Top Dupe CH 087 Did You Dream Of Me? Part 1

After finishing the scene, everyone could finally rest. It was already three in the morning, and to their surprise, the crew had prepared a late-night snack. Although it was just simple hot noodle soup, the sound of slurping noodles echoed one after another, and the fragrance of scallions and eggs whetted everyone’s appetite.

Luo Yu scooped a bowl and was about to dig in, slurping away. Even Ye Shengyi and Brother Yan, who had been staying up with them for the night shoot, were eating heartily, but Gu Xiaowei quietly sat outside the crowd, looking down at his script.

A staff member passing by kindly asked, "Teacher Gu, aren’t you going to eat something?"

"No, thanks."

Luo Yu sighed helplessly, brought his bowl over to Gu Xiaowei’s side, and gently nudged him with his elbow. "Eat a bit."

"It’s the middle of the night. If I eat now and then go straight to sleep, I won’t burn it off."

Luo Yu leaned in to examine him closely.

Gu Xiaowei asked, "What are you looking at? Is there something on my face?"

"You're already skinny enough, gloomy enough, and sickly enough. You can showcase those traits with your acting skills—you don’t need hollow cheeks or an overly sharp jawline. It’s fine if you skip the noodles, but can’t you at least eat an egg?"

Luo Yu picked up an egg, blew on it gently, held the bowl underneath it, and brought it to Gu Xiaowei’s lips.

"You already had a piece of roll earlier. Adding an egg won’t make much difference."

Gu Xiaowei’s fingers tightened slightly around the script. He opened his mouth, and the egg slipped in. He looked up and met Luo Yu’s smile.

"Have a bite of some greens, too." Luo Yu picked up a tender bit of vegetable and offered it to him.

Gu Xiaowei ate it as well.

Brother Yan and Ye Shengyi looked at Luo Yu with admiration.

"Brother Gu is so well-behaved in front of Brother Luo," Ye Shengyi sighed.

"Who says he isn’t?" Brother Yan imagined it. "If some entertainment account posted a photo of them now online, I can’t even imagine the trending headline."

"The man who makes Gu Xiaowei listen obediently—Luo Yu?"

"Too long. How about #GoodBoy?" Brother Yan suggested.

"Forget it. It’d shoot up the trending list only to be taken down by Meng Yu." Ye Shengyi imagined the headline disappearing as soon as it appeared.

After finishing the noodles, they wrapped up for the night. They could finally rest in the morning, resuming filming in the afternoon.

On the way back, Luo Yu was already dozing off, and as soon as they reached the villa, Gu Xiaowei told him to shower first.

He nearly fell asleep while drying his hair, collapsing into bed and falling asleep as soon as he pulled up the duvet.

Perhaps the late filming or the intensity of the scenes had affected him, but although Luo Yu was asleep, he found himself in an inexplicable dream.

He saw Gu Xiaowei standing on the rooftop, his face illuminated by bright sunlight. He had his eyes closed, tilting his face upward, light glinting off his nose, his hair slightly lifted, relaxed and free, like a feather with no weight.

This version of Gu Xiaowei was beautiful. Luo Yu approached, wanting to embrace him.

But just a step away, an invisible wall separated them. Luo Yu could only watch as Gu Xiaowei stepped onto the edge of the rooftop.

He smiled into the sunlight—a smile so unburdened that Luo Yu had never seen before.

Yet at that moment, a tidal wave of fear surged within Luo Yu’s heart. Gu Xiaowei strolled along the edge of the rooftop as if walking on clouds, the wind rushing past his ears, like a rose blooming to its utmost, about to be plucked.

"Gu Xiaowei—Gu Xiaowei, come back—"

Luo Yu shouted, but the other seemed to hear nothing.

The golden sunlight was so warm, yet a chill spread from Luo Yu’s blood to his bones. He pounded on the invisible wall but couldn’t reach Gu Xiaowei’s world.

Gu Xiaowei’s left foot lifted, ready to step off the rooftop. His arms hung naturally at his sides, fully relaxed, indifferent to the impending fall.

"No… No… Come back, Gu Xiaowei! I’m telling you to come back!"

Luo Yu felt like he was losing his mind. For the first time, he experienced a gut-wrenching sensation, watching as Gu Xiaowei crossed the boundary and fell.

"Gu Xiaowei—"

At that moment, Luo Yu realized that he wasn’t afraid of Gu Xiaowei’s death. What he feared was that when his flesh and blood crashed against the ground, he wouldn’t be there with him.

"Ahhhh—Gu Xiaowei—"

"I’m here! I’m here! Luo Yu, open your eyes! Look at me! I’m here!"

A familiar voice yanked Luo Yu back.

He opened his eyes with a jolt, staring into a pair of eyes full of worry and tension.

He took a deep breath, Gu Xiaowei’s scent filling his lungs, and the solidity of his embrace chased away his panic.

Turning around, he wrapped his arms around Gu Xiaowei’s neck. Gu Xiaowei, caught off guard, teetered back, but quickly stabilized himself, pressing his cheek against Luo Yu’s ear, letting him feel his warmth.

"It’s okay, Senior Brother. It’s okay. You had a nightmare."

The words "senior brother" gave Luo Yu a sense of security he had never felt before, reassuring him that the person who came wasn’t Lu Pingfeng, but Gu Xiaowei.

Just then, Ye Shengyi and Brother Yan rushed over. And through Luo Yu’s open door, they saw the two holding each other tightly.

"Brother Luo! What happened? You shouted so loud!" Ye Shengyi asked.

