Chapter 311 I Kiss A Girl

The M86 bus didn't have the air conditioning on, yet the temperature inside was more than ten degrees higher than outside. Stepping into the bus, one could feel a wave of warm air rushing over.

It was an early morning bus, so there weren't many people. Link, wearing a baseball cap, sat in an empty seat in the front row of the second level. The view here was the best, allowing him to see the heavy rain outside and the buildings lost in the rain.

Daddario sat beside him, their shoulders touching. Link's shoulder always seemed to be hot, while hers was as cold as stone.

Daddario had heard that people with strong bodies had faster blood flow and slightly higher body temperatures than normal people. Someone like Link must be very strong.

"Thank you! I'll buy you coffee next time," Daddario said. She had only brought her music player with her when she went out, nothing else. Link had bought her ticket when they boarded the bus.

"Don't you check the weather forecast before you go out for a run?" Link looked at the girl beside him and said.

Daddario brushed her wet hair from her forehead and smiled. "I don't go running often. I woke up early today and saw the foggy window, it looked like it was going to rain. I thought running in the light rain would be fun, so I only brought my music player with me. I didn't expect it to rain so heavily halfway through."

"I checked the weather forecast. It said there would be light to moderate rain today, but it wasn't accurate at all."

Link leaned back lazily in his seat, looking at the rain-soaked city. It was cool and seemed cleaner.

"It would be better if this heavy rain fell in Paris. Last month, I was in Paris filming Woody Allen's new movie. He said Paris is most beautiful after the rain and planned to set several scenes in the rain. Unfortunately, it didn't rain for over a month, and Woody Allen was very disappointed. In the end, he had to revise the script."

"Is it 'Midnight in Paris'? I've seen news about that movie project. It's the sister film to 'Midnight in Barcelona.' It must be a great movie too," Daddario said.

"Yes, it's a very literary film. To play the leading role well, I practiced for a long time and almost couldn't get out of character."

"You're amazing. You're a world boxing champion, you sing so well, and you're a great actor. I can't even do well as an actor. Sometimes I feel so stupid," Daddario pouted slightly and said in frustration.

Link smiled slightly, noticing that when she puffed her cheeks, she looked a bit like Selena. However, her face was more mature, unlike Selena's eternally cute baby face.

"Are you satisfied with your life now?"

"It's not bad," Daddario thought for a moment and said, "My family supports my acting career. Every time they see me in a small role on screen, they cheer and celebrate happily, as if I've won an Olympic gold medal. They love me very much, and I love them too. Yes, I'm satisfied."

Link said, "That sounds really good. You're luckier than me. Although I have a lot of fame and honor, and wherever I go, I'm sought after by the media and fans, it feels like I'm the focus of the world. But when I go home, there's no one else in my room except me. There's no one to share my happiness and joy with. It feels like I've been abandoned by the whole world. So the life you have now is truly enviable."

Daddario turned her head to look at him and found the melancholy in his brows even more pronounced. Her heart couldn't help but tremble, and she wanted to reach out and give him a hug to dispel the coldness in his heart.

But she didn't have the courage. She brushed the hair by her ear and shrugged. "I'm not that enviable either. I really want to act in literary films and have auditioned many times. But those casting directors say my eyes are too big and it's easy to get distracted when watching literary films. They also say my acting is average.

Well, I haven't acted in stage plays or received professional acting training, so my acting skills are indeed not as good as those Broadway actors.

But I work hard too. Every time I get a role, I study the script very seriously. In my spare time, I also go to nearby acting schools to learn. But when I go to auditions, they still don't want to give me the role. It's so frustrating."

Link smiled softly and heard the girl continue, "And my parents, although they support me being an actor, they often urge me to fall in love and get married early. They say getting married first and then being an actor isn't contradictory. But I know it's not like that at all. Once a woman gets married and has children, her time is no longer her own. It's almost impossible to continue acting. So my life is a mess too."

"That does sound a bit annoying. So are we competing to see who has it worse?"

"Hmm, it seems like it."

Daddario covered her mouth and laughed. It was strange how she could tell her innermost thoughts to a boy she had known for less than half an hour, but it felt good to say it out loud.

As they were chatting, Link's song "Someone You Loved" started playing on the bus speakers.

I'm going under and this time

I fear there's no one to save me

This all or nothing really got a way of driving me crazy

I need somebody to heal

Somebody to know

Somebody to have

Somebody to hold

"You sing so beautifully. I have this song on my music player too. It's perfect for listening to on a rainy day," Daddario praised while listening to the music.

Link also listened to his song on the speakers. In the past, listening to his own songs was like watching his own movies in a cinema. He would unconsciously compare himself to the original singer and feel a sense of detachment from the world.

Later, he gradually got used to it and started listening to his songs from a professional perspective. He found that he sang really well, whether it was his breath control, vocal quality, or emotional expression, he was no worse than the original singer.

This song "Someone You Loved" was released by British singer Lewis Capaldi in 2018 and was nominated for a Grammy Award for 'Song of the Year.'

It was also the only sad love song in Link's third album. In its first week of release, it topped the UK Singles Chart Top 40 and reached second or third on the Billboard Singles Chart, only behind "Everything You Need" and "Girls Like You."

Later, when he and Taylor broke up, with the media hype, this song stayed in the top three of the singles chart for five consecutive weeks and was still in the top ten, maintaining its popularity. 

Some media outlets joked that he released this song too early. If he had saved it for his next album, it would definitely have been a chart-topping single.

