APCF – Chapter 115 Looking Up

Since getting together with Bo Ye, Qi Xingchen had become much less shy. He could now openly admit their relationship in front of Allen and the others. But under Bo Ye’s parents’ watchful eyes, he still felt a bit guilty.

“…Uncle and Auntie are watching,” he nudged Bo Ye’s chest. “Let go of me first.”

“No way. You haven’t even said you missed me.”

Qi Xingchen: “…”

Wasn’t Bo Ye supposed to be the cool and aloof type? Why did he suddenly become so clingy after getting into a relationship?

“I missed you,” Qi Xingchen gave in, “Missed you, okay?”

But Bo Ye wasn’t satisfied. “Your tone sounds forced. It’s obvious you’re just saying it to appease me.”

Seeing that Bo Ye wouldn’t let it go, Qi Xingchen couldn’t think of a better way out. Gritting his teeth, he quickly gave Bo Ye a light peck on the cheek.

Though the kiss was still a bit reluctant, Bo Ye knew this was already Qi Xingchen’s limit. Finally satisfied, he let go and reassured him in a low voice, “My parents are easygoing. You don’t need to be nervous.”

Easygoing or not, Qi Xingchen thought to himself, after that little scene just now, his image was probably already ruined.

Might as well accept his fate.

Bracing himself for the long haul, he let Bo Ye lead him toward his parents. Bo Ye introduced him, “This is Qi Xingchen, my boyfriend.”

Then, turning to Qi Xingchen, he said, “These are my parents. Just call them Uncle and Auntie.”

Qi Xingchen greeted them politely, “Hello, Uncle Bo, Auntie Bo.”

“Oh,” Bo’s mother responded with a smile. “If calling us Uncle and Auntie feels too formal, you can just call us Mom and Dad instead.”

Bo Ye: “…”

Qi Xingchen: “…Uh.”

When Bo Ye had said his parents were easygoing, Qi Xingchen didn’t really believe it.

Half an hour later, he was fully convinced.

On the way to Bo Ye’s house, Bo’s mother barely stopped talking. She started by asking about his favorite foods, then moved on to his lucky color, then his zodiac sign, and then his opinions on this year’s new spring fashion collections. Eventually, unable to hold back, she called a boutique assistant on the spot and ordered a bunch of clothes for him.

Before he even stepped into their home, he had already received gifts. Feeling both stunned and touched, Qi Xingchen couldn’t shake the feeling that he had somehow fallen into a trap.

Bo Ye’s family lived in a villa in the suburbs, choosing a more secluded location due to their public status. It was a two-story house with a modest yard—not as lavish as Qi’s family home but warm and cozy, a typical wealthy but low-key household.

By the time they arrived, it was already past five in the afternoon. Bo’s mother told the housekeepers not to cook and instead rolled up her sleeves, personally preparing a few dishes for their new “son” to try. Bo’s father assisted her in the kitchen.

That left only Bo Ye, Qi Xingchen, and the housekeepers cleaning up the house.

With people around, Qi Xingchen had held back from speaking to Bo Ye much since they got in the car. Now that they had a rare moment alone, he scooted closer to the sofa and opened his mouth to say something.

Before he could speak, a blush spread across his face.

He hadn’t even said anything, but Bo Ye seemed to understand what he was thinking. Leaning over, he gave Qi Xingchen a brief kiss and chuckled, “I told you my parents were easygoing. Do you believe me now?”

Qi Xingchen, feeling content after the kiss, nodded. “Mm, Uncle and Auntie are really nice.”

“They’re also very open-minded. You don’t have to be shy. If you ever want to get closer, just give me a hint.”

Qi Xingchen: “…”

Qi Xingchen: “Who wants to get closer to you?”

Just a moment ago, he was blinking up at Bo Ye, obviously wanting a kiss. Now he was acting all aloof again. Annoyed, Bo Ye pinched his cheek. “Oh, so you don’t want it? Fine, I won’t kiss you anymore.”

“…No!” Qi Xingchen instantly regretted it. “I take back what I just said.”

“No way, take-backs don’t count.”

