MMLDU Chapter 86

After his reputation was redeemed, Pei Lang’s fanbase grew rapidly. With the airing of the drama, his fans became very active. Pei Lang often posted updates online.

Whether it was promoting the drama, sharing his daily life, or… showing off his relationship to prevent someone from getting jealous, his posts always received positive reactions. Fans loved seeing this lively and approachable side of Pei Lang online.

Pei Lang’s popularity remained high. Even after the drama’s finale, thanks to its long-tail effect, his buzz continued for half a month. Because of this, a very popular variety show reached out to invite Pei Lang to participate.

It was just for one episode as a guest since Pei Lang still wanted to focus on acting.

The filming only required one day. When they approached him, Pei Lang agreed. Having never been on a variety show before, he watched several previous episodes to get a feel for it after confirming his participation.

The show involved celebrities forming teams to play games and compete. Each episode had a different theme. The program had four regular hosts, with two guest participants joining each week to form a six-person lineup. The rules were set by the production team.

The atmosphere of the show seemed nice—fun and meaningful.

Filming would take place first, and the episode would air a week later.

“The filming location is pretty far,” Pei Lang said while packing his luggage. Yan Han, clearly unhappy, was reluctantly helping him pack. His movements were deliberately slow. If he could, he would have thrown Pei Lang’s luggage out the window.

The last time Pei Lang had filmed Rot, it was also far away, which had led to an accident. This time, it was similarly distant. Yan Han couldn’t help but worry.

Pei Lang took the scarf out of Yan Han’s hands, folded it properly, and placed it in his suitcase. “There will be staff following me the whole time. It’ll be fine—don’t worry.”

He patted Yan Han on the shoulder and dove into his oversized wardrobe to pick out clothes. Having checked the weather at the filming location and found it even colder than here, he needed to pack warmer clothing.

“The production team is all men. There’ll inevitably be some physical contact during the games. How about—”

“No way. The contract’s already signed; how could I back out now?” Knowing exactly what Yan Han was about to suggest, Pei Lang firmly cut him off.

The show had assembled a lineup of handsome men of various types to boost ratings. Just the thought of those men possibly touching his wife during the games made Yan Han so jealous he gritted his teeth.

After all, this was Pei Lang’s work—some things were unavoidable, but it was enough to torment Yan Han with inner conflict.

Yan Han thought to himself: What if I just keep Lang Lang at home forever?

No, no, Lang Lang loves acting. How could I selfishly take away his right to act?

But if he loves acting so much, he could act at home, right? I could be his scene partner—just treat it as role-playing.

But Lang Lang likes serious roles. If I’m his partner and can’t control myself, wouldn’t it turn into an R-rated home movie?

While Yan Han was tangled in his thoughts, Pei Lang had already finished packing. He locked the suitcase and, noticing Yan Han’s face alternating between dark and flushed expressions, nearly burst out laughing. “It’s just one day of filming, and with the travel time, at most three days. I promise to come straight home after filming. How about that?”

Yan Han sighed, eventually conceding. He pulled Pei Lang to sit on the edge of the bed, his hand caressing Pei Lang’s waist with a clear implication. “You’re leaving tomorrow. Don’t you think there’s something you should give me tonight?”

“Only once, and no marks. The show provides costumes for filming. I don’t know what kind of outfits they’ll be. It’d be embarrassing if something showed.” Pei Lang turned sideways to straddle Yan Han’s lap, his hands naturally resting on Yan Han’s shoulders as he leaned in to negotiate with an air of intimacy.

“Fine, but can I go in directly? I don’t want to use that thing.” Yan Han wrapped one arm around Pei Lang’s waist, his other hand slipping beneath the waistband of Pei Lang’s pajama pants, brushing against a sensitive spot. Just that light touch was enough to make Pei Lang go soft. He leaned in to kiss Yan Han willingly.

Not answering meant consent.

