APCF – Chapter 44 Confrontation

When the production team rented the Bai Jing Pavilion, they only rented it for one month. In order to finish filming the main scenes within a month, everyone worked overtime, from morning to night, for more than ten hours a day without a break.

When they heard that Shang Yuliang had graciously given the entire crew a holiday, the venue erupted into a thunderous cheer.

The merman prince, who had just crawled out of the water, knelt on the ground. His ears were filled with water, making it hard to hear the sound, and he looked around in confusion.

Then he saw the person who had video-called him a week ago walking quickly toward him.

He glanced faintly at the merman’s bare upper body, then turned and draped his shirt jacket over his shoulders. He extended a hand to him and said, “Get up.”

Qi Xingchen then realized that he was still “bare-chested” and quickly put on the jacket, grabbing Bo Ye’s hand.

That hand was warm and dry, which helped relieve the chill from his body after being in the water. Bo Ye easily pulled him up, and Qi Xingchen lowered his head to fasten the shirt buttons.

Although Qi Xingchen had long arms and legs, he was still no match for Bo Ye’s taller stature. The jacket on him made him look like a child wearing an adult’s clothes. The sleeves covered his hands completely, leaving only his neck and collarbone exposed.

“Wasn’t the exposure enough just now?” Bo Ye, for some reason, made a mistake and reached out to fasten the top button.

Qi Xingchen: “…”

He shook his head, partly to clear the water from his ears, and partly to confirm that everything in front of him was real and not a hallucination caused by the pressure of the water.

Bo Ye’s appearance was so sudden that the staff members only realized who Shang Yuliang’s “friend” was. This caused the second wave of overwhelming cheers.

The scene was even crazier than when they saw Qi Xingchen as a “bare-chested man”!

“Bo Ye! I’ve liked you for so long! Can you sign something for me?”

“Wuwuwu, I can’t believe I’m seeing the real Ye Ge! Director Shang, why didn’t you bring him here sooner? I hate you!”

“Baby, when is your new album coming out? Us mama fans have been waiting forever!”

“Ye Ge, your face is so small in person, much smaller than on TV! You’re so handsome! No wonder my boyfriend watches you every day!”

A large group of people dropped what they were doing and rushed to surround Bo Ye, asking him all kinds of questions. The merman prince, suddenly neglected, clicked his tongue in displeasure.

Tao Tao also walked up and smiled. “Ye Ge, you’re here.”

“Mm,” Bo Ye nodded at Tao Tao, then turned to Qi Xingchen and whispered, “Wait for me in the car.”

Wait in the car? Isn’t he supposed to have a meal with Director Shang? Why would he need to wait for him?

Qi Xingchen was confused, but there were too many people around to ask, so he obediently walked away.

An Ran, who was also standing outside the crowd watching the excitement, was elbowed by Qi Xingchen. “Let’s go back, An Ran.”

“I’m Bo Ye’s sky, wait for me to get an autograph,” An Ran didn’t even look at him, wearing a face of someone who had already forgotten their roots.

Qi Xingchen had no choice but to get on the van alone.

Driver Old Qin was leaning by the window, smoking. When he saw Qi Xingchen, he quickly put out the cigarette and curiously asked, “Where’s An Ran?”

“Bo Ye went to the set. She’s waiting for an autograph.”

“Bo Ye, huh…” Old Qin slapped his forehead. “My daughter likes him too! Xingchen, since An Ran hasn’t come back yet, you wait for me a bit!”

Saying that, he took the car keys and ran off.

Leaving Qi Xingchen to enjoy his solitude.

Qi Xingchen began to consider whether he needed to change his team.

Fortunately, these two were relatively conscientious, and about ten minutes later, the two of them returned, chatting and laughing together.

Old Qin folded the autograph paper multiple times, carefully placing it in his wallet. He then asked Qi Xingchen, “Xingxing, should we eat first or go back to the hotel?”

“Now I’m your Xingxing?” Qi Xingchen shot him a side glance.

Old Qin: “Hehe.”

“Let’s rest here,” Qi Xingchen thought for a moment. “I’m waiting for someone.”

The two of them had no idea who Qi Xingchen was waiting for. Anyway, there was nothing to do in the afternoon, so they chatted casually while lounging around like him.

An Ran, still excited from meeting her idol, dragged Qi Xingchen and insisted on hearing about Bo Ye’s behind-the-scenes personality on the set of Let’s Budget Travel.

“He’s exactly the same as on TV,” Qi Xingchen lazily responded, “He doesn’t have a persona.”

“Wow, then I like him even more!” An Ran said happily, “It’s so nice to support a real idol. I wonder when I’ll see him next time; it might be forever!”

Twenty minutes later, the nanny van door was knocked on, and Qi Xingchen sat up straight. “Uncle Qin, could you please open the door?”

The door opened, and a person with a baseball cap entered. An Ran gaped, “Holy crap, did the ‘forever’ part just come so soon?”