Qi Xingchen truly understood what it felt like to shoot himself in the foot.

He could accept many things, but not being able to kiss and cuddle with Bo Ye was unacceptable. He lowered his voice in an attempt to coax him, “I was just talking nonsense. Don’t believe me. I… really want to be close to you.”

“How do I know you’re not just saying that again?” Bo Ye deliberately nitpicked.

“I’m not!”

“I don’t believe you. Unless you prove it to me.”

Fine, proof it is. For the sake of his future happiness, Qi Xingchen was willing to go all in.

He glanced around—the housekeeper was squatting on the floor, trimming dead leaves from a potted plant. Qi Xingchen quietly got up, propped one knee on the sofa, and cupped Bo Ye’s face the way Bo Ye always did before kissing him.

Then he stuck out the tip of his tongue and licked Bo Ye’s tightly pressed lips.

Qi Xingchen rarely took the initiative, so whenever he did, Bo Ye couldn’t handle it. After a few licks, Bo Ye flipped the game around and captured Qi Xingchen’s tongue in his mouth.

Bang!

Before the kiss could deepen, a sudden noise came from behind.

Qi Xingchen jumped back onto the sofa in shock. Bo Ye turned around and saw the housekeeper bending down to pick up a pair of scissors, quickly saying, “I didn’t see anything! You two go on!”

There was no way Qi Xingchen could continue. In fact, he didn’t even want to stay there for another second. In a hurry, he blurted out, “I’ll go help Auntie with dinner,” and fled the scene.

In the kitchen, Bo’s mother absolutely refused to let him help. Only after Qi Xingchen repeatedly assured her that he wouldn’t hurt himself did she, along with Bo’s father, anxiously watch as he prepared three incredibly delicious dishes.

At that moment, Bo’s mother became even more certain—she didn’t want her original son anymore.

Before Qi Xingchen arrived, Bo Ye had told his parents about his sensitive personality and occasional insecurity. So Bo Ye’s parents were careful with their communication, mainly using questions to keep the conversation flowing and never abruptly ending topics—ensuring that Qi Xingchen wouldn’t start doubting if he had said something wrong or wasn’t speaking well enough.

Dinner passed in this warm and cheerful atmosphere.

After a meal full of motherly love, Bo’s mother came up with a new “parent-child” activity—taking Qi Xingchen on a stroll under the excuse of aiding digestion.

By the time they had toured the entire Bo household, it was already bedtime according to middle-aged people’s standards. Bo’s mother said, “Xingxing, there’s still one more room we haven’t visited—Bo Ye’s bedroom. Let me show you.”

Bo Ye enjoyed peace and quiet, so he lived alone on the third floor.

Hearing that he was about to see his idol’s room, Qi Xingchen felt an inexplicable excitement.

After all, this was the place where beautiful melodies first took shape—the place where the guiding light that had led him to this moment was born. It wasn’t just an ordinary room; its existence held a much deeper significance.

To Qi Xingchen, it was more like a sanctuary.

And now, he was about to make his pilgrimage.

With a devout heart, he followed Bo’s mother up to the third floor. She pushed open the door, and Qi Xingchen cautiously leaned forward to peek inside—

The room’s lighting and soft wall panels were in shades of black, white, and gray, embodying a postmodern minimalist style that suited Bo Ye perfectly.

There wasn’t much furniture—only the essentials like a wardrobe, desk, television, and bathroom. However, in one corner of the room, a piano, two guitars, a bass, and a violin were casually placed on the floor, taking up most of the space. On the desk, a PS4, Switch, and various game cartridges sat in contrast yet perfect harmony.

Qi Xingchen had imagined countless times what kind of place his idol would live in. In his mind, it must be warm and bright, filled with soft light, slightly humid air, and a refreshing yet crisp scent.

When the reality before him overlapped with his imagination, his heart skipped a beat. It felt as if an invisible hand was squeezing, releasing, squeezing, and releasing his heart again—causing his pulse to race, and the rush of blood to his ears to create a loud hum.

At that moment, he finally felt the reality of being with Bo Ye.

