When Qin Sizheng returned home, he was still buzzing with excitement. The moment he turned on his phone, he saw a message from Lu Xianqing saying he had an overnight shoot and that if Qin Sizheng was tired, he should go to bed early and not wait for him.
There was also a picture attached: the little sun Qin Sizheng had drawn, and beneath it Lu Xianqing had added a sunflower.
Warmth bloomed in Qin Sizheng’s chest. The lingering sense of unreality finally began to settle into something solid.
He could not help himself. He tapped the screen and typed: “Fourth Brother, are we really together now?”
There was no reply—he was probably filming.
Qin Sizheng reread the line “Go to bed early, do not wait for me” several times. For the first time, he felt as though he had truly taken root in this world.
Like a drowning man who finally grabbed onto driftwood—only to discover it was actually a massive tree rising from the water, sturdy enough to support him, to shelter him from wind and rain.
He wanted to wait until Lu Xianqing finished shooting. He took a shower to stay refreshed, then went to practice boxing for a while. He had neglected it a bit during filming.
After finishing his workout, he realized he was a little hungry. He pulled on a random shirt and headed to the kitchen to see if there was anything quick he could eat.
The moment he stepped inside, he froze. There was a note stuck to the refrigerator door—left by Shen Changfeng.
He opened the fridge. It was packed with fruits, vegetables, fresh meat, and a neat row of eggs.
They had only just gotten back, and Shen Changfeng had already prepared everything so thoughtfully.
Qin Sizheng sent him a message to say thank you. There was no immediate reply—he was probably already asleep.
He opened a video site and played one of Lu Xianqing’s films.
With that familiar voice keeping him company, he took out two tomatoes and some scallions, chopped them up, heated oil in a pan, and made himself a bowl of tomato and egg noodles. He casually snapped a photo and posted it on Weibo.
After posting, he sent the picture to Lu Xianqing as well.
Fans were usually free at night. Within minutes, the comments began climbing rapidly.
After finishing the noodles, Qin Sizheng felt a little tired. He took a shower to wake himself up, and when he came out, he saw his phone screen lit up.
He grabbed it immediately. As expected, it was a WeChat message from Lu Xianqing.
[You little fool. Are you complaining that I have not made it public?]
Qin Sizheng quickly replied: [No. It just does not feel real. I cannot believe you actually like me. I am just so happy.]
[I like you even more than you imagine.]
After typing that, Lu Xianqing still could not bear the ache of missing him. He had An Ning take him somewhere secluded and placed a video call.
Qin Sizheng stared at the flashing icon for a long moment before finally swiping to answer. Nervously, he called out, “Fourth Brother.”
“Hmm?”
His boyfriend’s voice was so sexy. Qin Sizheng silently thought to himself that he was starting to feel like a lovesick fool.
“Do you miss me?” Lu Xianqing asked.
Qin Sizheng pressed his lips together slightly and nodded.
“How am I supposed to know if you miss me if you do not speak? I have night blindness. I cannot see,” Lu Xianqing said.
Qin Sizheng knew he was doing it on purpose, but he still added softly, “I miss you.”
Normally at this hour, they would either be rehearsing lines together at the hotel or already resting, ready to see each other first thing the next morning.
Now he had just confessed to him, and they were already separated in two different places. It would be a long time before they could meet again.
Lu Xianqing’s heart softened at his honesty. “Yanyan, I miss you too. I want to kiss you and hold you.”
He had always been direct with his words, leaving plenty of room for imagination.
Qin Sizheng blinked at him. “Mm… I want you to hold me too.”
Lu Xianqing’s emotions surged. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he asked, “Kid, are you flirting with me?”
“No. You are the one with the dirty mind.”
“You are learning bad things.”
Qin Sizheng did not act shy. He looked straight into the camera. “Flirting with my boyfriend is not illegal.”
“Flirting with your boyfriend is not illegal, but your boyfriend might want to commit a little crime.”
Qin Sizheng narrowed his eyes and smiled. After chatting for a while, Lu Xianqing felt all his exhaustion sweep away.
