Top Dupe CH 081 I Can Be Very Dangerous, But Also Very Gentle Part 1
Luo Yu couldn't help but laugh, pressing his hand against Gu Xiaowei's chest. "Hold on, hold on. I'm trying to prepare myself emotionally to face you. Don't interrupt me getting into character."
"I'm Lu Pingfeng. Why can't you get into character when facing me?" Gu Xiaowei tilted his head, looking quite adorable as he seriously pondered this.
Luo Yu sighed, lifting his hand and brushing a strand of hair from Gu Xiaowei's forehead. "But at this moment, to me, you are Gu Xiaowei."
Gu Xiaowei paused, took a step back, and turned to leave.
He walked to the other side of the living room, facing the painting of a dead stag, and slowly raised his hand to cover his forehead.
After a while, he turned to look at Luo Yu, who was intently reciting lines and planning his movements.
"Everyone to your positions! Filming starts in one minute!"
Luo Yu took a deep breath, and the expression on his face shifted. The smile belonging to Wen Yuchi appeared, like spring rain in March gently spreading into an ink painting. It seemed leisurely, but it was actually the indifferent attitude Wen Yuchi had toward the world.
The clapperboard fell, and the third meeting between Lu Pingfeng and Wen Yuchi began.
Wen Yuchi, dressed casually and holding something that looked like a gift, appeared on camera.
"Hello, Uncle He. I’m making a sudden visit. Is Mr. Lu home?" Wen Yuchi said with a smile.
The moment Uncle He saw him, his eyes lit up like polished stars. He made a welcoming gesture, his voice filled with warmth. "The gentleman is home. Please come in, Mr. Wen. I'll let him know you're here!"
Wen Yuchi sat down in the living room, casually placing the gift box on the glass coffee table. His fingers traced a mark on the table, where it seemed a round object had once rested.
It wasn’t an ashtray, as Lu Pingfeng didn’t smoke—he had no trace of a smoker's scent. Nor was it the mark of a vase, as there were no such decorations in Lu Pingfeng's home.
Just as Wen Yuchi was contemplating, Lu Pingfeng quietly emerged from his studio. Observing Wen Yuchi’s focus on the mark, he leaned down and softly said, "That's the mark left by a pastry stand."
Wen Yuchi looked up, meeting Lu Pingfeng’s gaze.
Those eyes were like black holes, absorbing all light.
"Mr. Lu’s place is always spotless. I didn’t expect there’d be a trace from a pastry stand."
"Maybe it’s there for you to discover," Lu Pingfeng replied, sitting down next to Wen Yuchi on the sofa.
Just as Wen Yuchi was about to ask, "Discover what?" he suddenly realized that perhaps Lu Pingfeng had been waiting for his visit all along.
"Someone told me that you wouldn’t accept my copied painting." Lu Pingfeng glanced at the gift box on the table, his eyes unexpectedly gentle. "But that box doesn’t seem big enough to hold the copy."
Wen Yuchi looked surprised. "That copy, you painted it?"
"So, you didn’t return it because you didn’t know it was mine?" Lu Pingfeng showed no signs of displeasure. On the contrary, his lips curved ever so slightly. Wen Yuchi’s visit had clearly brightened his mood.
"Yes. If you'd signed your name on it, I would’ve had to return it."
There was no longer any probing or subtle confrontations between them. It felt more like a normal conversation, as if they were just ordinary people.
Uncle He entered with a tray of tea, placing the cup down as he asked Wen Yuchi, "We have freshly made red velvet cake today. Would you like to try some?"
He placed a porcelain plate with the cake precisely on the mark left by the pastry stand.
Wen Yuchi guessed that the mark was likely because Uncle He was used to putting everything in that spot.
Taking a small bite of cake, Wen Yuchi closed his eyes, savoring the soft texture of the velvet spreading across his taste buds. The sweetness was just right.
"I’d like to ask, Mr. Lu, if I returned that copy to you, would you auction it off?" Wen Yuchi asked, looking up.
"I would burn it."
Wen Yuchi showed no signs of regret or sadness, simply nodding in understanding. "Because its purpose was to be given to me."
"Yes," Lu Pingfeng glanced at his watch and then added, "Mr. Wen, would you like to stay for dinner today?"
Wen Yuchi shook his head with a smile. "I’m afraid not. If I dined here, I’d subconsciously be looking for clues related to the case, or worse, chatting so happily with you that I might accidentally reveal some details. Once the case is over, we can have a proper meal."
Lu Pingfeng nodded, his demeanor so gentle it seemed as though he was handling something precious that must not be damaged.
"Shall I give you a ride home?" Lu Pingfeng asked again.
Wen Yuchi smiled without answering.
Lu Pingfeng understood. "I suppose not, then."
Wen Yuchi pursed his lips as if recalling the taste of the red velvet cake. "Your desserts are especially delicious. May I ask where they’re ordered from…or does someone close to you make them?"
Lu Pingfeng looked towards the kitchen. "Uncle He, please pack up the rest of the red velvet cake for Mr. Wen to take home."
"Yes, sir."
Uncle He packed the cake and brought it out.
"Uncle He, who makes the desserts here?"
"Oh, they’re ordered and delivered," Uncle He replied.
Wen Yuchi accepted the box and noticed there were no labels, just plain white cardboard.
Lu Pingfeng smiled. "I guess Dr. Wen was wondering which shop made them."
Calling him "Dr. Wen" instead of "Mr. Wen" indicated that Lu Pingfeng had guessed Wen Yuchi was asking because of the case.
Since his thoughts had already been seen through, there was no need to hide them anymore.
"Which shop makes them?" Wen Yuchi asked seriously.
"Uncle He, which one?" Lu Pingfeng’s voice deepened.
