Top Dupe CH 081 I Can Be Very Dangerous, But Also Very Gentle Part 2
He glanced at Brother Yan, who was driving in the front, and Ye Shengyi in the passenger seat, both clearly straining to overhear their conversation.
As for Xiao Qin in the backseat, she was leaning forward, trying to eavesdrop too.
Luo Yu promptly reached out and pushed Xiao Qin's head back. "Sit properly! You’ll tumble over if there’s a sudden stop."
Xiao Qin pouted, rubbing her head. "You two are so unfair, whispering without letting us in on it!"
Luo Yu laughed, "We were just saying, Xiao Qin, you've been eating too well recently. Not only has your face rounded out, but so has your belly…"
Xiao Qin immediately covered her ears, "I won’t listen! I won’t listen! You’re rambling nonsense!"
Luo Yu turned back, only to find Gu Xiaowei, arms crossed and eyes closed, resting. He didn’t feel it was appropriate to say anything to disturb him.
He touched the back of his head, the spot where Gu Xiaowei had just held him.
If that had been a joke, Gu Xiaowei’s strength was no joke—Luo Yu doubted his head would remain intact if it weren’t made of iron.
Sighing, Luo Yu realized he had to seriously consider a question: could he win in a fight against Gu Xiaowei, a master of seven levels of sanda?
What if Gu Xiaowei had no feelings for him and decided to end things with a final brutal fight? The very thought made his bones ache.
And what if… what if he did have feelings? Given Gu Xiaowei's quiet, explosive nature, the thought made Luo Yu's bones ache even more.
Maybe he should buy insurance—if he lost an arm or a leg, at least he might get some medical compensation.
"What’s going through that head of yours?" Gu Xiaowei glanced at Luo Yu.
"I was thinking… falling in love with Gu Xiaowei must be a high-risk endeavor. With your strength, you could accidentally snap someone’s bones."
"You could try. I can be very dangerous, but also very gentle."
Seeing Gu Xiaowei’s hand reaching out without any hint of gentleness, Luo Yu quickly dodged, but still got his hair ruffled.
Before they knew it, the car pulled up outside their villa. Luo Yu was still squeezing his hand, and Xiao Qin couldn’t wait any longer, tapping him on the shoulder, "Brother Luo, aren’t you and Brother Gu getting out?"
"Oh, right! Of course!" Luo Yu seized his chance and tried to mess up Gu Xiaowei's hair.
But before his fingers could even brush the strands, Gu Xiaowei suddenly grabbed his hand, squeezed his fingers together with an effortless grip, and applied just enough force to make Luo Yu wince in pain.
"Gu Xiaowei, are you trying to kill me?" Luo Yu shouted.
Gu Xiaowei opened his eyes, locking gazes with him. "You started it."
"Where did I attack you?" Luo Yu slapped Gu Xiaowei’s hand, "Let go! My bones are about to crack!"
Gu Xiaowei gave a small chuckle, releasing his grip, then stepped out of the van, casually crossing over Luo Yu’s legs and tossing out one final remark.
"Do you really not know where you were trying to attack?"
Standing outside the car, Xiao Qin, Brotjer Yan, and Ye Shengyi all stared at Luo Yu with wide-eyed surprise, as if he had done something scandalous.
Luo Yu remained calm as he exited the vehicle, but while changing into his slippers, Ye Shengyi whispered, "Bro, where exactly were you trying to attack Brother Gu?"
Luo Yu threw an arm around Ye Shengyi. "Where do you think?"
"Hehe, I’m still young. I won’t take part in your suggestive banter."
Luo Yu pinched Ye Shengyi’s cheek hard. "Still young?"
"Ouch, ouch… let go…"
"What were you driving? Tell me, what were you driving?" (TN: driving=thinking, usually something inappropriate)
"A… a bicycle…"
"You think you deserve a bicycle?"
