She squeezed his hand lightly, leaning her head against his shoulder, "Then we will face them all together, like we always have."
A faint chuckle rumbled through his chest as he kissed her temple softly, "Always so strong."
She smiled faintly, her eyes moist but shining with unbreakable resolve... "Rest for a while, you do need your strength."
"Mn..." He lay back down, closing his eyes as she tucked the cream blanket over his legs, her gentle touch lingering against his cheek for a long, quiet moment before she turned away to unpack their travel chests neatly into the cedar wardrobes.
Outside, the sun rose steadily, casting golden beams across their room, a silent promise of warmth and peace for the remainder of their days together.
LU MANSION – FIRST FLOOR – LU TING ZHOU'S SUITE
Lu Ting Zhou pushed open the carved cedar door to his bedroom, eyes lighting up instantly as he stepped inside.
"Woah…" he breathed out softly, a wide grin spreading across his boyish face.
The room was bright and modern, designed with minimalist cream tones accented by oak panels.
A huge fluffy cream rug spread before his king-sized bed, and an entire corner glass wall overlooked the koi ponds and flowering camphor trees outside.
He tossed his small duffel bag onto the bed, immediately walking over to the window to peek out at the gardens below.
His reflection merged with the tranquil outdoor scenery, his damp brown hair falling messily over his forehead, making him look even younger....
"It feels like a holiday villa… not a mansion bedroom!"
Laughing quietly to himself, he bounced lightly on the edge of the bed, testing its softness before flopping back fully with a satisfied sigh.
Stretching his arms over his head, he closed his eyes, enjoying the cool breeze drifting from the ceiling vent above.
His phone buzzed beside him with dozens of WeChat messages, manager updates, fans' notifications, acting scripts, brand campaigns, but he ignored them all, humming under his breath instead.
"Hmm hmm hmm… tomorrow I'll record that chorus again… a new environment, a new beginning...." he sang softly to himself, his clear tenor voice filling the quiet room with a soothing warmth.
He felt like he was reborn, falling down doesn't mean he will be a loser for life. He had a good career and just like what his brother had told him, he would concentrate on that and probably add more certificates to his résumé...
He turned onto his side, curling slightly as his fingers absentmindedly played with the edge of his pillowcase.
Finally… they were far away from that place.... He felt like he was suffocating but now, he felt afresh...
A soft, almost childish smile curved his lips as his breathing slowed, his mind drifting into gentle dreams of music studios, stage lights, cherry blossom teas, and perhaps… a certain girl's shy smile in the front row.
Outside, the koi rippled beneath pink magnolia petals drifting down, the morning breeze rustling the camphor trees, a peaceful lullaby for the sleeping star curled up in his quiet sanctuary.
LU MANSION – FIRST FLOOR – LU TING CHENG'S SUITE
Lu Ting Cheng stepped into his room, closing the dark oak door behind him with a quiet click.
His gaze swept the space in a single practised motion, wide cream walls, minimalist black and steel furnishings, a floor-to-ceiling glass window overlooking the east gardens, and a simple king-sized bed draped in crisp grey sheets.
Everything was as he preferred it: clean, organised, and devoid of unnecessary clutter.
With a tired sigh, he shrugged off his tailored jacket, folding it neatly over the armchair by the bed. Undoing the first two buttons of his white dress shirt, he rolled his stiff shoulders before moving towards the sleek adjoining bathroom.