Could your fate clash with mine?

Jian Ran had no idea he was already being watched. He was still secretly delighted about his pay raise, planning to move into a nicer apartment once filming for the variety show ended.

At the very least, it had to have air conditioning.

A happy smile curved his lips as he headed into the kitchen to prepare the ingredients. His movements were deft, his expression focused, and he seemed completely unaware of the activity behind him. The cameras, however, captured everything and relayed it to the fans in the livestream.

And so, early that morning, the comments were already buzzing.

[Wow, Jian Ran even looks handsome from behind when he cooks. I'm in love!]

[Doesn't he look like he trained in the Shaolin Temple kitchens? Even his chopping whips up a breeze!]

[Is that Du Yunmeng sneaking into the kitchen behind him? Usually so timid and scared to death, so why does he look so sinister now?]

[What's he hiding in his hand? Don't tell me he's planning to attack someone right in front of Lang Lang's camera?]

[Jian Ran, turn around! Du Yunmeng is coming over with bad intentions!]

While the fans frantically tried to warn him, Du Yunmeng had already come within half a step of Jian Ran. He was just about to pull something from his pocket when Jian Ran spun around, pressing the kitchen knife in his hand against his carotid artery.

The cold sensation, mixed with the smell of garlic chives, instantly assaulted Du Yunmeng's senses. Cold sweat gathered, almost trickling down. "Jian Ran, don't kill me."

"I mean no harm!"

Jian Ran narrowed his eyes and tilted his head, his lips curling into a wicked smirk. "Sorry, neither do I. Pure reflex."

As he spoke, he pointed his chin at a certain spot. "What's in your trouser pocket?"

"My phone!" Du Yunmeng said hastily. "Jian Ran, could you move the knife away first? Blades don't watch where they're going!"

Jian Ran held his position. "What do you need your phone for?"

"To transfer you money." Du Yunmeng lowered his voice, quiet and furtive. "I want to buy some more Talisman Paper. Any price is fine. Not the promotional stuff."

"I want premium quality!"

Jian Ran gave a cold scoff, withdrew the kitchen knife, and casually tossed it onto the chopping board, its blade ringing. "Anything from Jian Ran has to be premium quality!"

"Come on, let's discuss the details. How many sheets do you want? If you've been having bad luck lately, you can get a monthly package, too."

His manner grew considerably friendlier, and he draped an arm around Du Yunmeng's shoulders as they headed toward the living room.

A tall, slender figure happened to be coming slowly down the stairs. Jian Ran glanced over and greeted him. "Hey, buddy."

Lu Yanting's dark gaze fell on Jian Ran's arm, and his expression instantly darkened. "What are you two doing?"

"Discussing something confidential." Jian Ran chuckled without stopping.

Lu Yanting hurried down the stairs and caught Jian Ran by the wrist. "Didn't you say you hated getting touchy-feely with people?"

"Hey, I'm not that precious. We all know each other."

Wasn't doing business all about being approachable? What if he put on a sour face and scared his customers away?

Caught between them, Du Yunmeng felt far too much pressure. He ducked down and slipped straight out. "Jian Ran, I'll come find you when you're free. As long as it's before Seventh Month Fifteenth, there's still time."

"Seventh Month Fifteenth?"

Jian Ran voiced his puzzlement and was about to ask a few questions, only for Lu Yanting's stormy face to block his view.

"He wants to buy something from you?"

Jian Ran smiled. "Good guess."

"Don't sell to him." There was a chill in Lu Yanting's voice. "Be my exclusive consultant. Don't take any other business."

Jian Ran's smile faded. "Have you thought this through? I'm expensive."

Lu Yanting said, "...How expensive?"

The fans in the livestream:

[Why does this conversation feel a little strange? Is Lu Yanting testing the waters?]

[Are we allowed to hear this for free? Are they negotiating a sugar daddy arrangement live?]

[What the hell, "I'm expensive"?! What the hell, "Anything from Jian Ran has to be premium quality"?! Sooner or later this variety show is going to scare me to death-no, wait, make me laugh to death.]

[This show has so many twists. Last night we were scared out of our minds, and this morning we're being force-fed romance. I really want to shout, "Say yes! Get together! Say yes! Get together!"]

Jian Ran gazed at Lu Yanting's handsome face. After a long moment, he burst out laughing and patted his shoulder. "I'm teasing."

"I can't be an exclusive consultant."

"The Founding Master taught us that refusing to save a life brings divine punishment. If someone comes to me for help, I can't turn them down."

"Of course, they have to pay!"

Lu Yanting's face darkened. "..."

Back in the kitchen, Jian Ran remembered what Du Yunmeng had just said.

Seventh Month Fifteenth?

On the lunar calendar?

The Ghost Festival?

When vengeful spirits were at their strongest?

What was today's date?

With those questions in mind, he was about to check his phone when a clear, cool voice came from beside him. "Today is August eleventh on the solar calendar. In two days, it'll be the fifteenth of the seventh lunar month."

Jian Ran lifted his eyes, a gleam flashing through them. Oh-ho, quite in sync, weren't we?

"What do you think?"

Lu Yanting pressed his lips together. He seemed to still be angry about what had happened earlier and glumly helped chop the vegetables.

"Oh, come on. It was just an arm around someone's shoulders. Do you have to be this upset?" Jian Ran nudged him with his elbow, hitting his rock-hard abs.

He immediately changed the subject. "Oh-ho, nice body. How'd you train?"

"Want me to teach you?" Lu Yanting looked up and asked.

Jian Ran declined. "Personal training is expensive." Don't think you can use that to offset what you owe me.

"I'll do it for free."

"Really?" Jian Ran's eyes lit up.

"On one condition." Lu Yanting grew serious again.

Jian Ran smiled. "Go ahead. As long as it doesn't cost money."

Lu Yanting's gaze burned, scorching hot. "Don't put your arm around anyone else's shoulders again."

Jian Ran froze, feeling a little unsettled. A strange, tingling sensation spread through his whole body. He steadied himself and feigned nonchalance. "Sure, sure."

"Mm, good boy." A subtle curve lifted Lu Yanting's lips, his voice very soft.

But Jian Ran heard every word. His ears instantly reddened. "Talk properly!"

The livestream fans exploded.

[Oh my god, my ears are going to get pregnant. What kind of heavenly conversation is this?!]

[I'm shipping these two for good! Don't they look absolutely gorgeous standing together?!]

[Win Jian Ran over! Emperor Lu, I'm rooting for you!]

[Please get married right here! I'll contribute to the wedding fund!]

[Yanting Jian Ran! Ranran Tingqi!]

Neither of them knew that the livestream was already celebrating with drums, gongs, and firecrackers. Within ten minutes, GIFs had been made, and their romantic sweetness was all over the internet.

They still stood side by side, preparing the meal together. The warm glow of dawn shone in, coating them in a glittering layer of platinum.

"I think there'll definitely be trouble at the Abandoned Graves on the Back Hill on Seventh Month Fifteenth," Lu Yanting suddenly said.

Jian Ran lifted his eyes. "There'll definitely be trouble. The question is,"

"Which faction will be causing it?"

Lu Yanting didn't seem surprised by Jian Ran's words. "Didn't you find out when you went into town that time?"

Jian Ran shook his head. "There are always idiots getting in my way."

Lu Yanting's lips curved. "Have you never thought about getting rid of those idiots?"

Jian Ran sighed helplessly. "Can't. For now, my fate clashes with theirs."

Lu Yanting's smile faded. He set down the vegetables in his hands and asked, enunciating every word, "Could your fate..."

"Clash with mine?"

Jian Ran failed to follow. "Huh?"