"A tricycle for toddlers…"
"Keep overthinking, and next time, you’ll be in a wheelchair," Luo Yu let go of Ye Shengyi.
The boy bolted away in a flash.
Luo Yu turned back, only to meet Gu Xiaowei’s gaze.
It was as if Gu Xiaowei hadn’t left the filming mode, his expression unreadable. Just as Luo Yu was wondering what to say, Gu Xiaowei’s face softened, and he quietly said, "Let’s eat."
Luo Yu nodded, but he couldn’t shake the strange feeling—the same shift in attitude Lu Pingfeng had when looking at others compared to Wen Yuchi.
After dinner, Brother Yan and the others claimed the sofa in the living room.
Xiao Qin somehow managed to bring back some duck neck and soda, the crack of the drinks opening making the room feel like a college dorm.
Ye Shengyi, wearing plastic gloves, waved a piece of duck neck at Luo Yu, "Want some, Brother Luo?"
"I…"
Before Luo Yu could respond, Gu Xiaowei’s arm wrapped around his neck, pulling him away.
"Let’s go watch upstairs."
Luo Yu waved goodbye to them as he was dragged off.
Xiao Qin leaned toward Brother Yan and Ye Shengyi, "Don’t you guys think Brother Gu loves spending time alone with Brother Luo?"
"Maybe it’s awkward for him to watch the shows he’s acted in with us," Brother Yan said.
Ye Shengyi made up a random excuse, "Maybe it's more convenient for driving."
Then, Xiao Qin and Brother Yan's fists landed on his head, one on the left, one on the right.
Upstairs, Luo Yu didn’t go directly to Gu Xiaowei's room but changed into lounge pants before knocking on his door.
Gu Xiaowei was already leaning against the headboard, finding the right TV channel. Luo Yu sat down on the other side.
The drama continued at a high pace, with intense developments. The plot had reached the point where Bai Ying was thrown into the sewer by his enemy, struggling as Yan Ye recklessly jumped in to save him.
Underwater, Bai Ying's hair floated in the murky light, making him look like a captivating water spirit.
Luo Yu sat cross-legged, propping his chin on his hand, and at that moment, he had to admire the director's camera work; it was so good that he felt like jumping into the water to rescue Bai Ying himself.
"Now, this is a true flower of the other shore." (TN: spider lily)
Even if he sank into hell, he would take with him all the worldly desires, fueling the flames of purgatory even more fiercely.
Gu Xiaowei’s voice broke the silence, cold and restrained as always, making Luo Yu wonder: If Bai Ying, struggling underwater, heard a voice like this, would he abandon all his love, hatred, and desires, waiting for him to save him?
Underwater, Yan Ye looked at Bai Ying face-to-face, slapping his cheeks, trying to call his name, but only bubbles came out.
"What were you thinking at that moment?" Luo Yu asked.
It was something he'd been curious about—what made Gu Xiaowei not follow the script’s simple direction but instead repeatedly lift him up?
"Thinking of you," Gu Xiaowei said softly.
Only three words, yet Luo Yu’s entire body tensed up, as if a faint electric current ran through his veins.
The screen displayed scenes full of strength and determination.
Underwater, Yan Ye’s expression was fierce and wild, as though it wasn’t Bai Ying struggling for life, but himself.
Usually ruthless and resolute, Bai Ying looked like a drifting broken branch or fallen leaf, with Yan Ye as his only lifeline.
Luo Yu's gaze was fully captured by Yan Ye. It wasn’t just his shoulders straining with effort, even the veins on his neck bulged. It wasn’t so much a rescue as it was a desperate plundering.
He was seizing Bai Ying from the clutches of worldly desires and death itself.
Each time Yan Ye lifted Bai Ying to the surface, it was like an endless declaration of possession.
A scene that lasted only a few seconds felt like an eternity to Luo Yu.
Something deep in his soul seemed to be pierced by Yan Ye’s efforts, and even though Gu Xiaowei sat quietly beside him, as if he wasn’t there, Luo Yu's breathing and heartbeat were entirely under the other's control.
