Chapter 83
The open auditions for The Song of the Nameless were scheduled for the day before New Year’s.
This year, New Year’s Day and the Lunar New Year were very close together, so once the auditions were over, Xu Tuanyuan would still have time to return home and celebrate with his wife. The timing was also relatively fair—it gave all actors twenty days to prepare, which was a reasonable amount.
After Heartbeat Signal ended, Shi Feiran went to visit Fang Huai at his place. After knocking for a long time with no response, he found it odd and called him.
That was when he found out that after the show finished filming, Fang Huai had moved directly into Ye Yuyuan’s house.
Shi Feiran: “…”
A subordinate dating his direct superior—there was really nothing he could do about it!
“I’m moving later, so let’s talk another time,” Fang Huai said. He was actually on the treadmill at that moment, running while an e-reader displayed background information on The Song of the Nameless. His forehead was slightly damp with sweat, but his breathing remained steady. “See you.”
Shi Feiran’s hopes lifted. “Moving? Are you coming back? I can wait for you—”
“Nope.” Fang Huai shook his head, answering matter-of-factly, “I’m moving to a villa in the suburbs. It’s almost New Year’s.”
Shi Feiran: “…Alright.” He really should have guessed.
Now, there were only ten days left until the The Song of the Nameless audition.
For the past ten days, Fang Huai had canceled all his scheduled appearances and variety show tapings to focus solely on preparing for the audition. He wasn’t self-doubting, but he wasn’t arrogant either—he knew his competition was fierce. A single glance at their long lists of accolades made that clear.
He had thrown himself into his work with the same intensity as during Stellar Light. If it weren’t for Ye Yuyuan keeping an eye on him, he would’ve even cut down on sleep.
The full script of The Song of the Nameless was, of course, confidential. The only available information was a broad outline of the story, its setting, and the inspiration behind it. Over the first three days, Fang Huai meticulously studied all the materials available. The following seven days were spent immersing himself in his character—practicing scenes with industry connections and getting feedback on his performance.
Now, ten days had passed, and the preliminary preparation was essentially complete. There was just one more thing left to do.
“Your boyfriend is back,” the AI in his Bluetooth earpiece announced.
“Thanks, Little A.” Fang Huai raised an eyebrow slightly, stopped the treadmill, and went to greet Ye Yuyuan at the door.
Ptah had officially gone on holiday today. After an entire year of hard work, the programmers were finally getting a month-long break. They had received such generous year-end bonuses that they nearly lifted their boss up to the ceiling in celebration. Fortunately, Ye Yuyuan’s usual aura of authority was strong enough to keep things under control, and he made it back safely.
Fang Huai was completely smitten with him. Sometimes, he found it strange—he had been with Ye Yuyuan for quite a while now, yet each day, he felt like he loved him even more than before.
The two of them stood at the entrance, looking at each other.
Ye Yuyuan lowered his gaze, studying him carefully. A moment later, a trace of amusement flickered in his eyes.
“Hm?”
“I like you so much.” Fang Huai, with his warm amber eyes, looked at him in distress. “What am I going to do when I leave for the filming crew? I might miss you so much I won’t be able to sleep.”
Ye Yuyuan: “…”
Even after all this time, he still hadn’t gotten used to his little one’s straightforwardness.
Clearing his throat lightly, Ye Yuyuan pressed his lips together and said, “I’ll come visit you.”
Fang Huai immediately replied, “That’s too far—just calling me will be enough.”
Ye Yuyuan looked at him quietly, saying nothing.
Fang Huai had only said it casually, but if he really landed the role, The Song of the Nameless would be filmed abroad, making trips back and forth quite troublesome.
They were about to move soon. For the past ten days, they had been staying in a penthouse near Ptah. But with the New Year approaching, they were relocating to a villa in the suburbs, where the living conditions would be even better.
“Tablet, clothes,” Fang Huai counted. “Am I forgetting anything?”
