APCF – Chapter 56 Confusion

Qi Xingchen had stayed with Bo Ye before, back during their “Let’s Budget Travel” days. They had even shared a bed, but at that time, they weren’t familiar with each other. Plus, there were cameras all over the room, so they kept to their own space with no communication.

Today was different—it was just the two of them. Qi Xingchen hesitated for a moment, but then reluctantly accepted his exclusive fan service.

Allen had booked a separate room for An Ran at the same hotel, but not on the same floor. Allen was responsible for taking An Ran to his room, while Qi Xingchen obediently followed behind Bo Ye.

Once they entered the suite, Qi Xingchen suddenly felt a twinge of anxiety. “Do you think we’ll be caught by paparazzi? We’re being so obvious.”

“Let them take photos,” Bo Ye casually shut the door behind him. “Everyone knows you’re here to see me. It’s perfectly normal for me to host you.”

“…I didn’t come to see you. I came for the music gala,” Qi Xingchen protested quietly.

Bo Ye scoffed but didn’t respond.

The suite was Bo Ye’s temporary residence in S city, and it didn’t have much of a personal touch. Qi Xingchen curiously looked around and noticed some interesting details.

For example, despite coming from an upper-class family, Bo Ye should have had poor self-care habits, but his room was immaculately clean, and there were no clothes or socks scattered about.

Another thing was that Bo Ye didn’t use skincare products—on the washstand, there was only a toothbrush holder, an electric toothbrush, a bottle of what seemed to be makeup remover, and facial cleansing cotton. Other than that, everything was neat and clean, with nothing else in sight.

“The master bedroom is full of my stuff,” Bo Ye said, looking at Qi Xingchen. “You’ll have to settle for the small bedroom tonight, is that okay?”

Qi Xingchen immediately nodded. “Sure, no problem.”

“Then go wash up first. I need to wipe my face, which takes a little longer.”

Qi Xingchen took a moment to realize that when Bo Ye said “wipe my face,” he meant removing his makeup. He couldn’t help but stiffen his lips.

“By the way,” Bo Ye pointed to the thick hoodie Qi Xingchen was wearing, “you must be uncomfortable sleeping in that. Do you want a T-shirt?”

Qi Xingchen felt a little embarrassed as Bo Ye casually offered him a piece of clothing. He nodded.

Bo Ye tossed him a white T-shirt—it turned out to be a Gucci sequin cat-head design. The collar and cuffs were intentionally distressed, but judging by the creases and wear, it seemed like Bo Ye had never worn it.

Qi Xingchen threw his bag into the small bedroom and quickly changed into the T-shirt. He was in and out of the bathroom in less than ten minutes.

Bo Ye had just finished a phone call and looked up when he saw Qi Xingchen. He raised an eyebrow. “That shirt looks good on you.”

“Sequin cat-head? It suits me?” Qi Xingchen was skeptical.

“Mm-hmm,” Bo Ye confirmed, “You look very clean in it.”

Qi Xingchen could only accept it silently, but he was curious. “This T-shirt fits me perfectly. Shouldn’t it be too short for you?”

“That’s why I never wore it,” Bo Ye admitted. “I never would have worn something this… cute.”

Qi Xingchen was even more curious. “Then why buy it if you weren’t going to wear it?”

“My mom bought it,” Bo Ye explained, “After realizing it didn’t fit me, she told me to give it to some other pretty kid if I had the chance. I suspect she bought it as a gift, and now it’s perfect.”

He put down his phone and stood up. “I’ll give it to you.”

Indirectly being praised as a “pretty kid,” Qi Xingchen immediately felt that the sequin cat-head shirt was incredibly stylish and adorable.

How could there be such cute clothes in the world!

Seeing him smile and giggle while looking down at the shirt, Bo Ye took out a bottle of mineral water. “I didn’t know you were coming, so I didn’t prepare milk in advance. This will just have to quench your thirst.”

Bo Ye then walked toward the washstand. Qi Xingchen couldn’t understand why he had been associated with “loving milk” and continued sipping the mineral water while giving Bo Ye a side-eye.

He watched as Bo Ye poured makeup remover onto a cotton pad, slapped it onto his face, and then began rubbing vigorously.

Qi Xingchen could even hear the cotton pad scraping against Bo Ye’s skin. He quickly rushed over. “Stop, don’t do that!”

Bo Ye: “?”

“You have good skin, but you can’t scrub like that,” Qi Xingchen grabbed the cotton pad from his hands. “I’ll do it for you.”