Finally, Bai Ying and Yan Ye climbed out, relying on each other's strength. As they leaned against the well’s edge, water poured off their bodies back into the depths, and Luo Yu felt warmth rise in his chest and eyes.
Yan Ye closed his eyes, half-tilting his head back to let out a heavy exhale. To most people, it was a breath of relief, but to Luo Yu, it felt like an immense spiritual satisfaction—because from this point forward, Bai Ying would trust him completely.
And what about Gu Xiaowei?
Was each approach, each act of care, also a form of... conquest?
The episode ended with Yan Ye and Bai Ying, drenched, sitting at the entrance of a convenience store smoking, just before Bai Ying was about to reveal his connection to Bai Zhongxing.
Sharing his discontent and unwillingness with another person signified that Bai Ying had fully entrusted his faith to Yan Ye. From this moment on, even if Bai Ying suspected Yan Ye might be an undercover cop, he would indulge him without caring about the cost—even if it meant his life.
The credits rolled, with a sorrowful, low melody giving way to a powerful, intense high note.
Gu Xiaowei turned slightly toward Luo Yu, leaning in closer.
Instinctively, Luo Yu leaned back, but Gu Xiaowei’s hand was already propped on his left side, the other hand reaching around to lift the pillow behind Luo Yu.
Through the pillow, it almost felt like Gu Xiaowei embraced him.
From this angle, Luo Yu could see the contours of Gu Xiaowei’s brow and nose, exuding a masculine beauty that made his heart race.
But the next second, Gu Xiaowei grabbed a pack of cigarettes from under the pillow, releasing Luo Yu without a second thought and getting out of bed.
In that moment, all the warmth and scent belonging to Gu Xiaowei vanished. Luo Yu ruffled his hair, almost muttering a curse under his breath.
Was this guy doing it on purpose?
Who hides cigarettes under a pillow? There wasn't even an agent coming to check!
And did Gu Xiaowei even have a smoking habit?
In their previous life, Luo Yu hadn’t seen him smoke much, and in this life, aside from the necessary scenes in his roles, he hadn’t seen him smoke either.
Plus, in the movie script, Lu Pingfeng didn’t smoke either.
Luo Yu got out of bed, searching for his slippers. When he looked up, he noticed that the nightstand on his side was slightly ajar, with something like a notebook inside.
It was probably Gu Xiaowei’s sketchbook.
He had once gifted him a sketch of the rose corridor.
Luo Yu gently tugged, and the drawer opened. A sense of foreboding crept over him.
Though the sketchbook wasn’t a diary or an important contract or manuscript, when Luo Yu’s fingertips touched it, it felt like they’d been scalded, and he quickly pulled back.
Then, making up his mind, he closed the drawer.
—Gu Xiaowei hadn’t shown it to him, so it was best not to look.
The next episode would start in a minute, so Luo Yu walked out onto the balcony. The night breeze greeted him boldly, and the sky full of stars was clearer than in the city.
Gu Xiaowei’s shoulders were as broad as ever, and as he turned his head, he ran a hand forcefully through his hair.
It seemed as though something was troubling him greatly.
Or perhaps he was desperately trying to restrain and suppress something.
When Luo Yu approached him, he saw Gu Xiaowei exhale a slow puff of smoke, his eyes closed.
That contradictory yet tender posture made one want to break all chains and kiss him madly.
"You hiding cigarettes under your pillow is like a student hiding comic books under a textbook, pretending to study with friends while actually playing in an internet café all night, and the parents and teachers still think you're a good student."
"I’ve done plenty of rebellious things; I’m not the 'good student' you think I am," Gu Xiaowei said.
"Like what?" Luo Yu raised his chin.
"Do you really want to know?" Gu Xiaowei turned around, leaning his back against the railing. Although he only slightly inclined toward Luo Yu, it felt like an unbridled temptation.