Red String Across Worlds: BL System

Chapter 9

The weeks following the wrap party were a curious blend of post-production calm and the burgeoning excitement of a new relationship for Lin Mu. The frenetic energy of filming had subsided, replaced by the quiet anticipation of the movie's release. For Lin Mu, this interlude was a precious opportunity to explore the deepening connection with Li Wei, a space where the lines between their on-screen personas blurred into the reality of their burgeoning love.

Their initial dates were often simple affairs, stolen moments amidst their still-busy schedules. A quiet dinner at a secluded restaurant, their hands meeting across the table in a silent language of affection. A late-night stroll through a dimly lit park, their conversations weaving through shared dreams and vulnerabilities. Each interaction peeled back another layer, revealing the complexities and the tenderness within each other.

One cool evening, they found themselves on Li Wei’s balcony, overlooking the glittering cityscape. A comfortable silence had settled between them, punctuated only by the distant hum of traffic. Li Wei held Lin Mu’s hand, his thumb gently stroking the back of it.

“These past few weeks…” Li Wei began, his voice soft, “it feels like I’ve known you for a lifetime, and yet I’m still discovering new facets of who you are.”

Lin Mu turned, leaning against the railing, his gaze meeting Li Wei’s warm amber eyes. “The feeling is mutual. There’s a depth to you, Li Wei, a wisdom that feels ancient, yet you carry it with such gentle grace.”

Li Wei chuckled softly. “Ancient? You make me sound like an old sage.”

“Perhaps you are,” Lin Mu teased, a playful smile gracing his lips. “A sage with incredibly captivating eyes.”

Li Wei’s gaze intensified, a spark of affection igniting within them. “And you, my Lin Mu, have a way of seeing through any facade, of finding the truth beneath the surface. It’s one of the many things I adore about you.”

A comfortable silence settled between them again, this one filled with a sweet understanding. Then, Lin Mu’s gaze drifted towards the city lights, a flicker of something akin to melancholy crossing his features.

“Sometimes,” he said softly, almost to himself, “I feel like I’m living a borrowed life. This face… this body… it’s not truly mine.”

Li Wei’s hand tightened around his. “But the heart within it is yours, Lin Mu. The soul that shines through your eyes, the kindness and the wit you possess – those are inherently you. This… Bai Fan… he is a vessel, but you are the essence.”

Lin Mu turned back to him, a grateful warmth spreading through him. “You have a way of making me feel… grounded, Li Wei. Seen, truly seen.”

“Because I do see you,” Li Wei replied, his voice filled with sincerity. “Beyond the roles you play, beyond the faces you wear. I see the man I’m falling in love with.”

Their conversations often delved into their pasts, carefully navigated territories where Lin Mu had to tread lightly, revealing only carefully curated fragments of his original life while fully embracing the experiences and memories of Bai Fan. He spoke of his initial shock at finding himself in this world, the strange guidance of the System, and his determination to fulfill Bai Fan’s wishes. He omitted the details of his previous career and the circumstances of his death, sensing it was too much to reveal too soon.

Li Wei, in turn, shared glimpses of his own life before acting, hinting at a solitary existence dedicated to spiritual practices and a deep connection to the natural world. There were undertones of a life lived slightly apart from the mainstream, a sense of ancient wisdom that seemed to emanate from him.