APCF – Chapter 32 Gift

“Heart of the Ocean” tells the story of a performer at an aquarium who dances with belugas. Over time, she falls in love with this angelic species and begins a relentless journey to protect them. After enduring numerous hardships, her efforts ultimately lead to the United Nations enacting legislation to safeguard wild belugas.

The signature performance, also called Heart of the Ocean, gets its name from the finale, where the performers and the belugas form a heart shape.

Tao Tao plays the female lead, an aquarium worker, while Feng Qingyuan plays the male lead, a marine biologist with a wealthy background.

This is also Tao Tao’s first starring role in a prime-time drama. Once approved, Heart of the Ocean will air in a non-primetime slot on regional TV.

Her co-star Feng Qingyuan, aged 35, is a graduate of the prestigious Central Academy of Drama, renowned for his stellar acting and professionalism. He’s regarded as a pillar of the middle-generation actors.

Qi Xingchen stared at the script and the actor profiles, feeling unsettled.

In the original novel, this drama marked a turning point in the female lead’s career.

To learn how to dance with belugas, Tao Tao repeatedly entered the water, often choking. The director, moved by her dedication, personally edited a promotional clip for her.

That clip finally showcased this beautiful and diligent second-tier actress to the public, paving her path to the top tier.

Meanwhile, on the romantic side, the male lead was filming a new music video nearby. Passing by the set, he visited the director and witnessed the female lead repeatedly diving into the water.

Naturally, just like the director, the male lead grew more impressed with her.

Of course, no matter how much the female lead improved, it had nothing to do with Qi Xingchen. As a friend who had spent only a month and a half with her, he genuinely hoped she’d continue to thrive.

But! This storyline had everything to do with the Qi family!

It was during the filming of this drama that Qi Jiaze fulfilled his role as a scapegoat!

“Qi Xingchen?” Noticing him staring blankly at the script, Du Lanxin waved a hand in front of his face. “What are you thinking about? Finished reading?”

“…Yes,” Qi Xingchen replied absentmindedly. “Finished.”

“I secured you the third male lead role. For a prime-time drama, this position might not skyrocket your popularity, but it will significantly boost your public recognition. You recently gained a wave of fans, and you need this project to cement that fanbase.”

“Alright,” Qi Xingchen pressed his temple. “Got it.”

The production was set to begin in three days, but Qi Xingchen had ample time in his schedule, so the director decided he could join the team a week later.

On the way home, Qi Xingchen messaged Zhang Yunfei:

[Yunfei, are you busy?]

Zhang Yunfei, likely caught up with filming, replied half an hour later:

[Not too much. What’s up?]

[Can you recommend some books on acting for me?]

[Our Xingchen is aiming for greatness?]

Qi Xingchen joked with him for a bit and then received a list of book titles.

As a classically trained actor, Zhang Yunfei’s recommendations were spot on. Qi Xingchen asked Qin Ge to stop by a bookstore and bought them all before getting dropped off near a residential complex.

Carrying the books inside, he was surprised to find his fater home instead of at the company. Dad Qi was chatting with Qi Yuji in the living room.

“Xingxing, you’re back! How did the interview go?”

Qi Xingchen replied, “It went well,” then headed to his room with the books after a brief exchange.

Watching him disappear upstairs, Qi Yuji murmured, “Dad, don’t you think Xingxing seems a bit off, like something’s weighing on him?”

“I noticed,” Dad Qi sighed. “Maybe it’s because his mother’s memorial day is approaching. He’s probably missing her again.”

“So how do we cheer him up?” Qi Yuji blinked. “Xingxing has changed so much. He’s more mature and thoughtful now, but he’s also harder to please. Before, I could tell what he needed or wanted just by looking at him. Now…”

She furrowed her brows. “Now it feels like he doesn’t want anything at all, which makes me worry even more.”

