MMLDU Chapter 76

Another five days passed, and Pei Lang’s ranking shot up to first place. The previous first and second places were now second and third. While Pei Lang’s song was indeed excellent, his fanbase wasn’t nearly as large as the other two. To rise to first place in such a short time seemed suspicious and drew a wave of speculation from netizens.

Was someone manipulating the rankings behind the scenes?

With the rankings having been stable for days, Pei Lang’s overnight climb to the top was difficult for many to accept.

Fortunately, Pei Lang’s alias carried a good reputation. Though there were speculations, they didn’t escalate into an uproar. For now, there was still time, and perhaps the situation would take a turn later.

Though outsiders didn’t know, Pei Lang and Yan Han understood the truth. After realizing this was a trap, they also knew why Pei Lang had suddenly risen to the top.

Someone was indeed manipulating the data, aiming to have Pei Lang surpass the other two and take first place. The goal was to push him into the spotlight. The higher he climbed, the harder the fall they intended for him later. That was the effect they were after. Of course, in Yan Han’s eyes, Pei Lang’s song deserved to be number one from the start. However, given the other two contestants’ larger fanbases and greater visibility, Pei Lang’s rise wouldn’t have happened so quickly under normal circumstances.

With the top three almost locked in place, the final rankings would only be determined in ten days. Yan Han decided it was time to initiate his plan.

With his husband handling the situation, Pei Lang didn’t have to worry. During this time, the script for Rot arrived, so Pei Lang focused on studying it at home.

The role was unlike anything he had ever played before. Pei Lang spent nearly every day immersed in the script. Since it was a suspenseful detective story, the logic had to be impeccable. While working on the role and analyzing the script, Pei Lang also tested the logic with his own reasoning, searching for potential flaws. He had to admit that the editors at Yan Han’s company were top-notch. The script’s logic was flawless, with gripping twists and turns that pulled him in completely. While reading, Pei Lang found himself deeply engrossed, even feeling nervous and fearful for the character.

Pei Lang had always taken acting seriously. After finishing the script, he practiced his performance in front of the mirror repeatedly, often forgetting to eat or sleep. Several times, Yan Han had to drag him back to bed and tuck him in.

It was both frustrating and amusing. Pei Lang’s dedication to acting made Yan Han a little jealous. The filming was about to begin—couldn’t he spend more time with his lover? But when Yan Han saw Pei Lang bring the male lead to life and immerse himself in the joy of acting, he reminded himself not to be selfish. Pei Lang was his person, but he was also an independent individual with his own passions and pursuits.

One night, Yan Han scooped up Pei Lang, who was still in his pajamas and rehearsing, sat him on his lap, and affectionately nuzzled his slightly damp hair. “The competition—I’ve already handled it.”

“So soon? Husband, you’re amazing! How did you handle it?” Pei Lang opened his phone to check the rankings. With just a few days left, he was still holding the top spot. Ever since his sudden rise to first place, the ranking hadn’t changed and the platform’s intent was glaringly obvious—though only the involved parties knew the truth.

“If everything goes as expected, the official account will announce the award collection rules tomorrow to catch you off guard,” Yan Han said, pulling up a page on his phone and handing it to Pei Lang. “As long as the other two don’t show up, even if you don’t attend, there won’t be any consequences.”

Five minutes earlier, the singers in second and third place had posted updates stating they’d come down with the flu and would be unable to leave home for the next ten days. They even praised the platform for being considerate by not requiring winners to attend in person to collect their awards.

The onsite award collection was an unwritten rule the platform planned to announce at the last minute. However, with the two singers’ posts, revealing the rule now would make the platform look inconsiderate. By addressing the issue in advance, Yan Han effectively blocked the schemer’s plans. If the platform still decided to announce the rule, the two singers’ illnesses would make it impossible for them to attend, leaving Pei Lang as the sole attendee—which would appear too odd and draw even more attention. This way, the matter would quietly end here.

For someone with Yan Han’s influence, giving the other two singers a sudden “cold” was an effortless task.

With the issue perfectly resolved, Pei Lang happily planted a light kiss on Yan Han. It was just a fleeting touch, but Yan Han wasn’t satisfied. Without hesitation, he scooped Pei Lang into his arms and carried him to the bed.

