LWDC Chapter 23

Chapter 23 – Long-Term Relationship

That evening, Ning Fei still went to Duan Yunhong’s place.

Duan Yunhong had given him a temporary password that lasted half an hour, so Ning Fei entered the apartment without any trouble. However, once inside, Ning Fei found the living room and bedroom empty. He followed the faint sounds to Duan Yunhong’s multimedia room.

The door was ajar, leaving a crack about the width of a fist. Through it, he could see the room was dimly lit, with flickering lights. Ning Fei knocked on the door and poked his head in. “Room service~”

“You’re here?” Duan Yunhong was sitting on the sofa, leaning back as before, only looking up at him. “Want to take a shower first?”

“I don’t mind. If you don’t mind, I can shower later. Otherwise, I’ll scrub my skin off.” Ning Fei shrugged, then looked at the wall opposite Duan Yunhong, where a projection almost covered the entire surface. “What are you watching?”

“A documentary about how the classic D brand haute couture show fifteen years ago was prepared, mainly focusing on the D brand’s head designer at the time, and some famous models from that era.” Duan Yunhong glanced at the time on his phone. “I’ve watched most of it, about half an hour left. If you don’t want to shower, watch it together? The end is mostly runway footage, should be quite good.”

“You’re really putting on an act. Last time it was the night view, this time a documentary…” Ning Fei knew from his tone that he wanted to finish watching before “getting down to business,” so he unceremoniously sat down next to him, picking up an open bottle of wine to examine it. “Champagne this time?”

“Suits the atmosphere of the show. I just wanted a drink, didn’t want something that would get me tipsy…” Duan Yunhong didn’t finish his sentence before Ning Fei interrupted him. “Can’t you get a glass yourself?”

“Just tasting a bit.” Ning Fei put down his bottle and shrugged. “Yeah, definitely just a light drink.”

Duan Yunhong saw the disappointment on his face and said casually, “Or go pick out one you like and open it.”

Ning Fei leaned back lazily against the sofa. “Forget it, the ones I like are all expensive. If I open a bottle now, and don’t finish it before doing other things, wouldn’t it be a waste when the taste changes?”

Duan Yunhong glanced at him. “‘Doing other things’?”

“Doing you.” As soon as Ning Fei said it, he thought the line was too cliché and cheesy, and laughed as he fell onto Duan Yunhong. Duan Yunhong, despite wearing home clothes, didn’t seem to mind Ning Fei’s dusty state and let him lean against him. Instead, he moved his hand out of the way, letting him slide smoothly onto his lap.

Seeing Ning Fei laughing as he fell, his eyes sparkling, Duan Yunhong leaned down to kiss him.

Ning Fei’s eyes showed confusion, but he still cooperated. The tender song from the show echoed through the room, and the colorful light of the screen reflected on them. The man who claimed he wanted to watch the documentary was focused on this kiss, which tasted of wine.

When the kiss ended, Ning Fei fiddled with the button on Duan Yunhong’s home clothes and raised an eyebrow, smiling. “What, Director Duan doesn’t want to finish his documentary?”

Duan Yunhong lowered his eyes and gazed at him. “The more I watch, the more questions I have.”

Ning Fei found it amusing. “What, even the esteemed Director Duan can have doubts about a fashion documentary? Don’t tell me you want me to solve them?”

“I do want you to solve them.”

“Oh?”

“Today, you hinted to Su Cenxi to adjust his pose.” Duan Yunhong said abruptly, “Your instructions were quick, precise, and accurate, like you have extensive experience with cameras, or rather, industry experience.”

Ning Fei paused for a moment, then realized what he was talking about.

He was referring to the scene they had both been watching during the day. When Su Cenxi was taking still photos with several other models, Ning Fei was indeed standing on the sidelines watching, using the screen of a camera to confirm Su Cenxi’s state.

Actually, Su Cenxi’s condition was generally good today. Except for the minor episode with the accessories at the beginning, the shooting process didn’t have any major accidents. Even when the stylists put some exaggerated items on him, he didn’t panic. When taking photos, he would subtly show off the most distinctive parts of his body, rather than deliberately pursuing his best-looking angle. Occasionally, he would take advantage of the change of posture to quickly glance in Ning Fei’s direction. If Ning Fei’s expression didn’t change, Su Cenxi would continue to take his photos with peace of mind.

Only once, when Su Cenxi was taking a group photo, he stood on the far edge of the back row. When he fixed his final pose, he glanced at Ning Fei, who raised his hand and pointed to his ear.

Su Cenxi suddenly realized, and immediately turned his head to reveal more of the exaggerated earrings.

This was just a small movement, even the others at Chen Xi Studio might not have noticed it. But Duan Yunhong was standing not far away, taking it all in.

Now, he specifically mentioned this detail.

“I’m an agent, after all. I’ve seen so many shooting scenes and fashion images, isn’t it normal to have some insights?” Ning Fei smiled, his tone natural. “Maybe I have a talent for show direction.”

