Author: 公子于歌 / Gong Zi Yu Ge

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

Chapter 144: Warm Feet

After Xu Xingchen came back, he learned that Xu Dahai’s illness turned out to be Alzheimer’s disease, which had progressed to a serious state. Last month, he forgot to turn off the stove when he was cooking, and the kitchen was almost burned down. Thanks to the timely discovery by his neighbor, Aunt Zhao, it didn’t cause too much damage.

On the surface, Xu Xingchen didn’t see anything unusual about Xu Dahai. Xu Dahai is a strong, taciturn man. He had always been unsmiling. Seeing him again, Xu Dahai rarely spoke to him, preferring to spend his days smoking and occasionally coughing.

Ten years had passed, and the cracks were still there. After the neighbors had dispersed, the father and son returned home, saying nothing to each other.

Xu Xingchen had returned not so much for his father but to avoid his boyfriend, Sun Mingzhi. He wanted some space so he could think about what to do in the future. After being gone for so many years, he spent the first two days exploring the town. It had changed a lot, as there was now the construction of many high-rise buildings in the south and a new park was added. On the way home, he passed by the farmer’s market and planned to buy a fish to stew in the evening.

This market had been around for a long time. Except for a few rundown stalls, not much has changed in the last ten years. He first bought a piece of tofu and then went to where they sold aquatic products. He saw a young man, wearing an ink-green leather apron, carrying goods outside. Seeing him coming, the young man put down the box and said with a smile, “What are you looking for?”

After speaking, he was taken aback when he saw him and then smiled more brightly.

Xu Xingchen went straight to see the live fish in tanks. The water was bubbling with a heavy fishy smell. “A crucian carp.”

The other party didn’t respond. Xu Xingchen glanced up and saw that the young man was still looking at him with a smile. His complexion was a bit tan, but his teeth were exceptionally white. This caught Xu Xingchen by surprise. He felt a familiar feeling coming from the other person.

“Xingchen?” The young man called tentatively.

Xu Xingchen instantly recognized him. “Yu Chenglin.”

Yu Chenglin smiled and said, “When did you come back?”

“About two days ago.” Xu Xingchen felt a bit embarrassed. He stood up and said, “I almost didn’t recognize you. You have changed too much.”

The former Yu Chenglin was tall, thin, and fair, far less sturdy than he is now.

“You haven’t changed much,” Yu Chenglin said.

“Is this your shop?”

“Well, I don’t have much skill, so I can set up a stall here. I heard that you are working in Beijing now? “

Xu Xingchen responded with a “Nn” but then smiled awkwardly as he didn’t know what else to say.

“You want fish, right? Crucian carp?”

Xu Xingchen nodded, and Yu Chenglin bent over and grabbed two for him, put them in the bag, added some water to the bag, and handed them to him.

“How much is it?”

“Are you kidding?” Yu Chenglin said.

Xu Xingchen embarrassingly took the bag and said, “Thank you then.”

“You’re welcome.”

The memories and feelings of the past suddenly came back, causing Xu Xingchen’s face to turn hot as he hurriedly said, “If you’re free… let’s have a meal together.”

“Okay,” Yu Chenglin said.

Xu Xingchen hurriedly left the farmer’s market and inhaled the cold air outside, which made him feel better. He looked back and saw Yu Chenglin still standing in front of his stall, staring at him. Yu Chenglin was his first love, for whom he had deep feelings, but he had almost forgotten such a person existed in these ten years.

The fish in the bag suddenly squirmed, causing Xu Xingchen to turn around and abruptly walk towards his electric car.

“Cut! Qiu Hong nodded. “Good.”

Shen Jintai breathed a sigh of relief, handed the fish in the bag to the staff member next to him, and rubbed his hands together. They were freezing and turned bright red.

The crew had changed to a different farmer’s market this time and booked it out in advance. Shen Jintai was heavily covered, and only a small number of people knew where the filming was going to take place. After they finished the scene, he immediately went to Qiu Hong’s side and watched the replay.

The actor who played Yu Chenglin was Gu Jin, a well-known actor in literary and artistic films, so his acting was well refined. He immediately voiced his opinion after watching the replay. He felt that the two fish he caught were too small. His statement surprised Shen Jintai, as he wasn’t expecting the critiques to be about this.

“Ten years have passed, so the relationship between the two is a thing of the past. Yu Chenglin has always lived in a small town, which has become much different from when he was a teenager, while Xu Xingchen has lived in a metropolis that hasn’t seen much change. In terms of psychology, I believe him seeing Xu Xingchen ten years later; his feelings… may not be love, but he still has that sort of feeling… Anyway, if I were him, I would definitely pick the fattest fish for Xu Xingchen.”

Shen Jintai nodded. “I know what you mean. Shall we do another take?”

Gu Jin said, “Thanks for your hard work.”

“You’re welcome,” Shen Jintai said.

This kind of small detail was generally not noticed by the audience. It would be the same whether the fish was changed or not, but these little details were the charm of the movie as it strived for excellence. Though the audience may not notice, these details highlighted the characters’ feelings. Shen Jintai had filmed three movies, and of all of them, he learned the most from this one. The actors who accompanied him were all mature and refined.

The movie’s progress was slow. Qiu Hong could sometimes spend an entire day on just one scene, but his focus wasn’t on aesthetics but rather trying to capture the right feeling. The producer has been urging, but Qiu Hong couldn’t speed up the process.

“According to this progress, there’ll be a delay since filming won’t end until March, right?” Xiao Tang said. “It’s not easy to get a break in March. If the deadline goes over, will the crew be paid extra?”

“That depends on Jintai. He’s working for his boyfriend now. Is he willing to increase the film budget?” Li Meilan said.

Shen Jintai took a sip of hot coffee as he was wrapped tightly in a blanket and said, “The previous films I’ve made were done well, and I was able to show off my acting skills. Making this film has given me a sense of learning. Both the director and actors are knowledgeable and experienced, and I have learned a lot from them. I will definitely make money with this movie. At the first chance, I’ll give you all a break.”

Li Meilan: “It will be delayed until the end of March at most, and there are still new projects lined up. Go back and talk to President Yan to put some pressure on Qiu Hong. I think it might be more useful for him to step in.”

Yan Qiuchi also felt that Qiu Hong’s progress was too slow. When the crew was working, every minute was money spent. The current producer couldn’t control it, so he complained to him again today. Mrs. Yan was listening in on his call as she texted Shen Jintai, asking when he would return. She had invited a famous chef to come over and cook for them in person. Now that her preparation was complete, she was waiting for Shen Jintai’s arrival.

Seeing Yan Qiuchi getting off the call, she said, “I made plans with Xiao Jin to go abroad in March. He has been working continuously for more than a year and has not taken much rest. Now that he is your partner, you have to learn to love him. Let the crew speed up the progress, and don’t mess up his vacation.”

Yan Qiuchi asked, “When did you make an appointment?”

Mrs. Yan glanced at him. “Why, do you have this idea too?”

Of course he did. No one knew Shen Jintai’s schedule better than him. He was still researching where to take Shen Jintai for his vacation.

Mrs. Yan said, “I want him to have at least a one-week holiday. You can figure out the rest. If your crew finishes filming earlier, then he will have extra time to rest.”

There was no way around it. Shen Jintai was just too busy, and it was rare for him to have a few days off. Yan Qiuchi felt that his schedule was too crowded. At his popularity level, he could slow down, but Shen Jintai was a workaholic.

“You two are both workaholics. One of you will have to slow down eventually. Let’s see who makes the first concession.” Mrs. Yan said. After a day of extreme excitement, she couldn’t contain it anymore and ran over to the hotel to visit them. She had to see Yan Qiuchi and Shen Jintai together with her very own eyes before she could feel completely at ease. The wish she had been looking forward to for years had finally come true, and she couldn’t be any happier, as she was the oldest qualified fan of this CP!

Qiu Hong’s filming went overtime again today. Mrs. Yan waited until 10 PM and left when Shen Jintai hadn’t returned, scolding Qiu Hong for being such a scoundrel.

At 11, Shen Jintai returned, exhausted. After warming up in the car, his hands and feet were still cold. Li Meilan and others left his room, and as soon as they came out, they ran into Yan Qiuchi. Li Meilan smiled and said, “President Yan is well-informed. You always know as soon as we come back.”

“You have worked hard,” Yan Qiuchi said.

Li Meilan put on her scarf and glanced at Wang Nan and the others with a smile. Xiao Tang happened to come out at this time as Yan Qiuchi went in.

Xiao Tang whispered, “Hey, shouldn’t he say something to Brother Jin before going in…”

Wang Nan and the others laughed and went back to their rooms. Li Meilan said, “Xiao Tang, your observation ability is getting worser by the day.”

Xiao Tang said, “But Brother Jin is about to take a shower.”

When Yan Qiuchi went in, Shen Jintai had already started undressing in the bathroom. He didn’t notice anyone coming in, so he turned on the shower. Yan Qiuchi scratched his nose and said, “I’m here, just letting you know.”

