Chapter 33
Bonus ko-fi chapter brought to you by dawnsky, Meeples, LovelyPangolin and GrotesqueWombat!
Editor: SimoB
Chen Rong felt like Jing Yuanqi might be legally blind.
He covered his throbbing face as tears fell nonstop. He didn’t know whether he was crying from the pain or the crushing feeling in his heart: “Just watch the surveillance cameras! Then everything will become clear.”
The more Chen Rong insisted that Shi Qing hit him, the happier Jing Yuanqi was.
He continued to fan the flames of Shi Qing’s doubt: “Do you know why he’s so set on watching the surveillance? It’s because he’s already planted a fake video to upload later to ruin your reputation.”
“You might think of him as…” The young man glared with long-suppressed hatred at Chen Rong, who was standing there blankly as his entire scheme was exposed. “……as your little brother, but to him you’re just an obstacle to his inheritance.”
“We’ve already come this far, yet he still insists that you beat him. Shi-laoshi, isn’t it time to face reality?”
The sadness on Shi Qing’s face became even more p.r.o.nounced.
His eyes drooped, his face clouded over, and he grew silent.
Jing Yuanqi was filled with determination as he held Shi Qing’s soft body. His urge to strap a rocket to Chen Rong and tell him to p.i.s.s off lessened somewhat with the sensation. He didn’t care at all that the other person was looking at him with a betrayed expression.
Of course, while there wasn’t an urgent need for rocket launchers, it was still necessary to send him off on a train at least.
“That’s enough Chen Rong. You’ve done your song and dance. It’s time for you to go.”
Chen Rong was about to go insane. “I’m dancing? Me??? Jing-ge he really beat me. It was really him! Weren’t you watching just now?!!”
“Yeah, I was.”
The young man looked at the film emperor in his arms softly. His eyes were filled with pity: “It really did look like Shi-laoshi hit you from the angle I was at.”
Chen Rong: “??? Then why do you not believe me?!?”
Jing Yuanqi’s face darkened again. He directed a resentful gaze towards the white lotus in front of him. His voice was like ice: “Shi-laoshi wouldn’t have hurt a single hair on your head.”
He had long since guessed that Chen Rong must have used various methods so that, regardless of how relentlessly Shi Qing was bullied, he would continue to like Chen Rong wholeheartedly and believe him to be the kindest person.
The kind of angle misdirection Chen Rong just used to make it look like Shi Qing hit him probably wasn’t anything new.
Chen Rong, who was good at angle misdirection but really was innocent this time: “I- he beat me like this! You can still…”
“A-Rong…”
Shi Qing suddenly called out to Chen Rong. There was a trace of sadness in that eternally frigid voice. His beautiful black eyes seemed to expose his inner anguish. The film emperor looked at his stepbrother in a daze. “If you tell me that it was all a misunderstanding or that Jing Yuanqi forced you, I won’t blame you. I can still forgive you.”
Chen Rong, who was still bleeding freely from his nose: “……”
He’s the one who got sucker punched, okay?!!
The person who was in so much pain that he wanted to die, and the one who had a nosebleed were both him, okay?!!
“Fine!! I see what’s going on!! You’re working together, aren’t you?!” Chen Rong finally gave up trying to get the blind Jing Yuanqi to switch sides. He howled angrily, “I’m going to go home now!!! I want dad to have a good look at how intolerant his son is of me!”
“Go ahead.”
Jing Yuanqi’s mind and spirit were wholly devoted to Shi Qing. He didn’t even give Chen Rong a spare glance: “By the way, I forgot to tell you that I recorded and sent our little conversations from earlier to uncle. I hope that he’ll still be the kind man you remember, when you return.”
Chen Rong: “???”
Chen Rong: “……”
He berated Jing Yuanqi: “Your eyes may be open, but you’re blind!!! Shi Qing is completely lying to you! Why are you serving him on your hands and knees?!!”