“Hang in there a little longer. After I finish this film, I will have a year to stay with you.”
Qin Sizheng immediately grew tense. “Is this film hard on you too? Can He Xing arrange for a doctor to see you? Are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere? Where is Sister An Ning?”
Seeing how anxious he looked, Lu Xianqing could not help laughing. “Relax. Not this one. Maybe Yanyan cured me. But if I only shoot one film a year and use that as an excuse to stay with you, is that not nice?”
Qin Sizheng let out a relieved breath. That was good.
He did not want to see Lu Xianqing hurting himself. They talked a little longer before An Ning came over to urge him back to set.
Qin Sizheng greeted An Ning and reminded her to order more carrots, spinach, and tomatoes lately, and fruits like strawberries, cherries, and bananas—they were good for night blindness.
An Ning laughed. “Oh? Now that you are the Fourth Sister-in-law, you have started managing him already?”
Qin Sizheng flushed at the teasing. “That is not what I mean.”
“Then what do you mean?”
He blinked and forcibly changed the subject. “Have him eat more egg yolks, pine nuts, and walnuts too. They are good for the brain.”
An Ning was practically dying of laughter. “First kidneys, then brain? Is that all your Fourth Brother is in your eyes?”
Qin Sizheng subconsciously glanced at the man. “Those things are good for night blindness. You will eat them, right?”
Looking at his slightly red eyes and the yawn he was trying to suppress, Lu Xianqing sighed helplessly. “Yes. I will try. Go to sleep early. I still have two scenes left. It will probably be past midnight.”
Qin Sizheng’s heart ached instantly. “Then be careful on your way back. Rest as soon as you get back.”
Lu Xianqing smiled. “Yes, boyfriend.”
The teasing warmth in his voice made Qin Sizheng blush again. But with the relationship confirmed, he slept unusually well, waking up only the next afternoon.
At four in the morning, Lu Xianqing had sent him a message.
Just two words: Good night.
Qin Sizheng hugged his phone and rolled around in bed twice, guessing he was already filming again. Still, he could not help poking the screen to reply.
[Did you film that late? Are you tired?]
Lu Xianqing responded instantly this time—with a photo.
He was wearing a three-piece suit. The fitted vest outlined his lean waist, and although the outfit was restrained and formal, the top button at his collar had been forcibly torn open. His slightly reddened eyes carried a faint hint of roguish charm.
Qin Sizheng’s heart pounded wildly. So handsome!!
Lu Xianqing asked: [Do I look good?]
Qin Sizheng nodded hard, then realized he could not see that and quickly typed: [You look good! This kind of suit suits your figure perfectly. You look especially handsome.]
This time Lu Xianqing sent a voice message. “I will wear it for you at home.”
Qin Sizheng imagined it, and his heart felt itchy.
He replayed the voice message several times, unable to stop picturing him tugging at his collar while stepping closer. Even his ears turned red.
Just then, another WeChat notification popped up. Xu Zhao said he was outside his door.
Qin Sizheng hurriedly told Lu Xianqing. The reply came quickly: [I will deal with you later.]
Xu Zhao had been waiting quite a while before Qin Sizheng finally opened the door. Seeing his flushed ears and cheeks, and the slight dampness in his eyes, he frowned.
“You were not playing with those toys again, were you?”
Qin Sizheng had completely forgotten about that incident and hurriedly said, “No, no. I just woke up.”
Xu Zhao relaxed and walked in, speaking in a roundabout way. “You only got this drama because you benefited from the situation. If Jiang Zhen had not self-destructed, you would not have had this opportunity. Fourth Brother is a good stepping stone, but you cannot hype things up with him just because of that. He hates that the most.”
Qin Sizheng poured him a cup of tea. “I know.”
“I have negotiated a new variety show for you,” Xu Zhao continued. “It is a food travel program. You will taste and cook local specialties all over the country, promote traditional culture. The concept is good, and it is not too exhausting.”
“You can cook, so it should not be too difficult.”