Pei Lang had already showered earlier, changed into his pajamas, and worked up a light sheen of sweat again while practicing his acting in the bedroom.

As Yan Han leaned in, Pei Lang pressed a hand against his face, trying to push him away, twisting his body in an attempt to sit up. “Wait, I need to take another shower.”

Yan Han caught Pei Lang’s restless little hand and buried his face in the crook of Pei Lang’s neck, inhaling deeply. In a hoarse voice, he murmured, “You smell good. No need for another shower.”

With that, he gently cupped the back of Pei Lang’s head and claimed his lips in a domineering kiss. Yan Han’s actions were firm, but his kiss carried a tenderness that spoke of treasuring someone held dear. He carefully licked and nibbled at Pei Lang’s soft lips, savoring their supple texture. Yan Han loved to tease Pei Lang’s lips until they turned a luscious shade of red—a look that was both beautiful and irresistibly alluring.

As the intensity built to his satisfaction, Yan Han pried open Pei Lang’s soft lips, his tongue slipping inside to tease and explore. Between lovers, such moments conveyed their deepest emotions, an exchange of affection, and an unspoken connection. Pei Lang, who had been awaiting this, quickly responded, his tongue entwining with Yan Han’s in a playful, intimate dance. They chased and teased each other, their kiss filled with passion, reluctance to part evident in every move.

Meanwhile, Yan Han’s other hand slid beneath the hem of Pei Lang’s pajamas, his fingers gliding up along the curve of his waist. Slowly, deliberately, his touch lingered before he pushed down Pei Lang’s pajama pants, finally resting his palm on the curve of his hip bone.

“I don’t want you to leave for the shoot.” Yan Han pulled back mid-kiss to murmur this grievance, his tone soft and tinged with reluctance. Yet, before Pei Lang could respond, his lips were captured once more. This time, the kiss was more forceful, as though tinged with a mix of frustration and affection. Yan Han’s dominance was tempered by tenderness as he passionately explored Pei Lang’s lips and mouth, only releasing him when Pei Lang was gasping for breath.

Lack of oxygen left Pei Lang’s eyes glistening and full of allure, a springlike mist clouding his gaze. His cheeks and the corners of his eyes were flushed a delicate red, complementing the vivid hue of his lips. The sight made Yan Han’s breathing grow heavier, desire surging through him. He impatiently pushed Pei Lang’s pajama top higher, placing a lingering kiss on the smooth, inviting curve of his waist.

The sensation of that kiss, electric and tingling, spread through Pei Lang’s body, making his already pliant waist grow weaker. Unable to resist, he placed his hands on Yan Han’s head, holding him close as his lips brushed against his skin. “Once I’m on set, you can always visit me. Or I’ll work hard to finish filming quickly and take breaks to come back and see you,” he offered, his voice gentle and soothing.

Pei Lang’s words served as comfort for Yan Han’s earlier pout of dissatisfaction. Yan Han lightly nibbled at Pei Lang’s stomach, his voice muffled yet brimming with suppressed need. “Your mouth is so sweet, in every sense of the word. I can never win against you.”

“This movie’s filming schedule isn’t actually that long,” Pei Lang reassured, cupping Yan Han’s face and lifting it so their gazes met. His eyes sparkled with warmth and affection, his tone unfiltered and sincere. “I’ll miss you too, so it’s not just you feeling reluctant.”

His candid words and loving expression sent a shiver through Yan Han, dispelling the remnants of his earlier melancholy. What remained was a raw, primal longing born of love.

He wanted to kiss him, hold him, and merge with him—to fulfill the need that only love could ignite and that love could satiate.

—

Pei Lang ended up completely exhausted from their passion, leaving him bedridden for two days. Though initially annoyed, he couldn’t deny how thoroughly Yan Han had captivated him with overwhelming pleasure. Torn between love and frustration, he ultimately surrendered.

After all, there was only a little over a month left before he would leave for the shoot. Once filming started, their chances to indulge in such intimacy would dwindle to maybe once every ten days or even half a month. And considering he’d be filming the next day, Pei Lang figured Yan Han likely wouldn’t be so relentless this time.