Jing Yuanqi stared at the film emperor who was becoming gloomier with every word. Although he knew that forcing Shi Qing to give up on Chen Rong was the only way that he would have a chance, he couldn’t help but feel sorry for him.
“Shi-laoshi.”
The young man kissed Shi Qing’s cheek softly. He comforted: “Don’t worry. I won’t let Chen Rong hurt you anymore.”
“I’ll drive him out of this city for good.”
There was no way he would give Shi Qing another chance to fall in love with a white lotus like Chen Rong.
He didn’t even care if Chen Rong really left or not.
While they were walking out, Shi Qing looked back.
Jing Yuanqi didn’t do the same. But although he didn’t turn his head, he could guess that the eyes of the film emperor must’ve been filled with desolation as he glanced at the younger brother he had secretly loved for so many years.
Behind them, Chen Rong watched as Shi Qing arrogantly raised his eyebrow at him: “……”
He knew it! This was another one of his stepbrother’s schemes!!
He tried to salvage the situation one last time: “Jing Yuanqi!!! Look!!! Look at the expression on Shi Qing’s face!”
Jing Yuanqi sneered and didn’t move an inch. His hand was still pressed lightly against the film emperor’s back. He stroked and comforted him: “Shi-laoshi, don’t be sad. Look at how he’s trying to splash dirty water on you.”
Chen Rong watched as Shi Qing continued to tweak his eyebrows at him: “……”
“Blind jerk!!!!!”
“You’re a blind jerk!!!!!”
Aaaaaaaahhhhhhh he was so angry!!!
After Shi Qing and Jing Yuanqi returned, the film emperor locked himself in his room. He stopped speaking and refused to eat, like he wanted to wither away.
The young man’s hatred towards the person who caused Shi Qing to act like this grew deeper with time. He decided to chase Chen Rong out of the country instead of just to D city.
That white lotus should give up on seducing Shi Qing again in this lifetime.
While contemplating on how to expel his rival, Jing Yuanqi was at the same time busy trying to coax Shi Qing out of his room.
He ordered a meal and personally carried it to the film emperor’s door. In a soft voice, he called out: “Shi-laoshi, it’s time for dinner. Why don’t we eat together?”
The System reminded Shi Qing, who was busy playing video games: [Host, Jing Yuanqi is outside.]
Shi Qing: [Just one more round.]
Jing Yuanqi, who was outside the door, didn’t get a response. He continued to knock on the door and softened his voice to persuade him: “I know you are sad, but no matter how sad you are, your body is your own. These dishes all taste very good. I also added devil’s pepper just for you.”
Shi Qing buried his head in his game.
“Shall we go swimming together after dinner? I’m good at swimming.”
Shi Qing was gaming.
“I bought a mall! How about we go there together in the evening? I’ll have everyone else sent off. How about a stroll there? Just the two of us?”
Shi Qing finished his game.
Just when Jing Yuanqi was about to knock on the door again, it opened.
The indifferent film emperor appeared before him in his pajamas.
At this moment, the young man didn’t know what he was feeling.
On one hand, his heart ached because of how Shi Qing had been affected by this.
On the other hand, he’s glad Shi Qing now knew Chen Rong’s true face.
He walked into the room and put the food on the table: “I picked all the things you like. I also added devil’s peppers. Gao Zhi told me you only ate two steamed buns, a bowl of rice porridge and a bottle of soy milk when you woke up this morning. Shi-laoshi should eat some more since it’s lunchtime now.”
Shi Qing silently sat on the bed, seemingly still immersed in his sadness.
Jing Yuanqi walked over. It was one of those rare moments where he didn’t try anything. He just laid his head down on the film emperor’s knees and gently soothed his makeshift pillow.
“Don’t be sad. He’s not worth you being like this.”
The young man could taste bitterness emanating from the bottom of his heart. He wanted to dismember Chen Rong for this feeling.