Qin Sizheng nodded honestly. Lu Xianqing had told him not to mention terminating the contract to Xu Zhao yet. Truthfully, he had not figured out how to bring it up himself either. For now, he would accept whatever work he could.
“There is a promotional appearance tomorrow. After that, a short interview and a magazine shoot.”
Xu Zhao took a sip of tea, then suddenly realized something. “Did you check Weibo this morning?”
“No. Am I trending again?”
Xu Zhao gave him a knowing look. “You are, but not solely because of you.”
Qin Sizheng opened his phone. The top trending topic was Traveling with Cute Kids, the second was Jiang Zhen.
His own name was ninth. Compared to before, the heat was relatively low—but the name following his made him pause.
“Who is Shi Jianshu?”
Xu Zhao thought to himself, You are still pretending with me? Ming Fei is about to sign you, and you do not even know the name of the artist he is backing?
Before he could explain, Qin Sizheng tapped into the topic himself.
It was actually the young man who had helped rescue someone with him at the airport yesterday. The video footage was shaky and chaotic—calling it mosaic-quality would not have been an exaggeration.
At the time, no one had recognized him. When the video first spread, most people were simply praising the handsome guy who saved someone—great skills, great figure, even his voice sounded nice. The entire internet was practically confessing their love.
Later, a fan account nicknamed Little Detective Qin String clicked in and, from the noisy audio, identified him. “Is that not my baby?”
That was when people started digging and realized one was Qin Sizheng and the other was Shi Jianshu.
Only then did Qin Sizheng understand what Lu Xianqing meant by “I will deal with you later.”
Oh no. Shen Changfeng had already scolded him. Would Lu Xianqing be even angrier?
Seeing the guilty look on his face, Xu Zhao became even more convinced he was hiding something.
Shi Jianshu’s twisted Mandarin was distinctive the moment one heard it. He had even grabbed Qin Sizheng’s hand. How could that be an ordinary relationship?
And he still claimed they did not know each other. Playing dumb while fully aware. Was he treating him like a fool?
I have worked so hard to promote you all these years, invested so much effort. Now that you know Lu Xianqing, you cannot even give me a single honest word?
Xu Zhao understood that Qin Sizheng was simple-minded and easy to control. Most likely, Lu Xianqing had taught him how to deal with him. That old fox. He should never have accepted this drama for Qin Sizheng in the first place.
Qin Sizheng was a cash cow. He could not let him go. At least not now.
He still had two younger artists under him who needed seasoning. Qin Sizheng had to help bring them up.
Unaware of Xu Zhao’s spiraling thoughts, Qin Sizheng continued scrolling through Weibo.
Shi Jianshu had recently signed with Ming Fei Entertainment as a singing and dancing idol. He had strong stage presence. Fans described him as sweet and spicy, with the nickname: The Wild Little Cat of the Mortal World.
He was mixed-race, with waist-length blond hair. His eye color was almost identical to that of the young man Qin Sizheng had seen yesterday.
“He has been popular since debut,” Xu Zhao said. “Now that Ming Fei is personally backing him, his future is probably limitless. Not like you.”
Qin Sizheng had no particular interest in him. He only remembered that he had been the first to step forward to help. That was the extent of his goodwill, so he did not catch the implication in Xu Zhao’s words.
He tapped into the top trending topic. “What happened to the cute kids program?”
“I came today to talk about this,” Xu Zhao said. “Take a look yourself first.”
The program Traveling with Cute Kids had issued a public apology, expressing deep regret for the harm caused to Little Tomato and promising maximum compensation. The production team announced it would disband immediately.
The moment Qin Sizheng saw the name Little Tomato, he grew uneasy and quickly scrolled down for details.
It turned out Jiang Zhen had failed to take proper care of Little Tomato, triggering his asthma. The child was still hospitalized, and the parents had stated they would hold both the production team and Jiang Zhen accountable.
Jiang Zhen and his company issued an apology, expressing sorrow and self-blame. At the same time, they criticized the production team for failing to properly care for guests and allowing a child with health issues to participate.