Ye Yuyuan was silent for a moment, then walked to the balcony and retrieved a few pairs of Ultraman and SpongeBob SquarePants underwear that Fang Huai had hung out to dry.
Fang Huai: “……”
“I—” His ears turned completely red, and he stammered, “I can do it myself!”
Ye Yuyuan pressed his lips together and shook his head. “You won’t.”
Fang Huai watched in disbelief as Ye Yuyuan, with his long, slender fingers, carefully folded his underwear and placed them neatly into a storage bag.
…Fine.
Fang Huai continued counting.
“Script, ukulele—what else am I forgetting?”
“Something,” Ye Yuyuan paused briefly, then gave a small nod.
Fang Huai: “?”
Ye Yuyuan’s obsidian-like eyes fixed on him. After a moment, he let out a quiet sigh. “Never mind, let’s go.”
The Maybach was waiting outside, with Ye Yuyuan’s secretary in the driver’s seat.
So what had he forgotten? Fang Huai sat in the car, utterly puzzled, thinking it over.
Holding the ukulele, he casually strummed a simple folk tune. About ten minutes later, it suddenly hit him.
The Maybach glided smoothly through the bustling city, weaving past the crowds and the evening rush hour glow.
Fang Huai plucked the strings absentmindedly and said, “Mr. Ye.”
Ye Yuyuan: “Hm?”
Just as he lowered his head slightly, Fang Huai’s gaze lifted from the ukulele. He turned, leaned in—
—and kissed him.
Half a minute later.
Fang Huai resumed playing, chuckling sheepishly. “Sorry, I forgot to kiss you.”
Every day when Ye Yuyuan came home from work, they would share a kiss. But today, in the rush of moving, Fang Huai had forgotten. Ye Yuyuan, being reserved as he was, wanted one but was too embarrassed to ask, so he had dropped a subtle hint instead.
The secretary glanced at the rearview mirror: “……”
Ye Yuyuan sat stiffly, his face serious, but the tips of his ears were completely red.
After a long pause, his voice, slightly hoarse, finally came, “…As long as you remember.”
The suburban villa was even better than Fang Huai had imagined.
The house had already been cleaned by the housekeepers, and after organizing most of the essentials, they bid the couple farewell with a smile. Neither Ye Yuyuan nor Fang Huai was used to having outsiders in their home, so they didn’t employ live-in staff. Most of the household chores were handled by robots or done by themselves.
The villa was a standalone property in the suburbs, complete with a garden and various amenities. It had three floors, with a swimming pool on the top level. When Fang Huai changed into his indoor slippers and took a look around, he noticed that the living room on the first floor was equipped with a stationary bike, a VR setup, and gaming controllers—meanwhile, Ye Yuyuan’s books and personal items were squeezed into a tiny corner.
The second floor housed the bedrooms and study rooms. Ye Yuyuan had converted the largest and most well-lit study into a media room, equipping it with recording facilities and a piano so that Fang Huai could work there. His own belongings had been moved to a much smaller study.
Fang Huai had always been in the habit of growing plants and raising small animals. Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, he spotted a line of little ducks waddling out of the pond, and the area that was once used for flower beds had been transformed into a vegetable patch filled with cabbage and radishes—somewhat out of place with the villa’s overall aesthetic.
Fang Huai: “……”
“Do you like it?” Ye Yuyuan asked, trying to sound casual but clearly a little nervous. “If there’s anything you don’t like, we can change it right now.”
“I love it.”
Fang Huai responded immediately.
He couldn’t even begin to describe his emotions—one moment, he felt guilty, thinking he didn’t love Ye Yuyuan enough, and the next, he felt like he already loved him so much that it was impossible to love him any more.
He had wanted to give Ye Yuyuan a home. But he hadn’t expected that Ye Yuyuan had already given him one.
Still, he wanted to save up and buy a place of their own, so they could renovate and decorate it together according to both their tastes—not just his.