Shen Jintai wiped his face. “You haven’t slept yet?”

“Waiting for you,” Yan Qiuchi said.

He wouldn’t say anything tonight. They were now a couple, and if they didn’t interact, it would be like regressing their relationship. After taking a shower, Shen Jintai glanced out while in his bathrobe, and saw Yan Qiuchi lying on his bed, as if he had fallen asleep. He went back and continued to blow dry his hair, smiled in the mirror, and after changing into his pajamas, he immediately jumped into bed and patted Yan Qiuchi on the arm. “Hey, wake up!”

Yan Qiuchi turned over and pinned him down with a smile. Shen Jintai said, “If you want to sleep here, be good and listen to me.”

Yan Qiuchi immediately let go of him, acting very obedient. He laid back down and covered himself with the blanket. Shen Jintai felt that Yan Qiuchi was getting more childish, but he liked this kind of boyishness. As long as Yan Qiuchi was willing to listen to him, everything was smooth sailing.

Shen Jintai: “When did Auntie Fang leave?”

“Around ten.” Yan Qiuchi made a serious expression as he rested an arm on his back and asked, “Have you finished filming today’s scenes?”

“Although we went overtime, we got it done,” Shen Jintai said.

Yan Qiuchi: “Nn. He needs to hurry. If he doesn’t, I’m not sure how long they can extend it for. Other actors may cooperate, but not Cai Jun. His wife is pregnant. A man who loves his wife will definitely not stay a single day longer than necessary. Also, I heard my mother say you made plans with her to go abroad in March?”

“Really?” Shen Jintai was taken aback for a moment. “Did I? I don’t remember.”

It was probably a casual remark.

“Won’t you take me with you when the time comes?” Yan Qiuchi asked.

Shen Jintai: “Can you afford to leave?” Yan Qiuchi was just as busy as he was.

Yan Qiuchi: “I asked Xiao Fang to arrange it.”

Shen Jintai laid down. He felt that it was good to talk to Yan Qiuchi about work. It was their common language, and it wasn’t awkward. His foot touched Yan Qiuchi’s leg, and he kicked it. “Go over there.”

“Your feet are so cold?” Yan Qiuchi said.

“I’m just like this, and I was filming in the cold all day long.” Shen Jintai was afraid he’d freeze Yan Qiuchi, so he scooted aside. Suddenly, Yan Qiuchi moved forward, grabbed his feet, and put them in his arms. Yan Qiuchi probably didn’t expect his feet to be so cold that his body shivered subconsciously.

“It’s too cold.” Shen Jintai shrank his legs.

“It’s fine. There’s a layer of clothes between.” Yan Qiuchi continued hugging, refusing to let go. Because he wanted to cover Shen Jintai’s feet, his body was almost lying horizontally on the bed. Finally, he sat up and wrapped his legs in the blanket.

Shen Jintai wasn’t used to this and said, “You exaggerate too much.”

“I have a lot of firepower,” Yan Qiuchi said. “Is it warm?”

It was hot. His feet were resting against Yan Qiuchi’s stomach, and he found it very comfortable. He felt Yan Qiuchi’s hard abs and thought how taunt they felt.

Yan Qiuchi was afraid that he would be embarrassed, so he talked about work again. As he talked, Shen Jintai slowly relaxed and got used to it. Eventually, he started talking about Gu Jin and kept praising him.

“He’s good. He has won the best supporting actor award, and he has a real ability to act in all types of drama.” Yan Qiuchi played with Shen Jintai’s feet as he spoke, causing Shen Jintai to shake abruptly. The soles of his feet were also very sensitive.

Yan Qiuchi smiled and said, “You have beautiful feet.”

Shen Jintai inwardly thought, ‘It’s the system’s reward. How could it not look good?’

He felt that this reward was weird, and Yan Qiuchi’s praise was even more weird. This whole feeling was getting weird! Fortunately, Yan Qiuchi did nothing and kept his feet covered while talking about Gu Jin and the works he had starred in.

Shen Jintai noticed that Yan Qiuchi’s heartbeat was getting faster, and it was beating so violently that his feet could feel it. Outwardly, Yan Qiuchi still had a calm face, and his tone was light, but as expected, his heartbeat had betrayed him.

Shen Jintai didn’t know what was going on in Yan Qiuchi’s head, but he felt amused. He liked watching Yan Qiuchi hold himself back.

The author has something to say:

Still like it? Act recklessly*!

*(不知死活) Idiom which means not knowing what is beneficial and what is harmful.

Kinky Thoughts:

Call me a bitch because I’m loving this dog food.

<<< || Table of Contents || >>>

Author: 公子于歌 / Gong Zi Yu Ge

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

Chapter 143: Top Stream Popularity

Yan Qiuchi felt that he really shouldn’t have been carrying the leftovers at this moment. His breath hitched as a sudden burst of heat flooded his heart. He didn’t really expect Shen Jintai to suddenly confess to him. His heart was pounding so strongly that he forgot to answer, only looking at Shen Jintai stupidly with his mouth agape.

“Well?” Shen Jintai raised his head slightly.

“Yes, yes,” Yan Qiuchi said. “Want.” He reacted at once and immediately took a step forward, but Shen Jintai blocked him with the door. He knew that after he confessed, Yan Qiuchi’s enthusiasm would be unstoppable, so he specifically did it when Yan Qiuchi was about to leave.

Once the relationship was confirmed, what Yan Qiuchi wanted to do, he would have no reason to refuse, or rather, he would not be able to refuse. Yan Qiuchi’s enthusiasm was too contagious and could always sweep him off his feet. He felt the two of them needed to take things slowly, as he was timid when he thought about the madness that Yan Qiuchi wanted to swallow him alive. Still, it made him excited to the point where his heart almost jumped out of his mouth.

“Okay.” Shen Jintai nodded. “Then…good night.”

He was about to close the door, but Yan Qiuchi reached out and blocked it. He moved so fast that bag of leftovers slammed into the door. “I’m not dreaming, am I?”

Yan Qiuchi smiled and kept looking at him. “Say it again.”

Shen Jintai suddenly leaned forward, kissed his lips, then smiled, suppressing his nervousness and excitement, and said, “See you tomorrow.” Then he closed the door.

Yan Qiuchi was left standing in the corridor in a complete daze. He felt like he was about to fly. He felt weightlessness as dizziness took over from all the joy that was about to burst out. Even his eyes were a bit moist. He turned his head and glanced at Shen Jintai’s door, then laughed silently.

For a long period of time, he felt nothing but joy. When he returned to his room, he took a shower and then laid down on the bed. The unbearable feeling had emerged again. He couldn’t sleep due to the excitement, and his heart felt too itchy. He wanted and needed to share this joy with others.

After thinking about it, he thought his mother was the most suitable, so he gave her a call.

Mrs. Yan was applying a face mask when she saw him calling. She tapped on her phone and put it on speaker. “Hello.”

Yan Qiuchi’s voice came through, trembling slightly as he said, “It’s confirmed.”

Yan Tiefeng, who was looking at the phone, frowned when he heard his words and turned his head to look over.

Mrs. Yan patted the mask on her face. “What’s confirmed?”

“I have confirmed the relationship with Jintai.”

Mrs. Yan was momentarily stunned before tearing off her face mask. “Really? So fast! When did this happen?”

Her voice was so excited that it made Yan Qiuchi’s voice seem calm. “Nn, just now.”

Mrs. Yan glanced at Yan Tiefeng with joy and said, “I see, I see. You know what you should do. I won’t disturb you.”

Although she was full of questions and curiosity, she felt that what she should do at this moment was hang up the phone to give Yan Qiuchi and Shen Jintai time to be alone. They had just confirmed the relationship, but the young boy didn’t know how to make firewood*. She smiled, clapped her hands, and glanced at Yan Tiefeng.

*(柴) Refers to the strong erotic demand between two people. || In this context, she’s saying he’s inexperienced.

Yan Tiefeng said, “I see you’re happy.”

Mrs. Yan: “It was so unexpected. I thought I would have to wait another year and a half.”

“Qiuchi’s position is so low. If he can’t catch up, I will look down on him. When it comes to love, how can he put himself in such a low position. He’s your own son, yet you’re still happy it turned out like this.”

Despite saying that, Yan Tiefeng was still happy for him. He got up and said, “I’ll get the wine. Let’s have a drink.”

Shen Jintai wasn’t faring much better either. Although the two of them had long had an ambiguity between them, there was a vast difference between being sure and being ambiguous, so he himself felt happy in this moment.

He got up early the next morning and went to film. As soon as he sat down to have his makeup applied, he saw Cai Jun come in with coffee. Cai Jun only glanced at the door of the dressing room and said, “President Yan had a big battle yesterday.”