Bo Ye took off his cap, waved as a greeting, and casually told Old Qin the name of a restaurant, asking him to head that way.

Qi Xingchen was a bit confused by his actions. “Where are we going?”

“Director Shang’s treating.” Bo Ye sat down next to him.

Bo Ye had specifically come to visit Shang Yuliang on set, and it was natural for Shang Yuliang to treat him to a meal. However, bringing Qi Xingchen along wasn’t as expected, because Shang Yuliang had said that Qi Xingchen would use the afternoon to teach Tao Tao how to dance.

Clearly, Qi Xingchen’s status and his closeness with Shang Yuliang didn’t qualify him to appear at a meal like this.

It was Bo Ye who brought him here, and Qi Xingchen clearly understood that Bo Ye was helping him network and build relationships.

“Thank you,” Qi Xingchen said quietly.

“Mm, are you still cold?”

“Not anymore… Should I give you your jacket back?”

His own T-shirt was mostly wet, and after getting in the car, he had hung it on the window to dry in the sun. It was almost dry now.

“Keep it on,” Bo Ye glanced at his collar, “I’ll take a nap.”

After saying that, Bo Ye closed his eyes. Qi Xingchen turned his head and noticed the faint dark circles under his eyes, and the shadows cast by his eyelashes on his face.

The car fell into silence. Qi Xingchen motioned for Old Qin to drive carefully, and stopped An Ran, who was eager to take a photo, from doing so. He also closed his eyes to rest.

The restaurant wasn’t far from Bai Sha Port. Soon after, he was gently woken up, and he let An Ran and Old Qin go out to eat while he followed Bo Ye upstairs.

It was a private restaurant with an antique decor, only serving a fixed number of guests each day. It was perfect for high-end gatherings.

The waiter led them into a private room where Shang Yuliang had already ordered the food. Feng Qingyuan, who had a good relationship with Shang Yuliang, was there, and surprisingly, Tao Tao was also present.

It seemed that since Qi Xingchen was here, they didn’t want to leave her out.

“I asked about this place beforehand. There are no cameras, so we can eat in peace,” Shang Yuliang said. “You two, come sit.”

Qi Xingchen and Bo Ye sat side by side.

It was already close to two in the afternoon, and everyone was a bit hungry, so they ate while chatting. After they had eaten half, the waiter brought in some wine, and Director Shang raised his glass, saying, “It’s rare that Bo Ye’s visiting the set. Let’s have a drink.”

“Alright,” Feng Qingyuan laughed, “I know how Bo Ye drinks. Tao Tao, Qi Xingchen, what about you guys?”

Both of them nodded, so the youngest and least important person at the table, Qi Xingchen, stood up to pour the drinks.

After pouring, he sat back down, and Bo Ye leaned in and whispered in his ear, “It’s a private gathering. Don’t feel pressured.”

“Mm, I know,” Qi Xingchen paused, touched his ear, “You too.”

As Bo Ye had said, Shang Yuliang didn’t urge them to drink much. After a hearty meal, Shang Yuliang, fearing that he hadn’t entertained them well enough, suggested going to a KTV.

“Sure,” Bo Ye glanced at the clearly sluggish little fans, “But no more drinking. I have filming tomorrow.”

“Okay, okay, we’ll listen to you. Let’s go.”

This was Qi Xingchen’s first time attending a celebrity’s private gathering. He thought people would be reserved because of their status, but to his surprise, everyone was very lively.

Shang Yuliang sang a beautiful aria, and Tao Tao had quite a good voice as well. Feng Qingyuan focused on drinking with Bo Ye, and Qi Xingchen sang a few songs with Director Shang before obediently sitting in a corner, zoning out.

At 11 p.m., Bo Ye called it a night. Shang Yuliang smacked his lips and said, “Alright, we’ll get together again next time. I’ve got a heavy filming schedule tomorrow. Where’s your hotel? I’ll take you back.”

“No need,” Bo Ye replied, “Allen is nearby. I’ll have him pick me up.”

Allen is nearby… Qi Xingchen belatedly realized that Bo Ye had intentionally gotten into his car at noon, not because there was no driver.

Then, he suddenly remembered something and hurriedly stopped Bo Ye. “Wait, you can’t leave!”

Bo Ye: “Mm?”

“You, you…” Qi Xingchen gritted his teeth, “Didn’t you say you’d stay and act with me?”

Shang Yuliang: “…”

“Pfft.” Everyone laughed.

Qi Xingchen felt lightheaded from drinking, and after thinking for a while, he still couldn’t figure out what was wrong with his earlier words. His brows furrowed tightly.

Tao Tao, who had finished laughing, reminded him, “Xing Xing, check the time. After Brother Ye helps you with your lines, we probably won’t be able to film tomorrow.”