Fang Huai didn’t mention it right away, but the thought had already taken root in his mind. How much would a villa in the city center of Nan City cost? He wasn’t sure if the money from Abyss Moonlight would be enough—he had donated a significant portion of his earnings to charity after their visit to the orphanage.
He walked into the game room and saw a neatly arranged collection of games suited for ages seven to eighteen and above, ranging from LEGO sets to VR equipment.
Fang Huai: “?” Seven years old?
Ye Yuyuan was silent for a moment before saying, “I bought the wrong one.”
Fang Huai: “Oh.”
Even though they had moved houses, life continued as usual. That evening, they cooked dinner together. After eating, Fang Huai went back to studying his materials and memorizing his script, while Ye Yuyuan lowered the TV volume to the bare minimum and waited quietly beside him.
At night, when it was time to sleep—
They had been sleeping together for the past few days. Initially, they had tried sleeping separately, but every night, Fang Huai would wake up in the middle of the night, clutching his pillow, and crawl into Ye Yuyuan’s bed. Eventually, Ye Yuyuan gave in.
That night, Fang Huai had trouble sleeping.
He turned over, feeling a little warm. The AI lowered the temperature slightly, but he still felt hot.
Hmm…
“Uncle Ye, Mr. Ye,” Fang Huai called softly after lying in bed for a while post-shower, turning over to face his boyfriend. Then, in a quieter voice, he murmured, “Baby.”
Ye Yuyuan was reading, his eyes cast downward. The soft glow of the reading lamp illuminated his figure, highlighting the elegant contours of his neck and collarbones. His cool-toned skin, sharp and handsome features—every inch of him seemed made for kissing.
Ye Yuyuan, initially engrossed in his magazine, paused and responded, “Hm?”
Setting his magazine aside, he turned over and pulled Fang Huai into his arms.
“I don’t feel so good.”
Ye Yuyuan immediately frowned. “Where? Are you catching a cold?”
Fang Huai was confused. “I can’t really explain… I just feel a little hot.”
Ye Yuyuan touched his forehead with the back of his hand. As he held him, he noticed something.
A brief silence fell before Ye Yuyuan’s voice turned husky.
“Huaihuai, let me help you.”
“Help me with what?”
Fang Huai propped himself up on the bed, completely puzzled. Then, he saw Ye Yuyuan press a hand against the back of his head, pulling him down into a kiss—while his other hand moved downward and grasped…
Fang Huai: “!!!”
A mist quickly clouded his eyes. His mind felt like fireworks bursting into the night sky, each explosion spreading into waves of heat that drowned him completely.
It didn’t last long.
Ye Yuyuan got up, went to the bathroom to wash his hands and rinse his mouth. A moment later, he turned on the shower and took a cold rinse, trying to calm himself down.
When he returned to bed and turned over, he was immediately met with a pair of bright, expectant eyes.
“Should I help you too?” Fang Huai asked.
Ye Yuyuan struggled but firmly refused. “…No need.”
“Then…” Fang Huai hesitated, growing bolder after his first taste of indulgence. “One more time?”
“……”
*
There were ten days left until the audition for The Song of the Nameless.
The day after moving in, Fang Huai blindfolded himself, choosing to stop relying on his sight and forcing himself to adapt to life as a blind person.
The protagonist of The Song of the Nameless, Lin Xiao, was based on a real-life Chinese immigrant in the U.S. Born to parents of low social status, struggling with both a disability and his sexual orientation, he had endured years of severe bullying. Once, he was locked inside a pitch-black storage room by his classmates for five whole days. By the time a teacher finally found him, he was already in shock.
“Is being gay a mistake?” Fang Huai had once discussed this with Ye Yuyuan.
“No,” Ye Yuyuan replied, after a brief pause. His fingers curled slightly.
Of course, it wasn’t a mistake. But there were many injustices in the world that weren’t rooted in errors or sins.
