With matters largely settled, He Xing called Lu Xianqing to report the progress and informed him he could return to the set two days later.
“What? Did Zhou Changjiang get angry with me?”
He Xing thought to herself that at least he was aware. “He still dotes on you. And he quite likes Sizheng, so he did not blame you much. He knows you cannot focus on filming right now, so he suspended production for three days. He went home as well. Filming resumes in three days. No problem for you?”
Lu Xianqing said, “Fine.” Then he added, “Hey, ask Zhou Changjiang—can I bring family?”
He Xing hung up.
Lu Xianqing stared at his phone, then at Qin Sizheng, utterly puzzled. “What is that about? Why the attitude? If not allowed, then not allowed. Why can I not even ask?”
Qin Sizheng pressed his lips together in a smile. It was already a sign of good temper that He Xing had not scolded him. If this had been someone else causing such a storm, they might have quit on the spot.
“Fourth Brother.”
“Hmm?”
Qin Sizheng placed both hands on his shoulders, tipped his head up, and kissed him lightly. “I like you.”
Lu Xianqing froze.
Before he could react, Qin Sizheng ran into the kitchen. Shen Changfeng had prepared the meal before leaving. Qin Sizheng brought the dishes out and called Lu Xianqing to eat.
Coincidentally, every dish was something Lu Xianqing disliked.
“Tsk.”
Qin Sizheng ladled soup into his bowl and placed carrots and green peppers into his rice, narrowing his eyes in warning. “If you do not eat, then you are not sleeping with me tonight.”
Lu Xianqing stared at the carrots as if they were medicine.
“In a moment I will call Sister An Ning to pick you up. Since you do not seem very eager to live with me anyway.”
“You are that eager for me to sleep with you?”
“That is not what I meant! I meant do not sleep in the same bed as me. Not that kind of sleep!”
Lu Xianqing picked up his chopsticks. “It is all the same.”
By the end of the meal, he had eaten the vegetables with a pained expression, gulping down two bowls of soup to wash away the taste, muttering through clenched teeth that he would fire Shen Changfeng.
Qin Sizheng cleared the table and went to wash the dishes. Lu Xianqing followed.
Detergent foamed thickly. His hand reached into the bubbles and lifted out a plate, carefully rubbing away the grease with his fingertips.
His fingers curled, straightened, and slid across the white porcelain surface.
Lu Xianqing watched his hands closely, a low rumble in his throat.
He wrapped his arms around Qin Sizheng from behind, prowling through the apron as if marking his territory, then held him close and tilted his head to bite his ear, teasing, “Yanyan, are your hands feeling good?”
Qin Sizheng pretended not to understand. “Hands doing what? There aren’t any more dishes tonight. We don’t eat dinner at home in the evening, and Mr. Lu can’t make an exception either.”
“I insist on making an exception,” Lu Xianqing murmured, the vibration from behind sending a shiver through Qin Sizheng. He couldn’t shake the feeling that the words carried a different kind of meaning.
The plates, slick from water and detergent, required a firm grip to avoid slipping. Qin Sizheng held his breath, calling softly to him, and got a lazy, drawn-out “Hmm?” in response.
“Your ear is dirty.”
Lu Xianqing blew gently into his ear. “Not dirty.”
Qin Sizheng grabbed his arm with his left hand to push him away. “Wait! I’ll finish the dishes first. If you touch my plates, you’ll break them. Get up, or I’ll hit you!”
“You like hitting me? Come on then. But don’t kill me—then it wouldn’t be fun anymore.”
Qin Sizheng groaned. No matter how he tried, Lu Xianqing could always steer the conversation back to that topic. “Mr. Lu, you’re so childish.”
Lu Xianqing buried his head on his shoulder, sighing. “I’m childish, but Yanyan is so clever. You still know how to coax me, don’t you?”
Qin Sizheng struggled free from his embrace, removed the apron, and tossed it into his arms. “I don’t know. Just finish the dishes! If you don’t, no sleeping for you tonight!”
“?” Lu Xianqing stared at the apron in his hands, speechless for a moment, then hastily washed the dishes and shoved them into the cabinet. Wiping his hands, he went to find Qin Sizheng.
