Su Lin and Han Yutong were photographed traveling together in Hong Kong, half a year after they began their fake relationship. In that time, the two were photographed together frequently, whether entering the same restaurant or holding hands and embracing, their displays of affection making onlookers' hearts melt.
Initially, their relationship wasn't well-received, with many analyzing every minute detail to claim it was a publicity stunt and predicting a peaceful breakup within six months.
Yet, half a year passed, and not only had they not announced a breakup, but their public appearances together became even more frequent.
In the shopping mall, Su Lin naturally held Han Yutong's hand, evading fans as they walked towards the parking lot. After finally shaking off their pursuers, Han Yutong was too exhausted to walk further.
"I can't anymore, my legs are going to break!" Han Yutong declared, waving her hands.
Su Lin stepped forward, wrapping an arm around her waist and shifting her weight onto him. "Your stamina is still a bit lacking. I'll supervise your training from now on."
Han Yutong: ...
She had finally managed to get out for a date, and now it was about training?
Wasn't her daily physical activity already sufficient?
Han Yutong had recently taken on an action film where she played a cold-blooded assassin, with many fight scenes. To portray the character well, she had undergone a month of intensive training, not only learning choreography but also building muscle, barely getting any rest.
With filming about to begin, she could finally steal a few days for leisure. And now, he was catching her to do physical training again?
Han Yutong was speechless.
Su Lin, met with her wide-eyed stare, belatedly reflected, "Did I say something wrong?"
Han Yutong was amused by his expression. "No... But when we're on a date, can we avoid bringing up such mood-killing topics?"
The two were now a genuine couple, not just acting.
Their relationship had escalated after an accidental kiss.
On one occasion, attending an event together, they were paired for a game. Han Yutong's shoes were a bit ill-fitting, and she slipped, pulling Su Lin down into the pool with her.
Neither of them was injured, but their lips accidentally met, and their teeth scraped a bit of skin.
That sudden, unexpected kiss made Su Lin realize something.
He disliked being touched, especially by the opposite sex, feeling uncomfortable even with slight proximity. Of course, his family was an exception. Han Yutong was the only person, apart from his family, whom he didn't find repulsive to touch.
Han Yutong's lips were soft, sweeter than any marshmallow he had tasted, and he was instantly smitten.
After the event, to confirm his feelings, Su Lin pulled Han Yutong into a stairwell and kissed her again. This time, it wasn't a fleeting touch, but a firm, passionate deep kiss, lips pressed against lips.
Since his debut, Su Lin hadn't acted in many intimate scenes. The drama he collaborated on with Han Yutong mostly used clever camera angles, purely for aesthetic appeal.
This kiss was, in essence, their first.
After the kiss, Su Lin confirmed his feelings and confessed to Han Yutong.
"I will be responsible for you," his confession was rather unconventional.
Han Yutong was taken aback, remaining speechless for a long time.
"I kissed you, so you are my girlfriend from now on," Su Lin explained when he saw she seemed confused.
Han Yutong opened her mouth. "Aren't we already a couple?"
"We were pretending before," Su Lin said seriously. "Now, I want it to be real!"
Han Yutong was lost for words again.
"All because of one kiss?" Han Yutong found it quite unbelievable.
Su Lin nodded gently. "I like kissing you, and you're the only one whose kiss I can accept."
Knowing his feelings, Han Yutong suddenly beamed like an idiot.
And so, they became a couple.
The photos taken by the media afterwards were all genuine.
When fans online clamored for them to break up, Su Lin logged into his account and posted photos, showing their affection in various ways. One day it would be their backs leaning against each other, the next day matching couple items. Although their faces weren't visible, fans recognized them instantly, effectively refuting the gossip mongers.
Of course, they also had their share of detractors.
Especially Su Lin.
Unable to find any faults with their relationship, they continued to insist it was fake. They even leaked chat screenshots from former studio employees to support their speculation.
Su Lin, however, refused to let them have their way.
This led to their trip to Hong Kong.
Han Yutong had always been low-key, never deliberately flaunting their relationship. But Su Lin didn't want her to feel wronged, so he deliberately revealed his itinerary to his fans, which resulted in the encounter at the mall.
He confidently slung an arm around her shoulder and even shared a cup of bubble tea, causing fans to scream with excitement. If the growing crowd hadn't raised concerns about potential accidents, he would have taken her to the jewelry counter to pick out couple rings.
Han Yutong leaned into his embrace, panting for a while before finally recovering. "You've been acting strange lately!"
"How strange?" Su Lin asked, his arm around her slender waist, a playful smirk tugging at his lips.
"You deliberately let them see us, didn't you?" Han Yutong's intuition told her something was amiss. "Do you care that much about what they say?"
She had seen the online comments but had chosen to ignore them.
The truth would speak for itself; their feelings for each other didn't need to be explained to the world. Time would be the best proof.
Su Lin declared dominantly, "With such a handsome boyfriend, of course I have to show him off often!"
Han Yutong found his answer both amusing and exasperating. "Aren't you afraid that if we break up someday, they'll dig this up as embarrassing past history!"
"Do you want to break up?" Su Lin kissed her fiercely, displeased.
Han Yutong couldn't resist, her legs going weak as she clung to his neck. "I was just saying hypothetically..."
"That's impossible! Once I've decided, it's for a lifetime!" Su Lin pulled her close, holding her tightly. "The only way to break up is if I die!"
Han Yutong gazed at him, her eyes welling up with tears.
She had never imagined he would promise her a lifetime.
After all, she had loved him for many years, and they had only been together for a few months. A lifetime was a long time, and if he met someone he liked more in the future, they would separate.
First love was beautiful, but it was also fleeting; few managed to achieve everlasting happiness in their first love. Therefore, Han Yutong had prepared herself from the beginning, intending only to have a romantic and passionate relationship with Su Lin.
As for the future, she hadn't thought about it, nor dared to.
Seeing her eyes redden, Su Lin couldn't help but lean down and kiss her again. "What, are you so moved you're crying?"
Han Yutong sniffled and asked, "Are you serious?"
"Wasn't I clear enough?" Su Lin retorted.
Han Yutong buried her face in his shoulder and bit him hard.
Su Lin let out a muffled groan of pain.
"So I'm not dreaming..." She alternated between tears and laughter.
Su Lin touched the bite mark on his neck. Instead of being angry, he regarded it as a medal. It was a bite from the girl he loved, a testament to their affection.
Su Lin secretly pondered: Now that everything is clear, shouldn't the next step be proposing?
Once Su Lin opened up, it was as if his vital meridians were unblocked. He let his imagination run wild, and within minutes, he had even thought of names for their future children.