Shen Jintai turned his head and gave him a smile before greeting him. The whole crew knew what happened last night, and it made Shen Jintai feel a bit embarrassed. When filming was about to start, Qiu Hong joked, “Can you adjust your mood today?”

After all, the scenes they were filming were all depressing. When he finished speaking, he saw a staff member stand up. Qiu Hong turned his head and saw several senior executives of Sunshine Media coming over under the guidance of the crew. Among them was a tall, handsome figure in a black double-breasted coat that was meticulously buttoned. It was, of course, Yan Qiuchi.

Qiu Hong stood up immediately. This was Yan Qiuchi’s first time visiting the set of <Welcome Rain on a Spring Night>. Despite the movie being produced by his company, this was his first time visiting since the start of filming. Many crew members were familiar with the Sunshine Media production team, and after seeing Yan Qiuchi in person, a few became restless.

Their crew also had a camera dedicated to recording the behind-the-scenes clips. The cameraman instantly noticed him and pointed the camera at him. Yan Qiuchi, acting like a big boss, said, “We don’t need to be in the shot.”

“We don’t mean to disturb your shooting progress with our sudden visit. It’s just about the money,” a senior executive joked. “You can continue shooting. We’re here with President Yan to watch your progress, and after it’s done, we’ll invite everyone to some coffee.”

When Yan Qiuchi visited the set, he usually didn’t talk much to Shen Jintai, but this time, he took the initiative to walk up to him and hand him a Starbucks coffee and felt that Shen Jintai’s hands were a bit cold.

Though the two of them had established their relationship, they hadn’t made it public yet, and most likely there wouldn’t be an opportunity to, but these little actions in public made it a bit thrilling.

“Thank you, President Yan,” Shen Jintai said deliberately.

Yan Qiuchi looked at him and smiled. The smile was light, but his eyes were fierce. “Your hands are so cold.”

The costume Shen Jintai was wearing wasn’t actually thin. He was wearing a gray down jacket with a scarf wrapped around him. In a realistic movie, looking good wasn’t particularly the focus. However, he was born with a physique that made him prone to getting cold, so his hands and feet often get chilled easily. Yan Qiuchi was the opposite, as his firepower was exceptionally strong.

The crew on set didn’t dare to spread news of the two indiscriminately, and no one took pictures. Still, gossip of this visit spread like wildfire and reached the ears of the gold powders. There were marketing accounts that would camp out the gold powder fan group all year, and when this news got to them, it was quickly moved to Weibo. Immediately afterwards, discussions began on the forums.

With this, the hot searches that exploded yesterday that hadn’t even gone down to the top ten went up again with the wave of assistance from this fresh gossip.

“I think the two of them will fall in love soon.”

“I also smell the sour smell of love, but to be honest, after laying the groundwork for so long, I am not surprised that they are already in love now.”

“Yan Qiuchi is really handsome. Dressed in that black coat, he looks so handsome and expensive. I think Touhua can eat this grass.”

“I almost didn’t recognize him. This is actually Shen Jintai? His style has changed a lot.”

“I was just about to say that in <Pilot> he looks cool, <When You’re Older> he’s handsome, and in <Welcome Rain on a Spring Night> he’s taken on another form, and it’s really malleable.”

“I am looking forward to this movie the most. Touhua has always boasted of being the new generation of acting talent. This time he’s acting with Cai Jun. I don’t know if he can match the film emperor. Last time I saw the official pictures, Cai Jun changed completely into an old man.”

“Compared to Bai Qingquan, Touhua is really proud of his career and loves life.”

“That’s his bragging rights. He was ridiculed before, and Yan Qiuchi looked down on him. This is all true. Now he relies on his reborn image and professional ability to turn things around. If Bai Qingquan can do the same, I believe that he’ll also turn around. His matter is serious, but the blow to his career isn’t as big as Shen Jintai.”

“Bai Qingquan’s influence hasn’t been hit yet. Let’s see if there will be any endorsement brands that will terminate their contract with him. Back then, Touhua lost all of them.”

“I don’t know if it’s because of Touhua and him being so hot now, but I don’t think it’s a big deal for celebrities to come out of the closet now. Bai Qingquan’s alt-account scandal is eye-catching, but it’s not a legal or ethical issue. I think for this kind of level, it’ll definitely pass.”

“It’ll depend on the reputation of <When You’re Older> after its release. If it can stabilize, Bai Qingquan will definitely pull through. To put it bluntly, an actor only needs to rely on their work and skills.”

“It’s fine if he can pull through, but to be a top flow again might be tough. Seriously, in the history of the entertainment industry, only Shen Jintai was able to completely whiten his black history, but that’s because he has his particularities. His biggest black spot is that he was guilty of his scummy actions and became braindead due to love. Now Yan Qiuchi made an earth-shattering move, and his black history has become more of an inspirational benchmark.”

—

After filming the indoor scene, Shen Jintai moved to a farmer’s market in the old town. At 2 PM, the originally deserted vegetable market was flooded inside and out.

Xiao Tang was hurriedly carrying coffee and couldn’t get in. There were too many people.

One of the passersby asked, “What’s going on? Why are there so many people?”

“They’re filming a movie with a big star.”

“Who is it?”

“Li Xu!” The aunt said in a loud voice.

Many of the uncles and aunts who didn’t chase stars didn’t know the name of the hottest traffic nowadays, but when it came to Li Xu, everyone knew who that was. Even Bai Qingquan’s “Zhou Jing” was ubiquitous.

Xiao Tang heard the astonishments of “Oo’s” and “Ah’s” from the crowd. If you wanted to become nationally popular, it really depends on the fire of the TV series.

To ensure a smooth shoot, the crew set up a cordon. To get a more realistic look, Qiu Hong invited a lot of the onlookers to be temporary extras. All the uncles and aunties took pictures around Shen Jintai as they praised, “This young man has real spirit!”

Although he was dressed very ordinarily, looking similar to a passerby, he still couldn’t contain his starlight aura. Even under the cover of the staff, phones were everywhere as they snapped and filmed him.

The scene he was filming now was when Xu Xingchen went to the farmer’s market to buy fish, and he ran into his first love, Yu Chenglin. After ten years of not seeing him, Yu Chenglin had become a small business owner at the market. While he didn’t recognize Yu Chenglin, Yu Chenglin instantly recognized him with a single glance.

When he took the first shot, Qiu Hong found that it didn’t work. He could only take close-up shots. When the camera zoomed out, the atmosphere would wear off as there were too many people around and it was too noisy, causing the sound effect to be particularly poor.

As the number of people started increasing, the crew was afraid of an accident happening, so they had to call it a day. A group of staff members protected Shen Jintai as they left the venue. The crowd was restless as they shouted his name.

In the past ten years, the world hadn’t seen a more popular star than Shen Jintai, and this wasn’t even counting the three movies he had in stock, which were all bound to be successful.

The author has something to say:

“Shen Jintai, Shen Jintai!”

Touhua is really popular.

Remember the part about cold hands and feet, which will be used in the next chapter.

Kinky Thoughts:

With the relationship confirmed, there’s only one thing left to do! It’s time to consummate it!

<<< || Table of Contents || >>>

Author: 公子于歌 / Gong Zi Yu Ge

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

Chapter 142: Sweetheart’s Confession

Bai Qingquan had been in a daze all day. If it was only the video, he could still hold on. However, his alt account got exposed, and now he felt he couldn’t even face Wei Ge. The things he had posted on his alt were far more thorough than the things he had told Wei Ge and others in private. The entire network had now seen his vulgar side, and he was too ashamed to show his face to anyone again.

“Qingquan.” Wei Ge knocked on his door. “Open the door and have something to eat.”

Bai Qingquan lay on the bed with red eyes as he covered his head with a pillow. It would be even more shameful if he ate and drank like a normal person now.

Time passed, and eventually the outside darkened. He moved his chair and sat in front of the window, looking at the Yangtze River. The rooms in the hotel he was staying at all had a view of the river. When he looked around, the woods by the river were white, as if shrouded in a dark twilight.

Thinking about his situation, he couldn’t blame it on others. He was too careless and thought no one would suspect him and be able to pick out his alt, so he got bolder and started to post without hesitation.

He will never use an alt again.

The sound of knocking was heard from outside. Bai Qingquan turned his head and said in a slightly hoarse voice, “I want to sleep. Don’t disturb me. I don’t want to eat.”

“It’s me,” Shen Jintai said.

Bai Qingquan was taken aback for a moment, and his face suddenly turned red. He had exposed some of his indecent side in front of Shen Jintai, but he thought it was fine since they were sisters.

When he opened the door, a group of people, including Wei Ge, looked at him with worried expressions on their faces.

Shen Jintai felt distressed upon seeing Bai Qingquan’s state. After only a day, Bai Qingquan looked haggard; his eyes were swollen, showing obvious signs that he’d been crying all day.

“I’ll go in and talk to Xiao Bai,” Shen Jintai said. After speaking, he went in and closed the door. Wei Ge knocked on it again, bringing a plate of fruit and handing it to Shen Jintai. He took it, closed the door again, and put the plate of fruit on the table.