“Hey, done washing.”
“How did you finish so quickly? Did you dry them before putting them in the cabinet?”
Lu Xianqing looked bewildered. “Do I need to dry them?”
Qin Sizheng’s expression said, of course you do. Lu Xianqing leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, thinking, when in his life had he ever done this sort of work?
“And if I’m not fast, you know very well. If you feel unsure, we can time it tonight—scientifically measure how long it takes.”
Qin Sizheng tossed his pajamas into Lu Xianqing’s arms. “Go shower.”
Knowing he had thoroughly teased him and made him angry, Lu Xianqing went obediently to the bathroom. The pajamas fit him, and the little fool even imagined one day coming to live with him.
After showering and changing, he looked in the mirror at his figure and face. “Truly charming.”
Qin Sizheng opened his phone. The flood of missed calls and messages nearly overwhelmed him. He waited for the phone to catch up, then checked each one. Most were from concerned friends in the industry, but what surprised him most was one from Zhou Changjiang.
At the time, he told himself not to be anxious, to calm down and know what he wanted. Now Zhou Changjiang was telling him that Lu Xianqing was a good person, and that since he had taken this step, he should cherish it.
Qin Sizheng did not yet know that Wen Li was his biological mother. Seeing Zhou Changjiang’s name now made him feel like fate was playing a trick on him.
He had joked about recognizing a son back then. If he ever found out he was Wen Li’s out-of-wedlock child, what would he think?
Qin Sizheng pondered a moment, then sent a simple “Thank you” back to Zhou Changjiang. After replying to everyone, Lu Xianqing came out, pressing a hand gently to his neck.
“What are you doing?”
On the coffee table lay a sheet of paper and a pen. “I want to post something on Weibo, but I haven’t decided what to say. Any suggestions?”
“Post what? That you like me?” Lu Xianqing sat beside him, reaching to pull him into a hug but got dodged.
Qin Sizheng shook his head. “No, it’s for Xiao Qinxian.”
Lu Xianqing pouted, “Don’t ask me. I don’t like confessing for a rival. I’d rather they all just leave.”
Ignoring his sulking, Qin Sizheng handed him the phone. “Help me record a video.” Then he sat on the carpet in front of the coffee table and picked up the pen, drawing a kite.
“Recording?” Qin Sizheng asked, looking back.
Lu Xianqing nodded. “Yes.”
Qin Sizheng noticed his sulky expression, and he could barely hide his frustration, almost wanting to tear the paper. He patted Lu Xianqing’s knee. “Good boy.”
Lu Xianqing shivered, coldly ordering, “Hurry up and draw!”
Qin Sizheng grinned and bent over the kite, tying a few strings as he muttered, “Mr. Lu is so fierce. If you ever find a boyfriend, don’t pick someone like this.”
“Huh?” Lu Xianqing asked. “What are you saying about me?”
Qin Sizheng feigned innocence. “Nothing at all.”
When the drawing was finished, Qin Sizheng took the phone and uploaded the video, adding the line that Hong Xuefeifei had given him when he first arrived: “When the stars have dispersed, Qin Sizheng keeps his promise.”
He wanted to thank the Xiao Qinxian fans for their unwavering support. Without them, things would not have resolved so quickly.
Regardless of whether he could return to the entertainment industry, he was deeply grateful for all those who had once liked him.
Lu Xianqing said, “Even if you don’t post it, they would still like you just the same.”
Qin Sizheng shook his head. “I want to respond to them. While they are working so hard to support me, I am also working to reach out to them.”
Lu Xianqing reached over and ruffled his hair. “Silly.”
This industry had long become shallow and fleeting. Stars were high above, and fans seemed only proof of popularity. Few still tried so hard to respond to their fans.
“I’m going to shower.” Qin Sizheng got up, picking up clothes from the sofa and heading to the bathroom.
Lu Xianqing glanced back, waiting until the door closed before he got up. He went to the kitchen, closed the door, and made a call.
“In a law-abiding society, you don’t need hands that harass others. Remove it.”
