ALSO‼️To all my fellow Shenlan Qiyu and Falan enjoyers (the 3 that i know of lmao), the EN fan-translation has been picked up by World Gate Translations and they are continuing the translation from where shunshunrika left off at chapter 89 :D
You can read it here! It's still ongoing so do check it out and show your support if possible<3
Wrote an accompanying fic for this scene also on AO3:
“Great, now we'll just need some kiss marks around your neck and we're good.”
Lan Ge nodded listlessly to Hong Bao's comment. If the world-renowned photographer didn't know him personally, she would have kicked him out immediately. There was a long queue of celebrities dying to work with her. If only she hadn't owed him a favour..
She clucked her tongue. “I tried using a stamp but it looks too fake, so we'll need to borrow someone's lips instead.”
Hong Bao eyed at all the blushing ladies around looking eager to volunteer. They reminded her of vultures until her eyes finally landed on the only man in the room - Lan Ge's personal manager.
“Fa Hua, can you do it?”
The stoic man looked surprised to be suddenly called on. “Me?”
Hong Bao held out a lipstick to him. “Yes, get some lip marks on his neck.”
Fa Hua glanced at Lan Ge for a beat before averting his eyes in hesitation.
“If you're not comfortable, then someone else can-”
“-It's fine.” Fa Hua grabbed the lipstick. He applied it through the mirror clumsily before turning to her with a determined look. “Where do you need it?”
Hong Bao unbuttoned the top few buttons of Lan Ge's white shirt and shoved it off one of his shoulders. She then pointed at a spot above his right collarbone.
Fa Hua took a deep breath before leaning in to push his lips against that spot, his one hand coming up on Lan Ge’s chest for balance.
Lan Ge’s breath hitched when he felt soft lips on his skin, albeit a little moist from the lipstick.
Hong Bao continued to point out different spots and instructed Fa Hua to press harder for more prominent marks.
Lan Ge swallowed, his heartbeat quickening as he was acutely aware of Fa Hua's breathing and the insistent press of his lips. Hong Bao’s instructions became white noise and the world narrowed down to their physical contact. What's going on? Why was he so affected? Was it because he'd never been so close to anyone like this before, or was it because it was Fa Hua?
His stomach fluttered at the thought of the latter.
Fa Hua, his personal manager who was brought in three years ago as his parents’ friend’s godson to help improve his reputation. Basically someone he couldn't insist on firing on a whim.
Initially, Lan Ge hated him for forcing him to behave during interviews via blackmail. Fa Hua had gotten rid of his housekeeper and made Lan Ge do chores himself as punishment. Imagine him! Washing the dishes! At that point, Lan Ge was irritable from the lack of sleep and was often picking fights with other celebrities. The media painted him in the light of a self-entitled rich second-generation.
It came to a point where they trashed things out and Fa Hua finally realised the problems Lan Ge were facing. He then helped him overcome his insomnia and gatekeep his schedule so that he had enough rest. Fa Hua had also formed many good connections and arranged interactive fan meets that helped enhance his image. Eventually, Lan Ge also got to learn more about Fa Hua and meet the orphanage children. They could finally just play around with the kids as if they were kids themselves. It was fun, and Lan Ge started to realise that everything was more fun with the other man around.
Fa Hua turned from a thorn in his side to the reason Lan Ge actually does anything. Go for a sponsored photoshoot? Sure, only so that Fa Hua will sneak him out for ice cream afterwards. 2 hours fan meet? Fine, if Fa Hua agreed to wear whatever the fans gave him on their way home so that he could have a good laugh.
Fa Hua became his motivation and the highlight of his days. Not to mention that he's kinda hot, and super cute when he smiles. Does this means that Lan Ge is attracted to him? Was that why he's so nervous right now? Did he actually want Fa Hua to do… more?
“Ok, five minutes break!” Lan Ge abruptly announced as he pushed Fa Hua backwards, grabbed Hong Bao and pulled her away with a “Hong Bao, a word, please.”