Bai Qingquan laid directly on the bed, pretending to be dead. Shen Jintai took off his coat, put it on a chair, and sat down by the bed, patting Bai Qingquan’s leg.

Tears welled into Bai Qingquan’s eyes as he laid on the bed and looked at him. “I’m finished.”

“Things have already happened, so don’t think too much about it. I heard from Wei Ge that you haven’t eaten for a day?”

“How can I still eat?”

“Look at me and my previous reputation. When I’m mentioned, there are always bad comments online, saying I’m cheap, overturned, and have no brains. There were even GIFs of ghost animals circulating all over. Even a random taxi driver knew me and how I chased a man until my whole family went bankrupt. But the fact of the matter is, whether it’s relatives or friends, people from the crew, people you meet when you participate in events, or people in the circle, no one will talk about this to you in person. As long as you don’t go online and search for it, you won’t see or hear it.”

Bai Qingquan said, “That’s just covering one’s ears and stealing a bell*. They’ll still laugh at me in their hearts.”

*(掩耳盗铃) Idiom referring to deceiving yourself by trying to cover up things that can’t be covered up.

“But I believe that now when they see me, none of them are laughing.”

Bai Qingquan sat up when he heard the words. “I have seen President Yan’s confession. You don’t need to do this. Besides, you can’t help me much.”

“We also hurt you, since you took the bullet for us.”

“Maybe for the video, but I can’t blame others for the alt account.” Bai Qingquan said, “Now I have hundreds of thousands fewer fans.”

Although he had tens of millions of fans, only a few million were active. Hundreds of thousands had taken off in less than a half-day, and he didn’t dare to think about what was to come later.

“I want to tell you that as actors, our work and acting skills are the most important. As long as we are strong, don’t break the law, and don’t have serious moral issues, there’s nothing to be afraid of. If we collapse this year, we might rise again next year. You’ve been in this industry for so long. Shouldn’t you understand the love and hate of fans? We can’t be traffic idols forever, and these fans will leave us sooner or later.”

Bai Qingquan burst into tears and buried his head in the pillow.

Shen Jintai said softly, “I know these words may sound harsh, but you should know how much they resonate with me. Look at how popular and hot I am now.”

“Are you trying to piss me off?”

Shen Jintai smiled and said, “I’m telling you, look at me. It used to be so difficult. I’ve lost countless fans, but now the numbers are rejuvenating. You have to hang on. You’re only in your twenties. The golden age for male actors is the thirties and forties. There are still a lot more opportunities for you to turn things around. How do you know that you won’t be more popular than me in the future?”

“But I feel so ashamed. I really let myself go. Haven’t you seen it?”

Shen Jintai said, “I haven’t had time to read it yet. What did you say on your alt?” As he said this, he took out his phone, wanting to search for it.

Bai Qingquan immediately sat up; his face embarrassed. “Don’t look, don’t look!”

Shen Jintai put away his phone and said, “Actually, think about it from a different perspective. Now that everyone knows you like men, maybe a handsome guy will chase you in the future.”

“You’re still making jokes now?!”

“Alright, alright. I won’t say anymore. Just eat something.” Shen Jintai got up and bringing the plate of fruit over. He ate a piece of cantaloupe and continued, “As soon as I entered your room, I saw Wei Ge and the others in panic. They were afraid you wouldn’t be able to handle it.”

“That’s not enough,” Bai Qingquan said as he brought the plate of fruit closer to him. “I’m starving to death.”

“Weren’t you embarrassed to eat?” Shen Jintai asked with a smile.

Bai Qingquan replied with bloodshot eyes, “Making a fool of myself by eating and drinking at a time like this, Wei Ge and the others will all laugh at me.”

“They are all anxious for you to eat. Why would they want to laugh at you? When this kind of thing happens, they must be in even more distress than you. Besides, they’ve been with you all day and night. Who you really are, how could there still be any uncertainty?”

Bai Qingquan sat on the bed and started eating. Halfway through, he started crying again. The scene was so wretched as he ate pitifully while tears streamed down his face. Seeing this, Shen Jintai felt sad.

Deep down, he knew this incident had caused Bai Qingquan a lot of damage, and it had only just begun. He didn’t know how long it would take Bai Qingquan to get back on his feet after this setback. Perhaps a year or two, or maybe he would never be able to recover.

After all, this was the entertainment industry. The ridicule from thousands of people happened infinitely, sometimes even within an instant.

“What are you doing?” Bai Qingquan looked up at him. “You’re crying so ugly.”

Shen Jintai smiled, teary-eyed, and said, “Hey, it will all pass. I will always support you.”

“When you go back, tell Siqi. I think he also made a lot of calls,” Bai Qingquan said. “I just need time to take a good rest and tell him not to worry.”

Shen Jintai stood up and said, “You’d better see Wei Ge and the others. There’s probably a lot of things for you to discuss. You have to cheer up quickly. Don’t drag this out and cut through the mess quickly. I won’t bother you, so have a good chat with them. Also, you should hand over your phone and stop surfing online at least in the next month or so.”

Shen Jintai left the room. He chatted with Wei Ge and the others for a bit before leaving the hotel. When he got to his car, he laid down silently.

Li Meilan was perplexed, as she didn’t know why he was so sad. Has his relationship with Bai Qingquan reached this point? She was too scared to ask and didn’t dare speak.

Shen Jintai thought that no one could understand his current mood right now.

When he returned to the hotel, he went directly to Yan Qiuchi’s room. After knocking on the door for a long time, no one answered. He called Yan Qiuchi and learned that he was going home tonight.

“I haven’t been home for a few days, so your Auntie Fang is worried about me. Seeing such a big battle today, she kept deadly serial calling me.”

As soon as Yan Qiuchi’s voice fell, he heard Mrs. Yan shout, “Don’t worry, I’ll send him back later!”

Shen Jintai smiled and said, “Then you guys talk first, and I’ll hang up.”

“Have you eaten yet?” Yan Qiuchi asked.

“Not yet. I’ll eat it later.”

Yan Qiuchi didn’t hang up the phone, but instead walked outside the courtyard. Shen Jintai vaguely heard the sound of wind and the slushing sound of his feet stepping on snow, so he asked, “Why did you go outside?”

“Wanted to ask you something.”

Shen Jintai laughed. “What are you talking about?”

“You’re looking for me. What’s the matter?”

“It’s nothing,” Shen Jintai said. “I thought I should see you when I came back.”

“Miss me?” Yan Qiuchi smiled after speaking.

Shen Jintai gave a “Nn”.

Yan Qiuchi was startled, almost thinking that he had heard it wrong.

“What time will you be back?”

“I will go back now.” Yan Qiuchi was excited. “Don’t eat. Wait for me to come back and let’s eat together.”

“Shouldn’t you eat at home?”

Yan Qiuchi said, “If I tell your Auntie Fang, she will offer to drive me back herself.”

Shen Jintai laughed as he lay down on the sofa. “Be careful on the road.”

Yan Qiuchi was shocked by his sudden gentle tone. This sense of flattery felt unreal. He nodded and said, “I know. What do you want to eat? I’ll bring it on my way back.”

Shen Jintai thought for a while and said, “Let’s have three portions of chicken and one portion of abalone porridge. It’s sold at the Sunshine Restaurant next to the hotel.”

“Ok.” After Yan Qiuchi hung up the phone, he went back inside. Mrs. Yan smiled and said, “Has it now reached the point where you can’t take your calls in front of others?”

“It’s early. I’m not eating at home anymore. Going back to eat,” Yan Qiuchi said as he picked up his coat and left.

Mrs. Yan said to the maid, “Look at how proud he’s acting.” Still, she was incredibly happy. The confession he made today was quite romantic. She saw that the gold powders’ acceptance of him had reached an all-time high, which meant the biggest obstacle had basically been eliminated.

Xiao Tang had bought food and came back. As soon as he entered the door, he heard Shen Jintai say, “You can eat by yourself. I’m not eating yet.”

Li Meilan asked, “What’s wrong? No appetite?”

Shen Jintai licked his lips and said, “That… Yan Qiuchi said to wait for him so we can eat together.”

Li Meilan: “Tsk, you could have told us earlier, so we would’ve ordered less.”

“It’s okay. I can eat two bowls,” Xiao Tang said.

“Let’s go. We’re going to stop eating here since someone doesn’t need us to accompany them anymore.” Li Meilan joked as she picked up her scarf and jacket.

After they left, Shen Jintai took a shower before Yan Qiuchi came back with the food.

“The snow stopped, but it got colder outside,” Yan Qiuchi said as he took off his coat and set the food down.

“You bought so much.”

Yan Qiuchi bought all the signature dishes at the restaurant. “I haven’t eaten the dishes of this restaurant yet, so I wanted to try everything.”