The person on the line clicked their tongue twice. “Director Lu is ruthless as ever. Removing it now at this critical moment—aren’t you afraid someone will find out?”
Lu Xianqing said, “You did it, not me. What am I supposed to be afraid of?”
The other man was stunned by his shamelessness. “There’s no need to be so unreasonable! I work to avoid risks. What if he sues me? Then I’d lose a brother or two.”
Lu Xianqing replied, “You’ve become this useless? Even a small matter like this leaves a handle for them. Maybe I should send you in there first so you can think about how you ended up so incompetent.”
“Don’t!” the man ground his teeth and cursed him. “You’re my living ancestor!”
Lu Xianqing said, “Do your work cleanly. Don’t mess with our Qin teacher.”
“…”
After hanging up, Lu Xianqing received a WeChat message from Ming Fei. It was a long voice note, mostly nonsense, and the feature didn’t allow skipping. He gritted his teeth and listened through it—it was almost all trivial chatter.
“Ming Fei, you idiot,” he muttered.
Ming Fei sent a pouting sticker, followed by a video call. “I’m just concerned about Fourth Brother and Fourth Sister’s lives. I heard Fourth Sister is hiding a lot of things from you. What’s she keeping? I even intercepted rumors for you, risking my face with Weibo to keep them in check. Can’t leave me hanging, can you?”
Lu Xianqing said, “You can’t. Call me Dad, then I’ll tell you.”
Ming Fei paused for a moment, then earnestly said, “Lu Xianqing, really, I think you’re a beast.”
Lu Xianqing replied flatly, “Same to you.”
Ming Fei chuckled. “I’m not in your circle, and I’ve signed the kid under my management. Even if it goes public, it won’t force me the way it does you.”
Lu Xianqing laughed in response.
Ming Fei, listening to his laugh, felt it didn’t quite fit. “Why are you laughing?”
“I’m laughing because you’re a fool. You’re still obsessed with Teacher Qin’s abs, and you look at your own flabby circle of fat, patting yourself on the back. Isn’t it embarrassing?”
Ming Fei took his body very seriously. After leaving the military, he trained every day. He hated hearing this.
“Damn it! My body is top-notch! Eight-pack abs, V-line, chest muscles—who doesn’t say ‘stud dog waist’ when they see it? Who doesn’t give a five-star review? The whole production team thinks I’m perfect material to train the new generation! And you, Fourth Brother—can you even get hard?”
Lu Xianqing said, “Not for you. Watch your body, production team donkey.”
Ming Fei nearly jumped. “Get lost!”
Lu Xianqing chuckled, then heard the door open. “Not telling you anymore, Teacher Qin’s done with his shower.”
Ming Fei saw the video call end quickly, furiously sent several stickers, but got no response. He guessed what Lu Xianqing had gone to do and muttered “beast” again.
He got up and headed downstairs, bumping into the secretary at the door. “Where are you going?”
Ming Fei looked her in the eyes seriously. “Do I have a good body?”
The secretary blushed under his gaze and nodded.
Ming Fei had a rugged, aggressive aura mixed with casual swagger. One look could make someone’s legs go weak. His shoulders were broad, legs long, muscles even stretched the shirt into curves.
“Mr. Ming, why are you asking this?”
“Nothing. Are you here for business?”
The secretary said, “Previously, Jiangcheng TV contacted us to co-produce an escape-room variety show. Here’s the proposal. You can review it; we’ll need two or three people from our side.”
Ming Fei glanced at it. “Send Lu Xianqing.”
The secretary frowned. “Ah? Is that okay? Fourth Brother doesn’t do variety shows, and his filming schedule is almost done for this year.”
Ming Fei tossed the proposal back into her arms. “He’s the boss, I’m the boss. Before contract termination, he’s our production team’s donkey. Does a donkey have a choice?”
The secretary: “…Would you dare say that to him?”
Ming Fei grinned. “Baby, I’m not afraid. Don’t doubt my abilities.”
Shi Jianshu happened to come by and overheard. “Wow,” he covered his eyes, “sorry for the interruption.”
Ming Fei caught him by the golden waist-length hair. Shi Jianshu snatched it back. “You’ll make me bald!”
