Chapter 30

Overnight, everyone seemed to have heard about Shi Qing.

Why he hired bodyguards.

Why he never looked like he belonged.

Why he was friendless in the entertainment circle.

The points that used to stain his reputation black were washed white in just one night. Now he was regarded widely with sympathy.

[He doesn’t have a choice but to live like that ah. Who wants to be looked down upon by the public all the time?]

[I thought CIP was a pretty good deal when I heard the name. I mean who wants to feel pain? But after that poster explained the science behind it, I got gooseb.u.mps all over. If I didn’t feel pain, I won’t even know if I cut half my head off.]

His gloomy indifference was also explained away.

After all, who had the right to ask a terminally ill patient to face life with a smile?

During their discussion, one question was often brought up: “Where is Shi Qing now? Is he alright?”

Since the cogs were set into motion, Shi Qing never appeared in the public.

Even if the fans try their best to show support, the ‘down but not out’ film emperor still remained reclusive.

Finally, the official Weibo account of his company issued a response.

Their statement confirmed that Shi Qing did have a rare condition that caused him to not feel pain, but he kept it under wraps because he didn’t want others to think that he was different. Shi Qing was in recovery now. They asked that everyone respected his privacy and did not discuss this anymore.

The official message led to another heated discussion online.

But every time someone minimized Shi Qing’s plight by saying things like, ‘oh he can’t feel pain, boohoo’, his fans would come out in droves to defend him.

Some of them were longtime fans, others had their heartstrings tugged because of this incident.

“Shi Qing doesn’t want others to talk about him, so you guys should drop it.”

“If that hadn’t happened during the livestream, he would’ve taken this secret to his grave.”

“He’s pitiful enough already. He’s worked so hard to hide his condition, but now the entire country knows thanks to that livestream. I can’t imagine what he’s feeling right now.”

“Yeah. I used to think that he was gloomy since he didn’t like to talk. But because of what happened I started watching compilations made by his fans. If found that every time the other actors did activities to promote their project; although he didn’t partic.i.p.ate, his eyes were filled with admiration.”

“My sister was the same when she had a fever last month. She couldn’t play outside so she just squeezed herself by the window to pitifully watch the other children. My sister could go out and play with them when she was feeling better, but Shi Qing will have to live with his condition for the rest of his life.”

Many fans were busy filling holes in their brains.

Their idol must be hiding in his room now with red-rimmed eyes filled with unspoken sorrow.

It must be a pitiful sight.

This was almost what Jing Yuanqi was thinking as well. After all, ever since that post came out, Shi Qing has locked himself in the ward. Doctors and nurses alike weren’t allowed to enter, let alone him.

He only said he wanted to calm down by himself.

Shi Qing was calm.

But Jing Yuanqi’s heart was threatening to go on a rampage.

According to Jing Yuanqi’s former temperament, he would’ve just picked the lock and went in. There was no way he would miss this golden opportunity to cement his own standing in Shi Qing’s heart while he was vulnerable.

But he could only sit on the bench in the hospital’s corridor.

Because he didn’t know how to comfort Shi Qing.

When Jing Yuanqi realized the reason he didn’t go in directly, he couldn’t accept it at first.

He has always considered himself a playboy, and he naturally knew the implications of his hesitance.

–He really fell in love with Shi Qing.

He was just looking for a distraction to end his boredom at first.

But he ended up playing himself.

A fire seemed to be burning in Jing Yuanqi’s heart. He wanted to burn all the people who caused Shi Qing to be unhappy to cinders. He wanted to burn himself who thought like this to ashes as well.

Jing Yuanqi felt he shouldn’t be like this.

He just wanted to stir things up and add some fun to his monotonous life.

He never thought he would genuinely end up pining after someone.

Jing Yuanqi has believed since he was young that losing sight of the forest to tie himself down to a tree was the dumbest way to live.

He’s only ever teased one tree named Shi Qing.

A thought suddenly rose in Jing Yuanqi’s heart at this moment.

Does Shi Qing like him?

Although he’s been telling himself that he was special to Shi Qing–

–Shi Qing never responded.

Jing Yuanqi consulted a doctor after the incident.

This condition weakened the patient’s perception of pain. However, since Shi Qing still liked to eat devil’s peppers, he was completely different from those patients who could barely live to 25. It was likely he could still feel some pain.

Maybe severe pain registered weakly to him, so he liked to eat devil’s peppers. Because for him, the insane heat of those peppers was just enough for him to feel something.

He shared his devil’s peppers to express goodwill towards Jing Yuanqi.

However, when Jing Yuanqi implicitly mentioned how Shi Qing only responded verbally to his hara.s.sment, the doctor (who understood his meaning) politely referred Jing Yuanqi to a psychiatrist.

So Jing Yuanqi set off again to see a psychiatrist.

Psychiatrist: “According to the personality and illness that Mr. Jing has mentioned, it is very likely that Mr. Shi is afraid of being close with others. An unintended action on their part could result in injury for Mr. Shi.”

“He has never been close with others and he is slow to react to stimuli. Even though it seems like he keeps people away, he wishes for someone to reach out to him. But most people would not be comfortable with approaching Mr. Shi because of his indifferent demeanour.”

“That is where you come in Mr. Jing. You said that Mr. Shi used devil’s pepper to show his fondness for you, but he rejected you when you came closer. This is because Mr. Shi has already gotten used to being cold to others after so long, so he couldn’t adjust his att.i.tude immediately.”

