AFM Ch 2

Jing Mian held his breath slightly.

…Too close.

Jing Mian held the brim of his hat, unable to move or find his words, as the strong aura and inexplicable sense of intimidation seemed to have indirectly affected him.

But he quickly realized that this stranger was actually intervening on his behalf.

The concept of an aura suppressing someone wasn’t just a fabrication.

Even after hearing the short sentence just now, let alone the person involved, even he was unable to move.

They obviously don’t know each other, but the slightly intimate gesture of wearing a hat will lead the other party to believe they are old friends, so they wouldn’t interested in further entanglement.

Jing Mian thought to himself, indeed, you shouldn’t judge people by appearances.

The initially cold and aloof big shot had unhesitatingly stepped in to help a stranger, providing an overwhelming sense of security.

“Um… S-Sorry,” the man’s Adam’s apple bobbed, a touch of embarrassment mixed with more trepidation in his voice. He turned his head, his words hesitant: “I overstepped.”

The elevator chimed with a ‘ding’ and slowly came to a stop on the fifth floor.

The man picked up his briefcase and swiftly exited.

For a moment.

In the dim, enclosed elevator, only Jing Mian and the man were left.

Jing Mian removed his cap, his previously obstructed view now bright and wide. The man was much taller, so Jing Mian naturally had to look up when speaking. He handed the cap to the man and courteously thanked him, “Thank you.”

“…”

However, for some reason…

As soon as the words fell, the atmosphere became somewhat still and silent.

Jing Mian faintly heard the man repeat something, his voice low and deep, almost imperceptible: “You?”

Jing Mian didn’t quite understand.

So, he politely reminded him again, “Um, sir… your cap.”

The elevator reached the top floor at this moment.

After a moment of hesitation, Jing Mian lightly handed the baseball cap over to the man as the elevator doors opened.

The door swung open.

Jing Mian stepped into his intended destination with a hint of surprise—namely, the top-floor restaurant that his childhood friend had reserved.

In stark contrast to the building’s exterior, he felt like he had stepped into a completely different world. The chandeliers inside the restaurant were opulent and dazzling, casting intricate patterns of light across every corner. The elegantly designed walls complemented the atmosphere perfectly, exuding a vintage and luxurious vibe.

And outside the window lay the breathtaking night view of the entire city.

As expected, it’s the most difficult restaurant to make reservations in Lincheng, Jing Mian was secretly amazed.

Booking a venue in such a place… Jing Mian bit his lip, silently sympathizing with his fiancé’s pocket.

There was still half an hour before the agreed-upon time. Mr. Ren was probably on his way. Following the guidance of the servers, Jing Mian chose a seat by the window.

However, just as he had settled in, the chair opposite him was suddenly pulled out. A tall figure blocked some of the light, casting a dark shadow over Jing Mian’s face.

He was caught off guard and met the other side of the line of sight.

This time, compared to the fleeting eye contact in the elevator, it was much more distinct.

The man’s figure was tall and imposing. His perfectly sculpted nose appeared even more extraordinary in the interplay of light and shadow. His black hair cascaded softly, and his slightly faded irises exuded a lazy and nonchalant vibe. His elegantly curled lashes accentuated his charm, and his thin lips struck a perfect balance, creating an overwhelming sense of pressure that couldn’t be ignored, gradually engulfing Jing Mian’s face.

Cold and restrained.

Jing Mian: “…”

Was it the same gentleman who had intervened earlier?

Although filled with doubts, Jing Mian took the initiative to speak: “Are you waiting for someone?”

The man was tall, and even when seated and talking to Jing Mian, his gaze inevitably lowered. He remained silent for a couple of seconds before uttering a soft “Hmm.”

Jing Mian suddenly realized.

No wonder the men didn’t get off when they took the elevator to the first floor and also didn’t press the button for his desired floor after they entered the elevator.

However, wasn’t the top-floor restaurant reserved exclusively for them?

Seemingly perceiving Jing Mian’s confusion, the man’s slender fingertips rested against the smooth edge of the table, and his thin lips parted slightly: “Your reservation is for after 6:00.”

In other words, until 6:00, other casual diners were free to enter this restaurant.

Ahem, Jing Mian thought, that indeed made sense.

But… why was he sitting across from him?

Jing Mian fell silent for a few seconds as if he had been struggling to find the right words. After a brief internal debate, he gently spoke up, “Are you… Ren Congmian?”

As he asked this question, Jing Mian distinctly felt that the man’s gaze froze for a moment, his eyebrows furrowed slightly, and the odd expression quickly disappeared.

Jing Mian thought that he might have guessed correctly.

Surely, no one would be unaware of the youngest double gold award-winning actor, a superstar who had garnered numerous international accolades.

Even Jing Mian, who was often oblivious to the entertainment industry and movies, couldn’t escape the presence of his name on big screens in the streets, posters at stations, and frequent appearances on trending topics. In this era, there was no one who wouldn’t recognize Ren Congmian.

Despite only debuting a few years ago, his achievements and popularity soared to great heights. His background was shrouded in mystery and subject to various speculations. Currently, he holds a secure position and is irreplaceable, truly deserving the title of a top star.

Suppressing his surprise, Jing Mian thought that the unfamiliar familiarity he had felt earlier was probably due to this.

However, he always felt that the realm of celebrities was too distant, and he wasn’t entirely certain, so he didn’t dare to acknowledge it.

