hung under the tree, rustling loudly in the wind.

Zhang Jingyi looked up at the densely packed signs and suddenly took something out of her bag.

It was a thin, red, hand-braided rope with a simple peace knot.

"Reach out your hand," she said.

Li Ran obediently extended his hand.

She lowered her head and carefully tied the red string around his wrist.

After tying it up, she looked up at him, her eyes curving into two crescent moons: "All done."

She paused, a hint of smugness in her voice: "That's how I mark you."

Li Ran looked down at the red string on her wrist, then at her bright, smiling face.

She looks really different today.

……

I dropped her off at her apartment building; it was already 8 p.m.

The two sat in the car for a while without saying a word.

Zhang Jingyi wrapped her fingers around the seatbelt several times, then loosened them.

"Then I... I'm going up," she said.

"Um."

She didn't move, and neither did Li Ran.

After a while, Zhang Jingyi suddenly turned her head and quickly kissed him on the cheek.

Then she pushed open the car door, ran into the apartment building, and didn't even say goodbye.

Li Ran watched the figure disappear behind the access control, touched the spot where he had been kissed, and smiled.

On the way back, Li Ran thought of the question Tian Xiwei had asked.

"Was Zhou Ye someone you found through Zhang Jingyi?"

Whether Li Ran admits it or not, he was initially attracted to the two of them because of their appearance.

The resemblance in their eyes and brows, the striking resemblance in their quiet demeanor, was like a faint thread that subtly connected the three of them.

But that's all in the past. Coconut is Coconut, and Jingyi is Jingyi.

For him now, they are two completely different girls he likes.

As for why he wasn't with Zhang Jingyi back then, the reason is quite simple.

That was shortly after his rebirth.

The image of my past life's championship dream shattered is still etched in my mind; regret is like a thorn stuck in my heart.

His mind was filled with training, competitions, and winning championships; he wanted to take back everything he hadn't achieved in his previous life.

Those youthful crushes are buried deep in my heart, and I can't think about them for the time being.

By the time he finally won the championship and looked back, it was already now.

Li Ran snapped out of his thoughts and parked the car in the underground garage.

He paused for a second when he opened the door to his home.

The living room lights were on, and a person was curled up on the sofa, holding Taxue in their arms, intently watching TV.

On the coffee table were a half-eaten takeout box and a can of cola.

Hearing the door open, Liu Haocun turned around and looked at him with a puzzled expression.

"You're back? Where have you been? You didn't even care about Ta Xue."

Her tone carried a sense of entitlement, as if she were the head of the household.

Li Ran closed the door, changed into slippers, and went over.

"You actually came to steal a dog?"

"What are you saying!" Liu Haocun's eyes widened, and he pulled Taxue closer to his chest.

"I'm here to take care of Ta Xue! You're such a bad owner, leaving the puppy alone at home all day."

She looked down at Taxue, her voice immediately becoming soft and sweet: "Isn't that right, Taxue? Am I correct?"

Ta Xue nestled in her arms, tilting her little head back and letting out a pitiful whimper, as if she were joining her in accusing Li Ran.

Li Ran: "..."

This dog is a better actor than its owner.

He glanced at the clock on the wall; it was almost ten o'clock.

"It's so late," he said. "I'll take you home."

Liu Haocun blinked, looking completely innocent: "Isn't there a guest room?"

She paused, tilted her head to look at him, and said with a hint of teasing in her tone, "What, afraid of rumors about us?"

Looking at her bright, doe-like eyes, Li Ran suddenly felt a little helpless.

"Whatever."

Li Ran opened the refrigerator, took a can of cola, walked to the sofa, and sat down at the other end.

Ta Xue jumped down from Liu Haocun's arms, ran over, and reached up to his legs.

Li Ran scooped it up and placed it on his belly. The little guy immediately lay down comfortably and made satisfied purring sounds.

Liu Haocun watched this scene and gave a soft "humph".

She asked, "What did you do today?"

Li Ran looked up at her and said, "I have no obligation to report to you, do I?"

"Who are you to me? A friend?"

Liu Haocun's mouth immediately pursed.

She lowered her eyes, her eyelashes trembling slightly, her voice becoming low and soft, carrying just the right amount of grievance: "Did I... bother my brother?"

She raised her eyes, her doe-like eyes brimming with tears—of course, it was acting, but it was incredibly realistic.

I feel so guilty.

She paused, then her voice became even softer:

"But I'm just curious..."

She blinked, a tear welling up in her eye but not falling, which only made her look more pitiful: "Don't be angry... I won't ask anymore."

She lowered her head again, her fingers gently twisting the hem of her clothes: "Please don't kick me out, okay? It's so late, I don't want to sleep on the streets..."

Li Ran looked at her.

She kept her head down, her shoulders slightly hunched, looking weak, pitiful, and helpless.

Li Ran rubbed his temples.

"Alright," he said, "stop acting. Clean up the guest room yourself."

Liu Haocun suddenly raised his head, his aggrieved expression vanishing instantly in place by a big smile: "Hehe, thank you, brother!"

Then she blinked and leaned closer: "So, what exactly did you do today?"

Li Ran stared at her smiling face, so close to his own, and remained silent for a full three seconds.

"Zhang Jingyi's birthday."

Liu Haocun's smile froze for a moment.

Then she stopped smiling, picked up Taxue, stood up, and walked towards the guest room.

As she reached the door, she glanced back at Li Ran and said coldly, "Hmph! I'm not playing with you anymore."

The door closed.

Li Ran leaned back on the sofa, looked at the closed door, and suddenly smiled softly.

In the guest room, Liu Haocun put Taxue on the bed and sat down on the edge of the bed himself.

She stared at the little dog scratching its ear with its hind leg for a long time in silence.

Then she spoke, her voice soft, as if talking to Ta Xue, or perhaps to herself:

"Do you think your dad knows I like him?"

Ta Xue stopped scratching his ear and tilted his head to look at her.

Liu Haocun sighed, scooped Taxue into his arms, and rested his chin on its fluffy head.

"They went out today...could they already be together?"

Ta Xue barked once.

"You also think it's possible, right?"

Liu Haocun frowned. "That Zhang Jingyi, she's beautiful, has a good personality, and has liked him for so many years..."

She became increasingly downcast as she spoke, her voice growing softer and softer: "Ugh... I'm so annoyed right now."

She buried her face in Snowy's fur and said in a muffled voice, "Snowy baby, can I be your mommy?"

Ta Xue stuck out her tongue and carefully licked her cheek.

Liu Haocun felt ticklish from the licking and couldn't help but laugh out loud, which eased his slight gloom.

She lay down, hugging Ta Xue, and stared at the ceiling...

"Li Ran, I'm sure I can get you..."