CH 8

A direct confession. That was the plan Shen Qi had thought up last night.

He had woken early, told the crew he’d be going for a run, and had taken along the pack of cigarettes. He’d been 70% sure that Jiang Changshen would catch up. It turned out he was right. He just hadn’t expected Jiang Changshen to be so helpful.

So he had simply gone along with the flow. That was not very impressive.

Moreover, what he had said was true. He did like Jiang Changshen, if at first because of the man’s face and body. After becoming close to him over the past few days, that interest had grown.

Jiang Changshen showed no surprise at his confession, as if he had expected it. Yet in the face of such a frank confession, he was no longer indifferent. He propped up his legs to sit more comfortably.

“So tell me, what do you like about me? My appearance? A character I played in a movie? After all, we’ve only known each other for three days.”

Shen Qi took a deep breath. Now that the confession was out of the way, he might as well be thorough and express his heart fully. He might not have another chance after today.

“I’ll admit, until I met you in person, all I knew about you was from the internet. The characters you play are part of it, the variety interviews are part of it, and of course your appearance is part of it, too. These are all part of you, so I can’t say that liking you has nothing to do with your appearance. But there are so many good-looking stars in the entertainment circle, and yet I only like you and only have feelings for you, so I’m not just looking at faces.”

“The first time I saw you the day before yesterday. I knew that, whatever your true personality was, I’m all yours. It must be you. I fell in love with you at first sight!”

This bold confession was full of sincerity.

Shen Qi already been daring and straightforward, so he was not blushing or shy anymore. His eyes were staring straight at Jiang Changshen, the hidden affection now completely visible, bright and amazing.

Jiang Changshen was speechless for a while.

His eyes flickered, mind indecisive. His thoughts were far less peaceful than they appeared at first glance.

“Happiness value +10.”

“Happiness value -2.”

“Happiness value +5.”

“Happiness value -6.”

……

Shen Qi listened to the fluctuating cues. Internally, he was laughing.

It was going to work.

As the announcements ended, Jiang Changshen quickly composed himself. To Shen Qi’s surprise, he refused.

“Sorry.”

Shen Qi was slightly startled. The happiness value had risen a full ten points this time. With the previous points, the total reached thirty-nine, so why would he refuse?

For the first time, he was stumped. He didn’t have a detailed plot of the story, and if he had known the ins and outs as well as he had in previous missions, he’d be able to find a reason, a justification. But now his eyes were dark, thoughts colliding and groping for an explanation.

His expression was a little stiff, the light in his eyes momentarily dimmed. The only reason he continued smiling was his pride.

“Can I know why?”

Jiang Changshen had a strange expression as he held out his hand. He seemed to want to comfort him, but he lowered his hand halfway into the movement apologetically.

“You’re fine. It’s a problem on my part, not yours.”

Problem on his part?

Thinking back to the happiness value that had been so low that it couldn’t have been lowered when they had first met, Shen Qi felt that he vaguely understood something. He was reluctant to pursue the question.

“What’s the problem?”

After asking with chagrin why he’d been rejected, Jiang Changshen had told him it was a personal problem. It was definitely not easy to declare what it was, exactly, and Shen Qi would surely embarrass Jiang Changshen by asking for further details.

Without waiting for Jiang Changshen’s answer, he said again: “You don’t have to answer that question. Forget I asked it!”

“Sorry.”

Jiang Changshen felt a little guilty. He believed that Shen Qi’s sudden confession to him had something to do with his own ambiguous attitude over the past two days.

To be honest, he hadn’t really taken Shen Qi’s feelings seriously. He’d just assumed Shen Qi had a juvenile crush or was playing around like everyone else in the entertainment circle. He hadn’t thought Shen Qi’s feelings were true, but that confession just now had really surprised him.

If Shen Qi just intended to hit on him, Jiang Changshen might have accepted and had a brief, consensual fling. That was why he had been provoking Shen Qi lately.

But in the face of such heartfelt and sincere sentiment, he had been caught off guard, unprepared.

Then his first reaction was to run away.

He didn’t want to hurt Shen Qi, but apparently he had.

“I have no intention of seeking a relationship for now.” That was all he could say.

For now?

Shen Qi was perceptive. “Which means you might want to later?”

“Maybe,” Jiang Changshen said vaguely.

Shen Qi smiled, and the light in his eyes that had dimmed brightened again.

“I see, so can I keep pursuing you?”

This time it was Jiang Changshen’s turn to be startled. He had thought Shen Qi would give up. Jiang Changshen hadn’t overcome his mindset that love in the entertainment circle was to be rejected and you should then move on to the next focus.

Shen Qi raised his chin, his expression matter-of-fact. “You turned me down, but of course I’m going to continue pursuing you. Would anyone give up immediately because they were rejected the first time? Unless you say you’re sick of me and tell me to go away, or you think I’m bothering you, then I won’t give up so easily!”

“As long as you’re single and haven’t found a boyfriend yet, I’ll just keep on liking you and chasing after you!”

He smiled, bright and unrestrained. That was Shen Qi; passionate as fire, stubborn and determined. He would never let go of someone if he was sure of them!

Jiang Changshen gave him a profound look.

Shen Qi leaned closer to him in response. “So can I keep pursuing you?”

“Suit yourself.” Jiang Changshen restrained the complex emotions behind his eyes. His tone was significantly more gentle than before.