—He had stepped into Bo Ye’s world.

“Xingxing,” Bo’s mother called when she noticed him standing still. “Come in and sit. It’s not like there’s an entrance fee.”

Qi Xingchen didn’t respond right away.

Bai’s mother assumed he was feeling shy and called down to her son, who was still lingering downstairs, “Zai Zai, come up and show Xingxing around your room.”

…Zai Zai…?

Qi Xingchen snapped back to reality.

The cold and aloof Bo Ye… had a childhood nickname like “Zai Zai”???

He found it hard to believe.

Bo Ye’s expression stiffened for a second. Despite his embarrassment, he walked upstairs and shot an annoyed look at the woman who had just exposed his childhood name.

But Bo’s mother acted as if she didn’t see it and continued giving orders, “Zai Zai, show him around your room. And after that, find him some pajamas to wear. I had Liu Jie prepare the guest room next door, so take him there, explain how the appliances and toilet work, alright?”

Bo Ye: “…”

Bo Ye: “…Alright.”

“After you’re done, come find me.”

“Okay,” Bo Ye nodded.

Seeing that her son agreed, Bo’s mother reluctantly left.

Following her instructions, Bo Ye gave Qi Xingchen a quick tour of his room before asking, “Xingxing, do you want to rest in the guest room, or do you want to stay here and hang out?”

Of course, Qi Xingchen wanted to stay, but it felt impolite to linger in someone else’s bedroom alone. So, pretending otherwise, he said, “I’ll rest in the guest room.”

“Alright, I’ll get you some pajamas.”

“No need,” Qi Xingchen declined. “I brought my own.”

Hearing that, Bo Ye continued reaching for clothes without hesitation, his tone slightly commanding, “Wear mine.”

Qi Xingchen: “…”

“Alright.”

“And one more thing.”

Bo Ye handed him a simple T-shirt and lounge pants, then leaned in to whisper, “Your proof is only half complete. Don’t forget.”

“Mm, mm. I remember.”

After escorting Qi Xingchen to the guest room and making sure he went into the bathroom, Bo Ye headed downstairs to confront his mother.

As soon as he entered the master bedroom, Bo’s mother spoke first, “He was bound to find out your childhood nickname sooner or later. Whether he learns it now or later, it makes no difference.”

Bo Ye: “Oh.”

“Forget about that. Come here, son. Sit down and tell me all about Xingxing.”

“What else do you want to hear?” Bo Ye reluctantly pulled over a chair. “Haven’t I already told you everything?”

Not only had he told her, but Bo’s mother had also browsed online for information about Qi Xingchen. She had seen netizens mock him, calling him a “young master,” saying, “If he doesn’t make it big, he’ll just go home and inherit the family fortune,” or that he was only in the entertainment industry for the experience. It all made him sound like a spoiled rich second-generation heir.

Yet, his behavior was completely at odds with that background.

“Was he abused by his family?” Bo’s mother asked with concern. “Look at how skillful he is at cooking, washing dishes, and doing housework. You can’t get that good without years of practice… Could it be that he lost the fight for the family inheritance and was ostracized by his older siblings?”

This imagination—she must have watched too many melodramas. Bo Ye was speechless for a moment. After patiently comforting his mother, he returned to his room.

However, her words did remind him—he, too, had often wondered where his little fanboy had picked up all these life skills.

It wasn’t that he was excluded from his family—Bo Ye had met Qi’s older brother before. If nothing else, the way he cared for his younger sibling practically oozed from his eyes.

Then what could be the reason?

The more Bo Ye thought about it, the more his heart ached. He lay down on his bed, and just then, his phone chimed.

[Xingxing]: Are you still awake?

Bo Ye couldn’t help but chuckle.

[Moon]: I’m awake. Come over.

Qi Xingchen, staring at the reply: “……”

Why could Bo Ye always guess what he was thinking?

Originally, Qi Xingchen hadn’t planned to text him. After all, he was staying at Bo Ye’s house—sneaking into his room in the middle of the night seemed too shameless.