The chaos at the airport yesterday had been caused by him and his bodyguards. When the girl was pushed out of the crowd, he had already been escorted away, which was why he did not appear in the later footage.
However, someone soon released earlier clips of the disturbance, which was how Qin Sizheng ended up trending.
Weibo was already in an uproar.
Jiang Zhen’s fans claimed injustice—why should the program’s mistake be blamed on him? Some even attacked Little Tomato, which only angered passersby further.
Anti-fans criticized Jiang Zhen for lacking professional ethics, traveling with an entourage of bodyguards like royalty, allowing them to shove fans, and showing none of the courtesy expected of an idol.
In comparison, Qin Sizheng and Shi Jianshu looked practically saintly.
People dug up footage of Qin Sizheng returning from the cute kids program without a single bodyguard. He had personally walked over to fans, accepted flowers and handwritten letters, and bowed in thanks.
Meanwhile, Jiang Zhen had pushed away fans who loved him, causing danger, and hurriedly left the scene.
Jiang Zhen’s fans refused to accept this and dug up Qin Sizheng’s past “crazy” remarks. In one clip, he had said that bodyguards existed to guard against fans. They accused him of putting on an act.
They even claimed the girl who had been pushed was a plant. Countless fans flooded her Weibo, attacking her and accusing her of being in cahoots with Qin Sizheng.
Jiang Zhen remained silent. His fans began purging their own ranks, driving the girl—once a devoted supporter—to the verge of quitting the fandom altogether.
Little Qin String was not one to back down. She fired back directly: even if Qin Sizheng had once said that, he had never hired bodyguards. The one who had hired over a dozen bodyguards to guard against fans now was Jiang Zhen.
The two fandoms tore into each other all the way through, completely forging a feud.
Xu Zhao said, “This is a good opportunity. Let the fans fight it out with them. I will prepare a fruit basket. You go visit Little Tomato in the hospital.”
Qin Sizheng felt that going so publicly at a moment like this would only make it seem like he was putting on a show. “I will go tonight. Shen Changfeng can come with me.”
“Tonight works too,” Xu Zhao replied. “I will arrange for someone to take a few photos. Dress properly when you go.”
“That is not what I meant,” Qin Sizheng said. “I do not plan to let anyone see. I want to visit Little Tomato because I am worried about his health, not to perform for others.”
Xu Zhao frowned slightly. “Why waste such a good opportunity? Other people cannot even beg for news like this. Why are you hiding it? Do you know how hard it is to get this kind of coverage?”
“I do not need this kind of coverage.”
Hearing that, Xu Zhao became even more convinced that Qin Sizheng had grown bold now that he had climbed onto Ming Fei’s wings. Furious, he flicked his sleeve and left. “I do not care whether you need it or not. Inform me before you go.”
Qin Sizheng was irritated by his attitude. Xu Zhao had always treated him well before—attentive and patient. Now he felt calculating, constantly looking for chances to step on others to climb higher.
He knew that was common in this industry, but he simply did not want to use such methods.
He wanted to earn what he wanted the way he boxed—openly and fairly, with real ability.
Qin Sizheng sent Little Tomato a WeChat message. After recording ended, he had asked the production team for the parents’ contact information and occasionally chatted with the child.
Not long after, a video call came through.
Qin Sizheng answered and saw that Little Tomato looked a bit pale. His heart immediately ached.
“How are you feeling, Little Tomato?”
The child grinned. “Dad.”
During the show, he had called him Dad. Usually after filming ended, he called him Uncle.
That single word softened Qin Sizheng completely. He chatted for a while, then told him to rest well and said he would visit in a few days.
“Bye-bye, Dad.”
Qin Sizheng asked the parents about his condition. Hearing that he was stable, he finally relaxed.
He had only rested at home for a day before Shen Changfeng came to pick him up for a brand appearance event.
Because he was still trending, the venue was packed. Countless security guards were deployed to maintain order, yet it was still shoulder-to-shoulder.
Fans brought their own support signs. Qin Sizheng went onstage and bowed to them. The host asked how he felt seeing so many fans.
