Chapter 24.1

Jing Yuanqi wasn’t able to hide for long.

After Shi Qing finished his sentence, Gao Zhi turned around and noticed him.

The a.s.sistant who just started three days ago gulped: “Jing-ge?!”

Jing Yuanqi gave him a glance, and Gao Zhi unconsciously shrank back. He stood there stiffly because he was afraid to move.

He was at a loss about the situation. Jing Yuanqi was usually open and cheerful. He seemed like someone that was to get along with, so how could his eyes be so frightening now?

Jing Yuanqi never paid attention to those that couldn’t arouse his interest. He didn’t care what Gao Zhi thought of him, but he was a little upset.

It was like a leopard silently leapt down from atop a tree. It crept towards its prey without making a sound while enjoying the thrill of the hunt. Suddenly, a black crow lets out a loud ‘CAAAW’ and ruined all its hard work.

His interest in the ambush was gone because his prey had caught sight of him.

It didn’t feel exciting anymore.

When he saw Shi Qing stand and look at him with that familiar att.i.tude of indifference, his mood soured further.

Jing Yuanqi has seen that expression too many times to count. Ever since he first met Shi Qing the man has always been like this. Would it kill him to lighten up?

Everyone knew the film emperor was a man of few words. But every time, Jing Yuanqi felt that it wasn’t because he was quiet. His expression was practically screaming ‘you ants aren’t worthy of hearing me speak’.

Jing Yuanqi was good at seeing through others.

The Shi Qing from before was a man with no redeeming qualities.

This so-called pillar of the entertainment circle and the film emperor with countless fans were just the disguises of a broken and bitter man.

He was arrogant, gloomy, and always acting against him for no good reason.

Jing Yuanqi originally came to audition just so he could say that he tried. But when he learned that Shi Qing was planning to sabotage him, he decided that he must have this role no matter what.

If Shi Qing used his connections to bar him from the role, then he’ll leverage his own connections to get it.

He was born to be a rebel after all. The more others tried to stop him, the more he wanted to do it. Not to mention that this was Shi Qing, the film emperor he could never get along with.

As Shi Qing looked at him with that familiar expression that he hated, Jing Yuanqi’s rebellious streak reared its ugly head.

“Shi Qing-laoshi likes to eat devil’s peppers?”

When the indifferent man in front of him heard this, his face shifted a bit. Jing Yuanqi could see that his eyebrows wrinkled and curved slightly. It was only a small fraction but he could see it through careful observation.

After observing some more, he found that Shi Qing’s eyebrows were shaped like a crescent. He remembered that he had skimmed over an a.n.a.lysis of eyebrows once.

The article said that people with crescent eyebrows were gentle, kind and approachable.

But you could tell it was a load of bull just by looking at Shi Qing.

It would be raining blood on the day the film emperor could be described as approachable.

Shi Qing seemed to ignore his friendly question and continued to sullenly stare around him. Did his delicate lips have no intention to even say a single word in response?

Maybe it was because he overheard the sentence from before, but Jing Yuanqi caught a glimpse of avoidance from the stoic face of the film emperor.

It’s the kind of feeling you get after the person you were secretly talking about suddenly shows up behind you.

Jing Yuanqi was becoming more amused by the second.

The more Shi Qing tried to ignore him, the thicker he laid it on.

The young man wore a well-practiced bright smile. “Although I can’t eat things that are too spicy, I know a friend who grows devil’s peppers. His crops are top quality and super hot. All naturally grown with no pesticides added. How about I bring you a bottle to try?”

In Jing Yuanqi’s eyes, Shi Qing raised his eyes with mild interest. However, he deliberately looked away after noticing his gaze. He tossed out a single word in response:

“En.”

The film emperor’s temperament was pretty gloomy to start. When he didn’t look at people, it gave others the feeling that he was looking down on them.

If it was the him from before, Jing Yuanqi would have been frustrated to the point of stalking off by now. But now, maybe due to a hunch, he felt that this person was avoiding eye contact because he was a little fl.u.s.tered.

