Chapter 1: The Love We Left Behind

Huang Jingyu had told himself that he had moved on.

Years had passed since he and Xu Weizhou had been anything more than distant colleagues, their once-passionate love affair buried under contracts, industry expectations, and the pressure of family.

Now, both were at the peak of their acting careers, leading separate lives, their past nothing more than a whispered rumor in the industry.

Until today.

Jingyu stepped into the high-rise conference room, expecting another routine business meeting. What he didn’t expect was to see Xu Weizhou sitting at the head of the table, looking just the same and yet completely different.

His heart stuttered.

Weizhou looked up, their eyes meeting for the first time in years.

Jingyu’s breath caught.

“Ah, Huang Jingyu,” the director greeted, oblivious to the tension crackling between them. “You’ll be working closely with Xu Weizhou for this new project. We’re looking forward to seeing the chemistry between you two on screen.”

Chemistry.

Jingyu almost laughed. If only they knew.

Weizhou, ever composed, nodded. “It’s good to see you again, Jingyu.”

His voice was steady, his expression unreadable.

Jingyu clenched his fists under the table, forcing a tight smile. “Likewise.”

But inside, he was anything but calm.

Because sitting across from him was the only person he had ever truly loved—

And the one person he had never been able to forget.

Chapter 2: When the Curtain Falls

Filming had been torture.

The script demanded stolen glances, lingering touches, whispered confessions—things that came far too naturally between them.

Jingyu could still feel the ghost of Weizhou’s lips from rehearsed kisses, could still sense the tension in every scene.

And he hated it.

Not because it was uncomfortable—but because it still felt real.

One night, after filming wrapped, Jingyu found himself alone in the dressing room when Weizhou walked in, closing the door behind him.

“We need to talk,” Weizhou said softly.

Jingyu scoffed, leaning against the counter. “Now you want to talk?”

Weizhou sighed. “I never wanted to leave you.”

Jingyu clenched his jaw, old wounds resurfacing. “But you did.”

“I had no choice,” Weizhou murmured. “You know that.”

Silence.

Jingyu exhaled, running a hand through his hair. “Then why now? Why this movie, why come back into my life like this?”

Weizhou stepped closer. “Because I never stopped loving you.”

Jingyu froze.

Weizhou’s voice shook slightly. “I spent years convincing myself that I did the right thing. That walking away from us was the only way to protect our careers, our futures. But every time I saw your name on a movie poster, every time I watched one of your interviews…” His eyes darkened with emotion. “It was always you, Jingyu. Always.”

Jingyu’s breath hitched.

He had spent so long resenting Weizhou for leaving, for not fighting harder.

But the truth was, he had never stopped waiting for him either.

“Say something,” Weizhou whispered.

Jingyu swallowed hard before finally, finally, pulling him into a kiss.

It was desperate, raw, a collision of years of pain and longing.

When they pulled apart, Jingyu rested his forehead against Weizhou’s. “If we do this again, I’m not letting you go.”

Weizhou smiled, gripping his hands tightly. “Then don’t.”

This time, there were no contracts holding them back.

No industry rules dictating their fate.

Just them.

And that was enough.