But he wanted to know what Bo’s mom had said.

Based on all the dramas he had watched, Bo’s mother had probably given her opinion on whether she approved of their relationship. No matter what, he had to find out the answer before he could sleep.

Carefully, he cracked open the door and peeked out. Seeing that the lights downstairs were off, he quickly slipped toward Bo Ye’s room.

Bo Ye had already left the door open, waiting for him. So the moment his little star stepped inside, he was immediately caught by the hand.

Bo Ye squeezed his palm. “Can’t sleep?”

Qi Xingchen felt too embarrassed to admit his real reason and simply mumbled, “Mm.”

“Then, fulfill your promise first.” Bo Ye teased.

Qi Xingchen didn’t think too much of it and absentmindedly leaned in for a kiss.

Bo Ye had only meant to joke—but he never expected the other to take the Bot so easily. The soft lips pressed against his, the faint scent of body wash filling his senses. His eyes darkened, and he deepened the kiss.

They were both young and full of energy. Qi Xingchen was no match for him and quickly lost control. The longer they kissed, the more passionate they became.

As things heated up, just kissing wasn’t enough. Bo Ye exhaled softly and asked in a low voice, “Want to take a shower with me?”

Before Qi Xingchen could respond, Bo Ye had already made the decision for him, pulling him toward the bathroom.

Qi Xingchen’s mind was hazy from lack of oxygen, only regaining clarity when the shower water drenched his body—

_{[Well You can imagine you might have happened]}

Afterward, Qi Xingchen found it hard to admit that he had almost lost it just from a single finger.

Unfortunately, there weren’t any proper tools at home, so they couldn’t go all the way. After helping his little fan find relief, Bo Ye was also struggling. So, through coaxing and guiding, he got Qi Xingchen to use his mouth.

By the time they finished cleaning themselves and the bathroom, an hour had passed. Bo Ye lazily wrapped his arms around Qi Xingchen, lying on the bed like a satisfied cat. His tone was relaxed. “Does your mouth or throat still hurt?”

Qi Xingchen blushed. “It got better after applying medicine.”

“What about your eyes?”

“Once I washed everything out, they felt fine.”

“Good.” Bo Ye nuzzled against the back of his neck. “Sorry, I won’t aim for your face next time.”

“It’s… it’s okay. It’s my fault.” Qi Xingchen bit his lip, his heart still racing from the memory. “Next time, I’ll just close my eyes.”

Bo Ye sighed. If his little fan kept accepting everything so easily, he was afraid he’d become even worse.

“You know you can say no if you don’t like something.” Bo Ye frowned. “I won’t get mad.”

Qi Xingchen, however, didn’t understand. “But I do like it. I just don’t have experience. When I go back, I’ll study some… find some materials to learn. Next time, I’ll do better.”

Bo Ye: “……”

Great. There was no reasoning with him.

Not that he was surprised—he had already expected this answer.

Because in their relationship, Qi Xingchen always took all the blame on himself. Even though Bo Ye had taught him to be more assertive, that deep-rooted insecurity remained.

Bo Ye was getting more and more curious.

What exactly had made his little fan so insecure? Why didn’t he have a single trace of a rich kid’s arrogance?

Before, Bo Ye hadn’t asked—he was afraid of reopening old wounds. But now, he had a feeling that if he never asked, the imbalance in their relationship would never be resolved.

Taking advantage of the moment, Bo Ye casually said, “Xingxing, you came here to ask about what my mom said, didn’t you?”

Qi Xingchen, caught, didn’t bother lying. “Mm.”

“You don’t have to worry. She really likes you.” Bo Ye paused. “She just wanted me to ask—why, with your background, are you so good at housework?”

Qi Xingchen wasn’t startled. Instead, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

He had already expected this question.

His backstory didn’t match the setting—sooner or later, he would be exposed.

He didn’t want to lie to Bo Ye. If possible, he wanted to be completely open with him.

But reality didn’t allow it. He couldn’t reveal that he was a transmigrator. He didn’t want Bo Ye to feel guilty or uneasy because of it.