And yet he was unable to harm a single hair on Shi Qing, who had used him as a subst.i.tute.
There was always such a person in the world.
No matter how Shi Qing hurt him or how abominable and excessive his actions were, Jing Yuanqi could not stay angry with him.
Of course, even though he was not angry with Shi Qing…
That didn’t prevent him from taking it all out on Chen Rong.
While thinking about how to deal with Chen Rong, Jing Yuanqi looked up at Shi Qing humbly: “I’ll be with you forever, so don’t think about him anymore, alright? Shi-laoshi, aren’t we very happy together? I can do it seven times when no one else can.”
Shi Qing suddenly asked: “Is he… still at home?”
“Not anymore.”
As soon as the topic turned to Chen Rong, Jing Yuanqi gnashed his teeth: “He has decided to leave the country. He should be at the airport by now.”
Shi Qing’s tone was slightly gloomy: “He didn’t say anything before he left?”
Of course he did.
He went on a long swearing rant.
But since there were more than a dozen bodyguards escorting him onto the private plane, no matter how dirty Chen Rong’s mouth was he was still forcefully secured a seat.
Jing Yuanqi: “He didn’t. Maybe he was afraid you would go after him. He left suddenly without a word.”
The look on the film emperor’s face grew sadder.
Jing Yuanqi hated Chen Rong so much, it made his teeth itch.
How could he be so blind to what a good person Shi Qing was?
But it was only thanks to Chen Rong’s visual impairment that Jing Yuanqi had a chance to enter Shi Qing’s heart in this lifetime. Otherwise, this stubborn little fool would have never given him the time of day.
The young man quietly comforted the film emperor: “Shi-laoshi, I’m not lacking in any way compared to him.”
“I look better than him, I have a better body than him and greater physical strength than him. You and I are both actors as well, so we understand each other. Most importantly, he doesn’t like you. But I do.”
Jing Yuanqi sent out his trump card.
The juvenile snake slowly climbed up until his lips were beside Shi Qing’s ears. There was great sorrow in his voice:
“If you can’t forget him, then I’m willing to become him for you.”
He’s willing to gain Shi Qing’s favour by any means.
Someone else might need to throw up upon learning that they were a subst.i.tute for someone else.
But Jing Yuanqi was different.
At the beginning, his att.i.tude towards Shi Qing was flippant and playful.
If even he wasn’t taking it seriously, could you really blame Shi Qing for using him as well?
Of course, he was dead serious now.
Jing Yuanqi has no moral integrity, but that meant he could easily let go of things that ordinary people would care a great deal about.
It was true that Shi Qing has no feelings for him right now.
But feelings come from interaction. Shi Qing and Chen Rong had known each other for less than 20 years. He and Shi Qing would have a lifetime.
They didn’t need some bulls.h.i.t like romance. As long as Shi Qing did not reject him, he was confident that he could stick to Shi Qing for the rest of his life. Would he really lose to a c.r.a.ppy white lotus?
Given a few years, the name ‘Chen Rong’ would become a remnant of the past.
After he finished his little calculations, the young man snuggled up against the film emperor. He lowered his body, discarding his pride entirely to act spoiled: “Agree with me. Agree with me already. The best way to forget a relationship is to start a new one.”
Seeing that Shi Qing was still resistant, Jing Yuanqi added: “How about this, Shi-laoshi? Treat our relationship as a test drive. If you don’t like it, you can return me with zero ha.s.sle.”
There was no way that was true.
As long as Shi Qing the big clam fell into his net, he would stick to him 24/7.
Even if Shi Qing changed his mind, he would never let go.
He would be as coquettish as was necessary. Someone with Shi Qing’s personality had no way to deal with someone as thick-skinned as Jing Yuanqi.
As he was being convinced, the film emperor’s face gradually filled with hesitation.
Under the expectant eyes of Jing Yuanqi, he slowly turned to plant a kiss on the young man’s cheek: “Alright.”