He didn’t know how to remove makeup himself, but he had often observed the makeup artist’s technique recently and learned a thing or two.

First, he poured the makeup remover into his palm, gently rubbed it, then opened his hands and pressed them against Bo Ye’s cheeks.

The moment his palms touched Bo Ye’s face, he could feel the coolness of his skin, and when he looked up, he realized how close he was to him.

So close, in fact, that he could even feel Bo Ye’s warm breath.

He quickly looked down and avoided his gaze. After applying the makeup remover, he added some water to his palm, rubbed it together, and then massaged it onto Bo Ye’s face.

He didn’t know that this step was called emulsification—he was simply mimicking the makeup artist.

Bo Ye suddenly spoke up. “You…”

“I’m almost done, almost there!” Qi Xingchen hurriedly responded.

“No,” Bo Ye chuckled helplessly, “You’ve got a nosebleed.”

Qi Xingchen: “…”

Qi Xingchen: “???”

At that moment, Qi Xingchen felt like he had lost all dignity in his life.

Flustered and hurriedly finishing Bo Ye’s makeup removal, he rolled back into the small bedroom, holding a tissue to his nose, staring at the ceiling, feeling like crying.

Why did he have to get a nosebleed now—right when he was so close to Bo Ye?

How embarrassing and awkward was that?

The scene was so awkward that he couldn’t bear to look at it!

After a while, the bedroom door was knocked on. The voice he most didn’t want to hear right now came from outside. “Xingxing, has your nose stopped bleeding?”

“It’s stopped!” Qi Xingchen shouted.

“If you’re still uncomfortable, don’t hold it in. I’ll take you to the hospital.”

“It’s really no big deal, maybe I just drank too much ginger tea last night!”

Yes, Qi Xingchen thought angrily, let’s blame it on that bowl of ginger tea!

Apparently, the other party was convinced by his excuse and gave up pursuing the matter further. The room returned to its previous silence.

But when Bo Ye really stopped probing, Qi Xingchen unexpectedly felt a strange sense of disappointment. He propped his arms behind his head and continued to stare blankly at the ceiling.

After an indeterminate amount of time, faint rustling sounds came from outside the door again. This time, Bo Ye said nothing. Qi Xingchen sat up, propping himself up on the bed, and looked toward the door.

Lying beneath the door was a flat box and a note, likely slipped through the crack by Bo Ye.

Getting out of bed, he picked up the items. The flat box contained cold medicine, and the handwriting on the note was bold and sharp:

[Take two pills before bed. There’s water on the bedside table.]

So, Bo Ye hadn’t asked any questions but had deduced from the mention of “ginger tea” that Qi Xingchen had caught a cold.

Qi Xingchen now truly understood what it meant to be overjoyed.

The following morning, Bo Ye insisted that Qi Xingchen not drive himself back and arranged for his personal chauffeur to take him back to H City.

This music festival trip seemed to have invigorated him like a shot of adrenaline. Over the next few days, Qi Xingchen performed exceptionally well, with no more than four NGs in total. Director Shang Yuliang couldn’t have been more relieved.

During the final scene, Shang Yuliang said, “Xiao Qi, I hope you can bring Lin Xiao’s story to a perfect conclusion.”

Qi Xingchen responded with a firm “Mm.”

Shang Yuliang picked up the walkie-talkie. “Is the set ready?”

“Extras are in position!”

“Bubble machine is ready!”

“Cameras 2, 3, and 8 are ready!”

With the clap of the scene marker, the wedding march echoed throughout the open-air estate. Ji Yan, holding her father’s arm, walked step by step toward the man she loved.

Sitting among the guests, Lin Xiao watched the couple exchange their vows with heartfelt sincerity, momentarily lost in thought.

“Catch it, catch it!”

“Ji Yan, why did you throw it so far?!”

“Please, God, let me catch it! I want to get married, wahhh!”

“Why did it fly over there? — Watch out, handsome guy!”

Amid the commotion, Lin Xiao felt something flying straight toward his face. On reflex, he reached out and caught it. A rich floral fragrance filled the air.

Looking down, he realized it was Ji Yan’s bouquet.

Ji Yan, now holding Feng Qingyuan’s arm, walked up to Lin Xiao and said, “Lin Xiao, you caught my bouquet. You’re sure to be very happy in the future.”

“Alright, thank you,” Lin Xiao replied with a smile, taking one last look at the girl he loved deeply.

Without you, where will I find my happiness?

“Cut!”

