Chapter 64

It’s just too adorable.

Xia Xiqing was like a leopard with fierce eyes, winning his prey’s affection with graceful poise as he lazily licked his sharp claws. Dangerous yet beautiful was his norm, but once he laid down his weapons and defenses, stretched lazily on the ground, and spread his soft, fluffy paw pads, he was cuter than any kitten in the world.

“I… I just came to laugh at you. Now I’ve seen enough. I’m leaving.” Xia Xiqing, his face burning with embarrassment, stood up and started toward the windowsill, only to be pulled back by Zhou Ziheng, who grabbed his wrist and yanked him straight into his embrace.

“Did you just get embarrassed?” Zhou Ziheng’s hand gently massaged the skin at the back of Xia Xiqing’s neck.

“You’re the one who’s embarrassed!” Xia Xiqing snapped his head up, reaching to push him away. Zhou Ziheng held him tight, refusing to let go, one hand stroking his back like petting a kitten. “Fine, fine, I’m embarrassed. I’m embarrassed.”

Xia Xiqing wasn’t so easily fooled and pushed him away forcefully. “You should be embarrassed for not wearing clothes.”

“Ah! My hand hurts, my arm…” Zhou Ziheng, out of options, resorted to his acting skills, pitifully releasing his right hand. Xia Xiqing quickly grabbed the arm still wrapped in bandages. “No way, I didn’t touch that one…”

Zhou Ziheng suppressed a smile at the corner of his mouth, pouting feigned hurt. “It hurts so much. It started hurting during my shower. What should I do?”

Xia Xiqing shot him a glare. “Who told you to be so impulsive?”

“How can you talk like that to your savior?” Zhou Ziheng frowned. “Would I have done this if I wasn’t trying to bring you back?”

Hearing Zhou Ziheng’s words, Xia Xiqing was momentarily speechless. He tugged at the corner of his mouth, gently patting Zhou Ziheng’s arm twice like soothing a puppy, saying nothing.

“Are you feeling okay? Have you been taking those meds I gave you? Haven’t you been sneaking drinks behind my back? Let me smell if you’ve been smoking.”

Xia Xiqing pushed away Zhou Ziheng’s face as he tried to lean closer, his expression sour. “I’m perfectly fine. Don’t be so dramatic.”

“I’m just worried about potential side effects from that medicine.”

Hearing this, Xia Xiqing suddenly lifted his eyes to meet Zhou Ziheng’s. His upturned eyes brimmed with playful amusement. “There are some side effects, actually. That medicine made me…” His palm pressed against Zhou Ziheng’s pectoral muscle as he straddled him, towering over him with a commanding posture. He loosened his tie with one hand, deliberately lowering his voice.

“I want you badly right now.”

Zhou Ziheng curved the right corner of his mouth, watching Xia Xiqing’s collarbone peeking through the disheveled collar with satisfaction. “So you like being on top, huh?”

“You’ve really become something else since you had your first taste, haven’t you?” Xia Xiqing pinched his chin firmly, yanking the tie from his collar. Holding it in his hand, he let the end brush against Zhou Ziheng’s cheek before leaning down to kiss his lips. Taking him by surprise, he wrapped the tie around his neck.

“Don’t move.” Xia Xiqing chuckled, tightening his grip on the tie, compressing the air in Zhou Ziheng’s throat. “Let me be on top properly, or I’ll strangle you.”

Zhou Ziheng showed no sign of yielding. The slight pressure on his neck made him frown involuntarily, yet his eyes remained fixed on Xia Xiqing. “I have no objection to you being on top.” He slid both hands around Xia Xiqing’s waist. “But I’ll need you to move yourself.”

“Still talking tough,” Xia Xiqing retorted, so enraged by the slight that he forgot they were in Zhou Ziheng’s family home. His hand reached for the edge of the bath towel, poised to pull it away, when two sharp knocks sounded at the door.

Holy shit, who the hell is it now?

Both figures on the bed fell silent in shock as voices approached from outside.

“Why’s it so quiet… Did they run off…?”

“Should we try opening the door?”

