Huayu: This top star doesn't play by the rules.

And so, the two chatted over drinks and food, talking about everything from filming to life, sharing funny stories from the "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" set, and their own embarrassing moments, and the atmosphere became more and more harmonious.

After a few beers, Li Yitong's cheeks turned rosy, and her eyes became somewhat hazy. She felt a surge of courage rising from her heart.

"Chen Chao." Li Yitong rested her chin on her hand, looking at Chen Chao with bright, sparkling eyes. "Tell me the truth, are you actually with Meng Ziyi?"

Chen Chao paused slightly as he picked up some food, looked up at Li Yitong, and said with a hint of helplessness, "To be precise, Sister Meng and I are not dating."

"Really?" Upon hearing Chen Chao's answer, Li Yitong's eyes brightened even more, and she quickly asked.

"Really." Chen Chao nodded.

After receiving Chen Chao's affirmative answer, Li Yitong lowered her head slightly, her lips curving upwards into a smile.

By the time Chen Chao and Li Yitong finished their dinner, it was already past 11 p.m.

Helping the slightly tipsy Li Yitong out of the Northeastern restaurant, Chen Chao said gently, "Let me take you back to your hotel first. Which hotel are you staying at?"

"I...I haven't booked a hotel yet~" Li Yitong said softly, leaning against Chen Chao's chest, her cheek rubbing against his chest, looking like a kitten that likes to rub against people.

"Didn't you book a hotel?" Chen Chao paused, then instinctively asked, "Why didn't you tell me beforehand?"

"I forgot~" Li Yitong looked up at Chen Chao with a pitiful expression, her words carrying a hint of temptation, "How about... I stay at your hotel for the night? I'm a little scared to stay alone in this unfamiliar place."

Looking at her slightly flushed cheeks and those alluring eyes, Chen Chao's heart couldn't help but flutter.

To be honest, Chen Chao had to admit that Li Yitong was very beautiful and fit his aesthetic standards, especially her charming smiling eyes. After knowing each other for so long, he wasn't without feelings for Li Yitong.

"Okay." Taking a deep breath, Chen Chao nodded in agreement.

After taking Li Yitong back to his hotel, Chen Chao went to the front desk and booked her a room next to his own.

Just as Chen Chao opened the door and led Li Yitong into the room, she suddenly turned around, grabbed Chen Chao, wrapped her arms around his neck, pulled him down, and kissed him on tiptoe.

Her kiss was a little awkward, tinged with panic and urgency, and her breath carried a faint smell of alcohol. After a brief moment of stunned silence, Chen Chao kicked the door shut behind him, then reached out and put his arm around her waist, responding to her kiss.

The lights that had been on in the room were turned off again, leaving only moonlight filtering through the gaps in the curtains and casting dappled shadows on the floor.

He reached out and picked Li Yitong up in his arms. She was surprised that Chen Chao would do this so suddenly, and she couldn't help but gasp. She instinctively gripped his clothes tightly.

He led Li Yitong straight into the bedroom and gently placed her on the soft bed.

"Chen...Achao..." Li Yitong opened her eyes and looked at Chen Chao with a hint of confusion and expectation in her eyes, her breathing a little heavy.

"Um?"

"I like you."

............

After a long while, Li Yitong lay in Chen Chao's arms, her fingers unconsciously drawing circles on his chest, her voice slightly languid, "You know what? I was actually a little scared just now."

"What are you afraid of?"

"I'm afraid you'll push me away." Her voice was very soft, as if she were talking in a dream, "and then, just like in a TV drama, she'll say something like, 'We're friends, we shouldn't do this.'"

"You've been watching too many idol dramas." Looking down at Li Yitong, Chen Chao reached out to smooth the stray hairs damp with sweat from her forehead, then tapped her forehead with his index finger. "Then why did you still dare to do it?"

"Hmm~ Maybe it's because I don't want to regret it." Li Yitong looked up and stared directly into Chen Chao's eyes, her gaze earnest and determined. "If I don't try, I might regret it for a long time."

After a moment of silence, Chen Chao tightened his arms around her, resting his chin on the top of her head. "Go to sleep, it's getting late."

"Mmm~" Li Yitong responded softly, buried her face in his chest, listened to his strong heartbeat, and slowly closed her eyes.

The room gradually quieted down, leaving only the sound of Chen Chao and Li Yitong's breathing mingling together. Looking up at the ceiling, many thoughts raced through Chen Chao's mind, but they were all suppressed by the gentle touch in his arms.

Some things, some relationships, once you cross that line, you can never go back.

but--

Looking down at Li Yitong, who was already asleep, Chen Chao's lips curled up slightly. Since there was no going back, he might as well keep moving forward.

—————————————————————————————

The morning sunlight streamed into the room through the gaps in the hotel curtains, casting soft dappled light on the bed.

"In this vast world, I still met you. So many crazy moments, so much naivety, we've dreamed together..."

The familiar song filled the room. Li Yitong groggily reached for the bedside table, turned off the alarm clock, and then snuggled back into bed for a nap.

She didn't know how much time had passed before she slowly opened her eyes, staring blankly at the unfamiliar ceiling. After a while, she slowly recalled what had happened last night.

Subconsciously turning her head, Li Yitong saw that there was no trace of anyone else on the bed. She reached out and touched it, only to find that the blankets were already cold.

Just as she was about to sit up, she heard the sound of the door opening. Before she could react, Chen Chao, dressed in sportswear, walked in from outside.

"Awake?" Chen Chao greeted Li Yitong with a casual smile as she sat up, causing the blanket to slip off her body and revealing her snow-white skin. "Hurry up and wash up, get ready for breakfast, I've already bought it."

"Ha~" Completely unconcerned about her exposed skin, Li Yitong simply yawned widely. Her gaze fell on Chen Chao, and noticing the light sweat on his forehead, she asked curiously, "You went for a run so early this morning?"

"Yeah, I'm used to it. I feel uncomfortable if I don't run around every day." After replying with a smile, Chen Chao said something else before turning and leaving the bedroom, "Go wash up first, then come and have breakfast while it's hot."

After Chen Chao left, Li Yitong lifted the covers, slowly got out of bed, picked up the clothes that had been scattered on the floor, and carried them to the bathroom to wash up.

When Li Yitong finished washing up and changing her clothes and came to the living room, Chen Chao had already laid out all the breakfast he had bought on the coffee table, including wontons, soy milk, fried dough sticks, steamed buns, and a small dish of side dishes.