After a moment of deliberation, he answered half-truthfully. “Before we met, for certain reasons, I wasn’t living with the Qi family. I spent a long time in a rough environment.”

“How bad was it…” He paused for two seconds before chuckling self-deprecatingly. “Like being in an abyss—surrounded by darkness, never seeing the sun.”

Having held onto his emotions for too long, once he started speaking, he couldn’t stop. Tilting his head back, he looked at the face in front of him.

“To be honest, it was you who got me through that phase. When I was in eighth grade, I went to a big shopping mall for the first time, and your MV was playing on the screen. Seeing you play the piano and sing made me realize that there was another kind of person in this world—someone free, someone who shone brightly. Your existence suddenly made me want to live a little longer.”

“This might sound dramatic, but you truly are my light. And I… I’ve always been looking up at you from the abyss.”

Looking up at you from the abyss…

Looking up at you from the abyss…

Wasn’t that the inscription on the in-ear monitor?

With a loud “boom,” Bo Ye’s mind went blank. He stared at the person beside him in shock.

When he first entered this world, a vague feeling told him that he needed to find something—something related to how he could leave this space.

So he rushed back to his company and found the in-ear monitor, which existed in the real world as well. He suspected that the person who had given him that earpiece either held the key to leaving or could take him away directly.

Yet after all this searching, the person he was looking for had been right beside him all along.

Suppressing his excitement, Bo Ye confirmed, “Did you ever give me anything?”

Now that things had reached this point, Qi Xingchen no longer hid the truth. “The in-ear monitor in your profile picture—it was a gift from me. A present for your fifth debut anniversary.”

…It really was him!!!

Bo Ye was overwhelmed with emotion, his arms tightening around Qi Xingchen’s waist. The grip was so strong that Qi Xingchen coughed from the pressure. Just as he was about to ask why Bo Ye was reacting so intensely—since Bo Ye had mentioned before that he liked the in-ear monitor—

Bo Ye’s next words completely silenced him.

“I came from the outside world.”

To avoid misunderstandings, Bo Ye deliberately kept his statement vague. If his little fan was truly like him—someone who had entered this world—then he would understand the meaning.

If he had misunderstood and Qi Xingchen was just a character in the book, he could easily brush it off as a slip of the tongue.

After speaking, Bo Ye locked eyes with Qi Xingchen.

But he didn’t even need to observe carefully.

Qi Xingchen’s utterly shocked expression, the violent contraction of his pupils—it was all the answer Bo Ye needed.

“I-I am too,” Qi Xingchen’s voice cracked. “I came from the outside world as well… I transmigrated in spring… I am too, just like you, I am too…”

His words became incoherent, repeated over and over. Each time he spoke, his eyes grew redder. In the end, he couldn’t hold back anymore and covered his face, sobbing.

As he cried, a thought suddenly hit him like a thunderbolt—

If the protagonist had also transmigrated from the outside world, then… who was occupying Bo Ye’s body in reality??

Although what he loved was the soul in front of him, not just an idol’s face, nor anything superficial—still, singing, dancing, mastering multiple instruments with ease, having a knack for acting—these weren’t things an ordinary person could just pick up.

Could it be that he was originally a trainee??

Sniffing, Qi Xingchen choked back his sobs and asked, “Then what was your… your real name?”

Since he was no longer Bo Ye, calling him “Brother Ye” felt inappropriate. Qi Xingchen wanted to know his lover’s true name.

Bo Ye frowned. “I am Bo Ye.”

“No, I mean your real-world name, not the one in Night’s Peach.”

Bo Ye’s frown deepened. “I was Bo Ye in the real world too.”

“Oh, so you’re just like me. I also transmigrated because I had the same name as the original character in the book…”

Pausing, Qi Xingchen couldn’t help but marvel, “Bai is such a rare surname, and yet you happen to have the same full name as my idol. That’s amazing!”

Bo Ye: “……”

Why was his little boyfriend usually so sharp, yet when it came to crucial moments, his brain just completely failed to work???

