By the lakeside of Houhai at night, the crowd was bustling. Amidst the sea of people, Lu Chen and Chen Fei'er walked side by side, enjoying the cool evening breeze as they strolled along the lakeside.
Both of them were appropriately disguised, especially Chen Fei'er, who looked completely different from her usual appearance, so none of the passersby or tourists could recognize her.
For celebrities, being able to walk and shop like ordinary people is really not an easy thing.
There were many couples by the lakeside, holding hands or sitting together on the grass or benches, as if the air was filled with a sweet fragrance. In comparison, Lu Chen and Chen Fei'er, who kept half a foot of distance between them, seemed a bit out of place.
Chen Fei'er didn't speak, as if she were thinking about something. Lu Chen wanted to find a topic to talk about, but didn't know what to say. After all, he had just confessed to the Heavenly Queen beside him in the restaurant, and he was still feeling a bit uneasy.
Just then, Chen Fei'er suddenly stopped. She stood in front of an advertising screen.
These LED advertising screens, about two meters wide, are common in parks, scenic areas, and commercial districts, mainly displaying daily life information such as traffic and weather, as well as commercial and public service advertisements.
The screen by the lakeside had just switched to a new image, showing three beautiful girls in white school uniforms leaning against each other, smiling sweetly at everyone.
In the middle of the screen, a striking title was painted in oil brush strokes, MSN. 'Not Yet Lovers'!
This was the debut MV of the girl group MSN under Flying Stone Records, also the promotional video for their first album, which had started airing on various media in the Capital City two days ago, launching a massive prelude to their campaign.
Their voices floated out from the speakers hidden in the screen's support, reaching the ears of passersby!
"Why is it that I can only chat with you all night? Why do I want to see you again just after saying goodbye? Among my friends, you are the most special, always making me feel so close and warm."
"Why do you care who accompanies me shopping? Why do you worry about who flirts with me? You say you care about me more than others, but you don't say how much more."
"More than friends, not yet lovers, sweet yet troubling, joyful yet chaotic, what will we become in the future?
"I can't wait to know the answer~"
The speakers attached to the advertising screen were ordinary, just enough to hear the sound, as the saying goes.
But the beautiful melody, the sweet yet slightly melancholic voices, and the exquisite visuals made many passersby, like Chen Fei'er, stop to listen and watch the MV of "Not Yet Lovers."
In the video, the three girls studied, lived, ran, and played on campus, and then the heroine, Mu Xiaochu, bumped into Lu Chen, a senior, and thus began a hazy and beautiful pure love story.
The director, Fang Hui, handled the visuals with great delicacy, and the constantly changing scenes made it feel as if one had returned to their youthful school days. She portrayed the subtle emotions between the male and female protagonists perfectly.
Especially the heroine's pursuit and longing for beautiful love made one's heart flutter.
Lu Chen was fine; as the male protagonist, he had already watched it several times.
But Chen Fei'er was captivated.
Somehow, Lu Chen, standing beside Chen Fei'er, seemed to sense the Heavenly Queen's inner turmoil. Lu Chen couldn't help but reach out and hold her hand.
Chen Fei'er's hand was a bit cold, her fingers as delicate and smooth as spring onions.
When Lu Chen held it, her hand trembled slightly, but she didn't pull away.
The two of them watched the video together.
The ending scene of the MV was a deep gaze between Lu Chen and Mu Xiaochu.
Mu Xiaochu's pure and cute appearance, and Lu Chen's handsome and dashing look, were fully displayed in this shot!
Chen Fei'er blinked her eyes and said, "Let's go."
The two continued walking, but their hands remained intertwined.
As they walked, Chen Fei'er suddenly asked, "This MV is well made. Do you often keep in touch with Xiaochu?" She turned to look at Lu Chen, her eyes behind her glasses sparkling like bright stars!
Lu Chen said, "Rarely. I treat her like a younger sister."
Chen Fei'er bit her lip and said, "You know what? Actually, I'm 28 this year. Back then, to debut early, my agent changed my household registration and added two years."
Lu Chen: "Uh…"
"What 'uh'?"
Chen Fei'er said with a mix of shyness and annoyance, "I shouldn't have told you. Not many people know about this!" She tried to pull her hand away from Lu Chen's grip.
"Sister Fei, I was wrong!" Lu Chen quickly tightened his grip, stopping to look at her, and said, "Actually, I think age isn't a problem. Whether you're 30 or 28, I still like you the same!"
Lu Chen's gaze was gentle and sincere. He understood that Chen Fei'er had concerns about their age difference, but he had never seen age as an issue.