“Honestly, there are so many of you,” Qin Sizheng said sincerely. “You could just lie on the couch at home and watch videos. It is so crowded here. Aren’t you hot?”
The Qin Strings shouted in unison, “We are not hot!”
A girl in the back yelled loudly, “If you think we are hot, then kiss us one by one!”
The host burst out laughing, and the girl instantly blushed.
Qin Sizheng raised the microphone. “I do not have that ability! What, iron lips? Even if I kissed until I died, I still could not finish!”
The crowd erupted in laughter.
After warming up the atmosphere, the host steered the topic back on track.
The follow-up interview consisted of arranged questions. Having memorized the script, Qin Sizheng completed it smoothly. After removing his makeup, he rushed straight to a magazine shoot.
The schedule was tight.
In the car, Shen Changfeng poured him a glass of water. “This workload is considered light. When you become even more popular, you will probably live either in cars or on airplanes. Back then, Xu Jinhan even snatched sleep during makeup sessions.”
What Qin Sizheng thought instead was: then would he not be unable to see Lu Xianqing?
—
Jiang Zhen was already on the verge of losing his mind.
His manager arranged visits to Little Tomato and the girl from the airport, found someone to “secretly photograph” the visits, and posted on Weibo saying he had always been concerned about them. He claimed he had not left yesterday but simply did not want to worsen the chaos, and that he had sought solutions immediately.
They enlisted dozens of marketing accounts to guide public opinion, finally managing to shift the narrative slightly.
“Why was it such a coincidence yesterday? Qin Sizheng just happened to be there? Did he actually plant someone to frame me?”
Xu Shu also thought it was coincidental, but after investigating, found no possibility. “He happened to be on that flight. At first he was wearing a hat and mask, fully covered. He only stepped in when there was danger.”
Jiang Zhen refused to believe it. Ever since he woke up, Qin Sizheng had been opposing him at every turn.
Even Lu Xianqing had begun siding with him. That Weibo incident last time had nearly ruined him. To this day, people still mocked him, saying he had a mental problem and should get treatment.
After arguing once or twice, Xu Shu grew tired. “I advise you to stop causing trouble. Why are you always targeting him? What is Qin Sizheng—a washed-up nobody—to you? Harm others and you will only harm yourself, Jiang Zhen.”
“When did I harm him? The things he said himself—did I hold a knife to his throat and force him?”
Xu Shu shook his head, disappointed. “You still will not admit it? If you had not rushed to publicize the casting choice for Between Good and Evil through marketing accounts last time, would it have landed in his hands? And that hand photo—you did not even know what was going on before buying negative trending topics to crush him. And what happened?”
Jiang Zhen grew furious just thinking about it. That single hand photo had actually allowed him to turn the tables.
“We both know what that hand really was,” Xu Shu said. “But who is Lu Xianqing? The peak of both capital and acting skill. If he says one, it becomes two. Do you dare argue over a single stroke?”
“And that variety show—I sent you there as a delaying tactic. Instead, you posted that kind of Weibo. Do you think Lu Xianqing is someone you can manipulate? If he were that fragile, he would have collapsed long ago! Everyone in the industry knows he has issues. But who dares say it? He is normal. No one is more normal than him.”
Jiang Zhen could not understand why things had turned out like this. Could it be that after being reborn, Lu Xianqing was even sicker? That he needed twice the patience and love to be redeemed?
Damn it. What kind of lunatic wrote this story, making him suffer like this?
Xu Shu spoke earnestly, “Stop going against Qin Sizheng. He is becoming your inner demon. The more you compare yourself to him, the more you fall short. In the end, you will destroy yourself.”
Jiang Zhen took a deep breath. He knew all of that. But he simply refused to accept it. Why should Qin Sizheng, a cannon-fodder character, have everything go so smoothly? Everything that was supposed to belong to him had been snatched away. Who could swallow that?
He truly could not accept it. Everything he had was handed over to someone else. He was supposed to be the protagonist of this world.
“Brother Xu, I cannot accept this.”