Ming Fei rubbed the spot gently, cooing like a kitten. “There’s a variety show. Want to go? Lu Xianqing will take you.”
“I won’t. Didn’t you promise to sign the Fourth Contract? When will you do it?” Shi Jianshu complained, increasingly spoiled by Ming Fei’s attention.
Ming Fei smiled to himself.
When he found this kid, he was crying outside a nightclub bathroom. From the back, Ming Fei thought he was a girl, only to realize it was a boy—a stunningly beautiful one.
He was moved, asked what was wrong, and learned his mother had died abroad. Before she passed, she told him to find his biological father in the country.
His father had recently died too. He was deceived by his half-brother, lost all his money, sold into hardship, and left homeless, with wounds on his face.
Ming Fei squatted before him, seeing his defenselessness, wanting to trick him.
He said gently, “I’m Ming Fei. Come with me, and I’ll make those who cheated you pay.”
Using his gentlest voice, he said, “Come with me, and you can have everything you want.”
Shi Jianshu asked what he wanted. Ming Fei reached out, touched his head, twined the golden hair around his fingers, bringing it close until their noses almost touched. “I want you. Smile at me, don’t cry.”
Shi Jianshu gave him a small smile.
Ming Fei thought, I want you. I want you to cry harder than now.
Shi Jianshu waved his hand in front of him. “What are you thinking?”
Ming Fei pulled his hand down suddenly, pressing it against his own abdomen, and with the other hand gripping his neck, said, “I heard you like touching other people’s abs. I have some too. Want to touch?”
Shi Jianshu wiggled his fingers. “Wow, so hard!”
Ming Fei pinched the back of his neck like petting a cat, his voice low and coaxing: “Come over to my place tonight. I’ll show you my abs, my chest, and my V-line—you can even touch them.”
Shi Jianshu’s eyes lit up. “Really?!”
“Mm, there’s a condition.” Ming Fei tugged his hair toward him, slightly embarrassed. “If you don’t agree, then you can’t come. Can’t let myself take a loss, right?”
“What condition?”
Ming Fei said, “Let me touch your stomach too.”
Lu Xianqing stayed at Qin Sizheng’s house for two days. During that time, An Ning came by to bring him clothes and medicine, but the moment she saw Qin Sizheng, her eyes sparkled and she leapt toward him.
“Waaah, my treasure! You’ve been wronged, let Mama hug you!”
“?” Lu Xianqing grabbed her by the collar and pulled her back. “Behave.”
An Ning pouted, “Don’t act like you don’t recognize Mama just because I’m protective. I saw that kite and strings you drew on Weibo—I love you! Even if I got wiped out, I’d—ahhh…”
Lu Xianqing smacked her head. “What about you?”
An Ning whispered, “Why so petty? What, just because he’s dating someone, you can’t have fans? Dictatorial!”
Lu Xianqing suppressed a smile. “Go on.”
Qin Sizheng pulled An Ning behind him. “Don’t bully my little stringed instrument.”
Seeing An Ning play the role of the tiger while he hid behind Qin Sizheng, Lu Xianqing suddenly smiled, pulled Qin Sizheng close, and kissed him lightly. An Ning gasped. “Fourth Brother, are you human?!”
Lu Xianqing kissed him again, feeling Qin Sizheng struggle. He whispered harshly in his ear: “Move again, and I’ll show your fans what a wet kiss really is—live demonstration.”
Qin Sizheng froze. An Ning fumed: “You old beast! Might as well kill me!”
Lu Xianqing used her words as an excuse to kiss him again. Qin Sizheng couldn’t stand it, so he pushed him with a clever twist of his arm. Just as he was about to speak, the doorbell rang. He ran to open it.
He saw He Xing.
“He Xing Jie.”
She nodded and entered without ceremony, going straight to business.
“Two of Shengyu’s movies and a variety show have all tanked. Xu Zhiliang won’t be able to recover. I heard Xu Zhao privately contacted a few companies about switching, but nobody will take him. In this circle, he’s done for.”
An Ning looked worried. “Could Xu Zhiliang lash out at our company?”
He Xing snorted. “He wouldn’t dare.”