Turning Qi Xingchen’s face toward him, Bo Ye patiently explained, “Look at me. Listen carefully. My real name is Bo Ye. I am 24 years old, 187cm tall, and weigh 67.5kg. My profession is being an artist—I debuted at 17, and I have been in the industry for seven years. Next month will be my eighth anniversary. I have both parents, no siblings, and a few adorable pets at home. I earn a decent living—I can buy you anything you want and take you around the world.

Most importantly, I like you very much, Mr. Qi Xingchen.”

Bo Ye pinched his chin, gently shaking it. “Any part of my background you’re not satisfied with?”

24 years old, 187 cm tall.

67.5 kg, debuted for seven years, almost eight.

These numbers—Qi Xingchen couldn’t be more familiar with them. No fan wouldn’t know their idol’s height and weight. He could even recite every album and every lyric of his idol’s songs.

From the data alone, the man in front of him was Bo Ye. The real, undeniable Bo Ye—his idol, Bo Ye himself.

Qi Xingchen froze for a moment.

Then suddenly let out a loud “AHHHHHH!”

As he screamed, he scrambled off the bed, practically rolling onto the floor. Bo Ye was stunned for a second before immediately grabbing his leg. “Where are you going?”

Qi Xingchen: “Don’t touch me!!”

Bo Ye was puzzled. “I’m not dirty.”

Qi Xingchen: “Of course, you’re not dirty—I am! You’re an immortal, and I’m just a mortal. I don’t deserve to let you touch me!!”

The moment he heard that, Bo Ye thought he was being mocked. But then he reconsidered—his little fan wasn’t the kind of person to be sarcastic.

Whatever he said was exactly what he believed.

Bo Ye was both amused and exasperated. He yanked Qi Xingchen back in one swift motion. Qi Xingchen, terrified of being so close to his idol, clenched his teeth and struggled with all his might to escape under the bed.

After several rounds of pulling and struggling, Bo Ye lost patience. He pinned Qi Xingchen down from behind. “Stay still, or you’ll wake someone up.”

“No! Let me go, I’ll dirty your hands… If someone takes a picture, it’s over!”

“It’s the middle of the night—who would come to my parents’ house to take pictures? And besides, I’ve touched you way more than once or twice.” Bo Ye continued, “Just now, this very finger—”

He raised a finger.

“I even put it in. You bit down so hard—didn’t you notice?”

Qi Xingchen: “……”

Qi Xingchen: “……Stop talking.”

But Bo Ye didn’t listen. Leaning in close to his ear, he whispered, “Not only have I touched you with my hands, I’ve had you in my mouth too. You seemed to enjoy it quite a bit—didn’t complain about my performance then. So why are you acting like you don’t know me now?”

Qi Xingchen nearly died of shame on the spot. Grinding his teeth, he tried to explain, “I thought you were the male lead, that’s why I—I didn’t push you away!”

Honestly, if he had known from the start that this was the real Bo Ye and not the novel’s male lead, he wouldn’t have dared to even think about dating him.

Female fans might daydream about getting together with their idols, but as a male fan, he had never harbored such delusions.

He simply admired Bo Ye and worked hard to follow in his footsteps—to become someone like him.

Hearing this, Bo Ye laughed in disbelief. “So the male lead can touch you, but I can’t?”

“That’s not what I meant!” Qi Xingchen didn’t know how to explain. “I just—I just don’t want to taint you. You’re too good, you shouldn’t be tangled up with me. You’re a god, and I—I can’t desecrate a god.”

“Oh, I’m a god… Then what do I have to do to make you stop fearing me…”

Bo Ye, still fuming, threatened, “Should I just fuck you right now?”

“……” Qi Xingchen’s brain short-circuited.

Seeing no response, Bo Ye got serious, reaching for his pants.

“No, don’t take them off!”

Qi Xingchen clutched his waistband desperately, finally surrendering. “I was wrong! I won’t run anymore.”

“Good.” Bo Ye finally let go, staring at Qi Xingchen.

Qi Xingchen, still shaken by what had just happened, didn’t dare make a sound. He guiltily looked back at Bo Ye.

“Zai Zai, are you bullying him again?!”