Xu Shu looked at him with disappointment. “If you really cannot accept it, then you should work harder and find a way to surpass him—not step on him to climb up. Even if you manage to use him, so what? When you get fame and profit, can you truly feel at ease?”
Jiang Zhen said nothing. Once fame and profit were in hand, who would care how they were obtained?
Some people would even betray friends for利益, let alone Qin Sizheng, who was his enemy.
Now even Lu Xianqing was protecting him. Given enough time, he might even be seduced away.
In this world, if you wanted something, you had to fight for it yourself. Once you possessed it, who would care whether the means were justified?
Besides, Lu Xianqing was originally his. Qin Sizheng was nothing more than a squatter stealing the magpie’s nest. What right did he have?
Xu Shu patted his shoulder. “Think it through. A food travel variety show approached you some time ago. I will talk with them. If it works out, you can join. Practice your cooking during this period. Even if you are not good, at least make your knife skills look decent so you can win some fans. After that, join a production. If you cannot get male lead, take second male lead. Stop aiming unrealistically high.”
Jiang Zhen had no better option and nodded. As he scrolled through trending topics, his finger suddenly froze on a name.
He refreshed in disbelief—once, twice. Each time, it climbed another rank. Three minutes later, it shot to number one and two on the trending list.
It directly suppressed the purchased “rehabilitation” trends about him visiting Little Tomato and the fan.
#QinSizhengKsiloCover#
#QinSizhengSoCool!#
#QinSizhengShiJianshu#
Three consecutive trends stunned him.
Ksilo was an extremely high-end magazine in the industry, known for its bold photography style and limited print runs—each issue nearly impossible to obtain.
So far, aside from Lu Xianqing, who had shot one cover, every other artist—no matter how popular—could only appear in inside pages. There had not been a second domestic artist to land the cover.
What right did Qin Sizheng have?
—
At the studio.
Qin Sizheng still did not understand what a Ksilo cover represented. After Shen Changfeng explained, he belatedly stood there in a daze.
“Is there a pie stuck on my head or something?”
Shen Changfeng laughed. “Pies do not fall from the sky. Maintain your image. Do not act like Granny Liu entering the Grand View Garden.”
The “studio” was not a studio at all, but a suburban villa. The design was exquisite and brimming with artistic flair—more like a secluded paradise, flamboyant and raw.
Qin Sizheng followed Shen Changfeng inside. After twisting through what felt like a maze, they finally found the right entrance. He lowered his voice again. “Changfeng, are you sure there is not someone with the same name as me?”
Shen Changfeng replied, “If someone shared your name, they probably would have changed it long ago under the pressure.”
Qin Sizheng thought about it. He had been scolded so brutally before—who else could have endured it? He felt reassured.
A moment later, he asked, “Then why did they ask me? I am probably not as impressive as Fourth Brother.”
Shen Changfeng showed no mercy. “Remove ‘probably.’”
Qin Sizheng looked wounded. “Oh.”
In the courtyard, someone crouched down. Long golden hair spilled onto the ground, with a strand draped over a pale arm. The young man turned sideways teasing a cat, looking even more like a fox spirit in feline form.
“That is Shi Jianshu?”
The styling was too distinctive. The entire entertainment industry could not produce a second “Wild Kitten on Earth.”
Shen Changfeng glanced through the window. “Probably here for a shoot too. Rumor says he is Ming Fei’s pet. In this industry, gossip is half-true and half-false. Just know it and do not pry.”
Qin Sizheng nodded. He had never been particularly interested in other people’s gossip.
Xu Zhao had been waiting impatiently. Seeing them, he waved. “Stop chatting. Come over.”
Shi Jianshu turned his head and lit up when he saw Qin Sizheng walking past.
“Wow, Ou-sang!”
Ming Fei leaned to the side smoking. Hearing the shout, he lifted his head. “Who are you calling?”
Shi Jianshu tossed the cat into his arms and ran off, leaving Ming Fei standing there grinding his teeth as muddy paw prints decorated his white shirt. “Brat. At least aim before throwing.”