[Ding! Jing Yuanqi’s animosity value: 0/100]
Unfortunately, the System didn’t have time to congratulate the Host like it usually did. As soon as it had reported the animosity value, mosaics covered its screen.
This time Shi Qing wasn’t drunk, so they didn’t do it as much.
The film emperor fell asleep by the fifth time.
Jing Yuanqi cleaned up as usual.
He picked up their clothes and carefully tossed the soiled sheets into the wash so as to not disturb Shi Qing. Then he opened the windows for some fresh air.
Fortunately, his back didn’t hurt this time.
But although it doesn’t hurt, Jing Yuanqi still considered drinking more kidney nourishing soups on a regular basis.
After all, five times was still quite a lot.
If it wasn’t for his strong body, born from a love of exercise and a naturally high endurance, he would not have been able to hold on.
As he was thinking, the youth stood in front of the floor to floor window and looked out in complete satisfaction.
Let’s see Chen Rong try to rob him now. He probably couldn’t even hold on for three rounds with that skinny body of his. Chen Rong, with his tiny body, had no chance of seeing Shi Qing ever again.
He and Shi Qing were made for each other.
Jing Yuanqi’s lifelong entanglement plan had started smoothly.
As soon as Shi Qing woke up, the youth pestered him to join him in announcing to the public that they were together.
If it wasn’t for the fact that Jing Yuanqi didn’t want to get a foreign citizenship, he would go abroad just to get married.
But Jing Yuanqi was satisfied with just announcing their relationship to the public. Although they couldn’t legally be married yet, two public figures coming out to the press was about the same as marriage.
Although he didn’t mind that Shi Qing’s heart was temporarily (emphasis on temporarily!!!) closed off to him, he would never allow another Chen Rong to appear.
Therefore, after the announcement, while the outside world was still reeling from the shock, Jing Yuanqi started his new career of ‘being wherever Shi Qing was’.
If Shi Qing played the role of an emperor, he played the role of a minister.
If Shi Qing was the son of an aristocratic family, so was he.
Even if there was no suitable role for him, he would become an investor and act as a background extra.
When his scenes were done, Jing Yuanqi would take a seat in the studio and refuse to leave. No one could say anything about it because he was paying money to be here. He wasn’t stealing food out of anyone’s mouth. Besides, he brought his own food.
He didn’t even need to be a.s.signed somewhere to live because he always slept with Shi Qing.
At first, their fellow artists were kind of weirded out by this.
There were many people that announced their relationship to the public, but no one acted like Jing Yuanqi, who couldn’t leave Shi Qing alone even for a moment.
But all they could do was adjust. Immediately after the announcement, Jing Yuanqi had publicized his own a.s.sets, along with Shi Qing’s ident.i.ty as the only son of a powerful family.
He didn’t do it just to show off. It was to demonstrate a fact: I have money and power. If any of you dare to have intentions towards my lover, then get ready to be blacklisted.
Who dared to offend such a BOSS?!
As for Shi Qing, let’s put aside his status as the only child of a powerful family. Jing Yuanqi guarding him like a dog guarded his bones was enough to dissuade all of his admirers.
The duo were together in the eyes of the public already, so it was like they were married. Even if someone did try something, they would be labelled a homewrecker and retaliated against.
Either person could crush them as easily as they would an ant.
Thus, the fairy tale love story between Jing Yuanqi and Shi Qing began.
More than sixty years later, the lives of Jing Yuanqi and Shi Qing came to an end.
There was no disease nor pain. Just the consequence of age. They were staying in the hospital for now, but it was a.s.sumed that a recovery was unlikely.
But something that could be viewed positively was that they both had symptoms at the same time and went to the hospital together.
Outside, fans of all ages were sad.
But none of them felt pity for their idols.
[Jing-ge has been a winner his whole life.]