Moreover, Lu Chen knew that Chen Fei'er had never shied away from discussing her age; by sharing this secret with him, it was undoubtedly a sign of trust. Now that their relationship had finally taken a step forward, Lu Chen didn't want to let go and return to the past! He genuinely liked Chen Fei'er.
Chen Fei'er struggled a few times without success, her pretty face flushing with embarrassment. There was a hint of softness in her eyes as she said, "You make it sound nice, but I'm an old woman now. Saying you like me now might lead to regrets later."
Lu Chen smiled wryly, "How can you be an old woman? What can I do for you to believe me, Sister Fei?"
To be honest, even if Chen Fei'er claimed to be 30 or 28, no one would doubt her if she said she was 22. In the eyes of many fans, Chen Fei'er, who had debuted for over a decade, was an ageless beauty!
Lu Chen thought, could it be that Chen Fei'er was jealous of Mu Xiaochu? This thought made him feel a bit smug, and he was even less willing to let go.
Narcissistic + shameless!
Chen Fei'er gave up struggling, thought for a moment, and said, "You let go of me first; let's take it slow."
She was not a teenage girl who could be easily swayed by sweet words. Even if her heartstrings were touched, she still remained aloof, unwilling to fully open her heart.
Lu Chen said, "Alright then."
Reluctantly, he released Chen Fei'er's hand, feeling like a child who had lost their favorite toy.
Of course, he was intentionally exaggerating his feelings.
Chen Fei'er couldn't help but chuckle, linking her arm with Lu Chen's, "Let's go."
Lu Chen asked, "Where are we going?"
Chen Fei'er tilted her head and said, "Isn't it close to the bar street? Let's go to Daylily."
Lu Chen: "Uh…"
Chen Fei'er shot him a glance, "Is that out of the question?"
Lu Chen laughed, "Of course not! I'll treat you to a Burning; that's David's signature drink."
Chen Fei'er nodded and said, "If there are no others around in the future, don't call me My Fei Jie anymore."
Lu Chen was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said, "Got it, Fei'er."
Chen Fei'er bit her lip and smiled back.
Although they didn't state it directly, both knew that their relationship had crossed a line.
There was no going back to how things were before.
When they arrived at Daylily bar, it was already past 9 PM. Even though it wasn't a weekend, Daylily was still very popular, with no seats available on the ground floor, and many customers crowded around the bar.
People were drinking, chatting, and enjoying the performance of the vagabond singer on stage, creating a familiar atmosphere for Lu Chen. He squeezed through the crowd with Chen Fei'er to the bar, calling out to David, who was busy, "David, give me two Burnings!"
David looked at Lu Chen and was momentarily stunned. This guy looked familiar, and his voice was even more recognizable!
"OMG!"
But he quickly recognized Lu Chen, "Lu Chen, what are you doing here? Hahaha!"
This faux foreigner laughed heartily and shouted to the patrons in the bar, "I have good news! Our Little Lu boss, Lu Chen, is here; let's welcome him!"
Lu Chen owned 5% of Daylily bar, which was his last connection to it. To be honest, it had been a long time since Lu Chen had been back.
"Lu Chen?" Hearing David's shout, the regular customers showed surprised smiles and stood up.
"It's been a while!"
"What's the occasion? What brings you here?"
"Lu Chen, we've missed you!"
"Sing a song for us, a new one!"
Lu Chen quickly turned around and waved, "Hello, everyone! Long time no see!"
The customers at Daylily were all well-mannered, and both old and new patrons greeted Lu Chen warmly without crowding him. Only a few approached for autographs and photos, which he happily obliged.
Now, Lu Chen had become a legendary figure in the Daylily bar and the Houhai scene.
However, no one knew that the woman in the long dress beside him was the real superstar!
Only David glanced at Chen Fei'er and cautiously asked, "Lu Chen, this beautiful lady isn't your sister, is she?"
The last time Lu Chen brought Lu Xi to Daylily, David mistakenly thought she was Lu Chen's girlfriend.
He remembered that lesson well.
Lu Chen laughed, "This is also my sister!"
David couldn't help but roll his eyes, "May I ask, Mr. Lu Chen, how many sisters do you have?"
He bantered with Lu Chen while expertly mixing a Burning and served it to Chen Fei'er.
"Charming lady, please allow me to offer you a drink that I personally crafted!"
He placed his left hand on his chest and performed an elegant gentleman's bow.
Chen Fei'er smiled, "Thank you."
She raised her glass and took a sip, glancing at Lu Chen with a smile that seemed to say, he knows how to charm women better than you!
Lu Chen could only smile wryly.
(End of Chapter)
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