Just then, a knock sounded at the door, followed by Bo Ye’s father’s voice. “If you keep bullying him, I’m coming in to deal with you!”

Bo Ye raised an eyebrow at Qi Xingchen.

Qi Xingchen swallowed his pride. “No, Uncle! We—we’re just playing a game!”

What kind of game involved so much yelling? Bo Ye’s father pondered for a moment before giving his verdict. “Be careful with your bodies, don’t get hurt, and try to sleep early.”

Bo Ye: “Got it, Dad, you can go back now.”

“So much energy…” Bo Ye’s father muttered as he walked away.

The interruption cooled Bo Ye’s temper a little. He released Qi Xingchen.

But Qi Xingchen didn’t dare move. He stayed put, carefully pulling up his pants, then tentatively soothed, “Don’t be mad.”

Bo Ye stayed silent.

“I’ll try my best to learn how to accept this.”

“Just try?”

“No, no!” Qi Xingchen waved his hands frantically. “I will accept it.”

Satisfied, Bo Ye’s expression softened slightly.

Qi Xingchen let out a relieved sigh, then curiously asked, “So in real life, is your nickname also Zai Zai?”

Wrong question. Bo Ye’s face darkened again.

But he couldn’t bear to scare his little fan too much—after all, he was already scared enough.

Pouring two glasses of water, he handed one to Qi Xingchen and gestured to the bed. “Sit properly.”

“Oh, okay.” Qi Xingchen quickly sat up.

Bo Ye sat beside him. “When did you transmigrate?”

“April 3rd of last year.”

April 3rd… Bo Ye frowned. “Same day as me.”

“I figured—it was because of your stage accident, right?”

“Yeah,” Bo Ye nodded. “What about you?”

Qi Xingchen hesitated but didn’t dare lie. Lowering his head, he admitted, “I was on my way to your seven-year anniversary concert… and had a little accident.”

“Right,” at this moment, Qi Xingchen remembered something. “What caused your stage accident? Was the injury serious? The real-world you… are you still… still…”

He couldn’t finish the sentence.

Even though Bo Ye was alive and well in the book, Qi Xingchen still found it hard to accept even the slightest bad news.

“It should be fine,” Bo Ye reassured him. “The lift platform collapsed, and I accidentally fell.”

The lift platform in that stadium was quite high, around two to three meters. It wouldn’t be fatal, but breaking an arm or a leg was almost inevitable.

Of course, Bo Ye didn’t say this out loud. He was also worried about his little fan’s injuries and looked at him for an answer.

Qi Xingchen admitted, “I was hit by a private car. It wasn’t going very fast, but I was distracted by a phone call and wasn’t paying attention to the road. I managed to protect the vital parts of my body in time, so it shouldn’t be too serious.”

Hearing that his lover was most likely still alive in the real world, both of them let out a long sigh of relief. Bo Ye suddenly had an odd sense of “a blessing in disguise” and couldn’t help but pull his little fan closer, giving him a kiss on his still slightly swollen lips.

Qi Xingchen’s heart pounded wildly—Oh my god! Oh my gosh! My idol just kissed me! A god kissed me!

I swear I’ll worship this mouth from now on!

After the kiss, Bo Ye remembered the most crucial question. “Do you understand the world we’re in?”

Qi Xingchen, putting aside his plans to worship his lips, briefly explained the plot of Peach of the Night. Even someone as strong as Bo Ye found the story so absurd that he nearly had a heart attack. He remained silent for a long time.

After a while, he barely managed to accept it and continued, “Do you have any clues on how to leave?”

Qi Xingchen shook his head. “Based on the information I have, we might have to wait until the storyline reaches its conclusion before we know if we can leave. What about you?”

“When I first arrived, I had an intense urge to find my in-ear monitor. As time passed, I gradually remembered that this is a book. A while ago, the thought ‘I was supposed to be with Tao Tao’ suddenly popped into my head. I even considered whether deviating from the storyline would affect you. It felt as if…”

Bo Ye frowned slightly. “It felt as if I had experienced all of this before but somehow forgot.”