“SOS! This is a CRISIS, Hong Bao!” He announced in despair when they were alone in the changing room.
“What’s wrong?” She demanded.
Lan Ge licked his lips. “Let’s just say Fa Hua kissing my neck has awakened something-”
Hong Bao scrunched her face in disgust. “-Oh my god-”
“-No, hear me out!” He threw his hands out. “That's not even the worst part-”
“-That's not?” She looked at him with raised brows.
“I think I'm in love with Fa Hua.”
Hong Bao gave him the flattest glare ever.
“Are you kidding me? Now is not the time to realise your feelings or whatever, I have a shoot to do!” She snarled.
“I know, I know! But imagine someone you like kissing up all over your neck,” He gestured to his bare collar, “can you really blame me?”
“Urgh, you-!” Hong Bao pinched her nose bridge in exasperation. “Ok, forget it. Enough lip marks, this is fine.”
Lan Ge blew a breath of relief.
She snorted. “Ready to get back to work now?”
“I g-guess so..”
She stomped off with a shake of her head. “Tch, men.”
Thankfully, Lan Ge was a good model when he wanted to be - all that effortlessly photogenic charm allowed Hong Bao to complete the shoot in record time. But since they had time to spare, she decided to get some extra shots as payback…
“I need someone with long, black hair,” Hong Bao pondered aloud and pretended to look around at all the fancy-coloured dyed hair before locking eyes onto her target. “Fa Hua, come here.”
She could see Lan Ge visibly stiffened and hid her snort internally.
The personal manager eyed her warily. “Yes?”
“Don't worry, I just need a bit of your back view. Your face won't be seen. Stand here in front of Lan Ge.” Hong Bao adjusted his position.
She then went behind Fa Hua and pointed the camera over his shoulder to face Lan Ge.
“Lan Ge, come closer towards him.”
She enjoyed the look of panic he shot her as he shuffled closer.
“Okay, look into each others’ eyes,” She instructed and bit her lips to stifle her laughter at how red Lan Ge was turning.
“Closer..”
She quickly snapped a few shots.
"Just a bit more closer.."
“Argh, Hong Bao!” Lan Ge couldn't hold it in anymore. Any closer and they were literally going to touch noses! He turned towards her with an accusatory finger. “You're doing this on purpose!”
“Lan Ge, don't be rude. Calm down.” Fa Hua placated as he pulled the other’s hand down. “Sorry, Hong Bao, I think we'll take a short break now.”
“Forget it, I was just trying something out but it didn't work. We're done for the shoot,” Hong Bao concluded apathetically as she sifted through the shots in her camera. “You two can leave now, I won't be sending you off.”
“Then.. we'll make a move first. Thank you everyone for your hard work.” Fa Hua forced Lan Ge to bow to Hong Bao with a hand on his head before dragging him away.
Hong Bao waited till the door closed before she smirked at the pictures she took of them.
Yes, they’ll make a good wedding gift in the future.
***
“Huahua, what are your thoughts on me dating someone?” Lan Ge brought up some time later when they were alone in the study room. He was lying on the sofa watching Fa Hua flipping through the bunch of paperwork at his desk.
“Terrible. A PR Nightmare. Great hassle for everyone involved,” His personal manager immediately listed.
Lan Ge groaned. “Will it really be that bad?”
“Yes.” Fa Hua gave him a knowing look. “But having said that, I'm sure you'll still do whatever you want anyway.”
“...”
Fa Hua gave a deep sigh. “Who is it?”
“Huh?”
“The person you’ll be dating.”
Lan Ge looked down and played with his fingers. “I.. I don't even know if they'll agree to date me.”
Fa Hua highly doubted that anyone would reject the popular Lan Ge. He sighed. “Just tell me who first so that I can run a background check.”
Lan Ge snorted. “I don't think that's going to be a problem..”
“That's not for you to decide.” Fa Hua snapped a little impatiently as he opened his notebook and got his pen ready. “Name?”
Lan Ge licked his lips. “Ermm.. Well, it's uh, Fa Hua.”