This was the first time the two of them had eaten together alone. Seeing that it was just the two of them, Yan Qiuchi’s mood instantly increased. He was happy to have a meal with the person that he likes. It was also because Shen Jintai was treating him so well today that he was full of joy.

As he ate, he kept peeking at Shen Jintai. Shen Jintai’s freshly blown hair gave him a particularly soft and fluffy appearance after he had taken a shower. His white plaid pajamas were loose on him, giving him a very thin look.

“You’re going to sleep in your own room today,” Shen Jintai said.

Yan Qiuchi replied with an “Nn”. Shen Jintai was close to his reach now. At this critical time, whatever Shen Jintai said, he would naturally obey. There was already enough joy in his heart. What need was there for the desire of his body?! He could bear it!

“Then I’ll go.” After they finished eating, he packed up the leftovers and started to head out. “You rest early.”

Shen Jintai nodded. When Yan Qiuchi had almost left, Shen Jintai called out, “Yan Qiuchi.”

Yan Qiuchi turned around and saw Shen Jintai holding the door with his hand. His face was so abnormally flushed that he wasn’t sure if he was seeing things. “Hmm?”

Shen Jintai pretended to be calm as he asked, “Do you want to be my boyfriend?”

The author has something to say:

No, I want to be your husband.

Kinky Thoughts:

Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa~~~~~~!!. FI-NA-LY. We’re what? 142 chapters in to get to this point?! But it was well worth it!

Poor Bai Qingquan. I felt pain reading the part where he’s stuffing food into his mouth while ugly crying. Don’t worry! You’ll get your HE!!!

<<< || Table of Contents || >>>

Author: 公子于歌 / Gong Zi Yu Ge

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

Chapter 141: Let’s Go Together as Sisters

“Oh my god!”

“Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god!”

“Sisters, have you all seen it? Shen Jintai was confessed to by a local tyrant!”

“Ahhahahaha, I suddenly felt outside my home was turning red. When I poked my head out, I saw love all over the screen. I wanted to say whose confession can be so crude, but I saw the landscape painting. After thinking about it, my god, it wasn’t crude at all!”

“I don’t understand what the things on the big screen mean. I thought it was just some kind of ordinary pattern. Is there any special meaning? Why does it say Shen Jintai?

“Qiuchi Yingjintai, sister. This is the CP name of Yan Qiuchi and Shen Jintai. It took a lot of careful thought. There are seven colors in the middle, which represent gay colors*.”

*Colors of the rainbow.

“Hahaha, his confession is very vague, and many people must not understand it.”

“It’s really cool to look at it. I read on Weibo that the central business districts of 34 capital cities across the country are all showing this. Oh my god, the love of the rich is amazing!”

“I think the best thing about this confession is that it is half-covered so only people in the circle can understand it. Passersby have no clue what’s going on. If someone confesses to me like this, I will marry him immediately!”

“Sister upstairs, wake up, it’s time to get up and work!”

The gold powders exploded even more.

“Ahhhhhhhh, my brother was publicly confessed to by Yan Qiuchi!”

“Yesterday, I was still saying that he couldn’t be chased so easily, and he had to chase him a few more times with great fanfare, but today he confessed all over the world. Qiuchi Yingjintai! Wuwuwu, I’m beyond moved!”

“Hahahaha, me too. If he only put my brother and his name on it, I would find it obscene, but with such a pattern… My god, Yan Qiuchi is too good.”

“This confession still maintains Prince Yan’s consistent level, but why do I feel like I’m doing crisis management for Bai Qingquan?”

“I also think the timing is very delicate. Bai Qingquan is an artist from Sunshine Media. Yan Qiuchi wants to kill two birds with one stone, right?”

“There is no live courtship stream. Isn’t my brother still filming with the crew? He didn’t confess in person. Obviously, Prince Yan just sprinkled water. It shouldn’t be regarded as a formal courtship.”

“One piece of gossip I heard was that Headline Entertainment originally photographed my brother, but it was bought. I didn’t expect Headline Entertainment to explode with Bai Qingquan.”

“Fuck off! Don’t talk nonsense if there’s no evidence, and recruit black material for our brother!”

“This isn’t the kind of thing my brother would ask Headline Entertainment to do. It’s all solely on them doing these disgusting things. I always say that paparazzi are scum!”

“Ahhhhhh, this is the first time I have seen a confession of this kind of magnitude. I want to record it and take pictures to send to all my circle of friends!”

“I understand that as sisters we all have girly hearts and they like to eat this kind of thing, but everyone should sober up, otherwise you’re going to fall into the hands of that Yan dog!”

After the candid photos came out yesterday, Yan Qiuchi had a plan in motion. He summoned people from the PR department for an overnight meeting to start dealing with his relationship with Shen Jintai.

He knew that the best way to minimize the impact on Shen Jintai’s career was to make the courtship as grand as possible. He originally wanted to take time to arrange it, as a true courtship requires at least a week of preparation. He originally planned to surprise Shen Jintai next weekend when he invited him to dinner.

Although this plan was to appease the gold powders and give Shen Jintai face in public, the courtship was also sincere, and he had hoped to surprise Shen Jintai with it.

Unexpectedly, Bai Qingquan exploded the next day. Headline Entertainment was really callous. They took his money and suppressed Shen Jintai’s materials, but then exposed one of his company’s artists.

Bai Qingquan had taken the bullet for him and Shen Jintai. Headline was like a mad dog and did not play cards according to common sense. Yan Qiuchi was worried that they would have devised some other scheme in the future, so after obtaining Shen Jintai’s consent, he advanced his confession plans.

This was done to protect Bai Qingquan as well as themselves.

Unfortunately, it was too hasty, and there was no time to prepare. He could only take the simple and crude route by lighting up big screens as a way to show his courtship. This didn’t really match his personality, as he was a person who treasured privacy in terms of feelings. If it weren’t for the fact that his relationship with Shen Jintai was special and a public confession was needed, he would have kept everything extremely low-key.

He wanted to fall in love and get married in a low-profile manner. This so-called public confession was only intended to appease outsiders. Now that Bai Qingquan had been dragged down, he could only regard this as a slight compensation.

Besides, Shen Jintai had liked Bai Qingquan before and wanted to chase him. He didn’t want Shen Jintai to feel like he owed Bai Qingquan a favor.

“Everyone’s saying it’s killing two birds with one stone, but why do I feel like it’s three?” Li Meilan said.

Xiao Tang said, “First, it’s to build momentum with Brother Jin, and second, it’s to shift the heat to Bai Qingquan, an artist under his banner. Besides these two, what else?”

“Headline Entertainment is doing things too unorthodox. It is estimated that there isn’t a car they can’t overturn in the entertainment industry, so they’re getting bolder. In order to prevent retaliation and constant stalking in the future, he’s planning to make it public in advance.”

She felt that Yan Qiuchi must have another wave of courtships planned for the future, both in public and in private, to finally completely take down Shen Jintai.

“Will you agree?” Li Meilan asked Shen Jintai. Truthfully, she was excited, as this kind of powerful confession can make anyone blush.

“No,” Shen Jintai said. “He said that this confession is just to build momentum for netizens to see. It doesn’t count. He says he’ll make it up to me next time.”

Li Meilan’s eyes lit up. “I see, I see. Alright then.”

Compared to grand confessions, Li Meilan hoped that Yan Qiuchi could deal with Headline Entertainment.

The water of Headline Entertainment must be deep, and they must have strong backing since they have withstood all these years in the entertainment industry. However, she felt that what they did this time was too irregular, and it should have angered Yan Qiuchi.

If she was Yan Qiuchi, she would definitely be pissed off. If he wanted to clean up Headline, he had a variety of contacts at his disposal, not to mention his own circle of friends and the Fang family behind him. Headline Entertainment could compete with artists, but they couldn’t compare to sheer capital.

Shen Jintai was emotional and couldn’t help feeling that Yan Qiuchi had paid too much for this relationship and suffered too many injustices. The truth was, Yan Qiuchi did nothing wrong, but the gold powders didn’t see it this way. Originally, Yan Qiuchi wanted to fall in love but needed to seek the approval and blessings of netizens so as not to affect Shen Jintai’s career, and now he was even more righteous for protecting Bai Qingquan, who took the bullet for them.

If possible, he wanted to confess publicly and repay Yan Qiuchi, but given his situation, this wasn’t plausible. Still, he could always confess in private. When this thought came to him, Shen Jintai became excited.

Even if he was a shou, he still had to take the initiative and grasp the opportunities! In modern society, many women take the lead when courting love. As a man, why did he need to passively accept a confession?

How would Yan Qiuchi react if he were to confess in advance?

Oooooohhhhhhhh.

Thinking of Yan Qiuchi’s possible reaction, he was filled with glee. He smiled and looked out the window.

“You seem happy,” Li Meilan said. “It seems that President Yan’s sugar-coated cannonball successfully hit you.”

“That’s right. I love him very much,” Shen Jintai said.

“You finally admit that you love him,” Li Meilan said.