“But at the same time he also yearns for companionship and interaction with others, which is why he did not reject physical contact with you like you mentioned. Your touch provides him with comfort.”

After the doctor’s a.n.a.lysis, he added: “Of course, most of the problems in your relationship is caused by Mr. Jing’s……um……”

When he thought of the money Jing Yuanqi was paying him, he didn’t have the face to be shameless enough to say such derogatory words out loud.

He continued with more neutral terms: “……because of Mr. Jing’s persistent behavior. Someone like Mr. Shi has no way to deal with someone as stubborn as you.”

Jing Yuanqi understood what he was trying to imply. He asked the question he’s been dying to know the answer to: “We’ve been together like this for nearly ten days, so does he feel anything for me?”

“Which of your characteristics would be attractive to Mr. Shi? In my opinion, Mr. Shi is a very proud and self-reliant man. Even if he is eager for human contact, not just anyone will do. As for feelings…… that’s up to Mr. Jing to find out.”

After answering his questions, the psychiatrist reminded him in a courteous manner that anyone who enjoyed hara.s.sing their crush was likely to be (mentally) ill.

After euphemistically expressing his thoughts, he recommended that Jing Yuanqi came to him for professional treatment in the future.

Jing Yuanqi didn’t even bother to pretend he cared. He stared the other person down until he signed a confidentiality agreement before rushing back to the hospital.

In the present.

He sat in the corridor with his mind in disarray.

According to the doctor’s words, Shi Qing acquiesced to his actions because he was sick.

He was also sick because of how he treated Shi Qing.

Bulls.h.i.t.

Jing Yuanqi crumpled up the doctor’s words and threw them out of his head.

Even if his mind was sick, he had no interest in changing.

Gao Zhi was wheezing as he ran over, “Jing-ge, I’ve bought the wine you wanted.”

The young man scrubbed at his face. When he stood up again, the familiar sunshine smile was firmly secured, “Give it to me.”

Gao Zhi handed it over.

Then he stared from where he stood in the corridor as Jing Yuanqi pulled out a length of metal wire and skillfully picked the lock on the door.

As soon as he entered, the young man dove straight onto the only occupied bed.

Gao Zhi: “……”

It might just be him, but the atmosphere between Shi-ge and Jing Yuanqi was strange.

It’s like Jing Yuanqi would give anything to live in Shi-ge’s room.

He put his hand over his eyes and closed the door behind him.

In the room, Shi Qing just finished watching a TV drama. Then he laid down and pretended to sleep for a while. As expected, less than ten minutes later someone embraced him from behind.

Jing Yuanqi hugged him and the quilt together. Because of how close they were, his hot breath could spray on his earlobe as he spoke.

“Shi-laoshi.”

Shi Qing could hear that Jing Yuanqi hadn’t slept well in quite some time. His voice was hoa.r.s.e and carried a trace of fatigue: “I heard that intimacy is a good way to relieve stress……”

As he spoke, the young man slowly extended his hand gently into the quilt. His words ended off with a purr.

“I’ll go get a white coat. How about we play doctor?”

Shi Qing: En, he’s as flirty as ever.

He moved his shoulders, “Don’t press me down.”

“How cold.”

Jing Yuanqi stood up obediently and picked up the bag on the bed. He shrugged: “Fine then. I actually came to have a drink with Shi-laoshi.”

Shi Qing: “I don’t drink.”

“Come on, one bottle can’t hurt.”

The young man came closer to the film emperor. His peach blossom eyes crinkled at him from above: “Has Shi-laoshi ever drank with anyone?”

The indifference on the film emperor’s face seemed to become more gloomy. He shifted, and his flower-like lips opened and closed: “No.”

Jing Yuanqi opened two bottles of wine and handed one to Shi Qing. His eyes were charming like a seductive spirit.

“Then I’ll be taking Shi-laoshi’s first time?”

The film emperor looked at the bottle of wine in front of him. His eyes flashed but he took it in the end.

It’s not hard to get a person feeling low tipsy.

Even if his appearance was still the same as always, he became more malleable.

After drinking all the wine he bought, Jing Yuanqi was satisfied to see Shi Qing lying on the bed in a daze.

His bright black eyes that were always with indifference and rejection, now seem to be wavering and watery. They were glancing at the ceiling with some confusion. His ruddy lips open and closed slightly, as if he was silently calling out.

Jing Yuanqi slowly lowered his head.

“Shi-laoshi, are you calling for me?”

A flash of disorientation pa.s.sed through the film emperor’s expression, but that normally aloof face soon became somewhat excited.

He murmured something as he took the initiative to hug Jing Yuanqi for the first time.

His little clam was caught in his net, but the youth was in no hurry to eat.

He lowered his voice, “Shi-laoshi, do you like me?”

The film emperor languidly blinked at the person above him. His brows twisted a fraction with doubts. He reached out and pinched the soft flesh of Jing Yuanqi’s cheeks.

“Why aren’t you smiling?”

Jing Yuanqi raises his eyebrows and placed a radiant smile on his face. There was laughter and pride in his words as he poked at Shi Qing’s cute, white and tender earlobes: “You really like my smile so much?”

The film emperor replied obediently, “I like it.”

So the youth became more and more smug.

While he was occupied thinking about how great he was, the drunk film emperor who was much more proactive than before got up and held him down.

A bruising kiss landed on his lips.

[Tong, look at what I just fished up.]

[You can go read your mantras now. ]