Eternal Replay: A Love Rekindled

In all honesty, as Corey looked back on his life at the age of twenty-seven, he realized that, for the most part, it had been a smooth - sailing journey. By sheer chance, he starred in a small web drama during his college years, which helped him accumulate quite a bit of popularity. Since then, although he had never soared to superstardom and had always lingered in the lower - tier ranks of the entertainment industry, hovering around the fifth or sixth tier, he had a sterling reputation. Blessed with both acting talent and good looks, all he needed was that one big - break moment. At twenty-seven, he was still young and full of the drive to take risks, and he hadn't lost heart. However, the restlessness simmering inside him was known only to himself. In certain respects, he could be considered incredibly unlucky, to the extent that it seemed like even the simplest things, like drinking cold water, could bring him misfortune. Take his acting career, for instance. Over the years, countless great scripts have passed through his hands, only to end up in the hands of others. He was so hapless that even the dramas he had already scheduled to do would suddenly fall through. Eventually, Corey noticed a rather peculiar pattern: he was never cast in roles that involved affectionate hugs, romantic scenes, or any form of on - screen intimacy. From a fresh-faced young actor, he was almost being worn down into a grizzled veteran, and he still hadn't had his first on - screen kiss. He couldn't fathom what on earth was going on. There were quite a few speculations on the internet that Corey might be kept by some stingy benefactor. Otherwise, how could one explain his lack of any intimate scenes in his acting career? Corey himself was completely bewildered, with grievances he couldn't even voice. But that was not all. What really frustrated Corey was his love life in the real world. In the six or seven years since he debuted, he had met more than one person who made his heart flutter, both within and outside the entertainment industry. However, either the other person would claim to be a die - hard straight guy, or things would be going well in an ambiguous phase until, out of the blue, the other party would decide to abandon the idea of a same - s*x relationship. There were even cases where, just a couple of days after he confessed his feelings, the person would suddenly find a boyfriend and refuse to see him. After so many such experiences, Corey's self-confidence had plummeted to rock bottom. Now, the mere thought of dating made him as cautious as if he were walking a tightrope. Corey tugged at his collar in front of the mirror and then fidgeted with a few stray strands of hair. He was truly blessed with good looks. He had a pair of naturally amorous almond - shaped eyes that seemed to hold a thousand stories. His skin was delicate and fair, and when he slightly pursed his thin lips, dimples would appear on his cheeks. He had a youthful face that made him look five or six years younger than his current age. Looking at his own energetic reflection in the mirror, Corey let out a deep breath, secretly hoping that everything would go smoothly tonight. Just then, the phone on the table vibrated. Joyce: I'm here. Joyce was someone he had met at work last month. Compared to Corey, although Joyce also didn't rely on popularity - driven fame, his status in the industry was far higher. Joyce carried significant weight within the entertainment circle. Joyce was the male lead in a TV drama that Corey had been cast in. Corey played the second - male villain. Although their scenes together were not numerous, they had unexpectedly struck a spark. Joyce had a good reputation in the industry and was widely recognized as a talented actor. Initially, Corey had thought that the ten - year age gap between them might create a rift. However, during their time together on the set, he found Joyce's temperament and mannerisms to be exactly to his liking. With just a little hint, it seemed that Joyce reciprocated his feelings, and their relationship had warmed up rapidly. This skiing trip was even proposed by Joyce himself. So far, Corey was quite satisfied with the progress of their relationship. The only thing that bothered him was that the most intimate gesture between them so far was just a kiss on the cheek that Joyce had given him when they last parted. This was just too goddamn innocent. Corey was a bit exasperated. Although he had only slept with one person over the years, Corey was no longer a virgin. When he saw such an attractive "piece of meat" that wasn't going to run away, his first thought was, of course, to "devour" him. Otherwise, he, like a flower of the native land, would wither away from lack of "nourishment." Gritting his teeth in front of the mirror, Corey decided that he had to have s*x with Joyce during this skiing trip, no matter what. He picked up his phone and replied to Joyce, "I'll be right there." Then, he took another look at his perky butt in the mirror. The