The moment they pushed the door open, Zhao Ke and Ruan Xiao were rendered speechless by the scene before them. Xia Xiqing, his clothes disheveled, straddled a naked Zhou Ziheng. One hand gripped the tie wrapped around Zhou Ziheng’s neck, while the other rested in an unspeakable place. Zhou Ziheng’s hands were still clasped around Xia Xiqing’s waist.

Zhao Ke instinctively covered Ruan Xiao’s eyes, but she immediately slapped his hand away.

“Don’t look!”

“I will look! How could I not watch my CP getting intimate?”

“True… but you can’t watch other men!”

“Move it! Ahhh, hurry up, keep going! My ship has to consummate today!”…

These two really…

Xia Xiqing loosened the tie in his hand, climbed off the bed, tugged his collar back into place, and buttoned it up. Zhou Ziheng cleared his throat twice and pulled the quilt up higher.

“Hey,” Ruan Xiao looked disappointed. “Why aren’t you guys continuing?”

Xia Xiqing flashed a cheeky grin, yanked his tie from Zhou Ziheng’s neck, and flung it around his own. “I’d be happy to livestream for you guys, but our little Heng is too shy.”

Zhao Ke and Ruan Xiao exchanged glances and sighed in unison, “Such a dominant.”

“Are you two leaving already?” Xia Xiqing changed his shoes, walked to the wardrobe, grabbed his coat, and slung it over his shoulder.

“Yeah, we’ll head downstairs first. Everyone will see us off, and we’ll chat to buy you some time. After you climb out, wait for us around the corner—there’s a blind spot in the surveillance there.”

“Got it.” Xia Xiqing tilted his head and raised an eyebrow at Zhou Ziheng on the bed. “Too bad we didn’t get to eat today.”

But Zhou Ziheng suddenly stood up. Right in front of Ruan Xiao and Zhao Ke, he pulled Xia Xiqing into his arms, covering both their heads with his coat. Stealthily, he kissed Xia Xiqing beneath the fabric, his tongue thrusting in abruptly. It happened too fast—Xia Xiqing, caught off guard, melted under the kiss.

Zhou Ziheng gently supported Xia Xiqing’s waist, pulling the coat down from behind to reveal his face. He shook out the coat and draped it over Xia Xiqing’s shoulders, leaning in to whisper casually behind his ear.

“Not getting to try you on top this time… Hengheng finds that rather regrettable too.”

Xia Xiqing’s heart felt as though it had been seized by someone’s fist. His burning earlobe was singed by Zhou Ziheng’s deliberately exhaled hot breath.

“Next time, Xiqing Ge.”

Zhao Ke and Ruan Xiao descended the stairs, immersed in the relief of not having their ship sink and the thrill of witnessing the blood-red scene. Xia Xiqing, however, pushed open the glass balcony door with a sigh of frustration. He stretched his long legs, one foot resting on the balcony railing.

The night breeze swept away the scorching desire, leaving only lingering longing.

He turned back, moonlight illuminating strands of hair dancing lightly across his handsome face. Zhou Ziheng, seated on the bedside in a white bathrobe, tilted his head at him, holding that single rose. His smile under the moonlight was breathtakingly beautiful.

The heartbeat raced secretly through the night.

The little prince locked behind the glass door, and the somewhat defeated Romeo—which of them was truly the thief in this tender night?

With Wei Min under investigation, Zhou Ziheng’s confinement lost its purpose. Usually swamped with work, Zhou Ziheng rarely had family gatherings. On this rare occasion when everyone sat together happily for dinner, a news segment about LGBTQ+ rights happened to air. Zhou Ziheng paused his chopsticks and tentatively asked.

“Dad, what do you think?”

Old Zhou picked up a serving of bean sprouts. “What’s there to think? It’s their own business.”

“From a broader perspective?” Zhou Ziheng pressed, dropping subtle hints. “Proposals like same-sex marriage come up every year, yet the government’s stance remains unclear.”

“The macro perspective is too complex—too many factors to consider.” Old Zhou set down his chopsticks and sighed. “I don’t really understand that community, but I’m no fossil either. People can love whoever they want—what does it have to do with us?”