“Yes,” Shen Jintai said.

—

Yan Qiuchi’s courtship of Shen Jintai exploded during prime time in the evening. This courtship was relished by netizens. The phrase “Qiuchi Yingjintai” went directly to the hot search. At this moment, netizens across the country were sighing at how good the CP name was, while Qiuchi Yingjintai CP fans were rejoicing as if they were celebrating Chinese New Year.

A pool of autumn water reflects the gold pavilion*. This artistic conception is so beautiful.

*Reminder: this is what the Qiuchi Yingjintai translate to.

There are many people who use big screens as a form of courtship, but few are as poetic and picturesque. With this event, the black history of Shen Jintai chasing Yan Qiuchi was once again exposed, but this time, nobody ridiculed him. On the contrary, everyone felt inspired.

“You have to love yourself first before you can be loved by others. This seems to ring true!”

“It’s no wonder Yan Qiuchi is tempted. Who doesn’t love Touhua now?”

“Touhua has almost no shortcomings in appearance, figure, wealth, reputation, work, endorsements, or traffic, right? In the past, he might have been trying to catch something out of his reach by chasing Yan Qiuchi, but now they are on equal footing, and the two are quite worthy of each other.”

“Touhua not only counterattacked beautifully in his career but also emotionally!”

“Isn’t Yan Qiuchi Bai Qingquan’s boss? This suddenly exploded right at this time. Maybe it’s not just about courtship.”

“Shen Jintai and Bai Qingquan are still good friends, and now they have related interests. <When You’re Older> is about to premiere. You can say that he’s doing it for Bai Qingquan, but it also makes sense to say that it’s also for Shen Jintai. Maybe Shen Jintai agreed to it.”

“I also think Shen Jintai also agreed. Otherwise, Yan Qiuchi, as a suitor, wouldn’t dare make this kind of play without approval.”

“Putting it like that, isn’t Touhua very righteous?”

“Doing such a thing, he must pity Bai Qingquan.”

“What does he have to pity him for? His collapse was due to the forces of others. Sunshine Media’s statement is still posted on Weibo, so originally he was going to sue them for misinformation.”

“I mean, he’s not the only one in the entertainment industry to hide his sexual orientation. His fanbase was the most devastating blow to him. Passersby are just eating melons and watching the dumpster fire. They don’t care if he’s gay.”

“Bai Qingquan had been sailing so smoothly since his debut. He’d abused a handful of fans when he was competing for the C position during his debut, and his fans are far less loyal than gold powders. This matter is sure to hurt him. It’ll all depend on how much moonlight powder is left, and those remaining are his diehard fans. From this perspective, it may not be a bad thing. He also has a large company like Sunshine Media backing him, so he won’t have to worry about film resources in the future. After all, his good sister Touhua started over, and if he’s lucky, he should be able to do it as well.”

“I also think that since Shen Jintai’s comeback exploded, the environment of the entire entertainment industry has changed. Now that more same-sex dramas are online, the entire circle has become more tolerant. Bai Qingquan took the opportunity to be himself. Maybe now he could change his style.”

“These sisters have been inseparable since their debut, and their fates are too similar!”

“As a Jintai Meijing CP fan, I cried and fainted in the toilet. I thought they were a CP but it turns out they were sisters, wuwuwu!”

The author has something to say:

Xiao Bai, look at your sister, you can do it too!

Kinky Thoughts:

You can do it Bai Qingquan! I’m rooting for you!

<<< || Table of Contents || >>>

Author: 公子于歌 / Gong Zi Yu Ge

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

Chapter 139: Embraced

When Shen Jintai returned to his room, he sent a message to Zheng Siqi and Bai Qingquan: [It has been resolved.]

Everyone can rest peacefully tonight.

Zheng Siqi immediately sent a message and asked about the specifics: [I knew that Headline Entertainment would contact you if they got something on you. I heard they have started getting shadier and they rely on this stuff to make money now.]

Bai Qingquan: [It’s good that it’s been resolved. Don’t offend them. It’s hard to guard against villains.]

[But this time they are going to get their faces slapped. I remember last time, they released information that A-list celebrities were secretly meeting with young models. It seemed that they had been publicized. In the end, they released a YP* video of a small star and an internet celebrity from the 18^th tier. This time their PR played themselves, so I don’t know what they plan to put out now.]

*Referring to (约炮) Slang for casual sex or one-nightstand.

[I can’t see how they can spin it. The preview said that this time there are quite a few details, indicating incriminating evidence. It can be seen that from the beginning, they were determined to explode it no matter what. I don’t know what President Yan offered to appease them. Now it’s not easy for them to find a replacement.]

[I guess it’ll probably be about me and Yang Lizhi?] Zheng Siqi typed while smiling.

Bai Qingquan: [Could it be about Teacher Song Wei?]

Shen Jintai typed hurriedly: [What about Teacher Song?] He had a good relationship with Song Wei.

Bai Qingquan: [Rumors has it that she recently got divorced.]

Zheng Siqi: [Why are you so well in tune with the gossip circle?]

Bai Qingquan: [I don’t know much. It seems Teacher Song Wei’s husband was unfaithful and was photographed… But Song Wei is a veteran actress and does not have the popularity that’s in line to paralyze Weibo.]

Shen Jintai walked to the window, opened the curtains, and looked out. There was still snow falling outside, but it had slowly eased. The wind’s howl, though, was growing louder. He went to take a shower and laid down on the bed, hesitating whether he should call Yan Qiuchi, when the man in question knocked on his door.

“I asked the hotel to close surveillance on this floor.” Yan Qiuchi came in and said, “Have you closed the curtains?”

Shen Jintai felt as if they were having an illicit affair. “I did.”

Yan Qiuchi came in wearing a robe over his pajamas. He took off his robe and put it on a hanger, then sat down on the bed. He pretended to be calm, but his face was slightly flushed. He knew that the more calm and natural he was, the greater his chance of successfully sleeping with Shen Jintai.

“Go to sleep,” he said.

Shen Jintai was embarrassed. He walked to the other side of the bed and said, “Don’t hold me… Otherwise you can’t sleep well either…”

Yan Qiuchi seemingly ignored him. He sighed as he lay down and said, “I haven’t slept well for a few days. I’m really tired.”

Shen Jintai turned off the lights in the room, leaving only the small nightlight at the head of the bed on, then got into bed. He felt like dying from embarrassment. Even though they haven’t said the words, in reality, they were already together. In his heart, he had already regarded Yan Qiuchi as his boyfriend. Yan Qiuchi probably knew this as well, but he didn’t say anything, most likely so he could propose a formal confession. He felt that if Yan Qiuchi confessed to him tonight, he would give in.

Shen Jintai took out his phone to browse. Today’s charity dinner occupied four hot searches on Weibo. Two were directly related to him. One was [The East Palace Three Masters] with a picture of him, Bai Qingquan, and Zhang Siqi in the same frame, and the other was about Yan Qiuchi. It was a picture of Zheng Siqi’s watch that was given to him. The latter obviously attracted more attention from netizens.

Shen Jintai: “If you’re with me in the future, it may not be convenient for you. You may often be criticized by netizens, photographed, and filmed.”

This was a problem that an average person and a celebrity must face together, as both their private lives are inevitably affected.

Yan Qiuchi turned over to face him and said, “I have been mentally prepared for this a long time ago. If you think about it, it’s also a good thing. As more people pay attention to you and care about you, you’ll have many people supervising me. Everyone knows that I am your person, that I can’t do bad things, and others may not dare do bad things to me.”

Shen Jintai laughed when he heard this. He thought that Yan Qiuchi had a strange perspective. “What bad things can others do to you?”

Yan Qiuchi: “You may not know this, but there are plenty of people who want to introduce me to someone, and there are countless others who have fantasies about me. With you by my side, those who want to introduce me will stay quiet, and those who have fantasies may feel too ashamed to look at me in that way when they see you.”

Shen Jintai: “What does this mean?”

“How could they possibly compare to you? I have the best Shen Jintai in the world in my family. Who else would I look at? They should have at least some self-awareness.”

Yan Qiuchi was blowing him rainbow farts again!

“Really.” Yan Qiuchi was quite serious. “I’m Shen Jintai’s boyfriend.”

Shen Jintai’s heart was so moved by these words, but he was too embarrassed to tell him that their thoughts were one in the same.

As expected though, Yan Qiuchi always had an ulterior motive. After flattering him, he leaned toward him. Despite boasting that he wasn’t a weakling, he still fell into Yan Qiuchi’s trap. Too embarrassed to shirk his struggles, he tried to make himself appear calm. Yan Qiuchi wanted to hug him, so he let him. It’s just that every time Yan Qiuchi first embraced him, he always felt anxious. It might be due to his skin’s hunger, that when he hugged him, his body would inadvertently shake.

His excitement was so contagious that it made Shen Jintai think, ‘Fuck, doesn’t he like me too much?! Holy shit, am I this attractive?’