Qin Sizheng had barely stepped into the studio when Xu Zhao grabbed him. “Why do you look so haggard? Did you not sleep? Never mind. Come here, let me introduce you. This is Mr. Hu Chen, today’s photographer.”
A camera hung around the man’s neck. He nodded casually. His shoulder-length black hair was tied back, and a pair of glasses with a thin chain rested on his nose, exuding a refined yet rebellious artistic air.
Qin Sizheng was about to smile in greeting when Hu Chen frowned. “Adjust the light to the side! Is this your first day working? At that angle are you shooting a memorial portrait?”
So fierce.
Qin Sizheng silently exchanged a glance with Xu Zhao. Xu Zhao whispered, “Hu Chen is Ksilo’s chief photographer. He usually shoots the covers. So far, the only Chinese artist he has shot for a cover is Fourth Brother. Do well.”
Qin Sizheng looked toward the backdrop. When Lu Xianqing shot here, had he been scolded too? Probably not. He was that capable—whatever he did must have been the best.
When they filmed variety shows together, Lu Xianqing always handled every situation smoothly. Somehow, just thinking of his name brought Qin Sizheng a sense of security.
Now Lu Xianqing belonged to him.
Qin Sizheng’s Lu Xianqing.
The thought made him unable to stop smiling.
Xu Zhao said, “All right, stop grinning. Who knows how much scolding you will get later.”
Qin Sizheng sighed softly. “Brother Xu, my acting is not great, my singing and dancing are not great, and my image is like that. Are they not afraid this will not sell?”
Xu Zhao told him to stop talking. Such resources were things others could only dream of. Who would push them away? Besides, the invitation had come directly to him. It was clear he had been chosen outright.
At first, he had been guessing, honestly thinking a blessing had just fallen out of the sky. But the moment he saw the other person, he understood.
This had to be arranged by Ming Fei for him! And the one pulling the strings behind the scenes had to be Lu Xianqing again!
Hu Chen must have overheard him. Out of nowhere, he said, “Because you’re suitable. As for my work, there’s no such thing as it not selling.”
Arrogant and fiercely proud of his talent, he was known for doing whatever he pleased. The largest entertainment company in the country, ELI, had once approached him to shoot promotional photos for one of their artists. He had not even spared them a glance—and ended up feuding with ELI over it.
Back when Ming Fei was at the height of his career as a Best Actor, Hu Chen had even refused him to his face. He only shot what he wanted to shoot.
“Dare to do it?” Hu Chen asked.
“I dare.”
“Go get your makeup done. We’ll start with the cover.”
“Teacher Qin, this way.”
The studio was spacious, with a separate makeup room cleaned so thoroughly it was spotless.
The makeup artist was a cute young woman with a bright, pleasant voice.
“Teacher Qin, you’ll have three looks this time. One for the cover, and the other two for promotion. It might be a bit tiring.”
Qin Sizheng replied, “Thank you for your hard work.”
The girl burst out laughing. She dabbed something onto the back of her hand and compared it to Qin Sizheng’s skin tone in the mirror.
“What are you laughing at?” he asked.
“I mean you’ll have to put on and remove makeup and cooperate the whole time—it might be exhausting for you. Why are you the one worrying about me?”
Qin Sizheng came to his senses. “Oh, it’s fine. It’s not hard.”
The makeup artist was a bit chatty—probably because there was no gossip to share—and before long the conversation drifted to Lu Xianqing.
“You have no idea how hard he is to deal with. He’s allergic to cigarette smoke and doesn’t tolerate noise. Brother Hu loves smoking. The two of them were trading barbs the entire time they shot the cover. They almost got into a fight.”
Almost instantly, Qin Sizheng could picture Lu Xianqing’s irritated expression—sharp, sarcastic, those cold eyes whenever he was displeased, edged with mockery.
He loved hearing people talk about Lu Xianqing and kept asking questions now and then. The makeup artist simply assumed he was a fan and happily spilled everything.
“He’s actually very measured. He doesn’t bully staff. Once I was nervous and accidentally cut his hand a little. He even helped me cover it up and told me not to tell his assistant so she wouldn’t make a big fuss.”
