APCF – Chapter 82 Clingy

It was getting late. Qi Xingchen was worried that Old Qin’s blood pressure would rise from driving at night, so after having a simple hot pot meal with Bo Ye, he headed home.

Before entering the main gate, he borrowed a mirror from An Ran to adjust his expression. However, when he instructed the security guard to open the door, the old guard looked at him in surprise:

“Second Young Master, do you have some good news?”

Qi Xingchen: “?”

“You look especially happy.”

“…Going home, of course I’m happy,” Qi Xingchen could only put on a serious face. “I’ll head in first. You should rest early.”

“Alright, will do!”

Was his happiness really that obvious? Qi Xingchen nearly collapsed inside. He took three deep breaths before pressing his fingerprint on the lock.

“Whoosh—”

Four pairs of eyes shot toward him like arrows, pinning him in place.

Qi Xingchen was momentarily confused. He felt like his family had been gathering together way too often recently, as if they were discussing something important.

Even Qi Yujie had forgotten to make soup for her beloved younger brother.

“Xingxing,” she asked, “Have you eaten? I just asked Aunt Zhang to prepare a fruit platter for you. It’ll be here soon.”

“Mm, no rush,” Qi Xingchen sat down beside Qi Xiaoming. “Dad, how’s your health?”

Hearing that the first thing his youngest son did upon returning home was ask about his health, Qi Xiaoming’s worried expression immediately softened into one of affection. “No need to worry. I’m in good shape.”

“That’s good. Brother, has the company been busy lately? Sister, the season is changing—do you have enough new clothes? Jiaze, isn’t midterm season coming up? Are you well-prepared?”

His older siblings and younger brother were touched by his concern and eagerly responded:

“Same as always!”

“Enough clothes!”

“Better than last time!”

Seeing that everything at home was fine, Qi Xingchen figured they had just gathered for casual conversation and let out a breath of relief. “I had hot pot before coming back, and my clothes still smell like it. I’ll take a shower first and be down in a bit.”

Qi Yujie urged him to hurry up. The moment he disappeared into his room, she switched to a serious expression.

“Who do you think Xingxing had hot pot with?”

“Definitely that Bo guy,” Qi Jiaze gritted his teeth.

“Yunxiao,” Father Qi looked at his eldest son, who was sitting on the opposite sofa. “Where were we… Right, what do you think of that young man?”

“From my years of experience judging people, he looks good, has good manners, and comes from a decent family background. But…”

“But what?” Qi Jiaze leaned forward anxiously. “Brother Yunxiao, don’t leave us hanging!”

“But…,” Qi Yunxiao sighed, “Xingxing seems to really, really like him. He’s completely smitten. I’m worried he’ll be taken advantage of.”

At those words, the other three’s expressions darkened in unison.

Little Xingxing was the Qi family’s most precious treasure. How could they allow him to be taken advantage of by someone else?

Qi Yujie quickly reacted. “I don’t think that’s the case. I watched Xingxing’s show, and Bo Ye always stood up for him in his words and actions. He treats Xingxing really well… Plus, don’t you remember? At that banquet where Xingxing encountered that sleazy guy, Bo Ye was the one who saved him.”

“That may be true, but…”

After a moment of silence, Qi Xiaoming made a decision. “Since Xingxing likes that kid, I must see him with my own eyes. Otherwise, I won’t be at ease.”

Qi Jiaze slammed the coffee table. “I want to see for myself what kind of person managed to steal my brother away!”

“Then let’s do this,” Qi Yujie suggested. “We’ll take turns observing. I’ll go first, then Jiaze, and finally, Dad will make the last call. How does that sound?”

“Okay, agreed!”

After being away from home for a few days, the person Qi Xingchen was most concerned about was Tao Xuan.

Having Qi Jiaze tutor Tao Xuan and help regulate his emotions was a last-resort decision, one that carried a lot of risk. Qi Xingchen wasn’t sure if Tao Xuan would open up under Qi Jiaze’s influence, so he decided to check in on him.