“Yeah, kid,” Shang Yuliang said with a mix of laughter and helplessness, “Stop bothering Xiao Bo. Get to the set early tomorrow, and I’ll explain the scene to you.”

Qi Xingchen pulled out his phone and checked the time—it was really late, but… but…

But Bo Ye had promised him last week that when he came over, he would help him with his scenes. Plus, during dinner, Director Shang had mentioned that Bo Ye would help guide him…

How could he leave now?

Emboldened by the alcohol, Qi Xingchen, with a clear conscience, bypassed Shang Yuliang and looked at Bo Ye.

Bo Ye: “…Old Shang, take me back to your hotel.”

Director Shang: “Huh???”

When he forced someone to come back with him, it had seemed impressive, but once they were in the room, Qi Xingchen immediately deflated.

He glanced at Bo Ye, who was sitting on the couch with his long legs awkwardly placed, and suddenly snapped out of it. “There are drinks in the fridge. Help yourself, I’ll go wash my face.”

He quickly ran to the bathroom, splashing cold water on his face a few times to sober up a bit.

Regret began to rise inside him—why on earth was he asking someone to help him with scenes in the middle of the night?

Bo Ye had already been responsible, chatting with him in the mornings and evenings, and now, what was the reason for staying up?

He pinched his face in frustration, then walked out with his head down, feeling guilty. Bo Ye had just finished his scene and saw Qi Xingchen’s flushed cheeks. He snorted, “Is the alcohol wearing off?”

“Mm.”

“How sober are you?”

Qi Xingchen: “…About half.”

“Well, come over here,” Bo Ye shifted to the side to make room, “Let me explain this scene to you.”

Bo Ye had been in the industry for seven years, though never in a leading role, but often did guest appearances. He wasn’t exactly an expert in acting, but he was definitely capable of guiding a beginner.

Qi Xingchen hesitated before sitting next to him. The familiar cold scent of Bo Ye filled his nose, and he immediately pressed his legs together, his hands nervously rubbing his knees.

He looked like a primary school student about to be lectured, trying his best to appear well-behaved.

“Now, you’re Lin Xiao, and I’m Ji Yan,” Bo Ye said helplessly, “For your confession, you need to figure out that I’m seeing another man. The person you like is about to meet another man—what kind of feelings would you have at this moment?”

Qi Xingchen’s mind instantly conjured up the image of his idol sneaking off to meet another fan. “…Anger, urgency.”

“I’ve rejected your advances time and again but accepted another man’s date. Clearly, the emotional balance has shifted to the other side. What feelings would you have?”

“Jealousy, reluctance, grievance… and the kind of despair that comes when you realize if you don’t make it clear now, the person might really leave.” Qi Xingchen half-understood.

Bo Ye nodded. “So, this confession is the outburst of your accumulated feelings. Have you seen floodgates open before?”

“I have… I get it!”

Qi Xingchen jumped up excitedly. “It’s like how floodwaters rush out, roaring and surging. When I show you, it’s like the moment before the floodgates open—humble and patient. When I say I like you, it’s like the dam in my heart breaking, and my impulse overwhelms my reason. I can’t help but hug you tightly and grab your arm fiercely…”

“Exactly,” taking advantage of Qi Xingchen’s realization, Bo Ye tossed the script aside, “Alright, let’s walk through it.”

The sensation he had been searching for finally arrived, and Qi Xingchen was ecstatic. To simulate the aquarium scene, he set the smart glass walls to transparent mode and dimmed the lights.

The moonlight filtered through the pool outside the glass walls, creating an ambiance rivaling the viewing tunnel.

He clapped his hands. “Scene 37, Act 3 of Heart of the Ocean. One take, A!”

What a little fool, Bo Ye thought, holding back a laugh. To avoid ruining Qi Xingchen’s mood, he kept his mouth tightly shut and turned to walk in the opposite direction.

“Who are you meeting? That marine biologist?” Qi Xingchen chased after him.

“Why are you asking so many questions, little kid?” Bo Ye ignored him and kept walking. “Go back. We have training tomorrow morning.”

When he heard “little kid,” Qi Xingchen’s blood boiled, and with a sudden leap, he grabbed Bo Ye’s arm, twisting his wrist to pull him into an embrace!

Bo Ye was half a head taller than him, and to accommodate, he awkwardly bent his legs.

Even so, they could only barely maintain eye level. Qi Xingchen’s emotions were at their peak, breathing heavily, staring straight at Bo Ye—

Bam! It felt like the Earth had collided with Mars. Qi Xingchen’s vision darkened and then brightened again, and in that instant, the world seemed to fade into eternal light.

And in the interplay of light and shadow, that piece of night sky he had been gazing up at for seven years in the abyss.

“…What’s wrong?” Bo Ye asked, confused. “Did you forget your lines?”

“No… no,” Qi Xingchen stepped back, almost frantically pointing at the glass wall outside, “I… I suddenly really want to swim.”