It had a different name—discrimination.
Fang Huai blindfolded himself. At first, it felt unnatural, but soon, an overwhelming wave of loneliness and discomfort engulfed him.
He moved into a small, temporary rental, insisting that Ye Yuyuan not help him. He lived alone, slowly adjusting—eating, listening to the radio, painstakingly learning Braille, and occasionally going out to buy things.
He constantly struggled: missing the keyhole when trying to unlock the door, scalding his hands while pouring hot water, getting mocked and impatiently shoved when trying to shop at a small rural store—always surrounded by an endless, inescapable darkness.
Fang Huai had rarely been one to get angry. But faced with these relentless challenges, he found himself growing irritable, frustrated, even blaming himself. His temper worsened.
What if it were Lin Xiao? What would he do?
A pale, frail, and emaciated young man gradually emerged in Fang Huai’s mind. He had a slight hunch in his back, always clutching a white cane, forever out of place among others. His expression was somber, even somewhat extreme.
Ye Yuyuan obeyed Fang Huai’s request not to help him but always stayed close by, afraid he might encounter danger, silently warning off those who mistreated him.
Yet, whenever Ye Yuyuan couldn’t bear seeing him struggle, he would wait until Fang Huai fell asleep to tidy up his tiny rental apartment, prepare a meal, and quietly put everything in order—then press a gentle kiss on him.
Fang Huai couldn’t understand.
Radical. World-weary. Despondent. These were all the emotions he had felt so far.
That afternoon, he woke up in complete darkness. The aroma of warm porridge and soup drifted through the quiet space.
From the sounds outside, it was nearing dusk—dinnertime was approaching.
Fang Huai reached for his white cane by the bed and slowly made his way to the table, feeling along for the clay pot. It wasn’t too hot or too cold—the temperature was just right. He remained silent for a long time before his eyes suddenly turned red.
The world, engulfed by storms of rain and fire, only revealed its true colors once the chaos had settled.
Radical. World-weary. Despondent. And…
Love.
*
On the fourth day, Fang Huai locked himself in a small storage room within the rental apartment.
The doors and windows were sealed. He left himself only a small portion of food and water. The door was locked from the outside—it could only be opened externally. He and Ye Yuyuan had agreed beforehand that Ye Yuyuan would unlock the door on the fourth day. Until then, he would remain alone in utter darkness.
The small storage room was cramped, identical to the windowless warehouse Lin Xiao had once been trapped in. There was no space to stretch his limbs. No one would hear him if he called for help.
When Fang Huai first brought this up, Ye Yuyuan had flatly refused.
It had even led to an argument—their first since they had been together.
Ye Yuyuan had been visibly serious and angry. “Stop messing around. I won’t agree to this.”
“Ye Yuyuan, I like you.” Fang Huai looked at him earnestly and asked, “Do you like me?”
Ye Yuyuan’s index finger curled slightly. He was silent for a long time before he finally spoke, his voice hoarse.
“Huaihuai, I love you.”
“……”
“I want to try,” Fang Huai said. “I can’t just… go through life knowing nothing.”
“This is too extreme.”
“I want to try. With you here, nothing will happen to me.”
Ye Yuyuan looked at him, his lips pressed into a thin line. After a long silence, he finally spoke.
“Huaihuai, don’t you understand?” His voice was low and heavy.
“I can’t bear to let you go through this.”
He couldn’t bear to let Fang Huai experience such pain. He couldn’t bear to watch him grow up.
He was afraid that once Fang Huai grew up, he wouldn’t want him anymore.
Even more, he was afraid that Fang Huai would suffer. Growth itself was painful. Experience itself was painful.
He couldn’t bear it.
In the end, Ye Yuyuan compromised—but the duration was cut down from five days to four.
In reality, Fang Huai barely lasted five hours before he began to break.
Panic. Loneliness. Agony. A flood of negative emotions crashed over him all at once.