This heartfelt feeling gave him a great sense of satisfaction. He patted Yan Qiuchi on the back just like how his father did.

Yan Qiuchi felt both comfortable and uncomfortable. He was suffering, but he didn’t want to let go. He would make every effort to confess once more, and in the future, he would be able to sleep with Shen Jintai in his arms. Perhaps he could start little by little.

The next day, Shen Jintai felt someone had kissed him, but he didn’t move. He noticed that Yan Qiuchi got up, and after a while, there was a slight sound of the door closing. He opened his eyes and looked at the time. It was 7 in the morning. The sky was already bright.

Truthfully, neither of them had a good rest. They weren’t used to having someone lie next to them, and the itchy feeling in their hearts tormented them as reluctance held them back. It stood to reason that it was very painful.

Still, love was so wonderful.

Now that Yan Qiuchi was gone, leaving him alone, he could finally let go completely and sleep for a while longer until Li Meilan and the others picked him up.

—

Today was the first official confrontation between him and Cai Jun. When Cai Jun came out of the makeup room, Shen Jintai almost didn’t recognize him.

Xu Dahai was a middle-aged man. He was almost forty years old when Xu Xingchen was born, and now he was an old man close to seventy. Cai Jun’s performance as an old man was more attentive than his, truly deserving of someone who had won many awards.

What they filmed today was a scene where Xu Xingchen first entered the house.

Winter was the most suitable season for filming this kind of drama. The pavement was broken, and there was a small yard at his residence. A single tall persimmon tree grew in the middle with red persimmons hanging on it, making the backdrop against the snow even more vivid.

“I don’t know if you have this experience,” Qiu Hong joked to him. “For children, the aging of parents is not the kind that gradually ages over the years. Rather, when they meet in a certain year, they suddenly find that their parents have become so old. This kind of unexpected discovery and heartache is very strong. Xu Xingchen loves his father, and his father loves him as well. He hasn’t seen Xu Dahai in almost a decade. The moment he sees his father, he should be in extraordinary shock at his father’s aging look. I will give you a close-up of your face. There should be a feeling of surprise and shock, but the expression can’t be too obvious.”

Shen Jintai nodded.

This part of the script was written very plainly, but Shen Jintai felt that it was actually extremely touching when he thought about it carefully.

Xu Dahia had a middle-aged son that he loved like a treasure, but he never accepted his son’s sexual orientation. The father and son, who have similar temperaments, severed their relationship, and was now meeting again, only there wasn’t much time left.

“Get ready,” the director shouted. “Three, two, one, action!”

The taxi drove off, leaving Xu Xingchen standing alone on a familiar yet unfamiliar street. Ten years have passed and nothing has changed, but everything looked different.

Aunt Zhao enthusiastically pulled his suitcase for him as she said, “I almost didn’t recognize you. Here let me help!”

“No, no… Thank you.” Xu Xingchen glanced around with a little restraint. He saw a few neighbors staring at him. He probably hasn’t been home for a long time, so they couldn’t recognize him any longer.

Aunt Zhao took his suitcase and walked briskly. When she turned into the alley of their house, she shouted, “Dahai, look who’s back!”

Xu Xingchen saw an old man sitting on the porch in front of their house and immediately stood up. The man under the sun had white hair and a rickety lower back. After he stood up, he put his hands behind his back as if to straighten it.

Tears welled in Xu Xingchen’s eyes in an instant, and he was momentarily stunned.

They had not seen each other for many years, and there were still mixed feelings that hadn’t been resolved. When Xu Xingchen left home, the resolute and determined man that he was would occasionally dream of this moment. However, Xu Xingchen didn’t call out “Dad”, so Xu Dahai only turned around and entered the house.

The house was still the same, with very little change. The only noticeable thing was that it felt more dilapidated. The yard was messy, and a tricycle sat in the corner with a layer of snow covering it.

Qiu Hong’s shooting technique was very restrained and life oriented. The scene of the father and son meeting each other was only given a short close-up shot. There was no drama or conflict in this trivial scene. The neighbors heard that Xu Xingchen was back, so they came in one after another to watch the excitement. Xu Xingcheng was embarrassed as he politely greeted everyone, occasionally turning his head to glance at Xu Dahai, who was sitting in a chair smoking silently and occasionally looking lost as if he were in a daze.

All the extras in the scene were unknown old actors. They all have plain faces, but because they were old actors, their performance was realistic, accurately portraying a scene of old men and ladies clamoring about around a young guest. When the scene was shot, Shen Jintai went over to watch the replay and felt that this segment was filmed like a documentary.

Li Meilan waved her hand at him from a distance. He came over, and Li Meilan said, “Did you know that the Headline Entertainment post exploded?!”

“Yan Qiuchi bought all the stolen shots,” Shen Jintai said. “What exploded?”

He thought the matter was settled already.

Li Meilan: “This morning, I saw that Headline Entertainment Weibo post hadn’t been deleted, so I didn’t feel at ease. I’ve been following it, and they posted just now.”

Shen Jintai: “Siqi and Yang Lizhi?”

Li Meilan: “It’s Bai Qingquan!”

Shen Jintai was dumbfounded.

The author has something to say:

This exposure was unexpected! A bunch of ***.

Kinky Thoughts:

Nooooo my baobei Bai Qingquan!!!

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Author: 公子于歌 / Gong Zi Yu Ge

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

Chapter 138: Try a Few More Times

When all this happened, Li Meilan was looking at Headline Entertainment’s Weibo post. After reviewing all the comments, she found that most of them were guessing that it was Zheng Siqi and Yang Lizhi. Rumors have surrounded these two for a long time, but there has never been clear evidence. [Secret of the East Palace] did seem to be talking about them.

She felt a bit guilty because she felt that it could potentially be Shen Jintai and Yan Qiuchi. The two of them were staying in the same hotel and on the same floor. She wasn’t sure if people would make a fuss about this.

There’s also the fact that Yan Qiuchi had entered Shen Jintai’s room once, which she didn’t know about beforehand. It was better to prevent things from happening, as she’s been doing for a long time now. Hearing Yan Qiuchi buying a watch and gifting it to Shen Jintai to show off his love, Li Meilan immediately contacted the rest of her team and the PR team to link up with several marketing accounts to push the topic of [Delivery at Charity Dinner].

She saw that there was a high probability that Shen Jintai would be with Yan Qiuchi. She needed to seize every opportunity she could and make a move for the two of them so that the negative impact was minimized.

“The jade pendant of The East Palace, the watch of JinQiu. This is a wonderful line. I feel we can take advantage of it,” Xiao Tang said. “Since the East Palace favorability is high, we can rub President Yan against it. Have a water army write some articles on it.”

“Golden autumn*?” Li Meilan was taken aback for a moment.

*Clarity: JinQiu translated means golden autumn.

Xiao Tang: “It’s Brother Jin and President Yan Qiuchi.”

“Hahahaha.” Li Meilan said, “You don’t say. Netizens are quite good at coming up with names.”

Xiao Tang: “Then do you know the names of Brother Jin and President Yan’s CP fans?”

Li Meilan was even more surprised. “Do they still have CP fans?”

Xiao Tang: “Yes, it’s called Qiuchi Yingjintai.”

“Wow,” Li Meilan said. “That’s pretty good too.”

Since receiving the watch, Shen Jintai returned to his seat and had no intention of raising his placard again. His heart was beating furiously, and he felt as if he had become the center of attention. Bai Qingquan kept touching him secretly with his feet and raising his eyebrows at him.

The charity dinner was still in progress. Yan Qiuchi sat down for a bit and then left the table. Fang Yun was already waiting for him outside. When he got into the car, he said, “Go to Lawyer Zhuo.”

Mr. Zhuo wasn’t the lawyer for Sunshine Media but was the lawyer for the Yan family and was quite well-known in the industry. Since Headline Entertainment always acted villainously, this time, in order to protect Shen Jintai, he had to pay them off. Still, he was quite unhappy with this situation. When he arrived at Lawyer Zhuo’s home, he consulted with him about the relevant legal issues. Lawyer Zhuo regretfully told him, “There’s no prohibition in the law regarding this.”

There was currently no press law in this country, especially when the news was reporting on a public figure, so there was no clear regulations or boundaries. There had been a few celebrities who had sued Headline Entertainment in the past for invasion of privacy and defamation, but none of them were successful.

Headline had been in the entertainment industry for years. They knew exactly what the legal boundaries were, and they skirted around them very well.

“If you want to deal with them, you can only start with online platforms. However, this is more difficult. Weibo needs traffic, so they generally don’t block influential entertainment accounts that drive them.”

There were countless stars that had connections and influence behind them, and many were ruined by Headline’s candid shots and breaking news. They had been through many battles, and if they could have been brought down, this would have happened a long time ago.

However, Yan Qiuchi and Shen Jintai were now almost officially dating. With Shen Jintai’s popularity, it wouldn’t be just Headline Entertainment that would be eyeing him. It wasn’t a viable solution long-term to use money to pay them off every time they got photographed.