"Yeah! You scared us!" Brother Yan was also deeply concerned.

Gu Xiaowei turned to them and said, "It’s okay, you two go back to sleep. Luo Yu just had a nightmare."

"A nightmare?" Ye Shengyi tilted his head, then pouted, "Then why did you only call Brother Gu’s name—I’d come to save you too!"

Brother Yan gave him a playful slap on the head. "What are you thinking? Go back to sleep!"

Ye Shengyi and Brother Yan left, but Luo Yu still clung tightly to Gu Xiaowei.

From the moment he realized it was just a dream, his emotions had already calmed. But being able to hold Gu Xiaowei like this, he naturally wanted to hold on as long as he could.

So, this is what Gu Xiaowei’s shoulder feels like.

Luo Yu felt like a schoolboy, secretly crushing on his deskmate, filled with little schemes to touch him—even just a tap on his fingernail would bring delight. Let alone this blatant embrace.

He waited for Gu Xiaowei to impatiently push him away, but a few minutes passed, and not only did Gu Xiaowei let him hold on, but his arms around Luo Yu stayed just as firm.

"Did you dream of me?" Gu Xiaowei asked softly.

In his voice, everything became soft and surreal.

"I dreamed that you fell from the rooftop," Luo Yu muttered.

Gu Xiaowei’s brows furrowed deeply, his embrace tightening instinctively.

"I’m sorry… If it wasn’t for what I said to you that night… you wouldn’t have had that dream…"

After a long silence, Luo Yu finally spoke, "Gu Xiaowei, the person you envisioned must've been perfect. I’m grateful for your fantasy—at least he kept you from falling. This isn't something I can do…"

Gu Xiaowei was about to say something, but Luo Yu continued, "But I am your only rival. I am real—I’d be willing to fall with you."

With a sudden pause in breath and heartbeat, Gu Xiaowei gently lowered Luo Yu back onto the bed in their embrace. "If you’re there, I guarantee I won’t fall."

Without you, I would crash into the world with no regard for anything.

But for you, I’ll fight against everything, even myself.

Hearing Gu Xiaowei’s promise, Luo Yu’s taut nerves relaxed. His arms loosened, and he didn’t know how to ask Gu Xiaowei to stay. To his surprise, Gu Xiaowei lay down beside him, gently brushing his fingers through Luo Yu’s hair. "Sleep now, I’ll be right here. I won’t go anywhere."

Luo Yu gave a soft “en” as his breathing slowed, and he drifted back to sleep.

Far off, the sky was gradually lightening, a gentle glow falling over the distant rose trellis, blossoming with a touch of innocent beauty.

Gu Xiaowei lay on his side, watching him.

He had awakened countless times from nightmares, thinking he was the only one who would panic over loss. But tonight, he had heard his name called just as desperately. Even the coldest heart would soften at such a moment.

Suddenly, he thought about when Luo Yu stuffed the roll into his mouth today. His fingertips were like a match striking, igniting a spark with remarkable skill. Yet, he hadn’t managed to bite down hard on him and punish him for showing up uninvited.

Just now, Luo Yu had called his name with such intensity—was this permission to cross the line?

Gu Xiaowei lifted Luo Yu’s hand. Luo Yu’s fingers were elegantly shaped, nails neatly trimmed. With a sigh, Gu Xiaowei was about to let go, but Luo Yu shifted closer to him, nudging against him.

Gu Xiaowei’s heart softened. He slid his arm under Luo Yu’s neck, and Luo Yu followed the movement, placing one hand between their faces. Just as Gu Xiaowei was about to move, Luo Yu’s hand shifted, and his ring finger brushed against Gu Xiaowei’s lips.

Gu Xiaowei froze, breath caught in his throat. Slowly, carefully, he closed his lips around Luo Yu’s finger, savoring the feel—it was completely different from feeding him the roll. It was as if all of Luo Yu’s thoughts and emotions had come to a standstill just for him.

He kept the light contact, breathing out softly as he held the fingertip, eyes closed in quiet contentment.

It was unclear how long they stayed like that before Luo Yu, lying on Gu Xiaowei’s arm, opened his eyes, gazing at Gu Xiaowei’s peaceful sleeping face with a look of satisfaction.

Since they had stayed up so late, both slept until midday.

The noon sunlight shone harshly, piercing through the curtains and falling right on Luo Yu’s eyelids.

“Ugh,” he frowned, instinctively trying to rub his eyes, only to feel his finger joints lightly pressed by something.

His heart skipped a beat, and he opened his eyes to meet Gu Xiaowei’s gaze as he lifted his lids.

Their eyes met, and the depth in Gu Xiaowei’s gaze made Luo Yu’s blood pump back toward his heart. He sat up abruptly, rubbing his head. “You... you stayed with me the whole time...”

“Because you called my name so loudly,” Gu Xiaowei said slowly, sitting up and leaning back, looking at Luo Yu. “Is it because of that scene involving the psychiatrist? Were you worried about me, thinking about it even in your dreams?”

“Probably.” Luo Yu turned his face away, embarrassed, scratching his head. “I was just worrying over nothing; don’t mind it.”

Propping himself up with one hand, Gu Xiaowei looked up at Luo Yu with a serious expression. “Senior Brother, you weren’t worrying for nothing. Every time I feel myself becoming more like Lu Pingfeng, I see you and remember I’m still Gu Xiaowei.”

Just then, there was a tentative knock. Ye Shengyi’s voice came through, “Brother Gu, Brother Luo… are you awake? Do you want to eat lunch?”