When he arrived at the hospital, it was morning activity time. A caregiver was accompanying Tao Xuan for a slow walk down the corridor.

Seeing Qi Xingchen, the caregiver paused. Qi Xingchen gestured for her not to announce his arrival and then approached Tao Xuan, asking tentatively, “The sunlight in the hallway isn’t very strong. Do you want to go outside for some fresh air?”

As expected, Tao Xuan shook his head.

Qi Xingchen was already satisfied that he responded at all instead of ignoring him completely. In a gentle voice, he said, “That’s fine. The hallway is nice too.”

Tao Xuan didn’t reply and simply kept walking.

Qi Xingchen followed him at a distance of about a meter, quietly observing his movements. Chronically ill patients were usually weak, and Tao Xuan was no exception. Walking was difficult for him—every few meters, he had to stop and rest for a few minutes.

But he never gave up, persisting through two full laps before returning to his room and sitting by his bed.

Qi Xingchen realized something and casually started a conversation. “How’s Jiaze’s tutoring going?”

Tao Xuan didn’t answer the question directly. Instead, he asked, “Did you ask him to tutor me?”

That was a tricky question. Without hesitation, Qi Xingchen admitted, “Yes, I did. But you and Jiaze have been classmates for a long time, so you should know his personality. If he didn’t want to do it, no matter how much I forced him, he wouldn’t have agreed.”

Tao Xuan was briefly stunned.

“So don’t feel like you’re troubling him. If you need help, just ask. He’s happy to help.”

Qi Xingchen paused. “Besides, I had my own reasons for asking him to come—his foundation is weak. Cramming last-minute is like building a house on sand; it’s unstable. I was hoping you could help him strengthen his basics. Consider it mutual support.”

Tao Xuan was silent for a long time. He hadn’t expected that Qi Jiaze had come voluntarily, nor that Qi Xingchen was so straightforward.

He had assumed Qi Xingchen would lie and say Qi Jiaze had eagerly volunteered.

But unexpectedly, he started to feel a slight sense of goodwill toward him.

“…Mm,” after a long time, he mumbled softly, “Qi Jiaze’s basics are really weak, and he has a bad temper.”

“Bad temper?” Qi Xingchen was surprised. “Did he bully you?”

“No, he just gets impatient when discussing problems.”

That made more sense—Qi Jiaze would never lose his temper at someone who couldn’t fight back. Qi Xingchen breathed a sigh of relief. “I’ll tell him to rein it in a little.”

“No, it’s fine!” For the first time, Tao Xuan showed an emotion other than sadness. “He’s actually… not bad. I can handle it.”

Now it was Qi Xingchen’s turn to be stunned.

“Alright,” Qi Xingchen said sincerely, “Thank you for helping him.”

It was clear that Tao Xuan’s condition was improving. Qi Xingchen left the hospital in a good mood, humming a tune as he walked out.

At the elevator, he ran into Liang Jing, who was making his rounds. When Liang Jing saw him, he was silent for a few seconds before stepping out of the elevator.

“Xingxing, you’re back.”

“I got back yesterday,” Qi Xingchen replied calmly, having anticipated this encounter.

“Visiting Tao Xuan?”

“Yes.”

“How is his mood?”

“Pretty good.”

“In that case, I won’t visit him now. I’ll go at noon,” Liang Jing paused before asking, “Since you’re here… would you like to stop by my office for a bit?”

Remembering how Bo Ye had been upset for days last time because of Liang Jing, Qi Xingchen hesitated. But he also wanted to find out if Tao Tao had been in contact with Liang Jing, so he nodded in agreement.

She really didn’t come, and Qi Xingchen’s suspicion of Tao Tao grew heavier.

“By the way,” Qi Xingchen glanced toward the door. Hearing no footsteps, he lowered his voice. “There’s something I need to tell you.”