Even with ten times the courage, Xu Zhiliang wouldn’t openly accuse Ming Fei Entertainment of accounting issues. And if he did, He Xing added: “Ming Fei may seem unreliable, but he follows the law. He wouldn’t evade taxes.”
“Before leaving, go see Shen Qing one more time.”
“Also, the company has an escape-room variety show coming up. Initially, two or three people will participate. The boss wants you to bring Shi Jianshu along.”
Lu Xianqing frowned. “When?”
“After filming.”
He immediately said, “I’m not taking him. One film a year. No extras. Otherwise, people might think I’m desperate for money.”
He Xing said, “It used to be one film a year because of your illness. Now that you’re better, still one film a year? Besides, you want to set up a studio. How will you support a company without earning money?”
Qin Sizheng, listening, said nothing. Previously, Lu Xianqing had insisted on signing him. Now, despite the chaos, he hadn’t mentioned it once.
Even if he couldn’t leave Shengyu in the end, as long as he could stay with Lu Xianqing, he was fine with it.
“Yan Yan?”
Qin Sizheng snapped back to attention. “What?”
“Tell He Xing Jie you want to go to the set with me—you can’t bear to leave me.”
He Xing looked at Lu Xianqing with a soft, approving smile, not refusing. It seemed if Qin Sizheng spoke, she would agree. An Ning cheered him on.
Qin Sizheng said, “I’m not going with you.”
He Xianqing was a bit surprised by such a firm refusal. “Oh? How come?”
He Xing smiled, clearly pleased.
Qin Sizheng said, “Xi Ling invited me to his concert as a guest in the coming days. You can focus on filming. I’ll come see you at the set.”
He Xing, fearing Lu Xianqing would insist, quickly said, “It’s late. Change your clothes and go see Shen Qing. Then return to the set.”
Lu Xianqing returned to his room. Qin Sizheng called out that he had hung his clothes in the wardrobe. Then suddenly remembering something, he rushed in to find Lu Xianqing staring at the wardrobe, wide-eyed.
Qin Sizheng opened his mouth with difficulty. “Fourth Brother, do you want to hear me explain?”
Lu Xianqing poked a lifelike doll, which immediately made a vivid sound: “Oh baby… you’re amazing…”
Qin Sizheng nearly combusted. Lu Xianqing, smiling, asked: “Is this also from You Si for testing the effect? Hmm, baby?”
“No.”
“Have you used it?”
Qin Sizheng shook his head furiously. Lu Xianqing beckoned him over, and suddenly pressed him against the wardrobe, lips to the doll, whispering: “Little one, you’re quite playful. I underestimated you.”
Qin Sizheng was helpless. “I was going to let You Si take it, but it was too heavy to move.”
“Throw it? No, we won’t throw it.” Lu Xianqing pulled him back, wiped his lips, winked, and said: “Play with it tonight yourself, and show me. Use me.”
Xu Zhiliang felt the four days drag by. He had assumed that with the contract in hand, Lu Xianqing would have to yield, and he could still make some profit. But the other party remained completely unmoved.
He sent someone to test He Xing’s intentions, only to be scolded in return.
It was then that Xu Zhiliang realized: the other party probably never intended to negotiate. His scandals, the company’s tax issues, the movie postponements, and finally the variety show being shut down—each step had been orchestrated by Lu Xianqing!
All talk of respecting contract validity and seeking a friendly resolution? That was just He Xing manipulating public opinion! Once his company was gone, Qin Sizheng’s contract would naturally become worthless.
Xu Zhiliang cursed belatedly. He should have known long ago just how ruthless Lu Xianqing could be.
Frustrated, he found a nightclub to drown his sorrows in alcohol. Drunk and careless, he bumped into someone, yelling irritably: “Damn it! Are your eyes blind? How dare you hit me!”
The man apologized profusely. Xu Zhiliang, with nowhere to vent his anger, kicked him. He stumbled to the ground, but something quickly covered his head, and the next second, excruciating pain shot through his left wrist.
The same happened to his right wrist, brutally broken. His heart-wrenching screams echoed through the late-night alley until he gradually lost consciousness.