"Link, I also love your song 'Love Is Gone.' I've watched that video ten times," Daddario said, holding up her slender fingers.

"Are you a fan of mine?"

"At first, I was a boxing fan. My dad and brother are both huge fans of yours. They say you're incredibly talented and have watched all of your boxing matches live. They've even seen your matches at Madison Square Garden. I've watched twice too. Later, I heard you sing and found your songs amazing. So I became a fan of your music too. So... idol, can I have your autograph?"

Daddario extended her fair palm towards him.

Link smiled slightly and wrote his name on her palm with his index finger, adding "To the beautiful Alexandra."

Daddario withdrew her hand, making a fist, and thanked him.

After his song finished playing on the bus speakers, Taylor Swift's "Love Story" started playing.

Although both songs were about love, one was sad and melancholic, while the other was cheerful and positive, like two extremes of ice and fire.

"Taylor's songs are also great. I think both of you are very talented and a perfect match. It's a pity you broke up," Daddario said.

"I think so too, but she doesn't," Link shrugged and said.

"I heard it's because you're too flirtatious. Is that true?" Daddario blinked her bright blue eyes, curiosity on her round face that resembled Selena's.

Link smiled wryly. "It's true. Do you think I'm a bad guy?"

Daddario thought for a moment. "I like your boxing, your songs, and I admire you. Although your flirtatiousness is a bit disappointing, I think it makes you more real. If you were so talented and also so faithful, without any flaws, it would feel fake."

"You fans are so difficult to please. If I'm not flirtatious, you think I'm pretending. If I am, you call me a scumbag. So what am I supposed to do?" Link covered his forehead, looking troubled.

"Haha!" Daddario covered her mouth and laughed, looking at his face from the side. "Link, I still can't believe it. I just went out for a run this morning, and I didn't expect to meet you on the road and even chat with you. It's incredible."

Link smiled slightly. The girl had become more lively after getting familiar with him.

"I also find it incredible. The last time I took shelter from the rain there, I met a homeless person. Today, I met a beautiful girl like you. It feels very strange. Maybe it's... fate."

Link looked at Daddario and explained the meaning of fate.

Daddario's eyes met his, and as she looked into his deep, clear blue eyes, his handsome, fair face, and the pleasant scent that emanated from him, her heart skipped a beat.

She blinked her long eyelashes, hugged her arms, and looked out the window at the heavy rain again.

The bus entered the express lane and sped up a bit. The rain outside seemed to have intensified.

"Are you still cold? Do you want me to lend you some more warmth?" Link asked.

"Then I'll buy you two coffees," Daddario leaned her shoulder against his.

"Deal!"

Link reached out and wrapped his arm around her fragrant shoulder, his palm gently stroking up and down the outside of her shoulder. It was still cool and smooth to the touch, and he could feel the tenderness and elasticity of her skin as he stroked.

Daddario felt a surge of electricity from her shoulder throughout her body, and she unconsciously leaned closer to him.

Link held the girl's shoulder, gazing out the window at the thick rain, the cars speeding through the rain, the hazy neon lights, and the damp city. Suddenly, a song came to mind.

"Alexandra, I recently wrote a new song. Would you like to hear it?"

"I'd love to," Daddario nodded.

Link recalled the lyrics and softly hummed the famous melancholic love song "Let Her Go."

Well you only need the light when it's burning low

Only miss the sun when it starts to snow

Only know you love her when you let her go

Only know you've been high when you're feeling low

Daddario listened quietly as he sang. His gentle, magnetic voice and the touching lyrics felt like a soft brush tickling her ears, making her comfortably indulge in the music.

She looked up at him and saw the melancholy and sadness on his face. She couldn't help but hug his arm, trying to comfort him in this way.

'Cause love comes slow and it goes so fast

Well you see her when you fall asleep

But never to touch and never to keep

Link finished singing and looked down at the girl beside him. "Is it good?"

"It's very good, but it's too sad," Daddario was moved, and a hint of sadness appeared in her big blue eyes, making them even more captivating.

"It's probably because of my mood. Recently, I can only write songs like this," Link shrugged.

"Are they all songs written for Taylor?" Daddario asked softly.

"Several of them are."

"Then you must love her very much."

"Yes, it's my fault for being too flirtatious. I accidentally lost her."

"Don't be sad. A talented guy like you will definitely find a better girl who's more suitable for you in the future," Daddario looked at him and said seriously.

Link also looked into her mesmerizing blue eyes.

Daddario looked at him without blinking, her pink lips pursed slightly.

Link leaned down closer to her, looking at her face so close to his, and asked softly, "Alexandra, you're so beautiful. Can I kiss you?"

Daddario's eyelashes trembled, and she closed her big eyes, tilting her beautiful face up towards him.

Link embraced the girl and kissed her soft lips deeply.

Outside, the rain continued to fall, the fine threads of rain blurring the glass.

Several passengers sitting in the back row of the second level saw the young couple kissing passionately in front and looked on with envy.

The men were even more envious of the kissing boy. Although they couldn't see the girl's face clearly, they could see her long, shapely legs, slender waist, ample bosom, and her long chestnut hair from the side. Her profile, faintly visible under the lights, was also fair and delicate.

No matter how you looked at it, she was a wonderful girl.

It was a pity that the person kissing her wasn't them.

The men stared at Link, who was wearing a hat, and some even took out their phones to secretly take pictures.

Ding dong ding dong!

"103rd Street Station. Passengers getting off, please prepare in advance."

(End of Chapter)