“Hmm?”
“That's the name.” Lan Ge steadily avoided eye-contact. “It's.. you.”
“W-What?” He looked up from his book in bewilderment. “Is this a prank?”
“No, it's not!” Lan Ge insisted before adding petulantly, “I.. just like you. B-But if you don't want to date me, then forget it.”
Fa Hua felt his heartbeat pick up and he took a deep breath.
“I-It’s not that simple,” He stuttered. “I'm pretty sure it's against my contract to-”
“-So you want to?” Lan Ge sat up and walked over with a hopeful look eyes.
Fa Hua turned away and shook his head. “No, we can't. It'll ruin everything you have-”
“-Fa Hua.” The singer interrupted as he stood in front of him. He grabbed both sides of Fa Hua's arms firmly. “Do you like me? Yes or no?”
Fa Hua inhaled sharply as he caught the other’s gaze. He should say no. Nip the hope in the bud. It'll be easier for everyone this way. He thought of how the ignorant rich second-generation Lan Ge had come so far from when they first met three years back, and grown into the fine young man he is now.
All his fans know about his voice, about his boisterous personality, but they don't know that he's afraid of spiders, and how he believes that carrots taste better when they are cut into flower shapes. They don't know that Lan Ge was just a teenager who wanted to make his parents proud, but was overwhelmed by the life being a popular singer came with. They don't know that he actually shines best when he's off-stage, laughing and playing unrestrained with the children at the orphanage, when he tries to sing to Fa Hua to calm him down in a panic attack.
Fa Hua closed his eyes and thought of a life without the other man. No more secret escapades Lan Ge will drag him into, no more “We did it!” hugs he gives to Fa Hua after every successful concert. He thinks of Lan Ge getting together with someone else and his heart instantly hurt. He chuckled sadly to himself. Of course he had to fall for this idiot. How could he not?
He allowed himself a moment of truth and admitted in a soft exhale of, “Yes.”
“Huahua!” Lan Ge immediately wrapped him in a hug with a happy laugh that tickled his heart.
“B-But we can't,” Fa Hua reluctantly struggled against the warm embrace.
Lan Ge pulled back to look him in the eye softly. “You're worried about the contract, right?”
Fa Hua sighed. “Amongst a hundred other reasons, yes.”
“Well, you don't have to think about those anymore.” Lan Ge announced with an eager smile. “Because I. Quit.”
Fa Hua's eyes widened. “W-What?”
“All your concerns are about me being a famous singer. So I'll just stop being that!”
“You- You can't just quit just because of me!”
“It's not all because of you! I've been thinking about it for a while. What's the point of slaving my ass off for all this money I don't even have the time to enjoy? I just wanted to have fun making music and make my parents happy. And it turns out, they are already happy, but now I'm not even having fun.” He sighed as he held Fa Hua's palms in his.
“I'm not saying I’ll retire and bum around for the rest of my life. Maybe I'll join a small band and sing at bars. I know you say normal people have to wash their own dishes but I'd rather wash dishes with you than continue this life where I can't even be with the person I like.”
Fa Hua swallowed. The devotion in his voice made blood rush to his ears. Both their faces were red.
“You..”
“And it's not like everyone working with me will lose their jobs, either! I'll pass them on to another artiste who is actually passionate in what they do, like Sheng Lian. Except for you, I would like you to stay with me. Or not, if you want to do something else. I can follow you to build your dream instead..” Lan Ge trailed off meekly after his rambling.
“You idiot,” Fa Hua huffed fondly as he leaned forward onto the other's shoulder. Lan Ge could feel his palpitating heart through their clothes. “Who else retires at 27? Just take a break first before deciding that you really want to quit."
“Oh, great idea! I needed a vacation like, yesterday. Let's go somewhere far where no one will recognise us!” Lan Ge pulled back again but stayed close to look him in the eye shyly. “You'll come with me, right?”
“Well, somebody has to keep you in check,” Fa Hua mumbled before leaning forward to close the gap between their lips.