Shang Yuliang gave Qi Xingchen a thumbs-up. “Mission accomplished. You’re officially wrapped!”

At those words, everyone on set put down their things and surrounded Qi Xingchen.

“Xingxing, congratulations on wrapping up!”

“Can you stay just one more day? I don’t want you to leave!”

The assistant director brought out a pre-prepared bouquet and handed it to Qi Xingchen. “Xingxing, you’ve done an excellent job. We’ve all enjoyed working with you.”

“Yeah, exactly!” The set was practically buzzing with excitement, and everyone started shouting together, “We all really like you!”

For the first time in his life, Qi Xingchen experienced a project wrap. He had thought it would feel exhilarating and liberating. Yet, at this moment, hearing the cheers around him, his nose tingled uncontrollably.

He accepted the bouquet and bowed deeply to the crowd.

“I’m very grateful that my first time playing an important supporting role was with all of you. My acting skills are still rough, and I know I caused some trouble during filming. Thank you all for your patience and support. I will always remember this.”

“Stop being so modest,” said the head cameraman. “You’re better than most rookie actors… Alright, boys, let’s give Xingxing a round of applause!”

The head cameraman gestured, and a group of young men squeezed into the crowd. Qi Xingchen was still wondering what they meant by “a round of applause” when suddenly he felt himself lifted off the ground.

Everyone threw him into the air, shouting, “Xingxing, we love you!!!”

As a secondary male lead, there was no farewell party for him. Director Shang Yuliang asked the assistant director to organize the next scene while he personally accompanied Qi Xingchen to the parking lot.

Just before Qi Xingchen got into the car, Shang Yuliang called out to him. “Xiao Qi, to be honest, I wasn’t impressed when I first reviewed your portfolio. But you ended up giving me a big surprise. There were even moments where I felt like you truly were Lin Xiao, alive and breathing. Thank you for giving this character a soul.”

“I also know how much effort you put into portraying Lin Xiao. If you stay true to yourself and keep working hard, I’m confident I’ll see you shine on even bigger stages.”

Receiving recognition from him was no small feat, and Qi Xingchen nodded earnestly.

“However,” Shang Yuliang paused, “you’ve got to control that temper of yours. Don’t ever push a director to make a public apology again. The entertainment industry is complicated, and right now, you’re only scratching the surface. If you offend a well-connected director, it might become impossible for you to land future roles.”

“Thank you for your advice,” Qi Xingchen replied sincerely, knowing it came from a good place. “But if I had to do it all over again, I’d make the same choice—no one has the right to hurt my family.”

Shang Yuliang sighed, exasperated yet helpless. “Alright, alright, you win. Get in the car already. Don’t forget to come back for the celebration party!”

“Got it. Thank you, Director Shang.” After thanking him again, Qi Xingchen got into the car and left.

And so, his experience filming Heart of the Ocean officially became part of his past.

Overwhelmed by a sense of loss he could no longer suppress, Qi Xingchen felt his nose sting and his emotions well up.

He pulled a blanket over his head.

Seeing his low spirits, An Ran placed a pack of tissues beside him.

However, Qi Xingchen didn’t use them. He rarely cried and simply didn’t want others to see his vulnerable side.

Back in H City, the car reached the familiar neighborhood in just forty minutes. Old Qin parked the car, and An Ran nudged Qi Xingchen’s arm. “Xingxing, we’re here.”

“Mm,” Qi Xingchen emerged from under the blanket. “Thank you for all your hard work during this period. Take a few days off and rest well.”

“Thank you, Xingxing…” An Ran hesitated for a moment. “Xingxing, do you think the company might reassign Uncle Qin and me?”

She and Old Qin had talked it over. They both appreciated Qi Xingchen’s good nature and work ethic and wanted to continue working with him.

But if Qi Xingchen didn’t take on new projects soon, the company would likely reassign them to other artists, a prospect that filled her with dread.

Qi Xingchen understood her concerns and smiled. “Don’t worry, they won’t. Besides, I have other plans for you.”

“Other plans?” An Ran was momentarily taken aback.

“Yes, Sister An Ran. Have you ever considered developing into a talent manager?”

An Ran hadn’t expected Qi Xingchen to suggest that she become a talent manager. She was just a recent college graduate with no experience or qualifications—what made her suitable for the role?

“Being a manager pays well and has good prospects. Of course, I’d love to do it,” An Ran admitted hesitantly, “but I don’t have the resources.”

“Who says you don’t? If I say you do, then you do. Look for some books on the subject while you’re at home, and keep an eye on my email for me. I’m off now—get in touch if anything comes up.”