“When he left, he knew I liked him. He even signed an autograph for me and said I worked hard.”
Hearing others praise him made Qin Sizheng happier than being praised himself. “Mm. Fourth Brother has always been wonderful.”
The makeup artist laughed. “Why do you sound even more like a fan than I do? You like Fourth Brother too?”
Taking the chance, Qin Sizheng confessed openly, “Yes. I like Fourth Brother very much.”
More than anyone else in this world.
The stylist designed dreadlocks for him, first attaching extensions and then braiding them meticulously so they lay tight against his scalp. Instead of looking unflattering, it added a streak of wildness to his strikingly beautiful face.
The makeup artist dotted red “wounds” at the corners of his lips and eyes and across his cheek, creating a battle-damaged look. He looked like he had just stepped out of a boxing match, face bruised and battered.
For a fleeting second, Qin Sizheng felt dragged back to his previous life—fresh from a match, about to return and share the joy with the aunts.
He stared at himself in the mirror, dazed, and reached up to touch his face, only for the makeup artist to grab his hand. “Careful! Don’t smudge it.”
He snapped back to reality. Right. It was makeup.
“Come change.”
Behind the curtain, Qin Sizheng changed into the outfit the stylist had prepared. The original design had called for him to be shirtless, but after seeing him, they decided a top would be better—something caught between boyhood and manhood, a barely concealed wildness.
The moment he stepped out, he saw someone new in the makeup room—a man with golden hair and delicate features.
Shi Jianshu.
“Wow, bro, you look so cool!”
Shi Jianshu walked over and circled him twice like he was grinding flour, eyes practically glowing. “Your abs look amazing! How’d you train them, bro? Teach me, teach me! Do you remember me? The one who rescued people with you in the cabin—it was me, me!”
“I remember. Hello,” Qin Sizheng said.
Shi Jianshu leaned in for a cheek-kiss greeting, but Qin Sizheng blocked him lightly. “A handshake is fine.”
“Oh.” Shi Jianshu didn’t lose any enthusiasm. In heavily accented Mandarin, he declared his admiration. “I watched your stepmother before. You are my ousang.”
“…?” Qin Sizheng’s brow twitched. After some guessing, he figured out what he meant and corrected him, “Program. Idol.”
Shi Jianshu nodded eagerly. “Stepmother. Ousang!”
“…Program.”
Shi Jianshu’s tongue seemed hopelessly tangled, yet he was completely unaware of it.
The makeup artist was laughing so hard she could barely stand it. Qin Sizheng gave up. “Try calling me Sizheng instead. Don’t call me idol.”
Shi Jianshu beamed. “Si-zeng!”
“…Forget it.”
Just then Shen Changfeng came to hurry him along. After greeting Shi Jianshu, the three of them headed to the studio.
The moment Hu Chen saw Qin Sizheng, he was visibly impressed. That obedient air tinged with an untamed innocence was exactly what he wanted.
The stylist wrapped bandages around Qin Sizheng’s wrist, leaving one end loose. Hu Chen said, “In a moment, bite this between your teeth. Look at the camera with a bit of nonchalance. Can you do that?”
Qin Sizheng did not dare claim he could. He simply nodded stiffly. “I’ll try.”
Shi Jianshu raised his hand like a tiny fan and shouted, “Si-zeng, you got this!”
“All right. Get up there.” Hu Chen adjusted the lighting slightly, fine-tuning it to the perfect position before raising his camera and framing the young man within the lens.
Qin Sizheng bit down on the loose end of the bandage and lifted his chin slightly toward the camera.
Hu Chen bent a little to find the angle, instructing as he went. “Don’t be so tense. Keep it natural. A bit ruthless, a bit indifferent. Raise your chin slightly. Don’t widen your eyes—no, no! Completely wrong!”
Hu Chen snapped several shots in a row and felt absolutely nothing. Irritated, he nearly smashed the camera.
“You can’t even find the lens! You don’t have the most basic camera awareness!”