“Maybe…” Dad Qi suggested, “Maybe I should give it a try. Ask Old Sun to prepare the car for me.”

Unbeknownst to the Qi family, while they were worried about Xingchen’s unhappiness, Xingchen was troubled by concerns about their survival.

He had finally remembered why Qi Jiaze became the scapegoat. As a rising star, Tao Tao had little time to look after her brother, Tao Xuan, so she transferred him to a boarding school.

The same school Qi Jiaze attended.

Qi Jiaze had a nasty temper; anyone who crossed him paid the price. Coupled with his good looks and wealthy background, he was the epitome of a campus tyrant.

That’s where the story unfolded.

For some reason, Tao Xuan offended Qi Jiaze and ended up in the hospital after being beaten. Tao Tao took time off to care for him, angering the director, who posted a vague message on social media condemning school violence. The male lead amplified the message by sharing it.

Netizens soon uncovered Qi Jiaze’s identity, leading to a frenzy of cyberbullying, prank calls, and harassment.

Unable to cope, Qi Jiaze spiraled into a mental breakdown and ultimately crashed his car into Tao Xuan.

Tao Xuan survived unscathed, but Qi Jiaze died a gruesome death, becoming the first casualty in the story.

For added dramatic flair, the author even depicted the netizens’ reactions to Qi Jiaze’s death:

Four words summed it up: “He deserved it.”

When Qi Xingchen first read this, he agreed with the author. School violence was a serious offense, and perpetrators often left victims scarred for life. Such individuals deserved no sympathy.

But recalling Qi Jiaze’s behavior yesterday, Qi Xingchen felt conflicted.

Was his brother truly that bad?

Could he be guided onto the right path?

Pondering how to steer Qi Jiaze, Qi Xingchen skimmed through the script before diving into Zhang Yunfei’s recommended books. He read until almost dinnertime.

Rubbing his eyes, he decided to take a short break. Then he remembered—he still hadn’t reached out to the male lead.

Since he had missed replying to a morning message, he quickly typed:

[Sorry, I was busy earlier. Are you free now? It must be late at night over there, right?]

With Washington and Beijing having a 13-hour time difference, it was 5 p.m. in Beijing, meaning it would be 4 a.m. in Washington.

After sending the message, Qi Xingchen turned off his phone, certain the male lead wouldn’t reply at this hour.

But to his surprise, just seconds later, a voice message popped up:

[Bo has sent you a voice message.]

Qi Xingchen’s hand trembled as he flipped the book. Although they had added each other on WeChat and could see each other’s updates daily, their communication was sparse—just a few brief interactions.

This was the first time Bo had sent him a voice message.

Qi Xingchen’s tongue unconsciously brushed against his lower lip. He held the phone up to his ear and pressed play.

“Hmm, I just finished a shoot and am heading back to the hotel.”

The man’s naturally deep and magnetic voice sounded even more alluring through the slight distortion of the recording. Startled, Qi Xingchen quickly moved the phone away and rubbed his now-warm earlobe.

Then, a photo appeared in the chat.

It was taken from inside a car, showing an old building with a crescent moon hanging above its cross-tipped spire. A few stars dotted the sky, creating a peaceful and romantic scene.

But all Qi Xingchen could think was— It’s so late; he must be exhausted.

Leaving the Roaming Abroad show, Bo had gone straight to Washington for filming. Even though he was only human, how could he keep this pace without feeling worn out?

Feeling a stuffiness in his chest, Qi Xingchen got up and opened the window.

After the fresh air cleared his head, he mimicked Bo’s action by taking a photo of his desk and sent it over: “Look how hard I’m working!”

Once sent, he immediately regretted it. The wording sounded off—like a child seeking praise. Panicked, he quickly retracted the message.

Unfortunately, Bo had already seen it. The tone was unmistakable: a kid looking for validation.

From a psychological standpoint, a proper response from a “parent figure” was crucial at this moment to encourage further motivation.