“Experienced all of this before, but somehow forgot.”

Hearing this, Qi Xingchen felt like he had grasped something, but no matter how he tried, he couldn’t untangle the logic. Resting his chin on one hand, he began piecing things together. “The day we first met—according to the plot, you weren’t supposed to return to the company, but you did. Was it to find your in-ear monitor?”

“Yes.”

“You kept searching until late at night and just happened to see me practicing?”

“Not that late. I found it around 7 p.m. Then my manager told me about a new variety show and asked me to go home and check my script emails. At that moment, I really didn’t want to leave—I had this strong feeling that I hadn’t finished something important. So, I decided to stay in the company’s conference room to read the script. When I was almost done, I was about to leave, but then, as if drawn by some unseen force, I walked into the practice room and saw you.”

Bo Ye pondered for a moment. “Come to think of it, I’ve always been someone who doesn’t meddle in others’ affairs or talk much with strangers. But when I was guiding you, I didn’t feel like you were a stranger. It was as if…”

“As if you had known me for a long time?” Qi Xingchen finished his sentence.

“Yes, exactly. Like we’ve known each other for a long time.”

Qi Xingchen’s brain started working at full speed, and that tangled mess of thoughts gradually became clearer. He could almost hear his own heartbeat.

Overwhelmed with excitement, he forgot the distance between an idol and a fan and grabbed Bo Ye’s wrist. “When we filmed Let’s Budget Travel, were you treating me so well on purpose?”

Bo Ye was momentarily stunned. If the little fan hadn’t mentioned it, he wouldn’t have realized it himself. “No, it wasn’t on purpose. I just couldn’t help but be good to you. By the time I noticed that my kindness went beyond how I usually treat fans, I had already fallen for you.”

In this world, there’s no such thing as love without reason, just as there is no hate without cause. No one would willingly go to such lengths for someone they don’t truly care about.

Caring so much that he’d get jealous just because Qi Xingchen didn’t buy him coffee.

Caring so much that he’d trade a Cartier ring for a ten-pound ice cream.

Caring so much that even though he was at the center of public scrutiny—where one wrong step could tarnish his reputation forever—he still chose to post on Weibo in support of Qi Xingchen when the latter was arguing with his manager.

Caring so much that even though he usually hated people who constantly sent messages, voice notes, and video calls, he found himself staring at his phone, gradually becoming one of those people.

A thought struck Bo Ye, and he leaned in slightly. “Could it be that we were together before?”

Qi Xingchen marveled at how incredibly smart his idol was. He liked him even more—what should he do now?!

Feeling a little proud, he then turned serious. “Don’t laugh when I say this! The moment I was transported into Peach of the Night, after mentally preparing myself, the first thing I did was follow you on Weibo. The second thing I did was go to the company.”

“The first time I saw you in the lobby of Noah Entertainment, I was… instantly captivated by you. After you left, when I went to practice, Xiao Qing asked me why I insisted on learning to sing and dance instead of pursuing an acting career. I didn’t have an answer at the time.”

“Now that I think about it, maybe it was for you.”

“At the same time, as the plot progressed, my family members kept falling into crisis—each incident was connected to Tao Tao in some way. While dealing with her, I discovered that she wasn’t just a fictional character. Like us, she has her own awareness. You might have noticed something from the Golden Falcon red carpet interview.”

“After testing my theory, I realized that everything she does is to pull the storyline back on track. You probably don’t know this, but to make Liang Jing donate his kidney, she was willing to do anything.”

A flash of disgust appeared in Bo Ye’s eyes. “So… you suspect she’s either a reincarnated person or another transmigrator?”

“Yes,” Qi Xingchen confirmed. “And I also suspect that this isn’t the first time we’ve been pulled into Peach of the Night. The in-ear monitor is the best proof.”

“I think… every time Tao Tao is reborn, we get transported into the book again.”

_{OH MY GOD!! Whaaat? This twist is mind-blowing. I remember reading another yaoi novel with something similar. And Both are awesome. Now let’s see how ML and MC checkmate Taotao.}