He began questioning himself over and over—Was this really necessary? Was it worth going to such lengths for a movie? For an audition?
He started regretting not leaving himself an escape route—otherwise, he might not have been able to endure this.
In interrogation techniques, there is a method where prisoners are locked in a pitch-black room without any response from the outside. One can only imagine how torturous that must be.
He began trembling in the darkness, gasping for breath, wanting to call for help but unable to utter a word.
He had been too naive. He wanted to get out. He wanted to see Ye Yuyuan.
But he had a way out—he knew he could leave, as long as he endured for four days.
What about Lin Xiao?
Did he know? Was someone waiting for him outside?
Did he hate them? Was he in despair? Had he ever… thought of giving up?
After panic and struggle came numbness, and the instinct to survive took over. Then, his thoughts began cycling through his entire life—from birth to this very moment: Fang Jianguo, Feng Lang, Duan Yang, Yin Wanyue… and then Ye Yuyuan.
His Ye Yuyuan.
He kept thinking about him, over and over. He wanted to see him. What was he doing right now?
Fang Huai, of course, had no idea that while he was locked inside that small room, Ye Yuyuan had been standing outside the door the entire time, never leaving, silently accompanying him.
He watched as the dim light from the high window faded away, then gradually brightened again.
A flood of memories flashed through his mind like a spinning carousel.
And suddenly, he realized that at this very moment, what remained in his heart were not the past conflicts and hardships. Even his hatred had faded to almost nothing.
What was left in the end was…
In reality, Ye Yuyuan hadn’t been able to wait until the fourth day. By the second night, he couldn’t hold back any longer and opened the door.
His eyes were red—he hadn’t slept for two full days. He pulled his boy into his arms.
“Let’s go home,” he said hoarsely. “This was too reckless. You can’t do this again.”
Ye Yuyuan lowered his head and kissed him.
Fang Huai was silent for a long time before whispering, “Ye Yuyuan, thank you.”
“Hm?” Ye Yuyuan responded.
Fang Huai thought back to the past dozens of hours. It had felt like he was trapped in an endless nightmare, surrounded by darkness, mud, and an inescapable swamp.
Ye Yuyuan was the only light.
“Thank you…”
“For coming into my life.”
He said.
—
They returned to the villa and stayed there for two more days. The audition was fast approaching.
Ye Yuyuan took away Fang Huai’s script and notes.
“The last two days before the college entrance exam,” Ye Yuyuan said in a low voice, “you’re not supposed to study.”
Fang Huai was confused. “Really?”
Ye Yuyuan: “Yes.”
Fang Huai always listened to him, so he completely stopped reading. For those last two days, he did nothing but eat and sleep, sleep and eat, spending every moment with Ye Yuyuan. In the blink of an eye, the two days were gone.
The audition day arrived.
Since it was a public audition, the media had been closely following the event from early on.
And since it was the day before New Year’s, most people were on holiday and had plenty of free time.
The open audition for the role of Lin Xiao in The Song of the Nameless had become a major trending topic.
Not only were there well-known actors from China, but many renowned international actors had also arrived. Although Fang Huai had already gained attention for his performance in Frost, that was just a trailer—the full film hadn’t been released yet, and a trailer alone didn’t prove much. Compared to so many accomplished actors, his résumé was indeed lacking.
[Let’s take a look at today’s contestants. James, winner of the Best Supporting Actor Award at Cannes, known for Last Night, which won an Oscar for Best Director. Ohashi Renji, last year’s Best Actor at the Tokyo International Film Festival… Fang Huai, best known for his album Abyss Moonlight.]
[Fang Huai: ??? What did I do to deserve competing against this lineup?]
[Poor guy. Just thinking about how badly he’s about to get crushed makes me feel sorry for him. Also, by the way, I really liked Abyss Moonlight. Why not just focus on writing songs instead of forcing himself into this?]