Bo: “Got a new role?”

Star: “Yes, just cramming for it now.”

Bo: “Great job.”

Qi Xingchen: “…”

Bo: “Keep studying hard. If you make progress, I’ll give you a reward.”

Qi Xingchen: “…”

Why did this feel like coaxing a child?

And yet, he felt a tiny spark of excitement. Propping his cheek on one hand, he typed carefully with the other: “What kind of reward?”

“Message retracted by Star.”

Realizing his tone sounded coquettish, he quickly revised it.

Star: “What’s the reward?”

Amused by Qi Xingchen’s nitpicking, Bo replied with a mix of exasperation and indulgence:
“Depends on how well you do. But it’ll definitely be something you want.”

Something he wanted? What could that be?

“Got it! I’ll finish everything before joining the team!”

When Qi Xingchen said he’d work hard, he meant it. He put his phone aside and studied until late into the night.

Without the production crew’s blaring announcements or Du Lanxin’s relentless calls, he finally got a solid 10-hour sleep.

When he opened the door and saw Aunt Zhang, he stretched happily.

“Hey, Aunt Zhang, did you get Botox or something?”

“What’s that?”

“It’s something celebrities use to reduce wrinkles.”

“Oh, you kid! Ordinary folks like us don’t use such things!”

“Don’t try to fool me,” Qi Xingchen countered confidently. “How else could you be getting younger and younger? Come on, confess!”

It dawned on Aunt Zhang that this young master was trying to compliment her. She burst into laughter, her face lighting up with joy.

The second young master had been rebellious before, rarely talking at home and keeping his distance from the staff. Lately, though, he seemed to have outgrown that phase, becoming cheerful and approachable.

Such a charming, bright young man—who wouldn’t like him?

Waving her hand, she said, “Alright, alright, Second Young Master, stop teasing me. Go eat breakfast. Your father wants to see you afterward.”

Qi Xingchen blinked in surprise.

“Dad’s looking for me?”

Worried it might be something serious, he hurried to the dining room. After wolfing down his breakfast, their driver, Old Sun, entered and said, “Master Qi is waiting for you at the Baisha Port Marine World. He asked you to meet him there.”

Baisha Port Marine World was a sprawling tourist attraction by the sea, featuring a zoo, an aquarium, and a museum of marine life. For out-of-town visitors to H City, it was a must-see destination.

If not for its private funding, it would undoubtedly have been classified as a national 5A-level scenic spot.

Incidentally, the primary filming location for Heart of the Ocean was also at Baisha Port Aquarium.

Not wanting to delay, Qi Xingchen quickly got into the car. An hour later, he stood by the sea at Baisha Port and spotted his father, Qi Xiaoming, gazing toward the distant Canghai Stone.

“Dad,” Qi Xingchen called softly from behind. “I’m here.”

“Good. Come over, let’s have a proper chat.”

Obediently, Qi Xingchen walked to his father’s side. Qi Xiaoming’s gaze remained fixed on the horizon.

“I remember how, as a child, you loved coming to the aquarium to see the rays and seals. So many years have passed since then. It feels like we haven’t been here together in ages.”

This memory didn’t exist in Qi Xingchen’s mind, so he simply nodded along.

“Looking back, I realize I haven’t been attentive enough to you over the years. So I’ve decided to give you a gift.”

Another gift? His collection of sneakers was still sitting unopened in the storage room!

“No need, Dad. You’ve been great to me—really, I don’t need anything!” he hurriedly declined.

“It’s too late,” Qi Xiaoming shook his head. “I’ve already bought it.”

Qi Xingchen: “…Fine. What is it?”

With the sea breeze billowing his clothes, Qi Xiaoming clasped his hands behind his back.

“Do you see Baisha Port Marine World?”

Qi Xingchen nodded hesitantly.

“From today onward, it’s yours.”

Qi Xingchen: “…”

Qi Xingchen: “???”