Life in the production crew was really too boring. Upon finding that Shi Qing might be different from his first impression of the man, the youth became extremely interested in him all of a sudden.

He laughed wickedly in his mind as he deliberately misinterpreted Shi Qing’s words:

“Is Shi Qing-laoshi so cold towards me because you dislike me?”

In front of him, the body of the film emperor who was stubbornly staring at the ground imperceptibly stiffened. The slender fingers resting at his sides also slightly clenched.

Jing Yuanqi can feel that he was uncomfortable because of what he had said.

Shi Qing parted his beautiful lips as if he was about to explain a difficult concept. In the end he just closed his mouth again.

After almost two seconds, the handsome man with a gloomy temperament finally raised his head. He scowled and spat out a single word: “Whatever.”

He turned and left straight away.

Gao Zhi took a second to reflect on the fact that his boss actually just left like this. He spent another second thinking about whether he should apologize to Jing Yuanqi on behalf of his boss.

Although they were in conflict in the dressing room before, it wasn’t good to air out their dirty laundry in public in front of the entire crew.

That’s why he quickly said: “I’m really sorry, Jing-laoshi. Shi-ge isn’t feeling well. He might feel uncomfortable because his old illness is flaring up again. Please forgive us for leaving first. I’m really sorry about this.”

With that, he turned around and ran after Shi Qing.

Jing Yuanqi didn’t mind at all.

An old illness flaring up again?

It was more like he couldn’t wait to leave.

Jing Yuanqi has met many people who weren’t good with their words. Since he didn’t know how to explain when others misunderstood him, he put on a tough act and let them believe whatever they wanted.

To Jing Yuanqi, the way Shi Qing just left was like he was running for his life.

He found it very interesting.

Shi Qing has always been known for being overbearing to the outside world. Could it be that his infamy was caused by his personality?

He thought about it some more. Everyone believed Shi Qing to be a hard nut to crack, so they all avoided him and said that he was cold, callous and gloomy.

But in reality, Jing Yuanqi was the only one who knew that there was tender meat underneath that hard exterior. It would even run away in fear if you poked it. When it was seen through, it would carefully hide behind its sh.e.l.l like a shield and try to scare off the other party with its thorns.

Jing Yuanqi was more and more interested in him. Such a contradictory character should’ve been dead set on hiding and not causing any trouble.

But he clearly received news that Shi Qing called in a favour to disqualify Jing Yuanqi from the recent audition.

Shi Qing would definitely remain silent if he asked him directly.

But that didn’t matter. Since they spent everyday together in the same hotel and the same cast, there was plenty of time to crack this nut.

***

Although he left in a hurry at noon, Shi Qing returned silently in the late afternoon. He sat in his chair with his usual indifference as he watched the people who were currently filming.

Jing Yuanqi was the one shooting right now.

This young master really was gifted. Off set, everyone could clearly see his bold and unrestrained nature. But as soon as the camera started rolling, he became the brooding villain in the play. Every one of his lines carried a dark and evil air.

To the rest of the cast, the film emperor was silent and indifferently observing Jing Yuanqi’s performance.

[Look at those long legs.]

[d.a.m.n, his body is as hard and flat as a board.]

[The way that he growls is so menacing. Pah, laozi can listen to him all night.]

System: [Host, someone is coming.]

As soon as it offered the reminder, an enigmatic voice sounded out from behind Shi Qing. “Shi-ge is watching so carefully. Little Jing certainly is a good actor, but doesn’t Shi-ge feel like the saying ‘out with the old, in with the new’ really fits right now?”

Shi Qing didn’t react at all. He maintained his relaxed posture.

It was not until the speaker moved in front of him that he could put a name to this person.

Zhu Anhe, an artist who entered the company at the same time as the original owner.

There was only one reason that Zhu Anhe was able to last until now with someone as p.r.o.ne to jealousy as the original owner around.