Their kisses deepened with passion, reluctant to part. Yan Han had already removed Pei Lang’s pants, his hands roaming over the smooth, delicate skin of Pei Lang’s thighs, savoring the sensation.

Though Yan Han moved with intensity, he was also mindful, adhering to Pei Lang’s request to keep it to one time. After all, Pei Lang had a flight to catch the next day. Yan Han didn’t want to make him uncomfortable.

The filming location was a three-hour flight away. Yan Han personally drove Pei Lang to the airport and, under the watchful eyes of many onlookers, hugged him goodbye. Pei Lang’s current popularity was through the roof, with fans everywhere.

A few candid photos of their farewell were quickly uploaded online, sparking a flurry of discussions. Many admired their evident closeness, while others speculated curiously about the identity of Pei Lang’s boyfriend.

“Brother Lang, we need to head in now,” Lu Lu carefully reminded him.

He didn’t want to interrupt, but if they didn’t go in soon, they’d run out of time.

“Go ahead and be careful on your way.” Yan Han released Pei Lang, removed his mask, and gave him a gentle kiss on the forehead before letting him leave.

“I’ll call you once I arrive. You should head back soon too, husband.”

After saying this, Pei Lang waved goodbye and left with Lu Lu. Once on the plane, he switched his phone to airplane mode. Having woken up early to catch the flight, he hadn’t slept well. So as soon as he was seated, he closed his eyes to rest. Meanwhile, Lu Lu triple-checked their itinerary.

Assistants were allowed to accompany them to the filming site, but not during the actual filming. Today was just for checking in; filming would officially begin the next day. The hotel was arranged by the production team. Upon landing, they would first meet up with the staff, who would take them to the prearranged hotel.

After a short nap, the plane landed. Pei Lang pushed his luggage and exited through a special passageway with Lu Lu. The production team had arranged for someone to pick them up outside the airport. Lu Lu thoroughly confirmed the identity of the staff member before allowing Pei Lang to get into the car.

Pei Lang’s hair had grown back quite a bit and his looks had returned to their peak. The staff couldn’t help but glance at him a few more times, internally marveling at the stark contrast in appearances between people.

It was a half-hour drive from the airport to the hotel. After settling his luggage, Pei Lang went to meet the other guests. He already knew the four regular hosts and their names. The other guest, like himself, was a rising new male actor who had recently gained popularity. The six of them greeted each other and exchanged some polite compliments before returning to their respective rooms.

Back in his room, Lu Lu helped unpack while Pei Lang called Yan Han.

“I’ve arrived at the hotel. The room is cozy and warm and the other guests seem easy to get along with. Tomorrow’s filming shouldn’t be too challenging.” To put Yan Han at ease, Pei Lang voluntarily shared the situation on his end. Hearing faint noise in the background, Pei Lang curiously asked, “Are you outside?”

“Mm, I had something to take care of, so I came out. I’m just glad you arrived safely at the hotel.”

“This afternoon, the production team arranged a dinner gathering, but I think I’ll rest for a bit first. I didn’t sleep well on the plane.” Pei Lang stretched his sore neck, his voice soft and delicate, almost as if he were acting spoiled.

“Get some good rest. I’ve got something to handle over here, so I won’t be able to answer your calls for a while. If there’s anything urgent, leave me a message,” Yan Han’s mature, deep voice carried a comforting sense of security. Pei Lang, his eyelids growing heavier with drowsiness, yawned several times as sleepiness overtook him.

“Alright, I’ll hang up then.”

After ending the call, Lu Lu finished tidying up. “Brother Lang, you should rest. I’m staying in the room next door, so let me know if you need anything.”

“Thanks for your hard work. You should get some sleep too.”

“Got it, Brother Lang.” Lu Lu stepped out. Pei Lang changed into his pajamas and burrowed under the covers. The warm, cozy bed quickly lulled him into a deep sleep.