Uncle He immediately pulled a name card from his pocket. "It’s this one. If you’d like to place an order, you can call them. But…it might be hard to get a spot."
Wen Yuchi took the card and raised his hand slightly. "Thanks. It’s getting late, so I’ll head out. The box contains my return gift to you. It pairs well with your butterfly painting."
Lu Pingfeng nodded slightly.
As Wen Yuchi turned toward the entrance, Lu Pingfeng suddenly called out to him.
"Mr. Wen."
His voice wasn’t loud, yet it carried a unique resonance, making the entire space tremble.
"What is it?" Wen Yuchi turned back to look at him.
"Besides you, I’ve never prepared desserts for anyone else," Lu Pingfeng said.
In that moment, Wen Yuchi’s gaze grew distant, filled with boundless tenderness, as though he wanted to wrap both Lu Pingfeng and the darkness behind him in a protective cocoon.
"I know," Wen Yuchi replied.
At the entrance, he set the cake down at his feet, took out his phone, and snapped a photo of the card, sending it to Zhao Sicheng.
[Mentor and I found dessert remnants, including red velvet cake, in the victim’s stomach. This is the shop where Lu Pingfeng’s butler orders red velvet cake from. Please check it out.]
Zhao Sicheng: [Received.]
After Wen Yuchi left, Lu Pingfeng sat at the coffee table, and Uncle He handed him a letter opener.
He unwrapped the package, revealing a sealed tin can with a note stuck to it, written in Wen Yuchi’s handwriting: [Caprifoliaceae plants, one of the suitable hosts for butterfly larvae.]
Lu Pingfeng lowered his eyes, for the first time showing a helpless expression, somewhere between a smile and a sigh.
"Sir, should we plant it?"
Lu Pingfeng walked toward the bedroom with the can. "It’s not the season yet. Besides… even if the world were full of honeysuckle, it wouldn’t prevent the extinction of the 'Goddess of Light.'"
The scene ended, but the cameraman kept filming.
"Cut—Lu Pingfeng and Wen Yuchi, one more take!" Director Sheng Yunlan called.
The previously quiet space suddenly became lively.
The onlookers finally began to speak.
"Do you all feel like every scene between Gu Xiaowei and Luo Yu has a certain flavor?"
"Exactly, it's either an emotional test and confrontation, mutual admiration where they rely on each other, or like just now… a particularly seamless fusion."
"Yeah, whether it's Zhao Sicheng or Qin Lin, every scene with Lu Pingfeng feels like they're on opposite sides. But with Wen Yuchi, whether it's a premeditated test or just careful observation, even if Lu Pingfeng sees through him, Wen Yuchi always comes across as free-spirited and candid."
After reshooting a few more details, Director Sheng finally announced that filming was wrapped for the day.
Everyone cheered, and someone shouted, "Time to go back and watch ‘Counterattack’," followed by a round of laughter.
Even Luo Yu, present at the scene, rubbed his nose, feeling a bit embarrassed.
Sheng Yunlan waved at Luo Yu, and he quickly approached.
"Xiao Luo, a quick reminder: tomorrow we’re filming the scene where Wen Yuchi returns to his apartment after working overtime, and Lu Pingfeng appears."
Luo Yu nodded. "I know, tomorrow's shoot will be at the youth apartments on the west side of the resort."
Sheng Yunlan waved his hand. "That's not the main point. The key is to show Wen Yuchi’s exhaustion and weariness after many days of overtime. You’ll need a bit of stubble on your chin."
"Oh, understood." Luo Yu touched his chin, thinking that since he hadn't shaved that morning, a bit of stubble might indeed show by tomorrow.
"Alright, you can go now."
Luo Yu straightened up and exited the villa, only to see Gu Xiaowei standing by the van, waiting for him.
As he got into the van, Gu Xiaowei raised his hand to block the frame for him. Luo Yu, being tall, accidentally bumped into Gu Xiaowei’s hand.
"Thanks," Luo Yu glanced at him.
"En." Gu Xiaowei responded softly without even looking up, an unconscious action he didn't need to think about.
About ten seconds later, Gu Xiaowei finally got into the van.
"Was your agent giving you any instructions?" Luo Yu asked with a smile.
"Meng Yu said that because the first two episodes of ‘Counterattack’ were well received, there’s a show that wants to interview me."
"That's great," Luo Yu nodded.
"I turned it down. Right now, I’m in Lu Pingfeng’s state. If they ask me to recall things from when I was Yan Ye, I won’t remember much."
"You don't remember? We had so many beautiful moments together, and you're telling me you don’t recall them?" Luo Yu deliberately leaned closer to Gu Xiaowei, using a playfully sad tone.
The next second, Gu Xiaowei's hand came down and pressed his head directly into his chest.
Here we go again! Gu Xiaowei’s sneak attacks always hit the mark, without any warning!
"Oh, beautiful moments? Which ones? Tell me." Gu Xiaowei lowered his eyes, his fingers lightly threading through Luo Yu’s hair.
But just as Luo Yu was about to pull his head back, Gu Xiaowei’s wrist gave a subtle push upward.
Luo Yu, to maintain his balance, had no choice but to place his hand on Gu Xiaowei’s chest, basically tilting his head back, his chin lifted, staring directly at the other.
"That time when we both climbed out of the water, soaked to the bone, like brothers in distress, and you tossed a towel over me."
"Really? I thought you’d say…" Gu Xiaowei lowered his head, his breath brushing Luo Yu's ear, "the blowing smoke scene. When I nearly stepped back, you must’ve felt pretty proud, huh?"
With a bit of effort, Luo Yu finally pulled himself back upright.
No, there was no pride back then, but now? Definitely.
And… it seemed like Gu Xiaowei cared more about the blowing smoke scene than Luo Yu had expected!