[Ah, but what if he pulls off an upset? My boy has been proving people wrong since his debut…]
[Upsets only happen when there’s at least some chance of turning the tables. Here? No chance. The judges and audience aren’t blind.]
Fang Huai received his number from the staff and entered the waiting room. Many people were already there, but no one was chatting. Some were reviewing materials, while others had their eyes closed, quietly reciting lines. It was clear that everyone had come well-prepared, and quite a few of them were determined to win this role.
This guy was the lead in that movie. That person just won an award last month—Fang Huai looked around, getting increasingly dizzy before finally giving up.
One thing was certain: these people were all incredibly skilled.
Even though Xu Tuanyuan had originally handpicked him as the lead, almost no one here took him seriously.
A foreign actor sitting near the door smiled at him. “Fang?”
Fang Huai nodded. “Hello.”
The actor was direct. “I know you. I didn’t think you’d actually show up.”
He had assumed Fang Huai would just forfeit.
Fang Huai: “…”
He rubbed his nose and said, “I wanted to give it a try. I think I can do it.”
The actor burst into laughter. “Hahaha! You’re hilarious.”
Fang Huai: “…………???”
The actor’s name was Parker, a Frenchman. He lounged in his seat, legs crossed, not even bothering to review any materials, and instead enthusiastically struck up a conversation with Fang Huai.
“Fang, are you gay?” Parker eyed him up and down before bluntly asking, “Are you free tonight?”
Fang Huai wondered what connection these two questions had, but he answered honestly:
“I have a boyfriend.”
“Oh, really?” Parker looked genuinely disappointed. He folded his finance magazine, then unfolded it again and showed it to Fang Huai. “Look at him. I like guys like you, but I also like guys like him—he’s incredibly attractive, even with that permanently cold expression.”
Fang Huai looked at the page.
The man in the photo was wearing a perfectly tailored high-end suit, buttoned all the way up. His gaze toward the camera was icy, his features carrying a hint of melancholy. He was undeniably handsome.
Fang Huai sincerely replied, “That’s my boyfriend.”
Parker: “Hahaha! You’re hilarious.”
Fang Huai: “…”
Their numbers were consecutive since they had arrived late. They were the last two to audition, and it was almost their turn.
Although Fang Huai was chatting with Parker, he was actually feeling a little nervous inside. He really wanted to act in The Song of the Nameless. Winning an Oscar, as he had mentioned to Ye Yuyuan before, was one reason—though, of course, that was highly unlikely. But more importantly, he was genuinely drawn to this story.
After meeting that little boy at the orphanage and reflecting on his own past experiences, he had gradually started to understand this overlooked corner of the world. He wanted to lift the page and uncover its story.
Otherwise, when Xu Tuanyuan had first approached him with the project, he wouldn’t have agreed so easily.
Now, twenty days of effort would be tested in just a few minutes. Even though everyone said he had no chance, Fang Huai still felt the pressure.
The person before Parker was called in, and at this moment, both Fang Huai and Parker became visibly tense. Parker kept staring at the magazine photo in his hands, trying to calm himself down.
It was at this moment that the door was pushed open.
Parker instinctively looked up, expecting to see a staff member—only to freeze.
He stared blankly at the man at the door, then glanced down at the magazine, then back up at him again.
Ye Yuyuan’s gaze swept over Parker indifferently. After a brief pause, he gave him a slight nod.
“You forgot your cufflinks.” Ye Yuyuan spoke to Fang Huai, lowering his eyes as he calmly fastened the cufflinks for him. “I just remembered.”
“Teacher Ye, I’m a little nervous.” Fang Huai looked at him.
Ye Yuyuan leaned down and kissed him, then asked in a low voice, “What about now?”
Fang Huai thought for a moment and said, “Kiss me again.”
So Ye Yuyuan kissed him once more.
Fang Huai: “Now I feel much better.”
Parker: “………………”
No way… That really is your boyfriend?!