Zhou Ziheng relaxed slightly, opening his mouth to say, “Then…” Before he could finish, his foot beneath the large round table was savagely stomped on by Zhou Zijin beside him. He glanced over to see Zhou Zijin nonchalantly lifting his arm to place a large serving of bitter melon into Zhou Ziheng’s bowl. “I feel like you’ve been a bit overheated lately.”

Frantic.

He swallowed the rest of his words. Zhou Ziheng realized he’d been too hasty. Setting aside whether his parents could accept it, Xia Xiqing and he weren’t even close yet. Who knew if he truly felt anything for him?

But what if Xia Xiqing did fall for him?

He wanted to bring him home joyfully, not have him endure scolding alongside him. He wanted everyone in his family to like him. If coming out truly caused such an awkward scene, Zhou Ziheng was willing to bear it alone, so Xia Xiqing could be with him without any burden.

Even though they weren’t even close to being together.

“Wei Min’s under investigation. What are your plans for funding that new project?” Zhou Zijin casually changed the subject. Zhou Ziheng, still lost in his own thoughts, took a disgruntled bite of rice. A mouthful of bitter melon nearly made him spit it out.

Jiang Yin, noticing his distracted state, took over the conversation. “We’re currently seeking new investors. I just spoke with Director Kun yesterday. He feels quite apologetic because his films have always been niche, so his box office appeal naturally can’t match that of big-name directors. Though this casting has buzz, many investors are holding back. If it ends up being a fan film, it won’t make big money.”

“Businesspeople prioritize profit first—that’s normal,” Zhou Zijin set down his chopsticks. “I’ll invest. Sign a confidentiality agreement—I don’t want trouble.”

Zhou Ziheng looked up, surprised. “You’re investing?”

Zhou Zijin gave him a forced smile and slapped his shoulder. “Yep. So you better deliver a hit that’s both critically acclaimed and commercially successful. At least three hundred million yuan at the box office. Don’t make your big bro here lose money.”

With the investment settled, Jiang Yin began testing the waters.

She arranged for some marketing accounts to leak news about Zhou Ziheng’s new film, revealing only that his character was an AIDS patient—nothing else.

Unlike before, Zhou Ziheng had largely shed his image as a child actor known for acting prowess. His sharp wit on reality shows and wildly popular on-screen chemistry had catapulted him to the top tier of actors in his twenties. Even this snippet of information caused quite a stir online.

Compared to other male celebrities, Zhou Ziheng’s advantage lies in the audience goodwill he’s cultivated since childhood. His path is exceptionally smooth, with most comments about his new film being overwhelmingly positive.

[I’m a Dumb Student]: I’m impressed by Zhou Ziheng’s film selection! Each movie he chooses focuses on a marginalized group. Male stars like this are truly rare.

[Did Arries Wake Up Today?]: AIDS? Zhou Ziheng is awesome!

[Who Says I Don’t Like You]: Zhou Ziheng is finally filming a new movie! I watched his last one, The Seagull, with my mom. She was on pins and needles the whole time, sweating bullets for him, and ended up crying from emotion. Yet she didn’t realize the male lead was Zhou Ziheng until the credits rolled [laughing-crying·JPG]. His acting is just that good.

[123 Wooden Doll]: Honestly, if any other male star hyped up BL pairings daily, I’d be annoyed. But Zhou Ziheng’s acting has me bowing in awe. Feels like he’s saving his best for this role—hope he snags an award.

Riding the wave of escalating public attention, Jiang Yin dropped another bombshell on the gossip forum: [Self-Study CP Rumored to Reunite in New Film]. But the story was half-truth, half-fiction, suggesting Xia Xiqing might make a cameo appearance.

Gossip spreads faster than a virus. A tiny nugget on the forum instantly ignited nationwide discussions. This time, the public sentiment differed sharply from the previous round, splitting almost entirely into two camps: one celebrating the “Self-Study Girls,” the other expressing skepticism from bystanders.

[Self-Study Girls Go For It]: Oh my god, are our Self-Study Girls actually acting together now!!! Is this real!!! I’m gonna live at the movie theater!

[Self-Study Girl Celebrates Every Day]: Please, no female lead! Director, I beg you!