“Yes.”

The man didn’t deny it.

The waiter appeared at the table at this time and poured tea for the two of them in due course.

Jing Mian hugged the teacup, and the warmth spread to the palms and fingertips little by little. He thought that his reaction now was textbook-level composure.

If it were any fan of Ren Congmian or even a passer-by, the restaurant would likely have been overwhelmed by their excitement, even to the point of flipping the roof.

After all, the man was Ren Congmian.

“Who are you waiting for?”

Before Jing Mian could continue the conversation along that topic, Mr. Ren suddenly asked this question. The man’s voice was deep and magnetic, making it difficult to discern his emotions.

The young man’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he answered honestly, “My… fiancé.”

Jing Mian’s voice has always been gentle and soft. When he said this, it seemed that even he himself wasn’t aware of how the slightly ambiguous phrase sounded when earnestly spoken. Inadvertently, it carried a trace of an indescribable, tender undertone.

As if soft paws were gently scratching the heart.

Mr. Ren’s throat tightened.

Though his expression remained unchanged, his gaze on the young man became inexplicably obscure.

Mr. Ren asked, “Have you been together for a long time?”

From this distance, Jing Mian seemed to faintly catch a whiff of the scent emanating from the man, light and fragrant. It was oddly familiar and brought about a calming sensation.

Shaking his head, Jing Mian replied, “We haven’t officially started dating. In fact, we haven’t seen each other in over a decade. Today is a reunion of sorts.”

“Married to someone you haven’t seen for over a decade.” Mr. Ren fell silent for a few seconds. Retrieving his gaze, it slowly landed back on Jing Mian. His shallow exhalation carried a sense of elongated sigh, and his thin lips slightly parted as he asked, “Do you like him?”

“…”

Jing Mian stopped asking about this.

This left Jing Mian somewhat at a loss.

Mr. Ren seemed to be delving deeper than expected, and they had even moved onto matters of the heart. Jing Mian surmised that despite the aloof and reticent demeanor of a top star, he was also someone who enjoyed prying into other people’s affairs.

Feeling a bit of a headache coming on, Jing Mian hesitated before answering, “Um, when I was younger, I liked being around him. He’s very handsome, and his personality is gentle.”

“Such a handsome older brother. Even after many years, I’d probably still end up liking him.” Jing Mian analyzed honestly and objectively.

“…”

For some reason, the man fell silent.

Suddenly, the atmosphere became inexplicably silent, perhaps because there were no other guests in the restaurant, and it seemed a little peaceful and quiet.

“So, who is Mr. Ren waiting for?” Jing Mian attempted to steer the conversation away from awkwardness, throwing the question back, “Is it your loved one as well?”

“Yes.”

The man’s thin lips pursed slightly. His pale gaze seemed to casually observe, his index finger gently tapping the edge of the table as he slowly spoke, “My fiancée.”

*

Jing Mian stood before the mirror in the restroom.

Bending over, he cupped his hands under the flowing water and splashed his face with it, silently patting his cheeks.

A moment ago, he was using the excuse of going to the restroom, which seemed like a good plan. After all, there were only ten minutes left until the appointed time, and it would be a bit awkward for him to directly ask the man to leave.

If he used the restroom as an excuse and returned later, the man would have probably already left, avoiding the awkward situation of meeting with his childhood friend at the restaurant.

However…

Even if he wasn’t the quickest on the uptake, Jing Mian faintly sensed that something was off about the atmosphere just now. Despite having their respective fiancés, the conversation seemed to have taken an unexpectedly warm turn. It wasn’t exactly ambiguous, more like… it carried a trend that made his face flush and his heart race.

Would normal conversations typically turn out like this?

Or was it because the other person was a celebrity?

Something felt off.

This was one of the reasons Jing Mian had an impulse to escape.

Jing Mian wiped off the falling water from his fingertips and fell into deep thought. He felt that there were many peculiar little details that, upon closer examination, he couldn’t quite pin down. Logic and imagination seemed to constrain each other, competing for dominance.

But regardless, there were still ten minutes until the appointment.

He should return to the restaurant.

Jing Mian wasn’t sure where the man was, so he took out his phone and dialed Ren Xingwann’s number.

Soon, he heard the ringing sound on the other end of the line.

Jing Mian held his breath.

The subtle vibrations in his ear, like plucking a heartstring, despite his preparation, made him unexpectedly nervous.

As Jing Mian entered the restaurant, his fingertips pressed against the edge of his phone, tightening slowly.

Because…

He heard what seemed like a sound not far away.

Jing Mian paused in his tracks.

The closer he got, the clearer the sound became. His strange premonition was gradually becoming reality, and this strange feeling sent shivers down his spine, causing his footsteps to stop.

Mr. Ren was sitting in the same chair as before, his tall figure elegantly poised. He picked up his phone, the lit screen displaying an incoming call from Jing Mian, and he turned his gaze toward Jing Mian.

“…”

His heart seemed to have a mind of its own, pounding wildly.

The young man’s eyelashes trembled slightly, and his pupils contracted slowly.

“MianMian.”

The man raised his eyebrows slightly. Although he exuded his usual air of dominance and strength, the oppressive aura coming from him hadn’t diminished in the slightest. However, this time, it carried an imperceptible undertone of amusement.

With a slightly low and subdued voice, a hint of a smile touched his lips:

“Did you call me?”