Shen Qi glanced at the gentle expression, smiling and straightening up. “I’m leaving in a minute and I don’t know when I’ll see you next. Can I get a hug, since you’ve just rejected me?”

Jiang Changshen did not refuse. He even opened his arms to reach out and hug him, expression a little trance-like behind Shen Qi’s shoulder.

Maybe…

The look changed. Eventually it sank.

Shen Qi’s chin rested on Jiang Changshen’s shoulder, eyes crinkled happily, especially when he caught a glimpse of clothing and half a shoe exposed around the corner in front of him. He smiled wider. White and blue sneakers—who could it be if not Ning Yuntian?

Soon, the recording of Shen Qi’s part in “Countryside Life” was over, and Jiang Changshen, Xie Jun and Liang Yu personally saw him off by his car. Ning Yuntian was there too. There were hugs, and the cameras around made the event look like it was a big deal.

When it was Jiang Changshen’s turn, Shen Qi took the opportunity to squeeze the man’s hand. Jiang Changshen glanced at him. There was no disgust or reproach in that gaze, only a little helplessness and indulgence that even he did not perceive.

Shen Qi smiled. “Well, bye, I’m off. I’ll miss you guys!” With a look at Jiang Changshen, he shook the phone in his hand. “Call me.”

Jiang Changshen paused. Finally, after the next three men had said their goodbyes, he gave Shen Qi a response. “I’ll call.”

Shen Qi had already gotten into the car and sniffed as he closed the door. Very boldly, he threw a flying kiss.

“See you later!”

“This kid!” Xie Jun laughed.

Liang Yu smiled and sighed. “Ah, youth.”

“Yeah, youth.” Jiang Changshen looked away from the vehicle. On his face was his usual gentle smile, with a meaningless sigh in his tone.

Ning Yuntian gave him a glance and quirked his lips.

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As predicted, Shen Qi didn’t get to see Jiang Changshen for the next month. In reality, he spent his days appearing on TV instead.

After Jiang Changshen won the title of film emperor, he made peace with his original company and set up his own studio. Despite having a partnership with Shen Entertainment, Shen Qi was not an employee of the same company, so it would be impossible for them to meet at their workplace.

With his current popularity, it was hard to work with Jiang Changshen unless the man showed up on a variety or talk show. However, Jiang Changshen didn’t appear in many variety shows, and he only signed up for “Countryside Life” out of respect for Liang Yu and Xie Jun, so he didn’t need a variety show to help him with his status and skills.

The only way to work with him was to film in a movie.

Shen Qi had received a message from Shen Er-ge, the second born son, who ran the company, long before the recording of “Countryside Life”. Shen Entertainment would be investing in the production of a major drama in the second half of the year, in which the lead actor was already confirmed to be Jiang Changshen. So Shen Qi was given a supporting actor position.

Shen Qi knew that this big drama had been present in the original world’s plot line.

Jiang Changshen would had gotten a good impression of Ning Yuntian during “Countryside Life”. He’d help Ning Yuntian get a major position as the leading man in a major production. As for how much this specific movie helped Ning Yuntian had not been mentioned. It was only mentioned that because of the time spent filming this movie, they spent three months together and became a couple at the end of it.

He had carefully studied the few words describing that part of the plotline and combined it with the information he had been able to find out through his personal searching. He had made sure that this big drama would be the one that Shen Entertainment would be investing in producing.

That would allow the plot to unfold, with Ning Yuntian being one of several newcomers Shen Entertainment was pushing. Of course, the company would prioritize its own stars. So naturally Shen Entertainment would want to bring in more of its own people into its big drama.

But Ning Yuntian was not the only newcomer. There’d been a lot of old people with power and connections, all eyeing the film. He was able to compete for a role, and Jiang Changshen’s recommendation probably played a big part in that, leading Ning Yuntian to choose to form a couple with him even though he clearly didn’t like him.

Then, once he’d become successful, he had betrayed Jiang Changshen decisively, not even saying goodbye.

The plot outline was quite clear on his betrayal. He’d engaged in a straightforward romance with an actress, along with a proposal. There had been no opportunity for Jiang Changshen to come to him for an explanation.

Since Shen Qi knew the news ahead of time, he naturally had to intervene whether Ning Yuntian received the role this time or not. Three months of time spent together forming a dedicated relationship, that was not an opportunity he could let pass.

Long before he went to record “Countryside Life,” he had directly approached Shen Er-ge for a role. He didn’t want to expose his identity as a rich young master, but having the privilege of not being a fool, he knew he had to do this.

Shen Qi wondered if the role he’d received was the same as the one Ning Yuntian had gotten the first time around, but it was the one he’d picked, the one with the most interesting interactions with the main male lead.

So on the day of the opening ceremony, he appeared in front of Jiang Changshen with a smile on his face.

He reached out. “Brother Jiang, long time no see.”

Unfortunately, it seemed that Jiang Changshen already knew that Shen Qi would be in the film. The man was not very surprised to see him, smiling back.

“Long time no see.”

Shen Qi winked at him and rubbed his fingertips meaningfully twice against the man’s palm.

“It’s just been a month, and Brother Jiang is getting more and more handsome.”

Jiang Changshen’s brows rose. He hooked his hand in a smooth motion and leaned forward for a hug.