underwear he was wearing today wasn't ordinary; it was a new purchase specifically intended to seduce Joyce. Full of confidence, Corey opened the hotel room door and stepped out, only to almost collide with someone. "Sorry," Corey immediately stopped in his tracks and instinctively apologized in English, even though it wasn't his fault. The other person was a white male. In the split - second when they almost made physical contact, Corey noticed out of the corner of his eye that the man's hand immediately went to his waist, and his entire demeanor was extremely defensive. However, the moment he saw Corey's face clearly, he concealed his visible displeasure with a look of surprise and said, "It's okay." After that, he walked away expressionlessly. How strange, Corey thought as he glanced at the man's retreating back. Then, the two of them entered the same descending elevator, one after the other. "I'm in the elevator," he reported his location to Joyce, just in case the other person might get impatient from waiting too long. But right after sending this message, Corey thought he might have been overthinking. So far, Joyce had shown such tenderness, consideration, and good manners, all of which were very much to Corey's liking. And the best thing about Joyce so far was that he hadn't suddenly disappeared, unlike those spineless people Corey had encountered before. Remembering those previous potential partners who had chickened out of a formal relationship, Corey couldn't help but feel a surge of affection for Joyce. He couldn't wait to finish dinner and immediately carried Joyce back to the room for some intimate time. The white man beside him was on the phone at the moment, speaking very fast in a language that Corey couldn't identify. But since he was just a passer-by anyway, Corey, whose heart was full of romantic anticipation, didn't pay much attention to these details. As soon as the elevator door opened, he couldn't wait to step out and rushed towards the restaurant where Joyce was waiting. He usually traveled in a low-key manner, and there were no paparazzi following him around. Since he wasn't afraid of being exposed, he always conducted his dates in an open and natural way. "Sorry to have kept you waiting," Corey said with a gentle smile when he reached the table. His almond - shaped eyes curved slightly, and the dimples on his cheeks faintly appeared. He was deliberately being attentive, and his words and actions at this moment exuded an even more refined and elegant charm. Joyce, sitting opposite him, was wearing a pair of black - framed glasses. Due to his relatively rushed schedule, he wasn't as meticulously dressed as Corey. However, his mature and handsome appearance didn't lose any points. At least, from the outside, the two of them looked very well-matched. "I just arrived too," Joyce said, handing the menu to Corey with a smile. "See what you'd like to eat." After ordering, the two of them chatted while waiting for the food to arrive. Corey was naturally outgoing and talkative, and Joyce was extremely good at starting and maintaining conversations. As they chatted, they became more and more in tune with each other. In the heat of the conversation, Corey stretched his foot forward, simply wanting to stretch a little. Unexpectedly, the tip of his shoe touched the side of Joyce's shoe, inadvertently adding a touch of ambiguity to the gesture. Corey was taken aback and was about to retract his foot when, to his surprise, Joyce nonchalantly moved his own foot forward as well, causing their feet, which had been at a certain distance before, to now be side by side and touching. What was an accidental hint had turned into a deliberate one, and when their eyes met, they both understood each other's intentions without words. Corey's heart skipped a couple of beats, and his expectations for tonight became even more promising. However, just at that moment, Corey suddenly felt a chill on the back of his neck. He reached up and touched his neck. Why did he feel as if someone was staring at him? Soon, this cold feeling gradually spread downwards, not only affecting the back of his neck but also making his entire spine feel uncomfortable. Corey stole a glance around with his peripheral vision. There weren't many diners in the restaurant, and they were all immersed in the romantic dinners with their loved ones, with no one having the time or inclination to look around. He probably was just overthinking it. The atmosphere between him and Joyce was so good that Corey quickly dismissed this thought. Halfway through the meal, the atmosphere between them became even more natural. Suddenly, Corey felt the urge to use the restroom. He gently put down his fork and said to Joyce, "Excuse me, I need to go to the restroom." Unexpectedly, as soon as he stood up, the discomfort brought by that cold gaze immediately returned, and this time, it was even more intense. Corey felt a sense of unease for no apparent reason. However, on the surface, he nodded slightly to Joyce and walked out with steady steps.