The quiet environment and the soft, comfortable bed allowed Pei Lang to rest soundly until evening. He only woke up when Lu Lu knocked on his door.

It turned out the dinner arranged by the production team was about to start. After being informed by the staff, Lu Lu came to notify Pei Lang. Pei Lang got up, washed his face, changed his clothes, and opened the door for Lu Lu. Dressed in a loose, tea-colored sweater that exuded a lazy elegance, Pei Lang appeared both stunning and gentle. His exceptional presence immediately drew everyone’s gaze the moment he stepped out.

There were many attractive people in the entertainment industry, and none of the guests here were lacking in looks. However, Pei Lang’s uniquely relaxed and radiant beauty stood out, grabbing attention even in a room full of handsome men and beautiful women.

The dinner was intended to help everyone get acquainted and build rapport, as well as to briefly go over some key points for the next day’s filming. Although the specific filming content had not yet been disclosed, the gathering created a relaxed atmosphere for communication.

Pei Lang wasn’t very talkative, but he wasn’t cold or aloof either. He simply listened attentively to the conversations around him while savoring the delicious food.

This variety show was incredibly popular, and the production team was well-funded. All the guests were either top-tier celebrities or currently trending stars. Naturally, the food prepared outside of filming hours was top-notch. Pei Lang, someone who always appreciated good food, wouldn’t let it go to waste.

In contrast, the other guests and team members were much more restrained in their eating. In front of cameras, maintaining a perfect figure was essential. Regardless of gender, everyone in the entertainment industry was particularly mindful of their diet.

The others found watching Pei Lang eat to be a pleasant experience in itself. He ate a lot, but his movements were graceful and elegant, making it impossible to dislike.

“Mr. Pei, don’t you usually control your diet? I noticed in the behind-the-scenes footage of your drama that you always seemed to be eating,” said Zhao He, one of the regular cast members. In his thirties, Zhao He had a warm, big-brother demeanor.

Pei Lang smiled at him, swallowing his food before responding. “Because I burn a lot of energy through exercise. If I don’t eat enough, I’d feel weak.”

Pei Lang didn’t dare mention that he could eat as much as he wanted without gaining weight—that would only invite envy.

“Mr. Pei eats so much and still has such a great figure. You must exercise regularly. What fitness routines do you usually do? Maybe we can exchange tips sometime,” chimed in Xie Xuan, another regular member, who had a laid-back, roguish charm that made him very likable.

“I just work out at home casually, mainly to avoid gaining weight. When it comes to fitness, I’m nowhere near as professional as you, Mr. Xie,” Pei Lang replied modestly. Though his body was toned, it wasn’t as muscular as some other male celebrities, so he didn’t dare overstate his workout expertise. “Just call me Xiao Lang; calling me ‘Mr.’ feels too formal.”

“Xiao Lang.”

“Xiao Lang.”

The group echoed his suggestion one after another. Pei Lang smiled and took the initiative to chat with them. Whether it was for their on-camera personas or genuine camaraderie, their interaction so far felt comfortable.

This was quite different from what he had heard before. In his previous life as a film emperor, Pei Lang had only focused on acting and never participated in variety shows. He had heard that such shows were heavily scripted and full of all sorts of people with varying agendas.

After eating and chatting for a while longer, the evening grew late. To conserve energy for the next day’s filming, everyone retired to their rooms one by one. Pei Lang also returned to his room.

Once inside, he glanced at the clock—it was already 8 p.m. He sent Yan Han a message. Yan Han replied quickly.

Yan Han: [Make sure you go to bed early. I’ve seen past episodes of the show. The filming schedule starts early.]

Pei Lang: [Okay. Have you finished your work?]

Yan Han: [Almost done.]

Pei Lang: [I miss you. Let’s call.]

No sooner had he sent the message than Yan Han’s call came through. Pei Lang answered sweetly.

He shared stories about the people he’d met and the food he’d eaten that day. His good mood was contagious, lifting Yan Han’s spirits as well.

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