[If You Love Self-Study, We’re Friends]: Just watching these two on a reality show sparks fireworks—can’t imagine them filming a real movie… Director, please give our little painter a bit more screen time, okay?

But skepticism is growing.

[Little Girl in Blue Dress]: Isn’t Xia Xiqing an artist? Why is he jumping between reality shows and acting? Can’t he just leave the entertainment industry and focus on painting?

[Orange Jade Green]: He ditched being an artist to join showbiz—guess the lure of money is just too strong.

[rockbyebaby]: Having a pretty face really gives you a head start. Just showing up at a press conference gets you on a reality show with idols, and now he’s even acting alongside them. Doesn’t Zhou Ziheng’s solo fanbase feel a bit stung? This little painter is riding the hype train way too obviously.

The backlash intensified, fueled by rival teams targeting Zhou Ziheng. Previously, they’d avoided attacking him due to his privileged background, but now the tables have turned. While Zhou remains untouchable, Xia Xiqing is seen as a low-profile figure—perfect for dragging Zhou down.

With this goal in mind, several rival teams bribed numerous marketing accounts to specifically seize upon Xia Xiqing’s crossover appearance in Zhou Ziheng’s new film and make a big deal out of it. They especially ramped up the frenzy targeting Zhou Ziheng’s die-hard fans, provoking clashes between the ship fans and the die-hard fans. Then they bought another wave of trending topics to ruin Zhou Ziheng’s positive image among casual fans.

Jiang Yin knew this playbook inside out. She anticipated their tactics precisely—it was exactly what she wanted.

As soon as the coordinated smear campaign began, Jiang Yin reached out through Zhou Ziheng’s studio to several major fan platforms with significant influence. She called on fans to refrain from participating in the online feud over the next few days, urging everyone to stay silent. Simultaneously, she mobilized resources to pull down the trending topics, replacing them with behind-the-scenes footage of Zhou Ziheng training and dieting for his new film. Even if minor fan squabbles persisted, they wouldn’t tarnish the show’s image among casual viewers.

Just as tensions peaked, Escape from Heaven released a special feature—a compilation of previously unreleased behind-the-scenes footage. The production team’s lavish promotion captured the attention of both loyal fans and new audiences.

Most crucially, the feature contained a major surprise: the screenwriter behind the first two episodes made an appearance.

“Hello everyone, I’m the scriptwriter for Escape from Heaven.” A young man wearing a mask appeared on screen, seated at his workstation, explaining the process of creating the show’s puzzle-solving segments.

Xia Xiqing, watching the special at home, was stunned.

The very screenwriter who had tortured them to death was none other than Xu Qichen!

“Honestly, I didn’t believe I could pull off such a challenging script at first. But after Escape from Heaven aired, the audience’s feedback and encouragement gave me renewed confidence to keep tormenting the guests,” Xu Qichen said with a faint smile to the camera.

“The process was incredibly fun. I filled in the plot framework of Escape from Heaven with my own inspiration. After it aired, the guests’ decoding and escape attempts gave me fresh ideas. While watching the show, a new story began forming in my mind—especially that scene in the first episode where the two guests unexpectedly met in the dark. It really struck me.”

“So I thought: what if a boy accidentally contracted AIDS and became consumed by a desire for revenge against the world? When he reached a dead end, he decided to randomly select a target to satisfy his vengeance and commit a crime. This scenario seemed to perfectly align with that moment in the show.”

The screen showed Xu Qichen presenting his new script, surrounded by walls covered in character relationship diagrams and piles of research materials. “So I wrote a new script and was fortunate enough to secure the two actors I believed were perfect for the roles.”

What the hell…

Xia Xiqing was utterly dumbfounded. He dialed Xu Qichen’s number with sluggish movements. The moment the call connected, Xu admitted bluntly, “It was me. I thought you’d figure it out long ago.”

Yes, he should have figured it out long ago. Those interlocking clues and plotlines, the mountain of mathematical knowledge, and a story arc so complete it could be filmed—who else but Xu Qichen, whose husband was a science genius at T University, could have done it?