As he spoke, his eyes flickered, the corners of his mouth slightly upturned, as if trying to suppress—but ultimately failing to conceal—a certain kind of joy. It burst forth from his heart, through his limbs, his organs, and his boiling blood.

It made him so vibrant, so alive.

Liang Jing suddenly found himself unable to look away.

However, the next sentence was like a bucket of ice water poured over his head. He heard the person in front of him whisper, “I’m in a relationship.”

Just five words.

It took him a long time to fully grasp what that meant.

—The “letting go” he mentioned that day wasn’t a lie.

The star he had liked for so, so long was now in love with someone else.

The hand gripping the pen tightened involuntarily, his knuckles turning pale from the pressure. Liang Jing’s voice was hoarse. “Is it… Bo Ye?”

Qi Xingchen hadn’t expected Liang Jing to guess so quickly. His nerves tensed instantly.

He couldn’t answer, nor did he want to. He lowered his eyes and remained silent.

Liang Jing was smart. From Qi Xingchen’s reaction, he knew he had guessed correctly. The sense of loss grew even heavier.

“I promised you that I’d share everything with you,” Qi Xingchen pleaded. “Please, try to keep this a secret for me, okay?”

It would’ve been better if he hadn’t told him. At least then, he could still fool himself into thinking that one day, Xingchen would come back to him.

“…Alright.” Liang Jing forced a bitter smile. “I’ll keep your secret.”

That day, Liang Jing left work early for the first time.

At first, the doctors at Jing’an Hospital weren’t convinced by this young man. They thought that, as an unfinished graduate student, he had no right to intervene in treatments as a specialist.

But later, they discovered that not only did he have a deep theoretical understanding of the immune system, but he also had practical experience. He frequently came up with effective treatment plans, and gradually, they grew to respect him. Their relationship improved significantly.

In the locker room, seeing him absentmindedly changing clothes, a young doctor approached him. “Jing, what’s wrong? You look upset.”

Liang Jing brushed him off. “It’s nothing.”

“When you’re feeling down, you need to relax. I know a private club—the drinks are great, lots of fun, and very discreet. It won’t affect your career. Come with me?”

Liang Jing hesitated.

“Come on,” the young doctor coaxed, eager to get closer to him. “It’s on me.”

“…Fine. No need, I’ll pay.” Liang Jing followed him out.

The club the young doctor took him to was quite high-end. At the entrance, they checked for hidden cameras or recording devices, and the private rooms were fully enclosed. On their way upstairs, they even saw a familiar singer—proof of how exclusive the place was.

Once inside the private room, Liang Jing ordered two bottles of whiskey right away. No karaoke, no talking—just drinking.

At first, the young doctor kept up with him, but soon, Liang Jing’s reckless drinking pace scared him. For every three glasses Liang Jing drank, he had only one.

Even so, after just twenty minutes, the young doctor, unable to hold his liquor, passed out on the sofa.

Liang Jing looked at his colleague, who was snoring away, and wished that he were the one drunk instead.

That way, he could momentarily forget Xingchen. Forget the little boy who used to follow him around. Forget that Xingchen had once liked him.

And forget that Xingchen no longer belonged to him.

Yes, maybe people only learn to cherish something after they’ve lost it.

He hated himself now—hated himself for leaving in the first place, for only realizing upon his return how dazzling his little star had become.

If only he had realized sooner. If only, just a little sooner… Maybe the person who made Xingchen shine so brightly could have been him.

But feelings that come too late are the most useless of all.

His upbringing ensured that he would never lose composure in public. The urge to scream and vent turned into an increased alcohol intake. He ordered two more bottles of red wine and drank alone, toasting the empty air.

He didn’t know how long he drank before he finally got up to use the restroom. After washing his hands in the sink outside the men’s room, he suddenly caught sight of a familiar figure.

He took a moment to confirm—she was the family member of one of his patients.