He must hurry and catch up with Shen Jintai. Shen Jintai has been loosening, and the only obstacle left was public opinion. The show he put on tonight would be regarded as the first wave. He would make a few more bigger contributions on the next few waves.

“Contact Lao Jiang and the others in the public relations department and ask them all to come to the hotel… And Zhang Yuan, call him too,” He said to Fang Yun.

Fang Yun had a hunch that the boss was planning to make a big move and felt it was certainly related to Shen Jintai.

Ooooohhhhhhh~

She was so excited. As both a gold powder and one of Yan Qiuchi’s admirers, she felt that an excellent man like Yan Qiuchi should be worthy of a man like Shen Jintai.

When the charity dinner ended, it was already past 10. Artists greeted and bid farewell to each other as they left one after another. It was still snowing heavily outside. When Shen Jintai came out, Li Meilan immediately made him put on a down jacket. He went over to say goodbye to Mrs. Yan, who hugged him and looked to be in a good mood. She felt that it wouldn’t be long now before Shen Jintai officially became a family member.

“It’s cold. Take care of your body and come visit me when you have time,” Mrs. Yan said.

Shen Jintai felt that due to his relationship with Yan Qiuchi, he had grown even closer to Mrs. Yan. He also felt that part of his liking Yan Qiuchi was because of Mrs. Yan. Xiao Ai was right. To have such a mother-in-law… Ah, no, to have such a mother; he would definitely benefit from more love in his married life.

Zheng Siqi and Bai Qingquan were still waiting for him. After sending Mrs. Yan to the car, Shen Jintai immediately walked over while tightly wrapped in his jacket. Zheng Siqi was rubbing his hands together as he asked, “Let’s find a place for the three of us to have a couple of drinks?”

“Won’t work today. I have to get up early tomorrow for filming,” Shen Jintai said. “Let’s schedule something for next time.”

Bai Qingquan, who still remembered the post from Headline Entertainment, said, “Headline hasn’t deleted their post yet. It’s still hanging at the top. Since it’s so late now, they probably won’t break the news until tomorrow. They probably didn’t want the charity dinner to distract people from it. You two need to be alert.”

“I’m fine. The scandal between Yang Lizhi and I is fake. If Headline Entertainment explodes us, it will give me free publicity,” Zheng Siqi said. “It’s Jintai. You have to pay attention. I think you and President Yan have been talking about it?”

“We’re almost there,” Shen Jintai didn’t hide it from them. “I’m not sure if I’m being secretly photographed. I always feel as if someone has been filming me recently, but I haven’t noticed anything unusual.”

“Headline Entertainment is now slowly becoming shadier. If they really have something, they will contact you to negotiate the price,” Bai Qingquan said.

Shen Jintai had almost forgotten about it. Having the conversation now, he suddenly felt a chill run through his body. He was worried about this matter. What worried him the most was not the content of the photo, but how he would respond if it really broke out.

Bai Qingquan felt happy for Shen Jintai but also felt inexplicably lost. Seeing Shen Jintai again today had finally made him completely exit the act. He felt he was seeing a good sister again, but this feeling couldn’t be explained. He would probably feel the same way if it were Zheng Siqi who fell in love, or rather, if anyone around him fell in love.

He zipped up his down jacket and said, “Okay, let’s get together another day when we have time. Don’t let the staff wait on us.”

After Shen Jintai got in the car, he went to check Headline’s Weibo post again. Li Meilan said, “They’re all guessing it’s Zheng Siqi and Yang Lizhi.”

Shen Jintai: “It’s not Siqi. He and Yang Lizhi had a scandal about their drama some time ago.”

Li Meilan: “It’s not you, is it?”

Besides the four of them, there were no other notable traffic stars in the East Palace.

“It could be Yang Lizhi, right? Maybe not with Zheng Siqi, but with someone else?” Xiao Tang said. “She’s already 28, so it’s normal to fall in love. I heard that she now has a boyfriend who’s a wealthy businessman.”

There wasn’t any useful information, and it was useless to worry, so they were limited in what they could do. Halfway on the ride back, Li Meilan suddenly sat up and asked in a low voice, “If, and I mean if, Headline photographed you and President Yan, shall we admit it or deny it?”

She felt denying it wouldn’t be the best option; otherwise, they would be slapped in the face when they were photographed together in the future, but they were still a long way off from admitting it.

Fortunately, gold powders’ current acceptance of Yan Qiuchi was quite high. The ridicules or blessings from passersby weren’t that important. She asked this primarily for the purpose of gossiping and determining the stage of their relationship.

Shen Jintai thought for a while and said, “Just say that it is at the stage of further understanding.”

With these words, Shen Jintai felt more relaxed. Thinking about it, he does really have feelings for Yan Qiuchi. In the past, he might not have wanted a love that could affect his career, and he didn’t want to be with Yan Qiuchi just for the sake of completing tasks to survive. But now he really did like him.

Thinking of Yan Qiuchi, he thought of the sudden gift that he gave him tonight. He was embarrassed in that moment, but more importantly, that gesture made him feel hot and filled him with indescribable pleasure. He suddenly understood the feelings of girls who shed tears of excitement when they were proposed to.

It was a kind of anxious, embarrassing feeling, but it was filled with a pleasant happiness. As a man, he could also experience this kind of sappy joy. He thought that when they were together in the future, he would also be romantic. After all, men and women both enjoyed eating romance.

Getting back to the topic at hand regarding Headline Entertainment, he felt that he needed to talk to Yan Qiuchi first. If this news was really about them, then it would mean Yan Qiuchi would be implicated again.

When he knocked on Yan Qiuchi’s room, he was surprised to find it was Fang Yun who had opened the door. Her expression showed excitement, especially when she saw him, and her eyes seemed to be twinkling, and she couldn’t stop smiling. He also discovered that there were other people in the room as well.

“That’s all,” Yan Qiuchi said. “It’s so late, I’m sorry to disturb everyone’s rest.”

“You’re too polite.” Several middle-aged men and women came out of the room, saw Shen Jintai, looked around, and then greeted him.

Shen Jintai was a little flustered. He wasn’t familiar with any of these senior executives from Sunshine Media, except for Zhang Yuan.

After everyone left, Fang Yun said, “Then, President Yan, I’ll head back first. See you tomorrow.”

Yan Qiuchi said, “Let Xiao Li take you back.”

Fang Yun didn’t decline. “Alright.” After speaking, she glanced at Shen Jintai with a smile, waved her hand slightly and left.

Shen Jintai laughed and asked, “Still working so late?”

Yan Qiuchi: “Come sit. I need to tell you something.”

Shen Jintai sat down. It was warm in the room, so he took off his jacket and looked at Yan Qiuchi with a smile.

“Headline Entertainment photographed us,” Yan Qiuchi said directly.

The smile on Shen Jintai’s face immediately disappeared. “Really? I was going to talk to you about this. What did they take?”

Yan Qiuchi showed him the video that Entertainment handed over.

“Fuck,” Shen Jintai said. “How was this taken?”

Forget the parking lot, why was there a part where it was in front of his windows from last night?!

“They took from a room in the hotel opposite of your room,” Yan Qiuchi said.

Shen Jintai didn’t expect something like this. He usually shuts his curtains, but the minute he left them open, he was photographed. Looking at the footage taken, both he and Yan Qiuchi were in pajamas. If this were released, it would really cause a major uproar.

Even though he and Yan Qiuchi are in love, there’s still a big difference if they appear in the same room in the middle of the night with just pajamas on.

“It has been solved,” Yan Qiuchi said. “Don’t worry.”

Shen Jintai couldn’t help but ask, “How much did it cost?”

“Not much,” Yan Qiuchi said. “I’m just telling you so you’ll know. Let’s pay better attention in the future.”

Shen Jintai watched the clips again, feeling as if this problem was squarely on him. His awareness and caution weren’t high enough. However, he was extremely popular, so there were hordes of people who wanted to capture him, and with them getting together, it would be inevitable that Yan Qiuchi would be eventually photographed with him.

“Okay, go back and wash up, then get some rest,” Yan Qiuchi said. “You don’t need to film early tomorrow.”

Shen Jintai stood up, glanced at Yan Qiuchi, and said, “You should rest early too.”

Yan Qiuchi went out with him. “When you finish showering, tell me.”

Shen Jintai looked back at him. Yan Qiuchi smiled and didn’t speak, but his pair of eyes held all his words. They were gentle and passionate.

His fiery mood at the dinner party suddenly burned up again as he said, “You can’t sleep with me. I can’t fall asleep.”

Yan Qiuchi held his two fingers, looked at him, and said, “Try a few more times, and once you get used to it, you’ll sleep just fine.”

The author has something to say：

Practice makes perfect.

A long-term love.

Kinky Thoughts:

Yan Qiuchi is so good! Get ready for some dog food!

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