Public opinion exploded after the special aired. [Escape from Heaven Screenwriter] and [Zhou Ziheng’s New Film Screenwriter] simultaneously topped the hot search rankings. Skeptical onlookers began making strange U-turns.

[Let’s Count Ducks Together]: Hmm, I have a feeling I’ll end up loving it. If it’s written by the screenwriter of Escape from Heaven…

[Soph’s Gotta Keep Going Today]: If it’s the Escape from Heaven screenwriter, then I’m seriously, seriously eager to see it. The script is bound to be amazing—no doubt about it.

[A Sleeve of Wind and Snow Carries Kunlun]: Has no one noticed how good-looking the screenwriter is? Tall, slim, fair-skinned, with a gentle voice and such intelligence—totally my ideal type!

[love33]: Not sure if Xia Xiqing is actually starring in this, but I’m genuinely impressed by this writer. I’d watch anything he pens—Escape from Heaven’s script was seriously top-notch.

[rockbyebaby]: Does a great screenwriter automatically mean a great movie? Aren’t netizens thinking too simplistically these days?

Jiang Yin anticipated they’d downplay the screenwriter and keep bashing Xia Xiqing.

This was the perfect moment to strike back.

Jiang Yin had someone edit Xia Xiqing’s audition footage from Kuncheng, creating a screen recording effect. It was leaked through a private account. Major marketing influencers went wild sharing it, accompanied by this headline: [Zhou Ziheng’s New Film: Xia Xiqing’s Audition Clip Leaked, Suspected to Play the Male Lead.]

This “deprecation before elevation” tactic perfectly fed the public’s craving for plot twists. Combined with Xia Xiqing’s infectiously authentic performance, it captured casual viewers’ hearts while delivering a blow to die-hard fans.

[Just Being Negative]: As a genuine bystander, Xia Xiqing’s acting outshines so many young heartthrobs. That evasive glance when he dared not look at the little girl made my heart ache. How can he excel at everything? I was wise not to join the crowd in bashing him.

[87 I’m 78]: Xia Xiqing’s final tear—absolutely perfect. Like a fairy descended from heaven. So many people bashed him before, setting flags that his acting must be terrible. Seeing this, I genuinely feel pity for the poor guy—clearly he has both talent and looks.

[Little One Who Doesn’t Like Durian]: I said before I’d never expect anything from this movie. Turns out I couldn’t escape the “it’s actually good” law. Slap in the face, slap in the face.

[Self-Study Girl Celebrating New Year]: Oh my god, my Xiqing baby, come into mommy’s arms wuwuwuwu. Mommy will rub your back. Our Xiqing’s acting is truly astonishing.

[Maybe You’re Self-Studying?]: I want to see the official announcement for this movie within ten minutes!

…

Within just a few days, public opinion flipped upside down, with twists and turns that not only heightened anticipation for Xia Xiqing’s role and dispelled netizens’ doubts about him, but also made the show Stalking a hit before filming even began, capitalizing on massive public expectations. Zhou Ziheng, witnessing his sister-in-law’s tactics firsthand, could only marvel.

“That was some masterful maneuvering. Truly the youngest gold-medal agent and producer.” Zhou Ziheng obsequiously massaged his back. “I kept wondering why the reality show’s screenwriter wasn’t announced—turns out you had a backup plan, sis-in-law. Hyping both the reality show and the movie simultaneously? Brilliant, brilliant.”

Jiang Yin shot him a withering glance. “Cut the sycophantic flattery. Pack your things. We’re heading to the filming location tomorrow. You’ll go ahead with the director to familiarize yourself with the environment and get into character early. Don’t waste all my careful planning.”

Zhou Ziheng nodded, about to head upstairs, when he remembered something and scampered back down. Before he could speak, his sister-in-law added:

“Xia Xiqing is going too. You two can work together and get a feel for each other.”

Zhou Ziheng feigned composure with a casual “Oh,” then turned away, his lips curling wildly into a grin.

No need for teamwork—the chemistry is already perfect.

Tomorrow he’d finally meet Xia Xiqing. Clutching this heart-racing news, Zhou Ziheng drifted off into sweet dreams.