At once, he regained his composure as a doctor and greeted her, “What a coincidence, Miss Tao.”

“What a coincidence,” Tao Tao, slightly tipsy, her cheeks rosy like peach blossoms, responded. “I came here to discuss a script, didn’t expect to run into you at a club… Dr. Liang, you seem to have had quite a bit to drink. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”

But his body betrayed him—he swayed slightly.

Tao Tao looked at him with concern. “No, you’re definitely drunk. Did you come alone or with someone? Did you drive or take a cab?”

After asking, she realized Liang Jing didn’t respond. His eyelids drooped slightly before reopening.

A soft hand grabbed his arm. “My driver brought a private car today. How about I give you a ride home?”

That afternoon, Qi Xingchen went to the aquarium for an inspection, then returned home in the evening. He spent time with his family, chatting and eating fruit, before finally going to bed. Under the covers, he sent Bo Ye a message: [Are you free?]

Bo Ye was in the middle of thinking about a trainee’s question and didn’t immediately catch the implication of the message. He replied: [I am. What’s up?]

Two seconds later, a video call invitation popped up.

Bo Ye answered casually, “Not spending time with your family?”

“…They sleep early,” Qi Xingchen said tentatively. “Are you working?”

“Yeah, I’m thinking about a composition,” Bo Ye paused. “But it won’t interfere with our call.”

Qi Xingchen breathed a sigh of relief. “That’s good.”

Then, he realized he might be too clingy. “You can focus on your work. I’ll just keep watch.”

Hearing his cautious tone, Bo Ye sighed inwardly.

Given the Qi family’s background, even if he hadn’t been raised spoiled, Xingchen should still have been a bit self-centered and willful.

But in their interactions, he was always careful, constantly placing himself in the lowest position without Bo Ye needing to say or do anything.

It felt like being gently bitten by a kitten just teething—an ache that was both sweet and painful.

Bo Ye lowered his head, took a photo of the sheet music, and sent it to Qi Xingchen. “Your timing is perfect. I’ve looked at this section too many times and lost my judgment. Sing it for me, let’s see how it sounds.”

Qi Xingchen was stunned. “Really?”

“Really. Why would I lie?”

Realizing he wasn’t disturbing Bo Ye but actually helping, Qi Xingchen’s energy skyrocketed. “Okay! But I don’t sing very well. Don’t laugh.”

“I won’t. Go ahead.”

He wasn’t a professional singer, so his performance wasn’t amazing, but his pitch and rhythm were solid. After listening, Bo Ye pondered for a moment. “What do you think of this section?”

A top idol of seven years was asking for his opinion? Qi Xingchen was flattered. “I think… the transition between the third and fourth sections is too abrupt. Maybe adding two extra bars would help.”

He had a natural ear for music—spotting issues was easy, but suggesting solutions was much harder.

Bo Ye had only asked to humor him, but he was surprised to find that, despite never having studied composition, Qi Xingchen had given an accurate assessment.

His intuition was impressive.

“You think the same way I do,” Bo Ye said unexpectedly. “Let’s revise it together?”

Bo Ye was inviting him to compose together?! Qi Xingchen was beyond thrilled and nodded eagerly. “Yes!”

Music was intoxicating. Their ideas kept flowing, their discussion deepening.

An hour passed before Qi Xingchen noticed his phone’s low battery warning. Worried about Bo Ye’s sleep, he stopped. “Let’s call it a night.”

Bo Ye hummed in agreement. “Tomorrow, I’ll have the trainees revise it based on our ideas.”

Qi Xingchen felt a secret joy at hearing the word “our.”

How had he, someone who once only gazed up at the stars, ended up side by side with someone as brilliant as Bo Ye?

“Thanks for spending so much time with me tonight. I’m too clingy… I should change.”

But Bo Ye instantly refuted, his voice soft and low:

“No, don’t change. Keep it this way.”

“I like you being clingy.”