Zhu Anhe was too useless.

His looks were good, but the entertainment circle had no shortage of good-looking people. His personality and luck were merely average. The most unfortunate thing was that his acting abilities were especially lackl.u.s.ter.

The original owner was too lazy to bother crushing a person inferior to him in every way.

According to the original storyline, Zhu Anhe had charmed an old CEO recently, which was the only reason he finally rose from the bottom to work on this production.

Alas, he let his newfound status rush to his head. Additionally, because he had never been in such a high position before, Zhu Anhe was unaware of many of the unspoken rules.

The person that thought himself invincible simply because he seduced the chairman of an entertainment company quickly offended both the original owner, who had backing, and Jing Yuanqi, who was his own backing.

The original owner showed no mercy and dragged his hard-earned reputation through the mud. He then pushed all the blame onto Jing Yuanqi.

By the time their conflict was over, no one cared what became of Zhu Anhe.

It wasn’t anything good, that’s for sure.

Zhu Anhe was putting his dirty mouth on display: “I heard Xiao Jing had to hook up with several rich second generations to get into this production. Shi-ge, did you know that?”

Shi Qing was silent. His distant eyes were always on Jing Yuanqi.

Jing Yuanqi just finished filming and was dismounting from the wire harness. When he landed, he started taking off his ancient China costume as he strode over.

“But it’s not unusual that you didn’t know. After all, you’re way past your prime, so it’s understandable that you aren’t caught up with the latest events. By the way, Shi-ge, is it true you haven’t received even two roles this year? You’re here using your connections, right? It seems that no one can escape the grasp of time. You used to be so dignified. Now you can’t even compare with a no-name actor like me.”

“Now that I think about it, I’ve been really busy lately. I haven’t been free for even a day since my schedule is so full. There’s several major groups competing for me, and I have to go over next door as soon as I’m done here. I’m so envious of Shi-ge for having so much spare time.”

Shi Qing blinked quietly at a very slow speed. His face was blank and did not fluctuate at all.

However, Jing Yuanqi just happened to overhear the last sentence as he arrived. He was excited. Filming on set was so boring that he was worried about having nothing to do. Think of all the fun he can have provoking this idiot here.

The youth’s pair of peach blossom eyes slightly curled as he let out a sunny smile. In contrast, his words were absolutely merciless: “If Zhu Anhe-laoshi is really envious of Shi Qing-laoshi, then I can put in a good word with the board of investors for you. Maybe they’ll let you take a nice long vacation for a few years.”

“Put in a good word?”

Zhu Anhe vividly disguised his contemptuous gaze. His tone was deeply sarcastic: “From where, on their beds? Xiao Jing, let me give you a piece of advice as a senior. Watch what you let out of that mouth of yours lest you offend the wrong person.”

“What a coincidence.”

Jing Yuanqi smiles wantonly: “I was just about to say the same to you, senior.”

“Oh right. Senior, we have a scene together later where I need to slap you. Please be careful not to resist my hand too much, or this junior wouldn’t be able to live with himself if I accidentally left a bruise.”

“You!”

Zhu Anhe wasn’t stupid enough to not get the message hidden in Jing Yuanqi’s words. First he was angry, then he started laughing: “Fine! Slap me! I dare you to slap me!”

“If my face swells up today, you can pack up your bags tomorrow! Mark my words!”

“Of course. I’m trembling in my boots. You do seem like the type of person willing to slap yourself to appear more pitiful in front of your senior citizen of a lover.”

The young man was all smiles as he ignored the fuming Zhu Anhe to stand by Shi Qing’s side. “Shi-laoshi, I remember that you said you like dogs before. You wanted to raise one in the future, right? A word of advice, you should avoid the smaller ones. Especially the breed in front of you right now. The smaller it is, the more harmless it is, and the fiercer it barks at others.”

This was an insult even a fool could understand.

[Wow, so cruel.]

If you hate Zhu Anhe already, the next part will be very satisfying imo. Hehe.