“Do you have talent, or experience?” Duan Yunhong’s thumb traced Ning Fei’s face. “You have the physical attributes, the ambition, the means, the talent, the aesthetic sense—

“Where exactly did you come from? How come I’ve never heard of you?”

Ning Fei’s heart seemed to skip a beat.

When he “temporarily inserted” himself into this world, he really didn’t put much effort into setting up his identity. After all, the only people he really needed to convince were the transmigrators, and they would know his real identity. His “paper resume” could be written casually. Gu Hechen had investigated Ning Fei before, but Su Cenxi had mediated in the middle, and Gu Hechen had let it go. Who knew that now the director of the opposing company had also begun to suspect him, and was even more detailed and sharp-minded than Gu Hechen, asking questions that Ning Fei didn’t know how to fabricate answers for.

Yes, how could someone with no industry experience be so comfortable and skillful as soon as they entered the industry?

But Ning Fei remained calm on the surface. Anyway, Duan Yunhong couldn’t possibly go to Su Cenxi and stir up trouble. As long as he didn’t deliberately hinder Ning Fei’s work, couldn’t he just muddle through? So Ning Fei blinked, the coldness in his eyes already hidden, and replied in a relaxed tone, “Director Duan, are you investigating me so openly?”

“Investigating the competition is a normal business practice that every company does.” Duan Yunhong was also calm, not at all embarrassed to be exposed. “You weren’t in the industry before, I’m very curious, why did you switch over, how did you successfully switch over? Look at the documentary, everyone who has a shot on camera has been working hard in the industry for many years to be able to appear there. You don’t have those prerequisites, how do you understand the industry? How can you accurately judge which methods to use to get which effects? Where did you find out about the channels for getting resources?”

“So you weren’t watching a documentary, you were using the documentary to interrogate me?” Ning Fei sat up and turned to look at him. “Director Duan, although we sometimes talk about work, we’re ultimately rivals. Meeting outside of work is just for fun. What do you mean now, insisting on doing an interrogation to ruin my mood, or is this actually your kink?”

“I don’t have such a strange kink.” Duan Yunhong replied, “I just think the background check results on your competition are too simple, so I wanted to ask you myself. An agent’s resume is supposed to be semi-public in the industry, only yours is so mysterious, can’t I even ask about it?”

“You can ask, I can not answer.” Ning Fei raked his hair and stood up. “I came to have fun, you’re giving me an interview, so annoying. It’s not like I’m trying to transfer to your company so I’m climbing into your bed…”

Duan Yunhong grabbed his wrist. “Where are you going?”

“Why do you care?” Ning Fei snorted. “I’ll find someone who doesn’t pry into my background, doesn’t make me take a on-site syphilis test; it’s more straightforward than you. Oh, no, when I first played with you, you didn’t even ask my name. That’s how you’ve changed.”

“We’re in the same industry, and you still have so many strange ideas. I’m just asking, I didn’t arrest you and interrogate you.” Duan Yunhong pulled him, not letting go. “As for that syphilis test, you never mentioned that thing when you played with me before. You’re the one who’s changed.”

“Wasn’t it you who questioned whether I was fooling around, whether I had caught something!” Ning Fei sneered. “Even wanted us both to go for a health check, how absurd… Hey!”

Duan Yunhong pulled him down, turning over to pin him on the sofa. “Then did you fool around? Did you really go play with someone else that day?”

“Duan Yunhong, are you interfering too much!” The room was dim, and Ning Fei felt Duan Yunhong’s eyes were dark and deep. He sneered, “You wouldn’t want to get serious with me, would you? Are you in love with me?”

“How is that possible?” Duan Yunhong also sneered. “But I’m considering we can be long-term steady fuck buddies, what do you think?”

Ning Fei was a little unhappy. “Tsk, you’re already bossing me around before we even start. Wouldn’t it be even more annoying if we actually became one…”

“Our bodies are so compatible, don’t you really want it?” Duan Yunhong bit him lightly. “Those questions of mine weren’t to control you, just asking. We don’t interfere in each other’s private lives, and prioritize each other for fun, how about it?”

Ning Fei was a bit tempted by this idea, but still wanted to confirm. “Seriously? Then if I go on a business trip in the future, you won’t question me again about whether I played with someone else?”

“I’m too lazy to get involved in that jealous drama. I just want to confirm your health.” Duan Yunhong said, “I can tell you’re not the kind of person who jokes around with their health, but things are chaotic abroad, you might get scammed…”

“Duan Yunhong!” Ning Fei’s knee nudged him. “If you doubt my intelligence again, get off me! If you think I’m easy to fool, don’t touch me.”

“I already took the initiative to kiss you, of course I believe you didn’t mess around this time.” Duan Yunhong was about to say something else, but seeing Ning Fei narrow his eyes, he decided not to say more. “Alright, now that we’ve agreed to be long-term fuck buddies, remember to prioritize me when I’m around.”

Ning Fei snorted with a laugh. “You’re quite confident in your skills, Director Duan.”

Duan Yunhong intertwined his fingers with his, and smiled meaningfully. “Of course, after all, you always give me a thumbs up.”