[I agree with the user upstairs. Since Jing-ge announced that he was with Shi-ge, his life seemed to truly begin. Later, he became a film emperor, which created so many more opportunities for him. Later he leveraged his company’s new technology to make the government legalize same-s.e.x marriage. I was a teenager when the news exploded overnight. No one expected that a movie star could have so many a.s.sets.]
[Yeah he’s really a business genius. He’s a BOSS no matter what he does.]
[Grandpa Shi is also very powerful. Our teacher said that people like Shi Qing are all talents who can be considered national treasures. He played the role of He Chang 40 years ago but it’s still a cla.s.sic.]
[User upstairs, why’d you call him Grandpa Shi? He’s always gonna be Shi-ge. My Shi-ge will never grow old!]
[Wuwuwuwu you’re all looking back on their achievements. Am I the only one looking back on the fairy tale love story between Jing-ge and Shi-ge? I did some research, and apparently ever since they got together, they haven’t separated once. Even though Jing-ge was very busy running his business empire, he only had video conferences no matter the circ.u.mstances. Even when he had to physically inspect the company, he went with Shi-ge. And as soon as he announced his relationship, he gave half of his shares to Shi-ge. How much trust do you need to have to do something like that?]
[Fairy tale love story +1. Even if I’m getting on in years now, I’ll never forget the moment that Jing-ge came to the stage to receive the t.i.tle of Film Emperor. The first sentence he said was that he could finally stand on the same stage as Shi Qing. At that time, tears flowed down my face. Not because I was moved, but because I was sad. Why can’t I meet such a partner? Shi-ge and Jing-ge did it.]
[My tears are like a typhoon. Shi-ge was also very gentle. On several shows, Jing-ge admitted himself that he was too sticky. Shi-ge must have endless patience to put up with him 24/7. Seriously, I don’t think I could stand it if my partner was that clingy. But they’ve lived happily for so long. In conclusion, the pot matches its cover.]
[They really haven’t quarreled even once. They’ve never been involved in any scandals either. They could very well be considered a fairy tale couple of the entertainment circle. Now they even live in the hospital together.]
[Wishing that they can be companions in the next life as well]
[Wish +1]
[Wish +2]
While the fans were having their discussions online, Jing Yuanqi was lying on a hospital bed. His breathing was laboured, but he still held Shi Qing’s hand and squeezed the film emperor’s palm like before.
“Shi Qing, let me ask you…… Do you remember Chen Rong?”
Shi Qing turned around and laid on his side to look at Jing Yuanqi. “Who is Chen Rong? I’m too old to remember.”
Jing Yuanqi smiled contentedly.
“I’m… relieved.”
He held his lover’s hand as his eyes closed slowly.
Shi Qing leaned forward to plant a gentle kiss on his face. His head slowly settled on Jing Yuanqi’s chest to listen to the faint heartbeat within.
–“Thump thump! Thump thump! Thump thump!”
–“——”
All was quiet.
Shi Qing only closed his eyes after he couldn’t hear that heart beat anymore.
After a while, the nurse came in, only to find Shi Qing on Jing Yuanqi’s bed. His head was lying on his lover’s chest, and both of them had stopped breathing.
Shi Qing returned to the s.p.a.ce between worlds.
System:
[Congratulations to the Host! Please choose to:
- Continue onto the next task or
- Take a rest
]
Shi Qing spun himself in a circle: “One, come on!”
[Ding! Please prepare yourself. We will jump to the next world immediately!]
Shi Qing opened his eyes to a suffocating cloud of perfume.
He got up, and observed his overly lavish surroundings. He began to look through the original owner’s memory.
Well. Looks like I’m a dandy this time.
Second arc done! The dandy little master is about to arrive!
Hi guys. I really enjoy translating this novel and I would love to continue updating as much as I do now, but I think I need to devote a bit more time to proofreading and polishing chapters. Updates will be slightly less frequent in the future. I hope you can be understanding of this.