As Yan Han had predicted, the award rules that were supposed to be announced that day were quietly withheld. Yan Han’s preemptive action had effectively cut off the platform’s attempt to trap Pei Lang.

Unable to force Pei Lang into their scheme, the platform opted to let things proceed naturally. Consequently, Pei Lang’s song dropped from first to second place in the rankings. Despite the fall, it was still an impressive result, and the controversy had served as free publicity, significantly increasing Pei Lang’s visibility.

When the final rankings closed, Pei Lang secured second place and received a generous prize. In addition to a cash reward of 100,000 yuan, he earned a 1% commission on the song’s streaming revenue. Furthermore, the song caught the attention of a domestic animation studio and was sold as the theme song for a popular xianxia novel’s animated adaptation, earning him a substantial copyright fee.

Altogether, the total earnings came to several hundred thousand yuan. Once the payments were processed, Pei Lang contacted the dean of the Tianguang orphanage and donated a portion of the funds to them. The remaining amount was distributed to financially struggling patients in need of treatment.

After completing these charitable acts, the final version of the Rot script was finalized. The revisions were minimal, closely resembling the earlier version.

Under Yan Han’s company, Pei Lang would occasionally visit the office to chat with his assistant and manager. Though he often faced indifferent stares from others, he was used to it and pretended not to notice.

Pei Lang also liked to drop by Yan Han’s office, where they’d have meals together, chat, and sometimes nap in the office lounge, which had a spacious bed. When the workday ended, they would take Yan Han’s private elevator directly to the parking garage and head home together.

With a well-connected and capable supporter like Yan Han, even the one time they were spotted together, no one dared to overthink it, let alone associate their relationship with romance. This saved them a lot of unnecessary trouble.

Time passed quickly, and in just a week, it would be time for Pei Lang to join the filming crew.

The shooting location was out of town, and the entire movie would be filmed there. Secretly, Yan Han had purchased a house in the area for Pei Lang, ensuring every detail was meticulously prepared. From shampoo to body wash, all the products were the same as those at home. It wasn’t until the day before departure that Pei Lang learned about this arrangement.

As a result, there was no need to pack much for the trip. A single carry-on bag was enough, as all the necessary living supplies were already provided in the new house.

Three days before joining the crew, Yan Han took Pei Lang to visit the house he had prepared for him.

The house was luxuriously decorated, with every detail featuring the best quality. Pei Lang cooked a meal in the new home and the two of them enjoyed the delicious food while discussing their plans for the future. Afterward, they spent the day exploring the city, familiarizing themselves with the streets and key routes. By the end of the day, they had memorized the important paths and even visited a few highly rated restaurants recommended on food delivery platforms.

“In the crew, if anything comes up, let me know right away. There are too many people around you harboring ill intentions. You can’t let your guard down.” Yan Han held Pei Lang’s hand as they walked down the city streets. Even though they wore sunglasses and masks, their striking heights and presence still drew attention.

Yan Han couldn’t stop worrying and kept reminding Pei Lang again and again.

Pei Lang’s reputation had been tarnished. Even though he hadn’t harmed certain individuals, some people still harbored resentment toward him due to online rumors. Harboring such malice for too long could fester, and some people wouldn’t feel at ease until they vented it.

The timid ones might resort to verbal attacks, the schemers could cause trouble over trivial matters, and the truly malicious might take it upon themselves to act out of a misguided sense of justice. These people would see their actions as heroic, believing they were teaching a lesson to someone they viewed as “society’s scum”.

“Don’t worry, hubby. With you backing me up, I won’t let myself be bullied,” Pei Lang said reassuringly.

“Remember to think of me. No matter when, reach out to me—I’ll always be here.” Even in the middle of the night, Yan Han would be ready to respond if Pei Lang called.

A smile curved at Pei Lang’s lips as he swung their clasped hands playfully. “Got it. But while I’m away, you need to sleep well. If you can’t sleep and I finish a night shoot, I can sing you a song.”

“Mm~ Alright~” Yan Han replied, his tone soft with affection.

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