To avoid more questions, Qi Xingchen quickly grabbed his suitcase and got out of the car.

The bodyguard opened the front door to his home, and Qi Xingchen immediately spotted Qi Yujie sitting in the garden, sipping tea.

Maybe it was a sibling connection, but the next moment Qi Yujie noticed him too. She tossed her book aside and ran over, exclaiming, “Xingxing, why didn’t you tell me you were coming back!”

“I had a driver, so there was no need for you to pick me up. Plus, I’m just in the city,” Qi Xingchen diverted the topic smoothly. “Let’s head inside. I brought gifts for everyone.”

At the mention of gifts, Qi Yujie’s eyes lit up, and she followed closely behind him.

Dragging his suitcase into the living room, Qi Xingchen started unpacking. When he had left, he hadn’t taken much, but now it was packed to the brim with gifts, making it twice as heavy.

Their father and elder brother, Qi Yunxiao, were at the company, leaving Qi Yujie as the only one at home. As Qi Xingchen unpacked, he handed out the gifts. “This one’s for Jiaze, this one’s for big brother, and this one’s for Dad… Sis, this one’s yours.”

He gave Qi Yujie a photo album he had printed himself, filled with pictures of marine animals he had taken during filming.

Among them was a picture of Xiaoxiao, the sea otter, looking adorably silly. Qi Yujie flipped through the album with great interest, and just as she was engrossed, she noticed something odd in her brother’s suitcase.

“Xingxing… has your taste in clothes changed that much?” she asked, pointing at a cat-themed T-shirt.

“…No, that was a gift from a friend.”

Qi Yujie patted her chest in relief. “I knew it. You’ve always worn plain colors or simple patterns. I thought you’d suddenly had a change of style and nearly had a heart attack. I even worried I’d wasted money on your new clothes.”

Qi Xingchen raised an eyebrow. “You bought me more clothes?”

“I went to Paris last week! Not too many—just over twenty pieces. Some of them are super swag. I can already picture how amazing you’ll look in them! Xingxing, I can’t wait to see you try them on!”

Qi Xingchen looked exasperated, but before he could respond, Qi Yujie’s sharp eyes spotted something else. “Wait, Xingxing, are you sick?”

“No.”

“Then why did you bring back leftover cold medicine? Medicine works best when it’s fresh.”

There was no need to hide things from his sister. “This box of medicine was also a gift from a friend.”

Qi Yujie gave him a strange look for a long moment.

Then she said, “And what about this Mickey Mouse headband? Was it also a gift from your ‘friend’?”

Qi Xingchen: “No, we bought that ourselves.”

Qi Yujie: “To wear for your friend?”

Qi Xingchen froze.

“Oh. My. God…”

It was as if a bolt of lightning struck Qi Yujie, leaving her heartbroken. “Our Xingxing has someone he likes! I’m no longer Xingxing’s favorite…”

Someone he likes?

Could it be that he likes Bo Ye?

No. Way. Absolutely not.

_{Really? 🤨}

Setting aside the fact that Bo Ye was the male lead of Peach of the Night, he was a character in the book. Qi Xingchen had transmigrated into the story, while Bo Ye was just a fictional figure. How could they ever be together?

There was no way he’d fall for a fictional character, right?!

“Don’t say such nonsense, Sis!” Qi Xingchen hurriedly denied. “We’re just ordinary friends!”

Qi Yujie wasn’t letting it go. “Then tell me this—was the time you wore cologne because you were meeting him?”

Qi Xingchen: “…”

“When you see him, you’re happy. When you don’t, you miss him. If he gets too close to someone else, you feel like exploding with jealousy. Even the smallest warm gesture from him makes your heart race. You want to collect everything related to him and look for every opportunity to see him…”

“…Stop it!”

Qi Xingchen couldn’t help cutting her off, his gaze lost and confused.

Seeing him like this, Qi Yujie sighed. “Alright, I’ll stop. If you ever need to talk about it, you can come to me anytime. I’m willing to be your emotional garbage bin. Don’t forget, I’m your strongest support.”

“…Thanks, Sis.”

Qi Yujie had loved someone before and understood that some feelings couldn’t be sorted out right away. She changed the subject. “Oh, Xingxing, did you get a message from Xiao Jing?”

Xiao Jing… Qi Xingchen, still unsettled, thought hard before realizing she meant Liang Jing.

“Xiao Jing is coming back to H City the day after tomorrow. If you’re free, let’s go pick him up together.”